When searching for a new career, knowing how to market yourself to potential employers and recruiters can give you an edge over the other applicants. If you don’t know how to stand out from the rest, it could make your search very long and exhausting.

With marketing, there are tons of things you need to know. To help you get started, here are some of the essential things that can help you know how to market yourself.

Know Your Unique Selling Point (USP)

In my book “The Job Book”, I talk about the importance of understanding one’s true attributes and strengths. By having a clear understanding, one should be able to find meaningful job opportunities that fit.

Since you are the product, you have to figure out what your USP is before you start selling yourself. A Unique Selling Point might be the experience you bring to the table or the skills you have gained. Maybe you’ve gone through some type of special training which can make you the best candidate for the job.

Once you know your USP, it needs to be highlighted throughout your resume and interviews. It needs to be the focus of your marketing campaign as you search for a new career.

Understand your Value

When it’s time to start a career search, you shouldn’t think that just because you need a job, any job will do.You need to know your value and settle for nothing less than what you’re worth. There are several online tools you can use to discover the average salary for the type of position you seek.

See Also: 7 Steps On How to Figure Out Your Career

Provide Growth

What you offer to a potential employer today is only a small part of the equation. Often, companies make hiring decisions based on where they think you can go in the next two to five years. If you provide plenty of upside and you’re motivated to advance, you might just land that dream career.

Promote Yourself

A strategic marketing plan often starts with a new product. You need to take a similar approach when searching for a career. You cannot just count on scattering a few resumes through email.

Instead, you need to use various channels to promote your skills and abilities. Making sure your message gets across online is just half the battle. You will also need to make sure it’s received offline, especially if the person you intend to send it to isn’t easy to contact online.

In addition, you need to take care of the details, such as sprucing up your LinkedIn profile, updating the job boards with your resume, and putting yourself out there through recruiting agencies.

You can use LinkedIn and other professional social media sites to network based on your specific expertise. This can be a very powerful way to attract the right employer who can give you the keys to your dream career.

Put Your Marketing Plan Together

Once you have an idea how to market yourself and you’ve created your USP, you will need a few tools to help bring it all together. You need to create an impressive resume/CV, optimize your LinkedIn profile and make sure your cover letter shines. It’s also a good idea to brush up on interview skills and make sure you’re ready to impress.

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

 

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Have you always dreamed of seeing a yeti? Maybe you’d love to have a beer with ol’ Bigfoot? Or sight a Sasquatch? Have a natter with Nessie?

If mythical beasts from folklore are totally your thing, why not ditch that planned all-inclusive holiday to Greece and head off to a fantastic creature-spotting adventure instead?

We’ve sourced five of the best mythical creatures and assembled a handy guide to these wonderful beasts. With our monster map, you’ll finally know where they live, what they do, and where they are from.

The Kelpie

Go to: Rural Scotland

This mythical creature is one of the most well-known in Scottish folklore. The first recorded usage of ‘kelpie’ goes back to 1759. Thought to haunt the waterways of Scotland, the kelpie is a shape-shifter that usually appears as a horse.

Nearly all rivers, streams and lochs in Scotland have some kind of kelpie story behind them. It’s thought that the kelpies’ ability to shape-shift (they can also appear as beautiful young women, children, and other forms) comes from its bridle.

So, if you’re strong enough to get hold of it, you could well find yourself in the rare position of having the upper hand over one of the most monstrous creatures from all folklore.

Black Shuck

Go to: Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex, UK

Black Shuck was the inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles, but the black spectral dog which hides in bushes goes further back than that. It terrorized parts of East Anglia in the 16th century as it stalked coastlines, graveyards, hidey-holes, and hedgerows.

Despite looking like it could cause serious harm, Black Shuck was not necessarily a violent creature. Rather, it was a harbinger, usually of bad luck.

