There’s been a lot of talk about the pelvic floor and how it weakens with age. Exercise has been said to help, but is that really the case?

What Is the Pelvic Floor?

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles within the pelvis. These muscles act like a hard-working team to hold the bladder, the uterus (womb), and bowel in their proper place. Much like other muscles in the body, they need to engage to gain strength and disengage to help relax them for optimal function.

Your pelvic floor works all day long within your body, and you may be completely unaware of its function and just what an amazing system this is.

As you take an inhale, your pelvic floor naturally descends and as you exhale it moves upwards. The diaphragm, back muscles (mutifidus), and abdominal muscles are all part of the pelvic system.

The Importance of Breathing Patterns

If we hold our breath when exerting ourselves, we can create too much intra-abdominal pressure making the pelvic floor muscles bear downwards, which can lead to pelvic dysfunction.

Many post-birth women are unaware this is happening, and it becomes an ongoing pattern in their lives. For instance, we often hold our breath when lifting heavy items. 

Constant bearing down on the pelvic floor can also cause incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse. Chronic constipation and subsequent straining are other causes. Cystitis is often a recurring problem for women with prolapse.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse happens when the muscles and tissue supporting the pelvic organs (the uterus, bladder, and rectum) become weak or loose. This allows one or more of the pelvic organs to drop or press into or out of the vagina.

Many women experience this after childbirth. However, this problem doesn’t discriminate and affects women of all ages. If you have any feelings of soreness, heaviness, or bulging in your pelvic region, it’s important to see a health professional for assessment.

Where Can I Get Help?

It’s normal to feel embarrassed about having a pelvic check-up. However, making an appointment to see a women’s health physiotherapist or a gynaecologist is the first step to understanding pelvic floor problems.

Support is always available and there are some great tools in how to manage incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse. Your medical professional is well trained and is always a great place to look for support.

How Can I Integrate Exercise Safely into My Life?

First, don’t do anything without professional guidance. Your women’s health physiotherapist will guide you to ensure you understand how to engage your core and pelvic floor as well as advise you of other aspects of looking after your pelvic area.

Finding exercises that suit your individual needs is important for mind, body, and soul.

A qualified exercise professional will work alongside your physiotherapist guiding you on the correct techniques of managing your intra-abdominal pressure and how to integrate this and more into your exercise routine. The mind/body connection is also an important part of the process.

Would you like to understand more about safe and gentle exercise designed to support you in integrating the core and pelvic floor? The introduction video is the first in a free mini-series that explains what the pelvic floor does and what exercises you can do to strengthen it.

Have you experienced issues with incontinence? Do you think your pelvic floor is not strong enough? Have you had a pelvic organ prolapse? Where did you seek help? Please share your experience with us and any helpful tips you may have!

Have you recently found yourself out of work? Are you looking for some extra cash to help with monthly expenses? Do you want to stay active and do something that you enjoy while being paid?

Whatever reason brings you to the point of looking for work, you have more options than ever. One of these options that is growing in popularity is freelancing. Long gone are the days of punching in and punching out with an employer and locked down into a contract.

A recent study found that 36% of the 2020 U.S. workforce consisted of freelancers, an increase of 2 million freelancers since 2019. Yes, of course, we need to take into consideration the pandemic which brought people to start working from home, but the trend is rising, and the freelancing market is looking appealing to more and more people – of all ages.

Freelancing is a great way to stay in control of your schedule and time. People turn to freelance work and become their own bosses and control how much or how little they want to work. The 40hr work week is slowly becoming obsolete as people take control of work/life balance.

Are you skilled in a field? Have you worked in an industry for many years and now can use that knowledge to market yourself as a specialized freelancer?

How do you get into freelancing? Do you have what it takes to become a freelancer? Let’s take a look at the best websites to find freelance jobs.

What Is Freelancing

Freelancing does not mean working for free! It means that you are in charge of marketing yourself and your skills, searching for work and contracts, organizing your schedule to meet deadlines, invoicing your clients, and taking care of taxes and other financial obligations.

It also means that you decide how much you want to work, from where you want to work, and also when you want to work. The word free in freelancing means freedom!

Is Freelancing Right for You

Freelancers all come to the same conclusion – you need to be organized, motivated, and focused on success in order to do well in the freelancing world.

Finding work is quite easy as you will see below where we list the best websites to find freelance jobs. The type of work that you do will determine if you need to invest in equipment or not and if you need to dedicate an area of your home to do your work.

Freelancing may be a good option for you if you organize your time well, are not easily distracted, and can market yourself successfully.

