If you’ve been bitten by the travel bug, your dream destination list is probably growing by the day. The trouble with travelling is the more you do it, the greater the urge to carry on globetrotting. Taking breaks doesn’t come cheap, but there are ways of saving cash when you book getaways and boosting your coffers before you go. If you’re hoping to see more of the world in the coming months or years, here are some top tips.

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Start budgeting now!

If you don’t already live by a budget, it’s never too late to take control of your finances and start cutting out unnecessary expenses. Budgeting enables you to see how much you earn and how much you spend. When you have a budget, it’s much easier to keep track of spending, and you may also be able to reduce or even eliminate some payments. Take a good look at where your money is going, and see if you could save. If you’re on a final push towards a trip of a lifetime, eliminate luxuries and indulgences and see if you can bring down household bills and spending on groceries and going out. Budgeting can help you to lower your outgoings, and it’s an excellent way of increasing the value of your savings pot. Once you’ve worked out how much you could feasibly put away each month, set up a direct debit to your savings account. Even a small amount can make a difference if you’re planning to book a holiday in a few months’ or a year’s time.

Make money online

If you’re looking for a sideline, or you don’t have time to get a full-time job, there are some great money-making opportunities online. One of the best places to start is selling stuff you don’t want or need anymore. If you’ve got a wardrobe full of clothes you don’t wear, you’ve got a tablet you barely use, or your book collection is taking over your bedroom, you can list these items on an online auction site. Other options include taking paid surveys, doing market research and entering competitions and prize draws. Some people also like the idea of playing games online or signing up with a casino and taking advantage of welcome offers. If you do try betting or online gaming, make sure you’re aware of the qualifying criteria to get your bonus before you deposit any money. Take care when registering with websites that promise you that you’ll make an income online, and only choose reputable, secure sites that have excellent user reviews.

Use your talents

Most of us would love to have a little more in the way of disposable income. If you’re studying, or you have a job, and you want to increase your income, consider using your talents to add to your travel fund. Are you a brilliant writer? Can you bake amazing cakes? Do you play a musical instrument or can you speak three languages? Look into options like selling arts and crafts and baked goods at fairs and local events, think about tutoring and offering private lessons or set up a blog or look for freelance writing opportunities.

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Are you on a mission to save money so that you can travel more? Hopefully, these simple tips will help you boost your travel fund and see more of the world.

Grunt, slap our alarm clock onto snooze, and roll over! That is the way most of us start our day! Of course, it's not exactly the ideal beginning. In fact, by starting your day right, you can create a positive mood and productive atmosphere that allow you to achieve a great deal more. That is why I have been working on the art of perfecting the early morning routine. Something you can read all about how to do in my post below.

Set one alarm

How many alarm do you set on you open each night to wake up in the morning? Two, three, more? Well, this behaviour may actually be sabotaging your ability to get up nice and early! This is because psychologically you are sending a message to your brain that you don't expect to get up the first time your alarm goes off. Something that makes it much more likely that you will roll over and then snooze your way through all of your other alarms as well.

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Remember too that every time you go back to sleep, you are minimising your own ability to feel like you have had a refreshing rest. That is why it's crucial if you want to start the day right that you set only one alarm, and make sure you get up properly once this goes off.

Next, you will find a lot of early morning routines that instruct you to get straight into the shower, or exercise. However, what I have found works best is if you actually allow your mind and body a little time to wake up.

What this means is heading downstairs for a light breakfast, some water, and above all else a good cup of coffee. Not just any coffee will do either, in fact, I like to make it something of a treat and go for a specialty brew like the ones that Two Chimps Coffee offer. Then, no matter what my day has in store for me, I know I will be awake, alert, and up to the task.

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Forget about frogs

Another piece of advice for early morning that I have come to realise is misguided is the eating of a frog. Not the actual act of course, but the idea that if we have something hard to do we should get that done first.

Instead, I think it's much better to do something straightforward, but that provides you with a sense of mastery. Such as tasks including a brief tidy up of the house, putting some washing on or out, or even make the bed. Then you will feel as if you have already achieved something that day, and it will make it easier to continue on positively.

Start your day with an intention

Lastly, before you rush off to deal with the craziness your day has in store for you, it can be useful to get really quite and set a positive intention first. To do this, you may review your goals for the week or month, meditate, or even do some yoga. Then you will be ready to face your day because you will have already started it in a positive fashion.

