Ever been in dire need of topics for small talk conversation?

You come across someone you know but aren’t interested enough to engage in any serious conversation right now. You might not be in the mood, or you may not rate the person that high to waste calories on.

The circumstances are such that you can’t escape gracefully. Just the next 5-10-20 mins is all you care about at this point. Once you’re past this heat, you plan to “keep on rockin’ in the free world”.

Small talk is a welcome diversion here, a magic potion of sorts. It can save you from losing an acquaintance — a contact in social networks who may come handy in some unforeseen situation later.

To avoid such a crisis, I’ve compiled a few that top the chart of topics to easily engulf these minutes in distress. These ‘fillers’ are time-tested subjects and can be recommended to any amateur.

Remember, a rule of thumb in choosing a filler is qualities that include non-competitiveness, non-egoism, non-violence and non-jealousy. The following are the best topics for small talk conversation.

1. Weather

It surely works if you’re of different geography (hemispheres differ or at least one is closer to some tropic). Put your weather report on display and politely ask for his/her.

In case you’re too closely located, you can still make it work. Start with cursing the current weather and then move on to long term climatic trends, warming etc. Weather discussions are always fair, amicable and superficial.

2. Inflation

Prices are on the rise almost everywhere. Inflation and the pinch on the pocket, or anything around economy, in general, is a good time-killer. It hurts none of the parties involved in a short chitchat over it. Keep fiddling around and you score easily.

See Also: How to Keep a Conversation Going

3. Hobbies

Hobbies are meant for pastime occupations and not for any monetary rewards. Don’t go haphazard with all your hobbies. Show up the catalogue brazenly and wait for his/her pick(s). Start the conversation once you strike the right chord and enjoy the ride.

4. Kids

Subject to applicability, anything about children is an immensely popular filler. Be it their future, education, health, psychology – anything would do. Invest a minute or so and find out what works under the present circumstances. Jump!

See Also: 5 Types of Bad Conversationalists and How to Avoid Being One

5. Diseases

It’s a sad one, but can do wonders. Any recent illness of you or your near ones, doctors, medicines, tests, therapy – it’s a subject of universal appeal to any mortal. Make a straight face and go for it.

We hope you picked up some useful ideas from our list of topics for small talk conversation.

 

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Every person should be made aware of the importance of personal hygiene to everyday living.

From conception until death, humans come in contact with multitudes of other living organisms that share a common living environment. Some organisms can be potentially dangerous to other living beings due to their ability to cause infection.

Infectious or communicable diseases are caused by pathogens and diseases can be transmitted from one person to another through physical contact. The year 2013 recorded 9.2 million deaths caused by communicable diseases which is 17% of total deaths the world over.

Person-to-person transmission of diseases can be largely controlled by following the best practices pertaining to personal hygiene and by keeping surroundings clean.

Here are a few tips to stay healthy and prevent diseases:

1. Wash Hands and Keep Your Body Tidy

Whether you eat with a spoon or enjoy licking your fingers, it is important to bring clean hands to the plate. Fingers carry microbial germs from interaction with infected pets, people, and touching several other non-living things and substances.

Washing hands thoroughly for about a minute, especially before eating, can reduce the spreading of harmful bacteria that cause infectious diseases. After washing, use a clean and dry towel or a tissue to pat-dry the hands and remove excess water.

In the absence of soap and water, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can help you get rid of 99.9% germ by killing bacteria, fungi, and a few viruses. Extra care should be taken to wash hands after using public and shared utilities like elevators, public transport, parks, commercial shops, restrooms, etc.

Ensure to clean your hands and have your kids do the same before a snack or a meal, after the use of the toilet, and after play time with pets. Do give your hands a good wash after an intentional or unintentional contact with someone suffering from cold or cough.

Apart from washing hands, bathing is also essential in maintaining complete physical hygiene. Indulge in extra care for your feet as they often come in contact with dust and germs. Wash them clean before entering the kitchen and before hitting the sack.

See Also: 13 Yoga Trends To Immerse Yourself In On Your Journey To Health & Happiness

2. Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

The mouth is inhabited by 200 to 300 bacterial species. A few of these bacteria cause dental decays or periodontal diseases. According to a 2012 report by the WHO, 60% to 90% of school children and almost 100% adults worldwide suffer from dental cavities. Also, 15% to 20% of adults aged between 35 and 44 years have severe periodontal diseases.

Researchers and experts believe that gum diseases have the potential to lead to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, premature birth, and respiratory disease. Maintaining dental hygiene, thus, is important by regular brushing and flossing.

In addition, mouth wash can be used to rinse the mouth as it kills harmful bacteria. Cleaning the tongue every time after brushing must not be neglected.

