10 Tips to Manage Your Time Effectively Under Pressure

Do you ever feel the need to be more productive and organized in order to accomplish much more than what you are doing right now?

Time management is one of the most important skills that you need to develop in life. With effective time management, you enable yourself to become more productive at achieving the goals and objectives assigned to you at work. You also get better in achieving the ones you assign to yourself in daily life.

In this particular article, you will find 10 useful and effective time management strategies that will boost your productivity dramatically.

Conduct a Time Audit

To acquire the skill of time management, you need to figure out where you spend most of your time and what you accomplish in that particular time. Track all your activities for a week and evaluate them to find areas that need improvement.

For example, if most of your time is utilized in unproductive meetings and low-priority tasks, try to reschedule your agenda. That way, you’ll bring more positivity in your daily routine so that you accomplish more than what you are currently doing.

Prioritize your work according to the weight and importance that each task carries. The most important and heavy tasks should be performed first so that you can relax your mind whilst performing the less important tasks.

Prepare for Meetings in Advance

When going to a meeting, be clear in the points that need to be addressed in the meeting. This will help you save precious time which you can use in other productive tasks.

In addition to this, share the meeting agenda with your colleagues and subordinates. This will help make sure that they know about the topics that would be discussed in the meeting.

Set Time Limits

Before you start performing a task, make sure that you set a timer for that particular task. This will let you know how long it will take to complete it.

By setting time constraints, you will focus more on your work and you are more likely to complete it on time. In case you still fail to complete your tasks in the given time, examine the workflow. Eliminate the unnecessary breaks to complete the tasks in a timely manner.

Plan Your Week

Plan your week on a Sunday so that you know your priorities. Make a full-fledged plan regarding the activities that you have been assigned so that you don’t forget anything.

After completing the tasks, mark them done in your notepad. This will allow you to simplify your assignments and you will have a better idea about the time you need to put in to complete your work.

Create a Daily Plan

Before starting with your daily routine, take a few minutes to make an outline of the tasks that are lined up for that day. This will enable you to know how much time you can spend on each individual task.

Moreover, knowing the time will help you gain motivation for the day and you will be able to perform better.

Most people find the first hour of their day more productive. If you are one of them, use this precious time to complete the most important tasks of your day.

Block/Ignore Distractions

When working on a high priority task, make sure that you enable the “Do Not Disturb” function in your smartphone and laptop. You can also go offline by logging out of all social media networking sites.

It is worth mentioning the fact that you should not consider multitasking when doing something important. When you multitask, you are dividing your attention into several other tasks and you lose focus.

Don’t Wait for Inspiration

Instead of waiting for inspiration, create the perfect environment for yourself to work. Waiting for inspiration is a waste of time and businessmen do not have time for such things because time is money.

Keep your mind busy and stay away from daydreams because these emotions also tend to waste your precious time. Similarly, instead of striving for perfection, strive for your best performance and perfection will automatically follow you.

Organize Your Messengers

Keep your inbox organized at all times because, with everything classified, you will be able to find the right email without wasting any time. People with cluttered inbox usually lose important information at the time when they need it the most.

In order to organize your messengers, you should:

• Keep your inbox clean
• Archive messages that are important but do not require immediate action
• Store the files attached in the messages in order to access them later when needed
• Use filters to assign labels to all the incoming and outgoing messages.

Use Your Calendar

Keeping a calendar at your office desk is always a good idea to keep track of your upcoming meetings, routine tasks, and events. Mark the tasks that are done and complete the ones that are left so that you can enjoy your leisure time doing fun activities.

You can also download a calendar app in your smartphone in order to know when exactly a certain task is due.

Balance Your Life

Take full responsibility for your work and take some time out to relax your mind. Research shows that relaxed and peaceful minds perform better than the ones that are always tensed up about work.

The key to a stress-less mind is a balanced life. Have a great time with your friends and family when you are not at work because you deserve it.

See Also: How To Increase Your Productivity By Harnessing Dead Time

Conclusion

Your time belongs to you

Therefore, instead of wasting it in unproductive tasks, utilize it to accomplish the goals that mean something to you. Delegate some tasks on your subordinates and teach them how to perform better. That way, you can spend your precious time doing something that others are not capable of learning and executing.

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The Most Overlooked Secret to Dealing with Life’s Problems

How many times has life slapped you in the face with something unexpected?

Well, most of us have experienced that a lot of time. We all have problems and they will never go away. They will just change form.

At one point, you may be struggling with health and then money. And the next thing you know, you’re having problems with your relationships. That is both the curse and blessing of life.

However, you don’t have to suffer because everything isn’t perfect in your life.

Behind the Scenes of Problems

Nothing becomes a problem until you label it so.

You’ve probably noticed that different people have different opinions of what problems are and how much attention should be given to them. This means that problems exist in our heads.

We create them, define them, and fear them.

I, for example, am great at worrying about problems that do not even exist and I’m sure you’re no different. But that doesn’t change the fact that problems are made-up.

The One Thing You Have to Know

The secret to dealing with life’s problems is to realize that they are illusions of our imagination. Sure, they feel very real. I’m not denying that.

Imagine that you’re driving your car merrily down the highway. Then, someone cuts you off.

You might fly off the handle or you might not. It will depend on how you perceive the situation.

It’s an excellent example of how some people create something to complain about where others are completely fine.

Life will always have “problems” and the way to deal with them is to let them be. You don’t have to try to analyze, fantasize or figure out your problems. Let them figure themselves out. The more you try, the more you fuel the problem and the more miserable you become.

This doesn’t mean you need to stop solving problems. Instead, you just have to stop the compulsive worrying and fear-mongering inside your head.

How to Stop the Compulsive Worrying

You can stop the madness by simply staying present and letting whatever happens be. This can be extremely hard if you bump into a problem that is important to you, but it is through those big problems that the biggest changes occur.

For example, I tend to freak out whenever something threatens my health. I can even go into a cold sweat which I did a few weeks ago about a possible dental issue.

Despite that, I remained present. I observed my own body and mind without fueling it by thinking and trying to figure it out.

I was the observer of my thoughts and you know what happened?

The thoughts lost momentum and disappeared. The freak out ended within 30 minutes. Some people are so good at freaking out that it goes on for years or, even worse, their whole life.

Why is Life so Hard?

Life can seem tough from time to time, but it is through those tough times that you grow as a human being. It’s uncomfortable, yup, but that’s life.

It’s a roller coaster with both highs and lows so you might as well learn how to deal with it. The more comfortable you become with life’s problems, the more you’ll enjoy life’s gifts.

See Also: 5 Simple Ways To Cope With Life

Conclusion

Life is what it is and most of life’s problems are created by us. The problems are events in our life and no one is denying that. However, the extrapolation that we do freaks us out and then we wonder why we feel so bad.

It’s a life-long habit most of us have cultivated which means we can change it. But change starts with awareness.

So, today all I want you to do is be aware of how you worry and freak yourself out. Then, simply watch your thoughts. You will be pulled back into the drama of your mind, but gently pull your attention back to just watching what goes on.

Be kind to yourself, and enjoy both the highs and the lows.

Written by Henri Junttila who writes at Wake Up Cloud. There, he shares his personal tips on how you can live the life you know you deserve. When you feel ready to take action, get his free course: How to Find Your Passion (And Build a Business Around It). 

