House prices in London are among the highest in the world, with the average buyer spending around £614,000, compared to £231,000 for the UK as a whole.
As well as the eye-watering cost factor, navigating the London property market also comes with its own unique set of challenges and rules. If you're a first-time buyer in the capital, here's what you need to know to get off to the right start.
In a city as big as London, location is the first, second, and third most important factor when choosing a home. As a rule of thumb, properties are most expensive in the centre and will decline in value the further out you go. Properties close to tube and Crossrail stations are also much more expensive. Make sure to focus on your commute rather than proximity to the centre, as living next door to M&M World is no good if your office is in Croydon.
The written and unwritten rules for buying a home in London can seem like a minefield to a first-timer. Being uninformed also means you run the risk of paying much more for your mortgage than if you had expert advice on where to find the best deal for you and your needs. Always consult a mortgage broker before you begin your property journey. These days, Londoners can always save time and money by simply avoiding broker fees altogether and using an online mortgage broker like Trussle, who will navigate the best deals on their behalf.
If getting your foot on the property ladder seems like an unattainable feat, remember that government assistance is readily available. Help to Buy schemes are more popular and accessible than ever before, allowing you to save money through plans such as shared ownership schemes, ISAs, and equity loans. These options are extremely common among first-time buyers and could well be just the kind of assistance you need to get you firmly on the property ladder.

Unfortunately, it's not just the properties themselves that come with hefty price tags. Unlike most of the UK, where a deposit rarely goes above 10%, a deposit for a home in London will most likely be at least 20% and could go as a high as 60% in certain areas. That means if you want to buy a home for the average asking price in 2019, you would likely need to have a deposit of around £122,800 ready to spend.
Anyone buying property should remember that their home is not just a place to live, it's an investment and one of the most valuable things you will ever own. As such, it is important to consider choosing a home that is most likely to increase in value. This means doing your research and finding out which areas are predicted to become more in-demand in the future, as well as choosing properties that are likely to stay in good condition for the foreseeable.
Buying in London may be a hassle, but it's certainly not impossible. With the right resources and knowledge at your disposal, buying your first home in London will be a breeze.
If you want to acquire the maximum compensation, then it is essential that you should plan things out. We will give you some guidelines in this regard.

Things you need to follow when placing a personal injury claim
Do Not Accept the First Offer That Comes Your Way
When you make a personal injury claim for your suffering at your workplace, then your solicitor will give you one precious advice. The advice is that you should not accept the first offer that comes your way. The reason is that you will reduce your chances of maximizing your compensation.
You need to convince the employer that you have a strong personal injury case to get the maximum compensation. You need to choose a reliable law firm like Jones Whyte Law Personal Injury Lawyers.
If you get an insufficient amount, then you need to provide documentation to your employer for reinforcing your assertion. When you reject the settlement, then the other side will get convinced that you want to get the settlement you deserve.
Your attorney will assist you with the necessary documentation.
Foresee The Future Damage and Include It in Your Settlement
What you need to keep in mind is that a personal injury may cause immediate or future losses. Well, this is why you need to keep this aspect in mind when making your claim. Consider future recovery when claiming the settlement amount.
The smart approach is to include these damages in your claim. There are times when the future damage may comprise the majority of your loss. For this, your attorney will recommend you to work with the medical professionals also so that it becomes easy to document the loss.
Indulge in Extensive Case Preparation
What we want to emphasize here is that you need to build your case to increase your compensation. For example, the case preparation must include the discovery demands to the other side. It is essential that your attorney must conduct the depositions.
Your attorney may also work with different witnesses for building your case. When you have a strong case, then the other party gets pressurized to give you a fair settlement. If your employer figures out that you do not have a strong case, then they may offer you a low settlement amount.
If your employer gets to know that you are ready to go for trial, then he may readily agree to offer you an adequate amount.
Stay Away from Social Media During Your Claim Tenure
Another important advice that your attorney may offer you in this situation is to stay off social media. If you make a devastating claim related to your personal injury, but your Facebook tells a different story, then you will be in deep trouble. You can end up ruining your case in this situation.
Keep in mind that a legal process requires a lot of patience on your part. Your attorney will help you navigate through the legal process. However, it is essential that you should not ignore his instructions by any means at all if you want to get the maximum compensation.
Plus, it is vital that you should not conceal any facts from your lawyer if you want to get the maximum compensation at the earliest. Hiding facts can dampen the element of trust between you and your lawyer so refrain from such a practice in the first place.
Thanks to digital communication, almost everything about standard marketing from merely a few years ago has changed. The avenues for gaining and attaining clients have been widened, which could be beneficial for savvy businesses but also poses problems for businesses that have to focus on creating a completely new strategy. But what can law firms do to increase their customers – and should they use new methods or stick to the old school tried and tested ways?
Embrace Social Media
Social media is still an area of digital marketing that some law businesses are reticent to embrace. On one hand, social media offers a way for companies to showcase personalities and flog services – on the other, neither of these tactics would showcase the professionalism that's required when handling personal and delicate matters. But social media can be used for the law industry. For example, LinkedIn can be a platform for law experts in the firm to create posts, videos, and infographics about specific areas of the law they are experts in. For a legal business, social media can help cement a place as the go-to firm for certain matters, as well as widening your circle and networking opportunities. In fact, depending on the type of law practised, some clients may be more eager to approach your firm through social media channels. A Twitter message or comment could bring in a new case or help someone who otherwise would have stayed well away from lawyers - in addition to raising brand awareness.

