Le Mura Lounge Chair designed by Mario Bellini for Cassina, 1972

Best DUI Tips to Keep You Out Of Trouble

You get stopped by a police officer on one of those nights that you have been out with your friends having a good time. None of you expected to be charged with any offense- until the police handed the breathalyzer.

Driving while intoxicated is not condoned in any state. For this exact reason, knowing how you can defend yourself in case you get caught is extremely essential. One of the best DUI tips is to get a lawyer.

Here are 5 good reasons why:

• The law is too complicated

sobreirty test

Different states have different laws that govern them. A DUI lawyer knows those laws inside and out and can, therefore, find a good way to get you out of trouble.

• Lawyers are good negotiators

Until the questions start to get asked, it’s easy for you to feel relaxed and at ease. However, once the questioning begins, you’ll feel tense and in a turmoil. You might even find it hard to think of any clear answer.

If you have a lawyer to represent you, your lawyer will know exactly how to negotiate with the authorities. A good lawyer will keep things from getting out of hand. He/she will negotiate on your behalf and can increase your chances of the judge ruling in your favor.

See Also: How Long Does It Take A DUI To Fall Off Your Driving Record?

• Not hiring a lawyer is expensive

If you have ever been to a court proceeding, then you must know that there are court fees and charges that you need to pay as the case proceeds. In some instances, especially if you do not have a lawyer, you may end up spending a lot more than what you are supposed to-  and still be found liable.

Before going to court without a lawyer, make sure you’ve considered and reconsidered your options as going without a lawyer might prove even more expensive in the long run.

• The other party will have a lawyer

dui charges

Not having a lawyer to inform you about court procedures can leave you vulnerable during trials. When you are being charged against the state, that’s the last thing you would want to happen.

Keep the upper hand during trials by planning and preparing with your lawyer. He knows exactly what to do.

• You are more likely to win the case with a lawyer

Every person charged with DUI needs a great defense for his case. It isn’t easy to figure one out on your own and this is exactly why you need a DUI lawyer.

Those who are convicted of DUI must spend time behind bars. The amount of time varies depending on the number of times you’ve been charged with DUI. When there is a lawyer working on your case, he might be able to help keep you out of jail or, at least, lessen the time you’ll be required to stay there.

DUI has many laws surrounding it. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of those laws and it is what puts them at risk of getting convicted. If you don’t want to add to these people, hire a lawyer to handle your case. It’s one of the best DUI tips to follow.

See Also: 5 Seriously Easy Ways to Get Home Safe from Your Holiday Party

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Cutler Anderson Architects tucks Canadian home between rocky outcrops

This 805-square-foot cottage located in the Rocky Mountains of Canada was designed by Cutler Anderson Architects. It is embedded into the wild vegetation of the mountains. Its glass walls create a continuity effect, allowing the exterior to be integrated with the interior and allowing us to enjoy the wonderful views of the surrounding landscape, even while standing inside the cottage. A large living room, where the sofas are located facing..

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Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is a small piece of land…

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is a small piece of land in the Indian River Lagoon on the Atlantic coast of Florida. It may look tiny, but it has a very large international footprint. The 5400+ acres of land and water (mostly water) represent the world’s first wildlife refuge. Established on this day in 1903, the refuge continues to protect beautiful birds like this glossy ibis. Learn more about the history of the national wildlife refuge system: https://on.doi.gov/refuges2017. Photo by Keenan Adams, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Summer House by Marte.Marte Architects

This structure, located in Weiler, Austria, and which was previously a farm house, was remodeled by Marte.Marte Architects. A stunning landscape full of green hills and beautiful houses surrounds it. In its interior, the most predominant material is wood, covering both the floors and the ceiling. Its walls are made of glass, which provides us with the perfect opportunity to continue enjoying the beautiful views of the green hills that surround..

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New York City – New York – USA (by mattharvey1) 

New York City – New York – USA (by mattharvey1

Mooseberry Design Creates an Apartment for a Student in Kiev

Apartment for a Student in Kiev by Mooseberry design (1)

On most university campuses, student housing can get pretty cramped. If you’ve ever done it for an extended period of time, then you’ve probably become something of an expert when it comes to living in and navigating a small space. Student apartments might not quite constitute actual “micro-living”, but some of them get pretty close! Some architects and designers out there, however, seek to remind us that just because you’re..