Types of Freelancing Jobs

• Personal Assistant
• Graphic Artist/Illustrator
• Writer/Copywriter
• Editor/Proofreader
• Translator
• Photographer
• Data Entry
• Teacher/Coach
• Call Center Agent
• Web Designer/IT
• Accounting
• And many more…

Best Freelance Websites

Let’s take a look at the best website to find freelance work.

Upwork

Upwork is a well-established online platform that joins freelancers with clients in a variety of industries. As a writer, I have personally used Upwork for several years and landed excellent contracts.

The website has a lengthy selection process that weeds out the incompetent and scam profiles. It also has an escrow feature and payment protection program in place to protect both the freelancer and the client.

As a freelancer, you set up a profile and market your skills. Use the search option to narrow down the appropriate jobs in your field that are a fit for your skills. As you gain experience and good reviews on Upwork you can eventually get clients sending you invitations to interview for their projects.

Upwork takes a percentage of every job you successfully complete.

Fiverr

Fiverr has a unique interface where the freelancers post their gigs and fees that clients go through to select the best candidates for their projects. On Fiverr you are basically a seller, selling your skills and jobs to buyers.

When a buyer purchases your gig, the website automatically takes the funds and holds onto the payment until the job is completed and submitted.

The website’s name comes from the fact that many buyers can purchase small jobs that start at $5.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is not a freelancing job website like the others mentioned in this article. It is a social networking platform that is similar to Facebook and Twitter where you gain followers and follow other people in your field of work.

LinkedIn lets you create a profile where you can post your resume with education and work experience. There is a job section where you can browse available jobs and apply.

The website also offers a learning platform where you can enroll in online courses to brush up on existing skills or learn new ones.

ProBlogger

ProBlogger mostly specializes in job offers that are linked to the world of writing. This website is an excellent resource if you are a writer, copywriter, content writer, or editor.

The jobs section offers daily, updated job offers that you can apply for. It’s free to use and apply for jobs on ProBlogger, and the website doesn’t take any of your earnings. It also doesn’t have a payment protection plan as you deal directly with the clients and negotiate payments options.

Guru

Guru is another excellent website that brings freelancers and employers together. As a freelancer, you browse jobs and apply for the ones that are a good fit for you.

The website is free to use, but membership with a fee allows you to access more options and better freelancing opportunities. The website has a secured payment feature that assures you get your funds.

FlexJobs

Flexjobs is a well-known website for freelancers looking for one-off jobs but also part-time and full-time remote jobs. The website screens all potential employers and makes sure that freelancers are paid.

The website offers a few subscription options, starting at $6.95/week. With your subscription, you have access to job listings, career advice, and also skills testing.

TopTal

TopTal specializes in matching employers with qualified and experienced freelancers. This is a great website for you if you have a higher education diploma and are highly specialized in your field.

The application procedure involves a 5-step screening and testing process, including an English assessment test and a project evaluation. Needless to say, not all freelancers are accepted onto the platform.

SimplyHired

SimplyHired is a website that collects freelancer jobs from all over the world into one place. It’s free for freelancers to use the website, but membership will give you access to resources like help building your resume and salary estimations.

Freelancers don’t create a profile on SimplyHired, they browse the job listings and contact the employers directly.

Freelancer.com

Freelancer.com is a platform that mostly specializes in graphic and visual arts. You create your portfolio, upload your info, and some of your work where companies can browse and choose the best fits for their projects.

On Freelancer.com you can also participate in contests and earn some money as well.

People Per Hour

People per hour is another established freelance website that connects freelancers with employers. The website boasts jobs in a multitude of industries. It is free to access but they charge a percentage on each job. This percentage reduces as the freelancer gets more jobs.

Tips and Tricks to Find Freelance Jobs

It’s a competitive world out there! Freelancers abound, and you need to stand out and look professional to land the best jobs.

Portrait Photo

A clear and professional headshot will get you noticed better. Don’t use selfies that you took on vacation or photos that include other people in your profile photos.

Hire a professional photographer if you can afford it or ask a friend to set up a photo shoot. An authentic smile and confident posture will get you noticed and landing the best jobs!

Professional Language

Always be professional when filling out your profiles on freelance websites. The same goes when communicating with potential clients.

Know Your Worth

It’s a good idea to do some research about going salaries in your field of work. You can either charge by project or by the hour. These decisions are individual negotiations between freelancer and employer.

Don’t underestimate yourself! Remember, you have to personally pay for taxes, insurance, and healthcare. Your rates should reflect this.