Networking Still Matters
No matter how advanced digital methods will grow, nothing will replace traditional networking as a way to showcase business strength and attempt to gain new clients. Interpersonal relationships form the basis of successful businesses and networking is a key way in which to build these and build the rapport and reputation necessary. Networking boils down to listening to people, assessing their problems, and posing yourself as a useful contact in finding a solution to these problems. While a highly engaging post on Twitter may seem like a good vanity metric, being able to hand out business cards in a traditional way is more likely to get law firms custom and clients. In fact, the look and feel of your business cards are as important as ever, with options ranging from glossy Chromolux to eco-friendly recycled paper. Keep in mind the message you want to sent out when choosing these details. Eco-friendly paper helps a company practising environmental law highlight their product, for instance. Networking conferences can work to allow you to position yourself as an expert in a field of law, while also meeting with people who might opt to use your services in the future. Confidence, professionalism and efficacy can all be practised outside of networking, but ensuring you are skilled in all three can work wonders for your books and your position in a saturated field of law.
Embrace Digital Advertising
When it comes to law, connecting with the right kind of clients is key. Thanks to the way Google and online algorithms work, placing ads in the right places could result in a flurry of work and help clients who need your services to find you easier. Depending on the area of law you specialise in, for instance, corporate law would find business sites that offer advice for small businesses or those unlikely to already have legal representation. Using some savvy and with some research into exactly what kind of customer you want and where they like to spend time online could result in attaining the right kind of clients. Often, time can be saved by targeting those specific potential clients which will be mutually beneficial through online advertising. Good or bad, the PPI and holiday delay companies have found the perfect platforms to target people most likely to look into using their services. Of course, traditional advertising still has its place. Deciding which avenue to take your advertising depends on your business and who you might want to target as your client.

PR Still Matters
PR is one of the most lucrative ways in which businesses can attract new clients and customers and increase brand recognition for when the time may come that the potential customer will convert into a customer. Digital means have helped proliferate PR messages – Gregg’s is a strong example of going viral for various simple offers, such as their dine in for two for Valentine’s Day, flipping their sign backwards so that it can be read in Fenwick’s window, their sausage roll in the Nativity display, and most recently their vegan sausage roll. Each of these were simple to enact and - thanks to social media - helped increase awareness not for the bakery, but for the personality behind the bakery. PR stunts can include experiential stunts, charitable connections, celebrity links, or anything deemed newsworthy that can be controlled and shows the law business in a good light. While social media has helped the spread of PR messages, the traditional means of PR still remain strong.
Law firms are a fairly saturated market, so relying on methods new and old of increasing customers, increasing brand recognition, and ensuring that customers understand the brand are a key strategy. A holistic approach to marketing that links both old and new methods is the best strategy for law firms going forwards.
As a demographic, lawyers are hardly known for their ability to relax and have fun. Perhaps the fact that lawyers work some of the longest hours out of any other profession might have something to do with it. The staggering caseloads, demanding clients, staffing shortages, and the myriad case duties mean that many of us rarely if ever, go on vacation.
However, this isn't the way things should be. Just like every other profession, lawyers are entitled to their R&R. Going on vacation is not only good for your mental and emotional wellbeing, but it is also likely to make you much more productive once you get back to the office.
Enjoying a stress and guilt free vacation as a lawyer is entirely possible an even easy, you just need to do some planning. Here's what every sun, sea, and sangria-starved lawyer need to know.

