Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco – California – USA (by Jeremy)
Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco – California – USA (by…
Author: signordal
💙 Red deer in the wild on 500px by Janusz Pienkowski,…
💙 Red deer in the wild on 500px by Janusz Pienkowski, Siedlce,… http://ift.tt/2bId389
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The Introvert’s Weekend: 6 Tips for Enjoying It Your Way
You’re reading The Introvert’s Weekend: 6 Tips for Enjoying It Your Way, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
“When you honor your body, mind and spirit you are saying to the universe, ‘I love you’” –Panache Desai
Most of us look forward to the weekend. Whether it’s for sleeping in late, catching up with friends, spending time with family or enjoying the occasional getaway, the weekend breaks up the routine of the work week and reminds us that life is more than just toil.
For those of us who are introverts, the weekend is especially valuable as a time for reclaiming the space and solitude we need to refill our energy tanks. Getting adequate rest is important for everyone, but as an introvert, I am biologically and physiologically wired to need not just lots of downtime, but lots of “me time.”
Any introvert will tell you that scheduling “alone time” to replenish our energy after the rigors of the work week is not a luxury. If I don’t regularly return to my natural element of stillness, silence and solitude, I stop feeling like myself and literally cannot function.
Weekend guilt: Why introverts can have it bad
So many people complain that the weekend is too short, and many of us struggle with the pesky feeling that we’re wasting our weekends. Whenever I feel like the weekend has flown by before I could really enjoy it, it’s usually because I allowed the nagging impulse to do more and be more distract from my enjoyment of the present moment.
Also, as an ambitious introvert, I can feel guilty and lost if I’m not in the process of pursuing some goal or the other, particularly when I finally have the solitude to do so. Yet doing nothing is a worthy goal in and of itself.
Another reason weekends can feel inadequate is because, in a fast-paced world, resting isn’t valued as much as it should be, so when we rest we don’t feel the same sense of accomplishment or satisfaction as when we work. Introverts, who have a pronounced need for silence, stillness and reflection, can feel odd, embarrassed and out of place when, all around us, society expects and praises busyness.
In fact, we’re often guilt-tripped by our more extroverted friends and family who are stimulated and socialize differently from us. Here are five tips for owning your weekends and feeling good about it.
1. Unplug
The weekend is the perfect time to make yourself unavailable to all but a few choice people. There is such a thing as being over-connected, a state in which we’re always “switched on” for the benefit of others, with a myriad of ever-shifting demands placed upon us.
Switching off the television, radio, computer, and cell phone allows us to recoup from our lives of chronic engagement, multitasking and information overload, and get back to the calmer pace of pre-technology life.
As an introvert, I use the Internet and text messaging to interact with the world with minimal drain on my energy. To avoid dependency and overuse, I have chosen to not join any social media platforms and I use a free time management app that limits my screen time.
Research shows that too much technology use has adverse, wearying effects on the mind and body. Studies have documented the health benefits of unplugging for even a few hours, everything from better sleep and reduced muscle pain, to improved mood and concentration.
2. Under-schedule
For some of us, the weekend is the only time we have to do brunch with a friend, attend church, complete chores or volunteer. If you’re a non-social introvert who is actively trying to be more social, it can be tempting to fill up your weekends with extroverted activities and social engagements.
While it’s practical and healthy to use the weekend to get things done and connect with people other than our co-workers, it’s also important to make sure our weekends aren’t hectic and over-scheduled.
Most introverts prefer weekends to be low-key and leisurely, yet we still have a deep need to meaningfully connect with others. We can find ourselves struggling against societal norms that pressure us to approach weekend activities the way extroverts do.
For example, I prefer to attend social events with a set beginning and ending time, but my more extroverted family and friends plan social events that are often improvised and can seemingly go on forever. I regularly have to remind myself that it’s okay to leave an event “early” even if I’m the only one doing so.
The key is to remember that because of the way we’re wired, we have an extra need for solitude and require longer periods of mental and physical recuperation. Trust your body; it’s a better gauge for ensuring your health and sanity than social norms.
Let go of the idea that you’re boring for not wanting to spend the entire night at a dance club, or that you’re somehow missing out on something if you accept your introverted preferences.
