Work at home assembly jobs often receive bad press. This is largely due to the fact that many of these jobs are actually a ploy, put into play by unscrupulous individuals or companies who only want your money.

The good news is there are legitimate home assembly jobs out there. The key to finding these jobs is learning how to bypass the scams, which typically promise earnings of hundreds or even thousands of dollars each week. Thorough research will help to pinpoint the ones that are on the “up and up.”

Perform an online search on each of the companies that interest you. Check the Better Business Bureau website and visit work from home forums. Ask members to share both their success stories and complaints. NEVER pay any type of start-up fee until you locate several positive reviews about the company in question.

The majority of work at home assembly jobs are craft or artesian related. They often require you to sew something, paint something or put something together. As of this writing, a quick Google search brought up opportunities for making dollhouse furniture, crosses, bows, small jewelry boxes, ornaments and magnets.

Some assemblers have successfully found work by visiting craft fairs and festivals. Vendors sometimes prefer to hire others to do the work that they themselves find tedious or time-consuming.

Depending on the company or individual you are doing the work for, you may have to purchase some type of kit or supplies prior to getting started. If you are local to the company, it never hurts to ask if you can pick up these materials yourself, eliminating the cost of shipping.

(If you’re not local to the company, make sure you will be reimbursed for sending in the completed items, before making any financial commitments. The last thing you want is to be charged for something that you are not legally responsible for.)

At the same time you receive your supplies, you will also receive instructions on how to complete the project or projects you’ve chosen. These instructions will either be in print form or on a CD. You will typically receive one sample piece, as well.

Once you receive approval for your finished items you will be paid for them. Items that do not meet company standards are returned to you to make corrections. Payment is “by the piece” as opposed to hourly. As of early 2011, the typical per item payment is between one and two dollars.

Our jobs can put stress on our hard-working hands, wrists and forearms. Cooking, specialty construction like tile-setting and carpentry, detailed artisan and craftsmanship, and playing music are all types of work that leave our hands weary and sore.

Pain is a sign that our muscles and joints are overworked. When pain continues or recurs, you may be getting an injury. Our hands and wrists are especially vulnerable to repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.

You may be feeling extreme fatigue. Perhaps your hobbies and other non-work activities also involve hand and wrist movement. If fatigue is ongoing, it can lead to worse problems.

One sign of degeneration (wear and tear) is osteoarthritis. Arthritis is a state of inflammation. The body is reacting to over activity at the joints. Although there are many natural treatments for pain relief, the condition is mostly irreversible, so it should be avoided whenever possible.

We often try to ignore pain. We think our bodies will heal themselves (and they do, sometimes). We can’t be bothered with the distraction of pain. And we don’t want to think that something worse might be happening, like a chronic injury.

Taking care of our bodies at the first sign of pain is important for immediate relief and long-term health. With our upper extremities (hands, wrists, forearms, upper arms), it is especially important to think of the long-term repercussions of that pain.

There is a simple answer: it’s a natural remedy that brings instant and long-term relief!

There is an all-natural method that can be practiced anytime, but it is especially helpful when practiced immediately after work. You can practice it before work and on breaks during your work-day, too.

As soon as you finish work, dunk your hands in a deep bowl of ice-water! This one basic first aid step will relieve your pain and inflammation instantly, and it will help prevent long-lasting injuries, too.

Working in the game design field isn’t always given the credit it deserves. Often times, people think that this is a job where the employees sit around and play games all day. What they don’t know, is how much more is involved in game design. There is quite a bit of competition in the gaming industry, so at times it can be difficult to find the right job for you. There is also the likelihood of regularly having to work under pressure to accomplish your duties before the given deadline, or spend valuable time figuring out why your designs may not be working correctly. However, if game design is something you enjoy doing, whether for fun or for work, it will likely become a rewarding career experience for you and you’ll be satisfied with what you do.

Plenty of reasons exist to seek a job in the game design field. An important one is that you may be able to create games of your very own, which is something many people wish they could do. If this sounds like a dream come true, then this could be the perfect career path for you. Making games allows you to use your own creativity and take a game to somewhere it’s never been before. This can be challenging, but it’s something you can get used to with some experience. One this to remember is that some of your ideas and designs may not always be accepted by the company you work for. In this situation, you should just take the constructive criticism, and use your creativity to try again.

