How To Cast Local Media On Your Mac To Chromecast

Google offers Chromecast to help you quickly and easily turn any TV into a smart TV with internet streaming capabilities. It also allows your TV to connect or “talk” to your computer, and there are several easy apps you can use to accomplish streaming quickly and easily. We’re going to go over several of these apps, and you can decide which one works best for you.

1. Elmedia Player

First app is Elmedia Player, that allows you to cast local files to Chromecast-enabled devices quickly, easy and pain-free. To start streaming get Elmedia Player to your computer and install it as a usual app for Mac. Select a media file on your hard drive for streaming. Launch the player. Click the streaming icon to cast your content to the proper device. You have one minute of free streaming. If you like your experience, upgrade to Elmedia Player PRO where unlimited file casting is guaranteed to you.

With Elmedia app audio and video files can be streamed in their native formats. If the Chromecast technology doesn’t support such formats, they will be transcoded (converted) into appropriate ones in real-time. Moreover, you can stream your favorite videos from such resources as YouTube, Dailymotion, and Vimeo. Elmedia Player also allows you to make your own playlists and stream them in bulk, not one by one which is especially helpful during meetups and presentations.

2. Videostream

Videostream is a Chrome app that works on Mac, Windows, and Linux systems. It’s completely free, but you have to pay $0.99 if you want playlist support. Once you find it in the app store, download it, and install it, it’s ready to launch. All you have to do now is find your media file and open it in Videostream. Chromcast streams your media from your computer, and it’ll automatically format almost any media file, so it plays without interruptions.

3. Google Cast Extension

If you’re running Chrome on your Mac, you can stream straight to your browser’s tab. This isn’t recommended because it tends to lag or have issues with playback, but it works if you don’t have an alternative. Locate the Google Cast extension in the app store and install it. You’ll get a small icon in the top left of your screen that you can click to disable or enable. Open a new tab, drag and drop your media file onto it, and you’re ready to stream.

4. Plex Media Server

This comes with Chromcast support built right into the platform. You have to download and install this platform onto one of your computers, and it’ll let you use this single platform on all of your other devices. It works on mobile, Roku, video game consoles, and Apple TV. Once you download it, you’re ready to cast videos from Chromecast from any device you choose.

5. Wondershare Video Converter

The Wondershare Video Converter has a sleek and user-friendly interface that works on both Mac and Windows systems. You download and install Wondershare Video Converter and your media files. Once the download finishes, launch the app and click the stream button in the bottom right corner and select Google Chromecast. Your video will start streaming.

6. Airflow

Airflow is completely free, and it lets you quickly stream your media files. Once you install it, just drag and drop your media files and find the right Chromecast. Select it, and you’re ready to go. Airflow supports playlists, and it also gives you the ability to stream a wide range of media files. You can customize your video, subtitle, and audio files, and it comes with preview thumbnails so you can skip sections of your media quickly and easily.

7. VLC Media Player

You can start by downloading VLC Media Player to your Mac for free. When you download it, launch it. When it’s open, go to the top menu bar and click the “Video” menu. Next, click “Renderer” and then click “Scan” to scan your available devices. It’ll locate Chromecast, and you want to click on it. Open the video you want to play on your TV and accept the security certificate to start streaming.

Bottom Line

There are more and more apps that allow you to quickly and easily stream your media files from your Mac to your TV. Chromecast is reputable and easy to use, and it’s compatible with several extensions and applications. Take a look at the ones on our list and see which one works best for your situation. Happy streaming!

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10 Characteristics of A Good Friend

It’s easy to say that you’re a good friend. Proving that, however, can be quite difficult. You can go and ask your friends if you’re being a good friend or you can just sit down and assess yourself.

If you choose the latter, here are 10 characteristics you should be possessing.

You do not solve the problem of your friend, you help to solve

When we have a problem, we immediately ask for help from friends. Some may help, others do not.

However, as a friend, you’re not really expected to solve all of your friends’ problems. Instead, you offer suggestions or solutions.

If you can’t help your friend, be sure to explain why. And even if your friend doesn’t directly ask for help, it’s good if you can check on him from time to time and ask if he’s dealing with anything you can help him with.

You hear your friend’s problem without judging

There is nothing worse than venting about a problem and receiving a bad judgement from a friend. That will only make you feel a lot worse.

For example, if your friend had an unexpected pregnancy, she wouldn’t want to hear a judgment about it, much less a religious judgment. She just wants her friend for support.

You don’t ask  for anything in return

A real friend will stick with you in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer. If your friend tends to disappear when the going gets tough, he’s probably not a true friend.

It happens and you should be aware of it. And when you consider that, a true friend should not only be present volume of the of the wallets of friends.

You remember your friends from time to time

If you happen to migrate to another country or move to another place, keep your connection with your friends. Don’t abandon them just because you’re far from each other.

There are a lot of ways to keep your communication lines open. The internet is one good example. You can use different social media platforms to stay connected.

You speak more fun things than sad

There is nothing worse than people who only see the bad side of things. No one wants to have a pessimistic or bitter friend. If you are having a bad day, do not go bothering friends. Talk to friends only when you have something nice to say.

You do not give opinion unless requested

Your friend shows up with the most ridiculous pants in the world. What you say? Nothing. That’s because he does not want your opinion.

However, if your friend asks your opinion, you can give it delicately. You can say that it’s not something you like, rather than saying that his pants are the most ridiculous ones you’ve seen in your life.

You like being by your friend’s side

Why do you want to have many friends if you don’t like inviting them to go out? And if you don’t like hanging out with them, don’t expect them to feel the same way towards you.

You take care of the cat

Friends do favors for each other and they do that without complaining or saying anything negative. They look after each others’ pets when needed and they even volunteer to do errands for each other.

You are a good influence

Nobody wants to have a friend who is dishonest and lazy. Nobody wants a friend who gossips and shows violent behaviors, too.

No one will accept as you are, unless you are a person of integrity. So, do your best and be a good influence to your friends.

You share information

Your friends are not your competitors. And as someone has said, you get back what you give to the world.

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Live Life to Its Fullest: 39 Ways to Live and Not Merely Exist

“The proper function of man is to live – not to exist.” – Jack London

Too often we go through life on autopilot, going through the motions and having each day pass like the one before it. That’s fine and comfortable but not until you have gone through another year without having done anything or having really lived life. Or when you have reached old age and looked back on life with regrets.