The Loch Ness Monster

Go to: Loch Ness, Inverness, Scotland

Nessie is perhaps the most infamous of all mythical creatures, so it should be right at the top of your must-see list. Travel firm Expedia, who have put together a fantastic online map showing you places around the world where mythical creatures are said to live, explains that early sightings of the Loch Ness Monster compared the aquatic creature to a dragon.

The Nessie phenomenon started back in 1933 when the local paper Inverness Courier reported a sighting of the beast. The rest is history as Nessie cemented itself as a sensation. Expedia’s resource recommends going on a cruise to the ruins of Urquhart Castle, with live sonar on board, to maximize your chances of finding the creature.

Yacumama

Go to: Manaus, Brazil

The Yacumama is a giant anaconda-like snake that has been frightening Brazilians for many years. This immensely strong serpent, capable of sucking up everything around it, has the power to cause mudslides and general chaos.

The mythical creature resource shows that explorers were reporting seeing the snake as far back as 1906. A report from Percy H. Fawcett reads: “We stepped ashore and approached the reptile with caution. It was out of action, but shivers ran up and down the body like puffs of wind on a mountain tarn. As far as it was possible to measure, a length of 45 feet lay out of the water, and 17 feet in it, making a total length of 62 feet.”

Bigfoot

Go to: The forests of North America

Another big beast of popular folklore, Bigfoot, or Sasquatch as it’s also known, is thought to stand at least 9 feet tall and with dark fur and skin. The gorilla-like creature is thought to be a vegetarian, so it’s unlikely he’d see you as his dinner.

Where to start with a colossus like Bigfoot?

He’s practically the king of all the mythological beasts out there. The Bigfoot legend relates back to stories of ‘wild men’ that were prevalent in indigenous communities of the Pacific Northwest. The number of apparent sightings and close encounters concerning Sasquatch are legion, but he’s never been proven to exist. Most think Bigfoot is a hoax, albeit an elaborately crafted one.

So, if you’re planning an intrepid holiday to catch sight of your favorite mythical beast, we hope this monster map comes in handy. If you need to make a quick getaway, it’s great if you can take a car with you.

The post A Map Of Mythical Creatures And Where To Find Them appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Would you rather is a classical social game that has stood the test of time and is among the most popular gather-around games in the world. Whoever says you can’t learn a lot about your friends over this game has probably never played it right.

In reality, the game is hilarious, engaging and informative. However, for you to reveal your friend’s deepest secrets with this game, you’ll need sharper questions that promise better answers.

Just as articles are required for a blog to rank high on Google, you need to have good Would You Rather questions to have a fun time. While some people are born with the natural ability of asking good questions without any preparations, others have to develop it through practice.

If you belong to the last group, here are 5 easy, simple and effective ways to help sharpen up your Would You Rather questions.

Find the Right Attitude

One way to improve your Would You Rather questions is to find the right attitude. Without the right mindset and attitude, a lot of people will avoid playing with you.

To start, you must first determine what makes a bad player. For one, they don’t take responsibility for their rude or inappropriate behaviors. They offend other players with big no-no questions and they curse and blame others for their own mistakes.

If you think you don’t have these traits, then you’re on the right path to improving your game.

Be Versatile

We, humans, have a tendency to keep hitting someone’s weak spot as soon as we find it. However, for the sake of fun, you should refrain from asking Would You Rathers from one category only.

The key to making the most out of the game is to be diverse and ask both serious and funny questions from as many categories as possible. As long as your intentions are friendly, you can ask any sort of question you want.

Think Twice Before You Pose a Question

Although you can ask any question you like, that doesn’t give you the right to be impolite, rude, and make others feel uncomfortable. To avoid an awkward situation, make sure you know enough things about the players, like their age, education level and personal preferences.

If you take the risk of asking a Would You Rather question without considering your friend, you may not only offend them and kill the mood, but you may lose them from your life for good. Before you start, make sure you know which questions are good to ask and to which players.

