When was the last time you went out to upgrade your smartphone? When you did, you probably had the option to purchase a virtual reality headset.

Anybody with a smartphone and a VR headset can play virtual reality games and enjoy virtual reality programming. With how entertaining it is, it’s no surprise how it became a growing market.

Money Is Being Poured Into Development

Last year alone, developers poured $700 million into the development of virtual reality technologies and applications. They are applicable to almost everything- from real estate to the classroom.

If you have a classroom that lacks tools and equipment to conduct biology experiments, students can still get a virtual reality version of a lesson for a fraction of the cost. If you have real estate clients coming in from out of town, they can narrow their selections down and save time using virtual reality tours.

But, what’s more impressive is how fast advances are being made in augmented reality. Compared to the $700 million spent on developing virtual reality in 2016, $2.3 billion was spent developing augmented reality.

There are some important differences in the two technologies and there’s a good reason why developers are wanting to push augmented reality further.

Let’s take a closer look.

What’s The Difference: Augmented Reality VS Virtual Reality

Virtual reality turns the world into your screen. It meshes your current environment with a virtual one. Unfortunately, users won’t be able wear it while they are driving or walking.

Augmented reality, on the other hand, provides users with a hands-free way to interact with a map while driving or following along with a cooking show. This technology will give business people the ability to have meetings with people from across the world. It can greatly improve business relationships.

Augmented reality works with a headset, haptic feedback and binaural audio to give users the most life-like virtual environment possible. While haptic feedback technology is still in its infancy, one day it will be possible for you to interact with an artificial environment with a stunning sense of reality. The end product will be intuitive and hands-free.

The Future Is Looking Bright For These Technologies

In just five years, both industries combined should be able to reach $108 billion. What’s most surprising about the breakdown is that a 79% majority – $83 billion – is expected to be driven by augmented reality.

Advances in machine vision and optics are going to be the priority. Programs will need to be able to identify surroundings in order to blend the experience seamlessly. Optics needs to produce convincing facsimiles of whatever experience users are trying to achieve.

The technology will also have to be able to adjust to a user’s position, called world locking. It also needs to be able to understand natural human speech and cues. Currently, these technologies are being utilized and perfected in the gaming world.

How Will You Use Virtual Reality And Augmented Reality?

Think back to the days of Nintendo’s Virtual Boy.

Clearly, gaming has always been one of the biggest frontiers for virtual reality technology and it continues as such today. But, if you’re not a gamer, how will you integrate these emerging technologies into your life?

There’s a good chance you will encounter these technologies in a school or business setting sooner than you think. In fact, your first augmented reality conference call is probably right around the corner.

Learn more about augmented reality vs virtual reality from this infographic!

Source: Lumus

The post How Augmented Reality Is Changing The Game appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Fact: Retail therapy is not a medically-verified form of therapy.

Just over thirty years since the phrase was first coined to flag up American consumers’ habit of trying to shop their troubles away, many no longer see the irony in the phrase and adopt retail therapy as a form of catharsis.

As Mary T. Schmich told us, introducing the phrase to the general public in the Chicago Tribune back in 1986: “We’ve become a nation measuring out our lives in shopping bags and nursing our psychic ills through retail therapy.”

Others don’t care much for rationalizing the process and just shop on instinct. They, too, fall into the category of impulse shoppers.

Does this sound like you?

The diagnosis

If you’re not sure if you are already an impulse shopper or not, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you think about shopping all the time?
• Do you shop or buy things to cheer yourself up?
• Have you been late for work or an appointment because you were shopping?
• Do you need to shop more than you used to, to get the same hit?
• Have you tried to shop less– and failed?
• Does it make you feel bad if something stands between you and shopping?
• Do you feel guilty after shopping?

If you answer Yes to more than one of these questions, you probably have a problem. Even if you just ticked Yes for one of them, the fact that you’ve read this far suggests you would probably appreciate some tips on how to deal with your compulsion.

Let’s have a look at what you can do to curb your impulse shopping.

Therapy for retail therapy

Quitting any addiction is a matter of self-control. If you have that level of self-control at your fingertips, it wouldn’t be an addiction, would it?

A more effective way to improve your level of self-control is to practice certain rules, processes and restrictions. You should have concrete ideas that can help you be more disciplined. After a few weeks, these rules should feel like automatic principles and your self-control muscles should be nice and toned.

Cut up the cards

Maybe you need your cards on hand for emergencies and for paying the occasional bill. But, when you’re going to work or to shop, leave the cards at home.

It’s a psychological thing.

Handing over a credit card to pay for those shoes feels abstract. You don’t see your money changing hands so your brain just enjoys the pleasure of getting new things.

