In the simplest form, business is a mutually beneficial exchange between two people. One party provides products or services to satisfy needs and wants. The other party, in return, pays the first party for meeting their needs/wants. Ideally, this is how things should go – smoothly and with only the slightest hassle. Unfortunately, no matter what business you operate, there will be times when you need to learn how to handle debtors.

The need for this arises because, whether you like it or not, there are people who would much rather enjoy the benefits of your services without paying for it. To keep yourself from going bankrupt, you need to be able to manage these types of people properly. After all, the sole aim of a business is to make money. So, how do you handle debtors effectively?

1. Make your payment terms as clear as possible in writing

When you provide services to an individual or a group of individuals on credit, make your payment terms crystal clear to them. You can’t just stop at emphasizing it over a phone call. Put it in writing and have both parties sign to it. If the amount is a particularly huge sum, you could get a lawyer involved. The last thing you want to do is to make them believe that the money doesn’t mean that much to you. With well-defined payment terms, it becomes virtually impossible for the second party to deny your agreement.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/five-tips-to-help-you-handle-debtors-effectively/

Mark Zuckerberg is an American entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of Facebook, a world-famous social-networking platform. He was born in 1984 and has had his fair share of astounding successes. So much so that he is worth more than 80 billion US Dollars and is considered one of the richest men in the world.

At 36 years old, this is quite a feat to attain. But, how did Mark Zuckerberg get there? Are there any particular patterns we can learn from? In today’s article, we’ll be sharing five entrepreneurial lessons you can learn from Mark Zuckerberg.

1. Be passionate about your trade

Some people say that passion doesn’t put food on the table, and they’d rather just go where the money is. However, it’s already been well-established that humans mostly act based on how they feel, instead of pure logic. Even if you choose to defy your emotions, they always find a way to creep in and affect your productivity. As such, you must pick something you love to do and stick to it. Otherwise, you’ll risk going through your entrepreneurial journey, making only mediocre efforts. The passion for what he does is one of the things that sets Mark Zuckerberg high above the competition.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/five-entrepreneurship-lessons-from-mark-zuckerberg/

Moses is among one of the greatest men that ever lived in the Bible. With God's help, he was able to free hundreds of thousands of Israelites from 400 years of slavery. This feat is particularly astounding when you consider that the Israelites were unarmed. It becomes even more impressive when you realize that they were fleeing from one of the most advanced civilizations at that time – Egypt.

Considering the calibre of man that Moses was, there are definitely a few things that we can pick up from his life. Today, we'll be looking at what those lessons are:

1. Humility precedes greatness

In the book of Numbers 12:3, we are told, "Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth." Without the sort of humility that Moses had, he definitely wouldn't have been chosen by God to lead the people of Israel. This is true because the Bible establishes the fact that God does not take too kindly to arrogant people. The moral takeaway of this point is to be humble. You might not be leading upwards of 400,000 men across the desert, but in whatever capacity you serve, be humble. It goes a long way in helping you attain greatness.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/three-lessons-you-can-learn-from-the-life-of-moses/

To some, there is no such thing as too much coffee. After all, coffee is an excellent/healthy beverage. In fact, for some people, a simple cup of coffee a day is a lot better than pouring down several gulps of alcohol at a party. You really can’t blame them, though.

Alcohol makes you drowsy, tipsy, and generally, not very smart. On the other hand, coffee increases your alertness, boosts your adrenaline, and makes you much more functional.

However, is coffee really all that it’s praised to be? It is already a known fact that this beverage contains caffeine and, if taken in excess, can cause damages. However, what’s the worst that could happen if you take too much coffee?

1. Anxiety
Now, caffeine functions in your system by blocking the hormone that makes you tired and causes sluggishness. Afterwards, it helps your body to release adrenaline, which is also known as the fight or flight hormone. This generally increases your level of alertness and makes you much quicker in thinking and acting. However, when you take too much coffee, you’ll end up thinking too much about virtually everything. Considering that your body is constantly being forced to release the flight or fight hormone, you’ll be on the edge most of the time as you’ll literally be waiting for the next opportunity to fight or to take flight.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/why-you-shouldnt-take-too-much-coffee/

There are different kinds of arguments in the financial world that gurus and laypeople like to engage themselves in. On a national scale, some question the devaluation of currencies to help improve the economy in the long run. On a personal scale, some argue about the wisdom in purchasing a particular stock. A few others discuss the power of compound interest. However, among all the different kinds of arguments, one of the most popular is that of savings vs. investment.

