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HOW TO IMPROVE CONCENTRATION ON STUDIES WITH MEDITATION

By
Elizabeth Williams

Are you finding it difficult to concentrate on your studies overtime? Perhaps, you are overwhelmed with many tasks, and you can’t pinpoint which one to handle first. Most students studying math or learning a new language alongside their regular school program find it difficult to concentrate. While others easily get distracted while studying.

Research has shown that there are simple ways students can increase the level of concentration on their studies right now and for the long term. If you are in college and you can’t just concentrate while studying, you are not without help. Many students have been able to overcome this challenge with meditation. You can learn from such an example.  

What is concentration?

Concentration is the ability to put the mind under control and focus on one idea over a long period. It improves relaxation and help the mind to meditate and brings about calmness. This guide will discuss how to increase concentration using meditation. But, before then, let’s compare concentration and meditation and see how they relate.

Meditation and concentration

Experts have described these two concepts as two main roads that lead to perfection. But with meditation leading the way for concentration. If you want to know how to concentrate on studies, you need to understand these concepts and what they mean for you. Meditation helps you to have a steady mind that boosts concentration. For you to be able to concentrate on your studies, you need to focus on internal aspects and become aware of your degree of mindfulness. 

To do this effectively, you need some practice. If you are wondering how to focus on studies or your mind easily wanders each time you want to study for exams, do not panic. Just follow this process and watch how your concentration improves overtime.

1. Find a comfortable environment

This is essential if you must increase your concentration. Ensure your environment is free from all kinds of distractions such as music, the noise of children playing in the yard, and vehicle horns. Ideally, a library or a quiet room is best for studying with fewer distractions. Ensure you switch off your phones and PC if they aren’t needed. Once you find a comfortable place, make it a habit to go there for studies.

2. Clear your mind of all thoughts.

Focus on your breathing and try to listen to your heartbeat as you inhale and exhale. You can count your breath if possible.

3. Don’t move.

Sit still and try not to move. This can be difficult at first. Especially when you are not used to such posture. Try to find a comfortable position and close your eyes for a few minutes. If you are studying for research, it will enable your mind to focus on the problematic aspect of your work. 

You will notice how fast your body loosens up and calmness engulfs your entire body. By the time you resume your study and begin to search for sources for your paper, you will be able to find research papers online without stress. This is because your mind is now at peace with your entire body.

4. Give your brain some time to rest.

When the brain is stressed, it can hardly process any information it receives. Hence, it easy to lose concentration after studying for long hours. If this is true in your case, ensure you give your brain some time to rest. This can be between a few minutes to some hours. During this time, don’t engage your mind on any thought. Try to take a nap if possible. If you are saddled with so much school work, you can buy a research paper online to lessen your workload and the amount of time you have to spend doing assignments. This will give you enough time to figure out and practice the art of meditation. It takes time to learn it, but if you keep at it, the benefits are tremendous.

5. Set a reward.

Set a goal for yourself. For instance, if you can finish five exercises within a few hours, you will reward yourself with a gift. Set meditation goals and work hard to achieve them. With time, you will watch your concentration level improve.

Using meditation as a tool for concentrating on your studies is an ageless, yet effective method that has worked for many over the years. Finding the right level of concentration is the key to studying better.

Drinking More Water Helps You Burn Belly Fat Faster

By
Elizabeth Williams

Trying to get rid of your jiggling belly? Don’t forget to drink plenty of water! Studies show that drinking more water can benefit those trying to lose weight. It can also help healthy individuals maintain their current weight.

The amount of water you need to drink per day will vary by individual, depending on factors such as activity level, age, weight, and health status. Most people that are trying to lose weight should aim for at least 8 cups of water a day.

Simple ways to increase water intake throughout the day include sipping on water whenever you feel thirsty, drinking water with every meal, carrying a reusable water bottle, and eating food with high water content (such as watermelon and cucumber). More and more individuals are turning to using reusable water bottles instead of plastic water bottles because of their environmental benefit. If you live in an area where you’re concerned about the purity of your water, check out this guide to home water filters at TheWaterGeeks.com to learn about how a whole house water system could improve the quality of your water.

Now that you know how much water to drink and a few ways to increase your water intake, let’s move onto the reasons why increasing your water intake helps you burn belly fat faster.

