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Title: How to Pass the CPA Exam the First Time You Take It

By
Elizabeth Williams

If you wish to become a Certified Public Accountant, you already know you’ll need to pass the CPA exam to realize your career goals.

You may also know that the CPA exam has a reputation for being fairly demanding. Many people struggle to pass it on the first try.

However, there are many others who do pass the CPA exam the first time they attempt it. Perhaps you wish to join their ranks.

If so, keep the following tips in mind. While no blog entry or article can guarantee that you’ll pass the CPA exam with no difficulty on your first try, your chances of doing so will be much greater if you:

Consider How Your Classes Will Prepare You for the Exam

Along with passing the CPA exam, to become a CPA, you also typically need to study accounting in college or university.

If you’ve decided to major in accounting, you know that taking the CPA exam is in your future. While it may be years away, it’s a good idea to begin preparing right now.

Top-scorers state that preparing for the CPA exam in advance is critical for many reasons. One is the simple fact that the exam is quite extensive and covers a wide range of nuanced topics. Another is the fact that developing a study routine takes time.

Perhaps more importantly, top-scorers have also pointed out that when you decide to begin studying for the CPA exam early, you’ll be more inclined to consider the way what you’re learning in your college courses will help you pass the test.

Supplement Your Education

Your college courses will certainly prepare you for the CPA exam to a degree. However, it’s important to understand that the main purpose of your courses will be to provide you with skills and knowledge you will need in your future career. They won’t be devoted to equipping you with test-taking skills.

Thus, it’s a very good idea to consider supplementing your education by taking a course designed specifically to help you prepare for the CPA exam. This doesn’t need to be a time-consuming class that you must attend in person. An online CPA exam prep course can perfectly suit your needs.

Study in the Morning

Again, a study schedule that emphasizes the importance of routine can help you prepare for the CPA exam very effectively. You should study regularly on certain days of the week and at certain times of the day.

If you have the option, consider studying in the morning. Research consistently shows that a person’s mental agility and overall productivity tend to be at their peak during the earlier hours of the day. As the day drags on, your ability to study efficiently and retain what you’ve learned will diminish.

Read Each Question Very Carefully

You may feel pressure to work through the exam quickly to complete as much of it as possible within the time limit. This is understandable. However, it’s worth noting that questions on the CPA exam can be somewhat complex. If you overlook an important detail, you may choose the wrong answer to a question when you actually know the right answer.

Strike the right balance between efficiency and attention. You don’t want to devote more time than is necessary to a question, but you don’t want to work so quickly that you misread a question either.

Additionally, don’t worry if you don’t pass the CPA exam on the first try. Plenty of successful CPAs didn’t pass the notoriously challenging exam on their first attempts. 

That said, if you do wish to optimize your chances of passing the CPA exam the first time you take it, these tips will help.

John de Ruiter Podcast Explores Spirituality & Truth

By
Elizabeth Williams
Jon de ruiter

Spiritual teachers have had a difficult time reaching out during the pandemic.

For thousands of years, religion and spirituality have been defined by large in-person gatherings of like-minded people searching for shared meaning, from Christianity to Buddhism to atheism.

Yet technology allows us to overcome the interpersonal barriers created by the pandemic, and continue to interact with one another in the search for meaning.

This is especially evident in the podcasts of Canadian spiritual teacher John de Ruiter, who connects through one-on-one dialogues. In each episode, John de Ruiter converses with a single person, answering questions about spirituality, relationships and truth.

The conversation below was originally recorded during an event in Rishikesh, India in November 2018.

Q: For quite some time, actually, I’ve experienced some fairly massive, episodic openings and happiness and peace I’ve never known – no matter what’s playing. During these episodes there’s great love and compassion for humanity and the human condition, and yet on an individual level I remain indifferent, as a general rule, to people. I still feel myself as a separate being, and so clearly there’s work to be done. No?

John de Ruiter: You can, but that will further the condition of your self. As soon as you’re relating to work needing to be done, you’ll use your capacity to do. You’ll use your strengths. Whatever it is you use is what becomes stronger. It will add to the sophistication of the conditioning in your self. A sophisticated conditioning replaces a basic conditioning, so in that way it makes your self worse.

What you’re experiencing is all symptomatic of your opening being conditional. The answer isn’t for you to work on anything or to do anything. The answer is all in the opening, the softening: you opening and softening without filters, without boundaries, without any conditions of your self. You no longer opening on the terms of your self, but on the terms of your being, which is entire opening, such openness that is free to have all of your heart, all of your self, all of your person, all of your personality, all of your conditioning and your whole life. That will work, because it is all authentically from the inside out.

