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5 Essentials For Women Who Are On Their Feet All Day

1/31/2018

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Nurses. Parking wardens. Shop assistants. Stay-at-home-moms. Teachers. What do they all have in common? They spend a large portion of their day on their feet.

In many ways, this should be seen as a positive. Sitting, for example, is thought to be incredibly bad for you, so a day spent up on your feet might seem like the perfect counterbalance to this. You’re up and moving, burning calories and gently exercising throughout the day. What could be wrong with that?​
The answer is simple: it’s tough. Being on your feet for more than a few hours has a tendency to cause a number of issues in terms of health and well-being. Your feet can be sore, your calves will ache, and you’ll sweat more than the average office worker. If your work involves you spending a huge amount of time upright, you’re going to want to guard against these concerns, so you can reap the health benefits of your active work life without any of the unpleasant downsides. 
Below are six essentials for women who spend a huge amount of their day upright-- hopefully you will find something that helps you get through the day still feeling your best!
#1 - Supplement magnesium
Magnesium is a vital nutrient, but it’s one that many of us are missing. It’s thought that at least half of the population do not ingest enough magnesium to sustain good health, and this is particularly worrying if you spend all day on your feet.

Magnesium is a muscle nutrient. Aches and pains in your calves from being upright can be alleviated by sufficient magnesium intake, especially if you’re already running low on the nutrient. Magnesium supplementation should be introduced gently due to its potential ​to cause nausea, so start at the lowest recommended dose and build up from there. There are a variety of magnesium supplementation methods to try, so take your pick from:
  • Take a supplement (always ask your doctor before taking any supplements, of course!). Ionic supplements tend to be better absorbed than tablet form, so if you want to maximize your intake, ionic is the way to go. You can find ionic magnesium online and at some chemists, though you may specifically have to ask for it to be ordered.
  • Use Epsom salts in a bath. Magnesium is well absorbed via the skin, so this is the perfect way to unwind after a long day.
  • Make a magnesium spray, which you can spray directly onto skin as and when required. Here’s a handy video that demonstrates how you can make one for yourself:
It’s also worth noting that a magnesium spray can easily replace your deodorant-- the odor control is second to none, and you’ll be guaranteeing yourself an extra magnesium boost every day.

You should find that with an increased level of magnesium in your body, you’ll experience fewer aches and pains when you’re upright all day. You may also experience better sleep and general health-- magnesium really is the mineral that offers a myriad of benefits!
#2 - Focus on your clothing
The more you are upright, the more your body is going to need to work and -- inevitably -- sweat. To ensure you stay comfortable, you need to focus on the clothing you choose for a heavy day.
  • As a general rule, loose clothing is far preferable than anything that is form-fitting. Teachers are best opting for dresses over pants options; nurses should opt for the usual colorful scrubs in a size that fits loosely over their frame; and stay-at-home-moms should choose loose t-shirts and leggings wherever possible.
  • The one group that may struggle to adhere to this philosophy is women who work in occupations with a uniform. One option to increase comfort is to ask for a uniform a size larger than you normally take, and wear loose, breathable cotton clothes underneath it-- this will also help you avoid having to experience cheap polyester against your skin!
  • Long clothing is preferable to short; for example, a shirt with arms that reach your wrists rather than your elbows. This will allow for maximum movement and comfort throughout the day. If you do want to wear short sleeves, then ensure they are loose around your arm rather than pressing into the skin.
  • A good bra is essential if you’re going to be upright all day; you’ll need the extra support that a good bra offers to your upper back and shoulders. It’s important to be professionally measured for your bra size so you can be sure you’re buying the right one -- a surprising number of women are wearing the wrong size bra -- and then opt for soft cups and wide straps to ensure maximum comfort.

If you do find that you’re uncomfortable after a long day, you can use a body moisturizer or oil to help soothe your skin. If you experience issues with chafing, then you may want to try powders that are designed to ease the problem-- they won’t be the most glamorous cosmetic products you own, but they will make you feel more comfortable!

#3 - Footwear
Your choice of footwear is vital if you’re going to be on your feet all day long. Shoes should be comfortable, flexible, and durable. Materials such as leather tend to fit these criteria the best, as they will shape to fit your foot and should hopefully last for a long time. Leather can be expensive, but it’s usually a better long-term financial option than having to continually buy new pairs of footwear made of synthetic materials.

