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A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.

~Irish Proverb

Welcome to a new and hopefully helpful post for those of you who suffer from not being able to sleep.  Whether that be just general insomnia or just can’t seem to get to sleep.  There are many, many of us out there and apart from being annoying, frustrating and of course tiring, not getting enough sleep is also not the best for your health and well being.

That being said I hope to share with you some of my tips for helping you with this very common problem.  Not being able to sleep or get to sleep can be caused from a huge array of reasons.  Stress is a huge factor as is anxiety, pain,

Can't Sleep...!

interrupted circadian rhythms (shift working/jet lag) and various other medical conditions.  Circadian rhythms are, in a nutshell, your body clock.  They tell us when we need to be awake and asleep.  Shift working and other factors like jet lag can put these rhythms out of whack making it difficult to sleep at usual times.

I suffer from insomnia, especially getting to sleep, I am a bit of a stress head to say the least.  Of course, not being able to go to sleep can be treated medically, and I do liaise with my Doctor, but I am not a huge pill taker if I can get away with it.  But there are others or so many people who just persevere with the problem.  Of course that in time will take its toll on you your mental state and body.  Having this problem and at times with quite a severitiy I stumbled upon something that has helped ease and some nights totally help me get to sleep reasonably and restfully.  I have found Binaural Beats.

Binaural beats have been around for some time, but it is the last few decades where they have been seen to help with relaxation/sleeping amoungst other things.  Very basically Binaural Beats are 2 beats played in stereo 1 beat at slightly higher or lower frequency than the other.  These beats act upon the brain, near the brainstem, specifically in the superior Olivary Nucleus.  Hearing these beats in stereo with speakers or headphones you can detect these beats, but the brain uses these and also can detect between the beats which is what helps with relaxation, getting to sleep and at some higher frequencies being more awake, refreshed or more active.  There  is much reading online that you certainly get get more indepth information about Binaural Beats and how they really work.  And I will share some links below, but this post is about what I have found useful for me and you may like to give these options a try for yourself.

I have always liked listening to the radio or music before trying to go to sleep, and with Binaural Beats you don’t really have to change this habit too much.  You may or may not have heard of White Noise, which is baically what your TV or radio sounds like between channels.  Well there is a colour spectrum of noise.  Mixing Binaural Beats with Green Noise is what seems to work and quite possibly a little easier on the ears.  Well for me anyway!  Green Noise is defined as normal noise or outdoor noise.  We have all heard these noises and of course there are many relaxation audio tracks around and you would have heard 1 in your time.  By mixing the 2 noises/sounds together you can combat or reduce insomnia.  I have a iPhone App which has Green noise looping tracks on it and you can add Binaural Beats to these tracks for added effect.  In this App you can also make up your own Green noise from the many audio tracks and set your own Binaural Beats as well.   For sleep or getting to sleep it is best to have low frequency beats.  You can also download Binaural Beats directly from the net as well.

I would have to say that since using the iPhone App – ER Ultimate Relax available at the App store – on occasions I have

Aaaahhh...ZZzzz...

found that I have moved into sleep quicker than the norm.  Now I am no expert and certainly everyone reacts differently to different things.  And I do recommend that you do your own research or reading on the subject and even speak to your own health professional,  but I am glad that I found out more about Binaural Beats and how they can help reduce the effects of insomnia and help get me off to Dreamland a little more often.

Sleeping is no mean art:  for its sake one must stay awake all day.

~Friedrich Nietzsche

Wikipedia – Binaural Beats

The Science – Web Us

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Blog From Anywhere…..

“Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.” – B Clark

Need a mobile option to Blog ALL THE TIME…. I hope I have given you some options, so you can Blog until your hearts content, and then some…. Go Forth and Blog.

