Do you ever feel the need to be more productive and organized in order to accomplish much more than what you are doing right now? Time management is one of the most important skills that you need to develop in life. With effective time management, you enable yourself to become more productive at achieving the goals and objectives assigned to you at work. You also get better in achieving the ones you assign to yourself in daily life. In this particular article, you will find 10 useful and effective time management strategies that will boost your productivity dramatically. Conduct a Time AuditTo acquire the skill of time management, you need to figure out where you spend most of your time and what you accomplish in that particular time. Track all your activities for a week and evaluate them to find areas that need improvement. For example, if most of your time is utilized in unproductive meetings and low-priority tasks, try to reschedule your agenda. That way, you’ll bring more positivity in your daily routine so that you accomplish more than what you are currently doing. Prioritize your work according to the weight and importance that each task carries. The most important and heavy tasks should be performed first so that you can relax your mind whilst performing the less important tasks. Prepare for Meetings in AdvanceWhen going to a meeting, be clear in the points that need to be addressed in the meeting. This will help you save precious time which you can use in other productive tasks. In addition to this, share the meeting agenda with your colleagues and subordinates. This will help make sure that they know about the topics that would be discussed in the meeting. Set Time LimitsBefore you start performing a task, make sure that you set a timer for that particular task. This will let you know how long it will take to complete it. By setting time constraints, you will focus more on your work and you are more likely to complete it on time. In case you still fail to complete your tasks in the given time, examine the workflow. Eliminate the unnecessary breaks to complete the tasks in a timely manner. Plan Your WeekPlan your week on a Sunday so that you know your priorities. Make a full-fledged plan regarding the activities that you have been assigned so that you don’t forget anything. After completing the tasks, mark them done in your notepad. This will allow you to simplify your assignments and you will have a better idea about the time you need to put in to complete your work. Create a Daily PlanBefore starting with your daily routine, take a few minutes to make an outline of the tasks that are lined up for that day. This will enable you to know how much time you can spend on each individual task. Moreover, knowing the time will help you gain motivation for the day and you will be able to perform better. Most people find the first hour of their day more productive. If you are one of them, use this precious time to complete the most important tasks of your day. Block/Ignore DistractionsWhen working on a high priority task, make sure that you enable the “Do Not Disturb” function in your smartphone and laptop. You can also go offline by logging out of all social media networking sites. It is worth mentioning the fact that you should not consider multitasking when doing something important. When you multitask, you are dividing your attention into several other tasks and you lose focus. Don’t Wait for InspirationInstead of waiting for inspiration, create the perfect environment for yourself to work. Waiting for inspiration is a waste of time and businessmen do not have time for such things because time is money. Keep your mind busy and stay away from daydreams because these emotions also tend to waste your precious time. Similarly, instead of striving for perfection, strive for your best performance and perfection will automatically follow you. Organize Your MessengersKeep your inbox organized at all times because, with everything classified, you will be able to find the right email without wasting any time. People with cluttered inbox usually lose important information at the time when they need it the most. In order to organize your messengers, you should:
Use Your CalendarKeeping a calendar at your office desk is always a good idea to keep track of your upcoming meetings, routine tasks, and events. Mark the tasks that are done and complete the ones that are left so that you can enjoy your leisure time doing fun activities. You can also download a calendar app in your smartphone in order to know when exactly a certain task is due. Balance Your LifeTake full responsibility for your work and take some time out to relax your mind. Research shows that relaxed and peaceful minds perform better than the ones that are always tensed up about work. The key to a stress-less mind is a balanced life. Have a great time with your friends and family when you are not at work because you deserve it. See Also: How To Increase Your Productivity By Harnessing Dead Time ConclusionYour time belongs to you Therefore, instead of wasting it in unproductive tasks, utilize it to accomplish the goals that mean something to you. Delegate some tasks on your subordinates and teach them how to perform better. That way, you can spend your precious time doing something that others are not capable of learning and executing. The post 10 Tips to Manage Your Time Effectively Under Pressure appeared first on Dumb Little Man. from https://www.dumblittleman.com/effective-time-management-strategies/
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How many times has life slapped you in the face with something unexpected? Well, most of us have experienced that a lot of time. We all have problems and they will never go away. They will just change form. At one point, you may be struggling with health and then money. And the next thing you know, you’re having problems with your relationships. That is both the curse and blessing of life. However, you don’t have to suffer because everything isn’t perfect in your life. Behind the Scenes of ProblemsNothing becomes a problem until you label it so. You’ve probably noticed that different people have different opinions of what problems are and how much attention should be given to them. This means that problems exist in our heads. We create them, define them, and fear them. I, for example, am great at worrying about problems that do not even exist and I’m sure you’re no different. But that doesn’t change the fact that problems are made-up. The One Thing You Have to KnowThe secret to dealing with life’s problems is to realize that they are illusions of our imagination. Sure, they feel very real. I’m not denying that. Imagine that you’re driving your car merrily down the highway. Then, someone cuts you off. You might fly off the handle or you might not. It will depend