This is all based on you being what you are, after you’ve died, while you live. It’s you being everything that is real out into everything that is yours, that is actual, but not real yet. This requires no path, no therapy, no healing, no techniques, no change of your self. This requires only you being completely rested as awareness in your heart, you returning to being what you really are, and being that unconditionally all the way out into your forms.

This moves and flows and really functions in the same way that you see the innocence of a small child. It’s all clean, and free of any kind of outward process. It’s clean of any kind of doing to be, and this clean, deep, free beingness naturally moves into doing, but that which does isn’t the same as what used to do. Instead of a person that has a self and a heart and a being, doing, it is a being that has a heart, a self and a person, doing: a profound shift of awareness, followed all the way through, that makes the entire difference.

Q: I feel some sense of what you’re saying. I’m very grateful.  Thank you.

With people stuck at home and socially isolated for so long, it’s not surprising that we would seek out connection. Many of us have spent more time in the last year reflecting on our lives and on what we really want, which inevitably gives rise to more questions.

In dialogues with John de Ruiter, this search for meaning and truth is evident in the questions brought to him by people at his events. In a podcast originally recorded in Hamburg, Germany in November 2014, he discusses a return to the heart and what it means to have “an underlying sense of purpose.”

Q: I have the feeling I came to this earth for a purpose and I have to fulfill a destiny. Sometimes I feel restless because I don’t know how to get there, and I’m wondering if you can speak to that from your point of view.

John de Ruiter: That you are restless is good. That restlessness means that you haven’t covered up your own sensitivity.

You can’t find your purpose in the way that you think. That deep, quiet, underlying sense of purpose doesn’t come from anything that you’ve learned. It doesn’t come from your past. It doesn’t come from your upbringing. It doesn’t come from your conditioning. It doesn’t come from your thinking. It comes from deeper than everything that you’re already good at. For you to come into that purpose, you cannot consult with familiarity. In consulting with familiarity you’ll be using your own strengths; you’ll use what you’re already good at. That only makes your strengths stronger. Your deep, underlying sense of purpose doesn’t come from anything that you’re used to. Rather, it’s there; it’s always there, despite everything that you’re used to.

The knowledge that you have of this most quiet, underlying sense of purpose comes from your heart. You can’t come into that purpose without you warmly and completely returning to your heart. That underlying sense of purpose doesn’t come to you as an understanding. You’re not going to fulfill it or come into it by any kind of understanding. That underlying sense of purpose is free to come into your self and come into your life, as long as you, from within your self and your life, are moving freely into your heart. The pathway is the same. Without you unconditionally, in the midst of your self and your life, moving into your heart, the underlying purpose of your life has no path by which to come into your self and come into your life. Your unconditional movement into your heart is its unstoppable movement from within your heart into your self and into your life.

You can learn more about John de Ruiter and his teachings on his website, johnderuiter.com, which also has hundreds of podcast episodes available.

You can also listen to dialogues between John de Ruiter and those attending his meetings at his radio page here.

What is Botox and What Can It Do for You

By
Elizabeth Williams

With the endless amounts of skin care products, serums, creams, and treatments available to us that help eliminate and prevent wrinkles, Botox is not a foreign term to most of us. Botox is well-known for preventing, reducing, and eliminating fine lines and wrinkles and has become a widespread treatment across the globe, particularly in large metropolitan cities such as New York city and Los Angeles. Cosmetic dermatology clinics located in these cities, such as Skinly Aesthetics (www.skinlyaesthetics.com) medspa in NYC, have been growing increasingly popular due to the high demand for this rejuvenating treatment.

Aside from the obvious benefit of eliminating lines and wrinkles from your face, Botox’s physical effects may also rub off on your self confidence. Looking and feeling good about yourself is incredibly important for your mental health. So, if we think about it, Botox has an even greater effect on your mentality than it does on your face. This is why you can ask Botox doctors about their work and they will tell you that a big part of what they do is build up a rapport with the patients. It’s important that they know exactly what they are getting themselves into and what they should expect from the treatment. They take pride in the work they do not only in terms of their successful treatments but also in the great communication they have with their clients. This is why they are providing us with some crucial information on Botox so we can share with you all the nuances that will hopefully help you understand what the treatment is and how it can potentially help you. 

What Botox Actually Does 

With all the celebrity gossip and the many times that you hear about Botox in mainstream media, you’d think that almost everyone has a general idea of what the treatment is and what it actually accomplishes. But this simply isn’t the case today.

