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Organization

Time management: let productivity vampires get brushed off

Time management: brush off productivity vampires

1. Time management tip: Take responsibility

If you, as a good time manager, want to use your valuable resources of time and energy efficiently, you must take responsibility for your actions and not leave it to the circumstances or other people. Although this is easier, it has fatal consequences, because you lose the opportunity to learn from mistakes, to critically examine your actions and then to change them.

However, if you take responsibility for yourself, you can take the initiative and act instead of just reacting. In this way you will find more time for yourself and reduce pressure and hectic. You no longer allow excuses, no longer distract from yourself and no longer use external factors to justify your actions. This is what self-controlled time management looks like!

2. Time Management Tip: Don’t let others dictate your time

This does not mean that you should ignore your boss. It’s about how YOU use your time. For example, if you check your email first thing in the morning, answer some, put others off to deal with later, you’re just reacting. You do what others think is important. Does it make you more productive? Not at all. Because the e-mails can also wait until you find the right time for them.

You only become more productive when you start taking action. Optimize your time management! This means that you focus on the most important things first thing in the morning. If you carefully analyze the way you work, you will quickly find out whether you react habitually (to the wishes of others) or act independently.

3. Time management tip: Be proactive

Proactive means deciding in advance how you want to proceed. For optimal time management, think about which task you want to concentrate on in the morning. This includes blocking disruptions as far as possible during this time and avoiding interruptions. You can do this by closing your door and telling others that you do not want to be disturbed. Only in this way will you be able to become more productive and not get distracted.

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Travel

Holidays in Thailand with children: yes or no?

Holidays in Thailand with children: yes or no?

Thailand has been very popular with many tourists for years. It’s consistently warm, the food is delicious, the cost of living is low and the beaches are beautiful. Many package tourists as well as backpackers in particular have discovered Thailand for themselves and are boosting the economy there.

Thailand is often excluded as a travel destination by families with children: “The long flight”, “too hot”, “too many risks and dangers” and “what should our child eat there?” are just some of the reasons why this travel destination ( or Asia in general) is often not considered from the outset. A trip to Thailand with the children in tow can be a great experience that is completely unproblematic for the little ones.

Vaccinations and first-aid kit

It is crucial that parents prepare themselves and their children well for the trip. This includes the most important vaccinations such as polio, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A and for longer stays also hepatitis B and a possible malaria prophylaxis, which can be taken in tablet form.

A good first-aid kit can’t do any harm either, although you can buy all the necessary medicines in pharmacies in Thailand (and they’re usually much cheaper than in Germany).

How do children survive the long flight?

For the long flight (11-15 hours, depending on the connection), depending on the age of the children, toys should be taken with them so that they can be kept busy on the plane. Many airlines have special cots for babies, in which the infants can be placed and then slumber peacefully. Older children often enjoy the on-board entertainment and are content to watch a few hours of movies or series.

The first row on the plane is basically intended as a parent-child row and can be reserved in advance. There is more space than in the normal rows and the children can spread out a little on the floor and play there, or there is space for the special baby bed.

Shade and water help in hot weather

Once in Thailand, the hot and humid climate can be challenging for children, so it’s important to keep them well hydrated than at home. The midday heat should also be avoided and primarily only the shade should be sought anyway.

For children’s sensitive skin, parents should have sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 50 in their luggage, as well as a sun hat and long-sleeved, light clothing.

This is how children can feed themselves during a trip to Thailand

As far as food is concerned, parents can bring food from Germany for their babies. Baby porridge is also available in Thailand, or you can cook it yourself in the kitchen of a holiday apartment using locally bought vegetables.

Even slightly older children can – as far as they like it – feed themselves like adults in Thailand. Rice, chicken and the delicious curries and soups, like fresh fruit, do not pose a health risk as long as everything has been cooked long enough or – in the case of fruit – peeled.

It shouldn’t be too spicy

Parents should only pay attention to the spiciness when eating their children and maybe try it beforehand. Children perceive sharpness much more strongly than adults, which is why attention should be paid to this when ordering food. Especially in the tourist places in Thailand there are also western restaurants where the little ones can be provided with pizza, fries and pasta if they feel like it.