on how you perceive the situation. It’s an excellent example of how some people create something to complain about where others are completely fine. Life will always have “problems” and the way to deal with them is to let them be. You don’t have to try to analyze, fantasize or figure out your problems. Let them figure themselves out. The more you try, the more you fuel the problem and the more miserable you become. This doesn’t mean you need to stop solving problems. Instead, you just have to stop the compulsive worrying and fear-mongering inside your head. How to Stop the Compulsive WorryingYou can stop the madness by simply staying present and letting whatever happens be. This can be extremely hard if you bump into a problem that is important to you, but it is through those big problems that the biggest changes occur. For example, I tend to freak out whenever something threatens my health. I can even go into a cold sweat which I did a few weeks ago about a possible dental issue. Despite that, I remained present. I observed my own body and mind without fueling it by thinking and trying to figure it out. I was the observer of my thoughts and you know what happened? The thoughts lost momentum and disappeared. The freak out ended within 30 minutes. Some people are so good at freaking out that it goes on for years or, even worse, their whole life. Why is Life so Hard?Life can seem tough from time to time, but it is through those tough times that you grow as a human being. It’s uncomfortable, yup, but that’s life. It’s a roller coaster with both highs and lows so you might as well learn how to deal with it. The more comfortable you become with life’s problems, the more you’ll enjoy life’s gifts. See Also: 5 Simple Ways To Cope With Life ConclusionLife is what it is and most of life’s problems are created by us. The problems are events in our life and no one is denying that. However, the extrapolation that we do freaks us out and then we wonder why we feel so bad. It’s a life-long habit most of us have cultivated which means we can change it. But change starts with awareness. So, today all I want you to do is be aware of how you worry and freak yourself out. Then, simply watch your thoughts. You will be pulled back into the drama of your mind, but gently pull your attention back to just watching what goes on. Be kind to yourself, and enjoy both the highs and the lows. Written by Henri Junttila who writes at Wake Up Cloud. There, he shares his personal tips on how you can live the life you know you deserve. When you feel ready to take action, get his free course: How to Find Your Passion (And Build a Business Around It). The post The Most Overlooked Secret to Dealing with Life’s Problems appeared first on Dumb Little Man. from https://www.dumblittleman.com/most-overlooked-secret-to-dealing-with/ Whether it involves your work, family, relationships or life in general, changes are bound to happen. And to be able to live with those changes, you need to be adaptable. You need to be able to face the changes head on and accept them for what they are. If you are having a really hard time making the necessary adjustments, below are some tips on how to be adaptable you can totally try. Stop whiningWhat do you do when something terrible happens? Majority of people start whining as soon as they find themselves in a difficult situation. It’s normal but this reaction leads to nowhere. If you’re one of them, don’t stay at a standstill. Instead, learn to accept the situation, adapt to it, and move on. There’s no ‘right’ and ‘wrong’Eliminate ‘wrong’ beliefs from your life. We used to believe that many things are ‘wrong’ and must be avoided, but it’s not the case if you want to be successful. Be bold enough to try things that others run away from. This trait has helped many successful people build companies, corporations, and fortune. Improve your coping mechanismThe way you deal with personal and professional setbacks may significantly affect your future success. Discover your coping mechanism and consider changing some aspects of it. If you usually switch strategies to overcome various life challenges, try to forge ahead, learn from mistakes, and try again. Don’t run away from them. Instead, change what’s not working with your coping mechanism. Be open to changeNew things aren’t necessarily bad things. No matter how you slice it, changes make our lives better. Unless you’re doing something that can damage your health and overall life, feel free to experiment with spiritual, personal, and professional worlds. See Also: How to Become a Spiritual Badass – The 20 Laws of Spiritual Power Have the whole alphabet for your planSuccessful things don’t happen overnight. And this is where you may need the whole alphabet rather than the first three letters of it. When Plan A doesn’t work, switch to Plan B. If it still doesn’t work, move to Plan C. If 20 plans don’t work, move to Plan W or Y. This way, no change will scare you. Engage in a positive self-talkI’m not telling you to sit and talk to yourself every morning or evening. That’s kind of madness, right? But positive self-talk every now and then can help you adapt to any changes faster, especially if you have no one to encourage and support you during the rough times. Stick to your natural inclinationsIf a situation doesn’t come naturally and you have trouble coping with it, turn to your natural inclinations. If you’re an extrovert who draws the strength and inspiration from talking to other people, no matter whether they’re family members or total strangers, make sure you talk to them. If you’re an introvert, spend some time alone. Analyze the situation you are in and find a solution. Do what you feel is right to you. Think bigYou can greatly improve your adaptability by learning to think big. Break through the limitations you’ve set for yourself. Let go of them. Expand your horizons. Set realistic goals and you will never feel like you failed. All of these will not only help you be more adaptable in the future, but will also show you the road to success. See Also: The Power of Thinking Big Don’t blame yourself… and others, if you have this habit. Adaptable people know their personalities and they always keep reinventing themselves in order to adapt. They don’t blame themselves for mistakes, failures, rejections, traits, and doubts. They do realize that if they can’t change it, they must accept it. Blaming yourself or others is just a waste of time. Focus on improvement, not the past. Learn how to balance your lifeTrying to succeed in all aspects of life is great, but you risk ending up feeling miserable in case of a failure. Create a balanced life, instead. After all, it’s impossible to adapt to all changes in all aspects of life, no matter how strong you are. When you’re balanced, you feel grounded, calm, clear-headed, inspired, and