You may find that a low heel is more comfortable than a flat sole, too; the extra arch support can hugely increase comfort levels. Ideally, the heel should be a block heel or platform rather than a stiletto, as this helps to support the entire foot as you go about your day. Again, shoes that fit this description may not be the most flattering you own, but they are going to ensure you still feel good after a 12 -hour shift.

When you have new shoes, they are likely going to fail one of the above essential criteria: they won’t be flexible. Luckily, you can “break in” your shoes relatively simply if you follow the steps in the video below:
Even when you have the right shoes that have been successfully broken in, you should always seek to add an insole to any shoes you wear. Insoles might seem like flimsy material that can’t be of much benefit, but you’ll be surprised at just how much of a difference they can make.

#4 - Momentary rest
Wherever possible during your day, take two minutes to help re-energize how your legs and feet are feeling. Take a few moments to yourself and stand upright, with one hand on the wall for support. You should then:
  • Stand on one leg and swing your free leg back and forth a few times.
  • Turn the ankle of your free leg 10 times in each direction, then point your toes for 10 seconds.
  • Switch legs and repeat.
You can do this as often as you need to, and while the relief will largely be short-term, it’s nevertheless beneficial. This simple exercise should increase blood flow and provide a little relief when it’s needed most.

#5 - Tiger balm
Tiger balm is an essential health supply for any woman who spends large swathes of her time on her feet. The balm contains a blend of essential oils that help to interrupt pain signals being sent to your brain, so you remain comfortable. Tiger balm should be applied directly to the skin where you are experiencing discomfort; the soles of your feet and back of your calves are likely suspects when you’re upright all day.

You can buy Tiger balm online and in some chemists, or you can try making your own. It can be more expensive upfront to assemble all the essential oils you might need for the DIY method, but when you have them, you’ll save a fortune on future batches. This video helpfully shows you how to make your own:
Just remember to very carefully wash your hands after applying (and making!) Tiger balm, as the essential oils it contains can be potent and may even sting if they come into contact with broken skin. Due to this, Tiger balm is best applied to areas that will be covered by clothing, such as your calves.

In conclusion
There’s no doubt that a working day spent on your feet will take its toll on you physically, perhaps even to the point it impairs your ability to do your job. The tips above should help return some comfort to your working life, as well as helping to improve your health in general. Give them a try and see just how much of a difference they can make to you.

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By Iconic Chica Mag Contributors

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Fashion Lessons From The Lens

1/30/2018

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Have you ever had your confidence knocked because of a picture of yourself? Have you set aside clothes you loved because you didn’t like how they looked in said photo? It can be a devastating blow. Wwe have favourite outfits because we think we look good in them. Finding out that isn’t the case is, understandably, difficult.

But, photographs like these have a multitude of lessons. And, if we want to make the best from a bad situation, we should learn what they teach us. That way, we can at least honour the lost clothing with some items which work better. Before you can do that, though, you have to work out what it is about the snap which leaves you not satisfied with your image. Which means returning to the scene of the crime, and considering these pointers.

Is your outfit really the issue?
Next time you look at the photograph, consider whether your outfit is the issue. You don’t want to discard a dress because of something else entirely. Consider everything, from your posture to your smile. If you’re hunched, your outfit doesn’t stand a chance. Put it on again and sit up straight to see how much difference it makes. If you don’t like your smile, it can offset everything. Look at other pictures to see whether there’s a common theme here. If yes, turn to a company like Smilelign who can solve the issue, and let your outfit live another day. It may even just be that you don’t like the angle. Often, seeing ourselves from a perspective we don’t usually spot can be confusing. Consider how the photograph was taken.
Your colour choices
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If you’ve looked at all the above and still think your outfit is to blame, consider what you don’t like about it. Often, it’s the colour choices we have issues with, rather than the shapes of our clothes. In photographs, out of place colours stick out like sore thumbs. If you’re wearing something bright which doesn’t flatter your skin tone, you’ll see it in a photograph before anything else. You may well love that gorgeous red cardigan, but there’s a lesson to be learned in your red face. Once you’ve identified why that colour doesn’t work, you can set about finding tones which suit you better.

The shapes you wear

The absolute worst case scenario here is that you find it’s the shape of your outfit which doesn’t flatter. This can be an issue because the majority of us buy clothes based on the shape we think suits us. By finding out that favourite top isn’t as flattering as you thought, you throw your whole wardrobe into question. The thing to do here is to remain calm. Take a long look and consider what it is about the shape of that particular top which doesn’t work. You may just find that the ruffles don’t work, or that the three-quarter length sleeves look wrong. Then, you can move forward avoiding details like these.