Plan Ahead, Way Ahead
The schedule of a lawyer can be hard to predict at the best of times. Especially during your early days as a lawyer, you might be worried that even a weekend away could mean that you miss the chance to land a "big" case. Furthermore, the endless unexpected complications that a case tends to throw up can always throw a spanner in the works. The most effective way to mitigate this is to plan ahead, with some lawyers recommending that you plan your vacation at least a full 6 months in advance.
Let Everyone Know
Once you've committed to going on vacation, it's time to shout it from the rooftops. The most important people who need to know are any judges you're working with. Give them as much advance notice as possible, even if your vacation is months away. Tell your superiors and be firm about it - as long as you give them enough notice then they''re unlikely to grumble once the time comes. This also reduces the possibility of having your plans derailed by a sudden influx of work.

Hustle for Bonuses
So you've got your time off in the calendar and you're ready to jet off to Tuscany. Now it's time to do what you as a lawyer do best; negotiate to get the best deal possible. Take advantage of travel discounts and points offered specifically to lawyers via organizations like the American Bar Association. When it comes to your entertainment, never settle for anything less than the best value. Use comparison and review sites to get freebies and bonuses. This is applicable to every step of your trip; if you have a long ride to the airport and want to keep yourself entertained with online casino games such as slots, baccarat, roulette and blackjack, then the easiest way to find your online casino bonus is through reputable sites like Bonus.ca. Saved money equals saved stress.
Disconnect. Completely.
Once you're settled into your hotel it's time to do what you came to do. Whatever has featured on your vacation to-do list, be it seeing the Eiffel Tower or lounging by a beach on the Riviera, that's your priority - not emails or the thousands of "little tasks" that you feel an urge to do whenever you have a free moment and some WiFi. Set your email to "away" and commit to doing pretty much anything that isn't work. Better yet, leave your phone in the hotel room and live in the moment.
Life is short and the time we actually spend making the most of it is much shorter. Lawyers already spend very little time traveling the world and soaking up other cultures, so do it while you can. You'll never regret a good vacation.
If you have been injured in an auto accident, then you might need to seek the services of a car accident lawyer. To recover losses that are obtained from a car accident, an experienced injury attorney may be of great help. They can also greatly assist to lower the huge the amount of paperwork as well as the hassles associated with insurance claims for car accidents. Knowing the right time that you require expert legal assistance can make a huge difference between a case that has been justly resolved and losing or owing huge financial sums or damages.
Reasons why you need an Auto Accident Attorney
Auto accidents, as unfortunate as it may appear, occur every day. Most claims of personal injuries that are usually reported are from accidents that involve trucks, cars or other kind of motor vehicles. A number of these auto accidents lead to minor car damages, usually referred to as fender bender. The fender bender cases can be easily handled alone through a direct contact with an insurance firm. Auto accidents that, however, include fatality, physical injury, or other damages of significant values could call for the legal representation of a lawyer experienced in the area.
An attorney who operates in this domain of legal affairs can greatly assist in getting compensation to cover any losses that might have been covered during the car accident. These might include lost wages, medical expenses, and car repairs. In certain places, an experienced auto accident attorney would assist the victim who has lost a loved one to recover following the bad ordeal. This might be the case when there is a case of drunk driving, over speeding or reckless driving.
Areas to Check when Hiring an Auto Accident Lawyer
The main work of car accident attorneys is to help in fixing a number of issues ranging from destruction of property, personal injury, determinations of liability, and wrongful death. When in search of a good car accident lawyer, the things to focus on should be the experience they have earned for the time they have been in service as well as their levels of skills. You should also focus on their charges, where they are located as well as their commitments.
For instance, your preferred auto accident lawyer should be well conversant with the national and state transportation regulations. They should also know how to best deal with health care and insurance firms. But above all, they should also not only know how to prepare a case in an effective way but also how to settle it. It is also very imperative that you check the background of the lawyer before you pick him/her. While doing that, do not forget to throw your focus on their track records and references.
The Best Time to Hire a Car Accident Attorney
It is advisable to get the services of an auto accident lawyer early enough to avoid any costly mistake that might rise later on. The deadline for filing personal injury claims ranges from one region to region. Since, you might need to pay for the medical bills and even ensure you cover the lost salaries, it would be better to get in touch with the attorneys as soon as possible.
Auto Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in an auto accident, then you might need to seek the services of a car accident lawyer. To recover losses that are obtained from a car accident, an experienced injury attorney may be of great help. They can also greatly assist to lower the huge the amount of paperwork as well as the hassles associated with insurance claims for car accidents. Knowing the right time that you require expert legal assistance can make a huge difference between a case that has been justly resolved and losing or owing huge financial sums or damages.
Reasons why you need an Auto Accident Attorney
Auto accidents, as unfortunate as it may appear, occur every day. Most claims of personal injuries that are usually reported are from accidents that involve trucks, cars or other kind of motor vehicles. A number of these auto accidents lead to minor car damages, usually referred to as fender bender. The fender bender cases can be easily handled alone through a direct contact with an insurance firm. Auto accidents that, however, include fatality, physical injury, or other damages of significant values could call for the legal representation of a lawyer experienced in the area.