Honestly, none of that is fine.

If you want to truly live life, to really experience it, to enjoy it to the fullest, instead of barely scraping by and only living a life of existence, you need to find ways to break free from the mold and drink from life.

What follows is just a list of ideas that I hope are useful reminders on how to live life to its fullest. We all need reminders sometimes. If you find this useful, print it out, and start using it. Today.

Love

Fall in love, if you aren’t already. If you have, fall in love with your partner all over again. Abandon caution and let your heart be broken. Love family members, friends, anyone- it doesn’t have to be romantic love. Love all of humanity, one person at a time.

Get outside

Don’t let yourself be shut indoors. Go out when it’s raining. Walk on the beach or hike through the woods. Swim in a freezing lake and bask in the sun. Play sports or walk barefoot through grass. Pay close attention to nature.

Savor food

Don’t just eat your food, but really enjoy it. Feel the texture and the bursts of flavors. Savor every bite. If you limit your intake of sweets, it will make the small treats you give yourself (berries or dark chocolate are my favorites) even more enjoyable. And when you do have them, really, really savor them slowly.

Create a morning ritual

Wake early and greet the day. Watch the sun rise. Out loud, tell yourself that you will not waste this day which is a gift. You will be compassionate to your fellow human beings, and live every moment to its fullest. Stretch, meditate or exercise as part of your ritual. Enjoy some coffee.

Take chances

We often live our lives too cautiously, worried about what might go wrong. Be bold and risk it all. Quit your job and start a business for yourself. Go up to that girl you’ve liked for a long time and ask her out. What do you have to lose?

Follow excitement

Try to find the things in life that excite you, and then go after them. Make life one exciting adventure after another.

Find your passion

Similar to the above tip, this one asks you to find your calling. Make your living by doing the thing you love to do. First, think about what you really love to do. There may be many things. Find out how you can make a living doing it. It may be difficult, but you only live once.

Get out of your cubicle

Do you sit all day in front of computer, shuffling papers, taking phone calls, and chatting on the Internet? Don’t waste your days like this. Break free from the cubicle environment, and do your work on a laptop in a coffee shop, on a boat or in a log cabin. This may require a change of jobs or becoming a freelancer. It’s worth it.

Turn off the TV

How many hours will we waste away in front of the boob tube? How many hours do we have to live? Do the math, then unplug the TV. Only plug it back in when you have a DVD of a movie you love. Otherwise, keep it off and find other stuff to do. Don’t know what to do? Read further.

Pull away from Internet

You’re reading something on the Internet right now. And with the exception of this article, it’s just wasting away of your precious time. You cannot get those minutes back. Unplug the Internet, then get out of your office or house right now. Go and do something.

Travel

Sure, you want to travel some day. Maybe when you have vacation time or when you’re older. But why wait?

Find a way to take a trip, if not this month, then sometime soon. You may need to sell your car or stop your cable bill and stop eating out to do it, but make it happen. You are too young to not see the world. If need be, find a way to make a living by freelancing, then work while you travel. Only work an hour or two a day. Don’t check email but once a week. Then, use the rest of the time to see the world.

See Also: 5 Reasons Why Traveling Solo Is A Fast Way to Personal Development

Rediscover what’s important

Take an hour and make a list of everything that’s important to you. Add to it everything that you want to do in life. Now, cut that list down to 4 to 5 things- just the most important things in your life.

This is your core list. Focus your life on these things and make time for them.

Eliminate everything else

What’s going on in your life that’s not on that short list? All that stuff is wasting your time, pulling your attention from what’s important. As much as possible, simplify your life by eliminating the stuff that’s not on your short list.

Exercise

Get off the couch and go for a walk. Eventually, try running or do some push ups and crunches. Swim, bike, row or go for a hike. Whatever you do, get active and you’ll love it. Life will be more alive.

Be positive

Learn to recognize the negative thoughts you have. These are the self-doubts, the criticisms of others, the complaints, the reasons you can’t do something. Then, stop yourself when you have these thoughts and replace them with positive ones.

Open your heart

Is your heart a closed bundle of scar tissues? Learn to open it. Have it ready to receive love and to give love unconditionally. If you have a problem with this, talk to someone about it.

Kiss in the rain

Seize the moment and be romantic. Raining outside? Grab your lover and give her a passionate kiss. Driving home? Stop the car and pick some wildflowers. Send her a love note. Dress sexy for him.

Face your fears

What are you most afraid of? What is holding you back?

Whatever it is, recognize it and face it. Do what you are most afraid of. Only by facing our fears can we be free of them.

When you suffer, suffer

Life isn’t all about fun and games. Suffering is an inevitable part of life.

We lose our jobs and we lose our lovers. We lose our pets and we get physically injured or sick.

Learn to feel the pain intensely and really grieve. This is a part of life, so really feel the pain. And when you’re done, move on, and find joy.

Slow down

Life moves along at such a rapid pace these days. It’s not healthy and it’s not conducive to living. Practice doing everything slowly- from eating to walking to driving to working to reading. Enjoy what you do. Learn to move at a snail’s pace.

Touch humanity

Get out of your house and manicured neighborhoods and find those who live in worse conditions. Meet them, talk to them, understand them. You can even live among them and be one of them. Give up your materialistic lifestyle.

Volunteer

Help at homeless soup kitchens. Learn compassion and learn to help ease the suffering of others. Help the sick, those with disabilities, and those who are dying.

See Also: The Power of Volunteering

Play with children

Children, more than anyone else, know how to live. They experience everything in the moment fully. When they get hurt, they really cry. When they play, they really have fun. Learn from them, instead of thinking you know so much more than them. Play with them and learn to be joyful like them.

Talk to old people

There is no one wiser, more experienced, and more learned than those who have lived through life. They can tell you amazing stories, give you advice on making a marriage last or staying out of debt. You can learn from them and avoid their mistakes. They are the wisdom of our society. Take advantage of their existence while they’re still around.

Learn new skills

Constantly improve yourself instead of standing still, not because you’re so imperfect now, but because it is gratifying and satisfying. You should accept yourself as you are and learn to love who you are. However, don’t stop trying to improve because the process of improvement is life itself.