Free time is anything but a waste of time; it’s actually an investment in our relationships since we’re best able to give to others, contribute to our communities and enjoy experiences when we’re energized. Remember, quality not quantity is what counts.
3. Meditate
Meditation is a gentle but powerful way to release tension and stress accumulated during the work week. I have discovered that getting in touch with and nurturing a connection with the present moment is key for accessing healing, self-acceptance and joy. We all have the capacity to experience this powerful awareness of “being-ness”, but this requires that we slow down and focus inward, something that us introverts know how to do very well.
Mediating doesn’t have to mean sitting crossed-legged on a yoga mat with your eyes closed. You can meditate by listening to guided meditation audio while driving, doing meditative physical exercises like tai chi and qigong, or actively staying aware of your body and non-judgmentally observing your thoughts as you stroll through the park.
What is most important is to find the form of meditation that feels freeing and comfortable for you.
4. Master self-care
The weekend is the perfect time to refocus on our bodies and shower our introverted souls with attention. The exertion required to interact with extroverted co-workers and function in overstimulating work environments can leave us tense, numb and physically drained.
Also, many of us work in mentally demanding professions that keep us locked into the sphere of the mind and disconnected with the wisdom of our bodies. Introverts, who spend most of our time in our heads to begin with, can experience this mind-body disconnect more acutely.
Taking long, hot showers, or relaxing in a mineral bath soak are great, effective ways to get back in touch with your body and reward yourself for challenging yourself all week. You can also try progressive muscle relaxation or treat yourself to a massage. Aromatherapy oils like lavender and juniper, and soft, soothing music also have positive, calming effects on the autonomic nervous system.
I drink soothing herbal teas like chamomile, peppermint, lemon balm and kava teas that have been proven to aid physical relaxation. I own a bubble foot spa massager that I use ritualistically on weekends, and I make sure a significant part of my weekend is spent outside in nature, even if it just means sunbathing in my yard.
Remember, self-care means different things to different people. An extrovert might care for herself by shopping in a busy mall, while an introvert who likes to shop might care for himself by shopping online. The key is to nurture your soul by doing something enjoyable that makes you feel healthy and happy, and that connects you to your authentic, sensual self.
For introverts, activities like gardening, painting, crafts, baking, journaling, people-watching, yoga, swimming, cycling and dancing have relaxing effects and can be done alone or with just one other person.
5. Rest intentionally
It’s perfectly okay to keep your weekends sacred for solitude and rest. Rest as a spiritual principle is an age-old tradition evident in the existence of customs such as the Sabbath and the Spanish siesta.
Rest doesn’t necessarily mean inactivity or sleeping; rather, rest is the mental and spiritual state of being in harmony with ourselves, the world and the divine. In this state, the soul is untethered from the pressures of life regardless of what we are doing.
I’ve found that the more I embrace this spiritual heritage of rest, the more I open up to an authentic experience of life as an introvert deeply attuned to my true desires, natural habits and what I have to offer the world.
If you’re an introvert, know that your need to rest and withdraw regularly is not a weakness. Rather, it’s a call to intentional living and an invitation to return to a wise equilibrium. It’s a chance to come home to yourself, and to find joy in the wonders of life that are often missed in a world of distraction.
6. Embrace your own path
Frank Sinatra famously sang “I did it my way.” So do it your way. Trust in the divine wisdom that made you exactly as you are for a reason. There really are no rules, so own your introverted weekends. Know that you are free to use this time on earth as you wish.
As you veer off the beaten track of conventional weekend expectations, you’ll discover a vast freedom to experience life at your own pace, in your own beautiful way, in your own comfortable skin.
Summer Edward is a writer, poet, educator, children’s literature specialist and wellness advocate from Trinidad. She holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology and an M.S.Ed. degree in Reading, Writing, Literacy from the University of Pennsylvania and is the recipient of a Roothbert Fellowship awarded to people motivated in their life’s work by spiritual values. She uses the expressive arts to advocate for mental health wellness, personal growth and a culture of healing. You can connect with her at her personal website: www.summeredward.com.
