Millennials have been done a great disservice. They are told that if they go to college and earn a degree, they will make a million dollars more over their lifetime than someone without a college degree. While this statistic is true in some cases, many Millennials are under the mistaken impression it is the college degree itself that will get them where they need to go. It turns out there is a whole other set of skills- soft skills- that Millennials are lacking, and that is holding them back.
What Are Soft Skills?
Being able to get to work on time, eating nutritious foods, and getting enough exercise are all soft skills that can impact your job performance. But the soft skills employers are most looking for are:
Creative Thinking
Effective Communication
Problem Solving
Innovative Thinking
Ethical Integrity
Intercultural Skills
Desire For Continued Learning
Where Do You Get Soft Skills?
Soft skills are generally things that aren’t taught, though they can be. Most people are supposed to learn these things through experience, but when you are just starting out in the job market you don’t really have time to learn on the job. In this job market, you need to show up prepared.
Some places to hone your adulting skills are:
Self Help Books
Volunteering
Adulting Classes
Support Groups
Hobbies
Whenever you work on bettering yourself, you are bringing yourself one step closer to being a responsible adult. If you are under the mistaken impression you are good enough just as you are, take a long hard look in the mirror. Everyone, literally everyone, has room for improvement. It’s not that you’re a bad person; you need to focus on being the best version of yourself you possibly can be.
Millennials can have the best degree from the best university, but there are some things they might not be learning. Getting the job done efficiently is as important as getting it done well. Learning to prioritize tasks and set goals and deadlines is certainly something that Millennials should be learning in school, but it doesn’t always shake out that way.
Things that are emphasized in school:
Science
Technology
Mathematics
Reading
Writing
Things that are not emphasized in school but should be:
Arts
Humanities
History
Physical Education
Home Economics
Social Skills
With the shift toward teaching to a test, the school is results-driven rather than comprehensive. Education is shifted to one extreme- the one that is going to produce the most career-ready students. Unfortunately, the need for arts, humanities, and the like gets lost in the shuffle. Empathy is not measurable, neither is the drive to succeed. As long as you can memorize and regurgitate the material, you get rubber stamped to move on to the next level.
Once school is over, where are Millennials supposed to learn these soft skills? That is the true challenge. Knowing you need to brush up on your soft skills is one thing, but knowing how to do that is something else entirely. Perseverance is the key to all lifelong learning. There will be setbacks and challenges, but learning to press on is where Millennials have the opportunity to transform into the next generation of business leaders.
Learning how to take care of yourself outside of the workplace will go a long way toward success in the workplace. Millennials also often don’t learn how to eat a proper diet, get enough sleep and exercise, and the value of unplugging in school, but these skills can have a huge impact on career readiness.
Soft skills set apart between being able to replicate your job as it was taught to you and being able to innovate a new way to do your job that is more efficient. Soft skills are the difference between keeping your business small and local and being able to scale up because you have the ability to communicate with people from other cultures.
Developing yourself both personally and professionally is something you have to do on your own time. You will have to be willing to engage in lifelong learning. If you don’t want to ever learn anything new ever again, your career is going to be stuck for the rest of your life. But if you can recognize there is a problem and set about trying to solve it, congratulations- you’ve just mastered adulting.
Is there a secret as to why some individuals have successful careers and others do not? Research shows that abilities or IQ often have no cause and effect relationship. Certainly, a socio-economic background does have a significant association, but no guarantee.
As an executive coach and leadership trainer, I have talked to experienced senior managers and executive about their careers over the two decades. They have shared their experiences, secrets, innermost fears and hopes for the future with me. A constant theme for both high-performing and high-potential experts has been the pitfalls and promises of corporate politics and finding the secrets to career success. Here are some insights I can share that can advance, shape and revamp the careers of managers and executives.
Here are some insights I can share that can advance, shape and revamp the careers of managers and executives.
Take responsibility for managing your own profession
Do not wait until you are fired, burned out, laid off or fed up to revitalize your profession. Manage your career on an ongoing basis, particularly through the good eras. This reflects a belief you should embrace, “Take responsibility for everything that happens in your life.”
When someone talks to you, they will judge or evaluate your worth. Make that conversation worthwhile. Focus on the other person and not yourself.
Focus on your strengths
By strengths, I mean activities that meet the following criteria:
You are great (not only good) at it.
When you are thinking about the task, it makes you excited and anxious.
When you are doing the task, you concentrate on it and get absorbed in the activity, even losing track of time.
Once the task is done, you have more energy than before.
Don’t buy into the workaholic hype
Workaholics overachieve at a cost. Usually, they burn out and never recover or they burn out their other folks. Having a balanced life does not necessarily hinder your productivity. In fact, research shows that time off from work and getting rest time increases productivity.