Find spirituality

For some, this means finding God, Jesus, Allah or Buddha. For some, this means becoming in tune with the spirits of our ancestors or with nature. Others consider it as inner energy. Whatever spirituality means for you, rediscover it and its power.

Take mini-retirements

Don’t leave the joy of retirement until you are too old to enjoy it. Do it now while you’re still young. It makes working that much more worth it. Find ways to take a year off every few years. Save up, sell your home, your possessions, and travel. Live simply, but live without having to work. Enjoy life, then go back to work and save up enough money to do it again in a couple of years.

Do nothing

Despite the tip above that we should find excitement, there is value in doing nothing as well. Not doing nothing as in reading, taking a nap, watching TV or meditating. Learn to be still, in silence, to hear our inner voice and to be in tune with life. Do this daily if possible.

Stop playing video games

They might be fun, but they can take up way too much time. If you spend a lot of time playing online games, consider going a week without it. Then, find something else to do outside.

Watch sunsets daily

Make it a daily ritual to find a good spot to watch the sunset, perhaps having a light dinner while you do so.

Stop reading magazines

They’re basically crap and they waste your time and money. Cancel your subscriptions and walk past them at the news stands. If you have to read something, read a trashy novel or even better, read Dumb Little Man once a day and be done.

Break out from ruts

Do you do things the same way every day? Change it up and try something new. Take a different route to work. Start your day out differently. Approach work from a new angle. Look at things from new perspectives.

Stop watching the news

It’s depressing and useless. If you’re a news junky, this may be difficult. I haven’t watch TV news or read a newspaper regularly in about two years. It hasn’t hurt me a bit.

Laugh till you cry

Laughing is one of the best ways to live. Tell jokes and laugh your head off. Watch an awesome comedy. Learn to laugh at anything. Roll on the ground laughing. You’ll love it.

Lose control

Not only control over yourself, but control over others. It’s a bad habit to try to control others as it will only lead to stress and unhappiness for yourself and those you try to control. Let others live and live for yourself. Lose control of yourself now and then, too.

Cry

Crying is an amazing release. So, cry at sad movies, funeral or when you are hurt. It releases these emotions and allows us to cleanse ourselves.

Make an awesome dessert

I like to make warm, soft chocolate cake. But even berries dipped in chocolate, crepes with ice cream and fruit, fresh apple pie or homemade chocolate chip cookies or brownies are great. This isn’t an every day thing, but an occasional treat thing. It’s wonderful.

Try something new, every week

Ask yourself. “What new thing shall I try this week?”

Then, be sure to do it. You don’t have to learn a new language in one week, but seek new experiences. Give it a try. You might decide you want to keep it in your life.

Be in the moment

Instead of thinking about things you need to do or things that have happened to you, think about what you are doing right now.

What is around you? What are you experiencing? Learn to do this as much as possible through meditation. It’ll teach you how to put your focus back to the present as much as you can in everything you do. It’ll help you be more aware on how to live life to its fullest.

Written by Leo Babauta, a writer, runner, vegetarian, and the owner of Zen Habits.

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How to Take Care of Your Garden in Winter

Don’t let the winter ruin the beauty of your garden. Take care of it using the tips you can read in the following section. Maintaining your garden in this cold season, after all, can also prepare it for when spring and summer come.

So, if you’re ready, let’s begin highlighting the things you can do to maintain your winter garden.

Removing spent plants

Cleaning up finished and rotting plants is one of the best ways to keep your garden healthy in the winter. Removing old plants will not only tidy it up but also prevent the spread of fungi, pests, and diseases.

Getting rid of spent plants and then burying those disease-free finished plants can prevent most garden pests from spreading when the spring comes. In addition, burying them will also improve soil health as they can add organic matter to it.

Pruning in winter

Pruning helps remove dead plant in order to promote the growth of larger shoots for the coming growth season.

When pruning shrubs and flowering trees, you must prune the autumn and summer flowering shrubs and trees in the early spring and late winter. You must also prune those when their flowers started fading.

Also, you should be pruning deciduous plants for their spring re-growth because many of them are inactive or dormant in the winter. And as the foliage of the plants is gone, it is easier and faster to see their shape.

For best results, keep the following in mind:

• You should first prune out diseased or dead branches.
• You must also consider pruning on a dry day.
• In order to increase both the air and the light at a tree’s crown, you should remove smaller and overgrown branches.
• Also, don’t remove the branches that keep the tree’s structure and that are developing.
• You should also cut branches at the part wherein a twig or branch is attaching to another.

Planting bulbs

This winter, you should also learn how to divide and plant bulbs.

Bulbs, including daffodils and tulips, should be planted early in the winter because they require much time before blooming in the spring. These bulbs also need cool temperatures which can speed up their flowering.

For fall-planted bulbs, you should soak them in warm water for 12 hours before planting them, especially for tunicate-type bulbs that have teardrop-shaped or enclosed, round bulbs. However, this method is not suitable for lilies and other bulbs with fleshy scales.

By soaking them, the bulbs will absorb enough water to grow fast, saving you three weeks of time, especially if you’re in a northern climate location. Divide and then fertilize the bulbs to promote their blooming.

For bulbs that have few or no flowers, you might want to divide or fertilize them first. You can also consider using slow-release bulb fertilizers to keep its effectiveness in the early spring.

Planning Ahead

Use these tips to prepare your garden for the next gardening season. These tips will improve your yields in the end aside from helping you keep a lovely garden in the spring and the summer.

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5 Features to Achieve a Peaceful Home

Your home should be a serene and peaceful place, but getting to that point is often easier said than done. Turning your home into a haven of peace and comfort takes some work, but it can also work wonders for your mental health. Fortunately, there are a few relatively easy relaxing home decorating ideas you can try.

Check them out below:

Plenty of Plants

Bringing a few plants into your home can lead to massive mental benefits. Researchers have found a variety of positive effects that come from being near plants. In particular, researchers have found that people who spend time near plants are happier and calmer than those who do not have any links to a natural environment. Invest in your mental health by getting plants for your home.

Plants can also help to prevent some respiratory health problems, which can lead to stress and discomfort. One research project by NASA found that many plants act as natural air filters.

