Four Fundraising Pitfalls Every Newbie Organiser Must Avoid

Organising a fundraiser can be overwhelming when you lack experience running fundraisers and you're having to learn everything on the fly. The good news is, you can hold a successful fundraiser and and boost your school's financial resources even though you're new to the task. How? By researching the tried and tested formulas for fundraising, and by steering clear of the things that cause fundraisers to flop. Here are some common mistakes you should try to avoid when setting up your very first fundraising project.

1. Lack of planning - Planning for a fundraiser has to be done a year in advance because it entails a lot of work. Create a list of all the tasks that must be done from day one right up to the actual date of your event. Assign volunteers to accomplish each of these tasks so that you won't get tempted to do everything. Stick with your plan but be ready to make changes to it when needed.

2. Poor communication - Problems arise when you're unable to communicate well with your team members and other important people outside your team. Make an effort to update everyone and have them all on the same page as you carry out your fundraising game plan. Apart from sending daily or weekly updates via email, create social media accounts where you can post every detail of the progress made on your project.

3. Lack of volunteers - Gather a core volunteer group to head up your project. Then, define the less important, but necessary positions and all the other roles and responsibilities that are needed in order for the fundraiser to be a success. Filling in these less important positions with able and interested people lightens the load of your core volunteers. But how can you find extra volunteers for your team? Circulate flyers or post a sign up ad on your social media accounts, then move on to the selection process from there. Good people who are willing to support your fundraiser without pay are hard to find, so don't overwork them.

4. Insufficient promotion - Contrary to popular belief, communities don't support fundraisers automatically, despite the fact that they're held to support a good cause. Get the attention of your target audience by giving out flyers, letters and posters in your area. Send emails and post the details of your fundraiser on your social media wall. Create a countdown type of ad on your wall to entice more people to sign up for your fundraiser.

Familiarise yourself with these fundraising mistakes and these solutions. This will help increase your chances of meeting your financial goals and building good relationships with your volunteers and the community.

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Three Steps to Welcoming Change Positively

New years are always associated with new beginnings or changes. While these are often positive in nature, they are welcomed by most people because of the adjustments that come with them. Do you find yourself in such a dilemma? Here are some tips that can help you pull through.

Expect change. Like it or not, change will happen. It's inevitable. Anticipate it and make yourself ready for it. Also, expect all kinds of change to happen - from positive to destructive ones. This will help you plan your actions when change dawns upon your life.

Make the best out of it. One of the best ways to welcome change is to establish friendship with it. Yes, it could be difficult to handle but you must take the change that will come in whatever form. Doing so will improve your character bit by bit.

Be calm in the midst of change. There are things you wouldn't be able to understand no matter how hard you try. Instead of being angry and fearful, be relaxed while go through difficult changes in your life. But be observant of the life lessons it's teaching you.

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How Moms Can Motivate Themselves to Exercise

It is a given that moms have a lot of responsibilities to take care of at work and at home. These responsibilities often become the roadblocks that stop them from sticking to a fitness routine. In this post, I will share with you some tips on tearing these barriers down so that you can be the healthy and fit mom you've always wanted to be.

Get started. Fitness doesn't have to be complicated. You can start with it by doing the simplest physical activities your energy and time allows. Begin by exercising for a few minutes whenever you can --- before going to work or during breaks. Execute basic exercising movements and optimize later.

Inject fun in your fitness routine. Do physical activities which you really enjoy. This will prevent boredom from creeping into your quest to be physically fit. Instead of listing up for calisthenics, join a group where you can learn to dance. You might also want to consider signing up for sports program.

Build positive habits. Don't be easily dismayed when you fail to hit your fitness goals on time. Stop being hard on your self and try your best to think and act positively in all circumstances. Focus on enjoying healthy years with your children instead of counting calories, routine repetitions and missed steps. Focusing on the bigger picture will motivate you to get up and do your best each day.

You might find this video helpful if you're getting back from a long period of time with no exercise.

(Note: All credit to the owner/publisher)

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Steps to Overcoming the Pain of Divorce

Many say that going through divorce is much more painful than enduring the death of a loved one. Feelings of fear, guilt and shame experienced by the divorcees and their children make the event even more painful. Do you find yourself in similar situation? Here are some tips that will help you survive the pains of divorce.

