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We’ve all been there: either fallen off – or have yet to jump on – the health and fitness bandwagon.

It can be tough to motivate yourself to hit the gym or get up early for a run, but it can be done.

Work, stress, lack of time and life in general can stand in the way of you living the lifestyle you want to live.

But with the right plan in place, and the right attitude, there are simple ways to incorporate exercise into your routine.
 

Here are our top ways to help you start working out, so that you can reap the benefits of exercise.
 

1. Understand your goals

Understanding ‘why’ you want to exercise is the best place to start. Not everyone does it for the same reason. So, knowing what your primary goal is will really help you motivate yourself to stay on track.

2. Sometimes we need even more motivation

It’s okay, we’ve definitely all been here too. Sometimes we need MORE motivation, so here are just some of the important and motivational reasons to make you want to exercise:

• People who exercise are happier and less stressed
• You’ll improve your memory
• Exercise can boost your brain health
• It helps slow down the aging process
• Exercise improves your body composition

3. Set specific goals

We all know that we should exercise, but when it comes down to it, something always gets in the way.

Starting an exercise program can be daunting. The problem is, we simply don’t put the right strategies in place for it to be a success.

Here are some simple strategies to put into place:

• Be specific: don’t set yourself a goal to ‘become fit’, instead set a specific goal you can track. For example, aim to exercise three times a week
• Be realistic: if you’re new to this, don’t set a goal that you can’t achieve. Focus on the small achievements
• Set short-term goals: be sure to set yourself short term goals to keep you motivated, instead of ‘run a marathon next year’

4. Set reminders

One of the biggest challenges facing us today is lack of time. A way around this is to schedule in time to exercise. Set reminders on your phone or add it into your calendar. And if you’re still struggling, take a look at: “10 Fitness Hacks For When You Don’t Have Time To Work Out”.

5. Come up with a workout plan

Okay, so this sounds more complicated then it needs to be. Getting in shape is far easier, when you have a plan in place. Your weekly exercise routine should include resistance training to build/maintain muscle, along with some aerobic exercise to improve your cardiovascular health.

If you’re a little stuck, just have a quick Google where you’ll find lots of great websites that cover various different types of workout routines to suit your body shape and the results you want to achieve.

I’m sure you’ve heard of this latest trend, but high intensity interval training, or HIIT, is one of the best ways to get your aerobic exercise, so I’d strongly recommend joining in gym classes to help you improve your cardiovascular and metabolic health.

Most importantly, make sure you start off slow and gradually build yourself up. Nothing happens overnight.

6. Keep it simple

Make sure you keep things simple by eliminating things that might get in the way of your exercise plan. A really useful tactic to help you succeed is by adjusting your environment in ways that push you to exercise. For example:

• Have your gym bag packed up and ready to go
• Plan on doing an early morning workout? Have your gym clothes ready in front of you when you get up
• Set reminders and alarms
• Commit to a class, which you cannot miss

7. Last but not least, make sure you enjoy it

I think we can all agree, that sometimes the thought of exercise is just too much. But finding the right type of activity will make it far more likely to be something you stick with. In a poll, only 36.8% told us they enjoyed exercise, with 34.3% saying they sometimes enjoy it and 19.9% telling us that they do not enjoy exercise at all.

Enjoying the type of exercise you do is a big contributing factor to staying on track and achieving your goals.

Before starting any exercise program, always be sure to check with a doctor or health professional to ensure there is no reason you shouldn’t be exercising.

Do you find time to exercise? What are your biggest challenges? Let us know in the comments.

In March, the Government published its Civil Liability Bill, which set out plans to alter the compensation payments due to those with whiplash injuries. The Government are indicating that this should amount to an average saving of around £35 on a yearly insurance premium.

Compensation for whiplash injuries that arise from car accidents has long been a controversial topic, and as we know, consumers tend to be very sceptical when it comes to insurance companies passing on savings.

With that in mind, we conducted a survey for Consumer Intelligence on Viewsbank, to assess consumer attitudes to the proposed changes, and the results weren’t surprising at all. In fact, we have asked similar questions before, back in November 2016 when the Ministry of Justice offered up plans to save motorists in the region of £40 per year on their insurance by reducing the number of whiplash claims. Motorists were sceptical back then too, with around two thirds believing that insurers would simply pocket the difference, and only 15% trusting all insurers to pass on savings to consumers.

This time around, and perhaps as expected, consumer attitudes have changed very little. Perhaps slightly surprisingly however, it would appear that consumers are actually slightly more sceptical of insurance companies than before, as the results indicate that 70% now believe that the majority of (50%) or all (20%) insurers will pocket the difference.

Do you expect insurers to pass on any savings from personal injury reform?

