6 Simple Home Care Tips to Relieve Sore Feet

Your feet do a lot of heavy lifting throughout the day. Whether you walk around the house or ride a bike around your neighbourhood, your feet are constantly under a lot of stress every day. It is no surprise then that they may feel sore after a long day.

Foot care is crucial in ensuring that your feet are in tip-top shape. Aside from trimming your nails and washing them regularly, addressing the soreness after a tiring day contributes significantly to maintaining their health.

Some of the common causes of aching feet include:

  • Walking or standing for long periods of time
  • Injuries such as sprains
  • Strains on the ligaments and joints due to obesity
  • Issues in foot structure, such as high arches or flat feet
  • Hormonal changes during pregnancy that loosen up ligaments

Sore feet can significantly impact your lifestyle if you don’t address them properly. Before going to the doctor or visiting a trusted physiotherapy clinic, try the following care tips first at home to soothe your soles and toes.

Put Your Feet Up

The simple act of putting your feet up can significantly reduce the pressure on your feet. After getting home or when conditions permit, lift your feet on the bed, a stool, or a short table for better blood circulation. This act is especially helpful to pregnant individuals, where feet may swell due to fluid build-up in that area.

Stretch Your Feet and Calves

Like other parts of the body, your feet also need to stretch from time to time. Doing so not only addresses the aching, but also helps prevent cramping later on. It also promotes flexibility, which will help avoid injuries like sprains. Additionally, since the feet are connected to the calves, stretching your lower legs may also help tackle the soreness.

Some of the exercises you can do include:

  • Curling and flexing your toes
  • Rotating your ankles clockwise and counterclockwise
  • Shifting the weight between your heels and toes while in a standing position
  • Picking up marbles with your toes
  • Performing Achilles stretches on a chair or the wall

Draw a Foot Bath

Sometimes all your tired feet need is a warm, relaxing bath. Soaking your feet in a tub of warm water can relieve the muscles and reduce the soreness after a taxing day. Accomplish this by preparing a small foot bath where your feet are submerged completely for around 10 minutes.

If you wish to elevate the experience, adding Epsom salts can produce a more soothing effect. To apply this, sprinkle one to two tablespoons of Epsom salt in a gallon of warm water and soak your feet for around 10 minutes. However, if your feet are hot, tired, or swelling, opt for cool water instead.

Get a Foot Massage

Massaging your feet may improve blood circulation and help relieve soreness. Begin the process by sitting in a comfortable position and kneading the sole of one foot. Afterwards, go to your toes. Pull them apart and bend them for a good stretch. Using a lotion or some oil for lubrication will make the massage easier. Don’t forget to make sure that the lotion or oil does not contain any ingredients that may be bad for your skin.

Apply Ice

Exposing your feet to something cold can reduce inflammation and, consequently, the aching in your feet. Use a homemade ice pack or a package of frozen food (e.g. frozen peas, frozen grapes) to ice your feet. Before application, make sure to put the ice pack in a towel first. Doing so will avoid frostbite, which can harm your skin and underlying tissues if you’re not careful.

Switch to More Comfortable Shoes

Many people say “Fashion is pain”, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of your health, including your feet. Make sure to wear footwear that is in your size and offers your feet the proper support. Bear in mind also that shoes that are already worn out may no longer offer the right amount of cushioning as well. By wearing the right shoes, you can avoid arch pain, swelling, and aching, especially on a busy day.

Indeed, there are many home remedies that you can apply to reduce the pain in your feet. However, remember that these care tips can only address the problem so far.

Here are some of the signs that you should seek professional help:

  • If you have a health condition, such as diabetes or an autoimmune disorder
  • Injuries like a suspected fracture or open wound
  • Increased swelling and severe pain in the area
  • Numbness or tingling at the bottom of your feet
  • If the swelling and soreness remains even after applying home remedies

If you suspect that your condition could be more serious, don’t hesitate to go to a doctor for a proper diagnosis. They may prescribe you some oral or topical medications to reduce the symptoms or recommend paraphernalia such as arch supports that can significantly improve your feet’s overall health.