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How to Be Adaptable in 11 Simple Steps

Whether it involves your work, family, relationships or life in general, changes are bound to happen. And to be able to live with those changes, you need to be adaptable. You need to be able to face the changes head on and accept them for what they are.

If you are having a really hard time making the necessary adjustments, below are some tips on how to be adaptable you can totally try.

Stop whining

What do you do when something terrible happens?

Majority of people start whining as soon as they find themselves in a difficult situation. It’s normal but this reaction leads to nowhere.

If you’re one of them, don’t stay at a standstill. Instead, learn to accept the situation, adapt to it, and move on.

There’s no ‘right’ and ‘wrong’

Eliminate ‘wrong’ beliefs from your life. We used to believe that many things are ‘wrong’ and must be avoided, but it’s not the case if you want to be successful.

Be bold enough to try things that others run away from. This trait has helped many successful people build companies, corporations, and fortune.

Improve your coping mechanism

The way you deal with personal and professional setbacks may significantly affect your future success. Discover your coping mechanism and consider changing some aspects of it.

If you usually switch strategies to overcome various life challenges, try to forge ahead, learn from mistakes, and try again. Don’t run away from them. Instead, change what’s not working with your coping mechanism.

Be open to change

New things aren’t necessarily bad things. No matter how you slice it, changes make our lives better. Unless you’re doing something that can damage your health and overall life, feel free to experiment with spiritual, personal, and professional worlds.

See Also: How to Become a Spiritual Badass – The 20 Laws of Spiritual Power

Have the whole alphabet for your plan

Successful things don’t happen overnight. And this is where you may need the whole alphabet rather than the first three letters of it.

When Plan A doesn’t work, switch to Plan B. If it still doesn’t work, move to Plan C. If 20 plans don’t work, move to Plan W or Y. This way, no change will scare you.

Engage in a positive self-talk

I’m not telling you to sit and talk to yourself every morning or evening. That’s kind of madness, right?

But positive self-talk every now and then can help you adapt to any changes faster, especially if you have no one to encourage and support you during the rough times.

Stick to your natural inclinations

If a situation doesn’t come naturally and you have trouble coping with it, turn to your natural inclinations. If you’re an extrovert who draws the strength and inspiration from talking to other people, no matter whether they’re family members or total strangers, make sure you talk to them.

If you’re an introvert, spend some time alone. Analyze the situation you are in and find a solution. Do what you feel is right to you.

Think big

You can greatly improve your adaptability by learning to think big. Break through the limitations you’ve set for yourself. Let go of them. Expand your horizons. Set realistic goals and you will never feel like you failed.

All of these will not only help you be more adaptable in the future, but will also show you the road to success.

See Also: The Power of Thinking Big

Don’t blame yourself

… and others, if you have this habit.

Adaptable people know their personalities and they always keep reinventing themselves in order to adapt. They don’t blame themselves for mistakes, failures, rejections, traits, and doubts. They do realize that if they can’t change it, they must accept it.

Blaming yourself or others is just a waste of time. Focus on improvement, not the past.

Learn how to balance your life

Trying to succeed in all aspects of life is great, but you risk ending up feeling miserable in case of a failure. Create a balanced life, instead. After all, it’s impossible to adapt to all changes in all aspects of life, no matter how strong you are.

When you’re balanced, you feel grounded, calm, clear-headed, inspired, and motivated. Take time to look at your life, and figure out the aspects of it. You are either neglecting or paying too much attention to it.

Stop waiting

… for the right time, right place, success, happiness, money, people- you name it. Just stop waiting.

When it comes to adaptability, there’s no ‘right’ moment. You have to take action to cope with the hard stuff. You can either influence or accept it. There’s no other choice.

Adaptability isn’t a part of success; it’s a part of life. It’s vital for a happy life. Although some people are adaptable to circumstances by nature, you can master this skill as well. It will take time, patience, and effort but it will all be worth it in the end.

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Tor vs VPN – What is Your Preference?

No one can expect to be 100% secure online where internet freedom is becoming scarce, and cyber attacks are lurking in every direction. It is important to seek the right tools to protect your online security and not live in a fool’s paradise.

Keeping that in mind, users globally are suffering at the hands of geo-restrictions and are not able to surf the web freely. Multiple victims and organizations are suffering because of government espionage. And, thus, it has become difficult to stay secure online. Our every move could be and probably is being spied and recorded.

In light of the security concerns, two tools can help you protect and preserve your internet freedom. Tor and VPN are the two leading tools that, if, used properly would give you the ultimate online security to ever exist.

However, users compare the two tools together with the latter being very different from the former. They both serve the same purpose. However, their way of functioning is the exact opposite and the performance differs. Before you judge the tools and come to a conclusion, let’s make you spot the difference and see which is the better choice.

But first, let’s see how it works

Tor, known as the ‘The Onion Router’ was first developed and initiated by the US Naval service; Tor protects the connection by re-routing your data through multiple layers of encryption that creates a secure tunnel around your network.

Tor functions as a Network of servers which are called “nodes.” Every time you request something such as trying to connect to a website, the connection is routed through different nodes before it reaches the final destination. This may hinder the internet speed, but the connection remains encrypted throughout and is decrypted when it arrives.

Tor solely works on the number of people which can be called volunteers; however, a Virtual Private Network (VPN), on the other hand, routes your online traffic through one or two servers max before the online request reaches the final destination.

The VPN has its own set of servers spread globally on multiple locations. After the connection is bridged with the VPN, your connection will be established through a new IP while your real IP will be spoofed. All your online activity will be sent and received from that IP address while the real IP will be hidden from everyone.

Type of Protection Used

Through Tor, the connection is encrypted and re-encrypted on each node, and each server can see the IP address only that precedes it and which is followed further. But the server cannot see the entire connection, just a partial glimpse of the IP address.

With Tor, there is a weak spot between the last node and the destination where the request is sent (this is where the data or information gets decrypted). Also, it is quite risky being a volunteer on the exit node; the entire online activity will come from that server.

The VPN works differently. You can assume to be encrypted the whole time from sending requests from your device to the final recipient. While Tor only caters to one request at a time, the VPN will encrypt your whole connection as long as you are connected to it.

The VPN could get a sneak peek at your information, activities, and IP. Still, the majority of the VPN services ensure privacy and anonymity with a zero logging privacy policy. That indicates the VPN does not retain any logs, doesn’t monitor nor does it share details.

What Are They Mostly Used For?

If your country has bizarre internet restrictions and needs a solid fast way to browse the internet freely, then Tor is a fine choice. Tor can also be used to hide your online activities from government and mass-scale surveillance.

Meanwhile, VPN has multiple purposes. With strong encryption inclusive of the tool, it becomes the best option for securing online privacy. A reliable VPN will allow you to stream and access geo-restricted content from anywhere and keep your identity and IP address hidden from unwanted hackers and government prying eyes, allow you endless gaming, downloading files and much more.

See Also: 11 Cool Ways to Use VPN

The Outcome

Well, it is obvious which is a better tool. Tor is an excellent option if you are looking to protect your anonymity online while you browse, but Tor is limited to this feature alone. VPN is a far better option because it provides 100% safety and privacy online.

Tor can never provide the level of encryption that a VPN provides because VPN uses multiple different protocols including OpenVPN, SOCKS, PPTP, etc. It also implements security features such as double VPN, kill switch, static IP and much more. All of which enhance your online security like a steel vault.

