Have you recently been knocked back for finance and don’t know why? You may be asking yourself why have I been refused car finance? But don’t worry, there are a number of simple explanations. It can be disheartening if you have your heart set on getting a car but can’t secure the finance deal to do so. Many people also assume that only people who have bad credit get rejected for finance, however there are actually a number of things that financial lenders look at. If you have already been declined, you can ask your lender why this was the case. Let’s take a look at the top reasons why you may have been declined.

Bad credit

One of the main reasons you may be declined for finance is your credit rating. It is possible to get car finance bad credit, but some lenders may think you are too much of a risk. You usually have a bad credit score due to missed or late repayments in the past and lenders may think you won’t pay back their finance. If you want to improve your chances of getting approved, you could consider working on your credit score before you start applying. You can help to improve your credit score by paying all your bills on time and in full, clear any existing debt you have, keep your credit utilisation low and check your credit file for any mistakes.

Age

Car finance is a legal contract which means you need to be at least 18 years old to secure finance. Some lenders advise that you could have more chance of approval if you are 21 years or older and have built up a little credit history first. There are also many lenders who don’t have a maximum age you can be to apply for finance but each lender criteria are different and its best to check first before you start applying.

Employment

Employment status is important to lenders because they want to know how you will pay back your loan and also how much you can afford to pay each month. You may be declined for finance if you don’t earn above a certain amount. You could be declined if you are unemployed or how insufficient income.

Multiple applications

Whilst it can help to shop around for the best finance deal, making multiple applications in a short space of time can harm your credit score. It can indicate to lenders that you are desperate for credit, and you have been declined elsewhere already. If you want to apply with a finance lender, you should try to stick to soft search applications only. A soft search credit check isn’t recorded on your credit file and doesn’t harm your current credit score.

License type

The type of driving license you have can affect your ability to get finance. Most finance lenders will want to see proof of a full UK driving license but there can also be options for provisional license holders and European licenses. You will need a full UK license if you intend to drive the car you are looking to finance but you can also use a passport as form of identification.

Affordability

You may be declined for finance if you don’t pass a lenders affordability check and its always best to know your finances before you apply. An affordability check is usually performed by lenders to see how much you can afford for finance and also how you will pay it back. It can also affect how much you can borrow from a lender. They take into account your monthly income and your outgoings to determine how much you can comfortably afford to spend on finance. You can prove your affordability through the use of bank statements.

Climate anxiety affects many people who understand the planet’s worsening conditions, but it affects none more so than the young generation. This is because the majority of the future predictions point towards the fact that if humanity continues on its current path of destruction, the world may soon become too hostile to live. Therefore, the youngsters feel despair more acutely than the elders because they feel their futures have been robbed from them. This sense of anxiety is also called eco-anxiety.

Health2delivery mental health experts recognize climate anxiety as a serious problem that must be addressed. This article is meant to inform you what climate anxiety is, how it starts and affects people.

Climate Anxiety: Introduction

Climate anxiety manifests when there is severe uncertainty and fear about the environment’s future. The feelings of doom continue to affect you. It is not an officially diagnosable condition. But at the rate it is spreading, especially among the young, it won’t be long before climate anxiety becomes a part of DSM.

People see floods, storms, rising sea levels, unpredictability in weather patterns, smog, etc., and become all the more apprehensive about it. Climate anxiety may result in;

• Shock
• Trauma
• PTSD
• Depression
• Helplessness
• Substance abuse
• Existential crisis
• Lack of motivation
• Fatalism
• Fear
• Aggression

Severe anxiety or stress may even cause physical problems, like heart disorders, high blood pressure, obesity, etc.

Where does climate anxiety come from?

As time passes, the threat of hurricanes, droughts, wildfires, and hurricanes continues to grow. Media coverage of destruction caused by environmental hazards can be overwhelming. Extreme weather events may trigger mass protests, panic, mistrust, and even civil war in some areas. Yet, despite the naysayers’ efforts to the contrary, the evidence of climate change is becoming stronger by the day.