Blogpress Screen Shot - iPhone

‘A blog is merely a tool that lets you do anything from change the world to share your shopping list.’ – Anon

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Offline Marketing

‘If you want success, then do not rely on other people to do what YOU can do’

- Sasha Azevedo

Working a home business or 2, especially online with all the different formats available certainly helps us as entrepreneurs.  But, maybe we could get our ideas, business or message to more people.  Those who don’t know yet that they need a change in their lives or want to subsidize their income or even challenge themselves doing something different like an online home business and attraction/network marketing, or just blogging a message that will no doubt help someone somewhere.  In a previous post, I talked about attraction marketing and using the great exposure that social media and articles can and do give to everyone involved with getting their message out there and branding themselves as some one of high value and even trust.  But what else can you do to add to exposure and bring more people into your circle of online friends and/or business downline.

No matter what type of business or product/ service anyone has… even something like a garage sale, some form of marketing is the key to gaining the biggest success.  So what other types of marketing can we a blogger or home business person or anyone do to spread the word and advertise our great product and/or finacial gain.  I have recently taken to offline marketing to co-inside with my online presence as I want to reach out to a local audience, and also am looking at lower costs in marketing while my businesses continue in their growth stage.  Most people have done some sort of offline marketing to some extent before.  And in some some sense I am not going to give you a heap of new ideas, but as an entrepreneur, one must compete on the same playing field, find new ways and stand out from the crowd.  I have started my offline marketing simply with the use of flyers.  Both for letter box dropping (which doubles as a workout for the day ), and ‘tear off’ flyers which can be posted at most shops and community

notice boards.  This is a great place to start, and has seen interest generated for my main marketing promotion for my second business.  In fact within 1 day I had an inquiry from a ‘tear off’ flyer.  So rest assured people DO read and seek information off line.   I try to make sure that the person reading it is made to think about their current situation and if they have thought to change this situation, and where they can go or contact me to find outmore or DO something to make the changes in their life that they may be seeking.

Of course you will have your own ideas on what you want to say or how you want to market your opportunity, but I guess what I am looking for are the people who have asked themselves before ‘is there a better way?’, ‘I want to live life… how can I do that?’.  Even with offline marketing , I still have online web addresses as people today like to see what you are talking about, and find out information for themselves.  They feel less pressure.  Of course some people prefer to hear from the ‘horses mouth’ so to speak and will ring you or email you straight up, so of course be prepared for this, know your product/service, but also have your questioning ready for the person who has contacted you.

Word of mouth is also a great vehicle for marketing and is the cheapest – FREE – and easiest for of marketing you can do for yourself and indeed for your business or blog, charity or group.  When you have a conversation with someone, especially someone you have just met or haven’t seen for a long while some of the questions you are asked include what are you doing with yourself these days? … and what work are you doing?  How do you answer… what do you say?  Well firstly with the truth, but also in a way that you are not selling what you are doing.  This can put off even the ‘bestest’ of friends and new associates.  Why not put a new spin on it, a lot of people out there are pretty set in their thinking about working from home.  Lets be real, a  lot of people do at times look at you as if you have 2 heads, and begin to get nervous that you are going to hound them until they buy something or sign up.  I had this experience the other day.  You will not and can not sell or talk to anyone, especially those who build brick walls in front of you straight after you answer their question.  But on the other hand how can you pass on the message about something that could change someones life.  A great opportunity kept a secret isn’t so great if people do not know about it! “If people do not know about a product, service or opportunity, they will not ‘buy’ it”.  A bit of a catch 22, but you can tell people about your opportunity, service or blog without alienating them and losing friends.

So what is the new spin?  When someone asked what you are doing or where you are working why not have an answer that you have thought about.  Why did YOU start a home business or blogging, what was the reasoning for you choice or did you have a problem you wanted fixing?  Work on an answer for this pivotal question.  Have 2 or 3 different responses for differing situations.  And get the person asking the question thinking…  You should not even have to state what products or opportunities you have in your answer and if the person wants to know more GREAT!  An example might be – “You know how everyone seems to be talking about the global financial crisis lately… well I help people to find a way to become more financially and personally secure, and in time help change their financial or personal situation from crisis to comfortable, all from home online…” This is a simple example, but I think you will get the idea.  You haven’t pushed anything onto the person you are talking to and they want to know more that is up to them.  And if they are asking the questions THEY want to know more, and are therefore more willing to listen to more information about what you do.