motivated. Take time to look at your life, and figure out the aspects of it. You are either neglecting or paying too much attention to it. Stop waiting… for the right time, right place, success, happiness, money, people- you name it. Just stop waiting. When it comes to adaptability, there’s no ‘right’ moment. You have to take action to cope with the hard stuff. You can either influence or accept it. There’s no other choice. Adaptability isn’t a part of success; it’s a part of life. It’s vital for a happy life. Although some people are adaptable to circumstances by nature, you can master this skill as well. It will take time, patience, and effort but it will all be worth it in the end. The post How to Be Adaptable in 11 Simple Steps appeared first on Dumb Little Man. from https://www.dumblittleman.com/how-to-be-adaptable/ “The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before.” ~Neil Gaiman A few years ago I wrote an article about my personal experience with bulimia. The piece was published by several different media channels, and some time afterward I was interviewed by CNN. It was the first time I had publicly, and explicitly, spoken about that particular part of my journey. But the desire to acknowledge and address the emotional effects of my experience had been present for some time. Prior to writing the article, I hadn’t felt ready to lay myself bare in such a direct way. However, I instinctively knew that I needed a means of self-expression that would allow me to speak of what I’d been through without being quite so specific. That’s where creativity came in. I began using photography as a way of expressing everything I was still too vulnerable to verbalize. It was a beautiful revelation for me to realize that I could share my thoughts and feelings in an abstract way. I could pour my pain into the creation of something new. This was a crucial step in my recovery. I’d begun binging and purging as a way to avoid my feelings after the breakdown of my marriage. I had fallen out of love with my husband, and I was carrying a tremendous amount of guilt inside me, constantly feeling as though I’d failed my family and friends by not being able to make my relationship work. I hated myself for walking away from my marriage, for daring to want more. I was also dealing with intense pressure at work and financial stress, all of which had left me feeling as though everything was out of control. Bulimia had given me the illusion of control, but it was also a way of punishing myself for not being able to stay in a relationship that everyone else expected me to be content with. Mental health issues are often accompanied by feelings of shame and guilt. We tell ourselves that we should be able to handle everything, that we shouldn’t be placing a burden on our loved ones. It’s a self-destructive cycle that has the potential to send us spiraling. Although creativity doesn’t act as a magic wand, it does give us an opportunity to take a breath and gain a greater understanding of what’s going on internally. We can use creativity as a means of translating ourselves to ourselves. Photography became a lifeline for me. I could capture texture and shadow, play around with light and motion. I could convey some of the darkness that was still haunting me, but instead of succumbing to my feelings, I was able to build something from them instead. I also began to use poetry and creative writing as tools to help me channel my emotions. The personal value of this was enormous. In creativity I had a friend, a means of telling my own story in my own way, and a source of strength and support that I could rely upon to be there for me. Here’s how a creative hobby can help us cope with mental health issues: 1. Creativity reminds us that we have the ability to effect change, and it also helps us be more present.When we are experiencing mental health challenges it can be easy to fixate on the fear that there won’t be any light at the end of the tunnel. When I was dealing with bulimia, I would obsessively weigh myself every morning and every night. If I were away from home, or in a place where I didn’t have access to a bathroom scale, I would feel a sense of rising panic. I couldn’t imagine a time when I would be free of the need to control my weight. Immersing ourselves in creativity can help us believe in our ability to heal, grow, and change because we are actively participating in the production of something new. Whether it’s baking, gardening, painting, dancing, sculpting or any other creative pursuit, we are taking an idea and breathing life into it. This not only helps to keep our focus on the present moment, thus alleviating future fears, but it also gives us the additional benefit of shaping and impacting an outcome through our efforts. When we create we are combining imagination and resourcefulness. We are envisaging an end result and then taking action to make it happen. This adds to our personal skill set and emboldens us to have the same courage in other areas of our life. Whenever I’m revisited by old demons that threaten to topple me, I create something. Anything. The act of creating helps me to re-center and focus on my abilities, rather than obsess about my perceived shortcomings. It also helps me step outside myself, shift my perspective on my challenges, and remember what’s truly important. I recently herniated a disc in my back and was unable to practice yoga with as much ease as usual. As I lay on my mat at home one morning, feeling frustrated at my body for failing me, I began to slip into some old self-talk about not being good enough. But then I noticed the pattern that the sunlight was projecting on the wall beside me. I took my phone and snapped a photo. As the light shifted again once more, I was reminded that nothing is static and everything is always changing. My energy automatically lifted. Creativity teaches me about trust and impermanence, and also expands my sense of awareness. The simple act of witnessing and photographing the moving light was enough for me to remember that each day is full of beauty. I don’t want to miss any of it by wasting my energy on criticizing my body. 2. Creativity enables us to process some of what we’re feeling, without the intensity of putting ourselves under a microscope, and it can also help us meet our needs.We’re not always ready to closely examine every experience. We’re not always comfortable talking things through, or wading into the depths of our pain or trauma. But we need to work through these feelings, or else they’ll lie beneath the surface, limiting and controlling us. Creativity can offer us a safe space in which we’re able to release some of our emotional weight without over-analyzing. We eliminate the scrutiny but still receive the benefit of self-connection. When we’re able to connect with what we’re really feeling—whether