You’ve read The Introvert’s Weekend: 6 Tips for Enjoying It Your Way, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
New York City – New York – USA (by b k)
New York City – New York – USA (by b k)
9 Baby Steps To Happiness For The Naturally Gloomy
Consider yourself to be a bit of a Debbie Downer? A gloomy type predisposed to unhappiness, and there’s nothing you can do about it?
Good news: you may be only half right!
Psychologists agree that just 50% of our happiness is due to our genetic disposition. The rest is made up mostly by how we spend our daily lives, with a final 10% accounted for by the circumstances in which we live.
As the new year dawns, you can capitalize on that ‘blank slate’ feeling by making a few little changes to your day-to-day activities.
So roll up your sleeves, visualize your good intentions, and try tackling these nine scientifically-verified tweaks to shift your perspective 180 degrees.
Get fruity
Building up to your five-a-day last year was a great achievement for your body. But cranking it up to eight-a-day this year will be excellent for your soul.
Researchers at the University of Warwick discovered that within two years of making this change, your feeling of well-being can soar. Indeed, those who shifted from zero to eight fruits a day experienced an increase in life satisfaction equivalent to getting a new job.
Added bonus: your long-term health and happiness will also benefit. Chop it, squeeze it, blend it – just make sure you get to eight-a-day.
Take a trip to the real world
I don’t need to tell you about the pleasures of Facebook. But those dopamine hits that come with the little red dots do not last long: researchers at the Happiness Research Institute (well, who you gonna trust?) report that taking even a week off of social media can improve your happiness rating.
And those folk are based in Denmark, where they’re serious about fighting unhappiness.
See Also: Follow Your Bliss
Use your feet
Analysis of data from almost 18,000 18-65-year-old commuters over an eighteen year period showed that those who made the switch from driving to walking enjoyed improvements in health, happiness and concentration levels.
Even using public transport – with all its associated crowds and delays – will make you happier than taking the car. This is probably because you get to concentrate on your tunes, your book, or the folk around you, rather than gear-switching and road rage. Also, you have to walk a bit further to get to the bus stop or rail station in the first place.
If you travel too far to make ditching the car feasible, at least consider parking a little further away from your destination than usual and walking the last 10-15 minutes to work.
Staring at photos of cute animals is officially a good thing
M ± SE = 43.9±10.3%.
Got it?
It doesn’t matter: that equation is just the long-winded way of describing how much more effective at work looking at pictures of kittens and puppies can make you.
Researchers in Japan were fascinated by the power of kawaii – that specifically Japanese form of exaggerated cuteness – so they decided to mount a trial to measure just what a difference the kawaii experience can make to your day.
The feelings of happiness and excitement that cute pictures evoke are apparently connected to the levels of what we can achieve at work. So next time you’re feeling unproductive, try typing ‘happiest puppy in the world’ into Google to feed a bit more energy into the system.
Stay in bed
Recommended sleeping times are frustratingly arbitrary. One man’s refreshing seven hours is another’s rude awakening.
Wake up before you’ve got your fill of REM sleep – the type that comes late in the cycle – and you are actually interrupting the way your brain and hormones deal with the stress and anxiety of the previous day.
Scientists at the University of Surrey’s Sleep Research Centre agree: one extra hour each night can help you feel healthier and happier.
Plan a trip
Vacations are a bit like Christmas: often, it turns out the anticipation was the most exciting part of the whole thing.
Science can now back this up. It turns out that the optimism and pro-active research involved in planning a vacation can actually be the most stimulating period of the process. Often, the homesickness, stress and false expectations of actually making the trip can make you quite unhappy. And as for returning to work at the end of it…
So even if you have no actual intention of travelling in the near future, don’t forget to dream. Keep a Pinterest board or scrapbook of places you’d like to visit, and talk with your partner about your big ideas for the future. And if it never comes off, well – maybe you already did the best bit.
See Also: 10 Wonderful Benefits of Traveling
Give hugs more often
You don’t need science to tell you that hugs feel good.
But lest you relegate your need for physical contact to the realm of ‘guilty pleasures’, here’s neurologist Shekar Raman, MD to tell you it’s okay:
“A hug, pat on the back, and even a friendly handshake are processed by the reward center in the central nervous system, which is why they can have a powerful impact on the human psyche, making us feel happiness and joy… The more you connect with others — on even the smallest physical level — the happier you’ll be.”