So what other ideas are out there other than just talking to people or letterbox dropping etc.  Well I guess in some instances the ‘sky’s the limit’, what do you think will

Offline Marketing Ideas

work for you.  Some ideas can be web addresses painted/sticker-ed on your car, business cards, ‘sky writing’  (te he he… but it is used), t-shirts or other apparel, sponsoring events or local functions, newspaper ads, bumper stickers, fridge magnets and so on… I guess it is up to the imagination to how far and what type of offline marketing you can do for your business  or service.  I have touched on what I do, and which is cost effective for me and my offline marketing.  Have a go and market your service,opportunity or blog offline as well.

‘Make it simple, make it memorable, make it inviting to look at, make it fun’

- Leo Burnett

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Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.  ~William Arthur Ward

It is funny how much you notice when you sit back and NOTICE.  I guess along the lines and ‘take time to smell the roses’…  I have to be honest and say that I am at a lower point in my ever cycling ‘Wheel Of Fortune’.  I think it is safe to say that we all go through ups and downs, and if you like to dabble in tarot readings, I do a little for fun and also at times for the guidance that does appear, you will know that there is such a thing or card which depicts the life or ‘Wheel of Fortune’.  I am sure that mine is and, will soon move forward, through the lower points of a

Wheel of Fortune

cycle at the moment.  We all go through those times when it seems that no matter what you do, or how you feel or remain positive and determined that there is a force that wants us to go through things the tough way, ‘The Bumpy Road’ etc.  I have noticed that I am going through one of those tougher times.  What do I mean… I guess where nothing seems to be happening no matter how much effort and thought and visualisation and positive energy I give projects.  I know that I have reached a point where I have had to stop and regather my thoughts and build back my strength and courage of my convictions so I can continue with the good, fun and new found work with my home business, and enjoy living life NOW.  Home business is certainly where I am at, where I want to be and definitely something that I enjoy, but there is or can be low points even when living life and working from home.  I love talking to people and hopefully getting the chance to help them, but they also need to be ready to help and at a point that they want to be enjoying all the gains from working at home.  I remain positive that that I am on my chosen path for this section or the rest of my life…  I am happy with all my decisions for my home business and also personally.  I have always seconded guessed myself and been critical of myself in many situations previously, but have seen changes in myself for the positive.  But, these sneaky little self-doubts and personal criticisms have found a weakness in my new found strength, and thus combined with the lower point of my ‘Wheel of Fortune’, have made me sit back and just breath and take stock.

So, if you are asking the question… I have be second guessing myself over the past few days.  Argh….!!!  :s   But enough is enough.  I have removed myself from the areas of self doubt and given more time to just being… and in a sense refreshing and revitalising my thoughts, persona and just ME in general.  And there are a few ways that I do this, and maybe you can relate to how you move yourself from those low points back into bouncing around and enjoying everything and anything the world, the day, friends, family or whatever have to offer.

First things first – GRATITUDE – oh yeah … GRATITUDE.  Believe it or not I always try and take time every day, usually in the evening when everything is quiet, to be grateful for something or many things from that day or even week.  This technique gives so much reality and focus back to things that have happened and more often happened for a reason.  Of course I am grateful for the good things that come my way.  As an example, I won about a kilogram of dice just yesterday and you would know from my interests and hobbies that I love dice, this is something that has happened as a true positive for which I am grateful, but I am also grateful for the timing of this boost, but also grateful to know that times change ALL the time.  I am

Gratitude

also grateful for the fact that my ‘Wheel of Fortune’ has rolled through a low point.  I am grateful that it shows me that I am stronger and have the courage of my convictions to push through and begin to prosper again or even more.  Gratitude is very underestimated.  Being thankful for the good, obviously, and the bad can turn some much more into your favour.  Being grateful soon turns our minds to the positives and our belief in people, what we are doing, life and so on floods back and everything seems to change or cycle through to the high point of the ‘Wheel of Fortune’.