It’s not even a matter of most people not knowing what Botox is or what it does, but rather most people only know false rumors and gossip. This leads them to have a very false understanding of what Botox is.

Ask the people around you and they’ll most likely say that Botox is something that puffs you up and makes you look plastic. But if they knew what the procedure actually does they would understand that this is not at all how Botox works. 

Sure, there are treatments like dermal fillers that lift up the skin to make it tighter. They work directly in the subcutaneous tissues to smooth out wrinkles and other age marks. Botox, particularly the best Botox injections, works on a much deeper level. Instead of targeting your skin, it targets the source of the wrinkles themselves. Age marks are typically formed by the muscles of your face constantly contracting. This is not a result of your actions and happens naturally with everyone over time.

The essence of Botox is to numb the muscles in order to stop these contractions. The botulinum toxin has the ability to numb certain nerves when injected. When it is injected into key areas of the face, it numbs the muscles and the contractions stop. As a result, the wrinkles on the surface of the skin smooth out.

What This Means for the Patient 

So, that’s great and all but what is the benefit for the patient here? Quite a lot, actually. First and foremost: the results. Botox does not get rid of wrinkles entirely, but don’t let yourself believe that it accomplishes nothing. It accomplishes quite a lot as the wrinkles seem to fade. Sure there is a very faint trace of their presence, but it is definitely a lot more deemphasized and far less visible.

This is what gives Botox its signature authentic results. It does not make you bloated or plastic-like certain other anti-aging cosmetic treatments. It takes a more nuanced approach to smooth out wrinkles and accomplishes this more subtly. But even these subtle results are very much visible and you can easily tell the difference when looking at the before and after photos.

Another major advantage to Botox is that since it uses injections, it is minimally invasive. This means that minimal damage is done to your body, and more specifically the skin. Other than making the procedure less painful and much easier to get through, the advantages of minimally-invasive treatments like Botox show themselves post-treatment more so than during the procedure.

With the damage being only a few microscopic holes, your body will have no trouble recovering from the procedure as it can heal up these holes almost instantaneously. This means that the recovery time is going to be shorter and less painful than those of more complicated procedures which involve incisions and cuts, as well as stitches to follow.

The Botox Procedure

This then begs the question: what is the procedure like? Sure, getting injected is safer and less painful than having your face cut all over with a scalpel, but an injection into the face is still an injection into the face. It’s bound to be somewhat painful, right?

Qualified practitioners have likely performed hundreds, if not thousands of injections and they know that injections do hurt. It is completely natural to feel it. So, obviously, they use local anesthetic to numb the area and keep the patient from feeling any discomfort throughout the procedure. As scary as injections can be for some people, at the very least the only thing you will feel throughout the 30-minute procedure is a very light prick from the needle.

This makes the procedure very easy to get through and most patients return to their normal way of life immediately following the treatment. The only thing that will be asked of you is to avoid extreme temperatures, especially if it’s summer or winter. Also, you will have to avoid consuming alcohol for 48 hours. And in general, avoid putting pressure on your face or touching it too much for the first couple of days. You can find more information about Botox post care by clicking here.

After that, as the results from the treatment set in, you will see your wrinkles gradually disappear and the face will look noticeably younger, full of energy, and very vibrant.

The Internet And How It Is Making Our Lives Easy And Joyful

By
Elizabeth Williams

The Internet is one of the most beautiful and useful creations of mankind, which has revolutionized the ways of communication around the world through various computer networks interconnecting with each other. However, communication is just one part of the wide arena of this internet world. It is an ocean with an abundance of knowledge that can be supplied and accessed anywhere and everywhere. 

With time the internet has become a one-stop solution for all the problems you can think of. Apart from providing pragmatic solutions to the issues,  it has become an optimum platform for some of the best entertainment shows as it gives you access to thousands of videos online from all over the globe and is known for humongous supply for amusement and enjoyment to relax. 

The internet has evolved as becoming the greatest power, yet its access is not without risks. Well, every good thing comes with positives and negatives, and so does the internet. If you are someone who spends hours in front of a system browsing the internet, then you are well aware of its disadvantages too.

In today’s time, the internet is being widely used in all kinds of sectors, from schools and colleges to government and private offices. Everybody is trying their best to go digital in all possible ways. It has turned out to be the best way to supply knowledge and communication. You could also say that a man’s everyday life starts with the internet and ends with the internet too. Let’s check out how the internet has made our lives easy and joyful: 

1. Easy and immediate access to all kinds of information

The internet provides you several sources that allow you to search and access the required information. The most used and renowned search engine like Google now gives you the liberty of asking a question verbally rather than typing it up on the web page. You not only get the answer to that but all the similar possibilities to that question. Which then gives you a wide option to pick the suitable one for you.