For a safer approach, you can keep both the security tools and enhance your online security.

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7 Simple Exercises For Improving Your Posture

Your posture can affect not only how you hold yourself but your overall health as well. It helps prevent injuries as you work out and allows you to have better balance. It results in a greater range of motion and reduces chronic pain, too.

If the way you’re holding yourself isn’t quite how you want it to be, here are seven exercises to improve your posture.

Doorway Stretch

Using an open doorway, place your right forearm against the upright doorway with your arms bent and your biceps held parallel to the floor. Once in this position, lean forward to allow tension to build in the right side of your chest. Do this for about 10 seconds, then repeat 3-5 times before switching to your left side.

A good deal of back pain is actually due to bunched up muscles in the chest. When we slouch, the muscles in our back become strained and our chest muscles become tight.

With this exercise, you can loosen up those muscles, allowing you to achieve better posture easily.

Plank

Place your forearms on the floor with your body aligned in a straight line to where you are balanced on your toes. Hold yourself in the plank position for 30 seconds to 1 minute and then relax.

Repeat this exercise 3-5 times. If you have difficulty with this position, you can modify it by going to your knees rather than your toes.

Building up your core is an important part of improving your posture and planks are excellent for developing greater core strength. Also, once you have become comfortable with the plank, you can try other plank positions so you can keep building up your core and overall posture.

Dumbbell Side Bend

With a dumbbell on each of your hands and standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, bend toward your left side. Then, come back to the center position before bending to the right side. Continue to alternate between sides for about 10 times.

This movement focuses more on building up your obliques. As your side muscles are developed, it will be easier to maintain good posture. Also, this exercise can help loosen the tension which has become built up in your back due to previously poor posture.

Back Extensions

Start by lying on your stomach with your hands outstretched in front of you. Then, raise both your arms and legs as high as you can. Hold the raised, extended position for 30 seconds before you release. Repeat the exercise 3 to 5 times.

By doing this exercise, you can help elongate your spine, switching between the flat position and the flexed position.

Chin Tuck

This exercise is simply performed by tucking your chin in until it touches your chest. Hold this position for 15-30 seconds before releasing. Repeat 3-5 times to help release the tension that builds in the neck, shoulders, and upper back with bad posture.

As you perform this movement, you will feel tension running from the back of your head to around your shoulder blades. You can easily do this exercise while at work to help alleviate some of the tension in your upper body.

Hip Flexor Stretch

Kneel down on your left knee, with your right leg in a 90-degree position. Brace your hands on your right thigh, then press with your hips forward until you feel a comfortable pressure in your hips.

Make sure that your upper body is held upright with your abdominal muscles flexed to maximize this posture-fixing exercise. Hold the hip flexor stretch for 30 seconds before relaxing and switching sides.

Office workers and those who need to sit for long periods of time can really benefit from this exercise. It targets the lower core muscles and can help loosen up tension which builds up while sitting.

Shoulder Dumbbell Shrugs

Stand with your feet hip-width apart and a pair of dumbbells in your hands by your sides. Make sure that your shoulders are relaxed. Then, raise your shoulders up in a shrug motion, hold it for a few seconds, then lower your shoulders back into a neutral position.

This exercise can help build up the muscle in your shoulders, chest, and upper back, allowing you to more naturally have better posture.

By doing these various posture-strengthening exercises, you can start enjoying better posture.

See Also: 6 Sleeping Tools To Help You Sleep Better And Alleviate Back Pain

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How Social Media Seriously Harms Your Mental Health

Social media forms a major part in the lives of millions of people all over the world. It has become a platform that connects the whole world and we attribute many other wonderful benefits to it.

However, despite all its advantages, social media still has ways of harming our mental health. Various studies have shown social media to be a leading cause of depression and all sorts of emotional trauma all over the world, among other negative effects.

We’ll be discussing some of the reasons why social media is bad for mental health.

It dismantles self-esteem

One thing about social media is that people have the opportunity to upload everything that goes on in their lives. Many times, we get intimidated by the seemingly perfect pictures that people upload on social media or by their so-called perfect dates and relationships.

This seriously damages one’s self-esteem, especially when things are not going so perfectly in your own life. This consequently breeds envy, depression, and lack of confidence.

By making the world connected, social media has led to several people judging their lives and happiness by other people’s standard.

See Also: Social Media Causing Depression and Anxiety: Is It True?

Fear of missing out

As our friends and family share pictures of all the good times they have on social media, we often end up feeling like we’re missing out on something important. This feeling is accompanied by social anxiety and low mood.

Stina Sanders, who has over 100,000 followers, admitted that she frequently suffered from this as a result of her friends’ social media uploads. They sometimes made her feel lonely and anxious.

Sleep disruption

You would have experienced this at one time or another. Social media keeps us awake, sometimes until late at night, causing us to have fewer hours of sleep.

A professor at NinjaEssays once wrote that the effect of less sleep on mental health is not limited to depression and unhappiness alone. Other effects include mood issues such as bipolar disorder, a feeling that we are less happy than others, and neuroticism.

Research indicates that people who have terrible sleeping cycles were 6% more likely to be depressed. 9% were more likely to be unhappy than those who had good sleeping habits.

Bad body image

This deals particularly with the female gender, although it can affect male also.

Girls are more concerned about their body than boys. This means that they are more likely to be affected negatively when they see models or even colleagues with “perfect bodies” on social media.

Psychologists have traced this as one of the main causes of negative body image. It’s the culprit behind inferiority complex and even eating disorders among many teenagers. It leads to mental pressure and anxiety in individuals.

Addictive tendency

No addiction is good for mental health, including social media addiction.  According to a scientist, receiving likes, wonderful comments, and earning followers on social media release dopamine into our brains. These cause all the pleasure we feel when they happen. It causes our brains to expect and anticipate some forms of pleasure when we post on social media.

This explains why we find it difficult to quit social media and why we are glued to our phones. It affects our concentration, leads to depression, and causes anxiety as well.

Stops you from enjoying real experiences

We live in a world of filters.

Several people feel uncomfortable uploading pictures from events and outings without first applying all the filters and beautifying features on their social media apps. Psychologists have stated that the more time we try making our social media experiences perfect, the more we lose the ability and the time to enjoy and be happy about experiences in other parts of our lives.

Besides, you can get sorely disappointed and sad when your upload gets very few positive reviews after spending a lot of time perfecting it. That’s simply terrible for your mental health!

See Also: Social Media: Open This Pandora’s Box At Your Risk

Conclusion

According to a study carried conducted in the University of Pennsylvania, a decrease in the time you spend on social media would largely decrease the level of stress, depression, and loneliness that you feel as you go through life.

On this note, we conclude by saying that while social media is indeed packaged with a lot of benefits, for the sake of your mental health, you should reduce the time you spend on it. Your mental health starts with your habits!

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What Happens If You Delete A Paid App On Your Iphone or Ipad?

At times, you may download a new paid application to your iPhone or iPad. You try to make it work, but it just doesn’t function like you hoped it would. What happens if you delete paid apps on iPhone or iPad?

How To Restore a Paid Application

People make mistakes. That is a fact of life. When you toggle around your electronic device, you might hit the wrong button, key or open the wrong screen. You might accidentally delete a paid app on your iPhone or iPad.

Does the application store keep records of who purchased an app? Can I get reimbursement for my deleted app? Does it matter if I paid for it with a credit card?