it’s anger or regret or disappointment—and then channel that into a creative project, we are less likely to engage in behaviors that are numbing or harmful. Which means we actually work through the feelings instead of just distracting ourselves from them. Creativity can also be a compass. It’s a way of identifying an inner need, and then permitting ourselves to meet that need. Perhaps you are craving more vibrancy or flavor in your life. Being creative might mean choosing bright, bold fabrics to make a clothing item, or being experimental in the kitchen with new cuisine. And just as creating something from nothing can help us believe in our ability to create change in other areas of our lives, meeting some of our needs through creativity can empower us to meet other needs—the need for self-care or boundaries for example. When we’re struggling with mental health issues, it’s easy to minimize or neglect our needs, but this only prolongs our healing. Creativity helps us trust our intuition and follow our instincts. It isn’t necessarily a substitute for therapy, but it can play a pivotal role in helping us build confidence and resilience, enabling us to both work through how we’re feeling and take good care of ourselves. 3. Creativity enables us to connect with others and build community.Common mental health issues such as depression or anxiety can lead to social withdrawal and isolation, increasing feelings of loneliness and heightening the body’s stress responses. Creativity is a wonderful way to connect with others. Social media platforms provide us with ways to share our creativity and spark conversation with people who have similar interests. When I first began blogging online I was amazed at how quickly I was able to become part of a supportive community, many of whom I’ve since met in person. Most libraries or community centers offer group arts and craft classes. These are fantastic opportunities to establish local connections and circle with others. I recently attended a free creative sculpture workshop at the New York Public Library. I had no previous experience and my creation was far from perfect—none of that mattered. It felt amazing to come together with other people and make something. We are all creative beings. Experimenting with different mediums can be a wonderful way to find out what sparks joy and brings comfort. You don’t have to be an expert. Remember, perfection is not the goal; you’re simply making your world a little brighter. My journey with creativity has given me more than I could ever have anticipated. It may not always change external circumstances, but inwardly there’s a shift, every single time. An easier breath. A blank canvas and a fresh start. A reminder that I can begin again and again, as many times as necessary. And sometimes that’s all we need to be okay. About Skylar Liberty RoseSkylar Liberty Rose is a writer and an empowerment warrior. She is the creator of Fierce Females which she established as a way of celebrating the female spirit and to encourage women to live to their full potential, rather than playing small. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Google+ and via her website. Get in the conversation! Click here to leave a comment on the site. The post How a Creative Hobby Can Boost Your Mental Health appeared first on Tiny Buddha. from https://tinybuddha.com/blog/how-a-creative-hobby-can-boost-your-mental-health/ No one can expect to be 100% secure online where internet freedom is becoming scarce, and cyber attacks are lurking in every direction. It is important to seek the right tools to protect your online security and not live in a fool’s paradise. Keeping that in mind, users globally are suffering at the hands of geo-restrictions and are not able to surf the web freely. Multiple victims and organizations are suffering because of government espionage. And, thus, it has become difficult to stay secure online. Our every move could be and probably is being spied and recorded. In light of the security concerns, two tools can help you protect and preserve your internet freedom. Tor and VPN are the two leading tools that, if, used properly would give you the ultimate online security to ever exist. However, users compare the two tools together with the latter being very different from the former. They both serve the same purpose. However, their way of functioning is the exact opposite and the performance differs. Before you judge the tools and come to a conclusion, let’s make you spot the difference and see which is the better choice. But first, let’s see how it worksTor, known as the ‘The Onion Router’ was first developed and initiated by the US Naval service; Tor protects the connection by re-routing your data through multiple layers of encryption that creates a secure tunnel around your network. Tor functions as a Network of servers which are called “nodes.” Every time you request something such as trying to connect to a website, the connection is routed through different nodes before it reaches the final destination. This may hinder the internet speed, but the connection remains encrypted throughout and is decrypted when it arrives. Tor solely works on the number of people which can be called volunteers; however, a Virtual Private Network (VPN), on the other hand, routes your online traffic through one or two servers max before the online request reaches the final destination. The VPN has its own set of servers spread globally on multiple locations. After the connection is bridged with the VPN, your connection will be established through a new IP while your real IP will be spoofed. All your online activity will be sent and received from that IP address while the real IP will be hidden from everyone. Type of Protection UsedThrough Tor, the connection is encrypted and re-encrypted on each node, and each server can see the IP address only that precedes it and which is followed further. But the server cannot see the entire connection, just a partial glimpse of the IP address. With Tor, there is a weak spot between the last node and the destination where the request is sent (this is where the data or information gets decrypted). Also, it is quite risky being a volunteer on the exit node; the entire online activity will come from that server. The VPN works differently. You can assume to be encrypted the whole time from sending requests from your device to the final recipient. While Tor only caters to one request at a time, the VPN will encrypt your whole connection as long as you are connected to it. The VPN could get a sneak peek at your information, activities, and IP. Still, the majority of the VPN services ensure privacy and anonymity with a zero logging privacy policy. That indicates the VPN does not retain any logs, doesn’t monitor nor does it share details. What Are They Mostly Used For?If your country