Children’s paradise Thailand

The peculiarity of Thailand and the Asian region in general is that children are very welcome there. As a family, many Thais perceive you more consciously than individual tourists and the interest and friendliness are even greater.

Children are welcomed everywhere with open arms and in Thailand at least the locals do not need to be afraid of annoyed looks when the child is restless. Many restaurants also offer children something to play with, do handicrafts or paint, so that the little ones are busy and just as comfortable as their parents.

The children should also be prepared for the trip

If the children are big enough, you should talk to them a lot beforehand so that they too can prepare for the trip. If everyone involved approaches the holiday with the necessary relaxation and thorough preparation, a long-distance trip to exotic Thailand with children is no problem.

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job

Earn money with call options

Make money with call options

What exactly is an option?

An option on an underlying asset, such as a stock, is the right to buy or sell that underlying asset at a specified price within a specified period of time. A call option represents the right to buy. The opposite is a put option, which entitles you to sell. In both cases there is only a right but no obligation to trade, which distinguishes options from futures. For more information on call options, see this post.

types of options

Options differ first according to their underlying value. It can be a share, but commodities and other values ​​are also possible. A distinction is then made between options according to the type of permitted exercise. American call options certify the right to buy within the term, European options can only be exercised with a purchase at the end of the term. The difference is smaller than it might seem because an option can be traded as a security during its lifetime. If you want to exercise a European option before the end of the term, this corresponds to selling this option.

Possibilities of call options for investors

The price of an option, i.e. the option premium, is very often much lower than the price of the underlying asset itself. This is also plausible, because the option, in contrast to ownership, only allows a significantly limited disposal of the underlying asset. This means that the investor can earn a price gain on this value as a return with much less capital than for an acquisition of the underlying asset.

Conversely, the investor’s risk is naturally high. If the price of the underlying develops differently than the investor had predicted, the option is worthless and a total loss of the invested capital occurs. This is the case with a call option if the price of the underlying falls. Then the option to buy is worthless if the spot price on the market is lower than the agreed strike price of the option plus the option premium.

Behavior of call options in different price movements

The investor purchases a call option. He thus benefits from a rise in the price of the underlying asset. The maximum loss is the capital used for the option premium, the possible gain is just as unrestricted as the price increase of the underlying asset.

The investor sells a call option. He then benefits from a fall in the price of the underlying. In this case, the option holder will let the option lapse and the investor reaps the option premium. If the investor does not own the underlying asset and has to purchase it on the spot market when exercising the option, the loss in this case is just as limited as the price increase of the underlying asset.

This way of selling an option is less risky if the investor owns the underlying asset and can expect the price to remain the same or fall.

The prices of options

When trading options, the limit to profitability depends on the option premium. Exercising an option only pays off if the price moves so far in the predicted direction that at least the option premium accrues as a return.

But how do you determine a realistic price as an option premium? A first heuristic consideration is that the premium should increase with the intensity of the currently observed fluctuations in the price of the underlying asset. Then you expect a higher probability that the strike price of the option will be reached.

Of course, this is by no means sufficient for a quantitative formulation. In 1973, economists Fischer Black and Myron Scholes proposed what they called the Black-Scholes formula for determining the option premium. However, it only applies if certain assumptions are met, which is often, but not always, the case. For other cases, the question of a realistic price for an option is still an interesting area of ​​research today.

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Home Garden

The best washer dryers

The best washer dryers

In this article, we would therefore like to explain to you how a tumble dryer works, what types of tumble dryers are available and what the capacity of the available washer-dryers is. In addition, we will also tell you what the energy efficiency and drying efficiency class is all about, which should also be taken into account when buying a washer-dryer.

How does a washer dryer work?