Air pollution is common in the modern world, especially in urban areas. It can aggravate asthma and many other breathing problems. Plants can help to counter that problem, especially within small, contained areas such as houses.

Natural Sunlight

Every home should have windows that let natural sunlight inside. Light from the sun has been found to boost mood, improve health by producing vitamin D, and even enhance cognition in people who suffer from depression.

Artificial lighting cannot serve as a substitute for natural light. This can lead to problems for people who can’t get outside.

When possible, try to save the artificial lights for after the sun goes down. Make sure that you use natural light as long as it’s available.

Noise Control

Noise pollution is another major problem in the modern world. At the most basic level, it can disrupt your concentration and cause irritation. In extreme cases, excessive noise can lead to hearing loss.

You can fight against noise by building thick, insulated walls, but that isn’t an option for some existing homes. In those cases, you can reduce the problem by planting trees and other greenery near the home. You can also try installing a green wall either on the outside or the interior of the building.

A Good Warranty

People often spend an excessive amount of time worrying about damage to their home or to their expensive appliances. That can lead to unhealthy stress, but it’s also a fairly easy problem to prevent. A good home warranty will make sure that you don’t suffer a serious setback in the event that your home suffers from damage.

Appropriate Colors

The color of your home can have a major impact on your mood. Researchers have studied color psychology in detail and found that spending long periods of time in environments of a certain color can lead to emotional changes.

In general, it’s best to go with light, natural colors for a home. Cooler colors, such as blue and green, are the best choices for rooms where you intend to relax. Warmer colors are more appropriate for rooms where you need to be active, such as a living or dining room.

Try to take your own color associations into account when painting a home. For example, if you have fond memories of a blue kitchen from your childhood, consider painting your own kitchen in a similar shade. It will bring those happy memories back to life, allowing you to feel more at ease in your own home.

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10 Small But Crucial Things You Have To Pay Attention To While Learning German

The German language is getting more and more popular among enthusiastic language learners all over the world. People learn it for different reasons — work opportunities, hobby, family relations, etc. Whatever your reason is, we salute your decision to become richer by learning a new language.

If you decided to learn German, you’ve probably heard it’s not the world’s easiest language. There are several aspects of it which might intimidate you — grammar, pronunciation, compound nouns, you name it.

And because of that, we prepared this handy guide for you. Below, we’ll discuss 10 highly important things you need to pay attention to while learning German on your own. These tips and tricks will make the entire learning process much easier for you. Hopefully, this will help you avoid making beginner’s mistakes and ensure you start out ready and self-assured.

Capitalized Nouns

Let’s kick things off with a simple and straightforward rule: all nouns in German are capitalized.

Whether it’s a personal name, a thing or a place, you write the first letter in capitals. In English, you only capitalize proper nouns.

Consider this sentence:

Ein Glas Wasser, bitte. A glass of water, please.

In this sentence, common nouns “water” and “glass” have the first letter capitalized.

Remember, anything that you can touch, smell, hear, see, feel or think about is capitalized. From abstract ideas to names of places, press that uppercase command. Make sure to memorize this rule and implement it as soon as you start writing in German.

Vowels’ Length

If you haven’t been to school for a while, you may have forgotten what the hell vowels are. In most languages, speech sounds are divided into vowels and consonants.

In German (like in English) A, E, I, O and U are called vowels. Everything else is a consonant. However, in German, vowels can be a little tricky at first because a vowel in German can be short or long.

Here’s how to determine the length of the vowel:

Short

A vowel is short when followed by a consonant cluster:

Short e:
Geld (money)- similar pronunciation to “scent”

Long

A vowel is long in all the other cases.

Long a:
fahren (to drive)- similar pronunciation to “charm”

Proper pronunciation of the vowels can make a huge difference and often influence the meaning of the word. It’s definitely something to consider in order to nail that German pronunciation.

Der, Die, Das

In German, articles are different for each of the three genders. Here’s what you need to know:

• Der is for the masculine gender, like der Winter (winter) der Vater (father) der Montag (Monday)
• Dieis for the feminine gender, such as die Mutter (mother) die Sängerin (singer) die Lampe (lamp)
• Dasis for neutral nouns, like das Blau (white) das Auto (car) das Museum (museum)

Be aware that gender differs for each word from language to language. If something is feminine in your native language, it doesn’t mean that it’s the same gender in German.

To put it simply, you need to learn new words along with the article. That will help you memorize the gender of the word and know how to use it properly.

Umlaut

We’re back to vowels. Have you heard of the umlaut?

In German, it’s represented by two dots placed above the vowels A, O, and U, turning them into Ä, Ö, and Ü.

An umlaut changes the pronunciation of a vowel completely, making a whole new sound. That means you need to know how to say the words with an umlaut on the vowel.

Pronunciation similar to:

• schön (beautiful) earn
  bird
• Äpfel (apple) end
  apple
• Üben (practice)

No corresponding sound in English

Try saying “ee” like in “see” but place your mouth like you want to say “oo” like in “moon”.
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, and you can’t get a hold of this by only reading and studying. In time, you will develop the intuition for proper pronunciation.
German pronunciation isn’t as simple as you thought, right?

Sentence Structure

Sentence structure is important. You have to know how the subject, object, and other parts of the sentences that go with one another.

Good news: it’s the same as in English.

Subject+Verb+Object
Take a look at this simple example:
I have a ball.
Ich habe einen Ball

Here’s a more complicated one:

I want delicious ice cream with chocolate chips.
Ich möchte ein leckeres Eis mit Schokoladenstückchen.

Diphthongs

The struggle with the vowels continues as we introduce the final touch: diphthongs.

When you see a cluster of vowels in German, you need to know exactly how to pronounce them. Luckily, there are rules to determine this.

Take a look:

au = Haus (house)
ow = brown
ou = noun
äu = Häuser (houses)
oy = boy
ai/ei = (egg)
i = wine
eye = eye
ie = Liebe (love)
ee = week

These are the basic ones and there are other combinations which you’ll eventually learn. Use these as a starting point and go from there.

Conjunctions

Conjunctions are the words we use to connect clauses or sentences, such as but, if, because, and etc. In German, the conjunctions can mess up the sentence structure we’ve discussed above.

Take a look at what you have to know:

• Coordinate conjunctions don’t change the position of the verb.