Hang out with happy people
Happiness is tribal. It may be stating the obvious to say that spending time with a happy chum is likely to make you more happy: but the effect is bigger, and less intuitive than this. In fact, happiness travels along networks, so if the people you hang out with hang out with happy people too, you’re likely to feel the knock-on effects.
Try arranging a dinner party with your closest friends, and create a happy theme. Technically, this may make you a happiness vampire, but so what – you’re going to feed back into the system, right?
Turn that music up
Music makes you happy. Pick a tune you like, and crank it up as loud as the neighbors can bear it in the morning – your dopamine levels will soar, and you’re off to a good start for the whole day.
Being happy ain’t easy, and during the cold, dark winter days making an effort to exercise or socialize can be an intimidating prospect. With these bitesize cures, though, you can start to improve your general outlook – and prove to yourself that your natural gloominess is only half the story.
The post 9 Baby Steps To Happiness For The Naturally Gloomy appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
Korean Valentine’s Year: 12 Romantic Celebrations Every 14th of the Month
February 14 is a day for all lovers all across the globe. However, in Korea, the 14th of each month is very important for couples and lovers.
Let’s find out all the special celebrations happening every 14th of the month and Korea’s Valentine’s Year.
Diary Day (14th January)
Januray 14 is known as a Diary day for Koreans. On this day, people exchange a blank diary with a loved one. If you receive one from your lover, you should write down your feelings and sentiments in its blank pages. You can also mention yearly goals, resolutions, and even annual tasks.
Valentine’s Day (14th February)
Valentine’s Day is virtually the same in every country. In Korea, however, it’s the women who buy gifts for the man. Women show their feelings by buying chocolates or roses.
White Day (14th March)
White day is celebrated in the 14th of March in Korea. This day is an opportunity for men to pay back their female gifters. Men usually buy costlier and more expensive gifts like chocolates, jewelry, and other gifts that their partner likes.
Black Day (14th April)
April 14 in Korea is known as Black day. This day is for single folks who aren’t in a relationship. On this day, single people meet each other wearing black clothes. They eat a Chinese Korean dish called jajangmeyon. This dish is made of pork, vegetables and a very dark soyabean sauce. They celebrate this season as a disappointing day reminiscent of a funeral ceremony.
Yellow Day (14th May)
May 14 is Yellow Day. During yellow day, people exchange yellow roses or other roses with loved ones. Couples go to the cafe and restaurants and spend quality time with each other. It’s also a good day to be with close friends and family.
Kiss Day (14th June)
Kiss day is the favorite day of Koreans. It is the best way to express their deep love. Couples and lovers celebrate this day by kissing each other. Obviously it is the best day for the people who have deeply fallen in love. It is actually the best romantic day for couples.
Silver Day (14th July)
Silver Day has a kind of engagement ceremony. On July 14, lovers exchange matching couple rings with each other. These rings are also called promise rings as they signify their commitment to each other.
Green Day (14th August)
Green Day is Nature Day. People meet and go to beautiful lush places to celebrate this day.
Green Day is one of the best times to have a family get-together. Families meet, eat, or drink soju while possibly wearing some green clothes.
Photo Day (14th September)
September 14 is Photo Day in Korea. As you can guess, it’s a day for selfies and going to photo studios. Couples, in particular, have fun doing memorable photo shoots.
Families and friends go to photo booths or call professional photographers to capture these moments. Some go as far as having a photo shoot party. They prepare photo props and have their pictures taken.
Wine Day (14th October)
October 14 is a special day for drinkers. During this day, couples and lovers meet to have a romantic wine party. They drink in public events or local bars.
Families and friends also get connected on Wine Day. They give a warm hug to the closest family members on this day.
Movie Day (14th November)
November 14 is popular and one of the Koreans’ favorite days. Koreans celebrate this day by meeting each other at the cinema and watching movies. Some people stay at home, rent DVDs and pop their own popcorn.
also arrange to cinema settings at home. Some people rent their DVD rooms to cut the cost of movie ticket.
Hug Day (14th December)
We end the year with a Hug Day. As you can guess, Korean people embrace the person they love. Couples meet to give each other hugs. Single people are not left out though and give their warm hugs to each other or to friends and families.
