AI model uses retinal scans to predict Alzheimer's disease

A form of artificial intelligence designed to interpret a combination of retinal images was able to successfully identify a group of patients who were known to have Alzheimer's disease, suggesting the approach could one day be used as a predictive tool, according to an interdisciplinary study.

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Mothers' stress may lead to preterm births, faster aging in children

Why do some people age faster than others? A new study indicates that a mother's stress prior to giving birth may accelerate her child's biological aging later in life. A second study from the same research group found that women suffering from high stress during the months and even years before conception -- defined as feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope -- had shorter pregnancies than other women.

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Older adults with dementia exhibit financial 'symptoms' up to six years before diagnosis

A new study found that Medicare beneficiaries who go on to be diagnosed with dementia are more likely to miss payments on bills as early as six years before a clinical diagnosis.

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Forest fires, cars, power plants join list of risk factors for Alzheimer's disease

A new study has found that among older Americans with cognitive impairment, the greater the air pollution in their neighborhood, the higher the likelihood of amyloid plaques - a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The study adds to a body of evidence indicating that pollution from cars, factories, power plants and forest fires joins established dementia risk factors like smoking and diabetes.

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Breakthrough App Guides Blind Runner on Solo 5k Run Through Central Park

Vision isn’t always measured by the things we see, but rather by the things we imagine, the things we strive to accomplish, and the things we make happen. Runner Thomas Panek lost his sight to a genetic disorder in his twenties but he’s never given up on the race. “The safest thing for a blind […]

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11 Upgrades For a Better Home Office Setup

Working from home is the new norm with the pandemic and with a rise of people looking to start their own business, however not every person is prepared to do that. Even with this pandemic going on for so long, there are still many people who decide to work from a couch or in a kitchen. That or maybe you’ve scrounged up some money to get a few used furniture for you new office. Regardless of the circumstances, upgrading your home office setup is important. With every passing year, there are new office furniture that can help you be more productive, organized, and more. While you don’t need to upgrade everything every year, it’s still important to upgrade where you can and once every year or so. With that in mind, we prepared a list of some of the ideal home office upgrades to consider.

What Makes These Items Ideal Upgrades?

Before getting into the list, we want to explain why these items are for you. Based on our research, we’re recommending these items as they fit the following criteria:

• Long-Lasting: This list has some serious high-priced upgrades in their respective categories, however, they’re worth it as they’re made by quality brands. Buying any of the items from this list will ensure that you’re keeping these products around for well over 3 years making it a quality investment.
• Trusted - Our recommendations are from trusted brands that have a history of providing great quality. Many of these products are products with 4-star ratings or higher from reviewers.
• Multi-purpose - These upgrades aren’t only for looks but they also improve your overall quality of life. Whether these help you in boosting your health, happiness, or productivity, you’re getting more out of these products than an expensive item that looks nice.

An Ergonomic Chair For Better Posture And Productivity

How often does this happen - you’ve slumped over your desk with your neck craned over for so long that what was once an annoying ache has become a health concern. Part of the reason that happens so often is many jobs these days require us to sit and chairs. Furthermore, it’s only been in the past few decades where we’ve had decent chairs. These days an ergonomic chair is even more important as they are designed to support your lumbar - or lower back. This will mitigate lower back pain and allow you to have more focus on your work. Science even backs this up with a 2003 study finding that employees working in ergonomic chairs reported less negative symptoms and a productivity increase of 17.7%.((UpJohn Institute: The Productivity Consequence of Two Ergonomic Interventions)) In terms of a proper chair though there are many cheap brands out there with decent chairs, though those aren’t an upgrade. What is an upgrade is getting a chair from a well-known brand like Herman Miller. They build quality ergonomic chairs that are built to last you for years while still providing great quality. Buy the Hermon Miller Aeron Chair here.

Good Quality Speakers To Crank Tunes For Focus And Productivity

Depending on the beats that you are playing, music can help you get energized or allow you to relax. Either way, these two things will help in improving your productivity. One study from the University of Miami found that those who were listening to music while working finished their tasks with superior quality and speed compared to those without. To have an upgrade in your office, it would be good to have a quality sound system. We suggest the Sonos Play1 Speakers. These allow you to play your favourite mood music and wash out ambient distractions and improve your overall focus. In terms of what kind of music works, we suggest getting simple chord progressions, instrumentals or catchy rhythms. Buy Sonos Play 1 Speakers here.

Soft Light Desk Lamps For Optic & Mentality

Another part of the desk and a productive work environment is a soft light desk lamp. A soft glow gives your work environment a warm, cozy feeling that mellows the environment and makes it feel less stressful. There are also studies that show that exposure to natural light during the day will make a positive impact on mental and physical health as well.((EH Journal: Effect of sunlight exposure on cognitive function among depressed and non-depressed participants: a REGARDS cross-sectional study)) So letting the blinds open and the light pour in will help too. Our pick of a soft light desk lamp was the Xiaomi Mi LED desk lamp. It has a great light to not cause eye strain and sets a great mood to get into work mode. It also has wifi capabilities which allows you to change the brightness and color temperature amongst other things. Get the Xiaomi Mi LED Desk Lamp here.

A Wireless Keyboard For Relaxed And Speedy Hands

After spending a lot of time focusing on work, the last thing you want is your wrists and hand to be straining from craning your hands onto a keyboard. Rather than grinning and bearing it, invest in an external keyboard. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome isn’t a pleasant thing to be dealing with. Especially if you plan on working at a desk typing away. On top of that, incorporating more ergonomics in your life can improve your overall productivity while of course lowering your risk of causing your body harm. One study conducted by ChevronTexaco found that implementing ergonomic accessories, 44% of the participants reported lower risk levels of injuries, boosted productivity and morale.((GoldTouch: Chevron Texaco Repetitive Stress Intervention Initiative)) There are many quality external keyboards out there but one brand that is reliable is Logitech. They’ve developed all kinds of devices - including ergonomic keyboards. This upgrade will move your standard keyboard to wireless while also providing a pad for your wrists to rest. It’s a great and affordable upgrade. Buy Logitech Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard here.

Desks Can Define A Person But Also How Well They Work

Just as a chair is important, your desk as well can play an important role in your overall comfort. Furthermore sitting at a desk all day can give you a risk towards diabetes and weight gain. With that in mind - and following recent trends in desks - it makes sense to go with a desk that requires you to stand up. After all, standing up will do the opposite.((Healthline: 7 Benefits of Standing Desk)) For those who have bought a chair though, we wanted to ensure you get the best of both worlds. As such, our recommendation is Vivo’s adjustable converter workstation desk. Not only can it turn into a standing desk for you to work at, you can also bring it back down so you can sit down at it. Buy Vivo Adjustable Converter Workstation Desk here.

A White Board For Ideas and Inspiration

Despite us having all kinds of technology at our disposal, there are still some limitations in what we have. One aspect of it is that many of us are working on 13” or 23” monitors with that monitor already maxed out leaving little room for anything else. In these kinds of circumstances, it’s opportunities of having older accessories that can be helpful. In this case - a whiteboard. A whiteboard is able to give you an alternative for jotting down ideas or brainstorming whatever. It’s essentially a space that you can capitalize for all kinds of things. It’s a huge boost in your productivity. Our pick is the Lockways Magnetic Dry Erase Board. It’s smooth scratch resistant surfaces ensure it won’t get damaged too quickly. It’s also very easy to clean up anything off of it. Buy Lockways Magnetic Dry Erase Board here.

A Reliable WiFi Router To Keep Your Internet Going

Since a lot of our work is internet-based - and the fact many work from home - having a stable connection is vital. Since you are at the mercy of your internet provider, having a reliable router beyond the one they provided will ensure you won’t get spotty wifi. A good upgrade for a router is the Netgear Nighthawk Smart Wifi Router. It offers fast performance speed with a wireless coverage of 1500 square feet. It can work with upwards of 25 different devices making it a fantastic productivity tool. Buy Netgear Nighthawk Smart Wifi Router here.