Avoid denial. Accept the loss. Face the reality of it and painful feelings that come with it. Pain is a natural phenomenon by which we know that's something is broken and that it needs to be fixed. Understand that experiencing pain is normal.

Realize that the pain is temporary. You must believe that this stage  will pass and that you will get free from the pain through a step-by-step process. If you're able to get over the pain in a healthy manner, a mature version of yourself will be born soon after.

Invest your pain wisely. Use the pain you feel to grow in different areas of your life. In fact, you can support and help other divorcees or their children to become better people while you're in the process of mending your broken heart.

Give yourself enough time to heal. Total healing from pain may take years but it will not take forever. Some divorcees recover sooner compared to others because they're more intentional in searching for ways by which they can improve their situation.

Forgive and let go of the past. Unforgiveness will keep you tied with the past. Decide to forgive your ex-partner and other people who have hurt you during the divorce process even though they didn't ask to be forgiven. Pick up the lessons the past taught you and forget about the pains that resulted from it. Keep your eyes fixed on the good things that will happen in the future.

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How Cellphones Can Badly Affect Your Health

While cellphones provide an efficient way of communication, no one can deny the fact that it's harmful to our health as well. According to the World Health Organization, cellphones use transmission radio waves through a series of base stations. These stations hold radio frequency waves which cause ionization in the human body. There are other health risks which are caused by use of cellphones. They are the following.

1) Cellphones cause negative emotions. This is specifically true for those who are trapped in between two strangers who are talking loudly in their cellphones. This scenario usually happens in public places and public modes of transportation like trains. The victims feel disgust and show annoyance towards the talking strangers. Such ill feelings can affect how the victims are going to spend the rest of their days at work or somewhere.

2) Cellphone use causes increased stress levels. According to a study conducted at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden cellphone owners are pushed towards the edge when they hear constant ringing, vibrating alerts, and other sound notifications for reminders. Women experience sleep disturbances while men experience stress.

3) Cellphone use weakens the immune system. Germs are collected in your handset as you use it constantly. Some studies showed that a certain percentage of E.coli, a bacteria found in fecal matter, are present in cellphones and that this bacteria can be easily transferred when one person borrows another person's cellphone.

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How to Build Positive Relationships with the People Around You

No man is an island. Whether you like it or not, you will be connected with other people in one way or the other. Here are some tips on how to have good relationship with others.

1)  Be understanding. Instead of talking immediately, try your best to lend a listening ear first. Everybody wants to share something and to be heard. Let  the other person to talk first and under where he's coming from. Use polite words when you're talking. Make it your goal to always come to agreement with the person you're speaking with.

2) Be honest. Don't say one thing when you mean the other. Express your thoughts and wants with all honesty. This will keep you from having unmet expectations or unwanted disappointments. By being honest, you're protecting yourself from getting hurt. This prevents you from hurting others as well.

3) Be a giver. Giving is better than receiving. Giving is not all about material things or money. You can be generous with your affection, compassion, praise, time, trust or what have you. Most of us, engage with others with the intentions of acquiring something that will be beneficial to them. Such attitude will keep you from having good and lasting relationship with others. Try your best initiate generosity and you will be surprised with the good thins that will follow.

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Negative Statements That Hurt Your Child's Feelings

Children feel loved and respected through the words we speak to them. We can hurt their feelings even though it is not our intention. According to child psychologists, there are negative phrases which parents are guilty of saying. Such phrases can affect the way children see themselves and the way they relate with other children or adults.

"Be like your brother or sister." Comparison is a big no in parenting. As a parent, you must understand that children are never born equal or the same. If you're trying to correct a negative behavior in your child, don't compare her to her other siblings. Show her how to behave appropriately by using herself and her present situation as the only point of reference for the correction.

"What's your problem." This statement is a aggressive in nature. When said in a demeaning manner, your child will think right away that she is a trouble maker and nothing good comes out of her. This statement also breeds miscommunication and ill feelings that make children clam up. Instead of saying this, "Is something  bothering you? Tell me. So, I can help you."

"How many times do I have to tell you to this and not to do that." This statement makes a child believe immediately that she's incapable because she needs to be told the same thing over and over. Before getting frustrated and angry, take a deep breath and have a discussion with your child again. Then, tell her to remember everything you've said. This is a good way to put on her shoulders the responsibility to remember your agreements.

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