Going on adventures isn’t just a great way to have fun and make memories - it can actually be an awesome way to grow as a person. When you regularly go on adventures, you can learn new things, become more confident, and find all kinds of amazing ways to improve and enjoy life to the full.

If this sounds good to you, let’s take a look at how you can grow as a person on your next adventure below:

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Gain more confidence

Going on adventures can be a fantastic way to grow your confidence - have you considered solo travel as an option? Travelling alone might sound crazy, but it’s a wonderful option if you want to get to know yourself better, become more  comfortable spending time alone, and really gain confidence in your skills and abilities. There are all kinds of benefits of travelling alone. It might be scary, but choosing to go somewhere where there’s nobody there to hold your hand can have a huge impact on your life! There are still safety precautions you should take, but everybody should aim to travel solo at least once.

Do something that scares you

If travelling solo isn’t enough, how about aiming to do something that scares you? This doesn’t mean doing something completely irrational and crazy - just stepping out of your comfort zone a little bit. Doing something small that scares you can be just as impactful as doing something huge. Again, this will help you to build your confidence, and you might just learn something new. Looking at Lady Elliot island tours could be a great start, as you can explore the barrier reef and all of the incredible marine life there. Then there are things like skydiving, abseiling, and other cool activities. Even if the scary thing is speaking to a local, get out of your comfort zone and do it!

Make new connections

Making new connections can help you to grow as a person. You might have to force yourself to speak to people if you’re not naturally inclined to do so, but you can learn amazing things. Speaking to other travellers could mean picking up some invaluable tips, while speaking to locals could mean discovering hidden gems that you would never have found out about otherwise. Plus, you could end up making travel buddies, friends for life, or even finding a place to couch surf for a while. You never know where the next person could lead you or what they could teach you!

Immerse yourself in the culture

Immersing yourself in the culture and learning about the language, cuisine, and traditions of a place is a great way to expand your knowledge and worldview. When you completely immerse yourself, for example, stay with a local family, you must quickly get used to new surroundings and adapt to them. Not only is this great for character building, it helps you to fully live in the moment and enjoy your travels!

How will you grow as a person on your next adventure?

Bali is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the entire world. There is nowhere else on the planet that is quite like it. The scenery on offer will truly take your breath away. Firstly, you have the exquisite beaches. Yet you also have the spectacular and dramatic mountain scenery as well. Nevertheless, the sites are not the only reason why Bali has managed to achieve such an outstanding reputation. It is known for having one of the most vibrant cultures on a global scale and the local people go out of their way to ensure you feel welcome. This blog post presents some of the cheap yet fun things you can enjoy whilst visiting Bali. The location may be high in beauty, quality, warmth, and entertainment, yet it doesn’t have to be high in price.

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Where to go?

Taman Ayun Temple

This unique temple definitely has a certain charm about it. It dates back to the 18th century Mengwi Kingdom and is an important symbol when it comes to the aristocratic history of Bali, which is why it often the number one place to visit on uni trips and educational excursions. As soon as you arrive you will be in awe. There is an undeniable elegance and beauty about the temple which is surrounded by pools all the way around.

Mount Batukaru

Mount Batukaru is the second highest mountain in the whole of Bali. This is ideal for those who want to go off the beaten track whilst in Bali (in other words; jungle trekking). It is the perfect place for those who want to explore. The expansive tropical rainforest plays host to a wealth of unique beauty. Activities like this showcase why it is important to use a travel agent for cheap flights to Bali. They will be able to help you plan your jungle trekking activities. After all, if you have never been to Bali before you will struggle to organise this without expert help.

Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces truly embody what the beauty of Bali is all about. The stunning green terraces have been left untouched and thus you will get to witness natural and perfect splendour. The surroundings are extremely gentle and tranquil. They provide the perfect setting for those who wish to take a romantic stroll or enjoy some utter serenity.

Pakerisan Valley

When you visit Bali this should definitely be one of the places you make an effort to enjoy. It is a mystical river valley which attracts a wealth of attention because it still contains remains from ancestors of years and years ago. The stone carved shrines that honour 11th-century royalty is a spectacular site within themselves.

So there you have it; four fantastic activities to enjoy in Bali without having to spend a lot of money. Bali itself is a truly magical vacation destination yet this does not mean you have to break the bank in order to enjoy it.