has bizarre internet restrictions and needs a solid fast way to browse the internet freely, then Tor is a fine choice. Tor can also be used to hide your online activities from government and mass-scale surveillance. Meanwhile, VPN has multiple purposes. With strong encryption inclusive of the tool, it becomes the best option for securing online privacy. A reliable VPN will allow you to stream and access geo-restricted content from anywhere and keep your identity and IP address hidden from unwanted hackers and government prying eyes, allow you endless gaming, downloading files and much more. See Also: 11 Cool Ways to Use VPN The OutcomeWell, it is obvious which is a better tool. Tor is an excellent option if you are looking to protect your anonymity online while you browse, but Tor is limited to this feature alone. VPN is a far better option because it provides 100% safety and privacy online. Tor can never provide the level of encryption that a VPN provides because VPN uses multiple different protocols including OpenVPN, SOCKS, PPTP, etc. It also implements security features such as double VPN, kill switch, static IP and much more. All of which enhance your online security like a steel vault. For a safer approach, you can keep both the security tools and enhance your online security. The post Tor vs VPN – What is Your Preference? appeared first on Dumb Little Man. from https://www.dumblittleman.com/tor-or-vpn/ Your posture can affect not only how you hold yourself but your overall health as well. It helps prevent injuries as you work out and allows you to have better balance. It results in a greater range of motion and reduces chronic pain, too. If the way you’re holding yourself isn’t quite how you want it to be, here are seven exercises to improve your posture. Doorway StretchUsing an open doorway, place your right forearm against the upright doorway with your arms bent and your biceps held parallel to the floor. Once in this position, lean forward to allow tension to build in the right side of your chest. Do this for about 10 seconds, then repeat 3-5 times before switching to your left side. A good deal of back pain is actually due to bunched up muscles in the chest. When we slouch, the muscles in our back become strained and our chest muscles become tight. With this exercise, you can loosen up those muscles, allowing you to achieve better posture easily. PlankPlace your forearms on the floor with your body aligned in a straight line to where you are balanced on your toes. Hold yourself in the plank position for 30 seconds to 1 minute and then relax. Repeat this exercise 3-5 times. If you have difficulty with this position, you can modify it by going to your knees rather than your toes. Building up your core is an important part of improving your posture and planks are excellent for developing greater core strength. Also, once you have become comfortable with the plank, you can try other plank positions so you can keep building up your core and overall posture. Dumbbell Side BendWith a dumbbell on each of your hands and standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, bend toward your left side. Then, come back to the center position before bending to the right side. Continue to alternate between sides for about 10 times. This movement focuses more on building up your obliques. As your side muscles are developed, it will be easier to maintain good posture. Also, this exercise can help loosen the tension which has become built up in your back due to previously poor posture. Back ExtensionsStart by lying on your stomach with your hands outstretched in front of you. Then, raise both your arms and legs as high as you can. Hold the raised, extended position for 30 seconds before you release. Repeat the exercise 3 to 5 times. By doing this exercise, you can help elongate your spine, switching between the flat position and the flexed position. Chin TuckThis exercise is simply performed by tucking your chin in until it touches your chest. Hold this position for 15-30 seconds before releasing. Repeat 3-5 times to help release the tension that builds in the neck, shoulders, and upper back with bad posture. As you perform this movement, you will feel tension running from the back of your head to around your shoulder blades. You can easily do this exercise while at work to help alleviate some of the tension in your upper body. Hip Flexor StretchKneel down on your left knee, with your right leg in a 90-degree position. Brace your hands on your right thigh, then press with your hips forward until you feel a comfortable pressure in your hips. Make sure that your upper body is held upright with your abdominal muscles flexed to maximize this posture-fixing exercise. Hold the hip flexor stretch for 30 seconds before relaxing and switching sides. Office workers and those who need to sit for long periods of time can really benefit from this exercise. It targets the lower core muscles and can help loosen up tension which builds up while sitting. Shoulder Dumbbell ShrugsStand with your feet hip-width apart and a pair of dumbbells in your hands by your sides. Make sure that your shoulders are relaxed. Then, raise your shoulders up in a shrug motion, hold it for a few seconds, then lower your shoulders back into a neutral position. This exercise can help build up the muscle in your shoulders, chest, and upper back, allowing you to more naturally have better posture. By doing these various posture-strengthening exercises, you can start enjoying better posture. See Also: 6 Sleeping Tools To Help You Sleep Better And Alleviate Back Pain The post 7 Simple Exercises For Improving Your Posture appeared first on Dumb Little Man. from https://www.dumblittleman.com/exercises-to-improve-your-posture/ Social media forms a major part in the lives of millions of people all over the world. It has become a platform that connects the whole world and we attribute many other wonderful benefits to it. However, despite all its advantages, social media still has ways of harming our mental health. Various studies have shown social media to be a leading cause of depression and all sorts of emotional trauma all over the world, among other negative effects. We’ll be discussing some of the reasons why social media is bad for mental health. It dismantles self-esteemOne thing about social media is that people have the opportunity to upload everything that goes on in their lives. Many times, we get intimidated by the seemingly perfect pictures that people upload on social media or by their so-called perfect dates and relationships. This seriously damages one’s self-esteem, especially when things are not going so perfectly in your own life. This consequently breeds envy, depression, and lack of confidence. By making the world connected, social media has led to several people judging their lives and happiness