If you pay with cash, on the other hand, your brain gets a jolt of pain at the thought of losing your hard-earned money. You think twice before going through with the transaction and are likely to be twice as cautious when shopping.

Make a plan

So, how do you make that budget?

Well, it all starts with a shopping list. Write down what you need to buy and if it’s unpredictably priced, like shoes or electronics, write down a limit as to how much you can spend.

Get online in advance and use a price comparison site to find the most affordable option and put that on your list. We spend more when we’re faced with unpredictable choices and that leads to panic buying.

People who shop with a list spend around one-third less than those without.

The 10-minute rule

You might not have that self-control to convince yourself not to buy that fancy item yet. If that’s the case, try to summon the willpower to walk away from it for ten minutes before paying for it. This will give your brain a chance to recover from that original rush.

Hopefully, before you return with your wallet, the appeal will have faded.

Look, don’t touch

If shopping online is your weakness, leave the devices alone.

Touch screens make you spend more. When you touch a picture of an object, it gives you the unconscious feeling that you already own it. Then, it becomes much more difficult to turn back from clicking “Add to Basket”.

Delete all shopping apps from your phone and just use your laptop or PC if you really need to shop online.

Dine well

You’ve tried a list, a time limit and a change of device. Now, it’s time to change your diet.

Before you go shopping, try eating a meal packed with carbs and protein to give your body the kind of chemicals that can make you less likely to impulse buy.

If you’re already out of the house when the whim to shop strikes, pick up a protein shake before you go any further. This kind of treat can dull your urge to splurge.

Picture a world without stuff

Impulse buyers tend not to picture the future when they’re shopping. They’re caught up in the thrill of the moment.

When you find that must-buy item, which probably isn’t a must-buy at all, stop for a moment and think about what your life will be like if you don’t buy it. Not so bad, huh? So, don’t buy it.

Be grateful for what you’ve got

‘Hashtag’ gratitude is a pointless, smug and self-congratulatory trend that helps nobody in particular. Instead, it encourages the populace to put up with the miserable conditions of late capitalism.

On the other hand, deep, heartfelt gratitude can help reduce your need for instant gratification. Spend time with the stuff that you already own, sort it, care for it and value it. According to the Association of Psychological Science, this can help you quit your addiction.

The power to curb your shopping enthusiasm is within you. But, without the right techniques, you’ll remain at the mercy of the quacks who’d sell you retail therapy as a cure for all your worries.

For more tips in an easy-to-follow guide, check out this new infographic.

The post 7 Ways To Stop Your Shopping Splurges appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Many people have been there. The point where it feels like the chaos of your job is taking over every aspect of your life. This can have an incredibly negative effect on your personal relationships and overall well-being.

While a moderate amount of stress can be good for staying motivated, the harsh reality is that you will most likely be overwhelmed at some point in your career.

Whether it’s pressure to perform, lack of control, or micromanagement issues, you need to know how to effectively manage job-related stress so it doesn’t follow you home and ruin your sanity. Life is too short to spend more than 40 hours a week worrying about things that are out of your control.

If you are looking for ways to reduce stress, here are four tips, along with simple tools and apps that you can use.

Separate your mindsets

One of the most important things you need to do when managing job stress is knowing when to turn the “work mindset” off for the day. Once you close your computer and leave the building, nothing inside that office should matter until the next day.

If you are having trouble finding the “off switch”, try to immerse yourself in activities that will require your undivided attention. Getting involved in a pickup game or meeting some people for a drink are both great ways to escape.

As appealing as it sounds to just plop down on the couch and sit around after a long day, doing this will just force you to brood over what is stressing you out. It’s important to remember that you are not being paid to think about your job while you are at home or out trying to enjoy yourself.

Organize your workload

Sometimes, the best way to handle stress is to get to the root cause.

Poor organization is an extremely common reason people get overwhelmed at their jobs. The idea of juggling multiple projects and tasks at once is enough to make anyone’s head spin.

If you feel like you’re constantly being pulled into too many directions at once and things are slipping through the cracks, it’s time to take a step back and rethink your system. Continuing down this path will not do you any good, especially your sanity.

A good strategy to consider is dividing up and prioritizing your time into blocks. Take 30 minutes or so to focus on exclusive tasks to ensure you are getting things done without distraction. Many times, when you try to do everything, you end up accomplishing nothing.

Unfortunately, this is much easier said than done. In this case, utilizing a project management resource is one of the best decisions a company can make. Workzone, for example, is a task and resource management tool which has been tried and tested by big-name companies, like Adidas, Bose and Wells Fargo. It allows managers to monitor workloads by the hour in order to make sure work is evenly spread out and completed in time.

In the long run, implementing a reliable system that makes collaboration, communication and achieving milestones easier will be beneficial for everyone’s mental health as well as the company’s revenue.