Graduate school is an entirely unique and thoroughly challenging experience. While undergraduate courses are no walk in the park, when compared with a Master’s, they can certainly feel that way. You have to work harder and longer than ever before, with significantly higher costs, and you won’t have any time to blow off studying to get a few extra hours of sleep. That being said, it is a choice made by thousands of students each year and a manageable one at that. To survive grad school and ace your Master’s, here are some vital tips you should know.

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Switch up your approach
You may have been a strong undergraduate student, but that doesn’t mean you should assume the same will happen in grad school. Pursuing an advanced degree, like you are, won’t and shouldn’t be the same as pursuing your bachelor’s. The way you learn will be different, as will be the quality and quantity of work required from you. To get the most out of grad school, you need to understand and prepare for these differences by switching up the way you learn and work.

Connect with your classmates
Some of the greatest support you can get in grad school is from your fellow classmates. They understand what you’re going through as they’re in the exact same position that you are. That being said, they will all still have their strengths and weaknesses, which will allow you to help one another when given a particularly tricky assignment. Social media is a helpful tool for connecting with other students, but it is also incredibly beneficial to join or create a study group.

Take advantage of your professors

Where other students and advisors can’t help you, your professors surely can. Graduate school professors should be your number one contact for acing your Master’s. They have an incredibly wide and in-depth knowledge of many different subjects and areas, both inside and outside the classroom. They’ll be able to advise you on everything from study techniques to applications for internships. If you ever need help, you’ll be thankful that you keep in touch with your professors.

Clean up your online presence

These days, your digital profile matters a great deal. While most universities won’t vet your social media, there’s no denying that almost all employers do. With that in mind, graduate school is the perfect time to clean up your online presence and build up a professional image. After all, you’ll soon be looking for employment to start after you graduate. To ensure you seem employable, avoid posting anything you wouldn’t want employers to see. You can also increase your privacy.

Stay organised

With all of the work you have to do, you’re sure to collect a great deal of paperwork in your time at grad school. While some of this won’t be needed again, many of it will be, which means you can’t afford to lose anything. For this reason, most grad students benefit from creating a proper filing system. Whether this is in a cabinet or binder, be sure all of your papers are organised so that you can find them easily later. You should also make an effort to keep your work space tidy.

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Invest in your tools

It’s always easier and less stressful to complete work when you have the proper tools for the job. As a Master’s student, you won’t be able to borrow these from a housemate or just make do without them. Trying to do so will only ever end in disaster, wasting precious time and potentially impacting your grades. Rather than risk your hard work, you should invest in the basic kit you need. The items required for this will differ depending on your subject, but stationary is a must.

Practice effective time management

Many grad students have other commitments besides school, such as full or part-time work and family care. Because of this, you’re going to need to find ways to balance these commitments and make time for studying. This might mean taking time away from other activities, which can be tough at first but is ultimately rewarding. You’ll also need to avoid multitasking, learn to eliminate distractions you face and work when you feel the most productive throughout the day.

Learn on the net

For those still struggling with time management and other commitments, there are other options out there. If you can’t make the commute to school each day or have a family to take care of at home, then check out the University of Exeter Online site. The courses available here offer the same Master’s qualification as any other but can be completed entirely at home. This allows you to take classes whenever you want, which means you can fit them around your home life.

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There is no denying that going to university is an incredible experience, which you will cherish for the rest of your life. You are going to meet some amazing people, and hopefully, you will come out of your experience with a qualification that will set you up for the rest of your life. However, if you speak to most people that have been to university, they will tell you that they were not prepared for the whirlwind that came their way. After all, this is likely to be the first time in your life that you are 100 per cent independent. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the things most people wish they knew before they went to university.

It will fly by… Before you know it, you will be getting ready to graduate and your time at university will have come to an end. Don’t let university pass you by. It is a one-off experience and you are never going to have a time like this in your life again. Make sure you are present in every moment and that you fully enjoy it.

Explore all student accommodation options - There are so many different student accommodation options. A lot of people get hung up on living on campus. At most universities, there are very few spaces on campus. Even the university digs tend to be located a good walk away from the actual campus, so don’t let this stress you. Head to the Mighty Student Living website if you need some assistance in this regard. They have lots of great options available and plenty of useful snippets of information.

