I've been experiencing a lot of back pain lately. Some people say it's a sign of getting old, others say it's a result of my daily activities. Either way, it’s not a wonderful feeling doing your chores with a painful back.

Upon doing some research, I found that it may be true that back pains are associated with the things we do every day, like working nine hours a day at your desk. Did you know that sitting puts 40% more pressure on your spine than standing? It puts so much pressure on your back that it begins to hurt. Sitting at a 135-degree angle can reduce compression on the discs in the spine, so lean back slightly every now and then. You can put a pillow on your chair positioned right on your lower back. This will give you a good angle to support your lower back when you lean backwards.

And since most of your time is spent in front of your desk, you tend to be physically less active. Try to allot at least 30 minutes in a day to exercise. Bring out your running shoes, promotional towel and water bottle. A good 30-minute walk and some stretching every day will help ease the tension on your bones.

For women, back pains are usually associated with carrying a heavy shoulder bag. To combat the pain, pack only the things that you need every day into your bag. For example, you can remove coins and loose change as it adds up quickly. Some bags are heavy even when empty, and that’s because of the styles and designs – beads, studs, and metals that manufacturers puts in to make it more stylish. Motivators has a lot of totes and non-woven bags that weigh less and are easier to carry. These also come with different colors and designs so you can still feel stylish.

Did you know that stress is also related to back pain? When you’re stressed, your whole body clenches up, including the muscles in your neck and back. If this happens very often, it will lead to pain. When at work, grab a stress reliever. This will help you relax your mind and your body and hopefully ease pain.

Drinking plenty of water also helps in minimizing and preventing back pains. Back muscles frequently spasm when denied proper amount of fluid. Always bring with you your water bottle. You can never get too much water in your system. If the pain is no longer tolerable, you might want to give your chiropractor a visit; he or she can help you with more advance ways to relieve pain and discomfort.  Who knows?  You might even get a free spine keychain purchased from Motivators!

This past Thursday January 26th, Ken, Laura, Samantha and myself attended the SAAGNY winter showcase 2012.  The plethora of trade show items were amazing.  Any promotional product you could think of was there.  Any item you may want imprinted they had on display.  It really makes you think about how many of these items you come in contact with every single day.  We all had a great time walking the show and are looking forward to selling many of these item to our customers!

It's almost over, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. That's right its crunch time in the holiday season. That means within days you can stop worrying about secret santas and holiday parties and family gatherings and gifts for your significant other and gifts FROM your significant other, so on and so on. Remember, it is important to try to enjoy the season too.

One of the best ways to relax is to enjoy a personal spa day. Understandably, however, not everyone can afford the cost of enjoying a full service spa. If you can't make your way to spa, then you may as well bring the spa to you.

You can start with some Motivators promotional health and well being items. For example, you can start with a Leeds Aura Incense kit to create the mood and then add the Leeds Essential Spa Set for the full relaxation effect. If you really want to be accurate and get into the relaxation mood, don't forget a promotional towel to hang around in for the full effect.

Remember, its the holiday season, find some time to enjoy it and RELAX.

Promotional items are actually everywhere. That’s what I realized when I started working for Motivators. Before, I didn't notice that a lot of things I use day in and day out are items given by companies for promotions (I love free stuff :)).

From the moment I wake up in the morning, I come into contact with promotional products.  I turn off my promotional alarm clock, get out of bed, put on slippers I received from a local footwear store, and dry myself off after a shower with a promotional towel from a hotel my friend works for.  Even my lunch box is imprinted with a company name! 

I believe that promotional giveaways are the best way to make your brand memorable.  The people who use the items act as advertisers without knowing it. I, for example, use a really huge umbrella given by a local bank. Friends were amazed how three adults can actually fit underneath the promotional umbrella without getting wet on a rainy day. They saw the name of the bank were I got the umbrella from and actually considered opening an account with that institution (just to get a free umbrella, nice!). 

Try hanging out in a local coffee shop; observe the people that walk in and out of the store. You will notice a lot of promotional items that they have with them, from bags to key chains, to umbrellas and lanyards, even pens tucked in their shirt pockets. Everyone becomes a product endorser unknowingly. So if you’re thinking of a great way to promote your products/services, browse through Motivators.com; we have a ton of promotional items that will help you boost your brand exposure.