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by Iconic Chica Mag Contributors

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I've Graduated From University- What Next?

1/28/2018

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Finishing university is the end of an era. As stressful as it can be at times, uni is something of a ‘bubble’ and having to leave that and go into the big wide world can still be a shock. While you’ll have gained independence, studied hard and probably done some part time work too, it can still feel incredibly overwhelming. With no student loan, no student overdraft and without the support of your lecturers and classmates that you’ve had over the years, you’re likely to feel like you’re going it alone for the first time. However while this can be scary it can also be exciting, you have your whole life ahead of you and it’s entirely up to you what you do next.

Here are a few ideas for what you could do as a new graduate

Take a Year Out
Lots of people take a gap year before starting university, but actually taking one after is a great option too. After three solid years of study, some time out to relax, have fun and tick some things of your personal bucket list is no bad thing. Once you get into the world of work and secure a job it can be tricky to get this kind of time to yourself again so if you’re willing and able, why not go for it now? You could book a round the world trip, or go backpacking in all of the countries you’ve always wanted to visit. It’s not too expensive to travel like this but you get incredible experiences that will last you a lifetime. You could volunteer abroad or the country you live in, where you could gain practical skills that look good on your CV. You could do other things that will boost your CV too, from events to fundraisers interesting hobbies. Have a plan, if you take a year out then know how you want to spend it and enjoy every moment.

Study a Masters
If you love to learn, or just don’t feel like you’re done with the education system just yet- why not continue studying? As a mature student, studying for a masters has a different feel about it than getting your degree. You already know the ropes, you’ve learned that waiting until the day before to start an essay or start revising isn’t a good idea. You know that hard work pays off and your already in the swing of things when it comes to your education. You could either go for it full time or study online, according to LLM Study for example you can ‘search our LLM database to help you find the perfect program to study your LLM’ so ideal if you’re a law graduate. Now is also a good time to decide what direction you want to take your career in and allow you to specialise. For example, if you studied psychology at university, you could go on to specialise in forensics, counselling, sport psychology or whatever it is that interests you.

Find a Graduate Job
Finally, you could do what most people fresh out of university tend to do and that’s look for a graduate job. Your degree will give you the ability to apply for lots of entry level jobs, and if you fancy a change it doesn’t have to be directly linked to your degree in all cases. For example, if you wanted to become a teacher, a degree in any subject could be used.


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Give yourself an opportunity... explore, learn, and don't forget to have some fun.  

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​By Iconic Chica Mag Contributors
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What College Forgot to Teach You About Running Your Own Business

1/25/2018

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To many people, running your own business is the best course of action if you want to be wealthy and in control of your own future. As such, many teens and young adults will study courses that teach them how to operate a company, how to start a business and how to be a successful startup. Sadly, there are many skills that even some of the most comprehensive courses won’t teach you.

Part of the reason is that the business landscape is constantly changing. What you studied in college might not apply anymore because of the time it took from you starting your course to finishing it. Another reason might be because a lot of experience in business is obtained from failure and not success. If you don’t experience a crushing defeat at least once in your career, then can you really save you’ve learnt anything?

In this article, we’ll be going through some of the most important points to understand as a budding entrepreneur that college never taught you.
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Understanding Your Failures

Many colleges will fail to teach you about humility. They paint a picture that once you’re in, you’re in and that you have no chance of failing. They get you into this mentality that everyone can be successful in life and that there’s absolutely no chance that you can fail because you’ve studied this all-important course.

That’s all a lie.

No matter how much you paid for your college course or how hard you studied, if you aren’t able to embrace your failures then you will make virtually no progress in your own business. You need to have a more humble approach to your company and to account for every potential failure if you want to have a shot at making it big.
However, what’s even more important than learning about your failures is what you do afterwards. Whether it’s pulling out of a deal or apologizing to an employee, some business owners simply have too much pride and won’t be willing to take the obvious yet slightly embarrassing route to fix their problems. For example, they might neglect to look at their net working capital equation and, as a result, end up losing more money than they make. They might need to take a small business loan just to stay afloat, but their pride might prevent them from seeing the obvious problem; their business just isn’t profitable and something needs to be done.


Trying to be perfect in business is impossible. No business is perfect and even the larger companies out there do not strive for it. Throw the idea of a perfect untouchable business out of the window. Until you can run a stable startup and grow it, trying to be a perfect business is out of your league.