Burns more calories

Drinking cold or room temperature water can increase your resting energy expenditure. This means that you’ll burn more calories when your body is at rest. This boost is temporary (typically about an hour). While you won’t burn as many calories as you would if exercising, getting into the habit of drinking water regularly throughout the day means you’ll still burn more calories than you would if you were drinking sugary drinks. And when you drink cold water, your body has to use extra calories to warm the water up before the water can be used for digestion.

Gives you more energy

If you constantly feel fatigued, it can be hard to motivate yourself to exercise. Whenever you’re dehydrated, your heart needs to work harder to pump oxygen throughout your body, which leads to you feeling sluggish. If you stay hydrated, your body can function properly, which means that you’ll feel more energized.

And if you’re feeling more energized, you’re more likely to have the motivation to work out. Drinking more water paired with exercise and a healthy diet is the best way to burn belly fat. Exercises such as lunges and push-ups are a great way to burn belly fat and can help tone your body.

Makes you feel fuller

Drinking water helps take up space in your stomach, which can help curb feelings of hunger. Drinking water before a meal will reduce the amount of food you’ll need to eat, because your stomach will feel full. This means you’ll eat fewer calories, which can lead to weight loss.

Sometimes people also reach for snacks when really all they need to do is hydrate themselves. If you’re feeling sluggish and want a quick snack, try drinking a glass of water first. This can suppress your appetite. If you’re still feeling hungry after drinking water, then it is time to reach for a healthy snack.

Aids your digestive system

Not only does drinking water before and during a meal help make you feel fuller, but it can also aid your overall digestive system. If you struggle with bloating and constipation, there is a chance that you’re not drinking enough water.

Water helps to soften food so that your body can more easily remove the nutrients. This allows the food to pass more easily through your digestive system. This increases your overall digestive health. This means you’ll experience fewer problems such as diarrhea or indigestion. The healthier your digestive system, the less likely waste will stay compacted in your body. Compacted waste also leads to bloating, which can add some extra inches to your waistline.

Helps remove waste

Waste build-up contributes to your overall weight. When your body is dehydrated or when your digestive system isn’t working correctly, it can be hard to pass urine and feces. This is because your kidneys retain fluids and because your stools become hard. Drinking water helps flush the toxins from your kidneys in the form of urine and helps loosen your stools so that you can pass feces. Getting rid of waste from your body can help you shed a few extra pounds.

Replaces sugary drinks

Many people reach for high-calorie drinks, such as soda or sweet tea, when they feel thirsty. Sugary beverages add unnecessary calories to your diet and can increase your overall weight. For example, a 12 oz can of Coca-Cola has 138 calories. Another downside of sugary drinks is that they don’t keep you hydrated in the same way water does.

Whenever you feel thirsty, that is a sign that you should reach for water instead of something sugary. Replacing those high-calorie drinks with water cuts those unnecessary calories from your diet, which can help aid in your weight loss.

It is also important to keep in mind that soda and sweet tea aren’t the only sugary beverages. Most juices, smoothies, and energy drinks also have high sugar and calorie count. If you have a habit of drinking these over water, start eliminating them from your diet. If the idea of completing cutting sugary drinks from your diet scares you, do it gradually. First, get into the habit of drinking a cup of water whenever you drink a sugary beverage. Then, gradually decrease the number of sugary drinks you’re drinking throughout the day. Eventually, you’ll get into the habit of reaching for water instead of reaching for a soda.

Concluding thoughts

Increasing your daily water intake is a great first step to burning more belly fat. If you’re actively trying to lose weight, you should also exercise and eat a healthy diet. The more hydrated you are, the more energy you’ll have and the better your digestive system will function.

Mistakes To Avoid When Choosing a College

By
Elizabeth Williams

Choosing a college can be a stressful endeavor. There might be a couple of choices and you’re likely to get overwhelmed in the process. That is why it is important that you’re doing due diligence before you make the decision. This can be a tough thing to ask as you will be doing it for the first time. We have compiled some of the mistakes you should avoid when choosing your dream college.