A Trusty Laptop That You Can Count On Not To Crash

With Mac’s getting an upgraded OS recently, many of the older models probably aren’t able to keep up with the latest versions. Or perhaps Apple is done upgrading them. If that’s the case, it might be a good enough time right now to get an upgrade of your computer. Not only will you be getting faster loading speeds with more recent models, but there is a certain level of satisfaction that comes from getting a new - or new to you - computer. That said, it’s important that you consider your own needs for what you are looking for in a computer. Unlike the rest of the other items on this list, do give some thought about an adequate computer. If you’re looking for a suggestion, one that we consider a sizable upgrade is the Apple MacBook Pro. It has a 13” monitor and is one of the strongest macbooks around offering 8 gigabytes of ram and 256 gigabytes of SSD storage. Beyond that, it offers a host of other features including a magic keyboard making it easy to navigate and access features quickly, more colors, true tone technology, and wide stereo sound. Buy the Apple Macbook Pro here.

Large External Monitors To Ensure A Screen Doesn’t Get Cluttered.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Xe2JigkKM Whether you’re getting a laptop or a desktop, chances are the monitor alone isn’t going to be enough. Similar to the white board, having another space to place stuff can be helpful in your line of work. In the case of another monitor it allows you the opportunity to save yourself time from hopping between tab to tab or program to program. In fact one study found that by having a second monitor, people’s productivity increased by 20 to 30 percent. When going for a second monitor, you want something with a readable screen and one that doesn’t cause headaches or eye strain. Also as a rule, the larger the monitor the better it will serve you as well since it’ll save you from scrolling. Our recommendation is the Asus ZenScreen. It’s a 15.6 inch monitor making it portable compared to other monitors. It also is designed to prevent eye strain. Buy the Asus ZenScreen here.

Chargers To Keep All Those Devices Going

The last upgrade on the list is of course a charger. With so many devices these days that operate on batteries or need charging, you need a quality charger to keep everything going. Even if you’re not the most tech-obsessed individual the average person at least has four or five devices they use on the regular that need charging. But you don’t want to settle with any plain charger though. One we consider as an upgrade is Anker’s Powercore Fusion 5000. The Powercore Fusion combines the reliability of a wall charger and the convenience of it being portable as well. The beauty of this charger is that it charges up your devices - which it can charge many at once - before it recharges itself. Buy Anker Powercore Fusion here.

A Mat To Mark A Devoted Exercise Spot To Boost Circulation And Help With Posture

One next-level productivity hack is having designated spots for various activities and having rooms devoted to specific environments. On top of that even if you have the comfiest chair in the world, sitting down all day isn’t the healthiest for you. You can hit two birds with one stone by investing in a quality yoga mat. Not only can you use this as marking a section of your office for exercise but you can also combat poor posture that a sedentary desk life gives you. Even if you’re not big into yoga, there are a ton of basic exercises that you can do. Furthermore, many companies like GM, Google, Apple and Forbes offer classes to their employees. There are a lot of benefits to yoga beyond helping with posture. It also reduces joint and back pain and can energize you too. While you can get any simple mat on the cheap, if you want to make a better return on your investment, we suggest the Liforme yoga mat. It is designed to be the most innovative yoga mat on the market with great grip, extreme comfort, and comes with an alignment program. It’s even biodegradable making it environmentally friendly. Buy Liforme Yoga Mat here.

Bottom Line

With technology developing at such a rapid pace, there are bound to be tonnes and tonnes of upgrades to these devices in the near future. What matters the most, though, isn’t about keeping up with trends but knowing when it’s time to let go of old gear and move on to better gear. With this list, you can be safe with purchasing and leveraging these items for several years to come, improving your productivity thoroughly while keeping up with the current trends.

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Simulations open a new way to reverse cell aging

Research findings provide insight into the complex mechanism of cellular senescence and present a potential therapeutic strategy for reducing age-related diseases associated with the accumulation of senescent cells.

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‘Mom, It’s Me!’ Woman Meets Son She Placed For Adoption 45 Years Ago And Confirms She Made Right Decision

If Brenda Van Sickle would have been able to care for a baby at 16 years old, she would have gladly—but she was determined to get him the best care, so gave him up for adoption. Last month, 45 years later, she got a phone call, and was able to meet the man who benefitted […]

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New insights on health effects of long-duration space flight

Among the new findings, the research team found that chronic oxidative stress during spaceflight contributed to the telomere elongation they observed. They also found that astronauts had shorter telomeres after spaceflight than they did before.

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21 Money Making Ideas to Try At Home Now

Working from home is a widely used term these days. According to The Commonwealth Fund, around 16 million people lost their jobs in the US alone. Other researchers put the number at 20-40 million.((The Commonwealth Fund: How Many Have Lost Jobs with Employer Coverage During COVID)) As more people lose their jobs, they are looking for money making ideas that they can do from home. This is why this article is important at such time as this. Even if you have lost your job, it is important to understand how you can make that extra dollar. A job is never enough to bring financial abundance unless you are the CEO of a blue-chip company. It is said that the average millionaire has 7 sources of income. This enables them to mitigate risk and make more money. This article will give you 21 money making ideas that you can easily start from home now.

1. Start a Blog

Starting and growing a blog is a good way of making more money every month. It is easy to start and manage. To start one, you need the following:((WealthWolves: How to monetize a blog))

• Choose a niche. This is where you decide what you will be writing on and to whom. Choose a niche that is broad enough to create enough content demand.
• A domain name. This is a name that is unique to your blog. For example, lifehack.org is the domain name here. You can get a domain name for as little as 1 dollar for the first year. Make sure you choose a short and memorable name that is related to your content.
• A hosting plan. A hosting company stores your website data in their servers and sends it to the browser upon request. Make sure you choose a good hosting company because that will affect the performance of your blog.
• Design expertise. You need to hire someone to create the blog for you. It is also possible to learn and do it by yourself. Most hosting companies will provide an easy to use website builder. Make sure the website looks professional.
• Content. Content is king when it comes to blogging. Produce long and high-quality content.

After starting a blog, make sure you monetize it. The easiest way to do this is to use the Google AdSense Program. You can also apply to be an affiliate marketer for various companies. This way, you can start making extra dollars from home.

2. Produce YouTube Videos

YouTube videos are also one of the best money making ideas today. YouTube has over 1.9 billion users every month. Over 500 hours of content is uploaded on the platform every minute. To make money from YouTube, you need the following:((Hootsuit: How to make money on Youtube))

• Start a YouTube channel. This is all free. Use your Google account to register.
• Upload video content regularly. Market your content on social media to gain a following.
• Have at least 1000 subscribers and 4,000 hours watched on your channel in the last 12 months.
• Create a Google AdSense account.
• Apply for different YouTube monetization features from your account.
• Submit for review. If you qualify, you will be notified.

Video content is almost catching up with written content. It is worth producing it as we move into the future.

3. Sell eBooks

If you are a good writer, you can make money by selling eBooks online. Produce at least a 10,000 words eBook and upload it on Amazon. You can also set your own eCommerce store. The eCommerce store can be part of your blog. It is important to understand that writing is easy but marketing your eBook will be hard. For example, there are millions of books on Amazon. To stand out, you have to be a good marketer, not just a good writer.

4. Creating Sponsored Content

Companies pay to get mentioned in relevant pieces of writing. For example, if you have a blog with high traffic, you can approach relevant firms to sponsor your content. This is also important if you are doing an eBook or magazine.

5. Paid Guest Blogging

Some sites pay freelance writers to create content for them. Use platforms like Fiverr and Upwork to connect with potential buyers. To succeed, make sure you write high-quality content and exceed the expectations of the client. High-quality content is highly practical and actionable. Do not write about everything. This will dilute your effectiveness. Take several topics and develop unmatched expertise. This will give you a competitive advantage in the market.

6. Renting Space

Many people are making money by renting space in their houses. If you have a big house, you can use Airbnb to rent some rooms for visitors who are on vacation near you.

7. Renting Your Car

You can also have people hire your car for a daily fee. This is a good way of turning a liability into an asset. People will always hire cars to attend high-end functions. You can charge between 30 and 300 dollars per day depending on the type of car and the location.