Do you have something similar in your countries, too?
The post Korean Valentine’s Year: 12 Romantic Celebrations Every 14th of the Month appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
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Standing head and shoulders above the crowd, “the Mountain”…
Standing head and shoulders above the crowd, “the Mountain” dominates the of landscape Denali National Park and central Alaska. On clear days, Denali can be seen from as far away as Anchorage and Fairbanks. While clear skies are common in deep winter, with intense cold locking up moisture, summer skies are often cloudy. This photo taken in late summer shows Denali looming large. If you look closely, you can even see a moose on the tundra. Photo by Jay Elhard, National Park Service.
9 Powerful Lessons from the Success Story of Bill Gates
Most people know Bill Gates as the founder of Microsoft. He is the brain behind most of the computer technology that the world currently enjoys. The most important thing is to learn some lessons from his life.
Here are 9 powerful lessons you can learn from the success story of this great mind.
Be Competitive
Some of the attributes you can draw from the life of Bill Gates is that he was competitive, smart and persistent. Bill is a person who had the drive to win. You should try to be the best you can be whatever it takes so long as you succeed in the long run. You cannot achieve your dreams unless you call forth a very strong desire to succeed.
Be Persistent
Bill Gates is one of the most determined people on earth. He presents a person who would hammer his way until he got an ideal solution. Persistence calls for having a goal and fighting your way towards its accomplishment. The process can be very long and painful, but you have to fight your way through.
Read a lot
The parents of this great mind made a subscription to Fortune, and he took advantage to read a lot. You cannot become smart unless you read broadly. Bill Gates was a dedicated reader from his childhood. You will still find him writing about the books he reads on his website.
You can also get this advice from Warren Buffet. The best way to harness the power of knowledge is to read widely.
Focus
Bill was very curious when it came to studying everything in sight. However, he would concentrate on a single task at a time with a lot of discipline. You would find him sitting while clenching a marker in his mouth, rocking and tapping his feet, impervious to distraction. You cannot do this unless you have a lot of focus which comes with overcoming disruptions. You must appreciate the fact that it’s quite hard to do important works. The reason is that such actions require full concentration. You cannot carry out such assignments unless you overcome any distractions.
Carefully Pick Your Battles
According to the reality checks of Bill Gates, you should stop wasting time in places where you have little chances for success. Make sure you give full attention whenever the right opportunity surfaces. You may have limited resources, and you should be careful not to waste them. Assess each opportunity that comes your way and only pick the right ones. You can gain some of these insights through reading widely.
Make the Most of any Opportunity That Comes your Way
According to Bill, we have the skill and the energy, and we have all it takes to seize the opportunity. Make the most of any opportunity that you decide to take. You should spare no effort because if you allow it to pass, it may never come your way again.
See Also: 7 Power Habits of Great Leaders, Business Icons and Inspirational Achievers
Be Efficient
According to Bill Gates, they staged nightly competitions just to squeeze a submarine – a small section of code in a program that performs a particular task with very few instructions. You should aim to be as efficient as possible while reaching your goal. You can avoid wasting your resources by improving your processes to allow you take the shortest route to your destination.
Be Intense
The intensity of Bill Gates was virtually unstoppable. Steve Jobs had the same level of intensity, and that’s why he asserts that there is power in intensity. Bill states that you cannot build momentum unless you are intense. Therefore, you need to put your soul and heart into what you do. The lone survivor movie has a quote that explains that you can over do anything in life that is worth doing. You can never succeed unless you are intense in all you do.
Build a Great Team
Bill is a person who never wanted to lose a talented individual. He would do all it takes to retain his entire team. You need other people to stand with you because you can’t succeed alone. Therefore, your goal should be to find great people and put their skills together to build a great team.
See Also: How to Save Your Startup by Hiring the Right People
Conclusion
You can apply these lessons from Bill Gates if you want to succeed in life. However, you should remember to balance all aspects of your life. You should not get obsessed with your goal to until you forget other parts of your life. This approach will guarantee you true and lasting success.
The post 9 Powerful Lessons from the Success Story of Bill Gates appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
Sig Nordal 