Practice Makes Perfect

As with any other games, practice is a crucial part of becoming a good player in a game of Would You Rather. There are a plenty of questions online that are conveniently sorted into different categories. You can just look them up if you want to get inspired or improve your skills.

It may be obvious that reading questions online can help you sharpen up your questions. However, it won’t be able to help you get better at creating your own. Crafting your own questions require more effort, but it is a much more effective way of getting better questions.

Prepare Yourself by Making a List Beforehand

 

Last, but certainly not the least, is to prepare a list of Would You Rather questions before you even set a game date. This is a better strategy than throwing random questions when you’re already in the middle of the game. Apart from letting you know more about your opponents, it will also give you more time to analyze them carefully.

See Also: 5 Sports From Fiction You Can Try And How You Can Play Them

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A happy marriage or relationship can be very healthy for your physical and mental wellbeing. Science has proven that men live longer and healthier lives when they are in a healthy marriage or long-term relationship.

These things, however, aren’t the only benefits you can gain from such relationships. Fox News report that the prevalence of cancer is lower among married women and men and heart disease is less common among happily married couples. A healthy, loving relationship can also lead to lower stress levels, fewer symptoms of anxiety and a happier mood.

Unfortunately, not all relationships and marriages have happy endings. Up to 41% of first marriages end in divorce while the average person gets divorced at the age of 30.

Second and third marriages, however, have an even lower success rate. As much as 60% of second marriages end in divorce while up to 73% of third marriages fall apart. It is also reported that there are up to 100 couples filing for a divorce every hour every day.

If you think that your marriage or relationship is going downhill, then this post is for you. Here are the simplest, yet effective, tips for happy marriage.

Open Communication Is Important

The way you and your partner communicates is of utmost importance. The Better Health Channel of Australia reports that a happy relationship relies on being both a good listener and good communicator.

You should be able to openly share your feelings with your partner and listen when your partner is talking to you. Only then will you be able to truly understand each other’s feelings and find ways to improve together.

They recommend setting aside time each day to listen to each other without any distractions, to think about what you want to say, and to be open to discussing certain objects with your partner without jumping to conclusions and without being judgmental.

Don’t Forget To Hug

While this may seem somewhat insignificant, you should not disavow this idea without considering the science behind a hug. Mind Body Green reports that hugging helps to build trust. It can boost both your mood and happiness, too.

These are all thanks to the release of oxytocin, a hormone that helps to reduce feelings of anger, isolation and loneliness. Consider the benefits of a hug and you’ll clearly see how hugging on a regular basis can help you and your partner maintain a sense of trust and a healthy bond.

See Also: How to Hack Relationships: 3 Ways Physical Touch Helps

Have Sex… As Frequently As Possible

Having sexual intercourse with a partner on a regular basis has many health benefits for the both of you. Sex can improve your immune system, contribute to better heart health, and cause your blood pressure levels to decline. It makes an excellent form of physical exercise.

Sex can also be an excellent way to reduce pain as well as the risk of developing prostate cancer. It can improve your sleep quality and many people find that sex helps lower their stress levels.

Sex can also help a couple bond. It can make both individuals feel appreciated and sexier. If you suffer from a condition such as premature ejaculation, a lack of libido or erectile problems, then seek help from a doctor to prevent these health concerns from causing problems with your sex life.

Have Dinner Together

We all live busy lives and with schedules that are packed with tasks and activities. This can often lead to two partners living past one another and spending less time with each other.

To stay connected, two partners have to make time for one another. Start by having dinner together every single night. While this may seem like a very small step, it would allow both you and your partner to spend more time with each other thus creating an excellent opportunity to maintain your connection.

Better Sleep Cycles

When our lives are busy, our sleep cycles often become disrupted. Sleep is important and has many functions in the body. Ensuring you gain an adequate amount of sleep every night is really important.