Time trackers, like Hubstaff, installed on your computer are now easily accessible to track time with each client.

Be Organized

Stay organized with easy-to-use online tools like Trello. You can keep all your projects and deadlines in one place and also share them with your clients or project collaborators.

Payment Options

Freelancer websites offer different payment options. It’s important to look into what their methods of transferring payments are to make sure that you can easily set up your account to receive your payments.

The most popular methods offered are PayPal and wire transfers.

Have you done freelancing work? Are you thinking of starting to freelance? Which freelance jobs websites on our list do you feel are best for you?

If you are spending time in Dubrovnik, why not plan to escape the city and head out to explore the surrounding countryside and even a different country – all of which can be achieved in a day trip.

Dubrovnik is the perfect destination to visit at any time of the year for any type of traveller – solo, couples, groups or with family.

The Peljesac Peninsula Wine Region

Dubrovnik’s closest wine region is located on the Peljesac Peninsula, just 30 miles from the city. Here you will find many small family-run boutique vineyards. Milos Vineyards and Kriz Winery are some of our favourites.

One of the popular wines of the region to enjoy is the Plavac Mali, a robust red wine, known as the flagship of Croatian wines.

Along the way to the Peljasec Peninsula consider visiting the town of Ston. It is famous for its Great Wall, Europe’s answer to the Great Wall of China and the longest in Europe. Ston has salt flats, the oldest in Europe, that can be traced back to 877.

Ston’s walls were built to protect the salt flats and the town of Ston and Mali Ston from invaders. Ston salt was the best-selling product of the country.

The Town of Cavtat

If you want a dreamy romantic place for lunch away from Dubrovnik, catch the #10 local bus that goes every hour and head to Cavtat, nine miles away.

Cavtat’s harbour is bustling, you can even ask a local boat owner in Dubrovnik to take you there. Such a picturesque place to spend a day wandering the waterfront and then dining in one of several excellent restaurants. Our recommendation for lunch is at the Restaurant Bugenvila on the harbour front.

If you enjoy museums, visit the Konavle County Museum for exhibitions of the traditional Croatian costumes of men and women, jewellery, paintings and more.

Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina

This is a full day tour, starting early and arriving back to Dubrovnik early evening, but definitely worth it. You must carry your passport with you as you are traversing two sets of borders each way.

It will take around 2.5 hours to get to Mostar depending on the border crossing and the best way to do this is with an organised day tour. The tour companies have priority over independent travelers, and the crossing is made effortlessly with your guide/driver’s assistance.

Upon arrival into the 15^th century town, you can wander across the famous Stari Most, a 16^th century bridge, and may happen to witness the “local bridge jumpers.” They jump from a height of 21m, which they have trained for, for the tourists. Make a donation to help them out!

Mostar has an interesting bazaar on the other side of the bridge where you can purchase local handicrafts to take back home. Try the Turkish delight, it is the best we have tasted. If you buy a coffee, you will also be served some Turkish delight on the side.

A day tour will allow you time to have lunch in one of the local restaurants. There are several to choose from, all offering the best of local cuisine. We can recommend the beautiful courtyard setting of Sadrvan Restaurant with its excellent menu and service.

We hope you enjoy our recommended day trips from Dubrovnik. Have you visited any of the places we have mentioned?

No doubt, Olaplex fans swipe through their TikTok FYP wondering why everyone is just discovering the hair-repairing treatment. But that’s how social media works and we’re all about not gate-keeping our faves here. That’s why we’re giving you the scoop on a major Olaplex sale that saves you serious money. Olaplex doesn’t do very many value sets or sales so this one is a pretty unique find.

If you’re not already using Olaplex, allow us to break down why you just might love it. You’ve probably noticed that folks on TikTok love a hair transformation, often going blonde or pink in one setting. That’s where Olaplex comes in. Simply, it’s a bond builder that works to repair broken bonds and restore elasticity. There’s a complete system you can use or you can choose which products work best for you and your lifestyle.

And it’s not just for those who do major hair changes. It’s also for those of us who heat style our hair even just a few times a week, causing damage to build up. Folks stock up during the big yearly events because Olaplex sales don’t happen every day. We have to admit, this is the best one we’ve found. And it only lasts today! Hurry!

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. QVC is a STYLECASTER sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

QVC.

Here’s what you get. The super-size No. 3 Hair Perfector is a value size of the pre-shampoo treatment that strengthens hair and reduces breakage. No. 0 Intense Bond Building Hair Treatment is a repairing treatment for all types of damaged hair. No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo hydrates and protects hair from damage and No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner smoothes and adds shine.

