As we get older, signs of ageing are slowly showing in our bodies such as frail muscles and memory loss. Since we cannot do many physical exercises to our brain to function well, there are tried and tested techniques that will give you a healthy brain even when you get older. Even though you are feeling sharp and have a memory that functions well, the following tips will guide you in enhancing your intelligence. These are also applicable to young students who are having a hard time studying and need to submit a school paper. (1)

1.  Take down notes

Make an effort in putting down all the necessary things to easily recall pieces of information and meet your deadlines. Based on a study, psychologists found that simply writing things down will enhance your intelligence. Another advantage of creating notes is you can still recall the important things later.

Researchers also say that students who write using their hand have a greater chance of learning and mastering their lessons compared to students who use their laptops for taking down notes. And there are more chances for them to complete an assignment if there is a paper due now situation. We all know that laptops are much easier to use when creating lots of notes in comparison to handwritten notes. Yet, researchers found out that those who use their laptops have a more sluggish memory and soak in academic material worse.

2.  Do some physical exercise

Physical exercise can help you to maintain the sharpness of your memory. It will circulate the oxygen in your brain and lessen the danger of possible disorders. Disorders such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes may result in memory loss. Exercising boosts the brain chemicals that are beneficial for you and lessen your cortisol, a stress hormone. Here are some mind-enhancing exercise techniques:

• Do aerobic exercises. This is a very sensible form of exercising that helps in sustaining your cognitive functions. So, select activities that are important for your heart. Because what benefits your heart, also satisfies your brain.
• Make exercising your early morning routine every day. This will give you enough energy needed to survive the day. Sweating in the morning before you begin your day makes a huge effect on your brain and body function.
• Physical activities that need a hand and eye integration or advanced and fine motor skills are significantly helpful for brain activities.

3.  Have a quick power nap

If you are having a hard time preparing for your upcoming examination or completing a school project, take a short power nap. According to researches, people who take a nap for 20 to 30 minutes before doing a task tend to be more productive. Sleep plays a crucial part in cognitive function.  A good night sleep gives you a refreshed and steady memory. Researchers also discovered that having the right amount of sleep after learning one thing leads to more chances of retaining such information which is beneficial to you. So if you wish to justify to someone why you are taking a short nap, simply point out that you just want to boost your memory.

4.  Go on a memory-enhancing diet

Whatever our body takes in has an effect on our brain. Vegetables, fruits, foods with healthy fats like fish and nuts offer many health advantages in both physical and mental aspects. With regards to your cognitive abilities, it is not simply based on what food you take but, it is also the foods that you do not eat. To improve your memory and lessen the risk of having dementia, here are some healthy tips that you may follow:

• Control saturated fat and calories intake. A diet that is excessive in saturated fat such as butter, cheese, and red meat develops a possibility of having dementia and will damage your memory consolidation.
• Take a lot of vegetables and fruits. This kind of food has a lot of antioxidants and elements that are advantageous for your brain cells. Coloured vegetables and fruits are a good source of antioxidants and are normally called “superfoods”.
• Drink green tea. Green tea has strong antioxidants that defend your brain cells from toxins that may injure your brain cells. Regular intake of green tea could improve your memory and mental attentiveness.

Remodeling your bathroom doesn’t have to cost a lot. Keep reading for 4 amazing budget bathroom remodeling tips.

A change of scenery is necessary every once in a while, but you don’t always have to go on vacation to get it. There are plenty of ways to switch things up in life, and one of them is a simple remodel.

One room people often choose to remodel is the bathroom. This may be because the bathroom is smaller than most other rooms, so it’s easier, and cheaper, to remodel

There are many bathroom remodeling tips out there to make the whole process easier. Plus, many are meant to be very affordable. The word affordable is much perfect for http://johnsoncountyremodeling.com/overland-park-bathroom-remodeling/ and we’ll talk more about tips for affordable remodeling in the paragraphs below.

1. Don’t Move Plumbing Around

It’s one thing to want tile replaced or the walls repainted, but moving any major appliances also requires switching around the pipes so that the appliance stays connected to water.