Rushing the Process

It will be easy to throw caution to the wind, especially when bombarded with a couple of options. Find the right college requires time and patience. That is why it is recommended that you start your search early to avoid a last-minute rush. You will need to research if the college has all the things that you desire. Ideally, you should make a list of requirements that you’d like in a college.

The Legacy Fallacy

You don’t need to go to the same college that your father and siblings attended for you to be considered a member of the family. You want to pick a college that fulfills your particular needs even if it means going against the family’s tradition. You should be exploring the options that are better suited for your personality and not what the family wants.

Rebellion

You don’t need to be rebellious when picking a college. Picking a college just to annoy your parents won’t be beneficial in the long run. Your decision should be guided by insight and reason. Being rebellious will end up hurting your academic prospects in the long run and you may regret when it is too late.

Die Hard Fan

Being a fan of a particular college because of the tradition for whatever reason shouldn’t be enough to do decide to want to join them. They might not have the best academic program for your particular course. Reason dictates that you look at the pros and cons before making a decision. Your primary reason for wanting to join a college is because of learning and not to cheer the football team. This should be clear in mind before making the decision.

Fun temptations

Partying is a great experience and is part and parcel of college life. It should however not be the main reason why you join the college in the first place. Choosing fun over learning means you have your priorities misplaced. The right college should be a center of academic excellence coupled with a conducive social atmosphere which is great for learning. Even if you buy an essay, it will be for reference purposes and not because you’ve been partying the whole semester.

Assuming the Worst

You might be discouraged to apply for some schools because of what you might have heard. It is important that you’re doing your research as you might find out that the claims are unfounded and there was nothing to worry about in the first place. Sometimes what you’ve heard will not impact your stay in the particular college in any way.

Not Visiting

This is another mistake that a lot of students make which can be costly. You can know whether or not a particular college is right for you by paying them a visit. You want to learn in an environment where you’re comfortable. By paying the college a visit, you get to experience firsthand what you can expect when you become a student. There will be a tour which will be conducted by a student. You get to ask them questions so that you’re making a conclusive decision.

Don’t rely on advertising as the college will only highlight the positives. Don’t take your friends and relatives word at face value. The only way you can be guaranteed of liking the college is by paying them a visit.

Not Having an Open Mind

You might have wanted to go to a particular college since you were little. Then it hits that you have not qualified to attend the university. It can be devastating but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be looking for other options. It is recommended that you keep your options open when looking for a college.  You might not have gotten the college you want but you’ll be glad that you get to meet new people who offer diversity and improve your experience of life.

Don’t let your parents push you into making a decision. You will have to live with the consequences for the duration of the course. The college of your dreams is what you make it and you should not rely on someone else to make the decision.

 

 

How To Be Open-Minded When Other People View The World Through A Different Lens

By
Riley Cooper
open minded

There’s only one thing which we carry with us wherever we go every day. One thing which no one can take from us. That thing is our perception.

Each of us has a different viewpoint. Each of us views the world through a different lens. Why? Since there aren’t two individuals whose lives have been the same. There aren’t two individuals who have experienced exactly the same problems and pains.

The culture we grew up, the way our parents raised us, the types of movies, music, and books which we’ve been exposed to, and the relationships we have with our parents as well as siblings, relatives, and friends all play an essential role in forming our perception.

Your world view affects the way you understand things. That’s exactly the reason why two people can watch the same movie or read the same book and have different interpretations of it: We tend to focus our attention on information which confirms what we already consider to be true, and we ignore the rest of what we see.

That’s the reason why you always have to keep in mind that your opinion is your opinion and your interpretation of a problem or any situation is your interpretation and you should never confuse them with ‘truth’ or ‘facts.’

But, the question is: If we know that everyone interprets the world differently and if each of us could mean something different when we say, “let’s go out to dinner tonight” or “I like you,” then how can we understand each other? The answer: We must always be open-minded.

What does open-mindedness mean?

Being open-minded means that you understand that we all view the world around us differently. It means you understand that when you listen to or read something, you’re trying to understand the information through your own, unique world view.

Being open-minded means being patient when other people misunderstand you and being aware of the fact that you are misunderstanding other people too.

Being open-minded means being willing to see the world around you through others’ eyes.

Being open-minded means respecting other people’s opinions, no matter how different they are from your own.