Washer-dryers combine the functions of a washing machine and a tumble dryer in a single device and their design is mostly reminiscent of a conventional washing machine. For washing, the laundry is simply put into the drum and after the wash cycle you can dry it directly. This way you don’t have to transfer the wet laundry from the washing machine to the dryer. In addition, both the washing and the drying function can be used independently of each other and, in addition to the well-known standard functions, most washer-dryers have additional functions.

types and functionality

In this country, the so-called front-loading washer-dryers are the most common design. With these, the opening for filling is on the front of the washer-dryer, which has the advantage that the top can be used as a shelf. In the case of the so-called top-loading washer-dryers, on the other hand, the top must remain free because the flap for filling is located there. But as a comparison of the currently best washer-dryers on the market makes clear, the market in this country is dominated by front-loading washer-dryers.

In addition to the design, the available washer-dryers also differ in terms of how they work.

condensation dryer

Washer-dryers that work with condensation dryer technology work on the following principle:

  • Cold air is heated in the washer-dryer, whereupon the moisture in the laundry is absorbed by the warm air.
  • The warm, moist air is then routed to a condenser, where it is cooled down again.
  • The condensed water flows away via a waste water hose.

heat pump

  • A heat pump washer-dryer first blows hot, dry air into the drum, which absorbs the moisture from the laundry.
  • The air then cools down until the water condenses and flows out via the waste water hose.
  • The heating element is then heated by the heat pump, which means that dryers with a heat pump use less energy than a condensation dryer.

The capacity

Compared to a simple tumble dryer, the available washer dryers differ primarily in terms of their capacity. Because while a tumble dryer can dry between 7 and 8 kilos of laundry at once, only between 4 and 6 kilos fit in a washer-dryer. For this reason, you sometimes need several cycles through a washer-dryer for the laundry of larger families before the laundry is completely dry. This not only takes longer, but also consumes more energy, which is why the classic combination of washing machine and tumble dryer is sometimes the cheaper solution, especially for large families.

Energy efficiency class and drying efficiency class

The energy efficiency class of a washer-dryer results from the annual electricity and water consumption of the device. Particularly economical models can be recognized by the energy efficiency class A, while devices with high consumption are classified in class G.

In order to keep their own electricity and water consumption low, users should use a particularly energy-efficient A+++ washer-dryer. Although such devices cost a little more to buy, they convince in the long term with low energy and water consumption and high washing and drying performance at the same time.

When choosing a washer-dryer, the drying efficiency class should also be taken into account, which indicates how much residual moisture the laundry still has after drying. And in this case, too, the best models are assigned to drying efficiency class A.

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Organization

Do you love perfectionism?

Do you love perfectionism?

How about some imperfection instead of perfectionism?

The supposedly perfect life that’s so easily attainable is a dangerous delusion because you’ll never make it happen. They bind energy that you can use more sensibly elsewhere.

Instead, encourage your strengths and own your weaknesses. Life has rough edges. Only if you accept them will you get along better with yourself and your environment. Exaggerated accuracy makes you ill in the long run. Lower your expectations of yourself and save yourself a lot of time. Rule: As good as necessary. Not better.

Everything has two sides – even perfectionism

Do you often think: “If I don’t do everything right, I’m a failure”? Get rid of that opinion as soon as possible. You are a lovely person and endowed with skills that only you are particularly good at. Oh, you also have a dark side? Of course, they are part of it! Are you excellent at organising, but always taking on too much? Are you obsessively pursuing something, but often only realize too late that it’s not worth it?

Just accept the imperfections. That’s what makes you lovable. Stand by it and make it clear to others as well. What else do you have to offer the world if you are who everyone wants you to be?

Forsake perfectionism

Just ask for help, answer a question with “I don’t know”. This relaxes your subconscious immensely and the inner pressure eases considerably. You don’t have to be better, faster, more effective every day. Switch to enjoy and don’t chase the impossible. Even in aerospace, technicians and designers assume that no important system works perfectly – which is why many are duplicated.

Categories
Travel

We’re going on vacation with our fur nose

We’re going on vacation with our fur nose

lining

dried animal food

This is the simplest solution for the loveliest weeks of the year. You can easily transport the brand you are used to and the quantity you need. Of course you can buy the usual dry food within Germany. This is no longer a matter of course in other neighboring European countries.