Costs tend to skyrocket when plumbing is moved. In some cases, the cost of a remodel where plumbing was moved will be twice what it otherwise would have been. It’s best avoided if you want to stay within your budget.

2. Use Paint

When it comes to remodeling of any room, one of your most cost-effective options is to paint it. Not only that, but color can alter perception.

Different colors can influence how we feel, and can even make a room appear to be bigger or smaller than it really is.

Of course, your intention doesn’t have to be anything so subtle. Perhaps you just want to change things up.

3. Go for Cheaper Materials

One of the best bathroom remodeling tips we can offer is that you should try to use more affordable materials. There’s nothing wrong with splurging every once in a while, but try not to do it too often.

Much like diets, budgets are often broken one tiny compromise at a time. Have a plan and stick to it whenever you can.

If you want to replace furniture, you might be able to find some new stuff at yard sales, antique shops, and similar places. 

4. Refinish Wood

Much like paint, finished wood can brighten up a room. Plus, updating something is almost always cheaper than replacing it.

It’s also important to note that you probably shouldn’t be doing this yourself. When hiring professionals, expect to spend about $2-$6 per square foot. The good news is that since you’re working on a bathroom, this shouldn’t add up to too much.

Bathroom Remodeling Tips for Those on a Budget

There are a lot of great bathroom remodeling tips out there, and many of them are very affordable. We’ve mentioned a few tips in the paragraphs above, but there are plenty more out there. We encourage you to do more research on your own, if you’re interested.

If you want information and advice on everything from health and psychology to relationships and spirituality, please explore our site.

How to Build a Home Theater System That Rocks

Is your home entertainment boring? It’s time to shake things up! Here’s how to build a home theater system that will keep you at home all weekend long.

Did you know a home theatre installation can cost as much as $30,000?

Whether you’re looking to spend more or less than that figure, it’s important to understand what makes a top-notch home theatre system. After all, you could spend lots of money but still be unhappy with your installation if it fails to meet your needs.

This post will show you how to build a home theater system that does everything you want it to. Use these tips, and you’ll end up with a home theatre system that leaves guests with a sense of awe.

Let’s begin!

Invest in High-Quality Speakers

One of the essential parts of a home theatre system is the speakers.

One option is to invest in something known as a soundbar.

A soundbar is best described as an elongated, horizontal speaker that’s designed to replace a ‘traditional’ sound system. In some cases, this speaker might also come with a subwoofer, which can help provide some bass that the soundbar might be unable to deliver.

The good thing about soundbars is that they’re often very affordable and they work well in small rooms.

However, due to the nature of their design, they’re typically not as effective as a traditional setup. While they may be able to mimic 5.1 surround sound, they don’t deliver anything close the real experience.

Following this, it’s a good idea to invest in a conventional, 5.1 surround system.

If you’re worried about wires making the place look messy, you might want to select a wireless sound system. Such systems can be more expensive, but they can be worth it if you want to keep everything tidy.

What Screen Should You Buy?

Every year it seems as though there’s a new kind of television screen being released. Not so long ago it was all about LED screens – but now there’s OLED and even QLED! With so many acronyms flying around, it’s easy to be confused.

You’ll generally find that OLED screens are the best option.

Of course, that also means that they’re typically the most expensive. But if you can, try to get the chance to see an OLED screen in action. In doing so, you’ll see firsthand why this screen is worth the money.

How Will You Use Your System?

Everybody is going to have their own particular preference when it comes to how they’re going to use their home theatre system.

It’s because of this that you should think about what you need, and then take steps to cater to this need.

For instance, if you want to stream content from your laptop, you might need to invest in an IPTV player. If you’re looking to do some online gaming, you may want to install an ethernet port, so you don’t have to deal with significant lag times.

Do You Know How to Build a Home Theater System?

If you’ve always wanted to know how to build a home theater system, you should now have enough knowledge to help you get the job done.

As mentioned, the most critical part of this process is defining your needs. Your needs will define the kinds of things you install in your home theatre system and whether you’ll need to make some unusual purchases.