For as long as we care to remember, people have always wondered whether or not it is a better idea to save your money instead of investing it. While some would argue that you should indeed keep your cash in the bank, others will say it is an absolute waste of time. But, which of these schools of thought actually holds water considering the current economic situation? In a battle of savings vs. investment, which financial decision comes out on top? Let us examine both separately. Afterwards, maybe you’ll be able to make an inference.

Savings

In its most basic form, the entire purpose of saving is to preserve your money for future use. While there are different places you can save your money, banks are still the most popular options in today’s world.

Now, if your only intention is to save money so that you can use it in the future, then, saving in the bank is exactly what you want to do. The best part is that unlike the local “kolo,” banks would even give you interests if you save with them.

While this might seem like a good thing, things aren’t that simple. In fact, they become a whole lot more complicated when you factor in the country’s economy. In a country where inflation levels are constantly increasing, the value of your money would become lower and lower with every passing year.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/savings-vs-investment-which-is-better/

Whether you choose to admit it or not, the truth is that we’ve all been there. We’ve all had that one person we loved so much that we didn’t even think of what it would take to get over a breakup if things go wrong.

It’s normal. Love happens to all of us. You find that absolutely perfect person and go on your first date. You fall for her, and if fate has it, she falls for you too. Things go very smoothly, and both of you are happily in love, making and sharing memories, among other things. However, like many other things in life, the relationship doesn’t last forever. One thing leads to another, and you both split.

Breakups can be sad and particularly devastating. However, if you must know, you don’t have to be a slave to that sadness any longer. Today, we’ll be sharing a couple of tips to help you get over a bad breakup.

1. Feel the pain

One of the biggest sources of pain is trying to deny its existence in the first place. More often than not, people attempt to deal with their pain by “roughing it" and pretending it doesn’t exist. Unfortunately, your emotions don’t work that way. No matter how much you push them down and try to ignore them, like a Jack in the box, they’ll spring out one day. So, if you must cry, cry. If you must stay up all night listening to sad music, do so. Just don’t deny yourself the pain.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/how-to-get-over-a-breakup/

You On a daily basis, most children have to deal with bullies in one way or the other. It is not normal, but it is quite common. In fact, even you might’ve had to face a similar issue.

The difference between when you had to deal with it is that now, there is such a thing as cyberbullying. It consists of verbally demeaning attacks from people on the internet. It might not have the same physical consequences as getting punched by a bully. But, it can be very emotionally damaging.

Regardless of what form of bullying your child is going through, it is your duty as a parent to help them deal with it. Unfortunately, going to talk to the bully yourself might worsen the situation as you wouldn’t always be there to protect your child. In the same vein, teaching your child violence isn’t the best way to go about the issue. However, there are still a couple of ways to deal with your child getting bullied. They are:

1. Be proactive

Especially when your kid is joining a new school or is new at a particular place filled with other children, you’ll want to be proactive. That is, have a conversation with your kid on the subject even before they complain to you that they are getting bullied. This would help your child to know what to do if the situation arises. If done right, the bully might be worn down enough in that one conversation with your kid to know that they shouldn’t bother him/her.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/how-to-help-your-child-deal-with-bullies/

An Introverted person is one who is characterized by an inability to participate in social gatherings for a number of reasons. In contrast to their extroverted counterparts, an introverted individual would much rather just stay at home and read a book than go out to party on a Friday night.

Introverts are all around us today. As a matter of fact, you probably have a lot of them as your friends. The chances are that you are one too.

The thing about introverts is that their very nature doesn’t quite allow them to enjoy social gatherings in the way that extroverts do. As a result, they always look for one reason or the other to get out of it. However, like many other things in the world, a lot of people often abuse the word “introversion.” The worst part is that some people don’t even know that they’re doing it.

They say that they don’t want to do this or they don’t want to do that simply because they’re introverted and can’t enjoy it. However, a deeper probing would often reveal that it’s an excuse to avoid certain things. So, how do you know that you’re being self-destructive instead of introverted?