Take the opportunity to network - One amazing opportunity, which a lot of students do not make the most of, is the ability to network with lots of great people and professionals during your time. Not only can networking help in getting a great final grade, but it can also impact your job opportunities once you have finished university. When opportunities arise to meet professional people, do not overlook them, as you never know when that connection could come in handy. Always introduce yourself and make a lasting and positive impression. You never know which person could hold the key to your future career.

You don’t need to live up to the student stereotype - You probably have an idea in your head of how a student “should” act. You may think that you have got to party every night, but you really don’t. There are so many different types of students, so just be yourself. If you want to stay in with a nice cup of tea and a good film, do so! You won’t be the only one.

The library is going to be your best friend - If you’re not a library-type of person, you probably think you won’t spend any time there. However, you will quickly realise that you and the library are going to become very familiar. After all, you will find that all of the books on your reading list are going to be here, meaning you don’t need to purchase all of them. That’s another tip… don’t purchase everything on the reading list! You may find that some of the books barely get used, and so it is better to just borrow them from the library. Furthermore, the students in the year above may be selling their books to make a bit of extra money.

Your student loan is not free cash - Last but not least, it is very easy to few your student loan as free money for you to simply squander. However, to get through the year, you are going to need to save every penny, so make sure you budget, as this is something a lot of students do not do!

As you can see, there is a lot to contend with when going to university for the first time. Don’t let any of the above scare you. University is an amazing experience and you are going to have the time of your life. However, being prepared can certainly help you, especially when it comes to matters such as your student loan.

In this day and age, it’s often difficult to separate exercise and weight loss. All too often, we hear all about the benefits of exercise only when talking about trimming down and dropping dress sizes. The truth is that physical activity can aid weight loss, but it has so much more to offer you both in terms of your physical and mental health. If you’ve taken a break and you’re keen to get back on the proverbial horse, or you’ve never really exercised before, here are some of the incredible benefits you could enjoy by adopting a more active lifestyle.

A natural high

Many of us dread going for a run or going to the gym. When you’re tired, you’ve had a long, stressful day at work, or it’s raining cats and dogs, you might think that the last thing you need is to squat, spin, or swim, but you’d be wrong. If you can get over that initial barrier, and muster up enough enthusiasm to leave the couch or take a diversion on your way back from the office, you will not regret that decision. Exercise always makes you feel better, even if it’s painful at the time. When your body is moving, your serotonin levels increase in the brain, and your body also releases endorphins. This chemical reaction causes a natural high, which will make you feel relaxed, energised, and happy. If you’re stressed, you’re feeling a bit low, or you’ve been feeling sluggish all morning, even a few minutes of exercise could make all the difference.

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A confidence boost

How do you feel about yourself? How high would you rate your levels of self-confidence? Humans tend to be their own worst enemies when it comes to criticism and we are often our harshest, most brutal critics. We all have flaws, but sometimes, our imperfections can bring us down and set us back. Exercise is a really effective way of improving self-esteem. It can help you tackle body image insecurities, as well as showing you exactly what you’re capable of both physically and mentally. Working out can help you achieve goals like losing weight to reach a healthy BMI range, trying to build muscle in 12 weeks or lowering your blood pressure. It can also help you hit targets like being able to run further or faster and make you feel mentally tougher and stronger at the same time as increasing your stamina and physical strength. With exercise, you can work on your own individual goals, and you can tailor your training routine to suit your preferences. You may find that some activities make you feel a lot more confident than others.

A clear mind

Do you ever have moments when it feels like your mind is spinning or you have thoughts whizzing around at a hundred miles per hour? Do you find it hard to relax even in tranquil surroundings, or do you have trouble switching off when you try and get to sleep? Many of us lead hectic lives, and it’s not always easy to maintain a clear head. If you find this difficult, you will almost certainly benefit from doing regular exercise. When you’re moving, you’re focusing on something else, and this enables you to get out of that state where your mind feels saturated. If you are looking for exercises that will help you zone out and feel calm, activities like yoga, swimming, and Pilates are great. If you’re stressed, frustrated or angry, try a boxing, spinning or martial arts class. If you’ve got energy that needs burning off and you feel restless, go for a run or join a high-intensity interval training session. You should find that you feel better both during and after exercise and that you can think more clearly. Exercise is also proven to ease sleep troubles, so it’s worth increasing your activity levels if you are prone to sleepless nights. As many activities can energize and uplift you, it’s best to avoid late night workouts, and to try and exercise during the morning, afternoon or early evening.