Self-management is a key ability that will support you throughout your life. It includes setting goals and managing your time. Developing your motivation and concentration will help you overcome the lure of procrastination. Effective self-management will help you avoid stress and offer you more chances to get involved in fun activities.
Self-Awareness
When we learn to become aware of our primitive and self-destructive thoughts, ideas, beliefs, choices and assumptions, we become more loving, peaceful, and intelligent beings. Not only do we stop suffering, but the individuals in our lives stop responding to our self-imposed misery. Instead, they find more peace. Our thoughts create our reality, which is why these self-awareness activities are so important for us to learn.
Stop being in love with the sound of your own voice
Develop the discipline to listen more than you talk. Watch how often you use the word “I” when you talk.
Never be unemployed, even for a day
If you get fired or laid off, volunteer immediately somewhere for something that puts your abilities to work. The longer you are not meaningfully engaged, whether you are compensated or not, the more this will drain your confidence and energy.
Be Gentle
Even if you have all the answers, people do not want to work with you if you continually shove it in their face or show you do not care about them. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Under promise and over deliver
The celebrity endorsement, professional athlete hype, and heroic CEO promises of super accomplishments have taken the public into a fantasy world. But kindness, compassion, and selfless service are a powerful combination that has a bigger long-term impact.
Find mentors
Hire a trainer or find a wise person preferably outside of the office to give you advice who will guide you on your fears, hopes, and dreams. Good mentors will also guide you to make good decisions.
The bottom line is that there are or formulas or no magic potions for career success. What you need are constant efforts and insightful strategies much like the focus of successful companies.
In today’s world, many aspects of masculinity have been called into question. I think we can all agree that masculine drives to dominance and force have led to much violence, corruption, trauma, and suffering in the world. I see these manifestations as unhealthy aspects of the Warrior spirit, which is inherent in all men.
Healthy Warrior spirit is positive and necessary for men—a heroic striving to become more, slay one’s own demons, protect others, speak truth the to power, and stand up for what’s right in the world. I believe one of the most important challenges for men today is learning to cultivate and harness their Warrior spirit as a force for good, for change, and for supporting the best in themselves and others.
So how do we find our Warrior nature? And how can we distinguish between our healthy and our destructive Warrior instincts?
The Warrior and the Man of Wisdom are at the heart of the Hero’s Journey
The Hero’s Journey is omnipresent in the genetically driven archetypal forms that arise from all cultures. For men, embracing his Warrior nature and transforming through quests into the Man of Wisdom is at the heart of the masculine Journey.
The Hero, when he finally heeds an authentic call to action and embraces his Warrior self, develops, strengthens, and clarifies through ordeal and struggle on the road to becoming a Man of Wisdom.
We become the Warrior when we are willing to endure discomfort and put ourselves at risk for our principles. 17th Century “Sword Saint” Miamoto Musashi maintained that resolute acceptance of death in serving your purpose—your current mission—is the signature hallmark of the Warrior. Principle over comfort and safety seems to be a central organizing principle in most teachings about the Warrior and Man of Wisdom, and is consistent with the evolutionary roots of the archetypes. I’ve also found it to be true for my clients and me over the last forty-three years and fifty-five thousand therapy sessions.
When a man becomes stable in his Warrior consciousness, discerning what’s true or false, and feels more moved to serve others’ development and less absorbed with testing himself, he’s often transitioning into Man of Wisdom.
Why is the Warrior archetype so necessary for men? Male competition and dominance are built into the human genome just as it is in chimpanzees, walruses, wolves and countless other species. This instinct is met putting purpose ahead of personal comfort or safety in critical situations.
The Hero’s journey—the universal human attraction to being on a mission—often involves an initial transition into the Warrior who, through traveling the road of trials, transforms into the Man of Wisdom.
The hero in the hero’s journey by definition expands his Warrior nature. He hears a call to action, says “Yes!” faces and defeats the threshold guardian, and crosses the threshold onto the road of trials and ordeals. The Warrior, receiving transformational spiritual guidance, feels in his heart when he’s on or off his mission and adjusts back to his mission, even under extreme duress.
Ordeals lead to the Well of the World—the Belly of the Whale—where he must reconcile Masculine and Feminine, Father and Mother, Light and Shadow.
Dr. Keith Witt’s latest book on personal growth
As he does, his identity is progressing towards Man of Wisdom who returns through the threshold, a living bridge to the Other World. Great examples?
• Luke embodying the Jedi Knight into defeating and then reconciling with the wounded father–Darth Vader.
• Harry Potter finding deep compassion even as he destroys Voldemort.
• Bill Clinton facing the humiliations of his impeachment and wounded sexuality and continuing on to serve the world in multiple ways.
• Einstein first surrendering to his calling to more deeply understand the cosmos–in the face of much adversity–and going on to be a powerful philosophical voice for unity.