Apart from gratitude, and also taking a step back from what I am doing and refocusing, I also find those things that inspire me or help motivate the positive thoughts that are having a snooze.  I listen to my most favourite music…LOUD (sorry neighbours !), this is also very good Feng Shui for yourself and your home, but that is a post for later.  I also watch the movies that I find inspiring or have a story, fiction or non-fiction, of overcoming adversity and gaining the end result for the character or characters.  I also take time out.  Working from home helps with this immensely.  Whilst still maintaining those tasks that need maintaining with my home business, I have time to go for a drive or walk along the beach and other mind and body revitalisers.  I am sure you have your own outlets for helping revitalise and refocus yourselves.

Training Scenes from Rocky IV – MGM Entertainment 1985

SO finally, I am sure that my ‘Wheel of Fortune’ is beginning to move again towards a new peak.  I remain positive and grateful and most of all believe that where I am at is where I need to be to reach my next life point.  What about you?  Be grateful for everything, things happen for a reason, push through your doubts or even the doubts of others and know that you are doing what you are doing because it is for YOU.  Live Life NOW…

‘Let us give thanks for this beautiful day.  Let us give thanks for this life.  Let us give thanks for the water without which life would not be possible.  Let us give thanks for Grandmother Earth who protects and nourishes us.’
Daily Prayer of the Lakota American Indian.

‘Gratitude is the beginning point and end point of every form of wealth’ Dr G Pickering

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“It is proven that the celebration of birthdays is healthy. Statistics show that those people who celebrate the most birthdays become the oldest.”

Hi there all!  I have been busy with my home business and haven’t posted for a day or 2 or 3, but that is changing right now….    If you visit my site now and again, and thankyou if you do and even if you don’t, you may have noticed that I have a little stats box now on my pages.  If you didn’t notice that is ok too…  it is not a huge widget!

I am always intregued, and of course want to know, how many and when and where people visit my home home business blog.  Kind of so I don’t feel left out… no not really, mainly because I like to know that I could be helping someone out there.  This little stats box has confirmed that I do have a visit to my site and not always by ME…. LOL…   You may notice that the widget has a G logo and that is because I am using the F.R.E.E service from ‘Go Stats’.  You can click on the widget to go to their site and check it out… and if you like it sign up for the free option.  This little gadget, and remember it is the free option, gives me stats on number of hits and visits, times, countries and even browser types…. heaps of information from my back office at ‘Go Stats’.  You even get a weekly email with weekly month and all time results… what more could you want.  Especially when I am very much driven by increasing numbers of visits or hits… Love IT!

So if you are like me, or even if you are not…. and like to have some statistics for your site, and is easy to set up cut and paste some code, visit ‘Go stats’ and see what they have to offer.

“42.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.” — Steven Wright

Blogging Equations

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It is getting a little late for a Monday night, but for the online business woman it is never to late to share thoughts or ideas.

I have an iPhone, as you would know from previous posts. And I would have to say that I am glad that I have this all in one business tool. I have just checked all my email accounts, tweeted on Twitter, checked Facebook, got the weather forcast for tomorrow, watched an inspiational video on Youtube and am now posting this update or blog post, all from my iPhone. This is truly a great business tool and an easy way to take my online home business anywhere anytime in lew of my laptop… Or sharing information from the couch while relaxing for the night.

If you are considering a new phone/ online business tool that is even more portable than your laptop, you could do worse than my favourite portable device… iPhone 3G.

Have a great night and always remember Live Life Now!!!

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YouTube – The best motivation video.

I found this as a post from a networking friend on Facebook and had to share to keep the theme of the day going….   Enjoy

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Inspiration & Motivation.

MslilPeta’s musings on inspiration and motivation.  Ideas and links… I have shared some of what motivates me… Please enjoy and be inspired…!!!

Internet Network Marketing a “ Fad”  or here to Stay? – D Innes

‘By associating with wise people you will become wise yourself.’

- Menander