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/introverted-or-self-destructive/

There is a very popular saying that goes, "no man is an island." This saying passes one message across, and the message is that nobody can do everything by themselves. This saying essentially tells you that you need to network. Sadly, it does very little to explain in detail why networking is important for you.

Now, the chances are that you have probably made a few efforts at networking before. Knowing that networking is important, you have probably tried mingling with one or two individuals. However, can you honestly say you know the reasons networking is important? Do you understand the value of this act, or are you merely doing so because people say you should?

If you don't, you needn't worry, really. In today's article, we'll be pointing out a couple of reasons why networking is important, regardless of your career path.

1. It helps to increase your visibility

Have you ever wondered why politicians and business moguls are always attending one fancy event or the other? Have you ever wondered why they pretty much spend the entire event trying to meet someone else? It's because it helps them to become more noticeable. This is what networking does for you. You would no longer be that obscure young man nobody really knows about. If you play your cards just right, especially on places like LinkedIn, you could be at the back of some very important individuals' minds.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/5-reasons-why-networking-is-important-to-your-career/

Drinking the right amounts of fluid is as important to the body as breathing. Among other things, it helps to keep your blood pressure at just the right level. Alongside that, it is great for detoxifying, and there are so many other uses. As such, you cannot afford to take too little of it. If, however, this is already the case for you, you need to increase your fluid intake.

Unfortunately, for some people, this can be a tad difficult because drinking water only happens when they’re thirsty. Besides that, and as strange as it might sound, some don’t quite have the time to remain consistent in drinking the right amount of fluids, despite its benefits. However, there are ways you can go about it. That, my friend, is the entire point of this article.

How to Increase Your Fluid Intake

If you happen to be within the class of those who find it a tad difficult to make proper hydration a habit, this is for you. Here are five great ways you can increase your fluid intake:

1. Eat fruits rich in water

This is not the most common way, but it is still quite effective too. There are so many fruits that are rich in water content. If you want to increase your fluid intake without filling up on just water, you can eat them. One of the best examples of this kind of fruit is watermelon.

2. Always carry a water bottle 

It is very common to forget something when it’s not within your line of sight. However, with water constantly being around you in your water bottle, you’ll be more likely to drink more of it.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/five-great-ways-to-increase-your-fluid-intake/

Going out on a date is one of the many courting rituals that the human society observes. It usually starts when you, the man, asks the girl to go out with you to a chosen location. It’s usually quite simple, and it often moves along with no hassles. Although, if it’s the first date, things tend to get a bit more complicated.

The reason behind this is that on a first date, it is your first time expressing what might be a romantic interest in the person. Especially if you don’t know each other very well, there might be that unnerving need to impress, which will make one or both of you self-conscious. As such, during the first date, many people are prone to committing errors. 

However, there are some mistakes you shouldn’t let yourself make on a first date. It could very well spell an end to a potentially good relationship/friendship. To help you out, we’ll be sharing five of them.

1. Do not be sarcastic or condescending

Admittedly, some people have darker senses of humour than some others. They tend to have fun by pointing out the logical inconsistencies in your speech. If you are that type of person, you might argue that it isn’t a sign of narcissism and that you’re just having fun. However, your date might not know that. So, hold off on the sarcasm until you are both well-acquainted and comfortable with each other.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/top-five-things-you-shouldnt-do-on-a-first-date/

Over the years, one thing that has caused a bit of a disruption in the scientific/intellectual world is the concept of the alpha male. It is not quite as furious as the debate on climate change, global warming, and all the other big players at the scientific roundtable. However, it is still enough for a reputed outlet like the Guardian to write about it.

Now, do not get it confused. People do believe in the existence of alpha males. In the animal kingdom, the phrase is often attributed to the male animals that are particularly dominant among a group of their species. Examples include the silverback gorilla and the alpha wolf in a pack. These males are usually the leaders of the pack, and they get to that position through a simple, but sometimes, brutal display of strength, authority, and power. 

While there is no dispute as to whether or not alpha males exist, the bone of contention is whether they exist in human societies or not. Even though there is hardly any scientific evidence to corroborate it, people still attribute the phrase to an individual who possesses certain characteristics.