Many of us are aware that exercise can help us to lose weight, but it has so many other benefits. If you don’t already lead an active lifestyle, you may find that increasing your activity levels, even by a few minutes a day, brings you a host of incredible physical and mental health benefits. Moving your body makes you feel good, it builds your confidence and clears your mind and helps you feel calmer, happier, and more energetic.

You’ve just finished years of school, and you are at a bit of a crossroads. You could head straight back into education, or you could take a little break. Choices, choices… Well. More colleges and universities are encouraging students to take gap years, and it has a lot to do with the rate of personal growth you can achieve in a gap year. You might decide that ultimately it’s not for you, but in the meantime here are a few reasons that you might be thinking about taking a gap year.

Adventure

It goes without saying that if you have a year off the chances are you’re going to make the most of it. You’re young, likely don’t have the type of job that can’t function without you, not serious payments yet, and probably no children either. There is no other time in your life that you will get this opportunity. So take it while you can.

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You'll Know You

This is a big one. When you dive straight into university, you might find that half way through your course you just aren’t doing what you truly love. All of that time and money has been wasted. If you take the time out, to travel, to work, to meet people and to work out who you are, the chances are when you come back and go to university you’re going to know who you are, what you love and be able to manage the expectations much more easily. The perks of that? Lowering your stress levels by miles, because you’re going to be more relaxed, capable and that little bit older. A year makes a lot of difference.

Money

On that year out, you’re going to have to learn to manage your cash perfectly by yourself. In college, you are laden with debts, money worries and trying to work out the cheapest way to do everything. When you’ve got a year of personal money management under your belt, you’ll be able to cope with whatever is thrown at you. And, if you really start to get bogged down, a quick search on https://budgetboost.co/best-companies-to-refinance-student-loans/  will help you relax again. Knowing what your options really are, and how to handle money down to the last cent is more beneficial than you’ll ever know.

Stand Out

When it comes time for applying for jobs, you might feel like you’re in a disadvantage being an old graduate, whereas actually having a year of activities in place of studies, then completing your degree looks impressive. As long as you make the most of that year out, by volunteering, working, travel, even some smaller courses, then you’re going to have an edge. Soaking up culture is just as important, so make sure you get that across on your CV.

Space

This can be the first time in our lives we have really had the time to stop and slow down and think about what we really want. Long waits for trains, beaches, plane journeys - all provide the perfect backdrop to just ‘be.’

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When you are a student, improving your academic essay writing skills is one of the most invaluable things that you can do. After all, you will write tens of these things in pretty much every subject that you can possibly study, and if you can make each one read better, you have a significantly improved chance of upping your grades. But if writing has never been your forte or you simply need a few tips to improve, you have certainly come to the right place.

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Make an Outline

Some people are naturally impatient and want to start writing straight away. And while this may be a temptation, you should start a plan before you go any further. Otherwise, you could easily find yourself drifting off on a tangent and not staying focused on answering the question in hand. After all, you wouldn’t set out on a journey without a map - or at least downloading the map on your smartphone! A basic plan gives you something which you can keep referring back to time and time again whenever you need it.

Understand the Basics of Spelling and Grammar

While spelling and grammar tools have improved significantly over the past few years, it is still worth having a general understanding of these things yourself. Even if you have never thought of yourself as being highly skilled when it comes to spelling and grammar, there is no reason why you can’t improve your skills. Another option is to read more into professional proofreading and copy editing. But if you can upgrade your own skills now, this will save you a lot of time and effort in the future.

Catch Yourself if Veering on Tangents

The longer an essay is, the more likely it is that you are going to drift off on tangents. So, when you are writing, you should make a conscious effort to catch yourself to check if what you are saying is still relevant. This way, you won’t have to delete hundreds of words further down the line. While there is nothing wrong with adding in some colour to your essays, you need to make sure that you are always referring back to the initial argument that you are trying to make.

Write a Proper Conclusion

Many people can write a fantastic essay, but they always come unstuck when it comes to the conclusion. But this is what ties all your research together and should not simply be a restatement of what you have already said in the introduction or some generic sentences which don’t really say anything at all. This can be one of the hardest skills to perfect. Rather than pulling something together after a long essay-writing session, you could always come back to it with fresh eyes after giving yourself a break or even sleeping on it.

Hopefully, these four tips have given you something to think about when it comes to significantly improving your academic essay-writing abilities.