8. Online Courses

For experts, this is one of the best money making ideas. Educate people about something valuable and make money. To do this, you need to produce content that guides people into getting a specific high-income skill and then sell it. Udemy and Skillshare are good platforms to post your content. Set a reasonable fee for your courses and market them. As people enroll, you will start making money passively. If you can get millions of people to take the courses, you might have to retire early because that income is high enough to sustain you for life. You can also sell the courses on your website. This is a good long term strategy.

9. Affiliate Marketing

You can start a website specifically for affiliate marketing. This is where you promote other people’s products, refer them to the seller, and get a commission when a successful transaction is made. This is one of the ways many bloggers make money nowadays. The most common program is Amazon Associate Programs.

10. Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a business model where one sells products online without even having physical products. It is just about connecting the buyer and the seller online. Dropshipping is very convenient because there is no storage cost or actual shipment on your part. You just have to set up a store. This online store should be connected to the seller. When an order is made, the seller will ship the product to the buyer. Your work is very minimal. You just have to market the products and get as many people as possible to make the purchases.

11. Life Coaching

You can make money by helping people solve their problems. This is what life coaching is about. To help people solve their problems, you can use The Grow Model.((MindTools: The GROW Model of Coaching and Mentoring))Here is what it means:

• G- Goals. Help the client generate goals.
• R- Reality. The client should understand the current reality. This provides the gap between what is being achieved and what should be achieved.
• O- Options. What options does the client have moving forward? How will the gap be bridged?
• W- Way forward. Which option will the client select to reach the predetermined goals?

If you can help people get better and happier, they will keep recommending your services to their friends. All of these can be done at home.

12. Become an Influencer

Influencers are paid handsomely to promote commodities. However, you have to have a massive following in the digital space to be considered. For example, if you have 100,000 followers on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, you can approach companies to help promote their products.

13. Academic Writing

Academic writing is one of the most famous money making ideas for young graduates. Here, you produce content for academic purposes. This can be writing a report for university research or doing a project for students.

14. Start a Podcast

Podcasts are very famous nowadays. Most people prefer listening rather than reading. You can record a series of informative audio files and have people listen or download. If your podcast gets thousands of listeners or more, you can get a sponsor. The sponsor will pay you to get mentioned or advertised on your podcasts.

15. Start a Webinar

Webinars are also one of the most common money making ideas around today. This is where you host a seminar online. People can then pay and participate virtually from all over the world. You can also offer the webinar for free and get sponsors.

16. Paid Online Surveys

Companies love to know what people in their market think about various topics, products, and ideas. This will shape the way they create and market their products. You can take these online surveys online and get paid. InboxDollars, Swagbucks, and MyPoints are the most famous online survey sites.

17. Sell Old Stuff

You can make money from home by selling some of your old stuff in your house. These can be furniture, electronics, automobiles, etc. Whatever you do not need in your house can be converted into cash.

18. Invest in Dividend-Paying Stocks

This is a good way of making money from home. Just buy stocks of companies that give annual dividends and hold them for the long term. These stocks will bring you money without having to work.

19. Develop Mobile Apps

Mobile apps are widely used. They are very effective because once installed, they will be highly visible on the mobile device. The user will be tempted to open them now and then provided they provide value. Build an app that provides massive value to people and then work with advertisers to monetize it.

20. Network Marketing

There are many network marketing firms today. Many aggressive marketers are making money by just having people join. As they get more people to join, their networks get bigger. Any time a person in their network makes a transaction, they get paid.

21. Trade Cryptocurrency

You can make money by trading Bitcoin and Etherium from home. As the world evolves, cryptocurrency will become even bigger.

Bottom Line

There you go. You can get an extra source of income by executing any of the 21 money making ideas. They will give you more money to spend and invest. To become successful in any of them, you need hard work, persistence, and patience. Nothing worth doing is easy. You will encounter many challenges and competitors. If you are not committed, you will not make any mone

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Mom Pays For Multiple Strangers’ Groceries on a Whim: ‘I just wanted to bring smiles to people’s faces’

Comfort food is something everyone can appreciate. More than simply sustenance for our bodies, comfort food nourishes the soul and spirit. Now, one New Hampshire woman is taking the concept to a new level, supplying “comfort” groceries in random acts of kindness to her neighbors. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought stress and food anxiety to […]

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Conjure Some Gratitude For Our Incredible Earth Home With Siena Award Winning Photos

One simple way to remind ourselves of this incredible planet we inhabit: By seeing the world from the perspective of artists skilled in noticing the tiny, the magnificent, the sublime.  The photographers who took the winning entries in the 2020 Siena International Photo Awards have just that special way of seeing the wold. Seals swirl like […]

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American Dolls Covered in Crystals Raise Nearly a Million at Auction For Children of First Responders

American Girl has been busy auctioning off three exclusive holiday collector dolls made with thousands of Swarovski crystals. These gowns and complementary accessories took couturiers over 330 hours to design and hand embellish, with 5,000 Swarovski crystals and crystal beads being added to the dolls. The auction closed last night, and it’s been a ringing success, […]

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High blood pressure in midlife is linked to increased brain damage in later life

Higher than normal blood pressure is linked to more extensive brain damage in the elderly, according to a new study. In particular, the study found that there was a strong association between diastolic blood pressure (the blood pressure between heart beats) before the age of 50 and brain damage in later life, even if the diastolic blood pressure was within what is normally considered to be a healthy range.

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Anxiety associated with faster Alzheimer's disease onset

Anxiety is associated with an increased rate of progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study.

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Customer Buys Beer and Toasts the Staff With $3000 Tip–As Restaurant Voluntarily Shuts Doors During COVID

A customer at an Ohio restaurant ordered a single $7 beer on the night it shut down for coronavirus—then dropped an enormous tip for the staff as he was leaving.  Just before closing time on November 22, a man walked into the Cleveland jazz joint Nighttown. He ordered a Stella Artois, asked for the check, […]

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This Paralyzed Gymnast Rebounded to Start a Tea Company—And it’s One of Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2020

The course of human life can change in the blink of an eye. That’s what happened when at age 14, Canadian gymnast Taylor Lindsay-Noel took a bad spill that left her paralyzed. On track at the time as an Olympic hopeful, Lindsay-Noel already had strength and spirit. In the 12-year journey since she became a […]

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Concentration Camp Survivor in New Zealand is Casually Building and Donating a $50 Million Children’s Hospital

When Mark Dunajtschik escaped Knicanin prison camp near the end of WWII, he was forced to flee his homeland of Yugoslavia. Five years after the war ended, he became an apprentice toolmaker. The trade he mastered then may have shaped his career, but it was the life lessons he learned that ultimately forged the character […]

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How to Say No Politely And Professionally

Do you find that you have a hard time saying "no" when something is asked of you? I felt like this for most of my life and still fight the urge not to immediately blurt out "sure!" when someone asks me for their help. I could probe under my mental hood for why I have this innate inclination to say yes but at the end of the day, it's simply part of who I am. I know I have a lot of company in feeling this way. There's a whole plethora of books and reading material on how to say no to the many things asked of us in life. Many of us are raised in such a manner that we feel we should always be helping others. That we should always be willing to lend a helping hand whenever possible. And many of us are taught that to get ahead in our work life, we should be willing to "do what it takes" and take on additional responsibilities. You have to work hard to get to the top of your profession. And these things are true to a point. It's when we always say yes to things that are asked of us that we risk burnout and overcommitting ourselves. With that let's look at how to say no politely and professionally.

Why Saying Yes all the Time Isn't a Good Thing

There's a well-used term for people that say yes to everyone and everything. It's called being a people-pleaser. And I was a world class people-pleaser. It's not bad, of course, to help out when asked to or pitch in when needed. The problem arises when you say yes to everything. In short, you realize you are living your life for others and not for yourself. Saying yes to everyone all the time can lead to some bad long term issues.

Resentment

One of the worst things that come from saying yes all the time is a growing feeling of resentment towards others. When your friend who never does his homework asks you yet again for your notes, how does that make you feel when you slide them over to him? One time, I was training a new person on my team. I showed them how to do something. And then I showed them again. And again. After a few months, I realized I was doing a ton of this person's work simply because they asked for my help again, claiming they didn't quite get it. When I realized what was going on, I told them it was time they figured it out on their own. I woke up to how resentful I was to be working with someone who took my kindness and turned it into a way for them to do less work.