The core of the Hero’s Journey is the challenge to grow or collapse under stress. We are called, we resist the call, we finally accept the call, and embark on our personal Odyssey—choosing the adventure and coming home transformed. The monsters arise from within and without, seeking to consume us, craving violence. Attack! Flee! Attack you! Run from you! Attack me! Run from me! A man discovers his Warrior nature facing such monsters guided by his principles and strengthened by his resolve.
In mythic terms, each time we slay the monster, face the ordeal, or choose principle over comfort, we discover and deepen our Warrior self. This dynamic is at the core of the Warrior’s journey.
I was a high school athlete who wrestled, practiced Shotokan Karate, played tennis, and ran cross country. My fears of pain, opponents, injury, and failure were the monsters who said, “Don’t risk that try-out, don’t get on the mat with that opponent, don’t take that ten-mile run, you will never do well in that race.” I had to meet those monsters and consume them, absorb their energy and step through the resistance thresholds into the training and contests, the victories and defeats. Each time I faced them and stepped towards them, I found my Warrior self just a little bit—I absorbed some of the resistance power and alchemically transformed it into a little more courage to step forward the next time in service of my principles.
This is the beauty of merit-based hierarchies likes sports, dance, theater, and heartfelt projects, especially for adolescents who are discovering their adult identities through success and failures, temptations and ordeals.
This is also consistent with modern research on willpower. As Roy Baumeister details in his Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength, willpower is resisting a lesser impulse (like procrastination) in service of a deeper, more meaningful impulse, and is associated with increased happiness, success, health, and love. Of three dozen personality characteristics, willpower was the only one that, at four-years-old, could predict future college GPA.
Also, whether we naturally have more or less willpower as children, we can develop willpower with practice. We all have the human superpowers of focused intent and action, in service of principle, and driven by resolve. Consciously choosing goals/principles and utilizing our superpowers to pursue them increases willpower and develops our Warrior selves.
Most guys are lit up by the Warrior archetype. The Warrior is someone willing to sacrifice comfort or safety for his principles. Every single time a guy endures risk or discomfort, or sacrifices in service of principle, he nourishes his Warrior nature. The desire to do this rises up in men. If you’re not true to your principles, you suffer. If you are true to your principles, you find your Warrior self each time you hold your ground, face your fear, or embody your purpose.
We want to find ourselves as Warriors. Many men I’ve discussed this with craved this from earliest memories. I personally wanted to find myself as a warrior when I was three, five, eleven, fifteen, and thirty—the hunger was always there. I didn’t know exactly what I was reaching for, but I yearned for power and purpose, like my favorite characters in books and movies. Looking back I can see them clearly—Mighty Mouse, Mowgli (from Kipling’s The Jungle Book), Super Man, Bilbo Baggins, and The Man from UNCLE. All were Warriors serving the higher good.
As a boy grows from child to teen, to man, he expands into the Warrior. He finds meaning at the edge of death—either actually or symbolically by risking injury, failure, or defeat. He takes the Hero’s Journey—sometimes again and again. When we’re tested and rise to the task, we find our Warrior selves—a blissful experience to the masculine. And life tests us again and again, leading to successes and failures, both potentially supporting our Warrior selves.
At a particular point in adult development, something changes–we no longer need to find our best selves as much as to consistently embody our best selves. This marks the transition in Man of Wisdom. As we shift into Man of Wisdom we’re less drawn to the ordeal and more to service. I suspect this archetype arose in our misty genetic past when age diminished men’s physical capacities, but experience expanded their judgment and discernment. Tribes who accessed this wisdom had distinct evolutionary advantages.
The Man of Wisdom naturally embodies his principles. He transmits compassion and wisdom into the world and is moved to care. Man of Wisdom is often less drawn to competition and trials for himself, but loves to help others, especially the young Warriors.
Both these archetypes, Warrior and Man of Wisdom, arise in all cultures and are centrally important to most men.
What are your relationships with your Warrior nature? When have you embodied your Man of Wisdom? If you can’t answer these questions, ask someone you love about when they’ve observed these archetypes in you, and use all the information you gather to clarify your own masculine journey into Warrior and beyond into Man of Wisdom.
Haruki Murakami is an internationally renowned Japanese writer, probably best known for his novel, Norwegian Wood. If you need to rebuild your strength when you’ve been through tough times, the wisdom in these quotes by Haruki Murakami will show you the way.
“Life is not like water. Things in life don’t necessarily flow over the shortest possible route.” – 1Q84
When it seems as though everything is complicated, that’s perfectly normal. Accept that there will be difficulties as you try to get through life. Don’t fight against it, and you’ll find things far less stressful.
“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” — What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
You can’t control everything that happens to you, but you can choose how you react to it. Attitude can influence how well you cope with adversity.