by other people’s standard. See Also: Social Media Causing Depression and Anxiety: Is It True? Fear of missing outAs our friends and family share pictures of all the good times they have on social media, we often end up feeling like we’re missing out on something important. This feeling is accompanied by social anxiety and low mood. Stina Sanders, who has over 100,000 followers, admitted that she frequently suffered from this as a result of her friends’ social media uploads. They sometimes made her feel lonely and anxious. Sleep disruptionYou would have experienced this at one time or another. Social media keeps us awake, sometimes until late at night, causing us to have fewer hours of sleep. A professor at NinjaEssays once wrote that the effect of less sleep on mental health is not limited to depression and unhappiness alone. Other effects include mood issues such as bipolar disorder, a feeling that we are less happy than others, and neuroticism. Research indicates that people who have terrible sleeping cycles were 6% more likely to be depressed. 9% were more likely to be unhappy than those who had good sleeping habits. Bad body imageThis deals particularly with the female gender, although it can affect male also. Girls are more concerned about their body than boys. This means that they are more likely to be affected negatively when they see models or even colleagues with “perfect bodies” on social media. Psychologists have traced this as one of the main causes of negative body image. It’s the culprit behind inferiority complex and even eating disorders among many teenagers. It leads to mental pressure and anxiety in individuals. Addictive tendencyNo addiction is good for mental health, including social media addiction. According to a scientist, receiving likes, wonderful comments, and earning followers on social media release dopamine into our brains. These cause all the pleasure we feel when they happen. It causes our brains to expect and anticipate some forms of pleasure when we post on social media. This explains why we find it difficult to quit social media and why we are glued to our phones. It affects our concentration, leads to depression, and causes anxiety as well. Stops you from enjoying real experiencesWe live in a world of filters. Several people feel uncomfortable uploading pictures from events and outings without first applying all the filters and beautifying features on their social media apps. Psychologists have stated that the more time we try making our social media experiences perfect, the more we lose the ability and the time to enjoy and be happy about experiences in other parts of our lives. Besides, you can get sorely disappointed and sad when your upload gets very few positive reviews after spending a lot of time perfecting it. That’s simply terrible for your mental health! See Also: Social Media: Open This Pandora’s Box At Your Risk ConclusionAccording to a study carried conducted in the University of Pennsylvania, a decrease in the time you spend on social media would largely decrease the level of stress, depression, and loneliness that you feel as you go through life. On this note, we conclude by saying that while social media is indeed packaged with a lot of benefits, for the sake of your mental health, you should reduce the time you spend on it. Your mental health starts with your habits! The post How Social Media Seriously Harms Your Mental Health appeared first on Dumb Little Man. from https://www.dumblittleman.com/why-social-media-is-bad-for-mental-health/ “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt “Calm yourself down. It’s okay. All is well.” I clung to the sterile white table while the laboratory was spinning around me. “It’s just an anxiety attack. It will be over soon.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, forcing my lungs to expand against the tightness in my chest. Cold sweat trickled down my spine as I battled the all-consuming feelings of overwhelm, panic, and disappointment. My life was going nowhere. How had this happened? I thought I had a plan. I had chosen a promising career in science to make a positive contribution. I’d dedicated myself to changing the world, gaining recognition, and creating a legacy. So my life would matter. And yet, I felt empty. Aimless. Unhappy. I was stuck in a pointless treadmill of work, eat, sleep, repeat. I had no social life, no hobbies or passions. I focused solely on my research, hoping to enrich other people’s lives. But instead, I added to pharmaceutical companies’ profits. I made no difference to anybody. And I was way behind in my career compared to other people my age. I lay awake at night, disillusioned and frustrated, beating myself up for my miserable failure, drowning in hopelessness, anxiety, and worries. What if I died tomorrow without leaving a mark on the world? Vanished without a trace, my insignificant life instantly forgotten? What if my existence was meaningless? I stood in the middle of the deserted lab, tears streaming down my face. Everybody else had left to enjoy their evening. Their lives had direction, happiness, purpose. They counted. What was wrong with me? As despair washed over me, I knew I couldn’t go on like this. I had to find my true purpose in life. Before it was too late. My Hopeless Search for Purpose and DirectionAfter my fateful (and humiliating) breakdown in the lab, I embarked on a quest to find my true purpose, determined to make my life matter. I studied countless blog posts, articles, and self-help books. Desperate to discover the secret to filling my life with meaning, I absorbed every piece of information available on the topic. Most writers agreed that we have to focus on the things we love, and use them to contribute to society. The problem was that I had concentrated all my time and effort on pursuing an academic career. It had seemed a sensible choice at the time, with excellent prospects of achieving purpose and impact. But it had never been my passion. And I was now at a dead end, without a clue about what I loved, because my whole life was purpose-driven. I never went for a walk in the sun unless I could pick up some shopping on the way. I never spent time in the garden unless I could pull out some weeds at the same time. And I had abandoned my favorite hobbies of jigsaw puzzles and crochet because I thought they were useless activities. I felt guilty and lazy when I wasted precious time on them. Time that could be spent doing something productive and significant. For months, I obsessed over finding something I loved that also had purpose, but nothing I felt passionate about seemed important enough to lend meaning to my life. Growing more anxious, frustrated, and desperate by the day, I prepared myself to settle for an unfulfilling half-life, devoid of purpose, meaning, and direction. Maybe I had no