Most application stores maintain their purchase records for a long period of time. If it has only been a matter of weeks or months, you have the best chances for success. Many online companies keep records even longer for their internal sales and marketing employees. Your information is valuable.

Revisit the application store. Your payment process might still be in the system. Go to your purchases and lick the app in question. It should give you a pop-up window saying that you have already paid for this application.

Do you want to download it? Then, just re-download it.

Also, check to see if the same application is available or if there is an upgrade. You want to get the latest version of your app. However, you might need to download the latest iOS version to make it work.

If you have any problems, contact the customer service at the website. You are probably not the first one to have deleted paid apps on iPhone. Maybe they can help you out.

Any purchase with a credit card is likely to have a detailed record of the transaction. If you have a problem with any purchase, you can contact the seller. Banks will allow you to cancel a credit card transaction if something was faulty with the merchandise. This is the extreme situation.

Syncing with iTunes

Apple iDevices have created an amazing system of backups where your iPhone and iPad can sync with iTunes. Even if you have deleted an application on your device, it might still be in iTunes. Check to make sure.

See Also: How Do I Send All Calls On My iPhone Direct To Voicemail?

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Betting on the Lottery: Is There a Strategy?

How to Write a Winning Graduate School Resumé

When you want to take your studies to the next level, there’s no better place to head to than grad school. The best and brightest from around the world will be put through their paces and come out with a qualification that sets them up for a great career. So, how do you join them?

As well as knowing your subject, you need a great resumé. It’s the foot in the door that every bright student needs.

Take a look at the following hints and tips on how to write a graduate school resume. See how you can write a resume that will get you into any graduate school in the country.

#1 Write it specifically for the program you’re applying to

There’s nothing worse for an admissions officer than reading a stack of generic copy-and-paste applications. Put yourself in their shoes for a moment.

They have two dozen applications and only a couple mention the program by name. Who do you think is going to stand out more?

Mentioning some of the key details of the program is a great way to show that you’ve done your research. You don’t want to regurgitate the syllabus as that won’t impress anybody. But try and drop in 2-3 specifics to show you’re interested in this particular course.

Otherwise, it’ll look like you’re applying on a whim or at the last minute because you don’t feel ready for the world of work.

#2 Add a work experience section so that it shows you’re prepared

Work experience is more important than you might think. Colleges don’t decide on who to accept based on grades and academic references alone.

They’re looking for people who can enrich the campus environment and add to the collective spirit in various ways. If that sounds like you, then shout about it loud and proud.

You want to show that you’ve been able to function in the real world and that there’s more to your skills than simply sitting and passing exams. Of course, you need the work experience to be relevant, too. It’ll show some long-term planning on your part.

If you’re applying to a Physics program, then you might want to think about any summer internships you can do in the lab. Then, detail what you enjoyed about it and what you did. It’ll strengthen your chances of being accepted.

#3 Highlight your academic skills and achievements

Academic grades are really important, so make sure they’re present for all to see. Of course, you wouldn’t forget to include them, but how much noise were you planning to make about your most relevant classes?

If you’ve studied Mathematics at the undergraduate level and came out with a top grade, that’s great. But are you just another fairly smart undergraduate applying for a Math Ph.D. for the sake of it?

Here’re three things the admissions officer will be wondering about you:

• Do they have a real genuine passion for the subject? Or are they applying solely because they think a graduate degree will look good on their resumé?
• Do they have any specific experience or exposure to the niche they’re going to spend thousands of hours intensively studying for?
• How long have they wanted to go to grad school? And how long will they last when they get there?

If you’ve done a module that introduced you to the topic you’re applying to study at the next level, be explicit about it. Don’t assume that the person reading knows what makes you tick.

The chances are you’ve never met and yours is one of the dozens of submissions they’re reading that very afternoon.

#4 Show your enthusiasm and always avoid boasting

No one likes a boaster, but everyone loves some passion and enthusiasm. You want the writing to really do a great job of getting across your passion for the subject. It’s about using it as a platform to show that you’ll be in it for the long term.

Shying away and being overly modest might just make you come across as rather indifferent to the whole process. If it’s then a choice between you and someone else, you can bet the person who seems to have a real passion for the program will come out on top.

Take a look at these 3 reasons why program managers love enthusiasm:

• Enthusiasm shows the reader you’re going to be motivated to work hard, even when it gets tough
• It also shows that you’re highly likely to make a positive addition to the program by enriching the learning environment
• And finally, it indicates your application is not just a spur of the moment decision

#5 Concise and precise language is all you need

It’s tempting to leave it at that given the subheading, but let’s delve into the detail a little more. If you want to be able to show that you’re the right person for the program, then you need the writing to reflect the way you talk.

Long, wordy sentences can be fun to write, but they can be confused with a rather scattered thought process. Concise and precise language, on the other hand, is always a strong indicator that you know your own mind:

• Produce a draft and then sleep on it. You’ll be amazed at how much smoother your turns of phrase become in the morning when your subconscious has had time to reflect on things.
• Don’t mix and match your definitions and names. If you refer to it as a ‘program’ then don’t drop in other overlapping terms like ‘course’ or ‘degree.’ All this will do is confuse things, and make the writing seem a little bit lightweight
• If you’re applying from overseas, you will need to avoid colloquialisms. You’re also going to want to ensure you make the right choice between English and US English. It’s a small distinction, but overlooking it won’t enhance your resumé

#6 Focus on the program

Everyone loves it when a prospective student has a grand plan, but don’t focus on it too much. Otherwise, you might give the impression that you think the program is a formality.

If you want to become a career academic, then avoid saying it explicitly. Instead, talk about how you’ve always had a passion for the subject and why you’re driven to study it further.

It is all about balance.

On one hand, you have your enthusiasm and drive to succeed and on the other, you have the need to portray yourself with humility. If you strike the balance too far in the direction of the latter, then the reader may think you’re underestimating the challenge you’re signing yourself up to.

See Also: 100+ Ways to Write a Great Resume Cover Letter

Final Thoughts

The most important things are to do your research, write about what you know, and be enthusiastic. Don’t go overboard with it as you don’t want to give the impression you’re overconfident.

Take the time to tailor your resumé to the specific program as well. This will demonstrate that your decision to apply is based on long-term planning and that you’re going to be highly motivated to make progress as the difficulty level of your studies increases.

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16 Simple Ways To Build Confidence From The Inside Out

Imagine how different your life could be with a little more confidence.

Would you finally approach that girl you’ve been eyeing? Would you go after that promotion you deserve? Could you get more out of life than you are right now?

When it comes to confidence, most of us could use a boost. Think about how many opportunities you’ve missed out on as a result of not having enough. Your life could be in a much better place if you had more of it to back you up when you need it.

The good news is, no matter where you are on the confidence scale today, you can learn to be a more confident person. Think of it like a muscle that grows as you exercise and put in the work to shape it—there’s time and effort involved, but it is doable.

So if you feel that you could benefit from a confidence boost, give the following tips a try.

Appearance is everything

This isn’t about vanity. This is about feeling.

The saying “when you look good, you feel good” holds true when it comes to confidence.

So put some effort into your daily self-care routine. Practice good hygiene habits, groom yourself and dress in clean clothes that make you feel great so when you step outside your door, you’re presenting the best version of yourself.

You’ll feel better and, as a result, see a difference in the way you stand.