What is the alpha male?

More often than not, when you type in the above enquiry on the web, you'll be met with the definition that states that an alpha male is a man who is dominant and assertive. He is brash, loud, does what he wants and does not care what anyone thinks. He is attractive, never afraid of confrontation, and self-development is a never-ending process for him. So much so that he never allows himself to get weak enough to be defeated by another person. Regarding the opposite sex, he gets all the ladies.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/the-concept-of-the-alpha-male/

As sad as it is to say, life does not always go in the direction that we want it to go. In the process of doing the things we love and trying to make the most out of our existence, things happen. Sometimes, we lose our loved ones. Sometimes we get our hearts broken. You might not be going through it right now, but the chances are that your friend might be. In these painful moments, you need to be able to comfort your grieving friend.

It goes beyond the usual “ehya” and “sorry, bro.” In fact, these two phrases rarely have any real effects on those you are trying to help. If you truly want to comfort your grieving friend, you have to do so much more than just uttering phrases.

Five Tips to Help Comfort a Grieving Friend
1. Do not expect them to simply “get over it.”

The loss of a loved one or the end of a relationship can be deeply traumatizing. This is largely so because of the bonds that were formed with the person. As such, when it happens, you can’t just expect your friend to forget about it and move on. It might take longer than expected but ensure that during that period, you support them instead of unhealthily pressuring to them to let it go.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/how-to-comfort-your-grieving-friend/

A narcissist is a person who is generally consumed with themselves. They often lack the ability to feel empathy for other people. Alongside that, they constantly feel the need to be admired or appreciated for whatever efforts they make. All of these traits make them unbearable in human relationships. So much so that some people consciously avoid them.

With the Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) being a real thing, according to many psychologists, it’s not a surprise that we’re surrounded by these kinds of people in our lives. You might not know it, but the closest narcissist to you could be your boss, your close friend, your second child, or even yourself! Yes, you might be a narcissist too.

Unfortunately, it is not easy to spot traits of narcissism in you all by yourself. So, here are seven different signs that you might be a narcissist:

1. You are a sore loser

It could be while playing a video game with the boys or while trying to come up with a new idea at work. However, if you constantly find yourself getting riled up every time you lose, you might be a narcissist.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/7-signs-you-might-be-a-narcissist/

As an investor or even a financially inclined person, one of the most important pieces of information for you to note is that the power of compound interest is second to none!

Despite how clearly obvious this piece of information might seem, it isn’t the most widely propagated/well emphasized in financial institutions as well as some schools across the country. However, if you are looking to create or build wealth through investment in multiple portfolios, harnessing the power of compound interest is one of the best ways to do so.

What is compound interest?

Now, under normal circumstances, when people are thinking of interest, they think of the extra money that is paid on loans. This type of interest could be rather discomforting because it means that you would have to give more money to your lender than you were initially given. However, it has come to be widely accepted in the financial world. 

Thankfully, the compound interest we’re referring to here has nothing to do with things of that sort. To put it simply, compound interest is the interest paid on the summation of the principal and interest garnered in the previous investment cycle. This is a step further than simple interest which only pays you extra money on the initial principal you invested. For compound interest to exist, you must’ve invested for at least two consecutive investment cycles.

Even we’ll admit that that might be a bit difficult to wrap your head around. So, let’s see if we can break it down further.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/the-power-of-compound-interest-in-building-wealth/

Contrary to what social media might make you believe, balancing fatherhood and entrepreneurship isn’t the easiest thing in the world. In fact, as you might’ve probably realized, it is one of the most daunting things to do. This is especially so if your children are still largely dependent on you. 

You can’t leave everything to your wife. A man who purposely does that is considered both insensitive and irresponsible. In the same vein, you can’t just leave your kids alone. So, how do you really balance entrepreneurship with fatherhood and look good doing it? That question right there is what we’re going to be thrashing today. So, without further ado, let’s get right to it.