Each country has its own feed manufacturers. The products are sold in supermarkets or pet shops. For you, this means a short-term feed change. A purchase over the Internet can take a few days. To get more information on the subject, you can visit the dog portal Puppyblicke.de, where you will find a lot of useful information about keeping your dog.

wet food

Depending on the size of your dog, the amount needed for a week or two is quite substantial. If you have enough space, transportation won’t be a problem. But the disposal of the garbage? Most European countries have waste sorting. Some cans can only be handed in at recycling depots. Where is the closest to your vacation spot?

The alternative is you take the empty cans home with you. The easiest way is to get your furry friend used to dry food while planning your holiday.

barf

This healthy and species-appropriate diet is the most problematic on vacation. Take-out may be available for just a week. The cold chain must not be interrupted. Transport in refrigerated containers and at the holiday destination a chest freezer or a refrigerator with a freezer compartment is required.

Within Germany you will definitely find a butcher you trust. It’s more difficult in the neighboring countries. Especially if you don’t speak the local language. In addition, many people in these countries have little understanding of your feeding problem.

The well-known dry food would be discussed here as a short-term holiday alternative.

Drive

Your dog loves driving. This is a basic requirement. How long is he used to sitting in the car? Depending on your holiday destination, you will be on the road for a few hours.

Adjust the breaks during the journey to your four-legged friend. In the car you should

  • water
  • water bowl
  • poop bag
  • rope
  • muzzle

have at hand.

Park at rest stops near green spaces. The “small business” is usually done. Sensitive dogs sometimes shy away from “big business”. You are far too excited in the unfamiliar environment.

The removal of the legacy is not only important in Germany, but also in holiday countries. Sometimes there are drastic penalties if you do not comply with this activity.

In Germany we are spoiled by the many poop bag dispensers. Some of them do not exist abroad or they are empty. So you have to buy the bags on the way or at the holiday destination. The search for the dog bags can spoil a vacation day. In addition, they are relatively expensive. So stock up on those little plastic bags at home.

Another tip: do not give your darling anything to eat while driving. The excitement can lead to diarrhea or make him feel sick.

holiday destination

Your darling doesn’t know. Don’t let him run loose unattended. The inhabitants of holiday countries are often more friendly towards dogs than the media or the internet say. Unfortunately, the tolerance stops very quickly when your dog chases cats or suddenly stands on a strange terrace.

For example, pets rarely belong in the house in Italy. But that doesn’t mean they don’t love their animals. Of course it’s different in the cities. There the dogs cannot live in a garden. But in general, dogs are not family members. The locals do not take their four-legged friends with them for a stroll through town or to a restaurant.

air travel

Many airlines allow you to take your dog with you on the trip. Small dogs (so-called “handbag dogs”) can go in the passenger compartment. All others must remain in a dog box in the well-tempered hold.

Checking in and out with a dog takes some time. The flight box must meet certain standards. With all the practice and care, this procedure is pure stress for every furry friend. Does a holiday trip to Mallorca or Greece have to be with a dog?

Conclusion

The holiday together with the dog is a wonderful thing. Our fur noses are family members. Plan your holiday individually for and with your dog. Leave nothing to chance and you both will have an unforgettable time.

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job

Economic consequences of the corona virus on the labor market

Economic consequences of the corona virus on the labor market

increase in unemployment

The economic consequences of the corona virus on the labor market can be seen particularly clearly in the rising unemployment figures. However, this effect does not come as a surprise. In April, the statistics here shot up by around 300,000 to 2.65 million. However, this rapid increase was not due to layoffs alone. Instead, many job seekers had to interrupt ongoing training and other measures. As a result, they could no longer be calculated out of the unemployment statistics.

Early Warning Signs

The Ifo Institute from Munich conducted a survey of German companies at an early stage. This showed that around 20% of all employers had decided not to renew current fixed-term contracts. In addition, the first layoffs have already been decided due to the economic slump resulting from the Corona crisis. Experts from the IAB (Institute for Labor Market and Vocational Research) estimate that it will get even worse. Depending on how soon the economy can return to more or less normal operations, experts expect unemployment figures to grow to more than 3 million in the coming months.