Having a job in this field is different than most other jobs because it is usually more flexible. Your working hours could be different and they may not necessarily be the standard 9 to 5 hours than most people work. You may be given the ability to choose your own hours, and sometimes game designers even get the chance to work from home if the company allows it. This can be important because it can allow you to have less hassle and stress, making the game design process easier. There is also the possibility that you won’t have to abide by a dress code, and will be allowed to wear casual clothes of your choice. Just remember to stick the other requirements of the job.

Those who plan on entering this industry should remember that a career in this field can be challenging and may require a lot of hard work. Though, if you are someone who enjoying playing video games and admire the design element, it shouldn’t be hard for you to become comfortable with the job. Salaries can be different due to varying factors, but according to industry insiders, the average range for most video game developers is between $80,000 to $100,000 per year.* If this position sounds like something you may be interested in, you should seek opportunities to earn your degree in game design since this could help you in the job hunt. If you work hard and are determined, you can make your job into a rewarding experience.

*For more information, please visit: http://www.bls.gov

It’s refreshing to see on television the recurring theme of able-bodied persons looking klutzy compared to an agile wheelchair-bound person. Where once society wanted to avoid anyone in a wheelchair among his social circles, today’s climate is much more accepting of wheelchairs. Thanks to disability laws and organizations, wheelchair ramps and other wheelchair accesses are commonplace in our workplaces, shopping centers, schools, and so on.

Have you ever had to use crutches for a while due to a sprained ankle or a broken toe? It is difficult to get around your work area on crutches; imagine what it might be like if you were in a wheelchair. Most work areas are now compliant with the latest regulations and have the necessary workstations in place to accommodate a worker in a wheelchair. All aspects of the office space need to be considered, from desk height, doorway width, flooring material, to hallway width and cubicle size.

Below are a few specific conditions that make wheelchair access better at work:

* Workstations should be near the main entrance and along the end of a row so that the navigator doesn’t have to repeatedly go through crowded halls.

* A desk height and width for wheelchair users should have clearance of at least 32 inches. Motorized wheelchairs require more room.

* Allow room inside a workstation or cubical for the wheelchair to back up and turn and move side to side. If anyone must work behind the wheelchair, allow that worker to sit at least 60 inches behind.

* Doors should be at least 36 inches in width. The average wheelchair is about 30 inches wide and hands that rest on the arms need to clear the doorway as well.

* Corridors, aisles and other pathways should not be narrower than 48 inches to allow both a moving person and a wheelchair to pass by without hitting each other.

* Think about the location and height of public phones. Many public pay phones are installed too high for a person sitting in a wheelchair to reach.

* Another detail often overlooked is the height of a drinking fountain. Many are set too high.

* Restroom stalls need to adhere to wheelchair accessibility laws as well.

Most workplace and building guidelines must adhere to federal and state laws. The Uniform Federal Accessibility Standard and the Disabled Access Regulations set many workplace rules. The Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards provides exact dimensions and codes regarding several alterations and provisions that must be present in public accessible sites and the workplace (http://www.access-board.gov/ufas/ufas-html/ufas.htm). Several federal discrimination laws are set up to protect wheelchair users from discrimination or harassment.

In addition to physical arrangement to accommodate wheelchair access in the workplace, employers and co-workers can remember the following tips:

* Suggest that co-workers sit eye-to-eye when meeting with a person in a wheelchair.

* Remember not to lean on or hold onto the wheelchair.

* Know that it’s okay to talk about active sports.

Federal regulations have made the workplace accessible for those in a wheelchair. Now everyone who requires access can achieve it.

There was a day, not so long ago, when many people’s lives fell neatly into three distinct stages- they were educated, embarked upon a career and then retired.

The date at which people chose to retire was usually in line with their state retirement age, entailing 60 for women and 65 for men. This literally meant clearing your desk or your workbench on your 60th or 65th birthday, and facing a work-free future.

Sounds attractive having a ‘work free’ future, doesn’t it?

When I was in my 20s I worked in an engineering workshop, a time when you had to retire on your 65 birthday.

Two engineering tradesmen who work in the shop were coming up to their retirement age. One loved his job, but also loved his hobby and passion for building model railways and renovating the local windmill. The other also liked his job but also loved running the work-site football pools syndicate (made up of several hundred members).

After their retirement, the modeller and renovator continued to live a healthy and active life for several more years. The pools man suffered a serious debilitating stroke within 12 months of his retirement.

Was this just the luck of the draw or an outcome linked to lifestyle and planning? One just shifted his work focus to his hobby and passion, the other had nothing tangible outside his place of work – yet he had a ‘work free’ future.