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How to efficiently protect your surroundings?

A mum working from home with a child

This pandemic has shown us that hygiene and safety are two significant prospects to be taken in mind to live a healthy life. When the widespread pandemic came into the display, we realized that we had been doing various activities to increase the chances of viruses and other bacteria infiltrating our hygienic homes.

So in this article, let us discuss various methods we can use to keep your home safe from virus infiltration and how to prevent some common bacteria and infections.

 

Prevention against COVID-19

This virus has traumatic effects worldwide, and this has led to catastrophic changes and loss of income. Countless people have lost their lives, and countries are seeing the verge of recession, but we have overcome this pandemic with global support and humanitarian attitude. 

 

So we must bring together our learnings and make sure that we prevent any further spread.

 

1. Vaccination

Vaccination is the crucial need of the hour; the governments are trying to vaccinate as many as possible because this will reduce the chances of virus spread and prepare your body and immune system for any foreign particle invasion.

The government has provided two vaccine doses, so you must ensure that you get your family vaccinated and put them through a quarantine period after the vaccination of around two days.

2. Mask

Vaccine prepares your immune system to fight against the virus, but this does not mean that you are allowed to move freely without precautions. Masks are the most helpful way to prevent the spread of various sorts of this disease, so it is best that you must continue wearing a mask in public or crowded places. 

There are various types of masks as listed below.

  • Medical masks

These are just like the use and throw types of masks that we can quickly dispose of once used. These are mainly used when you are visiting any public place; you can buy a new one and dispose of it when you reach the destination.

  • N95 masks

These masks have a filter at the edge along with the easy placing of the show. These are the ones that can be reused, and they are worn at the corporate places where you mostly visit. They come in handy for around 5-6 uses.

There are also third types of masks known as cloth masks but they aren’t completely safe for the users to move out in crowds or public places.

3. Social distancing

Social distancing is not just a pandemic activity, but we should practise it more frequently. It avoids the spread of any other form of the virus. So when you are in a public place or a queue, make sure that the spacing between two people should be around 6 feet.

4. Don’t let your guard down.

If conditions are improving and many people infected are falling, you should not let your guard down because we need to remember that it started with a single person. So you must make sure to keep your surroundings clean and avoid touching public places like an escalator on the metro station and taxis.

5. Wash Hands / sanitize

Hands are the carrier of all sorts of viruses and bacteria in your body, so you must make sure that you should keep your hands clean. So you must always wash your hands when you come home from somewhere and also you must sanitize your laptop, computer and mobile phone before giving it to your kid.

6. Cover coughs and sneezes

Though most people cover their sneezes or coughs, some people avoid such points, so one must make sure that they protect their nose when they sneeze as it releases the infected bacteria in the surrounding region.

When a person sneezes, he can spread infected bacteria in the range up to 3 metres radius.

7. Disinfectant and cleaning

Around twice a week, have a complete cleaning session of your house with a sanitizing machine at the entry. So you must clean your home with disinfectants as they will erase traces of any form of dirt or infection.

So cleaning is not just an emergency activity, but it has to be taught in your routine.

8. Health log and regular checks

Many people think that they look fine then have no form of health issues, but this isn’t true; sometimes, a simple cough may be a sign of tuberculosis, and some irregular breathing may signify lung infection.

So make sure to have your body checked and keep a log of all the same.

Some tips to keep your home safe from Indoors

Though we do not realize various factors can harm your home, including Fire, Power Outage, and building flaws.

Fire can be controlled using fire extinguishers, but electrical fire is the real issue to be dealt with because it can lead to electric leakages in your home. So the only way to avoid this is by using top-quality insulation material, which prevents any power surges.