Those who do expect some sort of saving also expect it to be a fairly small one, with 70% of respondents predicting it to be £30 or less. This scepticism contradicts research by Consumer Intelligence showing that although average premiums have increased by 7.5% over the last year, they have fallen by 3.4% since September and are actually on the longest downward trajectory since records began. This just shows how much work is still needed to be put in by insurance companies in order to regain the trust of consumers. In fact, two thirds of consumers asked in the survey actually believe that their insurance premiums will rise in 2018.

Do you expect your premium to rise in 2018?

What is clear from our survey though, is that most consumers don’t know that any of this is happening, however, the desire for whiplash payment reform is increasing.

Stuart Peters, Consumer Intelligence Head of Research explains: “There is a good news story in here for consumers, but they’re just not aware of it – therefore there’s a job for the industry to do.

“We found that almost one in two consumers feel whiplash payments are too high. At the same time, expectations have increased, with 20% of consumers hoping for at least £2,000 – almost twice the figure in 2016.

“These findings demonstrate why insurers have worked so hard on whiplash reform, in an attempt to hold premiums in check, but it seems that the majority of consumers are not receiving the message.”

More Ogden Changes

Consumers may also remember that the Government made some changes last year to the Ogden Rate, which is used to calculate pay-outs for personal injury claims. These changes last year massively increased costs to insurers, and therefore premiums in quite a few cases.

However, the Government has also announced that the Ogden rate will be looked at and altered again, and while the exact figure has yet to be decided, experts are suggesting that consumers could see and average reduction of around £50 on an annual policy, which coupled with the changes from the Civil Liability Bill could see consumers save around £85 or approximately 11% off an average policy.

Despite the above, our study found that only 3% of consumers were aware of this upcoming change, giving the insurance industry a massive opportunity to being generating some positive PR and making consumers aware of this. It’s clearly much needed, given that only 9% of consumers were aware that most of the industry has already pledged to pass on whiplash reform savings, while 21% didn’t believe that such a change would even happen.

Either way, it would appear that the insurance industry now has a golden opportunity to highlight these upcoming changes, something that would certainly help them regain some of that lost trust with consumers.

What do you think? Are you expecting to see a saving on your next car insurance renewal? Let us know in the comments.

A survey conducted for Consumer Intelligence by Viewsbank revealed that British holidaymakers are putting themselves at risk by carrying more cash than their insurance policies allow them.

Consumer Intelligence’s latest biannual survey shows that nearly 70% of travellers are carrying more than £250 in cash when they go abroad, despite most insurers not covering them for this.

The study also revealed that many major travel insurance providers cover only £200 of cash on their standard policies. The most generous provider was Direct Line, covering £500 worth of personal cash.

Insurance cover for those who have lost or stolen money while abroad differs. Travel insurers offer different exclusions and excesses for those carrying cash abroad, meaning that some could be in for a shock when they come to claim.

Despite the risks involved in taking money abroad, the Consumer Intelligence biannual survey showed that cash is still king for most holidaymakers. The most common amount of cash taken on holiday is between £250 and £499, with 30% of people taking this amount.

The second most popular amount of cash to take is between £500 and £999, with around 26% of respondents saying that they take this amount on holiday.

70% of this cash is purchased a few weeks before it is needed, meaning that lots of people are storing large amounts of travel money at home before going on holiday.

Andy Buller, Travel Money expert at Consumer Intelligence says:

“Our customer studies show that most travellers carry far more cash than their insurers would ever pay out on, if they were to lose it or have it stolen,” he said. “It's a risk that many don't consider, but travel money providers - especially those who also offer travel insurance, could use this as an opportunity to create loyalty by advising customers on safer ways to take money abroad such as prepaid cards, or additions to travel policies that would cover the additional cash that customers carry.

“Our surveys show that many customers feel little brand loyalty to their travel money providers, but information like this that would genuinely keep customers safer could keep them coming back for more."

Do you carry cash or use alternative payment methods whilst travelling abroad? Let us know in the comments. 

It’s 9.36pm on Sunday night, Monday is creeping up on you and you know that Saturday is officially not coming back. You’ve set your alarm clock, and you’re already tired for the week ahead. I think we can all agree that we’re in need of some top tips to help us love Mondays again.

1. Don’t just live for the weekends

Plan your week ahead so that you’ve got things to look forward to. Maybe take up a hobby or go meet some friends. Whatever it is you decide, make sure you carry on living your life throughout the week.

2. Get a good rest, but get up early

As tempting as it is to hit snooze, having a consistent sleep schedule all week will help you feel more rested come Monday morning. In a recent poll 30.5% told us that they do not feel well rested, whilst 47.2% said that they sometimes felt well rested. Only 22.3% told us that they typically do feel well rested. Try sticking to a regular sleep schedule, get up early and start as you mean to go on – it’ll work wonders I promise.