When you do not have healthy sleep cycles and become sleep deprived, both your body and mind may suffer. Sleep deprivation can cause cognitive dysfunction, impaired mental activity, memory problems, moodiness and can even lead to depression. This can take a toll on your health and your relationship.

Smile… And Laugh

Something as simple as a smile can make a difference, especially if you and your loved one are going through a tough time. Laughter can be thought of as powerful medicine.

Science has proven that laughter can strengthen your immune function, provide relief in pain, reduce stress levels, and even boost your mood. Laughter has been scientifically proven to strengthen the relationship between two people so try to smile and laugh more with your partner.

Spend Time On Yourself Too

Lastly, you should never forget that even though you are in a relationship, you are still an individual with feelings, emotions and body. Some people tend to forget that they should spend time on themselves as well if they plan on maintaining a healthy, loving relationship.

Small things like making sure you are always well-groomed and decent can show your partner that you still care how they feel about you.

Conclusion

Being happy is a wonderful experience, but being in love can be an even more powerful experience. Unfortunately, love does not last for everyone – as we already discussed, more than 50% of all marriages end up in divorce. Luckily, there are ways to maintain the love and happiness in a relationship.

One of the best tips for happy marriage is to act together. Both partners need to act together to make their relationship last.

See Also: 6 Stepping Stones Of A Successful Married Life

The post Tips For Happy Marriage: 7 Simple Ways To Maintain A Loving Relationship appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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A white T-shirt is a necessity in every woman’s closet. A single white t-shirt could already create a gazillion ideas for you.

If you are still not convinced, here are 12 ways you can slay with white shirt fashion.

Work-wear over nice tailored suit

Your V-neck white t-shirt can be work-appropriate when partnered with a nice tailored suit, a good pair of jeans, and loafers. I’m sure your boss would complement your smart and stylish casual look.

The eccentric chic

With a pair of neon-colored stilettos, a straight cut mom jeans, and a combat jacket accessorized with a statement necklace, you can easily create the eccentric-chic look. You can take it out for coffee or a few cocktail drinks.

Denim over denim

Throw on your distressed classic pair of skinny denim jeans, your favorite denim jacket, and hi-cut red Converse to add some colors and retro vibe to your white tee. Go classic and take the risk. Who says denim can’t go with denim?

Simple but classy

This style is for when you are in a hurry but still want to look chic. Wear your white tee underneath a bright patterned blazer, with a pair of shorts and beige-colored flat shoes and your friends won’t think you’ve overly prepared for your coffee date.

It’s simple- without downgrading your class.

Weekend getaway

Too tired to dress up for a weekend getaway? Then, maybe your leopard printed scarf can help you with your problem.

Liven up your white t-shirt with some leopard scarf on your neck, a pair of booties and some accessories.

Color up

To add some fun and spice to your outfit of the day, grab the brightest colored pants or shorts you have and then put on your white tee.

You can choose to dress down or dress up on this one with a pair of neutral-colored heels or classic white shoes. A statement bracelet or necklace can also bring some spice.

No such thing as too much white

This combination is a classic. White tees over white pants and a white pair of flats and black blazer thrown over your shoulder can bring out your inner CEO vibes.

It is an outfit perfect for business meetings and lunch dates. There is no such thing as too much white in fashion.

Date Night

If you don’t want your date to look away from you while you guys are having a romantic dinner, try wearing a black high waisted slitted skirt. Match it with your black stiletto, white tee and red clutch and you’ll have your date’s eyes glued on you the whole night.

Casual grungy college vibe

For a casual and grungy look, your flannel shirt will come in handy. Grab that flannel shirt and wear it unbuttoned over your white t-shirt and navy colored beanie. To complete this outfit, rock that laced up combat boots and you’re ready to dance up your day.

Sugar is sweet

To unleash the girly side within you, a little help from your light-colored cardigan would be helpful. Layer your white t-shirt with a light colored cardigan and match that with a pair of cute bow flat shoes. Lastly, to add a girly vibe, put on some pearl earrings.