Try to not to rush through this process, as it can be difficult to correct mistakes. Just take things slow and develop a clear vision for your theatre system. If you can do that, it won’t be long before you end up with a system that leaves you jumping for joy.

Do you have any thoughts on how to create a stellar home theatre system? Please share your thoughts in the comments below! 

Millions of car accidents happen in the U.S. every year. Why is this the case? Click here for the top causes of car accidents and what you can do to avoid them.

Road accidents and fatalities are slowly getting recognized as a public health concern. It has become a worldwide epidemic. Approximately 1.35 million people are killed yearly in road accidents. More than 50% of these victims are vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians.

Approximately 20 to 50 million more people suffer injury and disability as a result of road accidents. Road accidents cause significant economic losses to countries, continents, villages and even the most basic family level.

In America, there are more than 143 million daily commuters. In the year 2016, there were 34,439 fatal road accidents in the US alone. These road accidents caused the deaths of 37,461 individuals where 25,096 were vehicle occupants, 5,288 were motorcyclists and 7,079 were non-occupants.

The top causes of car accidents vary from country to country, there are, however, a few that are standard across the globe. As much as it may seem like wishful thinking, accidents, are indeed preventable. There somehow does not seem to be an end in sight to this epidemic. Here are the major causes of accidents on our roads.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Other Drugs

One of the top causes of accidents in the world is drunk driving. It is responsible for more crashes in North America than any other cause. Alcohol causes impaired judgment, poor decision-making reduced alertness on the road, reduced vision and drowsiness.

All these side effects combine to force the driver into an accident. Sometimes even one of the effects is enough. Pedestrians under the influence also have a hard time finding their balance as they walk. This causes them to stumble dangerously onto the road causing accidents.

In the year 2016, 10,497 people lost their lives as a result of drunk driving in the united states. More than a million others were arrested for getting behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. The bulk of these accidents occur at night when poor visibility also comes into play.

Marijuana is also a major contributor to the accident statistics as it increases the driver’s chances of crashing by 25%. These chances are however dependent on factors such as age and gender.

Measures such as mass media campaigns, administrative license revocation laws, ignition interlocks, sobriety checkpoints and many others, have been taken in order to reduce or completely wipe out driving under the influence in the U.S. if you have been a victim of an accident due to drunk driving, reach out to a car wreck lawyer to help you in your pursuit of justice.

Distracted driving

When driving, the driver has to pay complete attention to whatever is around them on the road. A lot of drivers get distracted turning their attention to factors either inside the car or on their sides. Traveling at such high speeds, this is courting death.

Cell phone use is currently the leading cause of distraction behind the wheel. Younger generations are particularly victims of cell phone distraction while driving. From texting while driving to logging into social media to video calling, the smartphone era has definitely come with its cons. Other devices such as GPS, radio and air conditioners also contribute to this.

Arguing with a passenger or during episodes of road rage with another driver, rubbernecking at sights beside the road or just simply daydreaming all fall under this category.

Trying to divide your attention in order to handle other tasks while driving reduces your reaction time and alertness on the road. A few seconds is all it takes to reply that text, but it’s also all it takes to get into a life-changing or fatal accident.

Texting while driving is declared illegal in many states in the U.S. the government and other well-wishers also conduct mass media campaigns against this growing epidemic.

Reckless Driving

Driving too aggressively, tailgating, swerving and abruptly changing lanes. All these are examples of reckless driving. Reckless driving not only reduces the time the driver will take to recognize potential danger on the road, but it also puts fellow drivers on edge.

Hazards pop out on the roads all the time, it takes seconds for a driver to recognize the danger, make a decision on the next course of action and then execute it. Sometimes, the best thing to do is to apply emergency brakes instead of swerving onto the adjacent lanes.

If there was a tailgating driver or one who changed lanes too fast without looking fast, a rear end accident occurs. It is for this reason that states incorporate theoretical knowledge in their driving schools. This knowledge, among many other safety measures to know, consists of the stipulated safe distances to drive behind the car in front.

