Brauns Law - January 2020

Brauns Law - January 2020

404-418-8244 January 2020 WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 330, DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096

What Will You Achieve Today? 4 Secrets to Achieving Your Goals

With the exception of one friend from law school, I’ve never had a mentor. There’s never been anyone I could turn to and discuss practicing law or running a business. This has made things difficult because the best way to grow is to learn from others. Early on, I learned how to mentor myself by reading self-help books and following successful people online. There are a lot of successful people who are willing to share their strategies with those who are ready to listen. Through this mentor strategy, I’ve learned that all successful people share one important trait: They are extremely goal-driven. I figured January is a great time to share my strategies for setting and achieving goals because so many people are making New Year’s resolutions. This is the one time of year when almost everyone is ready to better themselves in some way. Unfortunately, most of the resolutions set in January fall apart by March. Just look at the rise and drop of gym memberships at the start of the year. All these broken resolutions aren’t a sign that people are lazy; they just don’t know how to set good goals! I didn’t either — until I learned some great tricks. • Set monthly, daily, and weekly goals. I used to write down a yearly goal every January. “In one year, I will …” Having a big goal to work toward is great, but I’ve learned it’s a lot more effective to have smaller goals, especially daily, weekly, and monthly goals. Our goals at the firm

are all weekly driven, so we’re forced to evaluate them and see where we are every week. • Write them down … then write them again! Step one of goal-setting is to write down what you’re going to achieve. And then you write it again tomorrow. It’s not enough to write “All these broken resolutions aren’t a sign that people are lazy; they just don’t know how to set good goals!” down your goal once and move on. I write five goals first thing in the morning every day. • Think in the present tense. When writing your goals, don’t phrase it like, “I want to lose 10 pounds.” Keep it in the present tense to trick your mind into already doing it. I’m working on losing weight, so one of the goals I write often is “I’m 10 pounds lighter.” • Keep your goals where you see them. After I write down my goals, I put them in my pocket, right by my keys. I have to think about the goals I’m working toward all day. Another trick I use is to make my computer

password one of my goals. My work computer locks when it’s idle for five minutes, so every time I log in again, I’m thinking about my goals. In 2019, our big firm goal was to help more people than we did in 2018. I’m happy to report that we surpassed that goal by the end of October. One of my personal goals was to finally move into my forever home. I spent a lot of my life moving around. I’m glad to finally be in the house where I can stay put and raise my family. Going into 2020, I have a lot of things I’m working for. One goal that I’ll be writing a lot is to lose weight. I’ve dedicated so much focus to my business that I haven’t been taking care of myself as well as I should. Now I can focus on my health more because the firm is going so great. Another goal we have for 2020 is to “keep the band together,” as they say. I’m so proud of the team we have at the firm and what we’re able to accomplish every week. Where we’re at today is the result of achieving many different goals over the years and staying dedicated to building on those goals well into the future. -David Brauns

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Don’t Let Congestion Get the Best of You Natural Remedies for Stuffy Noses

Nasal congestion can have many different causes, including allergies, colds, or the flu, but the symptoms are often very similar: sinus pressure, headaches, and a stuffed- up nose. This is the result of membranes in your nasal passage becoming irritated and your body responding by producing mucus to try and flush out the irritants. Unfortunately, that response also causes nasal congestion. This is intensified by winter weather when dry air and heaters can further dry out your already irritated nasal passage. So, what is the best way to ease nasal congestion and sinus pressure? Try these at-home remedies that focus on moistening your nasal passage. Flush Your Nasal Passage Use a saline nasal spray or a nasal irrigator, like a neti pot, to flush and moisturize your nasal passage. These devices flush out allergens and keep your nasal passage moist, easing congestion and preventing further buildup. When using a neti pot or other nasal irrigator, always use sterile, distilled water or water that has been boiled and cooled.

Maintain Moisture Humidifiers add moisture into the air, creating a more humid environment, and can be especially helpful if you have a forced-air heating system. Try using a humidifier or vaporizer when you sleep. You may also find a warm compress helps ease congestion: Soak a washcloth in warm water mixed with a couple of drops of eucalyptus essential oil (consult the oil distributor for the exact ratio), then place the washcloth over your nose and cheeks

for several minutes. Drinking plenty of water and sleeping upright at night can also help ease further congestion. While over-the-counter decongestants can temporarily help ease congestion, they are not intended for long-term use and may further dry out the nasal passage. Adding and maintaining moisture is the best way to prevent or ease sinus congestion. If the problem persists, talk to your doctor.