Electrical fire surges remain one of the major issues as it causes a significant loss to the property and life. It is crucial to insulate wires in your house electrically, and you must make sure that there are no power leakages because a small power leakage might be a short circuit.

These short circuits burn the appliance circuits and generate a need for replacement, so make sure to use fuse boxes to avoid power short circuits.

Also, it would help if you made sure that the fuse box in your home could counter-power outage and save appliances. You can also use breaker design fuse circuits which ensure your safety.

Conclusion

Pandemic will leave its mark in people’s minds because it has affected us most disastrously. But one needs to keep his home safe from all forms of hazards which include electrical fires, infrastructure issues and many more . 

Even records show electric fires rise and tragedies in the past decade, so use the best products to safeguard your house.

So we must make sure we avoid any such future casualties, so in this article, we discussed various ways to stop the spread of the virus and keep our surroundings safe.

 

 

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Planning a trip to Singapore? Be sure to keep the average cost of things in Singapore in mind, such as food, accommodation, transportation, and more.

younger Singapore residents

How Much Should You Budget For a Trip to Singapore?

With its amazing futuristic architecture, exotic and unspoiled nature, and hundreds of unique stores and shopping malls, it’s no wonder why Singapore is one of the top places to visit in Asia.

However, many travelers (especially those who are visiting Singapore for the first time!) will often wonder how much it costs to travel to the country, and if Singapore is budget-friendly at all.

If you already have the Singapore arrival card for US citizens and are ready to see the Little Red Dot, here is how much you can expect to spend:

Airline Tickets 

Depending on your location, Singapore is either fairly close or on the other side of the world.

Unless you live in Asia or the Middle East, airline tickets will usually be the biggest expense for your trip to Singapore. For quick reference, here is how much a one-way ticket to Singapore will cost from major cities (in USD):

  • New York to Singapore – $500
  • Paris to Singapore – $600
  • Istanbul to Singapore – $1000
  • Dubai to Singapore – $300

Keep in mind that in most cases, buying a round-trip ticket to Singapore may be significantly cheaper and could reduce the price by 20 to 40 percent!

Another trick to save money is to compare neighboring airline hubs around Singapore, such as Bangkok, Thailand or Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

If you find a cheaper flight to one of these places, you can use a budget airline (like Scoot or AirAsia) to fly to Singapore and see two countries in one trip!

Accommodations

Although Singapore is popular with tourists all year round, it is especially busy during the dry season, which runs from December to April. Since this is considered the peak tourist season, it is advised to book your hotel in advance.

When it comes to accommodation, travelers have plenty of options at different price points, including hostels, hotels, resorts, luxury hotels, and guesthouses. As with most touristic cities, the price will depend on many factors, such as location, comfort, amenities, and additional services like breakfast or airport transfers.

Travelers can expect to pay around $50 per night for a double room in an average, 3-star hotel. Those who are looking for prestige and luxury can expect to spend between $100 to $200+ for a 4- or 5-star hotel.

Of course, there is also the world famous Marina Bay Sands, which normally costs from $200 and up to $4,500 per night, depending on the room and season!

To get the best rooms, availability, and price, it is highly recommended to book accommodations as soon as you know when you plan to travel to Singapore.

Food and Drinks

While traveling in Singapore, be sure to try the delicious local food. There are so many excellent cafes and restaurants that are sure to delight your taste buds!

Similar to other Southeast Asian countries, it is customary to eat street food or fast homemade dishes in places like hawker centres, which there are plenty in Chinatown and Little India. Dishes in hawker centres will typically set you back only a few dollars (under $5 per dish).

Breakfast for two in a budget-friendly cafe will cost $10, lunch around $15, and a meal set from McDonald’s — around $9. Dinner at an inexpensive restaurant, without alcohol, will cost $30.

Transportation

Singapore has an excellent public transportation system that includes busses, rail (MRT), and even ferry services.