Here are a couple of examples:

aber denn und oder
but then and or

• Subordinate conjunctions push the verb on the last place of the clause.

weil wenn bis nachdem
because if until after

Example:

• I want to eat. I am hungry. – Ich will essen. Ich bin hungrig.
• I want to eat because I am hungry. – Ich will essen, weil ich hungrig bin.
The subordinate conjunction “weil” made “bin” go to the end of the clause.

• Compound conjunctions are formed by two words:
weder noch anstatt zu entweder oder sowohl als auch
neider nor instead of either or both and

Unbelievably Long Words

The German language is the proud owner of some of the most ridiculously long words in the world. This is thanks to the compound nouns they are prone to creating.
Don’t be surprised if you see a 30 letter word!

Take a look at some of these examples:

• Freundschaftsbezeigungen- demonstrations of friendship
• das Meerschweinschen- guinea pig
• Schneeeule- snowy owl
• Nahrungsmittelunverträglichkeit- food intolerance

Words You Already Know

We have some encouraging news: since English and German are both West-Germanic languages, there are some rather similar words.
That means you already know a ton of German words. This gives you a wing to the back and helps you get a grip of the language.

Here’s a list:

• Eisberg- iceberg
• Apfel- apple
• Album- album
• Compute-r computer
• Evolution- evolution
• Tennis- tennis
• Hunger- hunger
• Million- million

Pronunciation

German is considered to be one of the” rough-sounding” languages to most non-native speakers. If your native is English, you’ll probably agree with this.
In order to master a language, you need to listen to it.

Adopting the melodies and sounds of a language isn’t easy. In order to adopt the sound of German and start sounding more like a native, you have to listen to native speakers.

Use all sources that you can:

• YouTube
• movies
• music
• interviews
• talk shows

Surround yourself with Germans every day and start repeating everything you hear.

Where To Start?

If you’re starting from scratch and have no previous knowledge of the German language, it’s best to start with:

The alphabet

German alphabet has 26 letters and just like in English, you can learn it through poems, images or even YouTube videos. You need to get the hang of it as soon as possible so that you can continue learning without any problems

Expanding your vocabulary

This is definitely something you can do on your own, regardless of any lessons you might be taking or tutoring guidance. The internet is full of resources that can help you learn. Assign yourself a task, like 10 new words each day. Imagine where that takes you in a month or two.

Online courses

You can try learning German on your own. There are online beginners’ courses that you can take and see where that takes you.

Study buddy

Learning might be more efficient if you have someone to share it with. Try getting a friend or a colleague on board and work together on your German skills.

Native speaker

Try finding a native German speaker who would like to talk to you every now and then, and help you practice.

Conclusion

Every language is hard to learn, especially if you start learning it as an adult. However, nothing is impossible so don’t let anyone break your spirit. Hard work and good preparation give the best results. Make sure to work tirelessly, study regularly, and practice like crazy.

We’ve given you a head start. Make sure to memorize these small but crucial details about learning German. It will help you achieve progress faster and improve your skills in no time.

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The Dos and Don’ts of Asking for A Raise

When you ask for a pay raise, the answer to this question is quite simple; it will either be a “yes” or a “no”. There is nothing in between. Despite that, however, you shouldn’t take it lightly. A proper plan and strategy are necessary when it comes to the pay raise issue.

Let’s take a good look at some of the dos and don’ts of asking for a raise.

The Don’ts

Let’s start with the Don’ts part first. Take a look and try to avoid these things when requesting a pay raise.

Do not compare yourself to your colleagues

You just noticed a guy in the office that earns more and you need a better package, right? Never include his name in the talk, because that is a very unprofessional way of asking for a raise. Access your own merits and achievements and present them to your boss as proof that you deserve better pay.

Do not be too harsh or demanding

Go ahead and swear if you are willing to lose the job. But, if all you want is a pay raise, then be patient and professional. Never ask like you are demanding for it. Instead, just speak confidently yet politely to stay on good terms (just in case they refuse the raise request) and prove to them why you deserve a pay raise.

Do not ask at a stressful time

The best time to ask for a pay raise is when the business is going well. It increases your chance as your boss will likely be in a good mood. However, you should remember to never ask for a raise during the high-stress times. Wait out that tough time if you can and wait for a good opportunity.

The Dos

Among all the things that you should avoid when asking for a pay raise, here are some points to focus on to increase your chances of hearing a “yes”.

Ask after a personal achievement

The best time to hit your boss’ office is after a significant personal achievement of yours. It’s a good way to set yourself from the rest of your colleagues. Exploit the momentum created by your persistent success and accomplishments to ask for a pay raise.

Give them a solid reason

Salary is based on your role in the office and your performance, so spare some time and figure out all the possible ways you can improve your output. Your performance is going to be the decider of your salary. Take additional work and complete that in time and you might not have to ask for a pay raise in the first place.

Ask in a professional way

After all of the brainstorming, planning, and hard work comes the most important part — how would you ask for a pay raise?

Many people just write a short email begging for it, use a generic template they found on the internet or tag their boss in the hallway and guess what? They fail miserably.

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How To Make 2019 Your Year For Fitness

I’m not the biggest believer in New Year’s resolutions because I feel self-improvement should be a year-long affair. If you’ve been resisting making necessary changes, it’s hard to believe you’ll follow through just because you’re inspired by a clean slate, chronologically speaking.

Looking at history, though, it seems to be human nature to view the New Year as an opportunity to move past old limitations and into better habits.

Some 4,000 years ago, the Babylonians renewed their loyalty to the king during their New Year’s celebration. They also vowed to the Gods they’d pay off their debts and return anything they borrowed. (I wish my neighbor, who’s been in possession of my weed-whacker for several weeks, would take a page from these ancient denizens of Mesopotamia.)

Now, are you planning on turning your health and physique around this 2019? If so, below are really effective tips you can use to set and achieve a healthier you.

Set Your Fitness Goals

You know you want to get in better shape. If you want to make a real impact on your fitness level in 2019, though, you need to get more specific. Setting a measurable goal can keep you focused and on track.