Five Quick Tips on How to Balance Fatherhood and Entrepreneurship

1. Do your best to make your children understand your lifestyle

As an entrepreneur, you’ll most likely be staying up at night, working and trying to figure things out. You’ll probably have impromptu meetings where you’ll discuss with team members, and your home could very well become a workspace. This is likely to leave your kids confused. To help them through the process, explain to them as simply as possible. Even a 3-year-old will be able to understand when you go on one knee and say, “Daddy won’t be home today because daddy needs to work, but as soon as daddy gets back, you’ll get a big cup of ice cream.”

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/how-to-balance-fatherhood-and-entrepreneurship/

The relationship that exists between a man and a woman is like a plant. It is delicate, beautiful, and has the potential to blossom into a beautiful kind of life form. However, this is only possible if the relationship is nurtured properly. One of the ways through which you could nurture your relationship is by using effective relationship-building activities.

There are a number of things that you could try out if you’re looking to make your relationship even better than it currently is. To help you, we’ll be listing out six of those relationship-building activities. They are:

1. Date night with no gadgets

To build your relationship, you can both go out on dates. Talk and enjoy each other’s company without gadgets (mobile phones in particular). Keep in mind that date night isn’t limited to dinner at a restaurant. If she likes to dance, take her out to dance. The list is endless but just ensure you have a good time.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/6-interesting-relationship-building-activities-to-try-out/

Variety, they say, is the spice of life. While it applies to food, among other things, it also applies to the different kinds of friends you should have. Humans are social animals. Our brains and bodies are wired in such a way that we cannot but have friends. Those who think that they can go on forever with no one are confusing independence with isolation. Now, considering that we really have no choice but to mingle with other people, it’s only logical that we do it right.

After all, why have one type of friend when you can have different kinds? Now, don’t get it wrong. We are not saying that you should grow an unnecessarily large group of friends. A small valuable group of people is always better than a huge bunch of noisemakers. However, if you’re looking to add a little bit of spice to your life and enjoy the beauty in variety, you should befriend these kinds of people:

1. The Knowledgeable One

Unless you’re a bit of a narcissist, it shouldn’t hurt you to find out that you don’t know everything. Our knowledge as a species is very limited. However, we can always make up for it by learning different things and complementing each others’ knowledge. For this reason, among others, it is important to have a friend who is knowledgeable. These types of friends can provide financial advice, give you tidbits of information on certain topics of interest and usually, they’re right.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/five-different-kinds-of-friends-you-must-have/

The entire purpose of the first date is to get to know each other and make a good first impression. However, this is not possible at all if all you can do is to sit and stare at yourselves all night. The best way to break the ice and make good conversation is by asking questions. For that reason, we’ve compiled 30 first date questions for you to use.

30 First Date Questions
1. What are your favourite pastimes?
2. Would you rather stay indoors or go out?
3. Which type of books do you really enjoy?
4. What’s your definition of an exciting person?
5. Do you have any movie preferences?
6. What are your biggest adventures so far?
7. Do you like pets?
8. What is your obsession these days?
9. Do you travel often?
10. If you could try out international cuisine, which would you go for?

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/30-first-date-questions-the-ultimate-list/

Before you even begin reading and understanding why you must drink more water daily, there are a few facts about this clear liquid that might interest you.

For starters, a relatively large amount of our planet is covered in water. As a matter of fact, many of the unexplored parts of the earth are underwater with the ocean beds making up about 70% of the planet itself.

However, this is not the most interesting fact. The most interesting fact is that more than half of your body is made up of water. Numbers vary from one person to another. For some, especially among children, water levels are higher. Nevertheless, the truth remains that a significant amount of your body is water-based.

Why You Should Drink Water More Often

1. It assists in the formation of saliva. If you’re wondering what’s so important about this, you might not have experienced the discomforts of a dry throat/mouth. Additionally, saliva is one of the first places where food is broken down in your body.
2. Water helps to lubricate your joints. Without sufficient water in that part of your body, the joints’ ability to absorb shock reduces drastically, and this can be a source of major pain.
3. This clear liquid makes up the majority of your blood. Without it, you’ll die.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-drink-more-water/

Among many fathers in the world, one thing that is particularly common is overprotection. Now, the reason behind overprotectiveness is pretty noble. The world is a pretty dangerous place, and sometimes, the stories you hear horrify you.

From the kidnappings to the rapes and even the gruesome murders of people, it is normal if you want to lock your kid in to protect them from the dangers of the world. However, is that truly the solution?