“Listen, every object’s in flux … They don’t stay in one form or another or in one place forever.” – Kafka on the Shore
Change can be difficult for many people. But it’s a natural part of life. So go with the flow. Embrace change. Seize the opportunities it brings. Ask yourself what you can learn from these new situations and what you can gain.
“Even castles in the sky can do with a fresh coat of paint.” – South of the Border, West of the Sun
From the outside, the lives of others can seem perfect. But you don’t see everything. Perfection isn’t always desirable.
“Two people can sleep in the same bed and still be alone when they close their eyes” – Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
A relationship is often seen as the ultimate goal. Isn’t it lonely to be on your own? But you have to be happy within yourself to be happy in a relationship. Be cautious of assuming that having a partner will solve all your worries.
“Hatred is like a two-edged sword. When you cut the other person you cut yourself.” – Norwegian Wood
It’s inevitable that some people will treat you badly. You can’t change them or the past. What you can change is how you view their actions. Forgiving them allows you to move on. You may not forget what they did. But it’s healthier for you to move on and not be angry at them.
“If you remember me, then I don’t care if everyone else forgets.” – Kafka on the Shore
Few of us will make an impact on the world. But we can make a difference to a few people.
“One heart is not connected to another through harmony alone. They are, instead, linked deeply through their wounds.” – Colorless TsukuruTazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage
Love can be painful. That’s part of the price we pay for having this joy. People will hurt you, and you may hurt them.
“Even if we could turn back, we’d probably never end up back where we started.” – 1Q84
If only we could change the past! Things would be different. But we can’t go back. Focus on the present and the future instead. What can we do differently from now on?
“You can’t run away from your life. So deal with it. The end.” – The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
People often change their environment, thinking they can get away from unhappiness. But you can’t escape yourself. Your problems will go with you if you don’t address them. Learn to face things that scare you. Change your attitude. Work on yourself.
“If you can love someone with your whole heart, even one person, then there’s salvation in life. Even if you can’t get together with that person.” –1Q84
It’s heartbreaking if you can’t be with someone you love. But at least you have that love, even if you can’t do much about it. Some people never even have that much. It shows you have the capacity to love.
“And once the storm is over you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive.” – Kafka on the Shore
Most of us are stronger than we think. We need to have faith in ourselves. We may look back and wonder how we coped with adversity. But we do. Every time. We have inner strengths that we’re unaware of.
“I happen to like the strange ones. People who look normal and leads normal lives – they’re the ones you have to watch out for.” – Kafka on the Shore
Have you been ridiculed for being ‘different’ or ‘strange’? Perhaps people secretly envy you. But you’re unique, you’re yourself. Love yourself for who you are. What other people think doesn’t matter.
“Unfortunately, the clock is ticking, the hours are going by. The past increases, the future recedes. Possibilities decreasing, regrets mounting.” – Dance Dance Dance
Time spent in regrets is time wasted. You can’t change anything. Enjoy your life. Make the most of it from now on. But don’t have regrets. You did the best you could at the time. Don’t criticize yourself.
“Every one of us is losing something precious to us. Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back again. That’s part of what it means to be alive.” – Kafka on the Shore
Life can be a wonderful experience. But there has to be balanced. It can’t be amazing all the time. There has to be loss and pain as well. It’s all part of the cycle of life.
Beauty doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, with the right food, you can boost your skin’s natural glow without having to rely on creams, serums, and lotions. And because these natural foods don’t contain the chemicals and preservatives most skin care products have, they are also a lot safer.
For healthy, glowing skin, you can try adding more of these foods to your daily meal plans.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes have lycopene which is a natural antioxidant. It helps fight free radical damage and protects your skin against the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Aside from these benefits, adding tomatoes to your diet can also boost your skin’s collagen production. Collagen is what gives your skin its structure to make it taut, supple and youthful looking.
How to benefit from it:
You can eat tomatoes raw or add them to your salads. You can also puree it and apply as a mask on your skin.
Green Tea
Another potent source of antioxidants is green tea. It contains catechins that can tame inflammation and help your skin heal and repair itself after severe sun exposure.
You can use regular bags of green tea for your skin but research suggests that you can get more potent antioxidant benefits when you brew loose tea leaves. You just have to be careful in choosing your brand or source as green tea, like any botanical products, may contain lead.
How to benefit from it:
You can use it to create delicious and refreshing recipes from desserts to smoothies. You can even use it as a face mask.
Grapefruits contain a high amount of vitamin C. In fact, just one grapefruit can give you around 38.4 mg of the vitamin to boost your skin’s collagen production for skin cell growth and renewal.
Grapefruit also has a high water content that can keep your skin hydrated. When your skin is hydrated, it’s more resistant to damages caused by exposure to pollution.