Your fitness goal might include:

• Losing weight or inches
• Fitting into a particular size or outfit
• Becoming more muscular
• Regaining lost flexibility
• Improving your cardiovascular condition and stamina
• Participating in an upcoming athletic event, like a half-marathon

Keep Your Goals Achievable

Whatever your fitness goal is, make sure your benchmarks are achievable. If you aim to lose 30 pounds in 30 days, you’re setting yourself up for failure. You’re likely to miss the mark and give up altogether, discouraged.

Pick a more realistic goal instead. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 4 to 8 pounds per month is a more attainable and sustainable level of weight loss.

Aim For Off-The-Scale Results

The scale doesn’t lie, but it certainly doesn’t tell the whole story. For instance, you may be dropping inches instead of pounds as you replace fat with muscle. For this reason, I suggest you start your fitness regime, by measuring places like your:

• Calves and chest
• Forearms and hips
• Neck and shoulders
• Thighs and waist

As you move along in your fitness journey, measure yourself again from time to time. Whether you’re aiming for a trimmer or bulkier form, a change of an inch or two in your waist, thighs or biceps can make a noticeable difference in how you look and feel.

Make A Game Plan

If you want to make a real impact on your fitness in 2019, you need to figure out the steps you plan to take. As French author and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

When I’m crafting a plan to make a fitness fantasy a reality, I like to take a two-pronged tack, making changes in my diet as well as upping my activity level.

Eat For Success

When you start your day with a morning run or a gym session, you tend to feel good — body and mind. If you dive headfirst into a carton of donuts as soon as you get home, however, you’re likely to feel bloated, sick, and a little guilty. It’s the very definition of self-sabotage.

With this in mind, your fitness game plan should include a dietary component like:

• Cutting out bread
• Eating less meat and more vegetables
• Following an eating plan like the Mediterranean or keto diet.

Exercise Freedom of Choice

Your fitness goals will largely dictate the nature of your workouts. If you’re training for a race, you’re going to need to run. If you have more general aims like improving your cardiovascular condition, there are any number of activities that can help you raise your heart rate.

Fitness experts agree that people are more likely to stick with exercise they enjoy, so choose undertakings you like. If you hate running, you might benefit from hiking, swimming, biking or classes like spinning, yoga, aerobics or Barre.

Chart Your Progress And Celebrate Your Successes

From time to time, you’ll want to chart your progress, whether through a scale or a measuring tape. Another good way to see how far you’ve come is to take selfies from several angles at the start of your fitness journey, wearing a swimsuit or exercise clothes.

If you’ve been following your fitness regimen faithfully but don’t seem to be making progress, I suggest you take a new series of selfies and compare them with your first set. It’ll give you an objective view of the subtle changes created by your fitness efforts. Improvements might include things like greater muscle definition, a decrease in visible cellulite or a reduction in those rolls that have developed on your midsection.

Take a moment to acknowledge your successes and, if you wish, celebrate them by treating yourself to a meal in a restaurant or a new item of clothing.

I hope you’re successful at reaching your New Year fitness goals. And one more thing, if you’ve borrowed any garden implements from your neighbor, I suggest you remember those ancient Babylonians and return them!

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Can You Robot-Proof Your Career?

Welcome to an automated future. Just this year, Amazon opened a totally cashier-less grocery store, the first of its kind. While Amazon certainly has no lack for employee talent with over 500,000 employees on the payroll, Amazon Go is a working experiment on the impact of automation on employment.

Automation Is The Future

Amazon’s grocery store gives us a glimpse into the future in which we see unmatched productivity and profit. Generally speaking, the more routine or predictable a job is, the higher the likelihood it has for robotic replacement. Nearly 50% of employers think that automation in their respective industries could cause a huge reduction of the human workforce by just 2020.

By 2030, the following industries and positions could see total automation:

• 4.6 million retail workers
• 4.3 million servers and cooks
• 3.8 million housekeepers and janitorial workers
• 2.4 million warehouse workers, laborers, and movers

Are Employees At Risk From Automation?

Thriving under conditions of predictable behaviors and physical movement, it’s the commonplace jobs that are most at risk. Workers whose jobs could be completely replaced within just a decade or two include positions from retail to housekeeping and even office jobs.

Nearly 20% of what we do during our day could become obsolete, thanks to automation. So, how do we make sure our responsibilities are robot-proof?

While 37% of people are worried about automation putting their jobs at risk, 73% also say that technology can never replace the human mind. What makes automation truly powerful is when it gives us humans the chance to free up our creative energies from predictable yet time-consuming tasks.

What results is disagreeing experts on the true impact of automation on employment. One study has shown that less than 5% of occupations can become fully automated. It is instead the restructuring of jobs, responsibilities, and tasks that’s the likely outcome of automation, rather than full submission to robot workers.

Work with the lowest potential for automation include:

• In-person customer service positions
• Planning and creative work
• Management positions and development roles

How Can You Prevent Automation From Taking Over Your Career?

Today, robots are unable to replicate human emotions, creativity, and experiences, which is a good thing. When we can rely on automation to manage mundane work, we can focus our energies away from time-consuming tasks. We can do the work that really influences growth and change.

In business, soft skills show up in:

• Emotional intelligence – empathy, curiosity, nurturing
• Creativity – unique problem solving skills, attention to detail, artistic thought
• Leadership – motivating others, guidance, and emotional understanding

Going forward, honing these soft skills will be more important than ever as they make us an asset. This competitive edge in the face of automation can not only help save our jobs, but help us move on up to more meaningful and impactful work. Thanks to a reliance on skills like these, the prospect of automation in select industries remains low and with very little prospect of growth.

• Medical field work – physicians and surgeons show .4% potential for automation and dentists and occupational therapists at .3%
• Education – special-ed teachers and middle school teacher show 1.6% potential for automation, preschool teachers show .7%, and elementary school teachers just .4%.
• Technology field work – software developers have 4.2% potential of automation, mechanical engineers at 1.1%
• Computer systems analysts .6%.

Though not all of us work in the medical or technology fields, we can learn lessons from then on what makes them so irreplaceable. Technical know-how aside, it’s the human touch that makes these human positions indispensable. We can apply that very same principle to our own work, whatever that may be.

Consider bolstering your own position at work now to prepare for the future

35% of Americans have changed jobs in the last three years and 14% of workers worldwide need to be retrained. Don’t be afraid to pivot careers if necessary. Many employers offer educational tools and courses from Microsoft Word primers all the way to blockchain crash courses. No matter where you are in your career, it never hurts to work on your knowledge.