Mentally and Physically Fatigued

Something else that commonly happens when we say yes all the time is we become fatigued, both mentally and physically. If you have to lose sleep in order to check everything off your to do list and a lot of that is for other people, you're going to wind up getting more and more tired. I know from experience when I am trying to tackle too much, I have a hard time sleeping because I can't shut my brain off. I can't turn it off because I keep thinking about everything I have to take care of, much of it not impacting my own life. This is taxing to say the least.

Not Your Life Anymore

When we wind up doing more than we should for other people, we wind up not working on our own lives as much as we should. We can get to the point of feeling like we aren't even living our lives because we are paying too much attention and time on things that are important in other people's lives. This is not a good place to be in at all. An extreme example of this is someone that is taking care of another person who can't take care of themselves for one reason or another. Of course, we want to be there for our loved ones when they need our help. That said, when one person has to take care of another for an extended period, it can feel like the person tending doesn't have their own life any longer.

Losing Boundaries

One of the best ways to get to a place of how to say no politely and professionally is to establish boundaries. Boundaries are something I learned about later than I would have liked to but once you discover them, it's a very freeing feeling to establish them in your life. Boundaries are essentially something you create in order to live the type of life you want to. It's sort of like a set of guidelines that you have set in your life. From time to time, you share them with others depending on the situation. Some examples may include working no more than 45 hours in a week at your job, or not staying in an unhealthy relationship. We typically learn to set our boundaries when something happens in our lives that makes us say 'I don't want that situation again." Here's a few examples of my boundaries: I bought a truck several years ago. Almost immediately, people began to ask me help them move something. Which of course, I did at first. Once it got to a point where I was helping people numerous times a week, I decided I would help someone with my truck once every two weeks and only at a time that was convenient for me. I enjoy having a full life. That said, I don't like my life to be full with just my day job. Therefore, I limit the number of hours worked per week in my day job to 45. If the number of things on my plate take up more than 45 hours, and they almost always do, I prioritize working on what's important first and foremost. Now, let's find out how to say no politely and professionally in order to keep our sanity.

How To Say No Politely and Professionally

The key to saying no politely and professionally is to frame the "No" in different manners so you're not just awkwardly staring back at someone and then mumbling a "I can't do it". There's different ways to say no to various people you interact with in a way that works for you, and still be polite and respectful towards the other person. Here's a few to consider.

To Your Boss

Saying no to your boss can be intimidating. And unless you enjoy eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner at your desk, sometimes you will reach a point where you have to tell your boss thanks but no thanks. To your boss, you want to paint the picture that you are honored to have been considered for the additional work, but other priorities will make that not possible right now. Something along the lines of: "I really appreciate you thinking of me for this project. Currently I was planning on spending this week/month on projects X,Y, and Z. As I recall those were high priorities". "Wow, thanks so much for bringing this to me. Right now I have a full load working on project X & Y. Would you prefer I set aside that work and spend my time on this new project instead?"

To Your Colleagues

I love helping out my colleagues and really appreciate their help from time to time as well. However, sometimes I am not able to lend a helping hand due to the workload I have at the moment. In this case, you'll want to keep it pretty close to the truth whenever possible. "That's a very exciting initiative to be heading up Brian, you must be stoked! Thanks for asking for my help with the survey piece of it. Truth be told, this is not what I'd consider an area of strength for me, I'd probably slow things down. Lisa is pretty good at those, you might ask her". "You know I normally love doing this type of work Beth and I really appreciate you asking for my help with the layout part of it. Unfortunately, the timing isn't good, our boss Mark has me working on a presentation to the ELT for next week".

To Your Clients

Saying no to a client can be tough. After all, they are the ones paying you. The main thing here is to make sure your client feels heard and understood. Once you fully listen to their input or want, share with them how you are addressing this very issue from another angle. "You know Bob, I completely get what you are saying and couldn't agree more. I was thinking that we would be able to address the 36-45 age range when we highlight the positive results in compound XYZ". "Karen that is great, I appreciate you pointing that out and bringing it up to make sure we address it. Mandy on the team has been looking into that as well, I'll ask her to share her thoughts on what she has discovered in our meeting on Thursday".

In Your Personal Life

With people in your personal life, it's best to say no and the reason why. Maybe you've already got something else planned, or it could be you just don't want to. Of course, you want to be respectful of people's feelings; but with your closer, more personal relationships, it's best to be honest about why you are saying no. One of my rules to help keep me on the path of not always saying yes is that I am always happy to help someone, providing they are doing the main work. After all, someone is asking me for my help in their life, so they should be the one doing the heavy lifting. This has come up in many situations. When my oldest daughter would complain about not having any money, I'd offer to help her make a budget. She would need to set a time and place and I'd be happy to help her. When someone has asked me to help them move something with my truck, of course I'm happy to help - here is when I am available: You want me to help you in the yard? Sure I can certainly do that. However I am not available today, I already have things planned.

Bottom Line

With a little luck, you've learned something about how to say no politely and professionally. Helping others out from time to time is great, it's nice to know that you can count on others when needed and visa versa. It helps us feel connected and part of something greater than ourselves. Unfortunately, it can become too easy to say yes to too many requests for help. This can lead to resentment and burnout. When someone asks for your help, take a moment to consider if it's something you genuinely want to do and can do, or if it's better to say no politely and professionally.

More About the Art of Saying No

• What You Need to Do to Stop Being a People Pleaser
• 16 Things You Don't Need To Say Yes All the Time
• The Gentle Art of Saying No For a Less Stressful Life

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Incredible Customer Service Letter Arrives Next Day After Phone Call Opens Personal Connection

This blog was submitted to GNN by one of our readers for publishing. If you have an interesting story of kindness or positivity, be sure and send it to us for review. Arpi Krikorian wanted to place a phone order for contact lenses in October, so she called 1-800 CONTACTS—and made a contact she will […]

The post Incredible Customer Service Letter Arrives Next Day After Phone Call Opens Personal Connection appeared first on Good News Network.

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Nice Or Naughty? The Best (And Worst) Companies During This Pandemic

GNN polled readers on our Facebook page to find out which companies have excelled during the pandemic of 2020, and which ones didn’t live up to normal standards of customer service (even in a time of turmoil when they might actually want to level-up their usual performance). THE NICE LIST Two Fortune 500 insurance companies […]

The post Nice Or Naughty? The Best (And Worst) Companies During This Pandemic appeared first on Good News Network.

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New connection between Alzheimer's dementia and Dlgap2

A research team has discovered that Dlgap2, a gene that helps facilitate communication between neurons in the nervous system, is associated with the degree of memory loss in mice and risk for Alzheimer's dementia in humans. When studying post-mortem human brain tissue, the researchers also discovered low levels of Dlgap2 in people experiencing 'poorer cognitive health' and 'faster cognitive decline' prior to death.

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How to Develop Big Picture Thinking And Think More Clearly

Your neighbors downstairs are playing loud music. Again. How do they not get tired of partying? And why do they choose songs with such a heavy downbeat that the glass in your cupboard is vibrating every two seconds? What can you do to get some peace that you deserve? What should you? Human mind tends to go in circles whenever faced with a problem without a clear solution. It becomes easy to forget the big picture and get lost in anger and self-pity, wasting our precious time, energy and enthusiasm. Would it not be nice if we always remembered to put things in perspective? Would it not be more efficient to face all kinds of problems, from tiny annoyances to life-changing emergencies, with a calm demeanor, sharp focus and fearless determination to promptly take the most efficient action possible? Alas, humans are not like that. All too often we let anxiety or greed get the best of us and make a rushed or shortsighted decision that we quickly come to regret. Other times, we spend weeks or months at an impasse, rehashing the exact same arguments, unable to accept the compromise required to move forward with any of the available options. Buddhists talk about getting lost in the “small self.” In this state of mind, we literally forget the big picture and focus on the small one. We start taking our daily problems too personally and, paradoxically, becomes less capable of solving them in an efficient manner. And this is the opposite of big picture thinking. Let me share with you a story related to big picture thinking... In 1812, the French army of Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Russia.((Wikipedia: French invasion of Russia)) After a decisive Battle of Borodino, the capture of Moscow and therefore Napoleon’s victory in the war seemed inevitable. Unexpectedly, the Russian Commander-in-Chief Mikhail Kutuzov made a highly controversial decision of retreating and allowing the French to capture Moscow. Much of the population had been evacuated taking supplies with them. The city itself was set on fire and large parts of it burned into the ground. After waiting in vain for Russia to capitulate, Napoleon had to retreat in the middle of a bitterly cold winter. He won the battle but lost the war. The campaign ended in a disaster and the near destruction of the French army. What can we learn from this historical lesson?