How to benefit from it:
Take a half grapefruit and sprinkle sugar on its surface. Use the grapefruit to scrub away the dry and rough areas of your skin, such as your knees and elbows,
Avocados
Avocados naturally have vitamin E which is one of the secrets to youthful skin. Vitamin E can help reverse the damages brought about by aging, including sagginess and wrinkles.
Avocados also contain a high amount of oleic acid which can address your dry and irritated skin. This fatty acid is essential in keeping your skin’s outer layer moisturized.
How to benefit from it:
Take a half ripe avocado and mash it. Add a few drops of aloe vera gel and apply the mixture liberally on your face.
Broccoli
When it comes to anti-aging, alpha lipoic acid is one of the best antioxidants you can give your skin. Broccoli has enough ALAs to reduce your fine lines, dark undereye circles and puffiness.
It also has beta-carotene that’s not only good for your skin but your eyes and mucous membranes as well. Broccoli is even potent enough to be used as a sunscreen when applied topically on your skin.
How to benefit from it:
You can add broccoli to your soups, salads, and pasta. It also makes a good face mask.
Oats
Eating oats every day can help reduce the number of bacteria in your gut. It can also lower your blood glucose levels.
Both of these properties can help you avoid breakouts or get rid of your existing acne. When used topically, oats can relieve itchiness and inflammation while providing your skin moisture.
How to benefit from it:
Oats are great to use as face scrubs by adding a small amount of water. You can also use it as a face mask by mixing it with honey, yogurt, and milk.
Almonds
Munching on almonds is a good way to boost your skin’s natural glow. They are rich in monounsaturated fats that can regulate your skin’s oil production and moisture.
Almonds can repair damaged skin cells from the inside and hasten fresh skin cell production. These properties allow you to have an improved skin texture and tone.
How to benefit from it:
Take a few almonds and soak them in warm water for a couple of hours. After letting them soften up a bit, use a mortar and pestle to grind the almonds into a fine powder.
Once they are fine enough, you can add a few tablespoon of yogurt, just enough to turn the powder into a paste. Use the mixture as a face scrub and wash right after.
Spinach
If you want to boost your iron levels, then eating spinach is one of the things you should do. Iron is the protein part of your hemoglobin which carries oxygen to your cells.
When you increase your cell’s oxygen supply, you can get that rosy and glowing look.
Spinach is also a great source of vitamin K which can address dark undereye circles and inflamed skin. If you’re struggling with late night sleep, adding this vegetable to your diet can make your skin clearer and less puffy.
How to benefit from it:
You can boil your spinach and add it to your salad. Another way to reap its benefits is to use it for your smoothie recipe.
If you are suffering from acne, eating a pomegranate a day should help. It has a special component that makes it extra effective against acne. Anthocyanins, the antioxidant that gives pomegranate its color, have a strong anti-inflammatory property that can address your skin breakouts.
It can also increase your insulin sensitivity and decrease your body’s stress hormones.
How to benefit from it:
Aside from eating pomegranates, you can use a blender to make a paste. After getting the right texture, apply the paste on your skin and use it as a scrub.
You can also add raw honey to the mixture. Massage well and rinse after you’re done.
Dark chocolate
Dark chocolates are not as bad as you think they are. In fact, with its flavanol content, it can minimize your skin’s roughness.
Eating dark chocolate can help you get glowing skin even if you’re in a stressful situation. This chocolate can actually lower your stress hormones before they show on your skin.
How to benefit from it:
You can melt your dark chocolate and add a few drops of honey. Apply it on your face as a mask and let it sit for a couple of minutes.
Wash it off with water and pat dry your skin.
When you eat these vitamin and mineral-rich foods, you not only feed your skin, you are feeding your other organs and entire body too. Avoid processed food and stress, and live more healthily with nature’s bounty.
Great fun happens when camping outdoors. This is what comes to mind for people especially the kids when camping is being planned. Are there any other things we can think of when it comes to camping?
Yes, there is! You forgot one other benefit that camping outdoors has on people. That is, camping is a health booster for everybody.
Here are some healthy tips we can benefit from camping out in the open.
Nature’s Fresh Air
Spending your time in the midst of trees and shrubbery, you take in fresh air, and that is more oxygen for you. Just breathing in the smell of nature can bring you happiness, releasing serotonin from the excess oxygen that you have.
Other health benefits we can derive from fresh air is that your digestion is improved, blood pressure gets normalized, and it gives you an extra boost for your immune system. Most of all, when you’re outdoors, you breathe in air with very minimal pollutants.
Bonding and Making Memories
Camping with families and friends is a great experience that will make bonds stronger. Socializing can give you longer years on this earth and prevent you from having dementia or also referred to as “mental decay.”