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The Freelancer’s Guide to PDF Management

If you’re a freelancer, juggling multiple balls in the air is a must-know trick. One way to learn that trick is to know how to properly manage your time, systems, and files.

As a way to help you, we’ve put together the ultimate guide for managing PDFs — every smart freelancer’s go-to tool — that will leave you more time to spend on your other tasks.

Extracting Certain Portions

pdf format

Let’s say you’re receiving PDFs from a client or a collaborator or you want to re-use a photo from a previous PDF that you’ve made — what do you do? Your best move is to take a screenshot, crop it down and save the result as a JPG file.

You can also use the Adobe software. Simply hit “Edit” after opening the document in Acrobat and modify the file as needed. You can consider using an online option to split a file into various components, too.

You can even convert a PDF to JPG with web-based extractors, like ExtractPDF and ZonePDF.

Marking & Annotating

Part of managing your PDF files is being able to mark them up.

This is especially useful to copywriters who need their copies and drafts critiqued and marked up. Designers who frequently require client feedback on the first or second iterations of their designs will find this useful, too.

There are several apps that can allow you to create markings, annotations, and corrections by highlighting, striking through, and adding images to the document. Simply save the additions using the software and you’re ready to send and share.

Good examples include Penultimate or GoodReader.

Merge & Split

Knowing how to merge and split files or bring separate documents together in one document is an important trick for freelancers, especially those who are managing teams.

Let’s say, for example, you created productivity tools, like calendars and planners separately and wanted to combine them all in one “Bonus Package”. You can use apps like PDF Merge and Split and ZonePDF to get the job done.

Just use the special Page Selection tool to create your own order or set the web-based PDF tool where you want to start the split. Then, you can email yourself the results or share them with other team members.

See Also: How to Merge PDF Files

Repair Damaged or Corrupted Files

Repairing and troubleshooting corrupted PDF files is a tricky process, so stick with us.

First, check that your version of Adobe Reader is up to date and it’s not the issue. If it is, update to the latest version.

If it’s not the reader and it is indeed your file, consider downloading an alternative reader such as Sumatra PDF, Okular, and Evince. In case none of these options work, try restoring a previous version of the file on your computer or an external hard drive.

Luckily, Word stores hidden copies of auto-saved files locally. These usually have the extension .tmp (for “temporary”) so try and run a search.

Signing Documents

pdf documents

This is a great feature you can use with Acrobat. It allows you to send out proposals and contracts as well as invoices with signatures and have the service email you a copy.

To get started, pull the PDF in Adobe Acrobat. Choose “Prepare Form” from the menu and select signature boxes from the options.

Place the boxes where you would like the receiver to sign. Make sure to sign the form yourself then hit “Send for Signature” and enter the receiver’s email. The service will not only send a copy to your client, but it will also save you a copy. It can even let you know when the form has been viewed and signed.

How’s that for service?

Make It Interactive

Managing your PDFs well means making sure they’re being used and read. If you’re preparing a survey for feedback, for example, you want to make sure your user is answering all the questions and saving the responses.

Likewise, you also want to make sure your content is engaging. Part of the reason why PDFs are preferred over any other document type is their ability to get interactive. You can add multimedia content like videos and audio files.

You can also add hyperlinks and buttons to help readers navigate through the document without scrolling and text boxes for users to save their responses.

Hook It Up To Another App

PDFs are so well-known and used that third-party apps don’t just allow viewing and editing anymore. You can now integrate them into your daily system, too.

Using third party apps like IFTTT or Zapier, you can create a fillable PDF form and allow recipients to fill, save and send.

When they send the form, instead of getting a flurry of random PDFs clogging your inbox, you can set a “rule” that will direct all responses to a Google Docs spreadsheet saved in your Drive.

See Also: How to Edit PDFs With Preview in Mac OSX Leopard

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7 Signs Of Overworking (And What To Do About Them)

A lot of people work more than they should and don’t get enough rest. Paired with being underpaid, these things can easily make anyone unhappy. They can also cause a handful of health issues.

If you are wondering if you’re at risk of these negative effects, here are some of the telltale signs of overworking.

You Have Trouble Sleeping

trouble sleeping

Studies have found that overworking can negatively impact your sleep. The stress you get from working too much in a day can disrupt your sleep cycle. The result is what sleep experts call “sleep debt” and it can raise your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

What to do: Make sure that you get enough sleep every night, preferably 7 to 8 hours. Don’t listen to “sleep experts” that say you’ll be fine with just five hours of sleep.

