planning

Package theft is a growing concern, especially in urban areas where online shopping has become a staple. The convenience of having goods delivered at our doorstep often comes with the risk of these items being stolen by "porch pirates." This article will outline effective strategies to reduce the likelihood of package theft and ensure that your deliveries reach you securely.
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Many of us can't imagine life without our pets. According to the American Pet Products Association, nearly 70 million U.S. households include at least one dog and 45 million households include cats. And it's no surprise: their wagging tails upon our arrival home and purring snuggles after a long day at the office are the best kinds of welcomes. The relationships we forge with our furry friends can be some of the most supportive.
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Anymore, it's an expectation: New Year's Day rolls around and a laundry list of resolutions lies before us. Gym membership and self-help book sales skyrocket. The revelry of the holidays gives way to Dry January, "clean" meal planning, and the next best diet. Entrepreneurs recommit to the hustle. A growth mindset is on the tip of everyone's tongue. It seems that everyone is looking to fix, improve, and ascend the latter of some self-determined actualization or another.
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It's an invisible facet of the aging process, but more critically linked to maintaining health, functionality, and autonomy than perhaps all else: brain health. From infancy to adulthood, the brain is in a constant state of growth, forming more than a million new neural connections every second in the earliest years of life and achieving 90 percent of its adult volume by age 6.
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Over the last decade, there's been a shift in the workplace, one that prioritizes the health and happiness of employees. For large corporations, like Facebook and Google, that might include time allotted to working out each week in an on-site facility, and for most, it's meant a shift in work schedules from in-person office time to hybrid models. This new "business as usual" allows increased personal freedom and an improved work-life balance for many. However, for managers, it has necessitated an overhaul of procedures to ensure traditionally effective business standards are met.
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The appeal of freelance, contract work, and work-from-home careers is broad and deep, including the unlimited opportunity for financial growth, unfettered freedom, flexible schedules, the pursuit of personal goals, and the list goes on. And, while that's all as true as the day is long, so is the lack of structure and unmitigated personal accountability. For freelancers, time management is of the utmost importance. Without a strong commitment to making and keeping deadlines, responsibly managing workflow, and sticking to some sort of structured daily schedule, freelancing can spell personal and financial disaster.
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It's one of those things that's overlooked until it's absolutely necessary: a first aid kit. Whether you're relaxing at home, navigating five-o-clock traffic, or summer adventuring in your new RV, having a simple first aid kit can mean the difference between an inconvenience and an emergency.
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Never has a vacation seemed more appealing than the present. On the heels of a pandemic that just won't quit, the country is currently reeling from the everyday impacts of inflation on transportation, housing, groceries, and more. For many, vacation plans have taken a backseat to the responsibility of more pressing financial matters. But, that needn't be the death knell for the unique family experiences and meaningful memories that only time spent away from it all can provide. Here are some budget-friendly options to get in on a little taste of the sweet life.
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Summer's generally agreeable weather and extended daylight hours in North Carolina make it an ideal season to tackle renovations, remodels, and other household fix-its. Still, these projects aren't without inherent challenges and risks. A little due diligence at the onset can do much to minimize unhappy surprises and make for successful, stress-free (or, at least, as close as it gets) renovations.
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With summer, comes a welcome invitation for people in North Carolina to spend as much time as possible outside. Not only does nature replenish Vitamin D and support immunity; reduce anxiety and depression; lower blood pressure and reduce stress; increase serotonin and reinforce circadian cycles for better sleep; and improve focus, but it may also help reduce cancer risk by increasing anti-cancer proteins. "Being outdoors in nature can be healing and beneficial for the body and mind," says certified therapeutic recreational specialist Erica Price. "Whether at the beach, forest, or in a neighborhood park, nature offers a calming effect. And, when we combine nature with physical activity, it can help fight depression and anxiety."
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When COVID-19 shut the entire world down two years ago, many wondered how businesses would pivot and persist. As closures and restrictions continued far beyond anyone's initial projections, it became obvious that "business as usual" was going to be anything but. And, while the transition to a remote model for schools and businesses throughout the world was an unprecedented shift with no real map for structure or outcomes, many made the adjustment with relative ease and found the remote model was not without benefit. Now, as the corporate world attempts a return to what was, it faces a number of concerns and considerations, not the least of which being a pool of employees that might rather remain remote.
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With spring comes cleaning, and with cleaning comes a fresh opportunity to take on tired interiors and welcome the light and liveliness that summer ushers forth.
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Internet queries for advice about finding success in life, love, and business consistently top trending charts, while self-help titles touting one route or another as the road to greatness never fail to make their mark on the New York Times Bestsellers list. So, if you've ever wondered how to make that proverbial lemonade from the lot of lemons life may have dealt you, here are some bits of entrepreneurial wisdom from some of the world's most successful people.
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You get to the end of your flight reservation and the page comes up: For a few extra dollars, would you like to purchase travel insurance for your trip? Or maybe you're planning that once in a lifetime trip, and an experienced agent has suggested you purchase a travel policy. So what should you do?
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For new homeowners, if you managed to buy a house in today's market, you definitely have a lot to celebrate. So now what? Well, whether you just purchased your dream home and plan to stay in it forever, or a property you hope to use as a stepping stone to better things, there are a few things you need to know in order to make your investment work for you.
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Winter is coming, and with increased costs on gas, food, and just about everything else, it's no surprise that your energy bill might threaten to strain your budget this season, too. But there's actually a lot you can do to stay cozy and warm and reduce your energy consumption this winter. Here are some ways to save on heating.
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As youngsters, the more serious-minded among us were vigilant about making the Scout motto "Be Prepared" a reality. Now with the latest round of fires, earthquakes and hurricanes, the old adage is more relevant than ever. Even in North Carolina, we all have the potential to encounter the occasional unpredicted mishap. But few events can be as unpredictable, or devastating, as natural disasters: hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tsunamis, severe storms, tornadoes, and landslides, many of which we've been faced with lately.
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Figuring out what you want to do with your life career-wise can be a challenge for anyone. Even as an adult, you might find that you're in the wrong line of work... but how do you discover what the right line of work is for you? And if you're a parent, you most likely want to help your children figure out these types of things before they head down the wrong path. You want to give them the freedom to explore without having to spend years of their life (or a lot of your money) wandering without direction.
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Most Americans don't worry about how much water they use. But life depends on having enough clean, fresh water and this precious resource is becoming more scarce every single year.
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If you're thinking about purchasing a new car, it makes sense that you might trade in your current vehicle to help you with a down payment. Or maybe you have a vehicle you no longer need and are just looking for a way to make some extra cash. But what's the best time to trade in your car so that you're getting the maximum benefit? And how do you decide? Here are a few things to consider before pulling the trigger on a trade-in.
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Deciding what you want to be when you grow up is not as straightforward as it used to be. These days, it's not uncommon for people to switch careers multiple times, work in a field that is completely different from what they studied in college, or create a completely new job or business doing something that started as a hobby. So how do you know whether you're on the right path, and not just jumping from position to position? And how do you plan for and realize your goals when it's likely they will change over time? Here's how to plan for a successful career, even when the future is uncertain.
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