purpose; maybe my life was too irrelevant to matter. But then, a thought popped into my mind that changed everything. What if the crucial question wasn’t “What’s my purpose in life?” but “Why is having purpose so important to me?” My True Motivation for Seeking Purpose in LifeHaving purpose enriches us. Knowing we can use our gifts to improve our community, better society, and enhance people’s lives, we experience joy. A deep feeling of satisfaction, connection, and fulfillment. But, as I dug deeper, I discovered that none of this really motivated my relentless search. At least not primarily. The truth was that I so desperately sought purpose in my life because, somehow, I believed that I had to justify my existence. It was as if I didn’t deserve to live if I didn’t have a purpose. As if I was unworthy of love and happiness until I could offer something useful to the world—until I had important achievements and contributions to show for myself, and was somehow special, somehow more. So, the pursuit of purpose became the sole purpose of my life. And my failure to identify what could give my life meaning left me feeling pointless, stressed, and ashamed. All because of one devastating misunderstanding. The Tragic Reason Why We Obsess About Our PurposeI spent my entire life chasing my purpose—desperate to achieve the one important contribution to mankind that would make me special, that would earn me recognition and approval and justify my existence—because, deep down, I believed that I was worthless. I considered myself an empty vessel, devoid of value and significance. I assumed that I had to gain worth through my accomplishments, successes, and qualifications. That I needed purpose and a clear direction in order to could gain some worth and finally deserve happiness. The absence of purpose in my life created a painful worth deficit. I felt inferior to others who made valuable contributions and earned admiration, approval, and status. I mattered less. I was irrelevant because I was useless to society. It was my perceived lack of worth that made me feel empty and meaningless. And the only cure I could see was to find that extraordinary purpose that would make me worthy. So, I searched more and worked harder. I sacrificed every activity that didn’t seem meaningful and important enough to increase my worth, irrespective of how much I loved it. Foregoing all joy, I burnt myself out hunting for my purpose. So I could prove that my life mattered. So I could convince the world of my worth—and my right to exist. In the process, I missed the purpose of my life altogether. The Empowering Secret to Living a Worthy LifeI thought I would never be useful enough to have worth, which meant my life would never matter, but I was wrong. And I realized it on the day I first cradled my newborn daughter. Looking down at the tiny bundle in my arms, there was no doubt in my mind that she was worth. That she deserved all the happiness and love in the world. Yet, she had no accomplishments to her name. She’d made no contributions to mankind and society. She had no concept of purpose, goals, or direction. Yet she mattered, simply because she existed. In this very moment I understood that we cannot have worth. It’s not something we earn, gain, or lose. Worth is the essence of our being. An absolute, inherent, unchangeable part of who we are. We are worth personified. Every one of us is 100 percent worth. From the day we are born to the day we die. And beyond. Having a purpose, a goal to work toward, can enhance our life, add to our happiness, and enable us to contribute to the world. But it won’t change anything about our worth, which is unconditional, unlimited, and independent of our actions. Success, accomplishment, and focused direction won’t increase our worth. And failure cannot diminish it. Because we are worth. We are wonderful expressions of life. And as such, we matter. Finding a Way Out of WorthlessnessAnd so, five years after the day in the lab that started my journey, I abandoned my unhealthy quest for purpose and focused on accepting my true, inner worth instead. Countless times a day I affirmed: “I am worth.” I reminded myself of my infinite worth every time I felt useless. I repeated the affirmation when I struggled with my meaningless, aimless existence. And I tried to remember the truth whenever I beat myself up for not being important enough. At first my mind resisted, stressed by the change of priorities. Too many years it had held the belief that I was worthless, and that purpose was a prerequisite for worth and, ultimately, happiness. I ignored it as well as I could, stubbornly affirming my worth, over and over again. And step by step, day by day, my understanding of my true worth grew, and the compulsive need for purpose weakened. Until one day I was liberated. I felt free to explore my passions, enjoy all my unproductive hobbies, and fill my entire house with crochet doilies. Without guilt, without feeling I was wasting my time on idle indulgences. I even found joy in my profession as a scientist once the crushing pressure to achieve, outperform, and impress had been lifted. Once I no longer expected it to give me purpose. And I could relax. Knowing that, sooner or later, some purpose would reveal itself to me, without having to be forced, simply because I was focusing on the things I loved. The Liberating True Purpose of Your LifeWhen I was convinced of my inherent worthlessness, I sought purpose as a means to deserve happiness, while I abandoned the things that actually made me happy because they lacked purpose! Looking back, the irony makes me cringe. I now believe the purpose of life is to be happy. To grow, thrive, and experience life to the full. To worry less about our achievements, productivity, and the meaning of our life and to prioritize the things we enjoy. Even if they serve no purpose at all. Because the only way to make your life matter is to make it matter to you. To know your true worth and contribute your unique perspective to this world. So, be kind and compassionate. Take care of your loved ones. And yourself. Help and support others. Not because you have to earn worth, but because you want to improve their lives. And do what you love as often as you can. Walk in the sun, sit on the beach, lie in the grass. Just because it feels good. Do it without feeling guilty or beating yourself up for the lack of purpose. Without fear over whether you are important enough, useful enough, influential, significant, or deserving enough. Because, at the end of the day, purpose can add to your happiness, but it’s not a prerequisite for it. You don’t need a mission, purpose, a direction for your life to be worth living. You don’t have to justify your existence or prove your worth. Not to your parents or your family; not to your friends, your boss, or society. Not even to