Rockstar is your middle name

Match your white t-shirt and jeans with a black leather bomber jacket. Then, complete the look with some peep-toe black heels. Wear that hair up and put on some eyeliner to achieve this rockstar look. It’s perfect for both work and night out.

The basics

This one is the absolute favorite in this list. Your classic white tee and a good pair of jeans are a perfect combination. Like peanut butter and jelly, these two clothing pieces work well with each other.

Any shoes paired with this outfit will change the overall look. A pair of sneakers will unleash the sporty side in you. Flat shoes will keep everything clean and simple while some stylish stilettos can make you look edgy.

Takeaway

White tees can match everything and anything found in a woman’s wardrobe. You can dress up or down with it. Just don’t be afraid to mix and match to show your style.

The post Ways That Will Make You Love Your White Tee Even More appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Got a special celebration coming up and want to make the best impression on your guests?

Whether it’s a birthday, wedding announcement, Christmas or something else, the success of a celebration largely depends on one key thing- and it may surprise you. No, it’s not the people, food, or even the atmosphere. It’s the table.

That’s right, your table.

The humble table plays a critical role in setting the scene and making a celebratory event go smoothly. Pay attention to getting it right and you’ll have happy guests who will forever remember a great night. Ignore it and your party could fizzle out faster than a wet firecracker.

So, if you’re planning to host an event and want to make it extra memorable, seal the night with these five tips to make your festive table special with hardly any effort. Thanks to the ideas below, you and your guests will be assured of a great time.

Keep it simple

Special doesn’t have to mean showy. It can mean simple too.

In table setting, as in life, “keep it simple” is an important mantra. It can help you create holiday table decorations with a fresh perspective and without overcomplicating anything. Just keep things lean and clean.

A clean and clutter-free table will set the right tone for the night and start your event off on just the right foot.     

Centerpiece, centerpiece, centerpiece

Apart from a clean table, you’ll also need a good centerpiece. It will probably be the most visible element on it.

Everything flows from a table’s centerpiece, so spend some time getting it just right. Try tailoring the centerpiece to the occasion.

Celebrating a wedding? How about displaying a lovely photo of the bride and groom? Valentine’s Day? Get a nice vase and fill it with roses. Christmas? Pick up a gingerbread house from a local bakery.

A customized centerpiece is an excellent opportunity to highlight both your thoughtfulness and your sense of originality. Take advantage of it and your guests will absolutely appreciate it.   

The science of smell

What we smell can significantly impact our mood and outlook. It’s the reason supermarkets bake fresh bread and brew coffee in their stores (and usually keep them right next to the entrance to woo shoppers the moment they walk in).

Although your goal here is not to convince your guests to buy something, employing scents can work wonders when it comes to lifting an event’s atmosphere and ensuring everyone has a great time. Consider scented candles (but not ones that might compete with the smell of the food you’ll be serving) and choose seasonal fragrances to match the event.

You can try citrus for spring and cinnamon for Christmas. For Halloween,  use pumpkin.

Seating on standby

Welcoming a large number of guests? You might find yourself stuck with a common problem: not having enough chairs for all of them.

If you want to make sure everyone can enjoy sitting around your celebratory table, go find chairs that you can use from the other rooms in your house.

However, to ensure those extra chairs won’t clash with the ones already set up near your table, you might want to cover them in colors that match your tablecloth. You can also decorate them with sashes and bows to tie in everything to a single theme.

It may take a bit of effort and thought, but it won’t go unnoticed.   

See Also: How to Choose the Best Table Linen and TableCloths

Go green

Everybody loves them some Mother Nature. The good news is that you don’t have to keep her outside.

Inject natural, earthy vibes into your event by placing some greenery on your table. There’s no need to turn it into a forest. A splash of fresh herbs here and a houseplant there can really work wonders and add some living zest to your event.

As well as being pleasing to the eye, plants and flowers are known to boost people’s emotional state. This could help your guests have an extra fantastic time at your event.