In most cases, people who have been working all their life make their lives so monotonous. But taking a break, relaxing, and camping provides vigor to the central nervous system due to a positive reaction of excitement. Similar to the reaction to food, this sends messages to the brain and activates all our nerves and system making us alert and lively again.
When campers get together, more often than not, a lot of talk and discussions can happen around the campfire. They can talk about anything and everything. This eases out the melatonin levels in your brain.
Melatonin is a chemical that helps us sleep but it can also make us lazy and tired sometimes. It encourages depression in the long run. Having fun camping and chatting with your loved ones and friends help you avoid mood swings and feelings of depression.
Throws Away Stress
Stress-free activities like camping unburden your mind from all the worries that you have. Emotionally, it makes it impossible for you to get angry or annoyed when you’re busy with something you enjoy.
Exercise
Physical activities are at its highest while camping You burn a lot of calories compared to just sitting in the office. In addition, your cardiovascular system also gets a workout when you go hiking, biking or swimming.
Sunlight
When you go camping, you are exposed to more sunlight than you’ll ever get in the office or in school. The more sunlight the body is exposed to, the more serotonin it gets. Serotonin is also called the happy hormone so soak up that sunshine!
Peaceful Slumber
With lots of activities during the daytime, sleep comes so quickly. You won’t even notice that it’s time for bed. This is expected after spending the whole day doing physical activities. A good night’s sleep benefits your body in many ways. It can minimize inflammation, make you alert, and boost your cardiovascular system just to name a few.
Delectable Food
If you are camping beside a river teeming with fish, cooking newly caught fish is giving your body protein and strength. Food cooked outdoors are free of any preservatives or chemical ingredients because it is cooked fresh. Can you imagine the smell of grilled fish and the delectable juicy fish meat right about now?
Camping is as much a healing activity as it is a fun activity. Consider leaving your laptop and gadgets at home. Instead, detach your mind and body from the humdrum of city life and meditate. Serene peace, tranquility, and meditation are the excellent benefits you can get from camping outdoors, an experience you will always remember.
Procrastination: Putting off from day to day, directly from Latin “procrastinationem” (pro “forward” + crastinus “belonging to tomorrow”).
Procrastination is a problem about 95% of people suffer from, and even though there’s a lot of material regarding how to stop procrastinating, there isn’t a lot said about why we procrastinate in the first place. As a staunch believer of the idea that the first step to fixing any problem is knowing why it happens in the first place, I bring you a list of 5 reasons why people procrastinate:
I don’t like the task I’m supposed to be doing, or the deadline for it is still a while away
The first factor that decides how likely we are to procrastinate is the task itself, or two specific things about the task: the first is how far in the future we’ll have to deal with the reward or punishment from the task, the second is how much we dislike what we’re supposed to be doing. People would rather focus on the here and now than worry about something in the future, always thinking that a nearer task is more pressing and more deserving of time and attention than one that’s far away. The relationship between how much we dislike a task, or task aversion, is even more obvious. We’re a lot more likely to not want to sit down to do something we hate, or something that we find overwhelming.
Neuroticism is a personality trait that means a person is more likely to be anxious or more prone to bad moods than other people (think Hermoine Granger). The more neurotic a person is, the more they’ll freak out or be anxious about the tasks they have to do, and the more anxious they are over tasks, the less they’ll want to sit down and do them.
I am more rebellious than agreeable
Agreeableness as a trait is related to cooperation and a desire to consent or submit to the wishes of others, and rebelliousness is about the exact opposite. A person who leans more towards rebelliousness than agreeableness is more likely to procrastinate in an attempt at control and at doing things their own way, rather than follow a schedule set by someone else.
I am impulsive
Being impulsive means that a person prefers to act on a whim, rather than sit down and plan everything. An impulsive person is more likely to procrastinate than someone who isn’t impulsive, because they’re more likely to get caught up in the moment or get distracted by a new idea that they just had.
A self-disciplined person is a lot more accepting of having to sit down and do something unpleasant than someone who isn’t. Self-discipline means not letting yourself get distracted (by checking Twitter every 3 sentences you read, for example), and not allowing yourself to watch a movie instead of work on that report you have to submit in a couple of days. People who have more control of themselves are less likely to procrastinate.
Now you know a little (well, a lot) more about why we procrastinate. So you found yourself relating to the things on this list, what now? Don’t worry, there are a lot of things you can do to stop or lessen procrastination, like cutting big tasks into smaller, less intimidating tasks, removing distractions from your work environment, and practicing more self-discipline in your everyday life.
From your side of the world, saying goodbye to the dead might mean burial or cremation. For others, funerals are more than just burying the dead.