Don’t skimp on sleep

One of the most common side effects of stress is not being able to fall asleep at night. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most detrimental.

Sleep deprivation can interfere with just about every aspect of your life- both personally and professionally. A study by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that there are toxic proteins in your brain that can only sleeping can remove. If these proteins remain, they can impair your ability to think rationally, no matter how much caffeine you consume.

The key is to get into a good rhythm. Set a schedule and stick to it. Try to get around eight hours per night. Next, eliminate screen time before bed. Watching TV or looking at your phone stimulates your brain and negatively affects your sleep pattern. Try reading a book instead.

There are apps out there that can help with the process. Autosleep and Sleepbot are a couple of nifty apps that make it simple to track and assess the overall quality of your rest.

Do yourself a favor and get on a beneficial cycle. You can never underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep.

See Also: Five Ways of Overcoming the Problem of Getting Sleep

Know when to walk away

In some cases, work stress can simply be out of your control. The level of micromanagement or company-wide disorganization can be beyond your power to fix.

If it’s getting to the point where you simply dread getting out of bed in the morning, you aren’t finding joy in anything and each day seems to be the worst day of your life, it may be time to just quit. There is no shame in leaving a miserable, hopeless situation.

Sticking around a toxic environment where there is no clear path to improvement will eventually drive you off the edge and into a depression. While financial security is the biggest hesitation, no amount of money is worth your sanity. If it comes down to it, you can always wait tables or work odd jobs until you’re able to get back on your feet. The people who truly care about you will understand.

Remember, in the professional world, the grass can ALWAYS be greener on the other side of the fence. It just depends on where you look.

See Also: Keep Calm and Don’t Stress: Recognizing and Preventing Job Burnout

Parting words

Your mental health is not something you should take lightly. Being stuck in a rut can have severe consequences if you don’t make necessary changes. Consider these bits of advice next time it feels like the psychological wear-and-tear of your job is invading the privacy of your personal life.

The post 4 Ways To Reduce Stress Inside and Outside of Work appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Do you still remember your New Years Resolutions? How many of them have you put into practice?

Let me guess: Little to none of them.

And you’re not alone.

Good habits seem to be very hard to form while bad habits just sneak up on us when we least expect them. That’s how it feels, at least

But, guess what? Good and bad habits actually form the same way.

As a Certified Fitness Coach and 100% Vegan, let me give you some tips on how to form habits.

Pull the trigger

Habits start with triggers.

You feel stressed out? You’ll feel compelled to smoke a cigarette. You’re about to go to bed? You’ll have to brush your teeth.

These are simple triggers that initiate reactions. And like these triggers, you also have to identify specific triggers that can help you build better habits.

Ask yourself: How are you reminded of the habit?

Build a checklist

Generate a trigger by creating a checklist. All you need is a blank paper, a pen and some duct tape. You duct tape the blank paper to an open spot in your home, like your fridge.
Then, write the name of the habit that you want to form on top of the checklist.

Put some small check boxes on the left side of the paper with your target dates. These dates should reflect the frequency of the habits you want to build. For example, if you want to go to the gym once or twice a week, you need to write down the dates of your planned workout days for the next two months. You should have a total of 18 dates for that. Every time you go to the gym on your specified dates, you check off the box.

Bonus Tip: Use your signature

An even better way to check off the habit is by using your signature. If you put your signature on the checkbox after finishing the habit, you’re telling yourself that you’ve done the work the right way. You’re using the self-serving bias to your advantage.

The self-serving bias means that you want to enhance your self-esteem and self-worth with your actions. The signature is a reflection of yourself.

Think of it this way:

You’re putting your signature on the stuff you agree with. You’re enhancing your self-worth by completely nailing the habit. Because of that, the habit is more likely to stick.

Start Small

If your goal is to go to the gym four times a week, don’t start with that habit.

I know that you might be extremely motivated this very moment, but the key to long-term change in your habits is consistency.

Start with a 5-minute walk, two times a week. When you have low expectations, it dramatically increases your likelihood of forming a habit that will last long.

Why?

Because having time for a 5-minute walk every day is easy while 2 hours of exercise isn’t. You can eat one banana every day but you’ll find a full day of eating healthy harder.

Start with smaller goals as much as possible and it will make you less likely to procrastinate.

Overcompensate

Starting small won’t only make habit formation easier; it can help you compensate on certain days, too.

What you will find, after a certain period of time, is that you’ll be able to easily go for a ten-minute walk, instead of the planned five-minute walk. You’ll be progressing in an easy, playful way and this will increase your motivation. Plus, it will make habit formation feel like something that you ‘want’ to do, instead of ‘needing’ to do.