Cavity-causing bacteria can be passed on from parents to their kids through physical contact. Mothers with dental cavities must avoid sharing spoons with their kids as the bacteria gets passed on along with saliva.

Above all, following a healthy diet goes a long way in preventing dental infections. It is advisable for adults to keep away from tobacco and excessive alcohol. Children should be discouraged from consuming sugary and fizzy drinks.

A set of healthy teeth is great for a beautiful smile!

3. Cook in Clean Conditions

Cleaning the kitchen and the dining area well are important aspects contributing to personal hygiene. Poor cleaning can cause bacteria to breed, eventually leading to the contamination of the food and the water.

Hands must be thoroughly cleaned before cooking and the cooking area should be kept dry to avoid contamination. Precautions to keep hair from falling into the food must be taken as hair can be a source of potential microbiological infection. Coughing, sneezing, and smoking should be prohibited in the cooking area and one must wash one’s hands upon the completion of the aforementioned activities.

Dirty clothes tend to carry germs and should be replaced by clean and washed clothes or aprons ahead of cooking. It is preferable to keep nails short to avoid accumulation of dirt and germs below them.

One should strictly keep away from cooking if suffering from food poisoning. Pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites contaminate food, and those suffering from an illness must take adequate precautions to prevent the spreading of food-borne diseases.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases report declared in 2014 that around 48 million people in America suffer from food-borne illness every year, of which about 3,000 people succumb to the disease annually.

See Also: Taking ‘Smart Care’ of your health

4. Stay Safe during Travel

Even when on the road, it’s important to keep in mind the importance of personal hygiene.

When traveling, people must bear in mind to take precautions to stay safe from traveler’s diarrhea. Travelers can use bottled water and refrain from drinking tap water. Pasteurized milk and hot beverages can be consumed to stay healthy and consumption of uncooked/undercooked food and meat can be avoided for as long as feasible.

Carrying a sanitizer comes in handy when traveling to foreign places. Clean your clothes yourself or use the laundry service to sanitize them after visiting places of public interest.

Further, safeguard children with full-sleeved clothes and good footwear.

Conclusion

Being clean is the first step towards sustaining good health. Hygienic living conditions are important to control and prevent illnesses. An unhealthy environment not only disrupts one’s health, but also spreads illnesses among other people. People carrying pathogens must be mindful of others’ health and use shared services to take the necessary precautions required to restrict the spread of infections. A healthy body comes from knowing the importance of personal hygiene and following healthy practices religiously.

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Thinking of taking on an online study program?

A parttime online study program is a great way to get a higher educational degree while balancing your professional and personal life effectively. It will allow you to finance your degree while holding your current job. At the same time, you can also make the expenses associated with your degree program more manageable.

Of course, part-time online study programs are longer than the regular ones. However, they provide you convenience beyond full time study programs.

There are many facilities offering part-time online study programs nowadays. Before selecting a part-time study program you should consider the following tips:

Discuss With Your Employer

It is best to discuss your plans for further education with your employer. There are many companies that facilitate part-time online studies. Some companies even finance their employees’ degrees. This not only gives you a chance to study for a higher degree, but you avail opportunities for growth in the company. Even if you are not eligible for financing, your employer is sure to know about a part-time online study program that will be suitable for your requirements.

See Also: How a 529 Plan Can Help You Save for Your College Education

Meet With Other Students

Once you have a list of a few part-time online study programs, look for students who are part of the same program. You can check with them as to whether or not a particular program is suitable for you.

Of course, each student will have his/her unique perspective. But you will be able to get an insight regarding the program. Talking to other part-time students will help you decide whether or not you should enrol in one.

Internet Search

The best way to search for an online study program is on the internet. Just remember to look for reputed programs. Once you have a list of a few names, be sure to conduct a minor survey.

Reputed online part-time online programs have a review section on their websites for students who have studied there previously. This will give you a good idea of how effective the study program is.

Research Job Market

Before choosing a major or a higher degree, do your research. If you are planning to push for a promotion at your current workplace, look for a degree which would help you achieve just that. On the other hand, if you are looking for a career change, then you should look into the job market. Researching the job market will give you a better idea of what courses to choose.

See Also: 8 College Courses That Will Make You Rich

Type of University

If you’re all set on studying online, research the best university or colleges that have good programs and affordable rates. Most, if not all learning institutions now have online programs that you can avail of.

Time Availability

There are several online study programs that provide lectures online. In addition to this, the learning management system these facilities use has a time limit. One can only access the LMS during certain hours. Make sure you discuss this with the facility before enrolling for the online part-time study program. The timings should not conflict with your work schedule.

If you use these tips you will be able to select a great online study program for yourself.

 

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Are you still using outdated resume writing tips?

The world has changed a lot since the Internet came out with resume writing tips. Recruiters are now spending less time reading resumes – and unnecessary information may lead to your resume being put into the bottom of the pile.