For more tips and fun facts, have a look at holiday table decorations infographic below.

Source

 

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At some point in your life, you may have to retire. This phase can be challenging, intimidating, and even overwhelming, especially if you’re not really sure how to make the necessary adjustments.

To make your transition more simple, here are some of the best retirement planning tips you can try.

Ease Into Things

Suddenly stopping working after so many years can be incredibly tough so avoid rushing the process.

If working part-time for your employer is an option, consider it. If not, you might want to do some freelance work in your field for a while.

You can also use your hobbies to get more involved in work and find ways to stay busy. It might be teaching piano, sharing your love of painting, or crafting and selling your items online.

At your retirement party, network with other coworkers who’ve already retired to see what jobs they’ve taken up. There are a lot of options, so find something that can keep you busy and your mind occupied.

See Also: 10 Amazing Business Ideas For Stay-At-Home Retirees

Make Sure You Are Financially Prepared

Just because you feel like you have saved enough money does not mean you are already financially prepared for retirement. You need to have a plan for how you will tap your retirement savings for living expenses, including taxes.

There are strategies you can use to minimize taxes. Talk to your bank and check your employer’s retirement policy to find out where you are at before retiring. Know how you can make the transition and keep all your money.

Think About Where You Will Live

Many retirees want to stay in their homes but others may want to move to places that are warm or have lower taxes.

Before you actually retire, make sure to map out a plan for your living situation. Talk to your family and see if they have an opinion on where it might be best for you to live. If you have health issues, it might be a good option to also look for institutions that can help you with mobility or medications.

Take Steps to Stay Healthy

Numerous studies suggest that healthcare spending takes a large bite out of people’s retirement funds. These expenses can easily hit the six-figure level for many retirees.

To stay in good health, you’ll need regular checkups, especially if you have existing health issues. Make sure you talk to your healthcare provider to keep a plan in place for your future.

Find Things to Do

Boredom and loneliness can be real issues for retirees. Apart from making the transition harder, they can be bad both for physical and mental health, too. That’s why it’s important to find things to do.

Many retirees like to travel. However, since that can be expensive, it may not be an option for all people. If this sounds like your case, you can try volunteering, going to shows and concerts at your local event center, or playing sports. You can try bowling and golf.

See Also: Retirement Activities that are Financially Viable

Retirement is an exciting but scary experience. However, by following these retirement planning tips, you’ll be able to experience a smoother and easier transition. Just be sure to keep your options open and be prepared beforehand so you can have a great start in your retirement years.

The post Retirement Made Easy: Tips To Make The Transition Simple appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. There will be approximately 159,260 deaths from lung cancer in the United States this year alone.

Despite smoking being the most common cause of lung cancer, more than 42 million Americans continue to smoke cigarettes. In case you are struggling with ditching the habit, here are some tips for quitting smoking.

1. Find a Substantial Reason to Quit

The best way to motivate yourself is to find a compelling reason to quit.

For many people, it’s to preserve their health. There are others who want to quit for the benefit of their loved ones.

Once you have identified your reason, remind yourself of it every day.

Place reminders on your phone, fridge, computer or even in your car. If your family is your reason for quitting, place their photo in your packet of cigarettes. Anytime you are about to light a cigarette, you will see their faces and think twice.

2. Understand the Damage That Smoking Does

If you require more motivation, spend some time looking into the health implications of smoking. In addition to causing lung cancer, smoking also increases your risk of having coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and cerebral infarction.

Your risk of having lung-related ailments also increases if you are a smoker. You’ll be prone to developing emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthma attacks.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also suggests that, in addition to lung cancer, smoking can encourage cancers in other parts of the body, too. The list includes stomach, pancreas, liver, throat, kidney and bladder cancers.

Other health problems related to smoking are reduced sperm count, increased risk of type 2 diabetes, birth defects and stillbirth. It’s also associated with increased cataract risk and impaired immune system function.