3. Don’t skip breakfast

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Make sure you give yourself that extra time in the morning to have a nutritional breakfast.

4. Get pumped with some of your favourite tunes

Create a brand new Monday playlist. Listening to your favourite song on the way to work or on the way to the gym can make all the difference to your mood.

5.Try to get in some exercise

If you’re anything like me, you’ll feel like you need to burn off all that junk you consumed over the weekend. Starting the week with a small work out routine is a great way to boost your endorphins and make you feel good about yourself. There’s a reason why you should never miss a Monday workout.

6. Dress to impress

Sometimes one of the best ‘pick-me-ups’ is to get up and get dressed up in something that makes you feel good about yourself. Feeling comfortable and confident can help you face the world, whatever day of the week it is.

7. Make someone’s day

Random acts of kindness go a long way. And it’s surprisingly easy to do, we just need to remember that we’re all human and we could all do more to make others happy. Take a look at these 9 simple ways to make someone’s day. You’d be surprised at how good it feels.

Whatever you do to get yourself through Monday, make it awesome and most of all, enjoy it.

How do you get through Monday? We’d love to hear your tips and tricks. Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Sources

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/daffnee-cohen/monday_b_5669462.html

https://www.reed.co.uk/career-advice/10-ways-to-make-your-monday-morning-better/

http://www.chatelaine.com/health/monday-morning-blues-13-ways-to-help-you-get-through-it/

Whether you're looking to make some money fast, or you're after something a little more long-term, there are certainly lots of ways you can make some extra cash. Have a read of our 7 fun and easy ways to make money online to give you some inspiration.

1. Selling on Amazon and Etsy
   A simple way to enter the world of online selling is to leverage the power of using third party websites. Sites like Amazon and Etsy are brilliant platforms to start with. Millions of people around the world visit these sites ready to spend money – so it’s a no brainer really. Etsy have produced a ‘Beginner’s Guide to Selling on Etsy’ for those you who are eager to get up and running as soon as possible. Amazon have done something similar on their site to show you how easy it really is.

2. Sell or recycle old technology
   See how much money you can get for your old mobile phones, CD players and tablets. Even broken devices can earn you a little extra, so don’t forget about that beloved smashed iPhone you’re still holding on to. Sites like Music Magpie and Mazumamobile.com are popular companies to use if you’re wanting to declutter and earn yourself some extra cash.

3. Take online surveys
   This is probably one of the easiest, and most fun ways of earning a little extra income. Viewsbank is an online community where you can share and exchange your opinions on the topics that matter to you. It is a social forum where you get paid to complete surveys, projects and mystery shopping assignments on a range of subjects and industries. For more information on how it works and to get involved, take a look at the FAQs here.

4. Test websites & apps
   Do you love website development and user testing? Maybe it’s time to turn pro and test websites and new app launches for fun (and money). There are lots of sites and companies needing your testing skills. Sites like Tester Work will pay you to take part in testing projects.

5. Online freelancing
   Perhaps you’re a wordsmith or you enjoy managing social media accounts? Maybe you'd like to put those graphic design skills to practice? Either way, there are so many freelance opportunities out there that’ll be well worth your time. A quick Google search will give you some of the most popular sites that allow you to showcase your expertise and meet like-minded people.

6. Competitions
   So, there are no guarantees that you’ll win every time, but there is a growing community of so-called ‘compers’ in the UK, who consistently make up to £50,000 a year through entering all sorts of competitions. Why not take a look at Compers News which is a successful UK competitions magazine and has been running since 1913! But if you prefer something on a smaller scale, then Viewsbank might be the place to win. We hold competitions on Facebook five days a week – so there are plenty of opportunities for you to win big.

7. Sell old clothes on eBay
   When it comes to getting rid of old clothes, eBay is everyone’s favourite. It’s a sure way to get rid of that old sleeveless jacket and turn it into cash. Just like Amazon and Etsy, you can find all the information you need to help you get started when it comes to selling on eBay.

Whatever method works for you, we'd love to find out.

Do you make money in your spare time? Do you have any tips to offer? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, we’d love to hear from you.

From January 13, both online and offline shops have been banned from charging anyone an extra payment for debit or credit card payments, as opposed to cash.

The new rule follows an EU directive and will prevent any card surcharging for paying by debit or credit cards, PayPal and ApplePay in the UK.

Companies are no longer allowed to charge shoppers up to 20% more for purchases just for paying with plastic.

A survey conducted for Consumer Intelligence by Viewsbank, revealed that shoppers are still being charged extra fees for using credit and debit cards since the introduction of new EU laws.

The research found that 14% of shoppers had been charged an additional fee for using a credit card to pay online or in stores.