A free online resume builder may help but you should also watch out for the following tips for writing a resume as they are no longer recommended in today’s job-hunting market.

1. Stuff Your Resume with Keywords

It’s true that resumes are put through ATS systems to search for keywords. However, this doesn’t mean you want to stuff a bunch of keywords at the end of your resume and turn them white to trick the system.

Instead of resorting to cheats and tricks, add keywords throughout your resume naturally. A human will read your resume eventually and keyword stuffing will be recognized.

See Also: Resume Action Words That Will Get You That Job

2. Lying or Exaggerating Details

There was a time when people were encouraged to lie on their resume to get a job but this is a big no-no in today’s job market. Verifying data and details is easier than ever and a small lie can lead to your resume ending up in the Trash.

3. Keeping Your Resume to a Single Page

Interviewers are busy so you definitely don’t want to send a novel-length resume to a potential employer. But this doesn’t mean you need to keep your resume to just one page.

Far too many people leave out details that can land them a job in fear of exceeding the one page “rule.” And your resume will go through an ATS system first anyway.

So, keep your resume to two pages or less if you have relevant and important information that may boost your career options.

4. Use One Resume for All Applications

No one wants to keep tweaking a resume for every employer but you need to start doing so. Most of the information will remain the same, but a one-size-fits-all resume is a thing of the past. You need to customize your resume to match the needs of each employer.

If you’re a programmer, for example, you may boast about your PHP skills to one employer while promoting your JAVA experience to another employer.

See Also: How to Write a Resume That Will Land an Interview

5. Talk About Technical Skills Everyone Knows

There was a time when “proficient in MS Word” was a big deal. But the world is digital now and you won’t gain any brownie points by having a skill that everyone else also has. Instead, you want to mention these skills in such a way that it directly relates to the job.

“Experience in using Microsoft Access to maintain inventory for a small business” is much better than “proficient in Microsoft Access.”

Refine your resume today by eliminating many of these old resume writing tips and applying the recommendations outlined above. Remember, your resume is the first impression you’ll make on a hiring manager, so make it count.

 

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Are you finding out that you need to learn how to overcome procrastination?

Procrastination is as bad as it sounds. Do you always put off what you have to do until the last minute, panic right before the deadline, or put yourself in an emotional rollercoaster almost every week?

The causes for this kind of behaviour are many and they can be very private. They can range from fear of failure to simple laziness.

The good news is that you can overcome this behavior if you decide to. It might feel hard in the beginning but you can succeed if you really work on it. You just need to decide that those days of procrastination are over and that you are going to take a week to try a few steps.

After trying these simple steps, you will get to know better what causes your procrastination and be ready to take action so that it will be a thing of the past in your life.

Monday – Get yourself organized

Start your anti-procrastination program by making a list on Monday of everything that you have to do during that week. Just write everything down and do not panic if the list looks far too long. It is usually much simpler than what it seems at first sight.

Then, try to decide what you are going for each day of the week. Ceate a calendar of tasks for that week.

 

Remember here that your schedule should include all your work tasks, but it also should have some space for your own activities– from going to the bank to spending time with your family.

Tuesday – Plan a reward

You are probably already in need of an incentive. Figure out what you are giving to yourself as a reward if you are to stick to your schedule and get everything done before or on their deadlines. It must be something that you really enjoy but also ensure that this is not going to affect next week’s routine. It also should not be something that will ruin your health in the long term.

What about?

• a spa treatment?
• a weekend break somewhere?
• a class or a course?
• some equipment for a new hobby?
• some flowers?

Wednesday – Find out your distractions

On Wednesday, you should have realized what triggers your procrastination and what you use as a form of distraction. It can be social media, TV, phone calls, slow and repetitive walks to the coffee area, or chats along the corridor.

Create a list of each distraction you might notice throughout the day and then keep it somewhere that is always visible to you. This way, you will become more conscious and more capable of overcoming your procrastination behavior.

See Also: How Procrastination Can Make You More Productive

Thursday – Find technology that can support your goals

Did you know that there are apps and tools that can help you on how to overcome procrastination?

Spend some time researching how technology can help you. Look for apps that can support you to become more productive or that will eliminate distractions –

Here are some suggestions for you:

• Yelling Mom – For those who need a shout, so they get things done.
• Finish – This app allows you to break your tasks into short, medium and long term.
• App Detox – It will block some of your apps temporarily.
• Beat Procrastination – This app will act on the unconscious causes of procrastination.
• Avoid Procrastination – This tool is full of tips and suggestions on how to beat bad habits.
• Anti-social – For those who waste too much time on Facebook and so on, this will block your social media access.

