Author: News Updates

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How to procrastinate productively

If you’re anything like me, than you are the expert at procrastinating. You live and breathe last-minute assignments and you thriveunder the pressure of time crunches. You’ve survived countless essays and reading responses under the most harrowing of circumstances, the most stringent of 11:59’s. And the best (or perhaps, worst) part of it all is that you’re good at it. Nobody can tell you otherwise.

Well, as a fellow procrastinator, I’m here to do just that—tell you otherwise.

And as much I can say that I’m the best at studying (i’m not), old habits die hard. BUT, I have found a way that has worked so far, so here it is:

1. “Procrastinate” on bigger, more important tasks with smaller easier-to-do ones.

Often times, I’ll find that no matter how hard I try, I cannot bring myself to study that hard concept or read that looooong chapter I’ve been dreading all week. So I’ll do other tasks that’ll need to get done later anyway (like sending an email or even writing a certain blog post for a certain website…). The effects of this are two-fold: you’ll cross something off your to-do list and the very act of crossing said thing off to-do list (metaphorically or physically, your choice) will get the ball rolling for other, harder tasks. It’s all mind over matter. You’ll just start to feel more productive the more you get done.

2. Organize your study space/room/notes, etc.

Speaking of mind over matter, a cluttered desk is a cluttered mind. Taking out the trash or organizing your backpack are, once again, tasks that will need to get done sooner or later. Instead of wasting the time you should be spending studying on Netflix (or her lesser known but equally time consuming cousin, Pinterest), spend it organizing! If you haven’t already noticed the trend here, it’s all about maximizing your time with something productive, even if it’s not THE thing you’re procrastinating on.

3. If you just can’t get yourself to study, join something that’ll force you to.

If there is anything that I could forever imprint into the minds of my fellow Blue Jays, old and new, it’s to ENROLL IN PILOT!!!! Read that once, then go back and read it again. PILOT is a peer-led tutoring service that stresses group learning over individual learning. You’re not mindlessly studying things that, in the back of your mind, you know you won’t ever be tested on; you’re given problem sets that are (actually!) made by the professor. You’re led by a PILOT leader, someone that’s taken the class (and done well in it), who leads a group of you and your classmates to work through the problems together.

You can also try to eat while watching something, like a show or a movie. Remember it is absolutely okay to rest and procrastinate.

I hope these tips have helped, and that you, vis-à-vis me, feel a sudden urge to finish that thing you’ve been putting off. Whatever it is, good luck!

Thank you.

Importance of education in our society

Education is a tool which provides people with knowledge, skill, technique, information, enables them to know their rights and duties toward their family, society as well as the nation.  It develops the capabilities to fight against injustice, violence, corruption and many other bad elements in the society. Education gives us knowledge of the world around us. Education does play a very important role in the society, regardless which country or region of the world you’re living. India upholds Right to Education through the Constitution of India and its various amendments. Their aim is educating underprivileged sections of the Indian society and girls.  Education plays a very important role in the society of every nation. In fact, it’s the very basis for development of any society and country. One of the main reason is it decided social status. It’s no secret that highly educated people have better career and business options compared over those who’ve none or lesser education. An educated person is able to aptly distinguish between rights and wrongs. An educated person is an asset to the country. They also contribute significantly to the growth of the local economy of the state or region and the national economy as well. Education allows people to provide better lifestyle for their families. 

How can education improve your life?

Some people think that education is limited. They think that education is all about learning some limited subject and earn a certificate. These people are known as narrow-minded people. Education is life and We can improve our lives through the best education. Education is necessary to increase our opportunities to get a job. Also when you start your preparations for interview, you have to sure about your resume. Your resume have to be unique and perfect so it reflects your personality. When you have good skills, you will enhance your resume. Mental health is also important as physical health. We can improve mental health through learning something new or learning some new language. Every step you take will make you happy, you gain the confidence by taking actions and accomplishing your goals. We all should never stop learning. As life never stops, people should never stop learning. It creates new opportunities. Learning keeps your life going on. After all, you study and succeed, you can live on your own, no one can beat you when you are formative enough to gain work and live independently. So, education will be your solution to be independent. Education, not only, will improve your life, but also other’s lives. So keep it up and make a future better!

About Education

Education is the process of learning and improving knowledge, skills, values and habits. There are many educational methods include teaching, telling story, discussion, motivating etc. Education can take place in formal or informal. Formal education means it includes preschool, primary school, secondary school, higher secondary school and then college, university. formal education takes place in a school environment with classrooms of multiple students learning together. Each school system is different. They have many different choices like curriculum, about classroom, teaching staff, number of students etc. But I think that now a days education is very important for all. There is a important role of preschool and primary school. Proper and good education is very important for all of us. It facilitates quality learning all through the life among people of any age group, cast, creed, religion and region.