Being open-minded means understanding that other people’s ideas and opinions are colored by their life experiences and past.

Being open-minded means asking yourself questions, such as:

-What is the person speaking to me actually trying to tell me?

-What exactly in my past is causing me to feel suspicious, stressed out, or worried?

-What do I already consider to be true regarding this situation, this event, this person, this company, this political party, etc.?

Being open-minded means approaching every choice, decision, and problem in your life with the belief that you may be wrong.

Being open-minded means being willing to see disagreement as an opportunity to better yourself.

Being open-minded means being humble and willing to accept that we all have a different viewpoint.

Easy ways to keep your home clean

By
Elizabeth Williams

I am afraid to tell you that you have to wait a little longer since you have another job to complete before choosing new curtains.

Prior to redecorating for this season, you should give a good spring cleaning to your home with a Shark Navigator. Not only see the new decor looks better, but you can also enjoy more comfortably in this beautiful time of year. Spring cleaning is not only good aesthetically, it is important that at least once a year deep cleanse your home, to keep it in top condition.

Put on latex gloves and follow these tips to make your spring cleaning a little easier.

  • Make sure you have all you needed cleaning. Buy new sponges, brushes, dusters and brooms if you need. Check cleaning products that already have at home and buy those already are to end. If you prefer a more natural cleaning, use products like vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice, with which you can clean almost any surface.
  • Make a plan. Make a detailed list of everything you have to clean the room. Then decide how long you want to give your spring cleaning, and assign certain rooms or jobs per day. Be reasonable with your plan, do not try to do more than you know you can accomplish. Write in your calendar when you will do each job and follow your plan.
  • Recruit helpers. If you have children old enough to help with summer cleaning, use them! Assign tasks to each and a prize for each task to make it fun. Even the youngest children can help with simple tasks, and maybe even enjoy it. Or you can buy robot vacuum for this purpose and save your time and nerves.
  • Keep things in place before cleaning. If your mail is lying around the kitchen and toys in the room, you cannot easily clean it. Be sure to keep everything in its proper place before cleaning.
  • Complete the easy tasks first, to give you the feeling that you can. There is nothing more gratifying to mark the tasks already completed your list, so start by the tasks more quickly, to give self-esteem.
  • Clean the room. You’ll feel better to see everything you need to do if you know that certain parts of the house like the kitchen or bathroom, and clean, except that you keep your cleaning more organized.
  • Follow the advice of other cleanings. Everyone has advice on how best to clean the stove or windows, or which product is best for the toilet. Listen to your friends to relatives in the above, and many will surely make your task easier. You can also search the internet for tips to make your cleaning more efficient.
  • Get rid of unnecessary things at once. Take two large boxes in the room with these cleansing, and as you work, throw all that junk in one you do not use but want to save to another. When finished cleaning, check the box with things you want to save and decide that you do with it, either donate them or save them in the attic.
  • Clean from top to bottom. What goes up must fall, so start cleaning the roof, since much of the fluff will fall to the ground as you cleaned. Clean the roof, walls, furniture, and finally the floor.
  • Make a daily cleaning plan. You worked for hours to your home is clean and bright, so try to keep it clean. Create a plan with daily tasks for your home is still seeing the magazine.
  • Give yourself a prize! After all that work you deserve a day at the spa or even a quiet night watching a movie in your home fresh and clean. More on shark navigator information.

Tackling Mental Health

By
Elizabeth Williams

When was the last time that you gave serious thought to your own mental health? If you’re like many Americans, it was all too long ago. Not nearly enough of us are addressing our mental health needs.

But you have the power to change things. Now is the time to tackle mental health. Now is the time to craft the lifestyle that you deserve and to seek the help that you need. Here’s what you need to know.

Professional care

It doesn’t help that so many Americans lack access to basic mental health resources, but the problem is deeper than that: due to stigma and other types of erroneous thinking, many Americans don’t seek out the mental health care that they need.

And that’s a real problem. More than 46 million Americans suffered from a mental illness in the last year alone, and many of them went untreated. Even for those without a mental illness, mental health is immensely important. It’s a spectrum, not a binary system. You can be free of physical illness without being as healthy as a pro athlete, and you can be free of mental illness without being as happy and mentally healthy as you could be.