yourself. Because you are worth personified. You matter. Right here, right now. And as long as you enjoy walking your path, no matter how aimlessly, your life has meaning. About Berni SewellDr Berni Sewell, PhD is a health scientist, energy healer, and self-worth blogger. She is on a mission to make you feel good about yourself, no matter what. Grab her free “Healthy Self-Worth Starter Kit” to boost your confidence, release shame and self-judgement, and start reclaiming your life today. Get in the conversation! Click here to leave a comment on the site. The post How to Make Your Life Matter (Even If It Lacks Purpose and Direction) appeared first on Tiny Buddha. from https://tinybuddha.com/blog/how-to-make-your-life-matter-even-if-it-lacks-purpose-and-direction/ At times, you may download a new paid application to your iPhone or iPad. You try to make it work, but it just doesn’t function like you hoped it would. What happens if you delete paid apps on iPhone or iPad? How To Restore a Paid ApplicationPeople make mistakes. That is a fact of life. When you toggle around your electronic device, you might hit the wrong button, key or open the wrong screen. You might accidentally delete a paid app on your iPhone or iPad. Does the application store keep records of who purchased an app? Can I get reimbursement for my deleted app? Does it matter if I paid for it with a credit card? Most application stores maintain their purchase records for a long period of time. If it has only been a matter of weeks or months, you have the best chances for success. Many online companies keep records even longer for their internal sales and marketing employees. Your information is valuable. Revisit the application store. Your payment process might still be in the system. Go to your purchases and lick the app in question. It should give you a pop-up window saying that you have already paid for this application. Do you want to download it? Then, just re-download it. Also, check to see if the same application is available or if there is an upgrade. You want to get the latest version of your app. However, you might need to download the latest iOS version to make it work. If you have any problems, contact the customer service at the website. You are probably not the first one to have deleted paid apps on iPhone. Maybe they can help you out. Any purchase with a credit card is likely to have a detailed record of the transaction. If you have a problem with any purchase, you can contact the seller. Banks will allow you to cancel a credit card transaction if something was faulty with the merchandise. This is the extreme situation. Syncing with iTunesApple iDevices have created an amazing system of backups where your iPhone and iPad can sync with iTunes. Even if you have deleted an application on your device, it might still be in iTunes. Check to make sure. See Also: How Do I Send All Calls On My iPhone Direct To Voicemail? The post What Happens If You Delete A Paid App On Your Iphone or Ipad? appeared first on Dumb Little Man. from https://www.dumblittleman.com/what-happens-if-you-delete-a-paid-app-on-your-iphoneipad/ People have different reasons for playing the lottery. Others play for fun while others are tempted by the massive jackpot on the line. With state and national lotteries all completely checked by third-party audits, people play knowing that the results of each draw are completely fair and random. Despite that, people still manage to concoct strategies for playing the lottery. Strategies by their very nature need to have an aim in mind, with the strategy itself built to advance towards that aim. However, as lotteries are completely random, the term of a “lottery strategy” may seem to be somewhat of an oxymoron. But thanks to online records that are available, people have been able to devise methods to determine more likely outcomes based on previous results. There are also general rules to give into to increase your chances of winning the lottery based on how much you spend on it. So, let’s dig into some of these lottery strategies and see if your chances of winning a massive prize can be enhanced. Know your odds going inIt’s commonplace for someone to say that you’re more likely to be hit by lightning than you are to win the lottery, but that’s not even the rarest occurrence that has a greater likelihood of happening to you than winning the lottery. For example, if you live in the United States, you’re more likely to become the president of the USA, a movie star, be drafted by the NBA or even be crushed by a vending machine. But every ticket has the same chance of winning, in theory. In reality, there are ways in which you can boost your odds of winning the lottery. Give in to the randomnessThe results of any lottery are completely random, but there is one certain combination that, should it come in, would disappoint many. In 2017, it was found that around 10,000 people per lottery draw in the UK selected the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. If those numbers came in, each would have walked away with about £400 ($551.96). Avoiding incredibly popular number combinations like the one above is important because it would mean you wouldn’t win some if you did win, but it’s also important to embrace the randomness. When it comes to lotto strategy, the best way is to be as random as the game itself. As many peoples’ lottery numbers derive from key dates in their lives, many of the larger numbers are missed out. Being as random as possible is the best way to play. Play the numbers gameIn a study performed over thousands of games in the Australian Lottery (a six-pick, 45-number lotto), it was found that certain patterns showed up with far more prevalence than others. The most frequently observed pattern way by picking one number in the range of 1-9, two in the range of 10-19, and then one in each of the ranges of 20-29, 30-39, and 40-45. With that pattern occurring 24 times rather than the expected calculated frequency of 18.7, it shows that the numbers have fallen more favorably into that pattern. Another way sometimes suggested is to buy all of the possible combinations. However, that would be extremely time consuming and costly. To better your odds in a similar vein without spending much more, you could pool with friends or co-workers. in the pool chips in an equal amount to get an agreed upon the number of tickets per person, buy different tickets with each buy-in, and share the multi-million prize when it comes in. While developing a strategy in a completely random game with rather long odds seems odd, there are ways in which you can boost your chances of winning the lottery. The post Betting on the Lottery: Is There a Strategy? appeared first on Dumb Little Man. from https://www.dumblittleman.com/lottery-strategy/ |
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