How to read more books

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As New Year’s Eve approaches, many people are thinking about their goals and resolutions for 2020. Reading more books is one of the most common resolutions. Maybe you didn’t read as many books as you wanted to this year. Maybe your TBR is getting out of control. Or maybe you read a lot this year, but want to do even better next year. Regardless, these tips to read more books will help you meet your reading goals in 2020.

The tips below will help you find ways to fit more reading into your schedule, prevent burnout, and reach your goals. Keep in mind that not everything works for everyone. Find inspiration in this list, but you don’t have to take all of the advice listed here to read more books. Remember that reading should be fun and interesting, not torture. That said, I hope this list helps you fulfill your reading dreams.

1. MAKE READING PART OF YOUR ROUTINE

The best way to consistently read more is to intentionally dedicate more time to reading. Seems easy, right? The best way to make sure you keep your reading resolution through the whole year is to integrate reading time into your regular routine. Wake up a little earlier each day and read while you drink your coffee, dedicate the half hour before bedtime to reading, or spend your lunch breaks with a book. As you make reading a regular part of your schedule, it will become an ingrained habit.

2. LEARN TO DOUBLE TASK

There are only so many hours in the day, right? But if you learn to double task, you double your hours. Read a book while you’re doing something else that doesn’t require your full attention. I like to read or listen to books while working out, cooking, cleaning, and even walking. Just save the really complex books for when you can give them your undivided attention.

3. ALWAYS HAVE A BOOK

When you have a book, you’ll never get bored. You’d be surprised how many moments in your day can be filled with reading if you have a book handy. Waiting for the bus, in line at the grocery, at the doctor’s office, even in a long elevator ride—all are perfect opportunities to squeeze in a few more pages. If you don’t like carrying around a physical book, I highly recommend carrying an ereader or having a reading app downloaded on your phone.

4. SET A GOAL

It’s much easier to read more books when you set a reading goal. With a goal in mind, you can stay motivated and make sure you’re staying on track to reach it. The Goodreads Reading Challenge is an excellent way to track your goal, as it can tell you how you’re doing and help you stay on schedule. But make sure the goal you set is attainable; it will only discourage you if you set a goal you aren’t able to reasonably reach.

5. READ WITH YOUR EARS

LISTENING TO AUDIOBOOKS IS NOT CHEATING. We all learn and retain information in different ways, and audiobooks are one of many ways to enjoy a good book. Audiobooks are amazing when it comes to multitasking. You can listen to an audiobook while driving, exercising, walking, and so much more. Plus it’s a great way to avoid eye fatigue when you’ve been reading a lot of print or ebooks. If you’re new to audiobooks or don’t know if they can work for you, I recommend starting with a memoir by a celebrity author you admire, like We’re Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union. Alternatively, try a collection of essays or short stories that can be listened to in shorter bursts, like We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby.

6. JOIN A BOOK CLUB

Book clubs are a great way to hold yourself accountable to your reading goal. First, scheduled book club meetings encourage you to finish a book by a certain date. Second, the social aspect of book clubs is a great way to feel more engaged in your reading and to discuss your thoughts with others. Third, books selected by a book club relieve some of the “what do I read next?” pressure that can keep you from picking up your next book. If you commit to a monthly book club, that’s 12 books toward your annual reading goal!

I hope these tips help you to reach your bookish goals!

Thank you.

Healthy habits for young people

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This article is part of a series aimed at helping you navigate life’s opportunities and challenges.

Staying healthy in your 20s is strongly associated with a lower risk for heart disease in middle age, according to research from Northwestern University. That study showed that most people who adopted five healthy habits in their 20s – a lean body mass index, moderate alcohol consumption, no smoking, a healthy diet and regular physical activity – stayed healthy well into middle age.

Weigh yourself often.

Buy a bathroom scale or use one at the gym and weigh yourself regularly. There is nothing more harmful to long-term health than carrying excess pounds, and weight tends to creep up starting in the 20s. It is pretty easy for most people to get rid of three to five pounds and much harder to get rid of 20. If you keep an eye on your weight you can catch it quickly.

Learn to cook.

Learning to cook will save you money and help you to eat healthy. Your focus should be on tasty ways to add variety to your diet and to boost intake of veggies and fruits and other nutrient-rich ingredients. As you experiment with herbs and spices and new cooking techniques, you will find that you can cut down on the unhealthy fats, sugar and salt, as well as the excess calories found in many prepared convenience foods. Your goal should be to develop a nutritious and enjoyable eating pattern that is sustainable and that will help you not only to be well, but also to manage your weight.

Cut back on sugar.

I suggest that young people try to avoid excessive simple sugar by eliminating the most common sources of consumption: 1) sugared soft drinks 2) breakfast cereals with added sugar and 3) adding table sugar to foods. Excessive sugar intake has been linked to obesity and diabetes, both of which contribute to heart disease. Sugar represents “empty calories” with none of the important nutrients needed in a balanced diet. Conversely, the traditional dietary villains, fat, particularly saturated fat, and salt, have undergone re-examination by many thoughtful nutrition experts. In both cases, the available scientific evidence does not clearly show a link to heart disease.