See Also: Daily Habits That Will Improve Your Life

No need to feel sorry now. What are you waiting for? The year isn’t over yet. Take your New Year’s Resolutions out of your closet and start forming new habits the simple, fun and sustainable way.

If you enjoyed this article, please watch and share my video below.

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Looking to move on from your dead-end job? Are you struggling to even land an interview?

The modern corporate world is so brutally competitive that you don’t even need a job to be severely stressed.

“We’ll be in touch.” “We’ll give you a call.” “We’ll let you know soon.”

We’ve all heard these responses before. And for a job seeker, there’s nothing worse than waiting for that call. You know it can turn your life around. But, deep inside, you’ve already accepted that it may never come.

Fortunately, there are now technologies that can solve this issue. Apart from apps that can help you be visible to prospective employers, here are 5 ways technology can help boost your chances of getting hired.

Use Site-Builders to Create a Portfolio

The first solution is so simple. It can actually be accomplished in just a few minutes.

With platforms like SquareSpace, Wix and WordPress, you can easily create a professional-looking online portfolio from scratch. All you need to do is to register, apply a portfolio theme and fill in your information.

An online portfolio isn’t only a great way to highlight your skills, qualifications and experience, it can also show employers that you know your way around technology. This a highly sought-after skill among forward-thinking companies, especially now that technology evolves at a rapid rate.

When it comes to designing your portfolio, remember that there is no formula that can guarantee success. Just be sure to pick a template that speaks your personality, be concise and make it easy to find links to your work samples.

Spice Up Your Resume with Graphics

Whether you like it or not, the best employers receive countless applications on a daily basis. The chances of your resume being noticed are slim, especially if you used a generic template with boring, plain-text information.

If you want more employers to notice you, consider handing over an infographic resume instead. This incorporates visual elements, like diagrams, timelines and various charts, to convey information more efficiently.

Here is a charming example from Hollywood’s very own Ashton Kutcher:

Infographic source

You can use a free editing app, like Canva, to create your own infographic resume. Simply register for an account, choose a fitting infographic template and use the drag-and-drop interface to personalize your design. Anyone should be able to pick it up within a few minutes of exploring the interface.

Run an Interview Simulation

A killer infographic resume would be useless if you will only choke on the actual interview. Simply put, you should never head to an interview without preparing for the most basic questions.

Vague questions like “Tell me more about yourself.”, for example, can easily be answered by enumerating your main selling points.

You don’t have to prepare witty or jaw-dropping responses. You just need to raise your confidence by knowing what to expect. Learning the most common interview questions from blogs and online communities is a step towards the right direction.

There are also free platforms, like Interview Simulator, that can help you get a glimpse of what conversations are like inside an interview room. If you want something less complicated, you can also search YouTube for channels that upload interview simulation videos.

See Also: 6 Interview Hacks That Are Sure To Land You The Job

Develop Your Own Personal Brand

To help you reach more employers, you should invest in building an online presence through multiple channels. Social media websites, for example, is a great way to boost your visibility to prospective employers, In fact, statistics show that 60% of employers today use social media networking sites, particularly LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, to screen applicants.

But, why stop at major social networking platforms when you can further elevate your online authority through other free channels?

Creating and maintaining a blog is one great example. You can easily add it to your existing portfolio site at zero cost. You can also leverage real-life networking platforms, like Meetup.com and Eventbrite. These sites will help you expand your networks by connecting you with like-minded individuals, including those in the same field.

See Also: How Your Car Can Affect Your Personal Branding

Create Automatic Email Alerts

Still failed to land an interview with your latest application?

Don’t worry. You can always apply for the next one.

But, if you want to be first in line, you should use a tool, like Google Alerts, to receive online job postings as soon as possible.

To set up Google Alerts, simply log in with your Google account and type in keywords like “programmer jobs” or “copywriter jobs”. Look at the preview to see if your keywords generate job postings from companies. If yes, insert the email address where you want the alerts to be sent and click ‘Create Alert’.

Getting a job is never an easy task. Fortunately, there are job hunting tips that can make the process a lot easier. Whatever you do, you should develop an optimistic mindset, especially now that employment rates are on an upward trend.

The post 5 Best Ways to Use Technology To Land Your Dream Job appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Let’s be honest. We all wish we are a few pounds lighter on the scales.

Well, I did.

I’m getting married in July of this year. And last December 5th, 2016, I got the biggest kick up my sagging, wobbly behind has ever had.

That day, I stepped on my bathroom scale and found out that I gained over 20 lbs. I looked and felt awful. I realized that I simply could not get married in July looking or feeling like that!

I guess, sometimes, everyone needs a kick!

I am a 30-year-old male, career-driven and comfortable in my relationship. I was so comfortable that I didn’t notice that my waist expanded 6 inches. I neglected my health.