Such rapid degeneration of the climate can lead to helplessness, frustration, and shock for many people. They cannot help but feel anxious about the future.

Who does climate anxiety affect the most?

Not everyone constantly worries over the environment or the planet’s future. However, some people cannot help but worry because they directly feel its effects, such as;

• People living in coastal areas, low-lying places, and islands keenly feel the effects of worsening climate more than others due to tsunamis, hurricanes, storms, and rising sea levels.
• People whose entire livelihood depends on the climate are affected by climate change, like agriculture, tourism, fishing, etc.
• Some indigenous communities in Africa, Amazon, etc., may feel the impact of climate change because of losing their natural habitat, cultural heritage, and sense of community.
• Charity workers or people that work in environmental jobs see the destruction brought on by climate change first-hand and feel its impact.
• Youngsters feel their future is robbed because of the bad choices of their ancestors.

Managing climate anxiety

Usually, a mental disorder can be effectively treated by resolving the trigger or finding a way to ignore or live with it. Unfortunately, climate change is not something that can be fixed overnight. It requires social awareness, governmental support, and mega-corporations taking responsibility. On the other hand, you cannot ignore environmental change either because its evidence surrounds you at every turn.

These are a few tips that will help you positively resolve climate anxiety;

1.     Take individual action

When you take positive action and do your part in reducing climate impact, it will help you realize psychological benefits. You can use public transport or bicycles instead of fuel guzzler vehicles, recycle your waste, and volunteer with an environmental protection agency. You can modify your diet by promoting vegetables and fruits while restricting meat and dairy products. Talking with others about better environmental practices may also help. Taking such actions will make you feel more in control and help reduce the impact of climate anxiety on your everyday life.

2.     Get accurate information

Educate yourself on climate change and its impact on your or your community with credible information. Then, take steps to reduce the damage by taking appropriate actions based on your knowledge.

3.     Become resilient to climate change impact

When you have the correct information, it allows you to prepare yourself accordingly. For example, if you live in a coastal area, you can take steps to save yourself, your loved ones, and your property from a potential hurricane. You need to look at problems with the eye of a problem solver, not as a helpless bystander. You should also foster ties with the community and not isolate yourself. Such actions will help you overcome the risk of depression and PTSD.

4.     Stay optimistic

Having a positive outlook on life helps you reframe things and events better. In addition, it helps decrease anxiety associated with climate change.

5.     Connect with nature

Spend more time outdoors and connect with nature to help alleviate your climate anxiety. Foster a positive relationship with the world around you.

6.     Get regular exercise

Regular exercise doesn’t just help keep you physically but also mentally fit. It reduces anxiety and feelings of stress, in addition to giving you enough energy to be free of depressive thoughts.

7.     Know when to disengage

Too much information and exposure to disastrous information invite depressive thoughts and anxiety. Know when to turn off the news channels, especially biased ones. Seeing something else may help take your mind off the triggers.

Last word

Climate anxiety is real, and its most common victims are the youngsters that are too sensitive to climate change. They feel a sense of betrayal from their elders and governments because they feel they are inheriting a world that is on a downward spiral. While the issues are real and need collective effort to resolve, it doesn’t help if you become mentally scarred because of them. If nothing else works, contact your doctor or therapist for better solutions to your climate anxiety problems.

The last two years of pandemic have been tough for everyone. The impact of COVID-19 has led to increased stress levels in many areas – fear of serious illness and death, fear of loss of income, the negative effects of isolation during lock down and a fear that our loved ones may become ill are all common anxieties felt at this time.

Whilst the worst of COVID may be behind us – though there are no guarantees – for many of us the stresses resulting from this unprecedented era continue to effect on our day to day lives.  So, with this in mind we present these useful stress-busting strategies and tips on how to improve your general mental health.

Getting A Good Night’s Sleep

It sounds basic, but it’s true!