Live an active life.

While many people can’t find time for a scheduled exercise routine, that doesn’t mean you can’t find time to be active. Build physical activity into your daily life. Find a way to get 20 or 30 minutes of activity each day, including riding a bike or briskly walking to work.

​​Eat your veggies.

Nutrition science is complicated and debated endlessly, but the basics are well established: Eat plenty of plant foods, go easy on junk foods, and stay active. The trick is to enjoy your meals, but not to eat too much or too often.

Practice portion control.

My tip would be to not to ban entire food groups but to practice portion control. Portion control doesn’t mean tiny portions of all foods – quite the opposite. It’s okay to eat larger portions of healthy foods like vegetables and fruit. No one got fat from eating carrots or bananas. Choose smaller portions of unhealthy foods such as sweets, alcohol and processed foods. When eating out, let your hand be your guide. A serving of protein like chicken or fish should be the size of your palm. (Think 1-2 palms of protein.) A serving of starch, preferably a whole grain such as brown rice or quinoa should be the size of your fist. Limit high-fat condiments like salad dressing to a few tablespoons – a tablespoon is about the size of your thumb tip.

Adopt a post-party exercise routine.

If you engage in a lot of drinking and snacking, ensure you exercise a lot to offset all those extra calories from Friday to Sunday that come with extra drinking and eating. We found in a study that on Friday through Sunday young adults consumed about 115 more calories than on other days, mainly from fat and alcohol.

I hope you like these tips.

Thank you.

How to build resilience

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Community resilience is always a characteristic of human communities, but what about you? When you turn your lens inward, how resilient are you?

So – we need each other to get through this strange, unsettling time. But, what about you? When you turn your lens inward, how resilient are you? Resilience is something that we are born with. Because of resilience, we learn to crawl, then walk, then run until we can finally skip and dance. Sometimes, however, our resilience muscle needs to bulk up. Here are a few tips for building individual resilience in times of stress.

1. Be Self- Compassionate

Resilience allows you to bounce back from a challenge. The first step is to recognize that what you’re experiencing is challenging. Give yourself permission to say, “This is hard.” “This is scary.” “I’m really worried.” Next, remind yourself that it’s ok to feel the way you feel. Now take a deep breath and remind yourself that this is a moment in time and for this moment, you will allow yourself to feel.

2. Be Flexible

When life doesn’t go as planned, flexibility allows us to form a “Plan B”.  As you go about your new normal, you’ll probably experience moments of deep frustration. These are the times that flexibility is most important. Allow yourself to relax previously held standards that don’t make sense in the present. Apply your creativity to solve problems that crop up. Adapt your responses to others with an awareness of their own level of stress. Flexibility will help you navigate whatever lies ahead.

3. Reframe Frustrations

Resilience has a lot to do with your mindset. People who are able to detect good, even in difficult situations, tend to be more resilient. For example, when kids are together all day long, there are bound to be disagreements and tears. The silver lining is that there is now time and opportunity to teach kids how to solve problems. You’ll not only have time to teach this, but kids will have time to practice these skills. So, when you bump up against a frustration, reframe it so that you can see the positive aspects of the situation.

4. Exercise

There are three types of human energy – emotional, mental, and physical energy. And physical energy is the most important. When physically drained, we’re more emotionally reactive, our thinking is clouded and our judgement is impaired. Exercise builds physical energy. Take time in your day to exercise even if you’re not used to exercising.  A simple walk around your neighborhood or a park will shore up your physical energy, allowing you to apply emotional and mental energy to the stressors that you’ll encounter during the day.

5. Sleep

Brain cells are cleansed and recharged during sleep. Sleep deprivation will slow down cognitive function and increases emotional reactivity. Binge-watching Netflix into the wee hours may be a good way to escape reality for a while. However, lack of sleep will reduce your ability to be resilient at a time when resilience is essential. So, set a schedule that includes time for relaxing before sleep. High quality sleep will sustain the energy you’ll need to be resilient every day.

I hope these tips help you.

Thank you.

Side Hustles for students

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You may be spending most of your time studying (right?), but as a college student, you can never have enough pocket money! After all, there are an endless amount of coffees to buy in the campus cafe, ski trips to go on, and dates to pay for. But since few college students have the time to take on a full-time job, we’ve found 30 side hustles just perfect for busy (and broke!) college students.

1. Sell Stock Photos

Websites, book covers, brochures and just about anything else you can think of often use stock photos to spice up their product with images. College students who are avid photographers can sell their photos to websites like Shutterstock, who will sell them and provide the student with a commission. Go all out and pose various photos using friends as models, or simply sell photos of random objects, scenes, and experiences.

2. Start a Part-Time Photography Business

If photography is your thing, don’t just stop your side hustle at stock photos. Start a part-time photography business in your town or city! Put together a portfolio, then advertise your services to local families and your fellow students. The best part is you can choose not only your own prices but your own hours.