1. Focus on the Consequences

Napoleon focused on the important part: capturing Moscow. Nobody could accuse him of thinking small. Yet he overlooked that the Russian army could still fight even after giving up the country’s most important city. So was Moscow not an important target after all? Success expert Brian Tracy has a litmus test: things are important to the extent that they have important consequences. Things are unimportant to the extent that they have no important consequences.((Brian Tracy: No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline)) When faced with a choice, ask yourself, what would be the consequences of each option?

• Want to spend an hour studying or watching the new series on Netflix? What would be the consequences of each option? Netflix can sometimes be a better choice, but it helps to put things in perspective.
• Want to maintain your apartment by yourself or to pay a cleaning service? Would would be the consequences of each option?
• Want to meet up for coffee with this acquaintance of yours or catch up on your work instead? What would be the consequences of each option?

The choice can be different for different people. An aspiring filmmaker may have a legitimate reason for choosing Netflix. Personally, cleaning your own apartment can be relaxing and nourishing even if the economics of hiring a cleaner looks compelling because you are earning a high hourly rate. This is where you will need a basic idea of who you are — what are your goals, values and aspirations.

2. Flip Defeat Into Victory

Kutuzov managed to turn Russia’s defeat into a historic victory by recasting the problem in a wider context: losing Moscow need not mean losing the war. Despite the symbolic meaning attached to the Kremlin, the churches, the priceless treasures that had been stored in the city for centuries, the outcome of the campaign was ultimately determined by the strength of the remaining armies. If you can adopt this result-oriented perspective, many of your personal defeats may be flipped into victories as well. Few events in a human life are absolutely good or absolutely bad, and it usually takes many years to recognize in retrospect, what role a particular encounter did play in your story. Therefore we have every reason to look for the good in the things that happen to us. This is a very practical attitude, far from baseless “positive thinking.” After all, if something unfortunate has happened to you and you find good sides in this circumstance, you will then be better positioned to take advantage of those good sides. Say your noisy neighbors are affecting your productivity. What if it is a blessing in disguise? How can you turn this defeat into a victory?

• Perhaps you are too serious about life and could learn how to have more fun. Join your neighbors or go out for a walk instead of working;
• Perhaps you only wanted to be productive while instead procrastinated on social media. Now that your procrastination has been interrupted, stop and acknowledge this much greater obstacle to your productivity;
• Perhaps you are too sensitive to interference. Take this opportunity to practice ignoring the noise and doing your best anyway;
• Perhaps you have a victim mentality and the feeling of unfairness drains you more than any actual nuisance your neighbors might have caused. Try accepting this lapse in your productivity the way you would accept bad weather.

Get used to finding opportunities in your problems. This is the quintessential big picture thinking.

3. Ask for Advice

Both Napoleon and Kutuzov had trusted advisers to discuss their affairs with. In general, getting a different perspective — or several — can only help inform your understanding and lead to better decisions. Just ensure that the people giving you advice are competent in the particular area where experience is needed. Paying money for advice can also be a wise investment. Lawyers, tax accountants, medical doctors spend years learning how to assist people like yourself in living more successful, more fulfilling lives. A quick legal consultation can save you a fortune down the line or even keep you out of big trouble. A medical check-up can uncover potential issues and help keep you healthy and active for years to come. Even big, complex dilemmas at your job or in your romantic relationship can be tackled more effectively by partnering up with a coach or a therapist or, of course, with the help of a wise friend.

4. Beware of Biased Advice

Many imperfect decisions occur in response to an imperfect piece of advice that you choose to act on. This advice often comes from a biased party. For example, we are often encouraged to buy something that we supposedly need:

• Protect your skin from harmful UV rays by using a special lotion.
• Fortify your health by taking multivitamins.
• Connect with your friends by sending them elaborate gifts.
• Brighten your weekend by consuming a delicious pastry.
• Become more productive by getting a faster computer.

However, most purchases are unnecessary. Some, such as the sunscreen, do have legitimate benefits when used properly.((American Academy of Dermatology: Say Yes to Sun Protection)) Others, such as multivitamins, only make a difference for a small group of people.((Harvard Medical School: Do multivitamins make you healthier?)) Advertisers of those benefits inevitably want to narrow your focus in order to overstate the importance of their product. They frequently present it as the only solution to your problem, whether real or imaginary. After all,

• Skin can also be protected from the sun by wearing appropriate clothing.
• Health can be better fortified by consuming a balanced diet and getting regular exercise.
• Spending time or talking on the phone with your friends is the foremost way of connecting with them, and it is virtually free.
• Your weekend can be brightened by doing something that you love.
• You can become more productive by focusing on the tasks that have the most important consequences. A faster computer can, in fact, decrease productivity by making it easier to multitask and by enabling your favorite distractions.

There are other sources of imperfect advice. Politicians also frequently want us to focus on a particular “big picture,” to the exclusion of the alternatives. Even loving parents can be guilty of the same. They can advise their children to pick a career path that is safe and respectable, based on their “big picture” that in life one has to make a living. A child may disagree, however, based on another “big picture” that one’s life has to have meaning and fulfillment.

Bottom Line

It is human nature to make rushed, emotional decisions based on incomplete information, then regret those decisions later on. You can protect yourself from poor judgment by striving to attain the big picture when careful consideration is called for. Focus on the consequences of your decision before considering how you feel about it. Play with the cards you’ve been dealt, but look for opportunities in each situation and you will find them. Ask knowledgeable mentors for advice, but beware of biased people who have an opinion, but do not necessarily have your best interest in mind. Yet remember, true big picture thinking comes from hard-won experience. Legendary military commanders Napoleon Bonaparte and Mikhail Kutuzov were both injured on the battlefield. Clear thinking comes from putting your big picture to the test of reality.

More Tips on Thinking Clearly

• How to Think Clearly and Become Smarter
• How To Think Effectively: 12 Powerful Techniques
• 9 Types of Bias That Cloud Our Everyday Judgement

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How to Develop Big Picture Thinking And Think More Clearly

Your neighbors downstairs are playing loud music. Again. How do they not get tired of partying? And why do they choose songs with such a heavy downbeat that the glass in your cupboard is vibrating every two seconds? What can you do to get some peace that you deserve? What should you? Human mind tends to go in circles whenever faced with a problem without a clear solution. It becomes easy to forget the big picture and get lost in anger and self-pity, wasting our precious time, energy and enthusiasm. Would it not be nice if we always remembered to put things in perspective? Would it not be more efficient to face all kinds of problems, from tiny annoyances to life-changing emergencies, with a calm demeanor, sharp focus and fearless determination to promptly take the most efficient action possible? Alas, humans are not like that. All too often we let anxiety or greed get the best of us and make a rushed or shortsighted decision that we quickly come to regret. Other times, we spend weeks or months at an impasse, rehashing the exact same arguments, unable to accept the compromise required to move forward with any of the available options. Buddhists talk about getting lost in the “small self.” In this state of mind, we literally forget the big picture and focus on the small one. We start taking our daily problems too personally and, paradoxically, becomes less capable of solving them in an efficient manner. And this is the opposite of big picture thinking. Let me share with you a story related to big picture thinking... In 1812, the French army of Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Russia.((Wikipedia: French invasion of Russia)) After a decisive Battle of Borodino, the capture of Moscow and therefore Napoleon’s victory in the war seemed inevitable. Unexpectedly, the Russian Commander-in-Chief Mikhail Kutuzov made a highly controversial decision of retreating and allowing the French to capture Moscow. Much of the population had been evacuated taking supplies with them. The city itself was set on fire and large parts of it burned into the ground. After waiting in vain for Russia to capitulate, Napoleon had to retreat in the middle of a bitterly cold winter. He won the battle but lost the war. The campaign ended in a disaster and the near destruction of the French army. What can we learn from this historical lesson?