3. Recognize the Symptoms of Nicotine Withdrawal

Once you have plenty of motivation to quit, it’s essential that you develop an understanding of the battle you’ll be facing. The first step is to know the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

The nicotine in cigarettes is what makes you feel good when you smoke. Nicotine stimulates your adrenal glands to produce adrenaline and give you a pleasurable feeling.

Some of the symptoms you may experience when withdrawing from nicotine include irritability, frustration, depression and anxiety. You can also experience headaches, fatigue, increased hunger and constipation.

By understanding the symptoms, you can create a plan to combat them.

4. Find Your Smoking Triggers

Most people have certain triggers that cause them to smoke or increase the number of cigarettes they light in a day.

For example, some people find themselves more compelled to smoke when they are drinking alcohol or after having a meal. Others have certain places or activities that make them more inclined to smoke.

One of the greatest tips for quitting smoking is to identify your triggers so that you’ll be able to deal with the compulsion.

If you find yourself smoking when drinking alcohol, replace it with another activity, like eating pistachios. This will keep your hands busy and reduce your compulsion to smoke.

5. Keep a Journal

To help you identify and remember your triggers, use a journal to keep track of your activities and how much you smoke each day.

You’ll be surprised to find how your emotions can affect your smoking habits. A journal is a good reminder that smoking is both a psychological and physiological addiction.

6. Throw Out Anything Associated with Smoking

Go around the house and remove anything associated with your habit. All your ashtrays, antique pipe collection and lighters must go.

You need to keep an eye out for anything that might trigger your cravings for cigarettes. As much as possible, remove the smell of cigarettes from your home as well so you don’t have a constant reminder of tobacco.

7. Cold Turkey Rarely Works

No matter how tough you think you are, quitting smoking is not an easy task- even if you go cold turkey.

According to research, most people who do manage to quit by going cold turkey relapse shortly afterward. The figures are shocking as only 3 to 6 out of 100 smokers quitting through the said approach manage to ditch the habit for good.

The most successful way to quit is to create a plan that will gradually reduce your nicotine consumption.

8. Use Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) uses gums, pills, patches, inhalers, lozenges or mouth sprays to deliver nicotine to your system as you reduce your cigarette intake. Studies indicate that people who use NRT are 50-70% more likely to successfully quit smoking.

Nicotine is the addictive component of cigarettes.

9. Keep Your Mouth Busy

Many cigarette smokers experience a compulsion to do something with their hands and mouth when they attempt to quit smoking. Directly address this problem by chewing gum, sucking on lozenges or eating pistachios to keep your hands and mouth preoccupied.

Some smokers gain weight when they are quitting because they begin to consume more candy. Instead of indulging in sweets, try selecting healthy treats like nuts.

10. Take Pills to Reduce the Effects of Smoking

There are medications available to help you quit smoking, such as Chantix and Zyban.

Chantix attempts to reduce the stimulatory effect that nicotine consumption has on the brain. Zyban, on the other hand, is a mild antidepressant that can reduce the negative impact of nicotine withdrawal.

It is important to remember that both of these drugs have some possible side effects.

11. Supplemental Treatments

A wide range of supplemental treatments has been reported helpful when it comes to nicotine withdrawal.

Aromatherapy, hypnotherapy, acupuncture and massage have great benefits to people aspiring to quit smoking. Deep breathing exercises and other relaxation techniques work well, too.

12. Ask For Help

In recent years, the government has been spending millions of dollars on programs to help people quit smoking. You can use the Internet to see what free programs and help lines are available in your area.

You could also quit with a friend who smokes or seek professional medical help for a safer process. It’s a good idea to ask your family to help as well.

The more help you have, the easier the quitting process.

13. Keep Busy

Nicotine withdrawal can also make you feel restless. To address this, try to keep yourself busy.