3. Deliver Anything Else Someone Might Need

If food isn’t enough, there’s even a market for the delivery of other things (think files and documents, groceries, and school supplies). To get on board this perfect side hustle, check out the website for Postmates. You can deliver on your own schedule using your car, bicycle, or even your own feet.

4. Start Your Own Etsy Business

College students who have a little extra time and some artistic talent can make a tidy little income with an Etsy business. Simply start your profile, then sell your homemade greeting cards, baby girl bows, crocheted scarves, or just about anything else you can think of. Not so crafty? That’s okay. Shop around for treasures at local garage and estate sales, then sell your most interesting finds on your Etsy page.

5. Become a Freelancer

More and more people are making their living as freelance writers — that is, creators of website content. If you are able to write well (or illustrate, code, or graphic design), check out Upwork, a website which connects freelancers with those who need work done. Writers can apply for each project individually, choosing their own rates and working to complete the project on their own schedule.

6. Become a Tutor

Are you especially talented at math, chemistry, French, or another subject that tends to stump others? If so, consider offering your own tutoring services! Parents want their children — whether in elementary school or in college — to succeed, and often pay big bucks for tutoring services. Be aware that this side hustle requires not only a true knowledge of a subject, but also a knack for teaching. If you can handle those two elements, then choose your hourly rate and get started!

I hope you like these ideas.

Thank you.

Hobbies for students

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Good time-management is critical for students pursuing their undergraduate degrees. When you consider the number of tasks that students need to face on a day-to-day basis, knowing how to manage time and maintain balance between study and personal activities is indeed crucial.

As a student, you know how important it is to have a hobby and to know how to spend your leisure time properly. Being able to unwind and refresh can really help you become a better student. Some hobbies even let you pick up new skills and train the mind, all while allowing you to have fun.

There are some great hobbies to get into. When you have a limited amount of free time to use, these next several hobbies are definitely worth trying.

1. Sports

Sports and exercising in general are great for the body and the mind. The routine exercises you do help you stay sharp and enhance your stamina; these two benefits are crucial for students who spend the majority of their time dealing with assignments and keeping up with course materials.

You don’t have to get into a particularly complex sport to enjoy these benefits. Simple things like taking a 30-minute run in the morning or spending the afternoon enjoying a nice walk are often more than enough to calm the mind down.

Routine exercises also let you maintain a healthier and more balanced life in general. You can sleep better at night, which means the body will regenerate at its optimum rate. Don’t be surprised to find yourself full of energy after a week or two of regular exercise.

2. Gaming

Gaming is another hobby that is easy to get into. You don’t need a particularly powerful computer to enjoy some AAA titles these days; plus, there are many game consoles for affordable prices nowadays. On top of that, we now have web-based games and mobile gaming titles just a few taps away.

One thing to note about taking up gaming as a hobby is how it can also turn into a source of income. MMORPG titles can lead to serious esports events, while online casino games let you win real cash prizes on the spot. The experience can be very rewarding when approached correctly.

3. Reading

I know reading seems like the last hobby you want to get into as a student. After all, you already have thick books and lots of course material to get through. However, there is something soothing about switching from non-fiction books to some of the best fiction titles on the market.

As with the previous two ideas, reading is an easy hobby to get into. You can simply pick up a book that you want to read, find a quiet place or a comfy coffee shop somewhere, and let your mind roam free with every word you read.

There is also the Amazon Kindle and thousands of digital books you can now bring with you anywhere. Kindle makes reading a lot easier and more affordable. The device itself may seem costly, but you spend less on digital books and you can save a lot in the long run.

4. Community Service

Giving back to the community is another fantastic hobby to try. It is certainly a fun thing to do when you consider the smiles you see in return for your help. Helping others is a great way to help yourself and you will feel so much better — and more centered — after each community activity.

There are a lot of activities to try too. You can find shelters to help, collect donations, run your own charity event with friends and get involved in other community development programs. Some universities and courses will also take these activities into account when reviewing your performance as a student.

5. Traveling

Traveling may not seem like an easy hobby to get into, especially when you are already busy with school assignments. That said, you don’t have to spend a lot of time (or money) to enjoy the best travel experience possible.

Taking a road trip with friends to a nearby destination, doing an urban exploration of your city, or simply going on a culinary adventure and sampling new restaurants are all simple ways to have that joy of traveling.

6. Content Creation

Have you noticed how some of the best YouTubers and Instagrammers are young students? Content creation is turning into a hobby that many enjoy, and it can be the perfect hobby for you too. Using your smartphone camera, you can share your perspective on different topics and bring value to the audience.

Content creation is a relatively new hobby, but it is a hobby that could also lead to many great opportunities in the future. Build a strong audience base and you too can make money from creating the best content on social media and video sharing platforms.

The key here is making your content personal. Don’t try to copy someone else’s way of conveying messages. Your point of view and your personal way of delivery are what the audience really enjoy. You can even integrate the other hobbies we covered in this article into the content you produce. How cool is that?