We need sleep to physically function on a day to day basis and without it we are more prone to bouts of anxiety. On average, we spend about a third of our lives asleep. It is as important for our bodies as eating, drinking and breathing, to help maintain good physical and mental well-being. The function of sleep helps us to recover from mental and physical exertion and if appropriate levels of sleep are not attained, this can affect our health significantly. Indeed, poor sleep can be one of the first signs of distress. As a rule, it is recommended that adults get between 6-9 hours of sleep per night, and kids get 10-12 hours.

So, here are a few tips to better sleep:

• Avoid phone or tablet screen time 30 minutes before bed – the blue light blocks hormones that promote sleep
• Exercise well during the day
• Avoid heavy meals in the two hours before bed
• Practice mental health promotion with meditation
• Avoid stimulants like alcohol and coffee during the day

Want to know more? You can read about how much sleep you need and a few tips on how to achieve this, by readings this Q and A page from the respected Mayo Clinic.

Relaxing Online Games

Offsetting your stress with relaxing online games can also promote better mental health. Whether it’s on the train coming home from work or in the evening when you just want to relax in your own home and take your mind off things, these can be a powerful tool, and they are easily accessible through your mobile phone!

Candy Crush is the go-to classic for this. There are many, many spin offs and copycat versions that you can find in the App Store too. The concentration required to build sequences helps to take your mind off stress.  Or, if you prefer something more intellectual, you could try Sudoku or Crosswords which can help to boost your IQ as well as providing a welcome opportunity to focus your thoughts. Even playing online slots, which can be done for free on many app or new slot sites with demo games, can help to relax you when done in moderation. And if you’re playing for cash, you might even come out with some winnings in your pocket! Of course, just make sure you play responsibly.

Eating a Balanced and Healthy Diet

A healthy diet is essential for lowering the rate of stress in the body both physically and mentally. ‘Eating a healthy diet can reduce the negative effects of stress on your body,’ said Matthew Kuchan, a senior research scientist at Abbott, a University of Illinois-based group researching Nutrition Learning and Memory.

A healthy diet cannot be overlooked, as it has many benefits, including reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases, maintaining a healthy weight and recovering from illness. Food and your gastrointestinal tract play an important role in your state of mind.

‘Stress negatively affects blood pressure and blood flow,’ Kuchan said. The nutrients from healthy foods can help improve blood flow too. When planning a healthy diet, you must provide the correct amount of nutrients and energy to sustain daily activity.

Typically it’s a good idea to avoid sugary foods, popular stimulants like alcohol and caffeine, and carb-heavy snacks. Instead, the body thrives on natural, nutrient rich meals with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. You could even consider going vegan or vegetarian and introducing more nature juices into your diet to promote better mental health.

Exercising

Exercise is essential for good health. Now the new year has arrived, many people insist on becoming ‘healthy.’ There is a positive correlation between exercise and reduced rates of stress as scientists have proven for exercise to release endorphins, a hormone that makes you feel good.

There is lots of good quality information about this on the Mental Health Foundation website.

Exercise is essentially meditation in motion, where your body focuses on just that activity at that time. It is also good for mental stimulation and can reduce the level of depression and anxiety, which may cause stress levels to rise. Even something as simple as a ten-minute walk per day can contribute to lowering your stress levels, as the released endorphins in the body are 100% going to make you feel good!

Planning Fun Things

When you are not working, it is important to socialise with friends and family. This may be meeting up for a coffee, going shopping or even going to the cinema. Socialising can boost a hormone called oxytocin, which lowers anxiety levels.

In addition, spending time with others directs our energy outward, rather than inward. Increased inward energy causes more stress upon ourselves.

Removing yourself from a stressful situation and switching your mindset to something you enjoy can have major health benefits, as it is another way to perform meditation in motion. The positive energy portrayed within a group setting can help individuals to forget about their problems for a while and enjoy themselves. It’s important to do one fun thing for yourself a day, to maintain those stress levels.

So, get out of the house as much as possible, see friends, make new friends and be a social animal!

Meditation and Pilates

Our final recommendation is taking up meditation. There are plenty of books and online guides to help you get started in this area.