Posture makes perfect

Speaking of standing, if you find yourself slouching throughout most of the day, it’s time to perk up because it’s not doing you any favors.

Think about it: if you see someone walking with his head down and back hunched over versus someone standing up tall with proper posture, who looks like they have more confidence?

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not easy—especially when you spend most of your day slumped over a desk. However, it’s important to make it a habit of catching your bad posture throughout the day in order to correct it.

So roll your shoulders back and sit (or stand) up tall!

Exercise regularly

It’s simple: get your body moving.

Yes, getting yourself to work out can be a struggle at times. But have you ever noticed that once you complete a workout, you feel great? Not only is there a sense of accomplishment and pride in getting the job done, but your overall mood improves in the long run.

The process of setting a small goal and accomplishing it (along with the physical benefits of working out) can drastically improve your level of confidence over time.

Whether the goal is to lose a few pounds or to simply manage your health, you won’t just feel stronger on the outside but on the inside as well.

Start small and work your way up

When you’re lacking confidence, the thought of accomplishing a large goal can be daunting.

Instead of trying to tackle large goals right off the bat, start with small goals to help build up your confidence. The goal could be as simple as making your bed every morning, but the key is to have a series of small goals that you can accomplish throughout the day in order to get the momentum going.

And when it comes to larger goals, break them down into smaller, more manageable steps so the process of completing them becomes less overwhelming.

It’s a mental game that creates a snowball effect once you get the ball rolling.

The importance of rest and relaxation

As you’ve probably noticed from the previous points, self-care is extremely important when it comes to building confidence. That’s because when you take care of yourself, you’re mentally and physically in a better position to handle whatever life throws at you.

So make sure you’re getting an adequate amount of sleep and incorporating a self-care activity into your daily routine. Whether that’s journaling, yoga, massage or whatever else piques your interest, even if you only have 5 minutes to do it, adding a self-care habit into your life can make all the difference.

Focus on your breath

If you’re approaching a task or activity that you’re not totally confident about, your nerves may get the better of you. Your heart starts racing, your breathing gets shallow, your palms start to sweat and, before you know it, the anxiety has taken over and it becomes difficult to think straight.

Before you get to that point, catch yourself falling into these patterns early on. If you can feel a lack of confidence building up into anxiety, focus on your breath.

Take a few moments to breathe in deeply through your nose and out through your mouth until you can feel your body relax into a calmer state.

Surround yourself with supportive people

We all need encouragement from time to time, which is why having a strong support system is so important. When you’re surrounded by positive people who stand behind you through thick and thin, it’s hard not to have confidence.

Take stock of the company you keep and make sure you have people in your life who have your back.

Get to know yourself

Who are you and what do you want out of life?

When you don’t have a strong sense of who you are as a person, it can take a huge toll on your confidence. So if you don’t have a clear answer to the question above, it’s time to figure it out.

There’s no fast and easy fix to figuring out who you are, but some steps you can take include daily journaling and meditation practice in order to facilitate the process of discovery.

Experiment, look inward and dig deep to find that out.

Say “no” often

Saying “no” is all about setting boundaries.

Yes, it’s scary when you first start doing it—especially if you’re a people pleaser. But this goes back to knowing who you are and rejecting the things that don’t fit into your values, goals, and ambitions.

The more you do it, the easier it is, and you’ll be much better off for it.

Reflect regularly

If you don’t have much confidence, you may look back on your life and feel like you haven’t accomplished much. That’s why it’s important to reflect on the goals you’ve achieved from both the distant and recent past.

Daily reflection serves as a reminder that you do have something to be proud of, whether the achievement is big or small.

See Also: 16 Great Reasons to Meditate That’ll Convince You to Start Now

Challenge yourself

The comfort zone is just that—comfortable.

There’s no growth and, as a result, your confidence may start to dwindle because you’re not in the practice of challenging yourself. You end up falling into a routine where stepping outside of what you know becomes scary.

When you tackle a new skill, you’re pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. This, in turn, helps build up your confidence because you start to realize that you can overcome challenges and accomplish things if you set your mind to it.

It doesn’t matter if you end up being bad at the new skill because you learn a lot through both success and failure. What matters the most is pushing through limiting beliefs and realizing that you can face challenges head-on.

Fail frequently

How can you have confidence if you never put yourself out there?

For many, the mere thought of failure can be crippling. So instead of attempting something new, they avoid the potential for failure altogether and suffer because of it. The refusal to put yourself out there and try new things does nothing more than brew insecurity and fear.

There’s a lot to learn from failure—many would even say you learn more from failure than you do from success. The reason being is that failure challenges the confidence you have in your abilities.

Failure is a part of life and is essential in the development of your confidence. More often than not, the thought of failing is worse than the failure itself.

See Also: How To Find Inspiration After A Big Failure

Be prepared when you can

Say you have a class presentation and you’re not confident in your public speaking abilities. Would you feel better if you had prepared a speech and practiced it before the delivery or if you just winged it in front of everybody?

Chances are, you’d feel a lot better about speaking in front of your class with some practice and preparation. You may not be the best public speaker, but knowing your stuff can be the difference between building your confidence and crushing it.

Sure, you can’t prepare for every situation life throws at you but, when you can, prepare in advance.

Be mindful of negativity

Negativity in any form can have serious effects on your life.

Whether you’re dealing with a negative situation or a negative person, the presence of negativity can have major implications like bringing down your mood and killing your energy.

If you’re in a negative situation, find positive people to surround you with or, better yet, find a way out of it. If you’re dealing with a negative person, limit your time with him or her as much as possible.

It’s hard to be confident in yourself if you have a person or situation bringing you down so don’t take the matter lightly.

Identify projection

If you have a fear of putting yourself out there because you’re scared of judgment, then this is the section for you.

It’s impossible to read another person’s mind, yet many of us still attempt to do it in the form of projection. We make assumptions about other people’s thoughts, opinions and feelings toward us and, more often than not, they’re not true.

We’re our own worst critics. So the next time you’re worried about the judgment of others, take note and realize that you’re projecting your own insecurities onto other people.

Take a break from social media

The FOMO is real.

When you see friends and acquaintances painting these idealistic depictions of their lives on social media, it can feel like their lives have something yours is missing—and that doesn’t feel good.

It’s easy to compare yourself to others when you look at their lives through a lens like social media. And, more often than not, you feel “less than” as a result.

So when you start to feel like social media is affecting the confidence you have in yourself, take a break for an hour, a day, a week or even a month. You’ll most likely feel better because of it.

Thoughts, attitudes, habits, and people can all affect your level of confidence, which is why it’s important to be mindful of the way these factors influence your life.

If you’re not as confident as you’d like to be, only you have the ability to improve it. There’s no magic pill or quick fix. It takes time, effort and energy, but it can be done, and you’ll be better off for it.

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How To Fund Your Holiday of A Lifetime

We all have a place in the world that we want to visit more than anywhere else. Usually, it’s a far-flung place, steeped in history and a culture that is the complete opposite to our own.

The one problem though is funding it. Holidays of a lifetime don’t come cheap and if you want to enjoy the most memorable of experiences, you’re not going to be able to scrimp.

There are many ways in which you can fund the ultimate getaway- from innovative ways to make money to playing the lottery and crossing your fingers.

Here’s our guide on how to save money for dream vacation.