Stories of sudden physical and mental deterioration, after retirement were not uncommon in those days.

When you think about it, from an early age you have been conditioned (both mentally and physically) to live in an industrial society, where work took priority of all other aspects of life. To suddenly break this routine cycle of working life, dominated by the clock, to a routine where the habits and the clock are no longer required must have a major impact, not only on the body and mental processes, but also on the soul.

Today’s changes in the retirement legislation (particularly raising the age of retirement) has meant that you are no longer required to retire at some predetermined date instead there is flexibility and choice. Today more seniors remain in work rather than retiring.

Nowadays, it is far more common for older employees to opt for reduced hours instead of the abrupt end of work scenario experienced by employees in previous decades. Today a more considered approach to retirement is taken. Some retirees adopt the process of gradually reducing the number of hours worked, which usually starts in people’s 50 s and can run into their 70s.

With the advent of the new pension rules launched in 2015, more people than ever before have alternatives. They can retire as early as 55 and take their pension but still remain in work, or even pursue a new career.

Today, many businesses more than ever before acknowledge that older workers have valuable skills and have an important role to play in upskilling younger employees. With those nearing retirement often wanting to remain physically and mentally active, remaining in employment can produce income to supplement their pension or offer a stimulating outside interest.

What is clear is that it’s important to plan and save for retirement as early as possible in your working life. That route when the time nears, the options of retiring, working portion day, changing career or doing voluntary work are all accessible.

Whatever you do I would strongly advise anyone who is, or is close to retirement (By all means have a break and perhaps an extended holiday), do not stop working, either for payment or just for pleasure. It is good for your soul and should extend your life.

I am nearly 70 years old and while I retired from my previous career as a university lecturer, I made a conscious decision to embark on a new career, to set up an online business – my continuing work.

You know that saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? Well, it’s time to fix what’s broken with your fundraising newsletter.

Yep, without even seeing it, I can tell you that there are very likely some things you need to change with your print or email newsletter.

I’ve heard from many donors that they don’t even look at newsletters anymore, even if it comes from their favorite nonprofit.

You know why? They’re boring and self-serving.

Most nonprofits are sending out selfish newsletters. These newsletters are written by well-meaning folks who have not stopped long enough to really understand their reader and what their reader wants.

Think about how you put a newsletter together: Way too often, the newsletter falls to the bottom of the priority list because you’re crazy busy trying to get things done. One day you realize it’s time to get a newsletter out, and in a crazed attempt to do it quickly so you can check it off the list, you grasp at the first topics to hit your mind, slap articles together and reach for things to fill up space. It’s not pleasant for you and certainly not pleasant for your donor.

So how do you fix it? How do you put a newsletter together that your donor will read and respond to?

1. Start by creating a production schedule that gives you plenty of time to write and review. Leave time for getting it printed and mailed, too.

2. Next, spend some time getting to know your reader. Who are your donors and prospects? What do they really care about? I’ll give you a hint: they don’t care about the boring letter from your Executive Director or Board Chair. What they want to know is how you’re changing lives. They want to know about the people whose lives are being changed by the work your organization is doing.

3. Step 3 is to write about the things your donor wants to know about. Share those human-interest stories that make your donors feel good about their decision to support your organization.

4. Finally, step 4 is to deliver the newsletter in the format that the donor wants. Don’t decide to send your newsletter via email just to save money on printing and postage. Find out how your donors want to receive it, and send it that way.

Remember that your ultimate goal is to build relationships with your donors and prospects. Relationships lead to loyalty and long-term support. Communication is critical to building a relationship.

Think for a minute about someone you know that the only time you hear from them is when they want something. We all know someone like that, right? Don’t be that person to your donors! Don’t show up with your hand out for money all the time. Communicate with them to keep them in the loop about what’s happening.

A well-done newsletter will not only inform and education your reader, but help build that precious relationship. Follow these four steps and you’ll be well on your way.

Every one’s relationships are different. But sometimes we face similar issues.

Most people enter into a relationship with the best of intentions, assuming that they will remain in a permanent and happy union. Unfortunately, it is not always the case that relationships work out as planned.

All relationships have their ups and down. Read on if you want to know how to make a relationship work.

1 – Improving Communication:

Communication is the most important part of your relationship.

Neither you nor your partner is a mind reader, so you need to let each other know what you’re thinking and feeling.