There’s a lot that you can and should do in order to improve your mental health through the choices that you make every day, and those things will be discussed in just a moment. But before moving on, it’s worth getting into something that everyone should consider: therapy.

Contrary to popular belief, therapy is not just for those with serious mental health challenges. In fact, therapy can help just about anyone. One of the most widely practiced types of talk therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on understanding thoughts and behavioral patterns.

Think about how much better your life would be if you could identify your own thought patterns and their errors. You could stop negative thinking in its tracks and respond better to stresses and emotional triggers. Therapy could help you improve your mood, your relationships, and even your career, just to name just a few things.

And getting a therapist doesn’t have to be difficult. Just use an online tool like the one at withtherapy.com or turn to your primary care provider for a referral. Many therapists take insurance and offer reasonable rates and flexible appointment times, so what are you waiting for?

Daily decisions

Turning to a mental health care professional is one of the best things that you can do for your mental health. But it doesn’t release you from the obligation to care for your mind every day!

What does that entail? For starters, it entails living in a healthy way all around: You should eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and drink only in moderation. Sleep is extremely important as well: try to get into a rhythm by going to bed and rising at the same times every day.

Protect yourself from excessive workplace stress and burnout by paying careful attention to your work-life balance. Are you bringing too much work home with you? Are you failing to take your vacation days? Make sure that you’re giving your mind a break.

You can also consider activities like meditation, which is a great way to proactively improve your mindfulness and mental health. Whatever you do, make sure that you’re paying attention to how you feel and what you’re thinking.

Mental health issues can sneak up on you, but making your mental health a priority  — and that means taking care of your mind and using resources like With Therapy — is the first step toward protecting your mind and achieving a happier and healthier life.

My Anxiety Can Be Controlled By Virtual Reality Meditation but How?

By
Elizabeth Williams

Health and wellness trace everyone of us in a different manner. It differs from person to person depending on their choices, physical conditions and medical conditions too. Therefore, the treatment varies from person to person Heart Diseases. And anxiety now a days is the condition in which everyone are falling prey to and people don’t even know how to cure it because it’s the situation that comes suddenly and sometimes without any reason, person start feeling nervousness which leads to depression and if situation worsens then might cause certain type of mental illness.

In order to treat person from anxiety and depression, there are different ways, one of which is discovered as “Virtual Reality Meditation”. If we have learnt about it a few years ago that my most calming and soothing activity implicates well-built computer to our head to submerge ourselves in the virtual world, we would never have even assumed of it.

Virtual reality (VR) may possibly be an emergingtechnology;however I ensue to be the conflicting idea of it.In my household, I’m infamous for my disagreement that CDs and VHS adhesive tape should make retaliation. My husband has been acknowledged to escape with my antique phone impartial to set up much-needed modernizes.

Tillaround a year ago, VR in somepractice was hardly on my radar. Thus, it’s somewhat of a marvel that I ever got on the go with VR meditation, let unaided that I’ve come to grip it as a supportivedevice for handling my apprehensionailment.The aforementioned all instigated when I received an Oculus Go VR headset as a gift, with the endorsement I crack out the meditation app.

At start, I had stumpyanticipations. Wouldn’t the sequestering visual field make me feel shut in? Wouldn’t I get faint and nauseated? Whatever it is, it appeared like VR might upsurge my anxiety, not decline it.Yet, I make certain that I’d give the device a commotion for as long as I could stand it which I reckoned would be about 30 seconds.

GettingStarted with VR Meditation

Slithering on the headset and initiating the meditation app to the melody of mild piano music, I was astonished to find my body’s moderationcomebackreflexing in practicallyinstantaneously.As I developed it to my choice of milieu (a bench superintending the ocean at sunset) and music (a floaty ambient track called “refresh”), I touched the fears of my day fall missing. My sentient slowed. My heart rate fell to auniform, stable beat.

I be seated, respired, and appropriated in the beat of the waves for a record-breaking 40 minutes. To appreciate, I reallycontemplated under normal state of affairs is extremely problematic for my nervous mind to do.As soon as Idetached the headset to continue with my day, I sustained to feel the reassuring effects of my VR meditation capability for hours.