What I am trying to say is that it is very easy to form bad habits and repeat them day in day out. But, once realization hits you, you’ll be able to kick those bad habits away- with focus and dedication.

I’m now 23 lbs lighter, leaner and happy. My future wife is pretty happy, too.

And as a way to help you go through the same thing, here are some of the ways to lose weight I found effective:

Food prep

This is the easiest thing to get right and the easiest thing to neglect, too.

Proper food prep is one of the best ways to lose weight. As they say, “You can’t out-train a bad diet.”

Spend an hour on a Sunday night batch cooking your food for the next 3 to 4 days. Make sure you are getting all of your key food groups, including your greens, in your meal plan.

I am not saying that getting an occasional treat isn’t allowed. Prepping your food is just a way to make sure you don’t always resort to ordering fast food.

See Also: Foods That Will Help You Keep Your Family Healthy

Understand your Macro splits

Macros, short for macronutrients, are simply the following food groups: proteins, fats, carbohydrates.

We all need them and each is vital for our metabolism to work correctly and efficiently. You can quickly search for a Macro calculator online and you can easily get a handful of options, like this one: http://ift.tt/2sKkxPZ

Once you have your splits, write them down and make sure to follow them when preparing your meal plan.

Download Myfitnesspal

This app allows you to track all of your daily food intakes. It also enables you to input your macro splits in the format of either percentage or grams. You can use it to track your actual weight loss, too.

I found that by downloading this app, I was able to easily keep an eye on what I was eating, how many calories I had consumed and how much I have left. It’s a very cool, motivational tool that keeps your eyes on the prize.

It was a huge help in making sure I don’t overeat or take on too many calories. The app has a very cool barcode scanner. You can use it to scan all of your food and keep an eye on your calories!

Exercise

Exercise has so many benefits. Not only can it help you lose and maintain a healthy weight, it can also make you feel great.

I’m not talking about spending 14 hours a day in a gym. Just engage in cardio and weight training if you can.

I try to do 20 to 40 minutes of cardio a day, 5 times a week. If you don’t like running, then head to Youtube and look up HIIT workouts. A gent called Joe Wicks creates great workout videos you can check out.

HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training), a personal favorite of mine, is sharp, explosive and great at blasting belly fat. It is short but highly effective. If you regularly follow a healthy eating regime and you combine it with HIIT, you’ll be able to see results very quickly.

Weight training is also key to building muscle and burning fat. The internet is a good source for workouts. If you have the budget, however, you can always invest in a good personal trainer.

When choosing a good coach, always ask to see the portfolio of clients they have previously worked with. This is one good way to ensure that you’ll be dealing with someone who knows how to get results.

See Also: 19 Ways to Get Motivated to Exercise

Set short term goals that add long-term results

It’s easy to realize you are overweight and tell yourself you are going to lose 50 lbs in 3 months. Doing it, however, is a different ball game.

I had weeks where I would bust my ass and lose 3 to 4 lbs. In other weeks, I’d only lose 1 lb. It is easy to get frustrated with these numbers and that’s alright. Results take time and effort.

I found that setting short term goals (4-6 weeks) were more motivating. Once you hit that short term goal, you can set a new one and repeat. We all have an end goal and whether that is 20, 30, 40 or 50 lbs of weight loss, it won’t happen overnight.

Be realistic, dedicated and honest. If you cheat on your diet, no problem. Move on from your mistake, start fresh the next day and work on smashing your goals.

Finally, don’t be afraid to allow yourself a treat once in a while. Work hard, eat well but don’t feel guilty for eating a guilty pleasure every now and again. I personally have one cheat meal a week- not a cheat day.

Hopefully, all or some of these tips have been helpful. They were a great help in my weight loss journey and they should be able to provide the same results to you.

Good luck and smash your goals!

The post 5 Tips For Smashing Your Weight Loss Goals appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Solo travel is growing in popularity. In fact, the number of first-time travelers who choose to go solo has more than doubled in recent years. Despite that, solo travelers are still a niche minority as most travelers prefer to go in couples or groups.

Traveling alone is a whole different experience. There are certain benefits you can only get from waking up alone in a totally unfamiliar place and charting your own course deeper into the unknown.

Even if you’re not traveling long-term, venturing out for a solo vacation once in awhile can help you build skills and competencies that you can bring back and apply to all areas of your life.

Here are six benefits you can get  from traveling alone:

You Learn to Rely on Yourself

You’ll get organized. Nobody else will be there to fold your laundry for you. You either do it yourself and take pride in the process or you stuff it in your backpack and content yourself with wearing wrinkled clothes.