The big losers

The catering and hotel industry as well as the events industry were by far the hardest hit by the consequences of the corona virus on the job market. They suffered and are suffering more than other companies from the restrictions imposed due to the pandemic. 43% of all organizers see themselves forced to make layoffs. In the hotel industry it is even 50%. The unfortunate leader, however, is the gastronomy sector. Here, 58% of all companies are planning to cut jobs in the near future or have already done so. However, layoffs also appear to be inevitable in most other sectors. Even if restaurants and cafés are now open again: Wherever many people come together, the distance rules will probably have to be observed for a long time. This applies equally to gastronomic facilities, hotels and event venues. Hardly any establishment will therefore be able to exhaust its capacities again in the foreseeable future. If the premises are already tight, the operation may not even be worthwhile for many owners. Fewer guests does not just mean less sales. The number of service staff required is also reduced accordingly.

the retail trade

Compared to other sectors of the economy, the German retail trade is hardly affected by the restrictions imposed by Covid-19. Nevertheless, many businesses are suffering severely from the economic consequences. That should be the tense situation of many people. After all, anyone who has to fear for their job or has got into financial difficulties due to short-time work has little desire to make large new purchases unless they are absolutely necessary.

Low earners are particularly at risk

Economists, however, fear a worsening social imbalance. Because of layoffs, the people who earn little anyway are affected or threatened. Political measures must be taken urgently here so that the situation for the people does not deteriorate further.

Significant increase in short-time work benefits during the Corona period

To ensure that the economic consequences do not get too out of hand and to secure as many jobs as possible, the government made important decisions at an early stage. At the beginning of the crisis, for example, support for employers with short-time work benefits was decided. Small and medium-sized companies in particular could and can only keep many of their employees as a result. However, it is uncertain how long this will work. However, the great financial crisis of 2009 already showed that short-time work benefits can at least temporarily keep jobs. While the economy collapsed worldwide and the number of unemployed skyrocketed, it rose by just 0.3% in Germany at the time. The consequences of the corona virus on the labor market are likely to be significantly worse. Between March and April – i.e. at the beginning of the crisis – German companies had already applied for short-time work benefits for more than 10 million employees.

Emergency aid for entrepreneurs

With the short-time allowance alone, the economic consequences of the corona virus on the labor market would have been much more serious than they are now. The various emergency aid programs are an important factor in rescuing companies and the jobs associated with them. Despite the initial chaos and some uncertainties, many companies and self-employed people received financial aid. To this end, the federal government and the individual states had put together several rescue packages. Even if not everyone could be reached, for many companies the short-term economic losses were at least compensated a little.

As can be seen from the infographic, the coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on the number of unemployed. According to reports, the effect is now diminishing somewhat. It remains to be seen whether and how quickly the economy will recover completely and to what extent, in particular, the consequences of the coronavirus on the labor market will return to normal. Because a second big wave of new infections is now considered very likely.

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Home Garden

Selling a property – 3 golden rules for private real estate sales!

Selling a property – 3 golden rules for private real estate sales!

If you want to sell a property, you not only need a lot of patience, but also the necessary specialist knowledge. Owners of residential real estate basically have two options when they want to sell their house or condominium: handle the sale alone and privately or sell the house with a competent real estate agent at their side!

The decision to sell a house always results from completely different reasons. Whether it is an inheritance, a suddenly changed life situation, a move to another country or for age-related reasons – selling a house always requires an effort that should not be underestimated. For most people, this is the first time they have ever thought about selling a home. In order to find a buyer as quickly as possible and to sell your house at the best possible price, you need to pay attention to a few important factors. For this reason, we have designed a guide for you below that will support you with three golden rules when selling a house.