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Some Final Words

These are just a few points to keep in mind when running a business. While a business college is capable of teaching you the basics, there are far too many lessons to learn and it’s important that you are open to changes in the business landscape in order to be successful.

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By Iconic Chica Mag Contributors 
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How To Help Fund Your Child's Future

1/23/2018

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We all want the best for our children, regardless of what that entails. As your child starts to transition into adulthood, the harder things may become, because it'll soon be college time! This is a very exciting moment, but can also be a stressful one too. Your child will be nervous about the adventure that lies ahead, they'll worry about what direction they want to go in, and if they'll even be able to get there. One of the most common problems that override a lot though, is how are they going to afford it all? Unfortunately, going off to college isn't cheap.
Now unless they have been accepted into a college on a scholarship (which is amazing!), then they're going to have to pay their way.
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Here's how you can help your child through these difficult financial stages.   ​

Start a savings account
Now, if your child is ready to go to college soon, then starting a savings account now may be a little late, although may still help in the future. But most people - if their circumstances let them - will start putting any extra money they have away into another bank account and start a college fund for their child. You can do this by taking 40% of your income (after all bills and personal budget have been taken out) and putting that into your savings account. Do this every month, and you can only imagine how much you would have saved after the first year.
Take out a loan
One of the quickest and most effective ways of paying their way through college, is by taking out a loan. A lot of people worry about doing this is they don't have the best credit score, but there are such things called personal loans for fair credit, and this is suited specifically for people that need help with their current situation to determine what the best route for them is.
Before you take out a loan, it's important that you familiarise yourself with exactly what they are offering, as well as their interest rates. Never go with the first company you see - shop around until you find the right deal for you.
Get another job
If you already work and have the chance to get a second job to make a little extra money, then why not? There are many jobs that can be done part-time, like waitressing in a restaurant. You can work in the evenings, or even just on the weekend for a bit of extra cash. Having said that, why not encourage your child to do the same? This will not only earn them some money to pay through college, but it's showing them how adulthood really works, and it's time they take some responsibility for themselves, for their future. Plus, they will feel a sense of accomplishment because they're doing it on their own.

​Just make sure they don't take on
too much they can handle until they're settled and comfortable; otherwise, it may run them down to the point of exhaustion!

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by Iconic Chica Contributors
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Dealing with Debt After College

1/16/2018

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College graduates, more often than not, enter the big, wide world upon their graduation saddled with debts. These debts come in the form of the money they owe to their student loan providers. These debts come in the form of the money they owe to their credit and debit card providers after a few years of being loose with their spending. Basically, these debts come from all angles and they most certainly do loom heavy.

But, there are ways to deal with these debts, even as a recent graduate and a financial fledgling. To see some of these ways, make sure to read on.
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First of all, you must transition on from student life
Transitioning and moving on from student life is the first step to take when seeking to deal with life and debt after college. You see, once you move on from the idea that you're living in a bubble and your actions don’t have a consequence, you will give yourself a far greater chance of retaining a better hold on your spending and make you realize that, yes, spending does come with its consequences. Once that kind of thinking is ingrained into you, you will give yourself a good chance of learning and maintaining good money habits as well as the best chance possible to ultimately beat your debts.

Learn how to manage your student loan debts
When you entered your college or university all those years ago you probably entered into an agreement with a student loan company that said you would allow them to pay for your education and that you would then pay them back later in life. And, now you are in the position to earn yourself the salary needed to pay back this borrowed amount of money, you will find that your loan provider will be on your case now more than ever in order to get you to start paying their money back. So, you're going to need to start dealing with it. And, one way to start dealing with it is to look into private student loan debt relief options. What such options offer you is the chance to choose how and when your loan repayments will go out, giving you a chance to control and mandate them far better.

Pay off the other debts you've brought with you
Friends for life, memories, an education and a degree aren’t the only things that you will have brought with you from your time at college. No, you will also, quite likely, have brought other types of debt, too. For instance, you may still owe money on the accommodation you rented during your time at college, or you may owe your credit card provider or even your bank money after a few years of overindulgence and overspending. So, the first thing that you should focus on, even before you focus on dealing with your student loan debt, is paying off all of your other, smaller debts. For advice on the matter of doing so, make sure to head here.

You've left college you're officially a grown up, and now it’s time to start doing ‘grown up’ things. And, the best ‘grown up’ thing that you can do is to target your debts and seek to pay them off. So, get seeking, get paying and, most importantly, get de-debting yourself!

by Iconic Chica Contributors
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