You’ll learn to organize your finances. Without proper handling, your cash can easily slip away in a matter of days. You have to pay attention and track your spending.

Watch your own back because you’re the only one responsible for your safety. In fact, you might be the only person on the continent who cares whether you live or die! Learn to exercise caution and self-care and you’ll start becoming empowered.

You Deal With Some Big Emotions

You fall and pick yourself back up. You get extremely frustrated. You miss your family back home. You wonder where you went wrong and what the hell you are doing all the way out there anyway.

And you deal with those emotions while getting overwhelmed with joy and excitement, too.

Ultimately, you’ll learn that the world isn’t causing your emotions. You are. And, unfortunately, the world can’t solve them for you.

Traveling alone will help you learn to experience immense moments without being clumsily demonstrative. It’ll help you go through your emotions and deal with what’s really causing them.

You Build People Skills

You’ll encounter different kinds of people and build social-emotional intelligence along the way. This is a powerful tool you can use anywhere you go.

You’ll soon learn how to have a calm and pleasant conversation with the bank officials even when you’re panicking because you can’t access your account. Calmness and sweetness are more likely to win their assistance.

If you’re only in town for the weekend, you can make friends fast. You can even find a relationship quickly, too. You’ll have someone to bring to a festival or that local restaurant you’ve been wanting to visit. Even when traveling solo, you don’t really have to be alone all that much if you don’t want to.

You’ll also learn cross-linguistic communication. Even if you’re not planning to learn the language by immersion, you can always pick up the basics. The rest, you can do with body language, visual aids and a lot of patience. This is a delicate process as you’ll have to overcome your fear of looking foolish.

Traveling solo can increase your awareness of the body signals you’ve been unintentionally sending. And, because of that, you’ll be able to work on your posture and how you approach other people so that they will be more willing to engage.

You Chart Your Own Course

As a solo traveler, you can watch your decisions become plans, train tickets and then memories. You don’t have to wait for anyone, hurry up the experience or postpone your trip just because someone doesn’t want to go with you. Your destiny lies in your own hands.

You Come Face to Face With Your Smallness in the World

The world is big. It’s not just its geographical size but the magnitude of the people and their willingness to help you when you are a vulnerable stranger.

It’s one thing to say it and another thing to encounter it.

There is no humility and openness like that of a well-traveled person. When you see how big the world is and the magnanimity of its people, it’ll make you realize how diverse the world is. Strangely, this makes you both more humble and confident.

You Gain a Sense of Confidence

Traveling makes you more aware of how powerful you are than the first time you strapped on that backpack and walked out the door. You have seen yourself in dynamic, dangerous and unimaginably foreign situations and you’ve handled it.

You’ve tested yourself. You know your power and you know your limits. And you know that whatever you were so worried about in your life before you ventured out, you can handle that now, too. It’s not a problem anymore.

See Also: 5 Steps To Reinvent Your Life By Traveling

Conclusion

Traveling solo isn’t a requirement for leading a good life. You can build a lot of these skills elsewhere.

But, traveling alone accelerates your emotional and mental growth in a way that no other activity can. It makes you more open, agreeable and stable. It gives you a story and it makes you wise.

So, the next time you’re feeling that travel bug, take the extra leap and do it alone. You might surprise yourself with what you can handle.

See Also: 10 Wonderful Benefits of Traveling

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Finding a suitable work-life balance is tough for working dads. According to the 2017 Modern Families Index, half of fathers find it a growing source of stress.

And when you’re walking the tight-rope between extra hours at work and quality time at home, it’s easier to order delivery than to make a healthy meal in the evening. This, however, doesn’t mean that you have to slave over the stove each night to feed your family well.

You just have to find a few easy meals for dads to make. The following recipes aren’t just great for your health, but they can also save you money and get you more time with your kids.

Hearty Chili

There’s nothing quite like a warming bowl of chili to perk you up after a long day at work. Chili is incredibly simple to make from scratch on a weekend, and you can even get the kids involved!

Combine corn, crushed tomatoes and mild green chili with your choice of protein for a quick and healthy evening meal. If you’re looking for the low-fat, high-energy solution to chili, try lean turkey chili. Or, switch up the experience completely with a vegetarian version.

Whatever you choose, turbocharge the freshness factor by throwing in some bell peppers and chopped onions. Do that before crowning the bowl with a dash of sour cream and shredded cheddar.

Super Salmon Cakes

Salmon is a delicious superfood brimming with wonderful things for growing bodies, such as calcium, protein and omega-3. If you go for the canned version, you can save a few pennies, too.

Salmon cakes don’t take much effort to make. All you need to do is squash the salmon into patties with a little lemon juice, some whole-grain bread crumbs and eggs.