1. Focus on the Consequences

Napoleon focused on the important part: capturing Moscow. Nobody could accuse him of thinking small. Yet he overlooked that the Russian army could still fight even after giving up the country’s most important city. So was Moscow not an important target after all? Success expert Brian Tracy has a litmus test: things are important to the extent that they have important consequences. Things are unimportant to the extent that they have no important consequences.((Brian Tracy: No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline)) When faced with a choice, ask yourself, what would be the consequences of each option?

• Want to spend an hour studying or watching the new series on Netflix? What would be the consequences of each option? Netflix can sometimes be a better choice, but it helps to put things in perspective.
• Want to maintain your apartment by yourself or to pay a cleaning service? Would would be the consequences of each option?
• Want to meet up for coffee with this acquaintance of yours or catch up on your work instead? What would be the consequences of each option?

The choice can be different for different people. An aspiring filmmaker may have a legitimate reason for choosing Netflix. Personally, cleaning your own apartment can be relaxing and nourishing even if the economics of hiring a cleaner looks compelling because you are earning a high hourly rate. This is where you will need a basic idea of who you are — what are your goals, values and aspirations.

2. Flip Defeat Into Victory

Kutuzov managed to turn Russia’s defeat into a historic victory by recasting the problem in a wider context: losing Moscow need not mean losing the war. Despite the symbolic meaning attached to the Kremlin, the churches, the priceless treasures that had been stored in the city for centuries, the outcome of the campaign was ultimately determined by the strength of the remaining armies. If you can adopt this result-oriented perspective, many of your personal defeats may be flipped into victories as well. Few events in a human life are absolutely good or absolutely bad, and it usually takes many years to recognize in retrospect, what role a particular encounter did play in your story. Therefore we have every reason to look for the good in the things that happen to us. This is a very practical attitude, far from baseless “positive thinking.” After all, if something unfortunate has happened to you and you find good sides in this circumstance, you will then be better positioned to take advantage of those good sides. Say your noisy neighbors are affecting your productivity. What if it is a blessing in disguise? How can you turn this defeat into a victory?

• Perhaps you are too serious about life and could learn how to have more fun. Join your neighbors or go out for a walk instead of working;
• Perhaps you only wanted to be productive while instead procrastinated on social media. Now that your procrastination has been interrupted, stop and acknowledge this much greater obstacle to your productivity;
• Perhaps you are too sensitive to interference. Take this opportunity to practice ignoring the noise and doing your best anyway;
• Perhaps you have a victim mentality and the feeling of unfairness drains you more than any actual nuisance your neighbors might have caused. Try accepting this lapse in your productivity the way you would accept bad weather.

Get used to finding opportunities in your problems. This is the quintessential big picture thinking.

3. Ask for Advice

Both Napoleon and Kutuzov had trusted advisers to discuss their affairs with. In general, getting a different perspective — or several — can only help inform your understanding and lead to better decisions. Just ensure that the people giving you advice are competent in the particular area where experience is needed. Paying money for advice can also be a wise investment. Lawyers, tax accountants, medical doctors spend years learning how to assist people like yourself in living more successful, more fulfilling lives. A quick legal consultation can save you a fortune down the line or even keep you out of big trouble. A medical check-up can uncover potential issues and help keep you healthy and active for years to come. Even big, complex dilemmas at your job or in your romantic relationship can be tackled more effectively by partnering up with a coach or a therapist or, of course, with the help of a wise friend.

4. Beware of Biased Advice

Many imperfect decisions occur in response to an imperfect piece of advice that you choose to act on. This advice often comes from a biased party. For example, we are often encouraged to buy something that we supposedly need:

• Protect your skin from harmful UV rays by using a special lotion.
• Fortify your health by taking multivitamins.
• Connect with your friends by sending them elaborate gifts.
• Brighten your weekend by consuming a delicious pastry.
• Become more productive by getting a faster computer.

However, most purchases are unnecessary. Some, such as the sunscreen, do have legitimate benefits when used properly.((American Academy of Dermatology: Say Yes to Sun Protection)) Others, such as multivitamins, only make a difference for a small group of people.((Harvard Medical School: Do multivitamins make you healthier?)) Advertisers of those benefits inevitably want to narrow your focus in order to overstate the importance of their product. They frequently present it as the only solution to your problem, whether real or imaginary. After all,

• Skin can also be protected from the sun by wearing appropriate clothing.
• Health can be better fortified by consuming a balanced diet and getting regular exercise.
• Spending time or talking on the phone with your friends is the foremost way of connecting with them, and it is virtually free.
• Your weekend can be brightened by doing something that you love.
• You can become more productive by focusing on the tasks that have the most important consequences. A faster computer can, in fact, decrease productivity by making it easier to multitask and by enabling your favorite distractions.

There are other sources of imperfect advice. Politicians also frequently want us to focus on a particular “big picture,” to the exclusion of the alternatives. Even loving parents can be guilty of the same. They can advise their children to pick a career path that is safe and respectable, based on their “big picture” that in life one has to make a living. A child may disagree, however, based on another “big picture” that one’s life has to have meaning and fulfillment.

Bottom Line

It is human nature to make rushed, emotional decisions based on incomplete information, then regret those decisions later on. You can protect yourself from poor judgment by striving to attain the big picture when careful consideration is called for. Focus on the consequences of your decision before considering how you feel about it. Play with the cards you’ve been dealt, but look for opportunities in each situation and you will find them. Ask knowledgeable mentors for advice, but beware of biased people who have an opinion, but do not necessarily have your best interest in mind. Yet remember, true big picture thinking comes from hard-won experience. Legendary military commanders Napoleon Bonaparte and Mikhail Kutuzov were both injured on the battlefield. Clear thinking comes from putting your big picture to the test of reality.

More Tips on Thinking Clearly

• How to Think Clearly and Become Smarter
• How To Think Effectively: 12 Powerful Techniques
• 9 Types of Bias That Cloud Our Everyday Judgement

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Coronavirus Patient Who Couldn’t Talk Thanked Hospital Staff With Violin Serenade – WATCH

It started with a note passed to a nurse from his hospital bed in Utah. A retired music teacher was being intubated to help treat the COVID-19 that had infected his lungs. While he couldn’t talk, Grover Wilhelmsen came up with another way to say ‘thank you’ to the angels who were caring for him […]

The post Coronavirus Patient Who Couldn’t Talk Thanked Hospital Staff With Violin Serenade – WATCH appeared first on Good News Network.

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Hyperbaric oxygen treatment: Clinical trial reverses two biological processes associated with aging in human cells

A new study indicates that hyperbaric oxygen treatments (HBOT) in healthy aging adults can stop the aging of blood cells and reverse the aging process. In the biological sense, the adults' blood cells actually grow younger as the treatments progress.

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Age is no barrier to successful weight loss

Obese patients over the age of 60 can lose an equivalent amount of weight as younger people using only lifestyle changes, according to a new study that demonstrates that age is no barrier to losing weight.

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How To Be Happy Single And Live Your Best Life

Are you struggling to be happy single? Being single is seen by some as a state of loneliness. Because of how lonely it can be, many people stay stuck in loveless and unhappy relationships, they do not want to feel that emptiness that comes with being single. First of all, that’s a lie that should not be held onto. Admittedly, getting out of a relationship can be hard. It is like falling off a boat you have been on for so long, right into the cold waters, trying to learn how to swim and navigate through the waters again. Of course, all of this would not matter if you can breathe underwater.