The future may be robotic, but human skills will become a powerful asset. Ready to robot-proof your career? Start from within by developing your soft skills detailed in this infographic below.

Source: Online Bachelor Degrees

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10 Holiday Scams and How to Avoid Them

The holidays are such a joyful time. People are more giving, family and friends are throwing parties, and everyone is merry. But it’s also a time when people are more distracted — and criminals are ready to take advantage.

Here are 10 ways you can detect and avoid holiday scams.

Holiday Phishing

 

Pay attention to the emails you receive from major businesses like FedEx, Apple or Amazon. Avoid clicking on any links or attachments in the email until you confirm they are not sent from a malicious source. Scammers send these emails hoping you’ll click automatically, unaware that the contents are designed to steal important personal information.

Avoid It: You can sniff out scam emails by watching for things like typos, grammatical errors or addresses that don’t match the reputable site. Always have updated antivirus software running on your computer to avoid this scam.

Fake Charities

People are in the spirit of helping others in this season. With that, beware of false charities asking for donations. People can easily make up fliers with phony websites for donations or ask you to donate on the street.

Avoid It: Always review the details of the charity and how the funds will be used. If you’re concerned about donating online, verify the charity at Give.org.

Travel Scams

It’s tempting to grab an online discount for travel to an exotic location this time of year, but don’t purchase before doing some investigation first. Online scammers will promise you a bargain, but your dream vacation could end up being an expensive mistake if you’re not careful.

Avoid It: Ask for references from companies promising you the deal and never wire money to someone you don’t know. Also, research the company online and look for reviews from multiple reviewers over the past several months.

Taxi Tricks

There are many travelers during this season and taxi drivers know that sometimes, people are desperate to get to their destination. Some taxi drivers will put fees on your fare before you leave the airport or they’ll take you on a longer route home to incur higher pay.

Avoid It: If you’re traveling over the holidays and will be taking a taxi, review your routes to your hotel before you leave. That way you can identify if you’re being scammed.

Loan Frauds

During the Christmas season, people want to have a good time. And those who can’t afford a Christmas vacation or expensive gifts may consider taking loans.

While there are legitimate sites that help people find loans, there are also scam lenders that take advantage of unsuspecting people. Scammers go so far as to pose as brokers offering credit help to people by taking their money or bank details to set up the loan.

Avoid It: If you’re worried about getting ripped off, go to a brick-and-mortar loan center in your city to avoid the risk.

Package Poaching

Online shopping offers a convenient and fast way to shop for the holidays. You can buy for all of your friends and family from the convenience of your own home and the packages will arrive at your doorstep.

Unfortunately, you aren’t the only one waiting for your package to arrive. Criminals eagerly wait so they can steal your packages.

Avoid It: If you can, arrange for someone to be home on the delivery date to pick up your package quickly. You can also install a doorbell camera to detect or identify people stealing from your porch.

Holiday E-cards

We’ve all received cute e-greeting cards in our inbox from friends or co-workers, but not all e-cards are the same. Fake e-cards sent to your email could contain triggered viruses or malware, infecting your system and stealing your personal information.

Avoid It: Some e-cards can be easily identified by antivirus software, but not all. So, avoid clicking on any e-cards as a precaution. You can also call the sender to verify whether they actually sent the card.

Free Gift Cards

A common scam around the holiday season involves large discounts on gift cards or vouchers. These deals may appear on social media or via spam phone calls. You engage with the offer to get a $100 gift card for half the price, and hackers gain enough access to your personal information to raid your bank account.

Avoid It: Check the offer before clicking on the purchase option. Email addresses may look legit, but there is often an extra letter in the site address, indicating it’s a fraudulent site. Running a quick Google search on the deal can also help you detect potential hoaxes.

Counterfeit Goods

We’ve all seen fake goods for sale before- name-brand watches, handbags, and electronics appear during the holidays at great prices. When you see prices that are too good to be true, trust your gut. Second-hand sites, such as eBay, have lots of cheap products listed this time of year and many are scams.

Avoid It: When you see a name brand item listed at an absurdly low price, it’s best to skip the deal.

Santa Letters

Scammers deliver fake offers in many different ways during the holidays. If you receive an email that’s advertising letters from Santa, be sure you review the email closely. These emails promise you a customized letter to your child from Santa that never arrives. These sites steal your information, your $20 payment or both.

Avoid It: Write these letters yourself and avoid this scam, or ask a friend to help with the print so your kids can’t tell it was written by you.

Conclusion

By being aware and by following these tips, you can lower the risk of falling prey to holiday scams. If you encounter any of them, review your financial statements, dispute any unrecognized charges, and report any identity theft you find ASAP.

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Most Powerful New Year Quotes to Motivate Anyone for a Fresh New Beginning in 2019

After sending out inspiring Christmas quotes, follow up with our new collection of motivational Happy New Year quotes. Post them on your social media and inspire all your friends and followers too!

And if one quote or saying resonates with you, own it! Start the year with the right mindset. Print out your favorite saying of the bunch or make it into your wallpaper. Put it up where you’re guaranteed to always be looking at it so you’ll never forget.

It’s a new year, friends! It’s another 364 days of exciting opportunities and chances! Happy New Year!

The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals. – Melody Beattie

And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been. – Rainer Maria Rilke

There are greater things to be achieved in every New Year, and each and everyone must prepare themselves to be great, not by words of the mouth, but by a lot of sacrifices. – Michael Bassey Johnson

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. – C.S. Lewis

Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day. – Michael Josephson

This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change. – Taylor Swift

Like what you see? See more New Year Quotes.

New is the year, new are the hopes, new is the resolution, new are the spirits, and new are my warm wishes just for you. Have a promising and fulfilling New Year!

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day. – Edith Lovejoy Pierce

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. – Bill Vaughan

Happy New Year to you! Wish this year brings to the warmth of love and illuminates your path of life towards a positive direction.