Any of these six hobbies are not just relaxing, but very beneficial in different ways. Find one that suits you best and allocate time for doing the fun things you enjoy so much. You will be a better student in the end.

Thank you.

Tips for online studying during lockdown

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Transitioning to online studies can be a hard move, especially if you are completely new to online or cloud-based learning. Here are my top 5 tips to help you adapt to online studies and keep your motivations up throughout the semester.

1: Prepare your study area

When you are transitioning from classroom-based learning to studying from home, it is important to have a dedicated space for your learning. This will help you settle in and get into the mindset of studying.

The first thing I did to help me transition to online study was setting up a dedicated desk. I ensured all the important tools for my study were kept there such as my headphones, hard drives, stationery and books. I also added some small decorations to personalise the area so I can feel more relaxed. This has greatly helped me get into the mindset of ‘showing up for work’ at home.

If you live in a shared or confined space, this might not be possible or easy to accomplish. If this is the case, try to claim an area of the kitchen or dining room table and make sure your family or housemates are aware of the space you are claiming for your studies.

Once you’ve setup your study area, treat it like a productive workspace. Make sure you keep your study area tidy and organised as clutter is very distracting and can cause you to lose focus. If your space is not tidy, then set yourself 15-30 minutes before you start to tidy up the area around you. Don’t give yourself too long as that can be a form of procrastinating.

2: Establish a routine – and stick to it!

Once you have created a study space, it is important to establish a regular study routine. Remember, we are all creatures of habit and you can use this to help you get into the mindset to study. Setting aside dedicated and regular blocks of time is just as important as creating your study space.

We all have different preferences on how and when we like to learn, and this is one of the benefits of online or home study. It is important to find out when you are most productive, and if you prefer long study sessions or a lot of short bursts.

Once you have established your preferences, then remember to schedule in your study time accordingly. How much time you devote to each of your study sessions will depend on your subject’s estimated study hours, workload and work/family commitments.

3: Block out distractions

One of the biggest productivity killers when you’re transitioning to online study is distraction, and our homes tend to be filled with distractions. There’s social media, TV, internet, video streaming, games, YouTube, family, books, and the list goes on…

Blocking out distractions is much easier said than done, but there are some tips and applications that can help you. My first tip is to leave your phone on the other side of the room or in another room. The most important thing is to keep it out of arm’s reach and make it harder for you to procrastinate.

4: Track your progress in milestones, not minutes

When you’ve started up your study routine, it’s tempting to track your progress on the time you’ve spent at your desk, but this might not be the best way to track how you are going.

Make sure you track your progress against your actual study goals as opposed to how long you spent re-reading the same paragraph over and over again.

The easiest way is to set your goals before you start your study session. Think about what you want to accomplish in your study session and break it down into achievable milestones. An example of this can be the goal of catching up on a week’s worth of reading, so your individual milestones might be the articles or chapters you need to read.

Remember to keep your milestones realistic and achievable. Don’t give yourself too much to set yourself up for failure, and don’t give yourself too little that you are done in half the time.

A good way to track your progress is on a to-do list. This can be on your desktop, Word document or using pen and paper. If you want a task tracker with additional features, virtual kanban boards such as Notion, Trello or Asana can help with this. I use Notion since the paid version is free for students. Whatever system you decide to use, just remember to keep it close to you so you’re reminded of all the ‘right’ things you should be working on.

5: Start or join a virtual study group

Making a sudden switch from a bustling classroom environment to the solitude of home study can be a very daunting and difficult switch. Just because you are self-isolating, this doesn’t mean you are alone, many of your classmates are in the same situation as you.

If you’re new to your university or class, then contact your teacher or lecturer to see if there are any groups going, or a way for them to assist you with reaching out to your peers to start a study group.

I hope these tips help you.

Thank you.

How to beat the Covid blues

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The world as we know it has been crippled under COVID-19 and the pandemic has brought all of us together. Most of us who are studying abroad are privileged to have a roof over us, enough food to eat and seamless access to the internet. And even though loneliness can drive any sane person to the edge, I feel that we’ve countless ways to cope with it.  

But adapting to this new normal is tough. I was miserable for the first two weeks. I kept refreshing Twitter for news updates every five minutes and was giving me so much anxiety that I couldn’t find the energy to move about during the day, eventually I was falling behind my university work schedules.  

By week three, I decided to turn things around. And I want to share them with you, hoping you’ll find a balance and regain some of your sanity as well. 

1. Get your sleep cycle on track:

I can’t emphasise enough how waking up early and going to sleep on time has changed me. Falling asleep when the sun rises and waking up just before sunset not only wrecks your body clock but also makes you feel groggy and gloomy throughout the day. Revive your routine and see how positively your body responds.  

2. Set goals for the day:

Make a to-do list the night before and follow it through the next day. Prioritize the most difficult tasks in the morning and save the easiest for later. Being productive will make you feel satisfied by the end of the day.  