You Can Be Happy Single, and Live Your Best Life

You do not need to feel like you are drowning, or like the entire world is resting completely on your shoulders. Being single is not a bad thing. You have to start seeing singlehood as something other than the absence of a partner and start seeing it as a phase of personal rediscovery and self-love. Yes, having a partner makes life beautiful, but being single does not make life any less beautiful, if anything it brings a sense of peace that you may not get from being in a relationship. At some point in your life, it is easy to be stuck wondering how to be happy single and live your best life. However, the first thing you need to understand is that you are completely in charge of your own happiness. Putting the responsibility of your happiness on someone other than yourself is both selfish and a tad disturbing. Selfish because that is way too much burden to place on someone. When someone comes into your life, it should be that they are adding to pre-existing happiness, not bringing happiness to an unhappy life. When you place that burden on someone, you are inadvertently making it difficult for them to do things that make them happy, which may make you unhappy. This means that if at some point in their life, they decide that the relationship is no longer working, and they want to move on, they can’t. They have to worry about you relapsing into a large hole of sadness. That is a very selfish thing to do. It is disturbing because you are a living breathing human who should be able to be in charge of your life. Releasing the reins of your life, something as important as your happiness to someone else for whatever reason is not a good move. You should be able to handle things as important as your emotions without completely giving up that aspect of your life to someone else. Babies do not even depend on their parents for happiness, and they are unconscious of things. They find happiness in silly things like sprouting grass, a dot on a carpet, an animal painted on a wall, and the funny movement in the ‘Baby shark’ video. Now, as an adult where you are completely in charge of your life and decisions, consciously making decisions, it is disturbing that you will give up control of your happiness.

The Perks of Being Single

It is said that when you have been single for a long time, getting into a relationship is hard, because you have become so comfortable with being alone, and bringing someone into the mix suddenly sounds like a lot. As you read further, you will see how to be happy single; however, believe it or not, there are a lot of benefits of being single. So, before we go into how you can be happy single, here are some of the surprisingly amazing benefits of being single.

Your Support System Grows

As a single person, even though you do not mean for it to happen, you find yourself completely dependent on your partner. When something bad happens at work, they are the first one you tell. When something good happens they are the first you tell, too. You rely on them for support advice and help. They are always there, yes. However, what this does is that, when they leave your life, you are saddled with the shocking thought that you are all alone. This is usually why individuality is preached to people in relationships. You should always be able to have people with whom you can lean on and share things. When you are single, you have a network of support systems, instead of being tied down to one person. This also allows for diverse views when you need advice. More importantly, when you win, the applause of 10 people is louder than the applause of one. More so, statistics have shown that single people, while they have a group of close friends they can always reach up to, it is also easier for them to get help from friends, than it is for those in relationships.((Psychology Today: The Impact of Friendships on Single and Married People))

Your Time Is Yours and Yours Alone

When you are single, you do not make plans for anyone but you. Your time is your own. You could decide to go out, and then change your mind almost immediately, and no one will be mad at you for it. There is also no one crashing into an already arranged schedule and making you change your entire plans. You also do not have to make time for anything that is not exactly beneficial to you. You don't have to share your time with someone and explain why you need some time off. Not being in a relationship means you can just take your time off without explanations.

You Spend Money on Yourself Alone

Being single means that you have less financial responsibilities. Forget what Jennifer Lopez said; love does cost a thing. It costs a lot of money. It costs money for dates. It costs money on gifts for Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries. Love requires money. When you are single, you do not have those financial responsibilities, which means your credit card is yours to max out alone. Or not.

There Is Less Anxiety

See, when a random friend texts you and says “Hey, we need to talk.” You think of the last time you both talked, shrug, and decide that it is mostly not important anyway. Chances are you might even forget you got that message as time goes on. However, when you are in a relationship and your partner texts you with that, best believe you will spend the entire day with an abnormal heart rate, trips to the toilet, and sweaty palms. Because even though the both of you were really good before you left the house for work, that message sends a lot of thoughts spiraling out of control in your mind, and they will continue flying until you have the conversation. These benefits seem small and rather inconsequential, but do you really not want to live your life with fewer anxieties, financial constraints, more time and a larger support system? Now, let us love the right to the important part, how to be happy single and live your best life.

Do All the Fun Things Alone

It is funny when people walk up to people who are at the bar alone and ask them “waiting for someone?” Who gave the rules that people could not go to bars alone? You can go to bars alone; you can go to movies alone, you can go to a restaurant alone. Fun things are better enjoyed alone; maybe you will need to drink a little more responsibly so you can drive home, but yeah. When you do all these things alone, you learn how to appreciate the little things of life that come from enjoying alone. On a lighter note, if you are a crier, you need not be ashamed when you want to cry out your eyes when watching a cheesy movie. When you can go from movies to clubs to parks alone, you will realize how exhilarating it is.

Go on a Vacation Alone

Still, on doing things alone, that place you have always wanted to visit, take your passport, save up for it and take that trip alone. Meet beautiful people, take pictures, kiss a random stranger, laugh loudly, eat strange foods, be happy, dance with locals, simply do all the wonderful things that you can do while traveling alone.

Make Friends

You are not an island, you need a support system, create one. Meet new friends of both genders, take pictures, have sleepovers, get drunk too. This is an important way to make sure that you can always get the help you need. When you are in a relationship, it might be difficult to foster a relationship with other people, because you may not have time for them, as it can be exhausting to split your attention like that. But when you are single, you do not need to split your attention, you just need to focus it on people who are there for you. Also, be there for them too, be the person they can lean on, you may not believe this, but a certain sense of fulfillment and happiness comes from being the one who makes others feel better.

Give Yourself a Break

It is easy to beat yourself up over small failures and mistakes, there is also the part where you begin to think that your inability to keep relationships is why you are single. It is not true. Be easy on yourself, forgive yourself, be happy with the strides that you have taken, look at the good stud you have done alone, and be proud of yourself. When you are too hard on yourself, depriving yourself of self-love, care, and forgiveness, you find yourself being continually happy. You will notice that you are seeking validation from another person to show you the good in you. You need to understand that when you do not see and appreciate the good in you, no one else will. If by some stroke of luck, someone decides to remind you of your awesomeness, you will be dependent on that person for approval, and when you do not get it, you will sink right back into unhappiness. How to be happy single is by telling yourself that you are an awesome single.

Get Involved in Activities

Do not spend time brooding over what has been lost, that is pathetic. Get involved with activities and immerse yourself in them. Enjoy getting involved in these beautiful moments, bask in them, relish the experience. Chase your goals, do all the things that you never used to have time for. Take that online course that you never seemed to find time for before now. Bask in the opportunity to be a better person. Join the team in your neighborhood to volunteer at the dog shelter. Visit kids at the hospital and hand out balloons and stuffed animals. Doing this will increase your chance of finding that inner happiness. When night comes and you want to reminisce, it would not be of your failed relationships, it will be of the fulfilled life you are currently living.

Do Something Unusual

What is that thing you say you will never be caught dead doing? Do it. If you are often the prim and proper type, do something crazy and adventurous. If you are often the crazy type, it might be time to wear a formal outfit and attend an event where you have to consciously try to not unleash your crazy. Does that sound hard? That is exactly why you should do it. stretch yourself and unleash that person that your friends and family can swear never existed. The silliness of it will make you laugh, cringe, laugh again and marvel at the things you can do when you feel unhinged.

Final Thoughts

Life is beautiful, and while it is enjoyed while coupled off, it can also be enjoyed to the fullness while alone. You do not have to be unhappy because you are alone; there are so many things to find happiness in. How to be happy single and live your best life? Live like the world ends today and there will be no tomorrow.

More on Self Love

• When You Start to Enjoy Being Single, These 12 Things Will Happen
• What Your Fear of Being Alone Is Really About and How to Get over It
• How To Be Happy Alone and Enjoy Life

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Does air pollution increase women's risk of dementia?

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The post ‘Autistic’ Boy Can Name Any Car Ever Made—and Makes Amazingly Lifelike Photos With his Model Collection appeared first on Good News Network.

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The post Arkansas Schools Install Solar Panels to Save Millions On Energy and Pay Teachers More appeared first on Good News Network.