The city is served by more than four thousand buses that easily reach any part of Singapore. A ticket for a regular city bus is calculated by distance, and typically costs around $1 or $2, while longer distances have a price tag between $3 to $8. There are free busses and shuttles around Sentosa Island.

The MRT in Singapore (which is both underground and overground) is considered one of the best in the world. As with buses, prices depend on distance. One trip around the city can cost from 50 cents to 3 dollars.

There is also the monorail, which connects Singapore and Sentosa Island. The journey takes 8 minutes and costs $3. Taxis are more expensive and slower than the metro, but a great choice for families and groups. On average, a trip in the city will cost $8 to 15, and a trip to the airport from the city center will cost $18 to 25.

Due to high taxes, additional fees, and parking costs, renting a car in Singapore will not be cheap. The cost of renting a standard car starts around $70 to $100 per day and will go up depending on the model (SUV, sports car, etc). Likewise, travelers can expect to pay around $1.80 for a liter of gas.

Sightseeing, Excursions, and Souvenirs 

Last but certainly not least, don’t forget to leave a little room in your budget for fun!

Although the price for tickets and attractions differ based on the place, you can expect to spend between $5 to $15 for a ticket to a museum or exhibitions.

If you’re planning to visit Universal Studios Singapore, be prepared to pay around $60 for a non-resident ticket.

Finally, the entrance fee to the most popular attraction in Singapore (the Gardens by the Bay) starts at $10 and goes up based on extras, like a guided tour or special event.

As for tours, there are plenty of options, including group walking tours to fully private tours. A private tour will cost about $100, while group walking tours start around $20 per person.

No trip to Singapore is complete without souvenirs — thankfully, there are plenty of places to buy gifts, such as Lucky Plaza, Bugis Street, and Chinatown. Prices range from $2 for a simple magnet to $10 for a shirt and onward.

 

 

 

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8 Reasons Why Your Employees Are Leaving You

The reasons why an employee desires to leave may be obvious, such as wanting to pursue better opportunities or feeling underpaid. These reasons provide a better understanding of how you can improve your organization’s processes and recruitment strategies.

So, why do employees leave and what can you do to prevent a good employee from quitting?

#1: LACK OF APPRECIATION

Recognizing the efforts of employees can increase their motivation. When a company and its management ignore the employees’ accomplishments, they may seek value elsewhere. Implement a system that rewards quality output and efficient workers. Most employees are willing to go the extra mile when they feel valued by the company that they work for.

#2: FEELING UNDERPAID

With the uncertainties of the current situation, many Singaporeans seek stability. Salary is among the top reasons why employees depart from their previous employer. Offering competitive salaries and other benefits can prevent the employee from leaving a post. However, not every resignation is financial in nature. Uncovering other underlying factors can be necessary to retain an employee.

#3: LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH

Professionals have a potent desire to grow at a company. Who wants to remain stagnant, anyway? Recognizing the efforts and setting a clear career path can make the employees feel like they have a bright future in the organization.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#4: MISMATCH BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND THE EMPLOYEE

When you first arrived onboard, you were a perfect fit for the organization. As time passes, your goals and values no longer align with the organizational culture. This is a difficult situation to be in as the change needs to be addressed by several employees. Promoting open and honest communication in the workplace can bolster retention rates. Moreover, providing opportunities to interact outside of the office fosters a sense of camaraderie.

#5: LACK OF RESPECT

You are at risk of losing a good employee if he or she does not feel respected or trusted at work. Whether the employee feels disrespected by their boss or co-workers, the negative feelings can pile up. Employees can experience lack of respect in many ways ranging from written instances to sexual harassment. Prevent these issues by providing open channels for communication and exercising regular feedback.

#6: HAVING A HORRIBLE BOSS

A horrible boss can create a toxic environment for the employees. Many high performing workers quit their jobs because of their managers and not because of the job itself. Whether the manager is incompetent or is behaving badly towards the rest of the team, his presence can make or break an employee’s experience. Thus, training is essential. Ensure that the manager is given the tools to properly support their employees.