This was not easy for me to do because I love to procrastinate, but I realised that all I needed to do was start and then I naturally picked up the pace.   

3. Talk to family and meet up with your friends in virtual worlds:

Come on, we international students should be experts on this – we depend on social media platforms or apps to connect with our family and friends back home. Although, in some cases you’ll have to do a little bit of investigative work to find out what apps or platforms work best for your home country.  

I also discovered Houseparty, an app that allows me to hang out my friends or play multiplayer games with them, such as the board game Settlers of Catan. Take hold of these apps and beat your quarantine blues. 

4. Discover new hobbies or revisit old ones:

This one’s a no-brainer. We’ve had hobbies we loved before ‘life’ happened. There’s no better time than now to unite with your long-lost hobbies.  

If you’re like me and have no recollection of having hobbies, then find something that you’ve always wanted to do. Have you been interested in taking up sketching? Maybe you’re interested in learning how to build websites? Well, maybe now’s the best time to brush up those skills. 

5. Redecorate your room:

If you think that the poster hanging on your wall has been there for way too long, maybe it’s time for a makeover.  

Change is good and the new and improved appearance of your room might be just the inspiration you’ll need to get back to work. After all, we’re going to spending a lot of time indoors so it’s a good idea to breathe new life into our rooms and make it feel more like home. 

6. Take time out for self-care:

Now that you’re at home, you have no excuse for being unable to drink enough water or not eating healthy or overlooking your skin’s needs. 

While we are spending more time indoors because of COVID-19, taking care of our body and health is even more important but I do not recommend suddenly switching to extreme diets and taking on 14 steps of skincare routine because that won’t last.  

However, take this time to start some healthy habits such as eating food in moderation, drinking eight glasses of water and invest in basic but pragmatic skincare habits.  

7. Keeping up with online classes:

By now, I’m sure our inboxes are stuffed with emails from professors informing us about the latest changes and dozens more reiterating the same, it’s understandable if you feel lost halfway through. Because I did, and I gave up. Then two weeks’ worth of classes came back to haunt me.  

There’s no shortcut or easy way out to deal with this. Hence, I decided to postpone my procrastination for a while. I noted down important pointers such as assessment due dates, Zoom meeting times and forums for class discussion. It helped me feel connected and informed.  

8. The mandatory Netflix:

As much as you stay connected and try to be productive, the need to be distracted can help to keep your mind and emotions in check. And that’s why it might be a good time to watch movies or catch up on your favorite shows.

I had a two-year long ‘must-watch’ list on my phone and now I’m finally getting around to it.

Finding serenity amongst chaos can be a gargantuan task but there’s no competition to see who can attain ‘inner peace’ first. Remember, it’s important to go at your own pace and create new routines according to your rhythm, and it only needs to be enough to get you out of bed in the morning and help you go to sleep with a clear head.  

I hope these tips help you.

Thank you.

7 Ways to be happier

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1. Don’t start with profundities. When I began my Happiness Project, I realized pretty quickly that, rather than jumping in with lengthy daily meditation or answering deep questions of self-identity, I should start with the basics, like going to sleep at a decent hour and not letting myself get too hungry. Science backs this up; these two factors have a big impact on happiness.

2. Do let the sun go down on anger. I had always scrupulously aired every irritation as soon as possible, to make sure I vented all bad feelings before bedtime. Studies show, however, that the notion of anger catharsis is poppycock. Expressing anger related to minor, fleeting annoyances just amplifies bad feelings, while not expressing anger often allows it to dissipate.

3. Fake it till you feel it. Feelings follow actions. If I’m feeling low, I deliberately act cheery, and I find myself actually feeling happier. If I’m feeling angry at someone, I do something thoughtful for her and my feelings toward her soften. This strategy is uncannily effective.

4. Realize that anything worth doing is worth doing badly. Challenge and novelty are key elements of happiness. The brain is stimulated by surprise, and successfully dealing with an unexpected situation gives a powerful sense of satisfaction. People who do new things―learn a game, travel to unfamiliar places―are happier than people who stick to familiar activities that they already do well. I often remind myself to “Enjoy the fun of failure” and tackle some daunting goal.

5. Don’t treat the blues with a “treat.” Often the things I choose as “treats” aren’t good for me. The pleasure lasts a minute, but then feelings of guilt and loss of control and other negative consequences deepen the lousiness of the day. While it’s easy to think, I’ll feel good after I have a few glasses of wine…a pint of ice cream…a cigarette…a new pair of jeans, it’s worth pausing to ask whether this will truly make things better.

6. Buy some happiness. Our basic psychological needs include feeling loved, secure, and good at what we do. You also want to have a sense of control. Money doesn’t automatically fill these requirements, but it sure can help. I’ve learned to look for ways to spend money to stay in closer contact with my family and friends; to promote my health; to work more efficiently; to eliminate sources of irritation and marital conflict; to support important causes; and to have enlarging experiences. For example, when my sister got married, I splurged on a better digital camera. It was expensive, but it gave me a lot of happiness.