Starting then on, I was bowed. I at the presentguise forward to the time I devote every other day pondering in any of the app’s frequentatmospheres from chillywoodland under the northern lights to a jungle pool fringed by waterfalls.I shouldn’t be staggered, of course, that virtual reality meditation would help temper my anxiety. The paybacks of meditation are well recognized for many mental health conditions, particularly widespread anxiety complaint.

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Cedar Shake Guide for Homeowners – Eastampton Roofing Company

By
Elizabeth Williams

Everything You Need to Know About Cedar Shake

Cedar shake roofs have been around since the time of colonists in North America. They have been a part of Eastampton housing design ever since.

Cedar roofs can be made of either shakes or shingles. The difference between these two is very subtle and might be unnoticeable to those who don’t have much knowledge about them. However, a trained eye can tell which is which.

The difference between the two is that a cedar shingle is a thin, evenly tapered and symmetrical wood log. On the other hand, a cedar shake is thicker than a normal shingle and the surface of a shake is uneven and rough. If your cedar roof gives more of a three-dimensional look, it is made of cedar shakes. 

For cedar shakes, the log is split by hands, which results in the uneven size and length of the shake. The length of a shake also depends on the size of the tree. However, the design looks beautiful. Even though there are different machines available now for cutting log and trees, the size and length of each shake still vary as it adds beauty. This is the reason why each house with wooden shake roofing has a distinctive look. 

The modern machines to make shakes keep one side rough and uneven to give that natural look that most Eastampton homeowners want. The other side is smooth and looks sawn. 

Types of Grain in Cedar Shakes

Cedar shakes are basically made of red cedar wood. Grain appearance is usually determined by the position where a log is chopped into a shake. The reason why grain appearance is important is that it determines the stability and performance of the shake.

Cedar shakes usually come in three different types of grain. Each is categorized according to the level of their performance in terms of fire, wind and impact resistance. Of course, they are also categorized according to how they look. 

Edge Grain

Edge grain is the most stable and high-quality grain type. When a shake is cut from a log in a way that it is perpendicular to the rings of the tree, it makes an edge grain. Since this type of grain offers the maximum strength and durability, you will have to pay a little extra than for the other two types. 

Flat Grain 

This type of grain is considered the opposite of edge grain because it is cut parallel to the rings. It is quite stable as well, but with time and exposure to different weather, the wood shake is more likely to split and become unstable.

Slash Grain 

When the shake is cut at an angle to the rings of the tree, it is called slash grain. It is the least stable and does not look nice either. Of course, it is also the cheapest option.

Advantages 

Wooden roofing provides a natural look to the house, Eastampton roofing companies especially love the uniqueness and practicality of a cedar shake roof. It is also an environment-friendly option. It offers many benefits, which is why homeowners prefer having wooden roofing. Here are some of its benefits:

Beautiful Appearance 

Cedar shakes create a unique appearance if they are installed properly. Also, they give a textured appearance to the roof that you won’t get with cedar shingles. Hence, cedar shake roofing is the perfect option for a modern cottage. 

Energy Efficient 

Cedar shakes are energy efficient. They can be installed without foam as the wood does not let heat escape in winter and does not let sun rays enter the house in summer, keeping the inside cool. 

Home Value

Having cedar shake roofing can increase the value of your house. This style is liked by many people from Eastampton, who prefer to have it due to its amazing advantages.

Environment-Friendly 

Wood is an environmentally friendly option, and choosing wooden roofing definitely is a step toward a healthier planet. Wood is energy-efficient, sustainable, recyclable and biodegradable. It also lasts longer than metal and other substances. Another great thing about it is that there are no harmful substances released when you manufacture a cedar shake.

With proper maintenance, cedar roofing can last up to 50 years. Plus, when the lifespan of the wood comes to an end, it turns into wood chips, unlike asphalt roofs that end up in landfills.

Disadvantages 

The list of advantages of cedar shake is long, but there are some issues that you can face if you have a cedar shake roof. Here are some of its disadvantages:

Cost

This type of roofing will cost you way more than an asphalt roof. The reason for this is that cedar trees do not grow quickly. Reaching the mature age where they can be used to make roofs takes 200 to 400 years. The rarity of the tree increases the cost of a cedar roof. Moreover, the additional maintenance and installation charges will put a further dent in your pocket. 