2. Ways to earn money

With the internet these days it has become easier to earn money being at home. Various online job portals provide you with work opportunities while being in your comfort zone. If you are dedicated to working and making money, then there is no way anyone could stop you, especially with an internet connection. There are jobs for all kinds of people around, regardless of their geographic location, nationality, and age. Apart from working online and selling your services, you can also sell personal goods if you are in urgent need of some liquid cash.

3. Time Saver

Do you remember the times of standing in the queue to pay your bills for electricity, phone, grocery? Now it’s the internet that makes our lives easier by getting all this done within just a few clicks, as all kinds of bills can be paid online. 

You don’t have to bother yourself to visit the banks physically to get the details about your account and money. It can all be accessed right from the ease of your couch with a stable internet service.

4. A facile way to communicate

Yet another supreme and even one of the most used privileges of the internet is the various kinds of communication options it provides. In earlier days, it used to take weeks and months to communicate as letters were the only source to receive information from the other person. 

Today the times have changed, and regardless of the distance, the internet has made it way too quick and trouble-free to get the greetings and whereabouts of our known ones with the help of emails and audio-video calls. This has changed the lives of people staying abroad to communicate and stay connected to their family members.

The different sites that allow you to communicate are:

  • Personal Use-

Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, and for personal chatting purposes.

  • Professional Use-

Linkedin, Zoom meetings, Google duo for Business use, and conferences.

  • Educational purposes-

Google classrooms, Quora, and Reddit for discussing various debatable topics.

  • Online working-

Pinterest, flicker, Blogger for sharing photos and Blogging purposes.

5. To start your own business

The internet has proven to be one of the best ways to earn and begin your start-up Business plan in the current times. If you possess good communication and technical skills, all you need is a good internet connection to start your business anywhere. You can create your content in terms of writings, paintings, or videos and upload them for your potential clients to see and purchase. 

This way, it not only will broadcast your skill set but will be a help for the ones needing someone like you. Many big brands and companies want to hire content writers, in-house architects, or even game developers; therefore, by portraying your work online, you get the job, and they get their requirements fulfilled satisfying both parties.

These are only a few ways in which you can leverage the advantages of the internet to your personal benefit. There are so many ways that you can use the internet not just to make money or communicate but also to keep yourself entertained in the toughest of times.

Healthy Habits That Will Make Your Jogging Experience More Pleasant and Beneficial

By
Elizabeth Williams

Jogging in itself is a healthy habit. It has tons of benefits. Through jogging, you can achieve physical fitness as well as mental peace. Not to mention, doing so in a beautiful location will also feel quite soothing to your eyes.

Having said all that, you cannot reap the real benefits of jogging if you fail to do it right. It does not necessarily mean that you have to jog at a definite place or move your muscles at a certain angle. It just means that before, during, or after you jog, you have to ensure a few things. These things need to become part of your daily jogging routine through which you can fully gain all those benefits.

For this article, we will look at some healthy habits that you should work on to help make your jogging experience more pleasant and beneficial. 

Go Early in the Morning

Compared to other times of the day, running early in the morning provides more benefits. 

A 2019 article on Healthline provides some interesting insights regarding running in the morning by citing numerous research articles. According to these research inclusions in the article, people who start working out at around 7 am get to enjoy better deep sleep at night. This case is especially seen among adolescents. 

Research also suggests that early morning exercises, including jogging, can help improve your overall performance. That means, maintaining this consistency will lead to you getting better at jogging, and perhaps develop more stamina.

Besides, early morning running has other benefits as well. For starters, it is much safer to go running during the day instead of doing so in the dark. On top of that, the weather in the morning is a lot cooler than what you can get during other times of the day. The air also feels a lot fresher because of that. Finally, getting a quick run early in the morning will warm your body up for the rest of the day, and provide you with the energy you need to get through it.

Check the Weather and the Air

Before going out for a jog, be sure to check the weather forecast. Checking these forecasts will alert you of harsh weather conditions. So you can know that there is a chance of heavy rainfall even if it were sunny before you left your house.

While checking the weather, do a bit of research on your area’s air quality as well. Look for the Air Quality Index (AQI) of your locality or the place you are visiting for your run. Anything above 150 on the AQI radar means that you should avoid that area as the air over there is not good for your health.