7. Exercise to boost energy. I knew, intellectually, that this worked, but how often have I told myself, “I’m just too tired to go to the gym”? Exercise is one of the most dependable mood-boosters. Even a 10-minute walk can brighten my outlook.

10. Take action. Some people assume happiness is mostly a matter of inborn temperamet. Although it’s true that genetics play a big role, about 40 percent of your happiness level is within your control. Taking time to reflect, and making conscious steps to make your life happier, really does work. So use these tips to start your own Happiness Project. I promise it won’t take you a whole year.

I hope these tips help you.

Thank you.

10 Simple ways to deal with stress

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Tips to manage stressful situations

It might surprise you to learn that biological stress is a fairly recent discovery. It wasn’t until the late 1950s that endocrinologist Hans Selye first identified and documented stress.

Symptoms of stress existed long before Selye, but his discoveries led to new research that has helped millions cope with stress. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 ways to relieve stress.

Listen to music

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a stressful situation, try taking a break and listening to relaxing music. Playing calm music has a positive effect on the brain and body, can lower blood pressure, and reduce cortisol, a hormone linked to stress.

We recommend cello master Yo-Yo Ma playing Bach, but if classical really isn’t your thing, try listening to ocean or nature sounds. It may sound cheesy, but they have similar relaxing effects to music.

Talk it out with a friend

When you’re feeling stressed, take a break to call a friend and talk about your problems. Good relationships with friends and loved ones are important to any healthy lifestyle.

They’re especially important when you’re under a lot of stress. A reassuring voice, even for a minute, can put everything in perspective.

Talk yourself through it

Sometimes calling a friend is not an option. If this is the case, talking calmly to yourself can be the next best thing.

Don’t worry about seeming crazy — just tell yourself why you’re stressed out, what you have to do to complete the task at hand, and most importantly, that everything will be okay.

Eat right

Stress levels and a proper diet are closely related. When we’re overwhelmed, we often forget to eat well and resort to using sugary, fatty snack foods as a pick-me-up.

Try to avoid sugary snacks and plan ahead. Fruits and vegetables are always good, and fish with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce the symptoms of stress. A tuna sandwich really is brain food.

Laugh it off

Laughter releases endorphins that improve mood and decrease levels of the stress-causing hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Laughing tricks your nervous system into making you happy.

Our suggestion: watch some classic Monty Python skits like “The Ministry of Silly Walks.” Those Brits are so hilarious, you’ll soon be cracking up, rather than cracking up.

Drink tea

A large dose of caffeine causes a short-term spike in blood pressure. It may also cause your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to go into overdrive.

Instead of coffee or energy drinks, try green tea. It has less than half the caffeine of coffee and contains healthy antioxidants, as well as theanine, an amino acid that has a calming effect on the nervous system.

Be mindful

Most of the tips we’ve suggested provide immediate relief, but there are also many lifestyle changes that can be more effective in the long run. The concept of “mindfulness” is a large part of meditative and somatic approaches to mental health and has become popular recently.

From yoga and tai chi to meditation and Pilates, these systems of mindfulness incorporate physical and mental exercises that prevent stress from becoming a problem. Try joining a class.

Exercise (even for a minute)

Exercise doesn’t necessarily mean power lifting at the gym or training for a marathon. A short walk around the office or simply standing up to stretch during a break at work can offer immediate relief in a stressful situation.

Getting your blood moving releases endorphins and can improve your mood almost instantaneously.

Sleep better

Everyone knows stress can cause you to lose sleep. Unfortunately, lack of sleep is also a key cause of stress. This vicious cycle causes the brain and body to get out of whack and only gets worse with time.

Make sure to get the doctor-recommended seven to eight hours of sleep. Turn the TV off earlier, dim the lights, and give yourself time to relax before going to bed. It may be the most effective stress buster on our list.

Breathe easy

he advice “take a deep breath” may seem like a cliché, but it holds true when it comes to stress. For centuries, Buddhist monks have been conscious of deliberate breathing during meditation.

For an easy three- to five-minute exercise, sit up in your chair with your feet flat on the floor and hands on top of your knees. Breathe in and out slowly and deeply, concentrating on your lungs as they expand fully in your chest.

While shallow breathing causes stress, deep breathing oxygenates your blood, helps center your body, and clears your mind.

Learn more about stress relief

Stress is an unavoidable part of life, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore it. Too much untreated stress can cause potentially serious physical and mental health problems.

The good news is that in many cases, stress is manageable. With some patience and a few useful strategies, you can reduce your stress, whether it’s family stress or stress at the workplace.

I hope these tips help you.

Thank you.