The survey also revealed that shoppers are being hit with a range of alternative fees under different names, with 21% reported being charged a booking fee for using a credit card since the new rules came into effect.

Meanwhile, 13% had been asked to pay a transaction fee in the past month, and 13% had been asked to pay an administration charge.

Around 60% of those questioned said they had not been charged.

For the full press release click here, or take a look at Consumer Intelligence’s latest article here.

Have you been charged a credit card fee since the change in law? Tell us about it in the comments section. 

As we look toward warmer weather, many of us also gear up for the annual spring clean of our living spaces and our lives! It can be incredibly important for us to declutter, air out, and clean-up, mentally, emotionally, and physically.

When we begin to think about airing out and cleaning up, we can also think of the impact our methods and tools this cleaning will have on our long-term health as well as the environment we find ourselves in.

This week we’ve got National Longevity Day, National Yoga Day, and National Thinking Day so we’ve got some of our very best tips on hand to keep healthy and fit this year- and we want to hear from you too!

There are many aspects to our health that need to be considered in equal measure. Health is not solely about how often we go to the gym or how many green smoothies we drink. Our wellbeing is much more extensive and inclusive, which can be both wonderful and overwhelming.

Our mental and emotional health are often the later to be considered, as they can oftentimes be less apparent when paid less attention, but they are no less important.

Here are some seemingly simple ways to maintain a healthy balance.

1. Having a few minutes of focused presence each day. We can often get too caught up in what is coming next that we completely overlook what is happening right now. Focusing a few minutes on the here and now can help us to balance out stress levels and boost gratitude!

2. Making a list of our strengths. We are all fantastic at many things. Listing these attributes out and stating them aloud can really focus our energy into supporting ourselves in what we want.

3. Moving our bodies (in ways that make us happy!) We are individuals, and much like our personalities, our bodies are not all the same. While some of us may truly love sweating in our in the gym, others need a walk outdoors, swimming, yoga, or even rock-climbing. Finding what makes us happy while being active can be a real gamechanger.

4. Drinking more water. Did you know that by the time we’re thirsty, we are already dehydrated? Most of us do not drink nearly enough water and we don’t realise it until it’s too late. Our bodies are made up of over 50% water. Let’s help ourselves run more effectively and drink up!

5. Finding one area we can improve. Whether it’s eating less meat, going for a longer walk, or drinking less alcohol, focusing on just one area we would like to improve upon at a time can lessen the chances of feeling overwhelmed and increase our likelihood of success in the long-run!

Share your very best healthy lifestyle tips and tricks here!

Happy motivating!

Sam

Photo by Israel Egío on Unsplash

What does Valentine’s Day really mean? A critic might say that it is only a day for couples to spend more money to show superficial tokens of their love. While this may be true for some, Valentine’s Day can carry great opportunity, if we let it!

Greeting Card Holiday or more than that? While many of us think Valentine’s Day is a recently made-up holiday, it actually has its roots in ancient Roman tradition, stemming from stories of Saint Valentine, who wrote a letter to the woman he loved on the day he died, signed “your Valentine.” Eventually, the saint’s memory was mixed in with a Roman holiday, Lupercalia, when the church decided to turn this festival into a Christian holiday to be celebrated as well.

The day is typically known as a celebration for couples in love. However, over recent years, more and more people have recognised the fact that love comes in many different vessels.

All types of love deserve to be celebrated on this day! So, here are a few ways for everyone to celebrate this week.

1. Get some furry cuddles! We’re talking about going to a dog park, getting some tea in a cat cafe, or even “borrow” someone else’s pet for a few hours! Release some extra endorphins and share the love with a furry friend.

2. Volunteer: Share some love where it’s needed. Even if you’re feeling a bit lonely this Valentine’s Day, it is important for us to remember how fortunate we are and that there are always others who could use our help every now and again.

3. Celebrate “Galentine’s Day” on February 13th: A day for ladies to celebrate other ladies! We all know we could use one another’s love and support a little more often.

4. Draw it: Physically mapping out each meaningful relationship in our lives can help us to see how truly surrounded we are by love in its many forms- and show us that we have many reasons to celebrate!

5. Practice more self-love. True self love is unconditional care and acceptance for ourselves, no matter where we are in our lives. There are hundreds of ways we can all work on this every single day. What is one that you could start on this week?

Be sure to share your favourite Valentine’s Day ideas, memories, tips, or wishes today! We could all use a little more love in our lives, this week and every week.

Happy sharing the love,

Sam

It tends to feel a bit more grey, cold, and even a bit more dreary when we get into the beginning of February. After the winter holiday and new-years spike in excitement, we can often feel a dragging in our energy, our motivation, and even our patience coming into February.