Find The Best Value Credit Card

Credit cards are the most common way of funding a huge trip. Booking flights and accommodation by credit card is not only sensible in terms of finance but will also cover you more should anything happen to your booking.

Many of us just use the credit card we’ve got and don’t make the most of 0% interest offers or cards that offer travel rewards.

There are tons of great cards out there that’ll help to cut the cost of your travels. And paying on a 0% card makes good sense if you plan on paying the card off within the period the card is offering it.

You’ll find some great no interest credit cards on the market, perfect for high-value payments.

It’s well worth exploring if you’re planning on paying with a credit card. After all, nobody wants to be paying huge amounts of interest.

Secure a Loan

Another option is to secure a loan. If you can similarly get one with low-interest rates, it really can be a worthwhile move.

At various stages in our life, there are things we need to do. If it’s before you settle down with children, for example, a loan can give you that opportunity. It gives you the chance to pay your holiday back at a reasonable rate.

It’s an option many take but it can be difficult to acquire if you have bad credit. You also must be sure you can afford the monthly payments. Otherwise, you could end up in trouble.

Review Your Finances

It’s likely we’re all paying more than we should be in one way or another, whether that be on our utility bills or the gym membership we haven’t used in over six months.

There are dozens of ways in which you can cut your daily running costs, and you really can save hundreds of dollars in the process.

One of the best ways to do this is by looking at utility bills and deciding whether you could save by switching provider. In some cases, you could cut costs by £300 which is a significant chunk in flight or accommodation costs.

Other methods include changing the way you travel to work, cutting branded products in your weekly shop, and selling anything you have wasted capital in.

Create a Plan

First and foremost, you should create a plan and map out your finances.

You’ll find this more helpful than anything else as it’ll allow you to break down your income and expenses and realistically budget and forecast how long it will take you to save.

This will then give you a clear idea of when you can take your holiday. It will give you clear dates of when you’re going and even the right time to book the trip.

It’ll help bring you a firmer purpose for saving and all in all, make it much more effective. Within the plan, if you can set up a direct debit plan for saving, this will also hold you in great stead and help avoid spending what you should be saving.

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How to Get Motivated for This Year’s Spring Cleaning

Why You’ll Never Win What You Want Without A Win-Win Approach

“An open heart is an open mind.” – Dalai Lama

Do you want peace everywhere around?

Deep in our hearts, we all want world peace. Everyone wishes to live in a harmonic sunlit world where we could always have what we desire without having to compete and fight each other. Yet, most of us were taught that a peaceful world is nothing but a dream.

Coincidentally, the more suspicious we become, the more betrayal we experience.

Poor us.

But is it the only possible way?

Not necessarily.

The Old-Fashioned Origin Of Our Win-Lose Approach

Happily, cooperation has a huge force at its side. And sadly, competition has one, too.

These two contradicting forces are present inside any of us as two parts of our brains. We all have a stem primitive brain and a bigger, new analytical brain. Even the most brainless people have these two powers, though they don’t necessarily use them very often.

Our old brain, the reptilian one, is interested only in survival, food, and reproduction. We all know the type. We do have to thank this brain for keeping our breathing, heart rate, and keeping us alive in general.

When we’re scared, tired, hungry or stressed, this is the brain which automatically takes control, quickly and forcefully. It’s excellent when we have to run away from a tiger, but not that excellent when we have to respond to our irritated spouse.

Regrettably, tigers are not very common nowadays while domestic quarrels are. So more often than not, the old brain’s decisions are not that beneficial for us.

The new brain is the one responsible for conscientiousness and contemplating. As we can see by the length of the words it manages, this is the wiser brain. Indeed, research proves that it makes better decisions, if only we make the effort of letting it work.

Unfortunately, it’s very easy to stress or scare us into automatically moving the control to our survival reptilian brain. Since birth, our benevolent caretakers traditionally teach us, by exclusive stressful competition games, that our success must come at the expense of others. Thus, our loving educators can conveniently use competition to manipulate us to do whatever they want.

Then, programmed to compete, we become excellent pawns in the hands of whoever knows how to push our buttons. Schools, workplaces, advertisers, and politicians use competition and rivalry to maneuver us.

Some politicians, not naming any names, build their entire political capital by spreading hatred and fear. If, by the way, it causes violence and wars, it’s surely not their fault. They did nothing but provoke the stressed reptilian brains of their audience.

Still, these brains are ours. With some awareness, we can choose to examine situations with open minds. We can lull our reptilians and let our new brains make the decisions. It will help us significantly because, as researches reveal, trusting cooperative people are more successful. The distrustful truths we grew upon are, regrettably, nothing but a bunch of lies.

Success, in fact, comes with trust and cooperation. Remarkable, isn’t it?

But there is more to that.

Researches prove likewise that countries with a high level of trust are not only more flourishing. They are also happier.

And you can become that blissful and successful, too.

By using your brains properly.

The Novel Origin Of Our Win-Win Approach

Our new brain evolved after the age of reptiles when the new warm-blooded creatures could no longer lay eggs and leave them conveniently to their fate in cold blood. The new warm creatures had to take care of their cool offspring relentlessly.

As any hot-tempered parent knows, raising descendants is insanely unbearable. Our ancestors had to evolve an enormous power to connect the parents to their cubs nevertheless.

And they did. They created one of the mightiest forces in the universe.

It’s called love.

Some of them, us included, took another step forward and developed entire groups to support one another. Our evolving brain learned what the reptiles don’t know: that being alone is bad, and being together is good.

Or, in the somewhat wiser words of the Dalai Lama, “Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us the tranquility and happiness we all seek.”

Our new brains know it deeply, physically. Actually, they have an area of neurons, called the mirror neurons, which identifies with other creatures’ feelings. That’s why movies and stories about others touch our hearts (or, as a matter of fact, our brains).

That’s why extreme suffering of someone else nearby causes us trauma like it’s our own suffering. Also, it’s the reason why, to your inner self, benefiting someone else is benefiting you while hurting someone else is hurting you.

As mediator Zohar Roimi says, a win-lose solution can’t deeply satisfy us in the long run. Somewhere in our hearts (and brains), we keep carrying the pain of others with us.

There’s another, more prosaic, reason for the failure of win-lose solutions.

We frequently stay in touch with the other sides and their resentment can eventually harm us in reality, too. Sometimes, we don’t even know where this result is coming from.

My best friend, for example, was once accused by a boss who wanted to fire her without paying the due severance package. I felt helpless but several years later, this boss wanted to join a group I participated and I refused. He never knew why he was rejected, but I felt that some justice was done.

We’re all connected to one another. It’s clear and irritating when it comes to couples and divorcees, to families, communities, and ecosystems. It’s less clear, but still irritating when it comes to companies, countries, and the entire world.

This is the big truth.

As the Dalai Lama says, “The creatures that inhabit this earth – be they human beings or animals – are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world.”

We all live on the same planet and we all affect one another. We all depend on one another.

The law of karma is fundamentally a law of nature. Killing a butterfly on one end of the world, may it rest in peace, can cause a hurricane at the other side. Using gasoline in the Western world causes melting of icebergs in Antarctica and a war over water in Syria.

We have nowhere to run away from it. We’re all connected.

United we stand, divided we fall.

And your brain knows that. You can count on it.