If you’re concerned that the rich flavors of salmon are a little too much for your youngsters, you can always try oven-baked fish sticks. All you need to do is coat some cod in breadcrumbs and freeze until you’re ready to bake.

Healthy Mac ‘n Cheese

When it comes to keeping your kids and your stomach happy, it’s hard to go wrong with mac ‘n cheese. You can boost the nutrients in this crowd-pleasing dish by adding whole wheat pasta and reduced fat cheddar. For a touch of greenery, add some chopped spinach to the sauce.

One great tip with mac ‘n cheese is to freeze your portions in individual, greased muffin tins. This way, you’ll be able to heat smaller amounts when you need to, without having to let casserole-sized portions go to waste. You could even treat yourself to an extra one for supper when the kids head to bed!

Stuffed Shells

Another delicious pasta idea, this healthy dish is perfect for dads who need something quick, simple and full of vitamins. To create this make-ahead meal, all you need are a few Italian seasonings and ricotta cheese. If you’d like to give your kids an extra dose of fiber and calcium, you can also add some blanched and chopped broccoli to the mix and stuff it all into some jumbo pasta shells.

Alternatively, try mixing cheese with spinach for a delicious stuffed shell that your children are sure to love. Pile your pre-made shells into small baking dishes and cover them with parmesan cheese and tomato sauce before you freeze.

See Also: 4 Delicious and Healthy Pasta Alternatives

Brilliant Burritos

It’s the perfect handheld meal while you’re busy getting something else done. With a wide variety of fillings, burritos can feature just about anything you like. For instance, if you’re looking for a superfood kick, why not try a set of spinach, bean and quinoa burritos?

Alternatively, if your kids’ tastes are a little less refined, you can simply combine black beans, brown rice and cubed chicken with your preferred seasoning mix. Add some grilled peppers and stuff everything into whole-wheat tortillas and you’ll be ready to go! Just make sure you wrap the burritos separately when you freeze them.

Quirky Quiche

The great thing about making a home-made quiche for your freezer is that, depending on the ingredients you chose, you end up with a meal that you can use any time of day. You can serve it for breakfast, lunch or even dinner.

All you need is a refrigerated crust. Then, you can get creative with easy fillings for these egg-based pies. Broccoli, asparagus and chicken is a winning mix or you can try ham and tomato for something a little simpler.

Ask your children to get involved with the mixing. You can even throw together some of the cooked meat and veggies that you have left over from the rest of the week to stretch your budget further.

Mini Meatloaf Muffins

Everyone loves meatloaf. Unfortunately for dads with a hectic work schedule, it’s not always easy to get a meatloaf done in time to feed the kids after work. That’s why these mini meatloaf muffins are the perfect solution. Not only are they quick to cook, but they freeze well for later use – which is great for making your weeknights a little easier.

Meatloaves that look like muffins are guaranteed to be a hit with your kids. You can always play around with the recipe to make sure you’re getting the most delicious mix for your youngsters.

Quinoa Casserole

Finally, put a healthy twist on the average family casserole with this rainbow-colored recipe. If you’ve been looking for a way to get your kids into superfoods like quinoa, this simple combination is a good place to start. It’s not too rich and it comes with plenty of cheese and peppers to help balance out the flavors.

Casseroles are ideal make-ahead meals because you can either cook and re-warm them the next day. You can even keep them in the freezer for a few days until you’re ready to chow down. Feel free to add a couple of your own unique ingredients to upgrade the taste.

Miraculous Make-Ahead Meals

In a world where almost half of working fathers would prefer to switch to a less-stressful job to spend more time with their kids, it’s important to do whatever it takes to simplify your schedule. Just prepping these easy meals for dads to make on a Sunday evening can have a huge impact on your family life. You’ll notice the difference and your kids will, too.
With a little luck, these recipes can lead to some satisfied stomachs and much-needed family bonding time.

See Also: Foods That Will Help You Keep Your Family Healthy

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There are times in our lives that we need someone to look up to — a person who will help to keep us motivated and progressing in a positive manner. It is for this reason that many people choose to seek the help of a mentor or coach to aid in their development.

Here are some ways on how to choose a coach that fits your needs.

Identify an Accomplished Person

The first step in finding a mentor or coach is to determine a person that you believe has the qualities that will benefit you the most. One of the best ways to do this is by choosing a person who is known for his accomplishments.

After all, if someone is noted for his ability to be successful, then there is a good chance that he has what it takes to achieve certain goals. In addition, you should consider a person who has similar interests so that there’ll be a good connection when exchanging ideas.

Ask Around

Another way to ensure that you are matched up with the right coach is to ask your friends and family if they know anyone who meets your criteria. You may find that there are members of your family that will be willing to help you stay on track and reach your goals. Even if this is not the case, they may know others who would be willing to take on the role of a mentor.