Truthfully, it accomplishes the task. When you keep your child under your wing for as long as possible, they’ll stay protected. A child who is not allowed to handle knives under any circumstance will not be able to harm himself with knives. Alongside that, a child who is not allowed to go out cannot get killed at another person’s home. Technically speaking, being overprotective does work. It keeps your child alive and gives you rest of mind, but there are also consequences to it.

Disadvantages of Overprotectiveness

Among other things, when you are overprotective of your sons and daughters, the following could be the consequences:

1. Naivety

If you never allow your child to do anything that might be remotely dangerous, you risk making that child unable to function in the real world. A child who always stays at home, as we established earlier, is safe. Unfortunately, that only satisfies your need for peace of mind. When it comes to being able to handle normal, everyday tasks, the child would be lacking.

If they never go out, they might never learn how to haggle and they are likely to lose a lot of money to overpriced products. If they never get any street wisdom, they are likely to get scammed with the promise of more benefits. Protecting your child too much deprives them of valuable knowledge.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/overprotectiveness-a-solution-or-an-aggravation/

Scientifically speaking, toxicity refers to the quality of a compound/element/object being able to cause damage to a living organism upon exposure. Several of these toxic elements abound in our world today. One of the most common is the smoke generated from burning fossil fuels in cars, generators, etc. However, one form of toxicity that does not have a place on the periodic table but is just as dangerous is a toxic person.

Like a toxic element, a toxic person can trigger a strain of adverse effects on you. They might not necessarily have you coughing and receiving supplements at the hospital after two months of exposure. However, they could affect your mental health, weigh you down emotionally in more ways than one and turn you into a downer. Unfortunately, these types of people are all around us. Their nature isn’t entirely their fault because something caused them to become that way. However, for the sake of your own health, you need to learn how you can deal with them. In this article, we’ll show you just how to do that.

1. Don’t become excessively drawn into their ways

When you see a huge billowing mushroom cloud of smoke, would you walk into it simply because it looked artistic the last time you saw it in a painting? I’d take a wild guess and say no because that’s not a very smart thing to do. In the same vein, try not to get drawn into a toxic person’s ways. When they are complaining about everyone and everything, do not join them in complaining. When they are playing the victim under every circumstance, refusing to take responsibility, don’t become a part of that parade. As Nigerians would say, “fashi am joor!”

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/how-to-cope-with-a-toxic-person-at-work/

At some point in your life, the chances are that you’ve been told that intelligence trumps all. You’ve probably also heard that you need to study for several hours for you to get that intelligence. Alongside that is the fact that you must read and amass as much knowledge as you can. Now, all of these are true, and they are quite admirable actually. However, they don’t do much in the area of helping you to build emotional intelligence.

If you are still a bit new to the term, allow me to clarify. Emotional intelligence, put simply, refers to your relatively measurable ability to manage and understand your emotions. It also puts into consideration how you react to and relate with other people’s emotions as well.

Sadly, while a lot of focus is placed on being mentally intelligent, the importance of emotional intelligence is often understated. That is the reason we will be focusing on the topic today.

What Benefits do you stand to Gain Improving your Emotional Intelligence?

If you are familiar with sales and marketing, you would know that if you are trying to sell an idea or a product to someone, you should be able to show them what they stand to gain from adopting/buying it. As such, here are three main benefits of improving your emotional intelligence:

1. It helps you to relate better with other people in the world around you.
2. We are largely driven by our emotions. However, depending on your level of emotional intelligence, you’d be able to master your emotions such that you won’t be a slave to every feeling you have.
3. You’d become a better man, husband, and father when you can properly manage your emotions and understand that of those around you.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/a-guide-on-how-to-improve-your-emotional-intelligence/

Today, we’ll be having the conversation about the rubber and the ring. Even ‘til this day, this topic of sex before marriage is one that still remains a bone of contention. On this topic, there are two major schools of thoughts with some supporting the notion and others condemning it. Of course, some are particularly apathetic towards the issue, but apathy isn’t exactly a school of thought.

Now, to answer the question of which should come first between sex and marriage, there are two broad ways you could look at it. You could do so from a religious point of view or from a purely logical point of view, uninfluenced by beliefs or doctrines from others.