2 – Acknowledgement:

Look for every opportunity to show your partner that you are receiving your love’s positive energy and responding appropriately.

3 – Acceptance Of Each Other:

We all need to learn how to accept each other and our circumstances.

Acceptance is an important element for a successful relationship. It is the key to making a relationship not only work, but thrive.

4 – How To Make a Relationship Work Being Playful?

Being playful keeps your love growing. Humor and playfulness are powerful communication tools that create a sense of intimacy and connection in relationships.

Communicate in a playful manner adds more excitement to the relationship and helps in keeping it fresh and vibrant.

5 – How To Make a Relationship Work Being Interdependent?

Being truly interdependent means being involved with each other in a supportive manner without compromising your values or sacrificing yourself for the relationship.

Having interdependence in a relationship is often recognized as the healthiest form of intimate relationship.

6 – Honesty:

Always be honest with each other about your feelings and needs.

Honesty is a key component of a healthy relationship, lack of honesty affects not only trust, but also communication. It can cause relationship to be unhealthy.

7 – How To Make a Relationship Work Being Positive?

Being positive may be the key to keeping harmony, being positive and allowing that feeling to flow through your life relationship is a wonderful way to go through life with the one you love.

8 – How To Make a Relationship Work Being Appreciative?

Being Appreciative on a daily basis is a great way to protect your long-term relationship from: cooling off, infidelity, breakups, etc.

Mutual gratitude and appreciation can go a long way in healing many relationship problems. Daily reminders of genuine appreciation can deepen intimacy and make a healthy relationship even stronger.

A relationship cannot survive on its own. Every successful relationship needs the care and maturity of two committed adults giving to each other a mutually beneficial connection.

For a work team, health and wellness are usually not givens. Many people do not even understand the concepts, let alone ever experience them at work. While some of us are aware that health is the absence of illness, wellness is a much vaguer concept. Some think of it as spiritual, while others see it as mental or physical. In reality, it can be a combination of all three. Being healthy in the mind, body, and soul leads to overall wellness.

In a work setting, health and wellness are often sacrificed in the attempt to achieve corporate goals. People spend countless hours at work, sometimes eating a less than substantial meal at their desks, only to go home for a brief nap before returning to the office. While this may be inevitable every once and a while, it has become a habit for far too many Americans. The result is workers who are unfocused, out of shape, and have a poor attitude. Many contract life-threatening illnesses and depart this world long before they should.

Workers are not the only ones who pay the price for an unhealthy lifestyle. Poor productivity, excessive sick days, and health issues costs employers millions of dollars each year. In the U.S., depression alone costs over $35 billion annually in reduced workplace performance. The total cost of presenteeism- employees who come to work when not fully functional due to health issues- is over $150 billion per year in the U.S., according to one study. Employees force themselves to get the work done, while many are suffering from illnesses caused by unhealthy work habits.

The media has done a great job of revealing the high cost of unhealthy teams. As a result, employers are taking action, implementing health and wellness programs designed to change corporate America for the better. These organizations recognize that employees are their most important asset and they want to care for them better than in the past.

Unless a company is very large, it probably cannot afford to have a health and wellness staff. Some organizations contract with third parties that implement health and wellness programs within the company. Through classroom learning, demonstrations, and interactive activities, employees learn to reduce stress, manage conflict, and improve personal diet and exercise habits.

Cooking, communication, collaboration, relaxation techniques, and authenticity are several topics covered in this type of program. Companies can find vendors that provide everything from workshops that run for a few hours to programs that take place over several days. These providers work with employers to tailor an approach that addresses key wellness issues plaguing staff members. Some companies can get workers back on track after a few sessions, while others require a more long-term approach to employee wellness.

Team health and wellness are critical to improving workplace productivity and keeping employees engaged. The corporate bottom line benefits from both of these and the lives of employees are often permanently changed. This win-win situation is something any business can create with a small amount of money and the proper assistance.

A great question that’s difficult… Yet this will be easy to understand!

The human body is a complex machine on the inside. I like to use the term “chemical computer” because that’s exactly what it is.

You have a base program and upgrade it through nutrition and supplementation to make up for bad coding, or just refining the code to make it work 5x better.

If you’re asking: how do digestive enzymes work? Let me break it down…

Let’s say you’re supplementing with protein shakes — out of 40g you are only breaking down about 25-30g, excreting the rest.

Our bodies can only assimilate a smaller portion of food than you think!