An attorney who operates in this domain of legal affairs can greatly assist in getting compensation to cover any losses that might have been covered during the car accident. These might include lost wages, medical expenses, and car repairs. In certain places, an experienced auto accident attorney would assist the victim who has lost a loved one to recover following the bad ordeal. This might be the case when there is a case of drunk driving, over speeding or reckless driving.
Areas to Check when Hiring an Auto Accident Lawyer
The main work of car accident attorneys is to help in fixing a number of issues ranging from destruction of property, personal injury, determinations of liability, and wrongful death. When in search of a good car accident lawyer, the things to focus on should be the experience they have earned for the time they have been in service as well as their levels of skills. You should also focus on their charges, where they are located as well as their commitments.
For instance, your preferred auto accident lawyer should be well conversant with the national and state transportation regulations. They should also know how to best deal with health care and insurance firms. But above all, they should also not only know how to prepare a case in an effective way but also how to settle it. It is also very imperative that you check the background of the lawyer before you pick him/her. While doing that, do not forget to throw your focus on their track records and references.
The Best Time to Hire a Car Accident Attorney
It is advisable to get the services of an auto accident lawyer early enough to avoid any costly mistake that might rise later on. The deadline for filing personal injury claims ranges from one region to region. Since, you might need to pay for the medical bills and even ensure you cover the lost salaries, it would be better to get in touch with the attorneys as soon as possible.
We’ve seen it so many times by now, it’s impossible to count: Short video clips of a person’s improper private behavior making waves online, causing the public to clamor for that person’s professional punishment. We saw it with Permit Patty and BBQBecky — we even saw it with the Covington Catholic boys, who were chastised by their bishop and threatened with expulsion. Admittedly, most of the people caught in these videos are at least somewhat worthy of the public backlash — but are their employers equally deserving?
In the Digital Age, employees’ behavior is beginning to reflect on their employers, even when inappropriate actions occur off the clock. While there is little you, as an employer, can do to completely eliminate the risk of social media frenzy due to employee conduct, there are labor law lessons you should apply to reduce the likelihood of suffering a similar crisis.
It’s More Important Than Ever That You Are Completely Compliant
Right now, it might seem like your business can fly under the radar and avoid audits for things like labor law posters and hiring practices, but if any one of your employees — even members of the cleaning service who tend to your office after hours — gets caught misbehaving and a public outcry ensues, your business will be scrutinized under a powerful microscope.
When the public discovers that not only is your employee sexist/racist/homophobic or some other sin but also your business is non-compliant with important regulations, pandemonium will ensue. Non-compliance can result in lawsuits against your company as well as fines levied by the local, state or federal governments. At worst, your business could be shut down due to your non-adherence to critical labor regulations.
That’s why it’s of utmost importance that your business become compliant with all applicable labor and employment law ASAP. You can use a third-party HR service, like a PEO, to help you develop and maintain labor law compliance if you aren’t certain what laws and regulations affect your business.
You Should Develop a Strong Corporate Culture to Combat Poor Behavior
“Corporate culture” isn’t just an empty buzzword; it is a way to define your brand and help ensure your employees exhibit certain values on and off the clock — values like kindness, equality, sensitivity and deference. There are dozens of ways to establish a strong corporate culture, to include modifying hiring practices, administering trainings and teambuilding events and changing your own behavior and communication styles. What’s important is that your culture makes taboo any behaviors that might call down public ire.
Even with a strong corporate culture, it is important that you stress to employees that they are always ambassadors of your brand. That means what happens before and after work hours will affect their employment, especially if what happens puts their name in headlines or on an infamous Twitter account. You should create policies and processes that go into immediate effect during a public relations event — and you should educate all employees about them, so they understand the consequences of their actions.
Leaders Need to Set Expectations With Regards to Conduct
Business leaders set the tone for the rest of the workforce. A leader who is professional, respectful and hardworking is more likely to attract and retain a team of likeminded employees. Likewise, a leader who is unruly, impertinent and indolent will have the same effect. Thus, it is important that you keep careful watch over your organization’s leadership to ensure that your employees demonstrate the proper behavior inside and outside cubicle walls.
The best way to control your leaders — and ensure they adhere to the corporate culture that guides your employees’ behavior — is to promote from within. This way, you have some experience with your potential leaders, which means you will be better equipped to predict how they will act in positions of power. Then, the leaders you’ve groomed can solidify your corporate culture and discourage improper behavior, so your business will stay safe.
It’s Not Wise to Rush to Judgement; Investigate and Apply Logic, First
Public pressure can be incredibly strong, but you shouldn’t cave to the public’s demands without first evaluating the situation. If there is evidence of an employee misbehaving on the clock, it behooves you to throw a book of pink slips at them. However, if there isn’t much data and the alleged event happened outside company hours, you should put time and effort into investigating before you act. Ultimately, you may need to ask the employee to resign, but by considering the facts and your options first, you will retain the trust and support of the rest of your workforce.
Rights That Require Compensation: If an airline does not perform their duties correctly, passengers should be compensated.
Rights That Require Government Enforcement: If an airline violates the law, the government should fine them.
Rights Described In An Airline Contract: If an airline does not perform their duties described in their contract correctly, passengers should be refunded or accommodated.
Rights That Require Compensation