Humidity 

Cedar roof will not survive long in humid weather because the moisture is not good for the wood. Thus, in summer and spring, the wood needs to be dried or else it will prematurely die. 

This was all the basic information you need to know to have a better understanding of what a cedar shake is. Hopefully, it was helpful.

How to Deal with Stress While During Freelance Work?

By
Elizabeth Williams

Work as freelance is rapidly gaining popularity in the modern world due to the wide opportunities that the Internet opens. At the same time, one of the main problems that all freelancers are facing is stress.

Everyone experiences stress — schoolchildren, successful businessmen, working mothers. Work tension is a real disaster for a person because it dramatically reduces the quality of life and can cause many diseases. However, there are professions where it is simply impossible to handle without experiencing stress. And freelance work is one of them. At first glance, it might seem that working for himself from home, the freelancer has nothing to worry about — there are no such factors as envious colleagues and picky bosses in his life. Is this not happiness? But it’s not so simple. Freelance is considered one of the most stressful professions primarily because it is a business. Managing it is quite difficult. Freelance work is very unpredictable and it is this property that most often causes stress.

But what to do to avoid stress? If tension cannot be avoided, is it possible to somehow stop it or reduce its level to acceptable values? Yes, you can, if you look at your work as a business with elements of creativity. If a freelancer will work with the understanding that he is an entrepreneur the same time, then many things that have worried him in the past will lose their significance and from sources of stress will turn into not the most pleasant, but, in essence, ordinary problems that can always be solved.

Time management and Work Planning

It’s best to start stress management with a plan. In addition to increasing productivity, the plan also dramatically reduces tension and helping to avoid stress. By managing his time, a freelancer to some extent neutralizes the unpredictability factor. Any freelancer, no matter what he does, risks anyway.

It will be quite enough to limit yourself to prepare a weekly plan and daily to-do lists, while others, to get rid of constant stress, you may need a multi-level strategy where all risks and various «pitfalls» are taken into account. Work as freelance — is different. For those who are limited to simple tasks, detailed planning and time management aren’t particularly required, since there aren’t so many experiences in their life. But there is another freelance — much more ambitious and requiring great responsibility. Such work is a powerful source of stress, and you can’t do without time management, otherwise, you can burn out to depression in just a couple of months.

Work planning helps to establish the boundaries between work and personal life. A freelancer should learn not only how to work, but also how to relax if he wants to get rid of stress.

Sources of stress

Once management eliminates or reduces stress levels, it becomes clear to the freelancer that there are other reasons for concern. When working in a context of constant change, it can be difficult to see other sources of stress and identify them accurately.

For example, one of the causes of stress can be a complex long-term project. Such work is very exhausting, as it requires the utmost concentration and considerable effort. And no time management will solve this problem if the freelancer’s work is too much for him. But like any other problem of such a plan, it is easily solved by a responsibility delegation. Simply put, if a freelancer doesn’t cope on his own, instead of stressing, he should hire an assistant or even two. He can even assemble a team if the project is really big and promises to be long-term. To get rid of oppressive anxiety, it is very important to quickly identify its source and take action immediately.

Identifying a problem is one of the best ways to deal with stress. It’s easiest to work when it is known what exactly causes stress and complicate freelancer life.

Online and offline

Despite the fact that the Internet has a lot of interesting things, network activity in itself can become a source of stress. The freelancer works by a head, his occupation is most directly connected with the Internet, but he doesn’t need to sit at the computer after the work is finished.

In order to achieve outstanding performance and still not get down from fatigue and stress, it is vital for a freelancer to exit online mode. A freelancer needs to rest from the computer and the Internet periodically and do this not once a week, but every day, for better results. You can go for sports, go for walks, attend various events or spend time on your favorite hobby — all this helps to significantly reduce stress. 

This technique is very well mastered by some office employees who immediately after work hours forget about work and happily switch to more pleasant things. In the case of freelance, everything is much more complicated, because here there is much more responsibility. However, if a freelancer doesn’t want to work under constant stress, he needs to learn how to switch from online to offline. At the first stages, this method will work with a creak, but if over time the freelancer «befall Zen» he will avoid stress.