To keep the weather in check, you should have an app on your phone. Tomorrow’s weather app can help you keep track of the weather, as well as the AQI of your area. That way, not only will you be aware of rough weather conditions like heavy rainfall or thunderstorms, but can also check the quality of air. You should consider skipping outdoor running or exercising in general if the weather is harsh, or the AQI index returns an orange or red alert.

The Location is Important

Ideally, you would go to a park or a lake to have your morning run. However, given the opportunity, you should look for more open and natural spaces to have your run. Ideally, a run by the beach or the ocean would be perfect. Running through a trail that overlooks a beautiful mountain range is also a beautiful experience you would want to have.

Having a good view will cheer you up. It will uplift your mood and give you mental satisfaction. Our minds work out ways to appreciate beautiful sceneries. So when you put such picturesque scenes before your eyes, you are allowing your mind to help you calm down. This in turn helps you feel cheerful, relaxed, and somewhat pumped up to continue running. 

Besides, the desire to enjoy beautiful morning sceneries is what allows many people to wake up early in the morning and go on a run.

That is all for this article. These habits will not take a lot of effort to ensure. It might feel a bit odd at first – doing all these things – but you will eventually get used to it. And then, once you do it regularly, you will feel more relaxed while jogging and will start enjoying it more than before.

5 Undeniable benefits Of Getting Hearing Aids

By
Elizabeth Williams

If you or someone close to you is suffering from hearing loss, then you know just how difficult life can get. Hearing impairment often leads to feeling unmotivated, isolated, and frustrated. Hearing constitutes a significant chunk of human lives and suffering from hearing loss and can have an untold impact on your health and life.

Throughout most history, people with hearing loss have had to settle for a lifetime of limited experiences. Thanks to modern medicine and technology, there are now numerous treatments and health management tips and strategies for persons living with hearing impairments.

Dr. Crawford specializes in advanced ENT treatments, including robotic surgery for head and neck cancers, snoring, and sleep apnea. She is committed to achieving better outcomes for her patients and is a renowned lecturer and trainer of ent specialists worldwide.

A hearing test can help diagnose most ear infections and diseases. When detected early, there are plenty of solutions to treat and cope with hearing loss. This is why you should get your ears regularly checked by a specialist.

If the hearing loss is advanced, or if there are no corrective measures, doctors may recommend a hearing aid. While the uptake for hearing aids and gadgets has significantly improved over recent years, there are those who are still hesitant.

Reasons why you should consider hearing aids

Hearing aids are the most recommended solution for people living with ear problems. In the United States alone, there’s an estimated 30 million adults who rely on hearing aids. Are hearing aids that effective? More importantly, can these hearing gadgets improve your quality of life, and if so, how?

Here are several undeniable benefits of hearing aids;

1. They improve your communication

The sense of hearing is one of the most relied upon by most living creatures. Through sound, you can pass on communication in various mediums. When your hearing is impaired, even the most basic of communication turns into a nightmare.

When unable to communicate effectively, most people with hearing loss tend to isolate themselves. Fortunately, hearing aids can significantly improve your ability to perceive and interpret sounds correctly. With the help of a hearing aid, you’ll be able to communicate faster, easier, and consistently.

Moreover, hearing aids can help you navigate areas where you normally couldn’t. For instance, you can comfortably be in spaces like the restaurant, movie, coffee shop, or grocery store with a hearing aid. These places would ordinarily be impossible to visit as communicating over the extra noise and disruption is rather difficult.

Hearing aids make it easier to detect subtle tones, so you can spend less time worrying about or obsessing over what the other person said.

2. They improve your safety

In 2018, a study published in the JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Journal revealed just how much you rely on your hearing. The study was run from 2007 to 2015 and included a vast pool of 232 million people, both with hearing disorders and without.

6.5 million people in the study reported having suffered accidental injuries. After cross-referencing the data, the results showed a majority of those who reported experiencing accidental injuries had a level of hearing loss. This study highlights the importance of hearing as a means of safety.

Some of the decisions you make without hesitation are influenced by your ability to perceive and interpret sound. For example, if a car hoots behind you, you’re likely to jump out of the way then looking back.

Even the most basic of environments can turn hazardous when dealing with hearing loss. This is even worse if you’re in a noisy environment and can’t pinpoint where a certain noise is coming from. Hearing aids improve your noise perception, helping you understand and discern your environment.