Testimonials DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT

“Totally exceeded my expectations! I highly recommend. I would absolutely come here again!” -Anonymous “Great experience, no complaints at all. Very helpful and responsive and answered all of my questions during a very uncertain time. I am very pleased with the outcome. Thank you, Brauns Law!” -Angie Hollowell Blocksom

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Something to Pass the Time January is National Hobby Month, and the start of the year is a pretty good time to focus on hobbies. Science shows that hobbies are an important part of living a balanced life. If you have health-conscious New Year’s resolutions, consider these four popular hobbies scientifically proven to help you live better! Hiking Researchers from Stanford University found that people who walk for 90 minutes in nature were less likely to worry and ruminate about things. We could all stand to spend a bit more time in the sun, and hiking is the kind of hobby that manages to be both relaxing and physically healthy. Good news: There are tons of amazing hiking trails near Atlanta you can explore today! 4 Hobbies to Improve Your Health and Happiness

Gardening Though most people don’t need to grow their own food to survive anymore, gardening remains one of the most popular hobbies around the world. Whether you grow a vegetable garden outdoors or care for a family of succulents in your kitchen, this relaxing hobby has been shown to reduce stress. In fact, research from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences in Norway found that “therapeutic horticulture may decrease depression severity and improve perceived attentional capacity by engaging effortless attention and interrupting rumination.” Photography Thanks to the dawn of smartphones, anyone can be an amateur photographer. While you still will want to hire a professional to take wedding photos, photography is a great hobby that can really lift your mood. A survey from the Arts on Prescription Project found that individuals who take up photography as a hobby experience a 73% decrease in depression and a 76% increase in overall well-being.

Music Do you play an instrument? Sing? Collect vinyl records? Music is one of the most fulfilling hobbies we can enjoy. The American Music Therapy Association reports that music can increase self-esteem and motivation, decrease anxiety, and enhance interpersonal relationships. If you want to take up music as a hobby, consider learning a new instrument this year! Or you could listen to your favorite songs during your commute. There are plenty of ways to bring more music into your life. Don’t have time for a hobby? Think again. If you find yourself scrolling through social media for hours or watching reruns on TV, consider replacing that mindless time with fulfilling tasks. Let 2020 be the year you embrace your hobbies.

WORD SEARCH January

SIMPLE PANCAKES FROM SCRATCH

Everyone should be able to make pancakes without a boxed mix. This recipe is no-frills fantastic and can probably be made without so much as a trip to the grocery store.

Ingredients • 2 cups all-purpose flour • 2 tsp baking powder • 1/4 tsp salt • 1 tbsp sugar, optional

• 2 eggs • 1 3/4 cups milk • Unsalted butter or canola oil, to grease skillet

Directions 1. Heat a griddle or skillet to medium-low.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients (including sugar if you like a sweeter pancake). In a separate bowl, beat eggs into milk. Gently stir the liquid ingredients into the dry ones. Mix only until flour is moistened. Clumps are fine. 3. Add some butter or oil to the skillet. If the butter foams or oil shimmers, the temperature is correct. Pour in a pancake of any size, cooking until bubbles form, about 2–4 minutes. 4. Flip and cook other side for 2–4 minutes. Serve warm.

AQUARIUS CAPRICORN CELEBRATE CHAMPAGNE FIREWORKS

FREEZING JANUARY MIDNIGHT NEW YEAR PARTY

PIG RESOLUTION

SNOW TOAST WINTER

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Inspired by The New York Times

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

404-418-8244 | WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 330 DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096

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How Successful People Keep Their New Year’s Resolutions

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Natural Ways to Ease Sinus Congestion

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What Some of Our Clients Are Saying

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What’s the Best Hobby?

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Simple Pancakes From Scratch

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These Health Hoaxes Will Sink Your Resolution

Cellulite Isn’t Real In 1968, Vogue magazine introduced American women to the word “cellulite,” warning them of a terrible “diagnosed” condition women suffered from. They encouraged the use of a special rolling pin to banish the little lumps of fat on women’s thighs and buttocks. Since then, cellulite has been used as shorthand to mean “bad body fat you need to remove.” But cellulite is not an indication of poor health. Furthermore, there’s no cure for cellulite because it’s not a disease. It would be like using a special lotion that claims it can remove the wrinkled skin on your knuckles! Most people, especially women, have cellulite. It’s perfectly natural! If you want to get in shape this year, avoid diets or products that claim to melt cellulite. This is a clear indication these treatments aren’t based on real medical science. Cure-Alls Cure Nothing A “cure-all” is any product, treatment, or diet that claims to cure a bunch of unrelated medical problems. Cure-alls have been a problem for centuries, claiming to help with weight loss, migraines, heart disease, anxiety, depression, and even baldness! This isn’t how medicine or the human body works. One change cannot magically fix many different, sometimes unrelated, problems. A good way to determine if something is a cure-all is to check if it claims to help treat, prevent, or cure cancer. That’s a big red flag you want to avoid.

The new year is a great time to make your health a priority again, and there are a bunch of workouts and diet plans to choose from. Too many, some might say. It can be difficult to determine exactly which health plan will help you reach your goals, but there are some pretty obvious red flags that you’ll want to avoid. Beware the Dreaded ‘Detox’ Plenty of diets, supplements, and products claim to “purify” your body by removing unspecified “toxins.” These “detoxes” conveniently forget that your kidneys and liver are already removing substances your body doesn’t need! The human body has been capable of cleansing itself for thousands of years. It doesn’t need a special smoothie or footpads to get the job done. Most detox products are nothing but snake oil, and some of them can leave you feeling worse than you did before you started using them. Unless you have been diagnosed with a disease that would impair your liver or kidneys, you don’t need to spend extra money to keep your insides clean. A healthy diet is enough. Medical Miracle or Health Hoax?

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