Compensation for airline passengers differs depending on a number of factors, mainly where the flights depart from, where they arrive and where the airline is based. If passengers use an EU airport or airline, then they’re in luck, as most disruptions are covered by EU 261, a regulation passed in 2004. As airline passenger rights experts Flightright explain, this EU regulation covers overbooking as well as delayed or cancelled flights if the disruption occurred within 14 days of departure. That is, according to Flightright, unless your flight is grounded due to exceptional circumstances such as a strike, weather or grounding.
Of course, countries and airlines outside of the EU have different rules. For example, in the USA, passengers are usually left to their own devices but can be compensated for bumping, overbooking and baggage damage. In the Middle East, airlines must offer customers alternative transport without charging you but, if you’re downgraded, you will be refunded the difference. South American airlines follow very similar practices, while Chinese airlines don’t really have any compensation laws in place at all.
Rights That Require Government Enforcement
These usually cover safety and behaviour but each nation tends to have its own version of the same three regulations that are relevant to passengers. The first is that a flight must be deboarded if it is delayed on the tarmac for a long time. In North America, a “long time” means three hours, while, in the EU, it means five hours. Airlines must also give passengers water and access to a toilet during a lengthy tarmac delay. Secondly, airline advertisements must be honest and fully inclusive and, finally, they must make full terms and conditions available and accessible.
Rights Described In An Airline Contract
Most airlines have a set of customer service plans, which promise a variety of things to customers. Again, what this entails changes depending on the airline but there is a basic formula that most airlines use to create their policies. These include:
To ensure you are aware of what your airline contract entails, always take the time to read them before booking a flight. This is particularly crucial if you yourself or someone you are travelling with is disabled.
Flight rights can seem complicated and overwhelming but, thankfully, most nations and airlines tend to stick to the same or similar rules. With this on-the-go guide, we hope you feel much more confident when considering air passenger rights.
The threat from cybercriminals is becoming increasingly sophisticated, so security needs to be able to adapt in order to keep up. Fortunately, there have been a number of recent technological developments that have helped improve the arsenal at our disposal to ensure we win the fight against cyber attackers. Here are the five key technological advancements that are currently doing the most to boost cybersecurity efforts.
Blockchain

Blockchain is so much more than just a buzzword and its importance stretches far beyond the value of bitcoin. At its heart, blockchain is a security apparatus. The digital ledger allows for the secure sharing of information and identity authentication, without the typical risks of exposing data to outsiders. This is why health services such as the NHS in the UK are experimenting with blockchain as a means of protecting patient data and sharing it between facilities.
Cloud Technology