Take up a new hobby, wash your car or go hiking. You can also go for a quick jog or go out to lunch with your friends.

A busy schedule will help you forget about your nicotine cravings. Keep in mind, however, that you still need to avoid stressful activities as they can be smoking triggers.

See Also: Spiritual Pointers for Quitting a Bad Habit 

14. Hang Out With Healthy People

If you have non-smoking friends who live healthy lifestyles, spend more time with them. Their enthusiasm for fitness and being healthy will help you overcome your cigarette addiction.

15. Use Technology to Beat Cigarettes

There are applications for quitting smoking which you can download to your smart phone. Good examples include Quit It Lite, Quit Smoking, My Last Cigarette and ButtOut.

Most of these applications are free or cost a few dollars, so experiment with them to find the best one.

16. Create a Strategy and Schedule

If you can create a detailed plan using the mentioned tips for quitting smoking, your chances of succeeding will be greatly increased.

A good way to start your plan is by drafting a quitting schedule with a start date and a number of milestones. Use these milestones as markers for every symptom you’ll be able to overcome.

For example, 14 days after quitting, your circulation and lung capacity should improve. After 28 days, you will have less shortness of breath and be able to exercise more strenuously.

See Also: How a Healthy Lifestyle Affects Your Career 

Quitting a habit is not an easy task. However, with the right preparation and these tips for quitting smoking, you’ll be able to beat your addiction and live a healthier life in no time.

 

 

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Countries around the world experience division in so many ways. They can be divided by religion, caste systems, and even educational background. In some places, socio-economic standings count, too.

This particular article, however, will focus on language.

A cultural divide due to languages restricts people from socializing with each other. Take, for example, a person from a British-English speaking background. When he socializes with an American-English person, he may feel alienated due to their differences in accent and lifestyle.

For a person who is a non-native in an English-speaking country, embracing the region’s culture can be difficult. Since the person can’t easily mingle with the natives, he’ll feel left out and insecure. Because of these feelings, he’ll likely withdraw more.

A cultural division due to languages doesn’t only happen in English-speaking countries.

Mandarin Chinese is one of the most spoken languages in the world. Despite this, not everyone in the world knows how to speak it.

For a first time traveler, surviving a trip to China alone is near to impossible. He needs to bring along someone who knows a thing or two about Chinese culture. If not, he’ll feel very much unwelcome.

One good reason is misconception. For people who know how to speak Mandarin Chinese, it’s easy to downplay others who can’t even understand its basic words and phrases.

Because it’s a widely spoken language, they expect other people to know it, too. And when foreign people can’t engage in small talks with the natives, they’ll consider them unfriendly and a snob.

However, what those natives don’t know is that the foreign people are just experiencing difficulty understanding their language and communicating.

People aren’t always expressive with these misconceptions. In fact, they are implied most of the time and it is what makes things a lot more complicated.

In many South Asian nations, being fluent in English means being successful. They think that English speakers are smart, witty and intelligent.

The ability to speak in a foreign language gives one an edge in the corporate world. Because of this, a lot of people try to learn the most influential languages in the world to get better career opportunities and experience professional growth. Some of these people even travel abroad just to master the languages.

When they get home, however, natives consider them as too good for their community. This, as a result, leads to isolation and the gap becomes even wider.

The Solution

To bridge this gap, we must learn to appreciate diversity. People are different and so are the languages they speak.

Despite these differences, we should still learn more about other people’s languages. Being a native of one country doesn’t mean that you don’t have any right to learn another country’s language.

Think of it as a way to connect with other people.

Natives think that foreign people aren’t friendly because they are not talking to them. Foreign people, on the other hand, feel isolated and unwelcomed because natives aren’t reaching out to them.

By taking the time to learn a foreign language, we will be able to avoid these misconceptions. And the lesser these misconceptions are, the more we can prevent cultural divide due to languages.

See Also: 5 Tips to Learn Languages by Reading Foreign Books

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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

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

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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