How to choose the right college for you

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Choosing a college is about more than the name on the diploma. Where a student goes to school touches numerous aspects of his or her life, from academic studies to social activities and beyond. Considering the importance of this decision, prospective students should think carefully about where they decide to enroll when looking over their options. Accepted to several of your top-choice colleges? That’s an enviable position to be in – though it might not feel like it. Follow these 6 steps to help you make a college decision

  1. Develop your short list.

A lot of thought should go into developing a short list of schools you would like to attend. But what kind of factors should drive your thinking when crafting that list? Brennan Barnard and Rick Clark, authors of “The Truth About College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together,” urge students to think about location, enrollment size, majors and programs, the people on campus, opportunities outside of the classroom, cost and selectivity.

2, Rank your priorities.

Take time to make your own rankings, weighing the pros and cons of a particular school when you are working on choosing the right college. Carefully consider your wants and needs when thinking about where you’ll spend the next four years or longer. One way to do this, write Barnard and Clark, is to create a list of those wants and needs.

3. Don’t procrastinate.

Deadlines may vary depending on the institution, but applications typically are due by January for regular fall admission. Experts suggest getting started on the application process by the start of your senior year in high school. And plan plenty of time for college visits, taking standardized tests, writing essays and asking for letters of recommendation.

4. Go back to schools.

Once applications are in, it’s time to think hard about where you want to attend, which may prompt another visit. While you should have gotten a feel for campus life during initial college tours, take another trip to each school and ask 10 to 15 detailed questions, says Bob Roth, author of several books on college success. Know what to ask on a college visit, and don’t leave with any questions unanswered. But taking a campus tour can be expensive, considering travel costs. If a return trip is out of the question, take a second look at the campus via a virtual tour and reach out to college officials with any follow-up questions.

5. Delve into departments.

College rankings can be one tool in the decision process, but don’t forget that academic prestige can be examined on a smaller scale, too. Research the departments you’d be studying in, Roth says. Is one school better known for your major? Are faculty actively engaged at school and in the field? Visit college websites and reach out to faculty for more information. U.S. News also ranks specific undergraduate programs in business and engineering.

6. Compare financial aid awards.

If you’re looking to graduate from college with little or no debt, carefully compare financial aid packages. It’s wise to look beyond the tuition and see what other fees apply. Also, understand the difference between free money – such as grants and scholarships – and loans, which you’ll have to pay back eventually. Some colleges offer generous financial aid packages meeting full financial need, meaning those students are not required to take out loans.

5 Steps to finding the right career.

If you’re feeling stuck, unsure, or confused with your career choices, don’t worry. Here are five steps you can take toward discovering the career that will truly satisfy you.

1. Take career assessments.

Remember in high school, being given career personality tests that would tell you what you should be when you grow up? They may have seemed silly, but the right career assessment can actually be an incredibly useful tool in discovering your path , especially if you aren’t sure where to start. There are two elements to a career assessment.

  • It should be valid and reliable. The test should actually measure what it claims to measure, and you should get consistent results over multiple tries.
  • You should know how to use the results to your advantage. It’s one thing to have a list of potential careers. It’s another to use a career assessment as a starting point for insight and self-reflection. Remember, a career assessment isn’t a shortcut; it’s a tool. It’s up to you to use it.

2. Make a list of your options.

Overwhelmed by the need to make a decision? Whether you know exactly what you want to do or not, knowing how to get there is tricky. In order to find your dream career, you need to carefully sort through your options in order to find the best route.

Make a list of all your options, whether those are tangible job opportunities, education, or career paths. Once you have everything written down, you can parse out what isn’t exactly right, and narrow your goals. Try to create as many options for yourself, so you have plenty to choose from. You can also rank your options from best to worst, and even combine some that may be similar.

3. Look for overlap.

What you’re good at, what companies need, and what you like to do might all be different, but it’s important to try to find the overlap between the three. That’s how you find your optimal career path. Rather than looking at job titles, consider your interests, hobbies, and skills, and then work out how those translate.

While you’re at it, look back at your previous experiences to inform your future. What did you enjoy doing in previous jobs? What did you dislike? Knowing your values, passions, and skills will help you understand what kind of career you should pursue. And being alert of these factors means you can actively seek out careers that require your specific talents.

4. Network.

Whether you’re actively searching for a new career, or just trying to get a sense of what path you should be on, networking is a great way to dip your feet in the waters. The more people you meet, the more insight you can get into what the work environment is like, what the people are like, and how they enjoy the work. And if you are looking for that next job, networking is crucial. Surveys show about 85% of jobs are filled through networking!

5. Ask a mentor.

Never underestimate the value and power of a good mentor! When I made my career shift, I knew I couldn’t go at it alone. I decided I wanted to learn from the best — so I started working with mentors.

There are many different types of mentors, from the kind you pay to the kind that has been there, done that, to the kind that can advocate for you at work. The right mentor, no matter what type, will give you guidance and help boost your career. And the studies back it up — about 80% of CEOs attribute their success to having worked with mentors.

I hope these tips help you.

Thank you.