If you bought all of these separately, they would retail for $112. Today, it’s only $69.96! That’s a $42 value! Head over to QVC to grab the exclusive Olaplex Super-Size No. 3 & 3-pc Bond Building Hair Kit today.

Editor’s Note: The feature image is property of CBC.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of Moira Rose’s company yet, let me introduce you.

Moira perches on the edge of a little town called Schitt’s Creek. She has an alien accent, dresses like socialite Lulu Guinness and brings the drama wherever she goes. She is egotistical. She is spoiled. She is riveting.

Why?

Because she’s played by 67-year-old Catherine O’Hara as unapologetically herself, and you cannot miss her. This Canadian show made Emmy history in 2020, sweeping all the major categories, and Catherine has won 11 awards in total for this role.

67 years old, and Moira is large and in charge on Netflix. Let’s all bask for a moment in the reflected glory of this visible older woman, shall we? Yet the cult of Moira Rose has no age or gender or sexual preference. She appeals to all.

Why?

Well, let’s unpack her persona, and five reasons I want to be just like her when I grow up, through the lens of Moira’s unique voice.

“This Wine Is Awful. Get Me Another Glass.”

Self-care, thy name is Moira Rose. This is a woman who will not be putting anyone else’s wellbeing before her own, thank you very much.

Most women consider everyone else BUT themselves to be worthy of care and attention, myself included. The phrase “love yourself first” causes mild discomfort and feels like entitlement. Or is that just me? Ugh…

But it is NOT Moira Rose.

Also, can we give that quote massive kudos? Because we have all been there… and some of us have pitched a tent.

“I may have been wrong. You may have been not wrong.”

Moira’s self-esteem is off the charts. She says what she thinks and thinks how she wants. Does it have to make sense or be politically correct in any way, shape or form? Not in the world according to Moira Rose.

Defaulting to others’ opinions doesn’t occur to her; thinking of herself as less or smaller than anyone else is unthinkable.

Would I like to be as completely myself in any situation as Moira is? Ummmm, YES.

“Oh, God. I’d kill for a good coma right now.”

Needing to be thought of as nice does not even cross Moira’s radar. When you ask her how she is, she tells you. Spoiler: “fine” is not an option while she’s barely tolerating life in Schitt’s Creek.

“I’m eating egg whites and hoping the building will collapse,” a depressed Moira tells Jocelyn.

LOVE.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could tell everyone how we REALLY are? As a Moira Rose, I would drop truth bombs willy nilly; then I’d see who was still around after the dust settled.

But I also wouldn’t care #winwin.

“I Would Be Pleased to RSVP as Pending.”

Moira Rose has boundaries like the Berlin Wall when it first opened for business. You’re not making her come to your boring soiree, watch your crying bebe or clean any motel room any time soon. Move along. You. Will. Not. Pass.

My own boundaries are more of the sheets flapping on the clothesline type. Yup, basically useless. It would be a dream to shore up my faux barrier with some of Moira’s internal barbed wire and concrete.

“Alexis Looked Chinese as an Infant! How Many Times Must I Defend Myself?!”

Moira stands up for herself, even when being reminded she once took home the wrong child from preschool.

How much am I a fan of this staunch self-advocacy? Rabid! Even when someone else is clearly “not wrong,” she will not be shamed. Go, Moira! I have stored her emotional karate moves for future reference. One day, perhaps I could be that snippy on my behalf as well…

As a character, Moira Rose is an IMAX theater in a Magnovox world. Not once is she portrayed as a stereotypical anything let alone what usually passes for a 67-year-old woman on TV or in advertising, if you can find one, that is. For this alone, she deserves a place in all of our hearts.

The Credits

But it’s not only Catherine O’Hara who should be recognized for the iconic wonder that is Moira Rose.

Dan Levy and his writers’ room are the ones who crafted her words and not only allowed but encouraged Catherine to make Moira her own. The black and white couture, the many – many! – wigs, the accent would not resonate if they weren’t grounded in a character written as a whole person – multi-layered, irritating, admirable… she is 360 degrees a human being IRL.

Her age is irrelevant. She is older, not OLD. As we all are.

And she is seen.

Thank you, Moira Rose. Your representation is Oscar standard.

“If that’s not a cause for alcohol, I don’t know what is.”

Do you want to be a Moira Rose too? ARE you a Moira Rose already? How do you feel about this 67-year-old icon shining so brightly on our screens right now? And if you haven’t visited Schitt’s Creek yet, why not? We would love to hear from you!