Get enough sleep

It sounds straightforward, but studies show that over a third of US adults don’t get enough sleep. Making sure your body gets the rest it needs is one of the most crucial pillars of good mental and physical health. Experts recommend around 7 hours of sleep per night for over 18s. If you have difficulty sleeping, or you don’t get enough sleep, it’s wise to implement self-help techniques. Examples include establishing an evening routine, setting a consistent bedtime, taking time to relax before going to bed, and avoiding stressors. One of the most common problems now is going to bed with a phone and reading emails, checking messages and scrolling. Keep tech out of your bedroom. It’s also beneficial to ensure your bedroom is a tranquil, calming environment. Opt for soft lighting and soothing colors and add coziness with soft furnishings. 

Tackle mild stress

Mild stress can develop into more serious and complex issues. It’s beneficial to tackle mild stress to prevent more severe symptoms. Using self-help methods, you can prevent stress and learn to manage minor symptoms effectively. Examples include doing regular exercise, using CBD edibles, meditating, taking time out from work, taking up hobbies, and devoting more time to activities you enjoy and people you love. If you’re trying CBD to ease stress or anxiety or help you sleep for the first time, seek advice from your doctor. It’s important to find the right products and follow dosage instructions. 

Embrace outdoor activities

Outdoor activities check several boxes when it comes to boosting mental health. Being outside and doing physical activity energize you and lift your mood, while nature has a calming, grounding effect. Try to spend as much time as possible in parks, nature reserves, national parks, beaches, forests and fields. There are many hobbies you can embrace, from hiking, mountain biking, surfing and cycling to open-water swimming, fishing, climbing, kayaking and sailing. 

Seek professional advice

Understanding when to seek medical advice is key to optimum mental health. Many of us wouldn't think twice about going to the doctor if we had recurrent headaches or debilitating back pain, but we treat mental health symptoms differently. If you feel low, you’re stressed all the time, you can’t switch off, you feel restless or agitated, or you’ve lost interest in things that normally excite or motivate you, reach out. Talk to friends or family members, see a therapist or schedule a visit to your doctor. 

We tend to think of our bodies when we talk about health. Mental well-being is as important as physical health. We can all be proactive in taking care of our minds and bodies. Simple steps, such as making sure you get enough sleep, tackling mild stress, embracing outdoor activities, and seeking advice, can help you take better care of your mental health.

If you’re someone who loves gadgets, you’ll know how important it is to always be able to afford the latest ones. After all, you want items in your life that are going to give you the best experience. 

But how can you be one of those who always seem to have the latest device? 

That’s the topic of this post. 

Here’s our advice: 

Budget Wisely

You’ll want to start by budgeting wisely. If there’s something you want (like a new gadget) you’ll need to cut down on spending elsewhere. It’s simple math. 

Start by looking at your spending and identifying patterns that might be getting in the way. For example, you might skip take-out food. 

Sell Or Trade Old Devices

You’ll also want to see if you can sell or trade in your old devices. Many people use this technique to reduce the annual cost of upgrading to a new device. 

For example, you can sell iPhone handsets for quite a lot of money these days, even if they are several years old. Then, you can use that extra cash to put it toward another phone. 

Shops do something similar, except they call it a trade-in. You give them your old phone, and they’ll give you a discount on the new one, making it more affordable overall. 

Buy Strategically

Another tactic people use to afford the latest devices is to wait for sales. Pro shoppers look for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or even Valentine’s Day deals to get money off. 

These sales are usually quite generous, but they are also predictable. That means that you can get money off when the opportunity strikes (the only downside is that you might have to wait a few months). 

Along these lines, you can also get into the habit of buying “last-gen.” It’s less exciting, but you will usually get 95% of the features at, say, 60% of the price. 

Finally, you could opt for refurbished options. Examples of these are available all over the place, even with new devices. Sometimes, people will buy a smart gadget and then later decide that they can’t afford it or they don’t want it. When this happens, these devices often wind up in stores for knock-off prices that are significantly lower than where they were bought. 

Earn Extra Cash

Of course, there is always the old-fashioned method of just going out and earning some extra cash. For example, you could take on a side hustle, like becoming an Uber driver or offering freelance services. 

You could also use cash-back apps if that’s an option for you. Often, you’ll find that you’ve built up quite a supply of free money if you shop often with your cards or you’ve built up points at a retailer. 

Go On A Finance Plan

Of course, many people who always seem to have the latest gadgets are on finance plans. These allow them to spread the cost over the year and avoid spikes in their expenses. 

Finance plans are usually quite good for gadgets because they come with other perks, like free minutes or insurance. However, the interest rates can also be high, so you’ll need to be careful. 

Where possible, seek 0% finance plans. These don’t require you to pay any money back to the lender other than what you borrow, with the rest financed by the retailer usually. 

Installment plans can also be quite cheap if you’re willing to go back one generation. Yes, it’s not quite the same as owning the very latest handset, but it’s a start. 

Don’t Buy On Impulse

Another way people can afford to buy the latest gadgets is to reduce the temptation to buy anything on impulse. They don’t allow themselves to get hyped up by things that aren’t directly related to what they want long-term. 

For example, these people won’t usually impulse purchase anything. They will avoid splurging on expensive vacations or going to the mall because they know they need the extra money to fund their device fascination. They also avoid TikTok and YouTube videos showcasing the latest products, reducing their desire further, instead focusing on simpler things, like reading or going for walks. 

Many people who are clever with their money also sleep on it. They give themselves a few hours before buying to ensure they’re not simply purchasing something because of a personal craving. They take the time to ensure that they actually want it. 

So there you have it: some of the ways to always afford the latest gadgets. Which of these methods will you try?