Religious POV

Looking at it from this POV is a bit hard because there are multiple religions, even in Nigeria alone. So much so that it would be difficult to touch all of them. As such, we’ll be focusing our answer on the two most widely practised in the country – Christianity and Islam.

Now, in Christianity, the rules are pretty clear. You aren’t meant to fornicate, and you shouldn’t commit adultery either. The latter is even spelt out vividly in one of the Ten Commandments as seen in the book of Exodus.

In Islam, the rules are virtually the same. Any sexual relationship outside of marriage is forbidden and would attract consequences. As such, if you’re a true follower of either of these religions, premarital sex should be a huge no for you.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/the-rubber-or-the-ring-which-comes-first/

It is already a very well-known fact that exercise can be very physically rewarding. It helps you to make your muscles firmer. Apart from that, it helps you to lose all those extra pounds so that you can walk around feeling lighter and healthier. Perhaps, one of the most important benefits is that it could also help to stave off illnesses associated with obesity. But, what about the nonphysical benefits of working out?

All the physical ones are great, but exercise can be so much more rewarding. There is so much more to gain from working out than six-pack abs and firm biceps. That is where we’ll be placing our attention today. 

Top Five Nonphysical Benefits of Working Out

Indeed, there are many things outside the physically evident that you stand to gain when you workout. But, we’ll be going over five of the most important.

1. It boosts your confidence

To be honest, this is more of an offshoot of the physical benefits than a standalone. However, it is still very true. A good workout routine will leave you feeling more productive, fitter, lighter, and better looking. These things are generally desired by many people. When you workout, you can get these feelings and all the confidence that comes with them.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/the-nonphysical-benefits-of-working-out/

To start at the very top, etiquette is a word used to refer to the rules guiding the behaviour of a group of people in a particular area. It helps to distinguish what is considered right from what is just plain unpleasant. Judging by how disorderly things tend to get every now and then, it is important to take a few lessons in basic etiquette. 

Unfortunately, the world we live in today is making it seem more and more like it's unnecessary to show common courtesy. However, chivalry is not yet dead. The only reason people think so is that we, the gentlemen, allow them. 

As such, in today's article, we'll be looking at five basic etiquette rules that every gentleman should follow.

1. Always open the door for a lady 

This is especially important if she is your woman. This particular tradition started several years ago. Back then, some women wore particularly distinguishing items of clothing that were rather large. As such, they found it a bit hard to open the door and gain entrance into certain places. The men of their age helped them, and the culture stuck until today.

However, with most girls wearing skinny jeans and generally comfortable items of clothing, this culture isn't just to help women. After all, women are perfectly capable of helping themselves. So, no, it’s not to help women. This culture is just a kind gesture to others.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/5-basic-etiquette-every-man-must-know/

After arguing with your woman, do you feel you both understand each other better or do your arguments tend to distance you two further? Today, I’d be giving four simple tips on how to handle an argument with your woman.

By the way, aren’t you excited to have me here again? I missed you, and I hope you miss my relationship tips as well. I am still your female blogger from VirtueDigest. So, let’s get started. I’m sure you’d be happy to read these few tips. 

Before we begin, though, you need to understand that arguments are ways you can grow together. However, they can lead a relationship from being healthy to unhealthy if not handled properly. As such, when you reach a disagreement with your woman, you need to learn how to argue and grow from it. So, gents, how do you handle arguments with your woman?

1. You Need to Stay True to the Fight

Women love it when you stay on the topic of the argument. You don’t have to look for emotional words to take her down. The sign that you are not staying true to the fight is when you start using words like “always” and “never.” When you use these words in an argument, you are not talking about the fight anymore; you are making it more personal than it should be. For example, “you always complain about...” is a statement that clearly strays from the argument to attack her.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/how-to-handle-an-argument-with-your-woman/

It is sad that many people have become so dependent on the internet. So much so that the thought of whether they should get off the internet or not never really crosses their mind. 

Now, this addiction is relatively understandable, given several circumstances. For starters, the internet provides a platform for sharing information and knowledge at alarming rates and at incredible speeds. This easy access to information makes for greater ability to accomplish multiple tasks. Alongside that, we can also connect with people, known and unknown, in mere moments. 