Meditating regularly can decrease levels of anxiety and depression and can your memory, concentration, and the longevity of brain function. And a clear head in itself can change your mood, having an impact on your mindset and actions for the day ahead.

You could also try pilates, a meditative exercising routine, in which we are reinforcing our natural movement patterns so we can continue moving efficiently for longer; we’re trying to better listen to our physical intelligence. Pilates are similar to yoga, and great for both body and mind.

Meditation focuses your attention and declutters the mind of thoughts that may be causing stress. This results in improved physical and mental well-being.

Indeed, those who promote meditation recommended that we meditate for at least five minutes per day.

These are just a few common-sense ways in which to avoid anxiety in these stressful times. Don’t worry, you may not be able to do all of them, but just making sure you sleep, eat and exercise well would be a great start.

As your teen begins to take on more responsibility, finding a mode of transportation is essential. This allows them to have more independence, freedom and is a big part of “growing up.”

For many, getting a driver’s license is the ultimate goal. However, you may also have a teenager interested in getting a motorcycle, especially if they have watched you ride one.

Below, we will talk about some different tips to help you teach your child to ride a motorcycle. This way, you know they are being vigilant and safe out on the road.

Want to learn more? Then let’s get started!

Invest in the right gear.

Before you start teaching your child to ride, the first step is to invest in the right gear. Alongside the bike itself (which should be suitable for beginners and the right size), there is a lot of other equipment they will need to be safe.

This includes things such as:

– A helmet

– Boots

– Gloves

– Jacket

– Pants

It may seem a little overboard, but all these items will help ensure that they are as protected as possible if they happen to fall off. Remember, you pay for quality.

Invest in a quality motorcycle

As a parent, we want our kids to be safe in all possible ways, and one thing to do this is to give them the best motorcycle we know. It can be either brand new or second-hand so long everything is working in perfect condition. Furthermore, periodically assessing the condition of the motorcycle and considering factors like mileage and maintenance history can help determine if it’s time to sell your motorcycle and upgrade to a safer option for your children. Prioritizing their safety entails making safe decisions about vehicle maintenance and potential upgrades to ensure they have reliable transportation.

Learn the laws.

Every country and state has different rules and regulations about motorcycle riding. In order to pass the test, your child will need to do a bit of studying. It may be boring, but it’s essential and will help them remain extra vigilant when out on the road.

It can also be good to research some experienced motorcycle accident lawyers, like the professionals at Lamber Goodnow. You can view their website for plenty of information on what to do if an accident does occur.

Look into driving schools.

Even if you think that you are a reasonably experienced rider, it’s still a good idea to book your child into some proper lessons. A driving school has educators who are trained in teaching, and being around other like-minded individuals can help them learn even more.

You can also pay for private lessons if you want them to obtain further experience. Trust us when we say it really can be worth it.

Find somewhere to practice.

If you plan on teaching your teen yourself, after obtaining your gear, you’ll need to find somewhere to practice. This allows you to correct any mistakes without the fear of other traffic.

Try and keep an eye out for large open fields free from obstacles. If you want to do more “in town” experience, start on streets that aren’t super busy or parking lots that are empty at certain times of the day.

Start slow.

Learning how to ride a bike is no race. It’s always better to start slowly and build up your experience over time. Put it this way; you’re not going to be heading off on a family road trip anytime soon. It will be months before they are confident to drive in long stretches.

Try and focus on one fundamental lesson each trip. Then revisit this briefly in your next class. You don’t want to overload them with too much information, especially on their first few attempts.

Focus on paying attention.

It’s typical for teenage riders to throw in a pair of headphones, but while they are learning, this is something that should be avoided. They have to be aware of their surroundings, with both their eyes and their ears.

Discuss sounds that may be concerning and make sure they know how to properly use their mirrors. A motorcycle is much different from a regular vehicle in many ways, and they need to see the difference.

Lead by example.