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. – Chinese Proverb

A new year brings not only happiness, it makes us happy with a hope to fulfill our dreamz or a new beginning of our life. So, a new year is very special to everyone. – Santonu Kumar Dhar

Visit SayingImages.com for more Inspiring New Year greetings, messages and images.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

 

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9 Immediate Tips To Stay Focused on Your Goals

Honestly, do you still remember the new year’s resolutions you set at the beginning of this year? How are you faring in them right now?

If you’re like most people, chances are you’ve long abandoned those goals. Some of you may not even recall the goals you have set and that’s really unfortunate.

Goal setting works and it has never failed anyone. The only reason why goals would stop working is because the person who has set them chose to give up on them mid-way.

During the past few years, I’ve been working relentlessly on my goals – be it blogging, setting up my new business, improving my diet, losing weight, making like-minded friends, improving my relationship with my parents, and so on.

Over the course of the past 2.5 years, I’ve made significant progress on those goals.

For example, I lost about 7 to 8 kgs this year. Currently, I am at my desired weight. I’ve switched from an unhealthy, junk food diet to a healthy, vegan diet which I’m proud of.

I created my personal development blog and built it from 2 readers a day (me and my good friend) to over 600k page views/month, making it one of the top personal development blogs online. I’ve created a successful business out of my passion in personal development and am earning a steady, passive income from it.

I resolved a deep-seated emotional eating issue which I’ve been struggling with the past decade. My previously sour relationship with my parents has dramatically improved for the better in the past 2 months.

I’m not sharing the above to distance myself from you or to put myself on a pedestal. It’s quite the opposite. I’m sharing the above to let you know that because I’ve achieved my goals, you can achieve your goals, too- no matter what they are. It’s all a matter of staying focused.

If you constantly get distracted in your goal pursuits, here are 8 tips I have for you to stay focused:

Concentrate on 1 to 3 goals

If you constantly have trouble sticking to your goals, maybe you’re spreading yourself too thin. Pick 1 to 3 goals that are most important to you and stick to them. Don’t bother yourself with any other goals until these goals are achieved or unless your priorities shift.

For me, my top priority goal is to reach out to more people through my blog. So, I ensure all my daily actions ladder up to this one goal. Majority of my time in the week is spent either writing new articles for the blog, maintaining my Facebook and twitter account, maintaining the blog and forums, processing my emails or creating upcoming plans. If I’m caught up with something else for a long period of time, it’s a cue to me that I’m off-track.

Such laser focus has allowed me to make much more progress, compared to when I juggle across 4 to 5 goals and make little progress in them.

Create a vision board

A vision board is a collage of pictures and images that represent your goals and dreams. Creating a vision board helps you to visualize your end goals more clearly. Inevitably, it will inspire you to take consistent action. It also serves to remind you of your goals every day when you see the board.

I’ve a vision board in my bedroom which I see every time I’m in my room. Every time I see my board, it reinforces my goals to me and reminds me to take action and move forward. 

If you’ve yet to create your vision board, I’ve created a video tutorial which you may find helpful. You can watch it if you want to know how to create your vision board.

Create milestones

If you just set one huge goal, it can be discouraging, especially when you don’t achieve it after a short while. When that happens, some people may procrastinate on the goal altogether which is quite unfortunate.

I find it helpful to break a big goal into smaller goals. Just like when you go on a long road-trip, you set pit-stops to rest/recuperate throughout the trip. 

Create a plan

If you have a plan worked out for your goal, it becomes much easier to stick to it. All you have to do is to follow the actions you have planned for the day. The best time to work out your plan is when you set the goal because that’s when your motivation is the highest.

Usually, I create my goal action plans right after I set my goal. I take action immediately and that helps create a positive momentum. 

Track your results

It’s important for me to track the results of what I do because otherwise, it feels like my actions are not making a difference. Hence, every time I work on a goal, I will identify 1 to 2 performance metrics, then track those metrics daily/weekly.

They are my connection to the end goal because they let me know whether I’m on track or off track. They let me know whether to tweak my actions or not. 

Have goal buddies

Goal buddies are people who share similar goals with you. They help to remind you about your goal, spur you on when you feel unmotivated, give you new ideas on how to achieve your goal, keep you on track, among others. Your goal buddies can be your friends or people whom you meet in interest groups. Since you already share similar interests, it’ll be easy to find people with the same goals.

Start a journal documenting your goal pursuit

Having a blog or private diary to document your goals can be a therapeutic experience. A lot of times, we abandon our goals because we get frustrated mid-way and we are not sure what to do about that.

However, when we write out our thoughts, it helps us to get clarity on our issues and renews our interest in the goal. Many readers at my blog created their life journals in the blog forums and have found that to be tremendously helpful in keeping them focused on their goals. 

Be clear on why you’re pursuing the goals

If you keep giving up on your goals halfway, perhaps you were never serious in them to begin with. For me, if I’m really serious about a goal, I’d never give up on it – I’d keep hammering away at it, regardless of the obstacles, until they give way and I’m enjoying the fruits of my labor. 

I once had a coaching client who would embark on many new business ventures only to stop within the first 2 to 3 months. He never knew why.

When I drilled into the issue with him, he found out it was because he just wanted to start a business to earn money. Well, he was already earning good money with his current job and that gave hi little reason to move out of his comfort zone.

After that, I recommended him to identify a business idea which he was truly passionate about and he did. Today, he has been working on this same business for the past 1.5 years, the longest he has ever kept to a business venture.

Learn to say no

Do you often put your goals aside for other people?

It’s okay to do that once or twice but if you keep doing the whole time, something is seriously wrong. You can’t forever put your life on hold for others!

I used to have trouble saying no to others. That’s until I realized I was just doing myself and my dreams a disfavor when I say yes to something that’s not what I want. Learn how to say no and you may find a bigger pot of gold at the end of this rainbow.

Check out my related posts at Dumb Little Man that will help you stay on track in your goals:

• 6 Steps To Getting Started With Something Totally New
• 6 Practical Tips To Make Your Habits Stick
• Learning To Say No: 6 Simple Tips To Do It
• 9 Proven Ways To Charge Up Your Motivation

Written by Celestine Chua, a writer at Personal Excellence where she shares her best advice on how to achieve personal excellence and live your best life. Get her RSS feed directly and add her on Twitter @celestinechua. If you like this article, you will enjoy one of her top articles: 101 Things To Do Before You Die.

Photo Credit: lululemon athletica

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