However, the problem now is that, like many other good things, the internet gets abused. Today, there is an ocean of negativity on the web that has the potential to affect your mental health. As such, you need to take a break more often. Outside of getting an escape from the negatives, here are a few more reasons you should get off the internet occasionally:

1. You’ll be able to create deeper connections with people

Much of our generation is heavily dependent on social media to make connections with people. But social media was created to complement our networking efforts, not bear the brunt of all of it. By taking a break from the internet, you’ll be able to talk to people more genuinely. It might be difficult at first, but you’ll learn eventually, and when you do, you’ll find out that you can connect with people on a much deeper level.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/why-you-should-get-off-the-internet-more-often/

Friendship is one of the most rewarding kinds of relationships that you could have with another human being. This is because it doesn’t come along with the coldness of a business partnership nor does it have the emotional blows that could accompany a romantic relationship and other such things. However, as happy and potentially productive as it can be, there might be times when you’ll need to reevaluate your friendship with someone.

It might be sad, but it is completely necessary, especially when start seeing some disconcerting signs. That is the point of this article. So, here are five distinct signs that you might need to reevaluate your friendship, and maybe move on:

1. Inability to resolve conflict

This is coming at the top because it can be a major pain in the neck. Now, don't get it wrong. When you and your friend find yourselves constantly arguing, this, in might not actually be a problem. However, when those fights continue to linger without the other person showing any willingness to change, you might want to sit back and reevaluate.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/5-signs-that-you-might-need-to-reevaluate-your-friendship/

Before we begin dissecting the topic of being self-reliant, it is important that you understand one thing. A network of friends or acquaintances who can help you out when needed is absolutely priceless. There is hardly a substitute for them, and much of human society is built on the ability to share, collaborate, and provide help. 

However, there are times when you just need to be able to do things by yourself. You can't always depend on others to help you accomplish tasks. Occasionally, you have to be self-reliant. To help you do that, we'll be giving you five quick tips:

1. Don't shy away from responsibility

Now, we're not saying that you should go ahead to accept leadership roles you're not well suited to take. What we are saying is that you should take responsibility for your life. The next time you spend a ridiculous amount of money on something you could've just walked away from, don't be so quick to run to someone to "dash" you money. In the same vein, when bad things that aren't necessarily your fault happen to you, don't just sit around complaining. Take charge!

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/five-quick-tips-to-make-you-more-self-reliant/

Now, I can imagine that at some point in your life, you probably tried to live a minimalist lifestyle. You might not have known that that was what you were doing while you tried throwing out the things that did nothing for you. But, here’s a shocker, you were.

Unfortunately, it isn’t always so easy to just get up and throw stuff out. This is especially so when many things have sentimental value to you. As such, we’ll be sharing a few tips on tidying up with you and after this, decluttering shouldn’t be such a herculean task anymore.

1. Make a proper list of the things you must keep

If you are going to be tidying up, the last thing you want to do is to throw away the things you’ll actually need. So, create a list of items that are useful to you. This would involve taking inventory of your property. When you’re done, look through the list as many times as possible and edit out things that you can do without. It is important not to fill up space with things that merely have sentimental value.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/tidying-up-organize-your-home-by-de-cluttering/

Your leisure is that precious time when you really don’t have too much to do. It is the perfect time to explore hobby ideas because you’re not burdened by work or school or any of those responsibilities. During that period, how you spend your time is entirely up to you.

Instead of just sleeping throughout, many people use this time to practice their favourite hobbies. Depending on what it is, these pastimes can be very rewarding. The only trouble here is that some of these hobbies can be pretty energy-sapping and so financially draining that they become a chore. 

As such, we did a little digging around and found out a few hobby ideas you could consider if you need a bit of a distraction. They are cost-effective and fun. They include:

1. Calligraphy

Calligraphy refers to writing in a very specific manner that is considered visually appealing. Apart from helping you make your handwriting better, this hobby is a great way to pass your time. You could also use it to write cute letters to loved ones. Your woman will always appreciate a little show of affection.

READ MORE: https://valourdigest.com/five-excellent-hobby-ideas-for-your-leisure/