3. They can fix your tinnitus

Sometimes you hear a noise that isn’t really there or feel as though you’ve been called even when there’s no one in sight. When suffering from hearing loss, this experience can be worse and more constant. Tinnitus is a condition where you hear a clicking or ringing noise in your ears. Patients with hearing impairments describe the noise as similar to crickets or running water.

Hearing aids can be useful in the treatment of tinnitus. When properly configured, the hearing aid can create a sound that neutralizes that produced by tinnitus. While the degree of success varies, you should discuss if hearing aids can help you with your general physician or ENT expert.

4. They can help you conserve energy

When dealing with hearing loss and impairment, the ear is affected and cannot properly transmit sound waves to the brain. As a result, the brain compensates for this shortfall by overworking. The brain will likely work harder to pick up sound or even follow through a conversation.

Ultimately, the extra effort needed by the brain to compensate for hearing loss gets exhausting. You may realize you’re getting more tired and feeling lethargic. In some instances, you may have to get some rest to recharge your brain.

With the help of a hearing aid, you can relieve the brain from the extra work and improve your hearing simultaneously. People with hearing aids often report they are now able to get back to and enjoy everyday activities.

5. They are more affordable and reliable

While hearing loss can be sudden, it is mostly a gradual process. At first, you may not realize the change, but this will change over time. Unfortunately, if it’s already too late, you’ll have to spend more time, money, effort, and resources trying to remedy the condition.

Hearing aids effectively improve sound perception, and compared to the cost of other treatment options, they are very affordable. Additionally, hearing aids are easily sourced, and you can get back to living your life and enjoying every moment.

Be Happy Alone – Things to Do When You Are Home Alone

By
Elizabeth Williams

No matter if you’ve started spending more time at home due to obvious reasons or if you’re living on your own for the first time in your life, you might not be used to spending time by yourself. While introverts thrive in solitude, being an extrovert can make it challenging to be alone. However, taking time for yourself is often vital for your mental and physical wellbeing. With that in mind, here are some things you can do when you are home alone.

Work out

If you don’t feel comfortable going to the gym to exercise, this is something you can do when home alone as there is no one to mock you, judge you, or criticize every move you make. It’s easy to find a video on YouTube that you can follow along, or download a fitness app that will lead you through all sorts of exercises. Plus, nowadays, you can also have a personal trainer guiding you through Skype or some other video call platform, ensuring you are doing each exercise properly.

Learn a new language

Having plenty of time on your hands means that you can focus on learning a new language. From opting for French on Duolingo to listening to detailed podcasts and watching videos that explain every meaning and rule of a language, there are many ways to start your language-learning journey. Even one-on-one video chat sessions with a native speaker are an option.

Give new recipes a go

Foodies can order a new cookbook or look online for some recipes they’ve never tried before. Even if you’re not that great in the kitchen, this is an amazing opportunity to give something a bit more complicated a go without having to worry about what other household members might say. From brownies and donuts to full-blown feasts, you can prepare whatever your heart desires.

Sing your heart out

Being home alone means that you can listen to any kind of music you want. As long as you are not disturbing your neighbors, you can sing your heart out to all your favorite tunes. For the full experience, you can also look into renting a karaoke machine.

Try learning a choreography

You can also try combining your love of music and exercise and learn some sort of choreography. From Beyoncé’s Single Ladies to Blackpink’s Kill This Love, YouTube is full of tutorials you can follow to master any of these iconic choreographies. If you live alone, you have all the time in the world to become a dance expert.

Play online games

Even if you weren’t a gamer before, some time alone in front of a screen can make you a true World of Warcraft or Dota2 pro. There are many multiplayer games where you can socialize with other players if that’s something that you like, but you can also play on your own. What is more, you can also try your luck and possibly earn some extra money by opting for online casino games. For instance, you can look for the best online slots that will also allow you to see how the game works before putting real money on the line, along with free spins and other kinds of bonuses.

Find a fun show to watch

While many people turn to TV shows during their alone time to fill the silence, many individuals simply haven’t gotten into the habit of doing that. The next time you’re at home by yourself, look for a show that you can binge. With so many streaming platforms, you’re guaranteed to find something that will catch your attention, whether it’s a show that just came out or something with more than ten seasons.

Take up knitting

Countless other hobbies are also available for you to explore. For instance, have you always thought about knitting? Why not take it up during your alone time? All the equipment you might need is easy to order online. How-tos also abound, so you can make everything from a sweater for yourself to various other goods like scarves and gloves that you can give to friends as holiday gifts.