Working with a broker often pays off

Selling a house on your own is often much more time-consuming and laborious than working with a competent and regional real estate agent. If you plan to sell a house in addition to your job and everyday life, you often experience a lot of stress and hectic. Hiring a real estate agent can therefore be worthwhile. Home sellers should definitely work with a brokerage agency from their region. A house sale in Elmshorn or Itzehoe should therefore be approached with a brokerage agency such as visalo immobilien, so that one can benefit from the intensive market knowledge of experienced brokerage professionals. The service provided by brokerage agencies is very extensive and makes selling a house much easier, so that a broker can take care of a large number of tasks, from creating a sales advertisement to viewing appointments and sales talks. Even if brokers demand a commission, it is often possible to achieve a higher sales price together with a broker’s office than if you try to assert yourself on the real estate market in your region all by yourself.

Have a professional valuation done

The price expectations of many home sellers are often linked to an emotional and personal value and are often far too high. In order to find out the market value for a realistic price negotiation, it can also be worth resorting to the expertise of a broker. Most real estate agencies can determine the value of a property very precisely, so that the house sale can be made much easier.

Compile meaningful photos and information

Nowadays, buyers and sellers in the real estate market are mainly brought together online. Exposés on the Internet ensure that potential buyers are interested. The following applies here: The better the photos and the more meaningful the information about a residential property, the more interest there is in buying. The creation of a sales advertisement on the Internet is therefore inevitable in order to reach a large number of potential buyers. Sellers should place as much value as possible on a professional sales advertisement in order to make the property sale as quick and smooth as possible.

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Organization

This is how your hotel will be found in the Internet jungle

 

Business tips organization

Hoteliers invest a lot of money and time in the design of their own websites in order to present themselves as effectively as possible to potential guests and to make the advantages of their hotel known. The annoyance is great, however, when it is found that you only appear in Internet search engines from page 4 or 5 and as a result there is hardly any access to your own domain. We have put together tips for you on how to optimize your homepage so that it is at the top of the search engine rankings.

 

Hotels: This is how your hotel will be found in the internet jungle

Tip 1: Check keywords

Think about what keywords Internet users enter into search engines when they need to find exactly their hotel. In addition to your hotel name, this can be your city, region, sights, special services of your hotel or famous people in your region. These keywords should appear regularly on your homepage.

Tip 2: Set up an event calendar

Set up an events calendar on your homepage, which will show all the important cultural and sporting events in your city or region, as well as your internal events for the whole year. Update this regularly. On the one hand, your guests will know after a while that they simply have to go to your homepage to find out about current events. At the same time, you will also find out about your own offers. In addition, your hotel will also appear in the search engines if the name of a corresponding artist or event in your region is entered into the search engine.

Tip 3: Update the homepage constantly

Only regularly updated websites appear at the top of the search engine rankings. Make one of your employees responsible for keeping your homepage up to date by feeding it new offers, events or news for your guests.

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Travel

General knowledge about the peculiarities of the Danube

Travel: General knowledge about the peculiarities of the Danube

The source of the Danube is in the Black Forest. There is disagreement about where exactly: Both the source next to the castle of Donaueschingen and the confluence of the small rivers Breg and Brigach feed the Danube – Brigach and Breg bring the Danube to the way, says a mnemonic.

At 2850 km, the Danube is the second longest river in Europe. The dispute over the correct source of the Danube has led to the fact that, in contrast to rivers with a clear source, they are measured backwards from the mouth.

The Danube flows partly as a border river through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine and flows into the Black Sea. A number of European capitals lie on its shores, e.g. B. Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest.

Almost all river names are derived from early names for brook, river or similar, presumably also “Danube”. Researchers suspect that the name has its origins in the language of the Celts, who once lived in the headwaters. There was Dona-aw for “deep water” and Do-avv for “2 waters”, which could refer to the 2 headwaters. A relationship with the Indo-European danu = river is also possible. Here there was the ending -ouwe, a feminine term for floodplain or river. With the Romans, the Danube had the masculine name of the river god Danuvius.

What does the Danube tell about humanity?

Researchers assume that the Danube is the first river in the world to be traveled by people, as its banks show ancient traces of human settlement history. In 1965, archaeologists excavated around 9,000-year-old dwellings on the right bank of the Danube. Graves, houses, hearths, weapons and jewelry are evidence of a highly developed culture.