Speeding is also an example of reckless driving. There is a reason that speed limits and speed bumps are erected on the roads. There are maximum speed limits and minimums on all the roads depending on its type and the general area around the road.

Bad Weather

Rain comes with reduced visibility on the roads. With poor visibility, it takes more time just to see and recognize a hazard on the road. This, in turn, reduces the amount of time a driver has to react to the danger. A lot of rear-end accidents happen during rainy periods.

Snow also reduces visibility and increases the slipperiness of the road. Tires have less contact with the tarmac and therefore less grip. This causes the car to slide, reducing the driver to a passenger behind his own wheel.

Poor visibility and slippery roads are some of the top contributors to accidents where cars drove into a tree or drove off a cliff in extreme cases. Speeding during bad weather conditions is almost a death sentence.

How You Can Avoid These Top Causes of Accidents

Human factors such as negligence and recklessness are some of the top causes of accidents. A small factor such as regularly checking your car can make the difference on the road. Although it might seem unrealistic to aim for zero road related accidents, one less accident is definitely worth the effort.

Careful driving, obeying road rules, avoiding distractions, getting off the wheel when distracted and parking the car safely during bad weather, are all decisions we have to make for our own safety and that of other road users. Make a safe decision, it is always the best decision. Be sure to check out our page for more tips on staying safe, healthy and much more.

Toxic individuals are scavengers in human form. These people exist to make life a living hell for other human beings. They feed off our energy by draining both our emotional and your physical strength.

The scariest part is that most of the time, some of us don’t even notice that we are being manipulated until it’s too late. That is how devious and dangerous toxic individuals are.

If you are reading this, then you’ve probably already been through the hell of living with one. But if you haven’t, here are 6 main characteristics that most toxic people have in common that will help you recognize them very easily:

1. THEY DON’T LIKE SAYING ‘I AM SORRY’

The first thing you need to know about toxic, manipulative individuals is that they are always right. You and I may not understand that, but in their eyes, they are never wrong.

You can explain your reasons for one whole hour, but they won’t bother to listen. You can expect an honest and heartfelt “I’m sorry”, but the reality is, you are never going to get it. Because these people don’t apologize.

2. THEY JUDGE PEOPLE

These people are probably the most judgmental creatures that ever walked the Earth. If you’ve met one, then you already know. The thing about them is, they have a buttload of insecurities and repressed emotions inside of them.

So, in order to avoid opening that box but still release the anger inside of them, they judge others. They notice everything about other people because deep down they possess those same traits.

3. THEY DON’T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR EMOTIONS AND ACTIONS

Instead of owning up to their mistakes or picking up on how they actually are feeling, toxic individuals, tend to blame others for everything and project their feelings onto other people.

That is their own sick and twisted defense mechanism that helps them avoid reality and continue living inside their bubble of lies.

4. THEY ARE VICIOUS AND MANIPULATIVE

The main purpose of their lives is to get what they want. So, if something doesn’t go according to their plan, they do everything in their power to make their wishes come true. In most cases, this means manipulating other people to achieve their goals. You may find this inconsiderate and horrible, but they don’t. Other people’s needs are not important to them. They only care about their own.

5. THEY HAVE AN UNPREDICTABLE NATURE

No matter how hard you try to really understand their weird nature, you simply cannot. Toxic people are very hard to keep up with. This is due to their inconsistency, mood swings, terrible, unstable behavior and the masks that they usually wear to trick other people.

6. THEY FORCE PEOPLE TO DOUBT THEMSELVES

One of their greatest skills has got to be making people feel like they are worthless. If you’ve been friends with these people or even spoke with them for an hour, you are probably familiar with the feeling of being completely doubtful of your own actions.

Well, these people can do that to you. That is how they trick people into being with them. They lure them with their charm, but after a certain time, they start treating them like trash. They humiliate them, they take away their last bits of self-confidence and then they turn them into human beings who no longer feel capable of achieving something.

This article is written by Stephanie Reeds. If you have any questions regarding this topic or one of your own interest, feel free to email me at [email protected] and I will be happy to give you my opinion.