Your Work Quality Suffers

Researchers have found that stress and exhaustion brought by overworking can reduce efficiency in workers. Inefficient workers are more likely to make mistakes and poor judgment. They find it harder to communicate and they take a longer time to finish their tasks

What to do: Take lots of breaks while working. Don’t work if you can’t think straight. Outsource admin or writing tasks so you can use your time to rest.

You are Gaining or Losing Too Much Weight

When you’re stressed, you’re less likely to pay attention to your eating habits. Because you’re too worried about work, you may not notice that you’re eating less or more than what you are supposed to.

What to doLog your food intake and count your calories to make sure you’re having enough for the day. Try to move away from your desk and do little exercises even for a few minutes while working.

You Find it Hard to Be Creative

Wonder why some days you can easily finish a 2000-word article while there are days you can barely write 500 words?

Lack of creativity is one of the signs of overworking.

If you continue working even when your mind is troubled, you’re less likely to finish anything. You can even end up staring at the same blank page for hours.

What to Do: Relax after an hour or two of working. Do something that inspires you, like watching a movie or reading a good book.

See Also: Here’s How to Get Creativity Bursting Out of Your Eyeballs

You Get Pissed Off Easily

pissed off

Overworking makes you more irritable than usual. If you find yourself getting mad more easily or being rude to almost everyone, it’s time to take a break from work.

What to Do: Don’t make decisions when you’re mad, tired or depressed. Try to calm yourself by taking a bath, having a nap or taking a walk.

See Also: How To Make Better Decisions: 4 Smart Strategies You Can Use

You Look Older than Your Age

There’s nothing bad about growing old- we’ll all get there eventually. The problem, however, is when you start looking older than your actual age.

If you are still in your 20’s but you already look like you’re in your 40’s, there’s something wrong with your lifestyle. And it could be that you’re working too much.

What to Do: Stop stressing too much at work. Negative facial expressions won’t only drain your happiness but they can also make you look older. Smiling and staying positive, even under pressure, keeps the wrinkles away.

Your Heart Rate Increases

When you’re calm, your heart rate will stay at a normal range (60 to 100 beats per minute). However, if you’re overworked and stressed, your body compensates by increasing the blood flow to your heart and brain. This results in your heart rate increasing.

What to Do: If you find your heart rate increasing, try to get some rest. Take a short nap or sleep longer at night to conserve your body’s energy.

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5 Steps To Beat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

You’re reading 5 Steps To Beat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

OCD - Depression

Everyone will know the feeling of dread which hits them when they suddenly wonder if they have locked the front door or switched off the gas. Usually this feeling passes as you realise that you have as you always do. In my case I could not shake off these niggling thoughts and they would eat away at me until I went and checked. Often this would mean that I would be almost at my office door and would have to turn around and walk the fifteen minutes back to check and find the door was locked tightly, in fact this could happen two or three times. I suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and this was my life.

OCD - Door lock

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a mental health disorder which can affect anyone, there is no typical sufferer. You get caught in a cycle of obsessions causing thoughts or images which can trigger panic or distress. For me my obsessions involved checking, ‘is the door locked’, ‘is the gas off’. I imagined that my house may well be on fire or someone would be walking in and stealing everything. Other people who suffer with OCD have other obsessions which can include cleaning or even fear of harming others. These obsessions lead to compulsions, things you do to try to get rid of your obsessions. Again I would have to check, and then check again, and again.

Your mind gets stuck like a record, the needle skipping back again and again. I my case I knew I had checked the door, but I had to go back. If I tried to ignore it my mind would create powerful images which would mean that I had to return. In the end it was becoming a real issue and I knew that something had to be done.

If you have never encountered the struggle with OCD you will not understand the pressure your own mind puts you under. It is a ridiculous condition, you are a grown adult who knows that you have locked your own front door. You do it every day and it is an automatic action, but OCD is a demon which sits on your shoulder telling you that you must check again. I could not sleep without checking the gas hob many times before going to bed and was regularly late for work. No matter how you really know that the compulsion is foolish you cannot ignore it, your mind will just not let you. The feeling is paralyzing and terrifying.