The cloud is convenient but has also been proven to be problematic. The diverse array of data that can be stored on a single cloud account is staggering but this also exposes users to obvious security flaws. Fortunately, cloud security has made leaps and bounds in recent years, with developers ensuring that all data is much better protected against hacks than before. Cloud storage is used by a hugely diverse array of businesses for handling customer data, from e-commerce sites like Shopify to online gaming platforms like Lottoland. Security is vital to these companies as a way to protect financial data that customers use to pay for services, say for betting on lottery jackpots online for instance. Companies like those mentioned above also use cloud services to store personal data on their customers, so they naturally place the protection of that data as a high priority.
IoT Security

One of the major flaws with early-release Internet of Things technology is that it connected multiple devices without a common security apparatus. This led to concerns that home assistant devices like Amazon's Alexa were providing a gateway for hackers to get into people's phones and laptops. Luckily, the big companies have taken notice. Nowadays it is common for IoT software to have a cybersecurity infrastructure that can be shared with all devices within a household.
AI and Machine Learning

Possibly the most significant development that has allowed us to stay one step ahead of hackers is the advancement of AI and machine learning technology. This technology is able to collect data from the global information network and use it to adapt to any new types of threat. As such, hardware and software is becoming more intelligent without human input and is becoming increasingly adept at pre-empting security threats and adapting as needed.
Just a few short years ago, applications on a device were only as secure as the device they were hosted on. Hackers quickly took notice and smartphone applications became a highly-targeted weak spot. This has changed a lot in recent years, with security software now being an essential part of the app-building process. As such, many apps are now even more secure than the devices they are installed on.
While our knowledge of cybersecurity threats is improving, there is still a long way to go. We may be improving our capabilities with the aid of new technology, but so are the hackers.
Some people who embrace their fatigue will get in a few extra hours of sleep or have a nap, but that’s a very wasteful use of your downtime. The best ways to use your downtime is to stimulate your mind or your body to win yourself a revitalising sense of achievement. So, here are a few ways that you can use your downtime to not only relieve stress but also to have fun while reaching for a goal.
Exercising makes you better at everything

While everyone knows that it’s important to exercise, not many people know the benefits that come from doing regular exercise. There are the obvious perks of getting fitter and being healthier, but there are also many other side benefits which will enhance your day-to-day life.
As shown by Mind Body Green, one of the most noticeable pros to exercising is the release of dopamine, the chemical which plays a key role in making you feel happy, in the brain. Whether it’s lifting weights, doing cardiovascular exercises, or playing a sport, the dopamine release will help to perk you up.
It has also been found that exercising regularly will boost your confidence, help you to get a good night of sleep, keep you energised throughout the day, and boost your confidence.
Escape into an immersive game for relaxation and accomplishment

Gaming isn’t a hobby for kids or childish adults anymore, with there being a massive range of games which appeal to everyone who needs an enjoyable experience. Now, you can play games on your computer, mobile phone, tablet, or any of the high-powered consoles.
In a recent study into millennial gamers, as reported by Independent, 55 per cent of the 1000-gamer sample were found to play video games to help them to relieve stress and unwind, and 47 per cent of the group thought that performing well in a game had a positive impact on their real life.
Younger people will often seek out games on the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, or PlayStation 4, but many don’t fancy investing in a console. The type of games available is also taken into account. For instance, casino fans turn to online platform Betfair Casino thanks to its wide range of slots, with there being a theme to suit anyone, including Glory and Britannia, Age of the Gods, and The Dark Knight Rises.
Finding a game that you can immerse yourself in during your downtime can bring you relaxation while playing and satisfaction when you complete a stage.
Keep calm, relax, and create something amazing through painting

A trend which has really taken off in the last few years is that of art therapy. The use of painting and drawing to relieve stress has helped many people to unwind in their downtime.
Very Well Mind highlights one of the benefits of art therapy as being its ability to distract you from the stress by making you focus on a new creation. Simply committing yourself to art has been found to put you in a near-meditative state, which also helps to reduce stress. There are few things more satisfying than completing your own paint project.
As having any hobby that you’re dedicated to helps to bring balance to your lifestyle, you could select any art form to reap the benefits in your downtime. The most artistic would probably turn to their canvas and paints, while others who aren’t as inherently artistic could get some tabletop game models, such as Warhammer the Middle-Earth range, as the outlines are already there and ready to be painted.
Whether you jump on an exercise bike, go for a spin on a new game, or paint some miniatures, integrating one of these activities into your routine will greatly help you to make the most of your downtime.