Meet the Coach

Once you have a person in mind as a potential mentor, meet up with that individual. It will give you the opportunity to get a feel of his coaching style. At this phase, it is important to ask specific questions regarding the ways that he will be able to aid you on your journey.

Every mentor is going to have his own method and you need to ensure that you can adapt to that approach. You will find that some mentors take a passive approach when coaching by allowing his students to take the reins. Others, meanwhile, may be more active in making decisions.

Give It A Go

After you have decided on a mentor, it will be time to give that person a trial run. You should do this before you commit to a long-term contract.

There will be coaches who will want to sign you up for an extended coaching plan right from the start. Keep in mind that it is important not to commit before you have found the best fit. Only after you have determined that the mentor will be able to provide the proper guidance should you commit to a contract. At this stage, if you have any doubts about the mentor’s abilities, consider trying a different person.

Stay With It

A mentor’s help can only go so far. In the end, it will still be up to you. To make the most of the situation, follow the instructions of the mentor. Make sure that you do your best so that the effort of your mentor will not be in vain. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll begin to see results.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that enlisting the help of a coach can be a great way to find your path in life. However, there are some things to keep in mind before committing to a contract. To find the best candidate for a coach, try seeking out individuals that are very accomplished. This is a good indicator that he will be a positive model.

In addition, make sure that they are familiar with your goals and that you share similar interests. After you have found a possible mentor, give it a trial run. If it goes well, stick with that person. Take note of these steps and you will be able to find a mentor that suits your needs and who can guide you on the path to success.

See Also: 7 Reasons successful people have mentors and you should too

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While in college, it’s not surprising for students to be starry-eyed about working. However, when reality strikes, life can be devastating.

As a student, to avoid such a situation, it’s important that you see things as they really are. You need to know that having a college degree isn’t a passport to a dream job. It might fetch you an interview call, but that’s not everything. To actually land the job, employers will want to know, among many other things, what you can do.

You need to have a particular skill set that fits their needs. They will also want to know if you’re a leader, can work independently, think logically and are professional in your dealings.

Unfortunately, most students don’t know many of these things. Others feel they will pick them up as they go along in their professions. Some students may learn professional skills by reading “management books by reputed authors“, watching videos on these subjects or latching on to management gurus.

See Also: 3 Management Books Every Upcoming Entrepreneur Must Read

Now, if you are wondering what exact skills can help you in getting your dream job, read on.

Leadership skills

In life, you need to demonstrate leadership skills where applicable. The ability to assume leadership roles as and when the situation demands in college and in working life will help young professionals to assume positions of influence in the future. Besides, “companies prefer hiring leaders rather than followers“.

You can develop this skill by looking out for leadership opportunities while still in high school. As a student, you can do this by becoming the captain of a sports team, a drama club or a student movement.

Collaborative skills

College kids should work well in groups while collaborating on projects. The ability to work as a team is one of the things employers often look for.

Apart from team-based projects like service activities in high school, you can learn to be collaborative by participating in extracurricular activities and athletics, too.

Essay writing skills

As a college student, you will have to juggle multiple subjects and write numerous essays. Some of them can come with very short deadlines. The trick is to master essay writing skills and get so comfortable with researching and formatting your essays that you can handle them with ease and quick turnaround times.

If you are unsure about how well you can write an essay, ask yourself if you are confident that you can score an A+ if you write the essay yourself. If you aren’t confident in your ability, it is recommended to take help from professional essay writing services. Use their essay as a reference to improve your essay writing skills.

Communication and interpersonal skills

Another skill you must learn is listening “actively, humbly and attentively“. You should also learn how to start and carry on a conversation and ask relevant questions at the appropriate time. Make sure to maintain eye contact with your group members in group projects, too.

You can inculcate better communication and interpersonal skills by speaking with your teachers in one-on-one situations. Getting a good internship is another great way to enhance your interpersonal and communication skills.

Problem-solving skills

Students and working professionals will always be confronted by numerous challenges that will need deft handling. You can work on your problem-solving skills by taking classes that teach experiential learning. You should also try out new activities that can put you in unusual situations, such as a debate or an oratory club. By participating in group projects, you can develop problem-solving skills, such as logical thinking, critical thinking and decision-making.

Time management skills

By the time you move on to college, you should have ingrained good time management skills. You should be able to track several projects efficiently and prioritize tasks.

You can improve your time management skills by taking in more responsibility. Some examples include obtaining internships, doing volunteer work or engaging in extra-curricular activities.

See Also: 5 Essential Time Management Tips to Live By

Growing personally and academically during college comes with hard work, perseverance and lessons. Don’t give up and keep honing your skills as they can be your ticket to getting your dream job.

 

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