Start your own garden

Regardless of whether you have a big yard or live in a small apartment, you can think about starting your own garden. Growing your own organic food comes with many health benefits, while you can also add a few houseplants to your bedroom or living room that will help you feel like you’re outside. Lavender, aloe vera, and pothos plants are just a few options you can go with.

Declutter your home

Among many interesting and useful things that you could opt for is also decluttering your home. Start going through each room individually and decide which items you no longer need. You will surely start feeling a lot lighter once your home is no longer overstuffed with pieces you have no use for. From expired and ripped items to those that bring back bad memories, don’t be scared to toss out things that serve no purpose anymore.

Being home alone provides you with the freedom to do whatever you want, as no one will be judging your every move. Make the most of this time, as it might not always be available.

Does Life Get Better After Sobriety?

By
Elizabeth Williams
man

Often, the reason why people don’t resort to seeking professional help is that they’ve become accustomed to the darkness that surrounds them in their addiction journey.

However, there are tons of studies and testaments from recovering individuals that life indeed gets better once you’ve lived as a sober person, such as:

You have a better memory.

Once you’ve observed that your memory is gradually becoming impaired, it’s best if you look up “UKAT Cheshire” in the Google search bar to redirect you to a proven effective rehabilitation program.

Since substance and alcohol abuse alters the brain’s function, it’s not surprising that a person’s memory is subjected to specific changes.

As you know, it’s easy to burn bridges with your loved ones and close friends if you usually forget important events, like anniversaries, birthdays, graduation, or even a wedding event. Not only does this make you feel ashamed and filled with regrets, but it also leads to several disagreements and misunderstandings.

Fortunately, as you cut ties with your dependency on alcohol or drugs, the disruptions that are taking place in your brain are slowly being alleviated. Thus, you become more aware of all the finer details of your life, so the chances of you missing out on significant occasions are minimized to a great extent.

Moreover, sobriety allows you to have a much better mental state to see clarity concerning your goals and personal interests.

You regain respect.

By making the tough decision to undergo rehabilitation, you obtain respect from people around you, especially from your community, as they’re lucky enough to witness such remarkable action.

Aside from that, you’re displaying the acknowledgment to commit your time and energy to healthier activities like applying to job opportunities. Doing so leaves a positive impression among your peers, particularly on the younger individuals whom you could serve as an inspiration.

Although disregarding the toxic habits you got entangled in the past is sufficient, it’s more likely that you’ll earn respect if you have signed up for volunteering.

Despite the extreme depths you’ve come from, the changes you’re applying to your life by discontinuing the cycle of abuse to the mind and body give others the chance to trust you again.

You keep the money.

Since you’ve stopped funding the unhealthy lifestyle you once got accustomed to, maintaining sobriety is sure to cut back the financial crisis you might encounter.

The extra money you get to keep in your pocket could then automatically turn into a savings plan. Which you might use to pay off your addiction’s obligations, invest in new company initiatives, or save for impending major costs like a home purchase.

Maintaining sobriety permits you to focus on attainable achievements through maintaining your progress in holding yourself back from regularly emptying your bank account.

As a result, you get to spend the money you’ve earned to create rewarding experiences with the people you care about and love simply because you’re not taking illicit substances or alcoholic beverages.

Despite the odds you’d have to face throughout the recovery process, you can’t deny that most transformed individuals recalled how rewarding it is to break free from the shackles of addictions.

Keep in mind that all good things don’t fall from trees. It’s something to be earned and requires your hard work.

Keeping the Romance Alive: 5 Ways to Reconnect in Your Relationship

By
Elizabeth Williams

Everyone felt the impacts of the lockdown at the beginning of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Many people’s relationships were put to the ultimate test. Cohabitating couples were faced with having to be with one another around the clock, which may not have been the norm for them prior to the pandemic. For some, this was extremely beneficial for their relationship.

According to a study conducted by the American Family Survey, 58% of people who participated said they found more appreciation for their partners by deepening the connection within their relationship. 

However, some couples found themselves to be on the other end of the spectrum. The pandemic caused turmoil amongst relationships that caused more separation, division, and distance.

While there is still more we are navigating as a world throughout the pandemic, there have been more opportunities for us to find a little more freedom throughout our days. This also means there is more opportunity for couples to reconnect in their relationships.

It’s okay if you’re a little rusty in the romance department. Here are five ways to help you keep the romance alive and reconnect with your partner.

Disconnect to Reconnect

Between the cell phones in our pockets and screen time spent with our jobs, it’s hard to find time to disconnect. This is why it’s so important to set aside time every day to do so. This includes within your relationship, too. Find a time each day to put both of your phones and all of your other electronics away for thirty minutes. You can do this right before you go to bed.