Using applications to optimize the work process

When working on freelance, you must always be aware of matters and the current workload of tasks. To facilitate communication with customers, you can find many CRM for freelances and other applications on the Internet. They will help you keep your finger on the pulse of work even in public transport, using a regular smartphone.

Such CRM for freelancers and related applications are easy to configure and significantly reduce the stress level. Thanks to simple and effective management it has become possible to put all current tasks on the stream, and you will be always on the move. You can go to the park at lunchtime or meet friends in the evening — and all necessary notifications will be sent to you by e-mail or via messengers.

Using mobile applications for managing current tasks is a great opportunity to quickly set up your work schedule and simplify the implementation of many relevant tasks for a freelancer, for example, communication with clients, management and distribution of tasks between employees, planning of work for tomorrow, next week, month, year.

9 Strategies For Handling Toxic Family Relationships Successfully

By
Riley Cooper
Handling Toxic Family Relationships Successfully

If you happen to have a family member that you find highly negative and toxic and that you don’t really enjoy being around, then you know how difficult coping with such people is.

Family relationships are the strongest and most important ones we build in life. And they’re supposed to last forever. Unfortunately, sometimes the people who are closest to you can become cold and estranged.

When this happens, you may start wondering what the cause of your relative’s toxic behavior is or you may even blame yourself. You might also think about what you can do to improve the relationship.

But, what you need to understand is that when a person grows cold and resentful toward you, especially when there’s no reason for this, this means that they no longer care about your relationship. It means they’re no longer the person you once knew.

So, instead of allowing toxic family relationships to fill you with negativity, drain your energy, and suck the happiness out of you, here are 9 strategies for handling them successfully:

1. Never expect anything from a toxic family member.

Never expect support or help from a family member whom you have a hard time maintaining a relationship with. Don’t think that just because you’d treat them with kindness, compassion and respect, they’d treat you the same way.

2. Identify what makes the relationship toxic.

A family relationship can be toxic in many ways. Maybe your relative always criticizes you, belittles you, guilt-trips you, lacks empathy, or doesn’t pay attention to you when you speak.

Once you’ve identified the toxic behavior of the person and how it affects your self-esteem, mood, and peace of mind, it’ll be easier for you to find ways to cope with their toxicity.

3. Understand that you can’t fix a toxic relationship on your own.

No matter how bad you want and try to fix a toxic family relationship, if the other person isn’t willing or ready to do the same, you won’t be able to fix it. The relationship will remain troubled for as long as the other person refuses to change.

4. Accept that you may never find out why your relative treats you badly.

You may be able to openly talk to your relative so as to find out the underlying cause of their toxic behavior. Or you may not.

What you need to have in mind is that sometimes the reason why someone treats you badly may have nothing to do with what you have said or done to them.  It might simply be the way they react to their own life experiences. Their toxic behavior may come from a place of discontent and anger.

5. Decide how much time you want to spend in your relative’s presence.

You’ll most likely often see your relative at family gatherings. So, in this case, you might want to limit the amount of time you spend with them.

Don’t be ashamed or afraid to distance yourself from your relative, even if other family members may judge you for this. Because if this is the only way you can protect yourself from their negativity, then you shouldn’t think twice about reducing the amount of time you spend with them.

6. Do not suppress your feelings.

Instead, share your feelings with people you have trust in. Communicating your feelings can be quite therapeutic and it can also help you gain a new, fresh perspective on the situation.

7. Never allow your relative to blame you.

One thing a toxic person would never do is admit their mistakes. So, if your relative often tries to lay the blame at your door for something you’ve never said or done, make sure you stand up for yourself. Let them know you have no intention of being their scapegoat.

8. Do not gossip about your relative.

Refrain from talking behind their back. Telling your friends or other family members what this person said or did won’t help you improve the relationship you have with them. In fact, it’ll just make it worse if the gossip reaches your relative’s ears.

9. Do not justify anyone’s toxicity.

If you know you haven’t said and done anything wrong, never forget that it’s not normal for anyone to constantly be inconsiderate and cruel toward you.

Even if the relative you have a toxic relationship with has experienced a lot of disappointment and pain in life, you can’t consider their painful past to be a justification for their toxicity.

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