Call it weird, strange, bizarre, or even crazy, but here are eight unconventional ways practiced by other cultures when disposing their dead:
Hanging of Coffins
In the “acceptable” world, coffins are buried deep in the ground in a cemetery. In a place called Sagada in the Philippines, coffins mean hanging it on the cliffs.
Igorots believe that in death, the soul must be in the most solemn and peaceful place. This way, the spirit will be able to easily find its way to Kabunian, their god, and attain peace. Because of this practice, the cliffs where the hanging coffins are located have become tourist spots as well, wowing crowds from all over the world.
Tinguian Funeral: Makes It Look Like They’re Still Alive
Via cloudmind
Apparently, hanging coffins is just one of the bizarre funeral practices conducted by ethnic groups in the Philippines.
The Tinguian people make their dead look like they are still alive by dressing their bodies in their best clothes. The dead are also made to sit on a chair, have a lit cigarette on their lips, and treated as if they are alive.
Environment-Friendly and Green Funerals
Via digitaljournal
Believe it or not, there is such a thing as green funerals and it happens in the United States. This is because more people are choosing environment-friendly burials. This practice means foregoing the embalming process, using biodegradable or woven-willow caskets, and reducing concrete vaults. In fact, there are 40 environment-friendly cemeteries in the US to date.
Mortuary Totem Poles
Totem poles usually tell stories of a peoples’ native culture. On the other hand, the Mortuary Totem Poles are different. They are special kinds of totem poles that house the remains of chiefs, notable warriors, or shamans after their bodies were crushed with clubs. The icons found on each pole act as guardians and guide the spirit to the afterlife.
Buried in a Fantasy Coffin
Death is not just a time to mourn but also a time to celebrate the life of the deceased. In Ghana, the dead are buried in caskets that symbolize their life, including their personality and status in the society – even if it means being buried in caskets in various styles, say a beer can or planes.
Zoroastrian Vulture Funeral
Apparently, Zoroastrians in Mumbai, India don’t need funeral plans. As part of their culture, they leave their dead in “dakhma” or the “Tower of Silence,” which will be eaten by vultures after the bodies are cleaned. They believe that the dead body becomes a source of defilement and corruption that could pollute sacred elements on Earth. Hence, they must be consumed by vultures.
Become a Memorial Reef in the Ocean
Most people want to be buried in the cemetery. Some even have mausoleums so they can be buried beside family members. For the few, they prefer a memorial reef in the ocean.
Eternal Reefs, an American company, compress the remains of the dead in a reef ball or sphere. This will be attached to a reef in the ocean and provide a habitat for sea life. Who knows, it might lure a curious fish.
Burial Beads: Turn the Dead into Colorful Beads
Via timenewsfeed
In case you opted for cremation, some allow you to take ashes and place it in containers like a locket. In South Korea, they do it differently. Instead of keeping the ashes as they are, they compress the remains of the dead into colorful gem-like beads. The beads are stored in jars and even used as home decorations.
What do you think? Weird? Maybe, but for people who practice these rites, it means something sacred, which we should all respect.
Did you know? An incidence of burglary happens somewhere in the USA every 18 seconds, adding up to 200 per hour, and nearly 4,800 burglaries every day.
And the shocking fact is that 30 percent of these burglaries are done through unlocked windows and doors while over 50 percent take place during the day when homeowners are at work. Many of these burglaries could be prevented by following simple home safety measures.
Don’t let your home to be the next target. Instead, reinforce your home security by not making any of the common home security mistakes given below:
Leaving Your Doors and Windows Unlocked in Your Absence
Given that 30 percent of burglaries happen because of unlocked doors and windows, make sure to lock these entry points every time you leave, otherwise, a burglar won’t even have to try very hard to get into your home.
Additionally, get your old and malfunctioning door and window locks replaced as soon as possible with quality locks.
Hiding a Key Under a Doormat
This old trick won’t work anymore as today’s burglars are more sophisticated and smarter than you think. A burglar knows well where a homeowner is likely to hide the keys—either under the doormat or the plant pot. This is why you should keep the keys with you or hand over them to your reliable neighbors (if you have any) after locking the home.
Not Stopping or Forwarding Your Mail and Newspaper Delivery
Mails overflowing from the mailbox or newspaper piling up at the front of your door hint of the home owner’s prolonged absence. Therefore, stop the delivery of mails and newspapers or ask your neighbor to collect them from time to time.
Not Having a Home Security System Installed
Homes without security or alarm systems are up to 300% more likely to be targeted by a burglar. Therefore, you must invest in a home security system to avoid the potential break-ins.
They let you monitor the property from a distance, send your home status via messages and alert the police in the case of a break-in, thereby ensuring your peace of mind.
Apart from burglary, they offer protection from fire breakouts, electrical faults, and other accidents. Remember, you might find them costly, but not installing one may cost you even more.
Do you leave the ladder outside? Is it in the backyard or placed under the window? Is your ladder leaning against the wall?