See Also: Hack the Pomodoro Technique to Boost Your Productivity

Friday – Evaluate your progress

At work, evaluate your week and check how much of your calendar got actually done. Do not stress yourself if you did not manage to do everything on time – this was just your first attempt. What matters at this stage is that you find out why you did not make it.

Get that list of distractions that you created on Wednesday and make adjustments. Also, try to check if there are days or hours when you are more likely to procrastinate.  It will be very helpful when you get to write your next week’s calendar.

Saturday – Be inspired by a high-performing person

Now it is time for you to get some inspiration.

Look for someone that you consider as a proactive and invite them to lunch or coffee. Let them know your quest and ask for pieces of advice. Show the plan you have created to yourself so far and see how they think it could be improved. Address your challenge in a positive manner, but also, be ready to hear some criticism. Whatever the case, you should be prepared to get some great ideas here.

It is always good to know that it is possible to succeed and that other people have been through the same challenges you are now. This affirms that there is nothing wrong with you. The difference between you and them at the moment is simply that they decided not to let their bad habits get in the way of their goals.

Sunday – Reward yourself

Sunday might be the time for you to get that reward if you think you have achieved your goals, or if you feel like you have done your best. This is also a perfect day for you to organize your upcoming week so you can start on Monday good to go.

So get that calendar back and start writing down everything you will have to do on that week. Remember to break your tasks into baby steps and to respect your biological clock.

Get it started all over again on Monday, just in a more efficient way now.

Final thoughts

Procrastination might destroy your chances to be happy, to have a great relationship and to succeed in your career. It will take you to bed with a bad feeling of not accomplishing what you want, and knowing that you could have done better. It might lead to stress, anxiety or depression, things that you are certainly better off without.

So try to take this behaviour away from your life as soon as you can. Use any resources you might find useful and that might work for you. Look for some inspiration and be around proactive people. Also, use technology in your favour and get to know your triggers. This way you can improve your life and achieve your goals.

Now that you know how to overcome procrastination, it’s time for Action!

 

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Pasta loving people, beware! You need healthy pasta alternatives. Starchy, refined and processed white pasta is a thing of the past. In this day and age where healthy food choices are fast becoming the norm, it has become increasingly important to raise awareness and advocate for healthy substitutes replacing people’s old unhealthy carby ways. There are now such things as ‘healthy carbs’ where the health content of the food you are eating has more nutritional value compared to plain old carbohydrates. Since almost everyone loves pasta, here are some new guilt-free ways to enjoy this dish: 1. Brown Rice Pasta Brown rice pasta has very similar nutrient content as whole-wheat pasta but it is made from ground brown rice instead of wheat. This makes it the perfect […]

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Check out these tips for buying a new car. If you’re thinking of buying a brand new ride, these tips should be very helpful. So you’ve decided it’s time for a new car. Now what? Looking for a new car can be daunting because there are a lot of factors that you need to consider. Whether you’re buying your first or fifth car, it is a process that shouldn’t be rushed. According to Which?, 31% of drivers regret purchasing their last car because they didn’t take the time to do enough research about it. To avoid being part of that statistic, take a look at these key 5 questions you should ask yourself before taking the plunge and investing in your new car. 1. What Can You […]

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Do you remember what it was to be like a child? Seeing everything for the first time? I doubt many of you can retrace that far back. Me neither of course. But, if you take the time to watch a small child, it isn’t hard to notice just how full of wonder they are about life. Everything — even the simplest of things — are filled with questions of how and why. Life for them is a magical playground with unbelievable moments around each and every corner. And it’s beautiful to see. They interact with everything in a much deeper way. It’s refreshing to pay attention to and it makes you realize that even though growing up has made us wiser, it has left us with […]

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Game of Thrones’ Jon Snow is easily one of the most popular characters in said popular TV show. He’s smart, sexy and he can fight like a knight with twice the experience. He’s also a lot more than that. Jon Snow is one of the most engaging characters on Game of Thrones because he’s done a few things that you can take from Westeros and apply to your own life. I’m going to straight up warn you that there are absolutely spoilers in here. If you hate spoilers, you’re going to want to come back and read this after you’ve caught up with Westeros. Here are just a few of the lessons Jon Snow has for us regular folk. 1. Befriend Those Without Friends I have […]

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What are the secrets to a happy life? Have you at any point in your life asked this question? Most of us spend the greater part our lives looking for happiness and satisfaction in the wrong places and activities. That’s because we attach happiness to money, fame, and other benefits. We erroneously think these benefits are all we need to be happy and fulfilled in life. But interestingly, we’ve heard stories of people who had all the money and fame that anyone could dream of and yet didn’t live happy lives. Those stories drive home the point that money and fame – while good to have – aren’t the recipes for happiness and fulfillment. Now, what’s the secret to a happy, fulfilled life? The answer […]

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