#7: DISCONNECT WITH THE COMPANY’S VALUES

If an employee no longer sees a connection between him and the company’s values, the employee can leave the organization. Do not sacrifice the company’s values for a result.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#8: NO WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Last but not least, having no work-life balance can contribute to an employee’s burnout and eventual departure. At the end of the day, you must respect that your employees have lives outside of work. Providing an ample amount for rest and recovery can help improve the quality of one’s work.

Sources: 1 & 2

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5 Coolest Co-Working Spaces In Singapore

Fast-paced developments in technology and connectivity paved the way for the rise in online jobs and tasks, especially with our current flexible working conditions. If the distractions at home are too much to handle, try fulfilling your tasks in a co-working space.

You can access Singapore’s co-working spaces whether you are a freelancer, a startup, or a well-established company. Read the article to find a space that suits your budget and your needs.

#1: THE HIVE SINGAPORE

Operating at twenty fantastic co-working spaces across seven countries in Asia Pacific, the Hive is recognized as a boutique co-working network. Since its inception in 2012, it has expanded to other locations such as Thailand, Japan, and Singapore. Frequent jetsetters can reap the benefits of accessing all the locations through the Hive Passports. Prices start at S$30 for a Hot Desk Day Pass.

Image Credits: thehive.sg

Location: Various locations including the Hive Carpenter at 36 Carpenter St., Singapore 059915
Website: thehive.sg

#2: JUSTCO

As one of the largest co-working networks in Asia with multiple locations in Singapore, JustCo blends functional spaces to the community. It raises the platform by offering the entertainment factor. The breezy spaces include a gaming room, a well-stocked pantry, a snooze lounge, and a meditation corner. Feel free to relax after a long day of work!

Image Credits: justcoglobal.com/sg

JustDesk Basic Plan starts at S$98 per month. Sign-up for a free trial to experience its services.

Location: Various locations including Marina Square, Raffles Quay, Robinson Road, and MacDonald House
Website: justcoglobal.com/sg

#3: CLUBCO

Tucked away on Cross Street, ClubCo is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. This modern co-working space fuses value-for-money membership plans with contemporary furniture. Anyone from consultants to occasional office workers can come inside to use their amenities such as high-speed Wi-Fi, smart TVs, private phone booth, photocopying machine, and complimentary beverages. Private meeting rooms of varied sizes are also available. What’s more? It’s conveniently located right beside the Raffles Place MRT, with a rooftop space where you can unwind.

Image Credits: clubco.sg

A Day Pass is worth S$40, which is available from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm.

Location: #04-00, The Quadrant, 19 Cecil Street, Singapore 049704
Website: clubco.sg

#4: THE GREAT ROOM

The Great Room opened its doors at One George Street in 2015. It is strategically located in the heart of Singapore’s financial and business district. Since then, The Great Room has opened four more spaces around the country among vibrant neighborhoods that brim with restaurants, shops, hotels, and wellness facilities.

Image Credits: thegreatroom.co

You see, The Great Room draws inspiration from the best hotel lobbies with its hospitality-inspired layout and highly functional spaces. The flattering lighting, decor, and furnishings make it conducive for ideas to thrive. Its options vary from a dedicated office to a business club. Be treated to something special with a Day Pass costing about S$70!

Location: Various locations including One George Street, Centennial Tower, and Ngee Ann City
Website: thegreatroom.co

#5: SPACES

From lively spaces to prime locations, Spaces has it all. What sets it apart from the rest is its flexible plans that you can tailor to suit your needs. For some plans, you could work at your desk at any time of the day. This is perfect for people who work remotely with global businesses.

Image Credits: spacesworks.com

The Co-working Membership fees start at S$178 for 5 days in a month.

Location: Various locations including Clarke Quay, City Hall, and Robinson
Website: spacesworks.com

Sources: 1 & 2

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