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15 Great Macbook Accessories To Improve Productivity

When looking to improve your workflow, you need to have a proper computer. And one of the most appealing computers out there is macbooks. These sleek transportable computers allow you to work anywhere at any time and provide a lot of functionality to their users. But sometimes, that’s not enough. In so many cases, you’re looking for more. While you could go for some productivity apps, there are actually a lot of macbook accessories available that will make your life easier in many ways. These extra accessories will allow your macbook to charge faster, hold more data, or keep it safe and protected while you travel around. Beyond that, there is a wide variety of accessories to pick from as many companies have jumped onto the bandwagon of supply to macbook users. Below we’ve listed off some of the greatest macbook accessories that’ll benefit your computer.

What Makes For Great Macbook Accessories?

Before getting into the list, we wanted to go over the criteria for what makes for great macbook accessories. The items that we’ve picked from this list will have the following criteria:

• Reasonably priced - Accessories themselves shouldn’t break the bank compared to the large initial investment of a macbook.
• Usability - All these accessories are practical in various situations, however, they also have extra features that make them useful in a few situations beyond their obvious functions.
• Compact - Workflow is also about space in most circumstances. As such, anything that’s too bulky doesn’t help much. These accessories are either large on purpose - for storage of other items - or are nice and compact so they won’t get in the way.

A USB Drive To Store Files Quickly Without Accessing The Cloud

While you can always access the Cloud at any time, sometimes accessibility can be cumbersome or it takes time. Instead of trying to access files that way, getting a USB flash drive can save you plenty of time. Especially if your work entails providing presentations. The SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive is great as it offers USB-C and USB-A connectors allowing you to plug into virtually any device and transfer files and more between computers. Also, USB drives boast several hundred gigabytes these days making them solid storage devices. Buy SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive here.

Compact Charger That Does More Than Charge

Your default charger that comes with your MacBook is a good option for a charger, but these days chargers can offer so much more. This can help you speed up your workflow as you can be charging other devices or using the charger for other uses beyond charging. In the case of the Anker PowerPort charger, it is more compact than the default charger. It also offers another USB-C connector allowing you to rapidly charge another gadget with it. Buy Anker PowerPort charger here.

Port Adapter For Those With Multiple Devices

One of the hard restrictions with a macbook is that it only has two USB-C ports. This is manageable for people with fewer gadgets but if you’re the kind who has several, it can interrupt your workflow if you need a particular device and you can’t charge it or access it. In this situation, a port adapter from Satechi can help. It offers multiple USB-C ports allowing you to use multiple devices. This can also help in organizing cords which we know can disrupt work. If the USB-C ports aren’t enough, it also comes with an SD card reader and ethernet cable port too. Buy Satechi Multi-Port Adapter here.

A USB Cable That Isn’t As Intrusive Or Cumbersome To Use

The USB-C cable that comes with Macbooks is small and is used to hook to an external monitor. By adding more length to them, you can have better cable management. One option that we found to be ideal was the Nomad Kevlar cable which offers enough length to do what you want while giving you more space to work with. Buy Nomad Kevlar USB-C Cable here.

Screen Cleaning Your Laptop To See What You’re Doing

Dust, particles and splotches are to be expected on laptop screens after a while. While you can work around these, sometimes they can obscure your vision at times. The same can apply to all devices these days. The only problem with many solutions on the market is that they can damage screens. Fortunately, we found a screen cleaning solution that doesn’t harm screens. ScreenDr Professional screen cleaning kit comes with a spray that’s safe for screens and an antimicrobial microfiber cloth to ensure you make the most of the spray. Buy ScreenDr Professional Screen Cleaning Kit here.

Card Reader That Speeds Up Photo Transfer Time

If you’re looking for a standalone card reader for your work, getting a device designed for photo transferring and reading is essential. One of the best macbook accessories in this category we found was the Vanja card reader. This one is able to read SD and MicroSD cards while also transferring the pictures to a computer with ease thanks to its USB-C and USB 2.0 port options. It’s also small making it easy to carry around and is cheap to buy making it a great choice to pick up if you deal with plenty of pictures. Buy Vanja Card Reader here.

Protective Sleeves To Protect Your Laptop From Harm

For those who are travelling the last thing that you want is your laptop to get damaged for whatever reason. Even though you’re not likely to drop it as frequently as your phone, having a sleeve for a laptop to be in can save you time. One sleeve that we found interesting was the Native Union sleeves. They are made of tear-resistant material with genuine leather accents. Its interior is soft as well preventing scratches from your laptop. It also offers a pocket area where you can store cables and other macbook accessories easily. Buy Native Union's laptop sleeve here.

Car Charger For Charging On The Go

For the person always driving around, a car charger is always a helpful tool to have when you’re on the go. The one from Anker is particularly helpful in a number of ways. Not only can this charge your macbook, but it also has an additional port for you to charge your phone if needed. It’s not the fastest charger out there when compared to the Macbook Pro adapter but it’s the highest in the market with an output power of 30 watts. For comparison, the second-fastest charging connector offers an output of 18 watts. Aside from that the charger has an illuminated LED ring for you to see it and the connectors late at night. It also has a function that ensures devices don’t experience surges or overheating from the charger itself. Buy Anker PowerDrive car charger here.

USB-C to USB-A Adapter Grants Access To Older Models

If your older macbook still works but has files you want that you didn’t back up that you want this makes it easier to access them. It also allows you to access devices that have USB-A slots only. This can save you a lot of time if you are moving between older and newer devices. Buy Thunderbolt Adapter here.

A Hardshell Case For Added Protection

A sleeve is good for travel, but when you’re using it, having an extra layer of protection can be nice. Beyond that this hardshell case can also serve as additional protection from scratches and bumps too. Buy Incase Textured Hardshell case here.

Alternative Sleeve For Those With Tighter Budgets But Want Protection

If you are looking for an appropriate laptop sleeve but aren’t looking to spend too much, AmazonBasics brands are a good alternative. Their sleeves are elegant and still offer good protection from scratches as well. It also has a few pockets for small essentials too. Buy AmazonBasics laptop sleeve here.

A Hub That Accommodates Several Ports At Once

https://youtu.be/sTq9PorggHY We’ve already mentioned a port before being a huge time saver thanks to it having various ports for different devices. This one is a great alternative as while it doesn’t offer as many USB-C ports, it offers more variety. Paired up with the design being the same color as the MacBook Air, it offers two USB-C connectors, two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port and SD and microSD card readers. Buy Satechi Type C Pro Hub here.

Earbuds To Deal With Fewer Headphone Cords

Cords are a common problem when boosting productivity at the desk and one way to mitigate them is to go wireless. If you are thinking about that, one option to consider is the Soundcore earbuds. These are cheaper than the traditional AirPods from Apple which can save you money. Furthermore, they deliver great sound and are connected via Bluetooth. The beauty of these earbuds is they can also cancel sound despite them being so compact. They also offer touch control allowing you to pause, play, skip music and answer calls. Buy Soundcore Wireless Earphones here.

Desktop Stand To Save Desk Space

Desk space is another crucial part of productivity as things can get in the way and obstruct your work. In cases where you don’t need your laptop at the moment, having a stand where you can set it aside can be helpful. In those situations, we recommend the Twelve South Book Arc. This neat Macbook accessor can save a tonne of space since it requires you to close your laptop in order to insert it into the stand. It also keeps it elevated from the surface which can protect it from spills Buy Twelve South BookArc desktop stand here.

A Comfortable And Easy To Use Mouse For Faster Working Speed

The last of the macbook accessories we’ll talk about is a proper mouse. Logitech offers fantastic mouses and their Logitech MX Master 3 is one of the greatest wireless mouses out there. It’s ergonomic design, customizable buttons and insanely precise movement is fantastic. It also comes with a scrolling wheel for precise scrolling. The battery power can last for months between charges and like all Logitech devices, it comes with a USB-C connector for charging. Buy Logitech MX Master 3 Wireless Mouse here.

Bottom Line

There are many macbook accessories out there to improve your workflow. Taking the time to do research and invest in some of the best ones though will save you plenty of time, money and energy in the long term. At the same time, all of these accessories can help you with specific needs for whatever you are doing.

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