Why Win-Win Is The Approach You Actually Want

The hardest time to remember our connections is when we fight each other. Not only when our country fights foreign ones or when our sports team fights the bad ones. Even when we fight our most-beloved, we feel as lonely and disconnected as an astronaut left alone in space. More lonely, in fact, because the astronaut surely has a family to mourn him, but we have no one who really loves us — or so we feel.

Yet, fighting is also the most critical time to remember our connection.

When we fight with our partner, remembering that we’re on the same boat can help us realize that there’s no real power struggle going on. That if one of us gets what he wants and the other doesn’t, we, as a couple, will both be miserable.

Remembering that our strength as a couple is in making the two of us pleased can help us communicate and ensure that the needs of both of us are answered. It can make us happier in the short run and more loving in the long run.

It works in the same way with our blabbermouthed parents or our closemouthed children. No one can win fights here alone. We want the happiness of our relatives and we have to work together on a solution that satisfies us all.

It’s clearly the same with our over-righteous neighbors, our erroneous co-workers, and the judgmental people in our community. Our justified fights with them follow us everywhere. We better do without these resentments, even if these people unquestionably don’t deserve our cooperation.

When it comes to the rest of the world, the connections seem blurred. But they aren’t. We carry them forever in our brains. And we carry them forever in our environments.

The boat we’re on is indeed big, but still, together we’ll drown or together we’ll live. We’ll all lose or we’ll all win.

How To Use Win-Win Approach To Win What You Want

Knowing the connected nature of ourselves and of the world can help us get what we want and (accidentally) what we need. It can change our attitude from competition to collaboration.

Sure, there will always be a minority of hurt people who’ll violently try to distract us. We should stop them but we mustn’t put our focus on them. Our focus should always be on our shared goals and our cooperative vision.

Thus, our win-win approach can help us get peace and prosperity in life, our home, society, and the world.

A win-win approach can turn our struggles into support. It can turn us from lonely ones into loved people. It can help us protect what’s most important for us all – our world’s resources, ecology, safety, and peace. And it includes our future, too.

We all wish to live in a peaceful world where we can have what we desire without having to compete and fight each other.

And we can.

It’s up to us.

By adopting a win-win approach.

One fight at a time.

Starting now.

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Is It Possible To Find High Quality CBD?

CBD, shorthand for cannabidiol, is one of the fastest growing yet most misunderstood cannabis products. Largely unregulated by the FDA and derived from a substance which has been federally illegal for decades, this compound has medicinal effects often denied by big Pharma.

It’s no wonder there are massive amounts of misinformation and blatant lies surrounding CBD. Plus, there’s a near complete lack of scientific research into it.

Today, 69% of all “CBD” products aren’t labeled correctly. Amidst the sea of mislabeled products, hidden THC content, and flat out fakes, how does one find high-quality CBD?

Look For Availability, Gauge Your Own Needs

When considering CBD, the first step is to know thyself, so to speak.

What exactly will you take it for? What methods of dosage are you comfortable with or will be effective? And how important is the source of extraction? Should it come from hemp or marijuana?

The decision to use marijuana-derived may come down to a state law level and availability. Cannabidiol is a natural extract from naturally occurring cannabis plants. This includes both hemp and marijuana.

Though the CBD extracted from each source is comparable, there are some important differences in legal and usage levels. Hemp is classified as cannabis strains with less than 0.3% THC content. This constitutes legal levels of THC within federally legal CBD products.

On Different CBD Products

Hemp-derived CBD is legal in all 50 states to sell, buy, possess, and consume with no prescription required. However, states and localities may have differing laws on the books.

Marijuana-derived CBD is extracted from cannabis strains with higher than the federally legal amount of THC. It is only legal in selected states and may or may not require an accompanying prescription.

CBD isolate is CBD crystals that are 99% pure and THC-free, but may not offer the same relief and effects as full spectrum. Full spectrum CBD includes additional cannabinoids, may contain traces of THC and has been shown to be more effective than CBD isolate at treating inflammation and pain in mice.

CBD products come in many different forms. The first fork in the road is fast-acting or long-lasting.

For headaches or insomnia, rapid relief from fast-acting effects is a good choice. While for chronic pain, inflammation or arthritis, long-term effects may provide the best course of action.

Oil concentrates applied orally via a tincture or liquid vaping from pen or e-cigarette are among the most popular and effective means for rapid relief needs. Gel caps, infused edibles, and even skin patches that slowly release CBD through the skin are favored by those seeking steady, long-term effects.

Targeted treatments for specific pain respond to CBD lotions and salves. They also work best for skin conditions and localized pain.

Meanwhile, vaping is the most popular method of dosing CBD but among the less discreet options. Oils and sublingual tinctures are more portable and often just as effective. Treatment needs aside, it’s often a personal preference that helps guide product selection.

Lack of Oversight Means Nearly Anything Goes

Without the FDA labeling safeguards, content regulations, and legal uncertainty, it’s up to the manufacturers to keep their own products in check. Nonetheless, it’s still the consumer’s responsibility to make informed choices.

But how?

If this were any other variety of vitamins, supplements, prescription medication or even over-the-counter drug, it would be simple to visit the corner store and pick up something that was as labeled. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case with CBD.

Without the watchful eye of the FDA, industry standards are not subject to the strict rules of government agency beyond legal levels of THC. It’s this confusion that is passed on directly to the consumer and it’s the consumer’s job to find a manufacturer and retailer they can trust.

Again, nearly 70% of CBD products are mislabeled and this could mean anything from misprints to unlabeled contaminants. Fortunately, many reputable manufacturers of oral CBD products choose to follow the FDA guidelines for supplements and vitamins, much to the benefit of consumers.

However, there are still some best practices to keep in mind when browsing products:

• How long will it last? Identify servings per container, packing and storage instruction, and expiration date of products.
• How strong is it? Products should indicate exact CBD content, dosage, and serving size.
• What does it come with? Terpenes, like other natural plant extracts, may add aroma, sweeteners may enhance flavoring, and carrier oils for tinctures should be food-grade.

See Also: How CBD Has Improved the Medical Industry

Just last year, the 2018 Farm Bill legalized the cultivation of hemp and its cannabinoids for CBD products and manufacturing. But it’s still up to the consumer to stay informed, know the difference, and find quality products on their own. Here’s where to begin.

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How to Make Employers Pay a Closer Look at Your Resume

It is no secret that average hiring authorities spend less than 10 seconds reviewing a resume. That means your main marketing document has very little time to prove to employers that you are the right fit for the job, especially if you are talking about 10-20 years of work experience.

However, there are some things that will likely make employers pay a closer look. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to make resume stand out:

Step 1: Make sure it is passes initial ATS scan

More and more companies use applicant tracking software (ATS) which allows them to filter out candidates at the initial stage, making the life of hiring managers much easier.

A study reveals that majority of job seekers are rejected by ATS. So, before employers can pay a closer look at your resume, they have to see it first. And they will be able to see it only after it passes the Applicant Tracking System.

To make that happen, you have to do a couple of things:

• Keep your resume format simple. There should be no graphic elements and fancy layouts. Otherwise, ATS may not be able to read it.
• Include the required keywords for the job. Those are words or word combinations that relate to a particular position and industry.
• Don’t forget to mention employment dates for each and every job.

Step 2: Make it easy for employers to skim through the document

The truth of the matter is that no prospective employer will be carefully reading your resume. Spending about 5-10 seconds, they will only skim through the document to see if there things that they need.