If yes, you are making the task easier for a burglar. An intruder can use your ladder to get inside your home through the windows or the rooftop. Similarly, the tools you leave outside may come handy for a burglar to remove the hinges of the gate or the bars of the windows. Secure and store your ladder, hammers, lawn clippers, and saws inside when not in use.
Announcing that You are Not at Home on Social Media
Sharing your vacation plans on social media alerts the burglars that you are away from home. No wonder 4 out of 5 burglars use social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to pick targets. Be careful to update about your holidays on social media when you’re away, especially on Twitter and Instagram which are easily accessible to everyone.
Leaving Hiding Places Outside
Tall shrubs along your homes and dark areas in your yard are the perfect hiding spots for burglars. That doesn’t mean you have to cut down all the trees and shrubs in your yard. Simply trim larger bushes and tree branches regularly to minimize the dark shadows and shelters that cover intruders.
Remember these tips to make your home safer for yourself and your loved ones.
Do you have immense jaw pain? Do you hear a cracking noise in the jaw that did not exist before? Have you fallen victim to a locked jaw on more occasions than one?
If you have answered “yes” to any or all of the above questions, then you probably have TMJ or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. Let us see how to evaluate and treat it.
Evaluating TMJ
The exact cause of TMJ disorder and its symptoms are not similar for everyone. Dentists and ENT specialists make most of the diagnosis based on traditional symptoms. Every doctor has a different approach and may offer different treatments. Ideally, you should consider a second opinion if detected with TMJ disorder.
To begin with, you can opt for self-evaluation if you suspect TMJ disorder. You can try the following test at home:
• Place your finger over the joint in front of your ear.
• Slightly open your jaw.
• Keep opening the jaw slowly till you can feel the joint move.
• If you hear any kind of clicking, grating or cracking noise, or if you feel any tenderness when you press on the joint, it means that you may have a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
Other symptoms to look out for during TMJ evaluation include:
• Popping jaw
• Dislocated jaw
• Pain in the jaw
• Clicking jaw
• Pain under the ear
• Earache
• Stiff jaw muscles
• Pain in the neck or any part of the face
• Locked jaw (inability to completely open or close the jaw)
It is not uncommon to confuse TMJ-related headaches and earaches with ear infections or migraines. This leads to a misdiagnosis, which is why you should always go for a professional check-up to determine whether you have TMJ disease or not.
Treating TMJ
Once a complete evaluation is done, the next step is TMJ disorder treatment. Based on the cause and intensity of the problem, you will be given the suitable treatment.
Traditional Treatments
Traditional treatments focus mainly on careful examination of the occlusion and the joints. Doing so pinpoints the probable cause of TMJ Disorder. In most cases, TMJ can be treated without requiring any kind of surgical intervention. If the pain is caused due to improper bite or misalignment of the jaw, it can be treated with restorations, appliance therapy, orthodontics etc. A thorough examination is the first and foremost step for narrowing down TMJ symptoms and treatment.
Surgery
Surgery is generally the last resort when all the conservative treatments methods have been exhausted without any positive results. At the same time, one has to keep in mind that surgery may not necessarily resolve all the TMJ issues.
The surgeries are performed under general anesthesia. A minor procedure called arthrocentesis may be performed. In this procedure, the surgeon cleans the joints by dispensing sterile fluid through needles inserted into the joint area. In some cases, the surgeons may even insert a scalpel-like instrument inside the joint to remove any tissue adhesions. Further, they can reposition the disc in the joint hinge.
Arthroscopy is another type of surgery that can be performed. The surgeon makes a slight incision at the temple point in front of the ear. This helps in reaching an endoscope into the surrounding area, which enables the surgeon to get a visual guide. With the help of this, the surgeon can effectually reposition the disc, remove any adhesions or treat inflammation.
The option of an open-joint surgery is also considered for certain cases. This may be the only option which can provide access to deteriorating bony structures, chipped bone areas, severe scarring or tumors. Based on the problem, the surgeon may use a scalpel to remove or re-sculpt the affected area.
Alternative Treatments
These treatments are considered as less conservative and totally avoidable if you receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment right from the beginning. Alternative TMJ treatments include ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), radio wave therapy and trigger-point injections.
In TENS and radio wave therapy, you send low levels of electrical and radio waves of energy respectively to the affected area. This helps in stimulating the blood flow to the concerned joint and the surrounding area. The options that fall within the alternative treatment merely provide temporary and limited symptomatic relief instead of treating the primary causes of TMD.
TMJ disease can be extremely painful if not treated quickly. Do not rely on self-diagnosis and always consult a doctor. Make sure you get the symptoms and cause accurately so that the right TMJ pain treatment can be administered for positive results.
Sig Nordal 