Spend this time together where you get to have honest conversations to talk about your day. Not only are you allowing for a chance to work on improving your communication in the relationship, but you’ll also actually get a better night’s sleep. 

By removing yourself from the blue screen of your mobile device, you’ll be more likely to hit the REM cycle of sleep. More sleep means you’ll be happier overall. The happier you are, the more you can fully show up as yourself in your relationship.

Read Together

When was the last time you and your partner connected over something that wasn’t a series on Netflix? While relaxing on the couch together isn’t necessarily a bad thing, you could always try a new approach. Reading together increases bonding time with your partner in a different way.

Pick a book you both would be interested in reading. Then curl up with a glass of wine, a blanket, and your partner while you cozy up in front of the fireplace. Take turns reading the chapters out loud to one another. 

Not only is this romantic, but it can also spark some really valuable conversation within your relationship you wouldn’t have had otherwise. 

Schedule Your Date Nights

Like we said, life can be incredibly hectic. Between being full-time parents, working demanding jobs, and keeping up with the household, it barely leaves time for yourself, let alone your partner. This is why it’s crucial to schedule your date nights. Once a week, put your date night on the calendar.

Add it to both your personal and work calendars so neither one of you will be disturbed during this allotted time. It sets a reminder to hire a babysitter if necessary and it’ll give you both something to look forward to. 

It’s a cute way throughout the week to send little reminders to each other through texts or emails saying, “Hey you, I can’t wait for our date night this weekend with you.”

Counseling

Sometimes when the romance in your relationship has hit a wall and you feel like you’ve tried it all, it might be worth looking into counseling. We get it. Counseling doesn’t sound that romantic. But you’d be surprised what the power of improving your communication can do to add a little heat into your relationship.

When communication improves and issues are able to be resolved, it leaves more room for growth. You are able to understand what the other person is needing or wanting, which can lead to a true, genuine connection.

While the pandemic may have added extra issues to your relationship, it’s not too late to find ways to reconnect. The most important thing you need to remember is that you are the one that has to put in the work. No one else will be able to do that for you.

Should you invest in biotechs?

By
Elizabeth Williams

It is never easy to choose a sector to invest in, as it all depends on your risk tolerance, your objectives, your investment horizon, your trading strategy, as well as the current market cycle. For some analysts, biotechnology is one of the most promising sectors to invest in, as scientific and technological advances are providing new techniques and solutions to prevent and/or treat diseases. Before we have a look at what you need to know about investing in biotechs to decide if this sector is a good fit for your investment portfolio, here are the top biotech stocks to watch now.

What are biotechs?

Biotech companies are firms working on new disease treatments, cures, as well as vaccines using living organisms, like bacteria or enzymes. The main difference between biotechs and pharmaceutical companies is that the latter bases its research on chemicals, not living organisms.

What are the upsides to investing in biotechs?

The biotechnology sector is a fast-growing industry, as it works on finding new drugs and treatments for health issues. This sector attracts many investors – not surprising given all the news and events surrounding the Covid pandemic – but you can find companies working on a range of different healthcare issues.

Investing in biotechs isn’t only about investing in a company that might find a new cure for an illness, but it’s also investing in a company that might develop new innovations for a range of health issues. Of course, technology plays an important role within the biotech firm development model, as technology can add value in the process of finding cures.

Investing in biotechs also means that you’re doing something potentially good for humankind, as you’re investing in a company that might save lives – by investing in this company, you’re supporting the research that might help find a cure to a significant disease. You’re therefore contributing to improving scientific research.

What are the risks of investing in biotechs?

Finding reliable and useful drugs and vaccines takes time and money – not to mention that the results still need FDA approval to be sold in the United States. It is a rather complex process to succeed in the biotechnology industry, as there are different steps to go through when developing a new drug, such as drug discovery, preclinical testing, clinical testing, regulatory approval, etc. 

That’s why investing in biotech companies can be risky, as many of the developed products never see the light of day. Another considerable risk in this industry is the regulatory framework biotech companies must go through, which is different in each part of the world where they want to have a presence.

So, should you invest in biotechs?

The first thing to highlight here is that you have to know what you’re investing in and what the risks are before you go ahead. Finding the right biotech company to invest in might be complex and take time, but if you do your research, you might find a biotech whose product could very well revolutionize its industry. The biotech sector is a very exciting and promising sector that can be very rewarding, but you need to take the time to select the right companies and be sure they fit your trading profile and strategy.

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