Finally, and probably the most important tip, is to lead by example. If you’re being reckless or ignoring some of the most basic road rules, your teen will pick up the same bad habits.

Therefore, you should wear the proper gear, follow appropriate regulations and drive as you would expect them to. Role-modelling plays a very significant part in effective learning.

Final words.

And that’s it! These were some different tips to help teach your child to ride a motorcycle. It may seem a little overwhelming to take everything into consideration, but it’s always better to be organized.

Just remember to take things slowly and don’t set any unrealistic expectations. We all have to start somewhere, and it could take some time before they begin to feel alright riding on their own.

Good luck!

Looking after children is both stressful and tiring. When you are a parent, it is often hard to relax and get a good night’s sleep. CBD for better sleep can help many mums wake up feeling refreshed the next day. There are many safe and legal products available in to buy online from CBD balm for aching muscles to stress relief drops, here we take a deeper look at the benefit for better sleep and wellbeing.

Is It Safe to Take CBD When Looking After Children?

Most parents worry about being in a fit state to look after their children. Taking conventional sleep aid medication including diazepam can make you feel confused and groggy. As a matter of fact, even a low dosage of 5 mg of diazepam will make you less safe when driving your car.

Two other remedies, serotonin and Valerian, also have side effects. Although they are considered natural, they can still make you feel less aware and have other side effects that are not pleasant. Both also disrupt the way our endocrine system works.

Fortunately, so far, no negative side effects have been recorded when it comes to taking CBD dropd or applying a topical CBD balm before bed time. It is essential that you use a quality CBD oil, but putting one drop underneath your tongue before bedtime is perfectly safe. Try taking the CBD one hour before bedtime. It is important that you don’t have anything to eat or drink afterwards.

In homoeopathy, Cannabis Sativa has been used in this way for a long time with no side effects.

Can CBD Help Me To Relax?

Are you going through a stressful time right now and finding it hard to switch off when you get to bed, you should try CBD.

As CBD is a very light oil, it is quickly absorbed by the bloodstream when you put a drop underneath the tongue. CBD will make you feel relaxed and calm in a gentle way. Many other natural remedies can make you feel a bit groggy. However, CBD does not seem to have that effect.

If you have a stressful day ahead, you can can take a drop of CBD oil before you start your day. The way you take it matters hugely. When you take CBD in the wrong way, it is not going to be effective.

How To Take CBD and Get Benefits

Many who say that they don’t find that they get any benefits from taking CBD, are simply taking it in the wrong way. Just like with conventional medication, it is important to make sure you take any herbal remedy in the right way to get the benefits.

You should take CBD first thing in the morning before you brush your teeth. Put a drop underneath your tongue. After you have taken your drop of CBD, don’t brush your teeth, have anything to eat or drink for at least half an hour. If you do, it will “break” the way the remedy functions.

If you can wait until mid morning to have your coffee, you will get more benefits from CBD. Furthermore, it is important that you don’t smoke.

Should I Use CBD All of The Time?

Here is another trick that is borrowed from the wonderful world of homoeopathy. To make the most of the unique qualities of CBD, you should use it for a maximum of three days or until the symptoms of the condition you are trying to improve, clear up.

This is an example that may come in handy. If you suffer from sleeplessness or insomnia due to stress, take the remedy until the symptoms have gone away. Should the symptoms return, you can take the remedy for another few days.

Most doctors and scientists misunderstand the way natural remedies including CBD for better sleep work. They presume you need to take the remedy all of the time. That is not true. Potencies is something unique when it comes to natural remedies including CBD. Basically, it means that less is more.

If you take too much, you can cause the condition or the symptoms you are trying to remove. This is why you should not take CBD all of the time. The same principle goes for any other condition you are trying to remedy with CBD. This is why many people say that their CBD has stopped working. It has not – they have simply used CBD in the wrong way.

In Conclusion

CBD for better sleep is an excellent way to deal with temporary insomnia or stressful situations. If you experience anxiety, you will also find that CBD helps to reduce your anxiety and get you a better night’s sleep.