The above example, though small is harmful to muscle-building, healing and more, in general.

There are many digestive enzymes (22+!), however this 2-part series covers the main base of enzymes. Some are plant-based (proteolytic), others are not.

The Enzyme Team:

• Protease-Supports breakdown of all proteins except those of living organisms, it does this through hydrolysis.
• Amylase-Breaks down carbohydrates into sugars, both slow and fast dieting sources. (Sweet Potato = Slow, Rice= Fast)
• Lipase-Responsible to breaking down all fats within the body including CLA, ALA and Omegas.
• Lactase- Assists in the breakdown of lactose sugars from dairy.
• Sucrase-Facilitates the breakdown of sugars. Makes fructose and sucrose molecules smaller for the small intestine to absorb.
• Papain-Derived from Papaya, papain is a secondary protein enzyme, it works in the same way as Protease, but more specific to tough meat fibers (Beef, Chicken, Fish, etc)
• Bromelain-Not just for allergies! Bromelain is derived from Pineapple and contributes to further protein breakdown. Also a great anti-inflammatory when taken between meals.
• Pepsin-Another protein enzyme that assists in breaking down amino acids like Papain/Protease

First of all, without this awesome team, your gut health suffers as do your goals and emotional well-being. Science has shown that gut health is linked to mental health, falling in line with Chinese Medicine teachings.

Considering the above enzymes; breaking down proteins, amino acids, fats and carbs becomes more efficient as a result.

Let’s say you’re out at your favorite Italian restaurant and you have their world-famous classic lasagna with a soup, around 1,125 calories…

The macronutrient ratio is most likely going to look a little something like this:

Protein: 55g

Carbs: 80g

Fat: 70g

Sodium: around 2,500mg

That’s actually somewhat difficult for the body to break down on it’s own and nutrients don’t get utilized. As a result, the intestines can only break down so much at once.

Like the internet, your intestines are a series of tubes…

if a packet is too large, it will be ignored/removed from the data sent across the internet.

Similarly, particles too large to breakdown simply exit as normal, at the cost of losing valuable nutrition that powers your life and goals.

Enzymes attack these large particles of proteins, fats, carbs, and sugars to break them down into easily digested particles for your gut to turn into fuel.

By taking digestive enzymes you actually make your body more efficient and reliable, sapping every ounce of nutritious goodness out of every bite you take.

That is only going to lead to higher performance, stable moods and better health. Who says the body wants to work hard 24/7?

By giving it some breathing room to do less work, you come out on top all around.

Can you see why choosing to use digestive enzymes is such an important aid to your dietary and nutrition goals?

Personally, I don’t go without them! I even take some with me if I’m dining out as I know I’ll be having a large meal.

Do you use digestive enzymes? Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts, as well as your experience taking them.

Are you tired of being tired after work? Do you want to feel better about your job? If so, take a quick look at these 4 reasons why you should find a way to stand part of the day while you work. It doesn’t matter if you put a box on your desk for Zero Dollars or you spend $5,000 for a full size electric desk, the goal is to get you up and moving while you work.

1. Recent studies have shown a link between sitting in a chair all day and cancer rates. “It’s just one more reason to “get up and walk,” said Dr. Jay Brooks, chairman of hematology/oncology at Ochsner Health System in Baton Rouge “The message here is like everything in your life. People need to recognize that the things you do every day have consequences. And if you’re in a job that does require sitting, that’s fine, but any time you can expend energy is good. That’s the key.”
2. While there is not a complete study to verify this, I can tell you from my experience that when you feel better physically, you tend to feel better about your work. I had gotten to the point where I was unhappy in my job, but after using an adjustable height desk for just a few weeks, I had this renewed interest in my work.
3. To avoid health risk you need at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. By standing part of the day it gives you the opportunity to do squats and calf lifts while you are working.
4. The answer isn’t to stand all day either. Hazards Magazine says “Individuals spending most of the day on their feet every working day are at greater risk of health problems including varicose veins, poor circulation and swelling in the feet and legs, foot problems, joint damage, heart and circulatory problems and pregnancy difficulties.”

The bottom line is that if you sit all day it’s bad. If you stand all day it isn’t much better. Like most things in life, moderation is the key. Alternate between standing and sitting though out the day, sitting for a half hour then standing for an hour or so. Rinse and Repeat! Once you are comfortable standing for an hour or so, take things to another level by standing on one leg for a while. Be careful not to over do it, but there are so many different ways to move while you are standing and working.