OCD - Fear

Therefore, I knew I had to find a way to get over my OCD. Before I start, I have to tell you that I am not a medical doctor and I would recommend that you get professional advice. In my case, I was (stupidly) too scared or maybe proud to admit even to my doctor that I may have mental illness.  So I went on a path to cure myself, this was how I went about it:

Step 1 – Realise you have an issue and recognise it.

For me the first thing was to recognise that I was suffering from OCD. I started to make a conscious effort to note to myself when I was carrying out compulsive behaviour  I was aware before that I my behaviour was not normal. The difference was now that I was physically noticing each action and classifying it as compulsive behaviour brought on my OCD. I would actually tell myself out loud ‘this is an OCD action.’

It was a first step to recovery as up to this point I had tolerated my behaviours. Now I was starting to challenge them. Initially this did not stop me carrying out repeated actions, but I recognised that this was what was happening to me. It was no longer just my behaviour, I recognised I had a problem, that had a name and it was OCD.

Step 2 – Analyse your OCD

Once I started to recognise specific behaviours I started to analyse what the triggers were. For me it was all around checking and the number three (I found that I had to check things three times).

I realised that the most difficult things for me were locking things (the front door and my car) and switching things off (the gas hob and the iron were the main things). Understanding this meant that I could start to plan how I would conquer my checking.

Step 3 – Change your behaviour

I now knew my main compulsions, so I had to do something about them, of course it will seem simple. You believe that you have left the front door unlocked so you check but you still find yourself having to check again.

I looked for ways to mitigate the actions and to reinforce the fact that I had checked. Initially I started tying a knot in my handkerchief, this helped but was not enough so I created a simple checklist. Gas off, yes, Iron off, yes, front door locked, yes. I would tick my notebook each day and could know that it had been done. Again, my compulsive behaviours did not immediately stop and I ended up initially having to tick the list three times.

OCD - Checklist

In time I could wean myself down, I had a list which I signed and dated so I only needed to check twice. The first few times I cut down my routine was hell and I ended up going home at lunchtime. However, soon I was able to accept that the list was valid. I was changing my behaviour recognising that the sort of check lists I used for my job were equally as valid for my OCD.

I could eventually check the list when I wanted to know that the checks had been completed.

Step 4 – It will take time…

You need to understand that you cannot change your behaviour overnight, even with written lists I had to check and check again. But I knew I had to persevere if I was to change my life, I knew that I could not carry on the way I had been.

I supported my change with relaxation techniques, carrying out simple breathing techniques and meditation. This was particularly useful when I was panicking that I had not checked something three times. I would take myself away for a moment and calm myself down.

Part of it was visualising what was actually the worst that could happen? If I left the door open it was as likely that nobody would walk in, if I did leave the gas on the likely worst thing that would happen would be that I would have a big gas bill!

I also approached my friends and my partner, telling them for the first time that I had OCD. Of course they had recognised the signs in my behaviour for a long time. They were happy to help me, supporting me and reassuring me when I worried about something.

The support of others can make this journey much easier. I found that this would be almost impossible to do by myself. On reflection I wish I had gone to my doctor much sooner.

Step 5 – Recognise when you lapse

I wish I could say that I am completely cured of my OCD, I don’t know if that will ever happen, however I have become very adept at managing the condition. I find, particularly when I am going through a very stressful time, that I will start carrying out OCD type behaviours. Sometimes ridiculous things like finding that you have to step on a certain type of manhole cover (there is no rhyme or reason to my condition!) My action now is to recognise that I am doing this and to recognise it. I physically tell myself that I am carrying out an OCD action and force myself to stop, again this often not instant but I find that, with a greater awareness, I am able to control it.

Conclusion

If was to condense this down to three pieces of advice for people who may be suffering from OCD it would be these:

  • You are not alone – You are one of 1 in 100 adults (and 1 in 200 children)who suffer from OCD in some form. This is something that makes you unique, and you can overcome it.
  • Get help – If I could do anything differently it would have been to get professional help and tell my close friends much sooner. Please don’t leave it to the point that your life is being adversely affected before you get support.
  • Persevere – this will not happen overnight, but you can start on a journey which will change your life for the better!

Good luck!


Wilf Voss – is an author from the UK. He has published two novels and a number of books and articles on subjects as diverse as addiction and mental health to IT and technology – wilfswords.online

 

✝ National Institute of Mental Health

Picture Credits: Door lock, Fear Portrait, Checklist from Pixabay.com

You’ve read 5 Steps To Beat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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