A well-structured document with a clear heading separation and some white space will significantly help recruiters and employers skim through your resume faster. When a resume looks cluttered and one can hardly navigate through its different sections, hiring authorities simply go to the next one.

One of the most common resume writing mistakes is trying to squeeze everything onto a single page. As a result, employers need a magnifying glass to read that tiny font. But will they bother trying? Not a chance.

Although identifying an ideal length for a resume is quite a challenge, job seekers should use common sense when choosing a font size.

Leave some white space, keep bullets under two lines, go with one font size, use capital letters sparingly. These simple tips should help you create a document that will be easy to skim. Consequently, it means that employers will be able to quickly find the information they are most interested in and take a closer look.

Step 3: Show that you can meet their needs and wants

Now, whenever you see a job opening, that means that the company has a position to fill in. Obvious, right? The need is specific though – the company is just looking for a good person.

There is a set of specific duties that they need someone to be responsible for. That means that they will evaluate all candidates through the lens of those duties and job requirements. That is why relevance is incredibly important when it comes to resume writing.

If you are serious about a particular job opportunity, you have to understand the company’s needs first (position requirements). After you realize what the company is looking for, you can develop an effective resume that will demonstrate your capability of meeting the company’s need.

Showing employers that you can give them what they need or maybe even more is simple. All you have to do is draw a straight line between your work experience and skills and the job.

Don’t be afraid to leave out those things that are irrelevant to the position. Make each statement earn its place on the document. This way, your resume will be concise and to the point.

Ideally, you should also demonstrate your career progression. For example, you can mention how you took on increased responsibilities with each new role.

Step 4: Prove you can achieve results

With the current job competition, one has to stand out. It’s one way to have the hiring authorities pay a closer look at your resume and eventually hire you. The problem is that every project manager, customer service associate or teacher will have a similar set of responsibilities just as others with identical or similar professional title.

As a result, most resumes look very similar as job seekers often put their duties upfront.

How do you think hiring managers like it? Any chance of paying a closer look to then lists of generic responsibilities?

Not a chance.

To get noticed by employers, you will need to show that you can actually achieve results as opposed to just performing routine responsibilities. Therefore, the focus should be on how you contributed to your previous employers as well as how you added value.

It is best if you do it with facts and figures (i.e. “Increased sales by 41% within 4 months through implementing new customer retention program”). The more numbers and facts you use to demonstrate the impact, the better.

The real benefit behind what you did is what employers are after. If you manage to highlight that in your resume, employers will likely be happy to spend some extra time on your main marketing document.

Step 5: Proofread your resume so that it doesn’t contain any errors

Now, this is very basic.

Everybody knows that having errors on a resume can become a turn-off for prospective employers. Nevertheless, there are thousands of applicants who never bother to proofread their main marketing documents.

Despite the fact that employers realize that all people are subject to making mistakes, they want their future employee to be able to eliminate easy predictable errors like typos.

If you really want your resume to last longer than 10 seconds, then you should make sure it doesn’t contain grammatical mistakes and typos. It is better that you give your final document to one of your friends or relatives after you proofread it. A fresh look may spot mistakes you could miss.

See Also: 3 Atypical Life Hacks To Improve Your Resume

Key Takeaway

Your resume doesn’t have more than 10 seconds to impress a prospective employer. That means your initial job search goal is to develop a resume that will generate an instant interest of hiring managers.

When interested, employers will spend more time analyzing a candidate to see if one will be a good match for the job. Here is how you can stand out and get some extra time for your resume:

• Make sure your resume is formatted properly so that it could get past applicant tracking systems
• Include relevant keywords for ATS to select you as a strong candidate
• Help employers navigate through your document quickly by using an easy to read layout
• Focus on experiences and skills that relate to the requirements listed in the job description
• Prove that you can achieve results by listing your quantified accomplishments
• Proofread your resume to eliminate grammatical errors and typos

Following these simple recommendations doesn’t guarantee you an interview the next day after you send you’re your application. What it does mean is that you will stand out against the crowd of other candidates. Plus, employers would want to read your resume more carefully, increasing your chances of getting hired.

The post How to Make Employers Pay a Closer Look at Your Resume appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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7 Ways Pets Affect Emotional and Physical Health

Emotional support animals are everywhere these days. And it’s gone way beyond just dogs, cats or bunnies. Now, people are finding support and help from everything, from snakes to turkeys as well.

Studies have found that pet owners are less likely to experience issues with depression and anxiety. They even have fewer problems with physical ailments like high blood pressure or high cholesterol. But what is it about animals that produces so many positive effects on us and on our lives?

Below are 7 benefits of owning pets:

1. Companionship

Loneliness is one of the most crushing feelings a person can experience. People who are lonely are more prone to depression, health issues, and even suicide.

Pets go a long way in reducing loneliness by providing companionship. The type of pet isn’t as important as the connection a person develops with that pet.

The presence of a pet when you are feeling lonely can, just by being there, helps push those feelings away. And, although they can’t talk back, talking to your pet can prove to be both calming and comforting.

2. Exercise

Although it can be difficult to walk a snake, many pets require regular physical interaction or exercise to maintain their health. This means that in order to keep them healthy, you will have move a bit, too.

This extra exercise, whether through walks, play or other outings, can have a positive impact on your mental and physical condition. It has been shown that overall, pet owners are more likely to maintain a healthy weight. This probably has to do with the additional exercise that comes with owning a pet.

3. Social Interaction

Whether it’s the vet, the pet store or a park, pets can give us new reasons to meet people and be social. Just being forced into being around others who also have pets creates a common connection.

Being a pet owner automatically provides a topic for conversation and a sense of community with other pet owners.

4. Structure and purpose

Anyone who has ever felt lonely or depressed understands the lack of motivation and focus that can come along with those feelings, especially when it comes to caring for yourself.

Owning a pet requires you to focus on something else and maintain a certain amount of structure in caring for them. Even if caring for yourself is difficult, a pet needs you to care for them since they are unable to do so on their own.

5. Unconditional love

Your pet doesn’t care about what you look like, how much money you have, what your job is or anything other than being with you. They are happy just because you’re there.

This unconditional love can make us feel accepted and comforted in a way that nothing else can.

6. Calm

Playing with your pet or just being with it can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. This helps promote feelings of calm and relaxation. It also can help reduce stress hormones like cortisol, reducing inflammation within the body.

7. Overall Health

Forget eating an apple a day. Studies have shown that having a pet decreases visits to the doctor’s office, especially in older adults.

This goes beyond the additional exercise that pet owners are likely to get — although that certainly plays a role in staying healthy. The connection you develop with your pets and the love you feel can motivate you to adopt an overall healthier lifestyle so that you can care for them.

Although the benefit of pets and support animals is clear, it isn’t always feasible for everyone. Some people don’t have time, money or the space to own a pet of any kind.

Conclusion

In cases like this, there are alternatives. You can offer to walk or watch a neighbor’s pet, volunteer at an animal shelter or find out how you can assist organizations that specialize in support animals.

Just being around an animal, even for a short time, can have a profoundly positive effect on a person’s mental state and outlook. This is one of the reasons why so many hospitals are now utilizing support animals as part of their treatment.

See Also: Using Tech To Give Your Pet A Better Quality of Life

The post 7 Ways Pets Affect Emotional and Physical Health appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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https://www.dumblittleman.com/benefits-of-owning-pets/