Showing posts with label Lifehacks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lifehacks. Show all posts

17 August 2018

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Apps Helping Unplug Mobile Phone Dependency



You know how situations go – it happens to a majority of us. You arrive at your work desk Monday morning and you find you have some of last week’s tasks unattended. The boss has to find the work on his desk when he arrives. A phone notification comes in, it’s a Facebook conversation with your circle of friends. They are making fun of how the weekend was for one of the newly hooked up friends. So fun, so joyous! And you dive in. Before you realize its 30 minutes later, you have all been immersed into the conversation and haven’t yet started the task. “Oh, no! What do I tell the boss?” you say quietly as he walks into his office.


It’s common to have distractions arising from uncontrolled phone use. This is something that is troubling many phone users.


Technology, as we know it today, has two faces, it changes the way we do things by creating convenience but it also has a downside in that it brings unwanted social and mental behavioral issues. We may be hooked on our phones, and that’s a reality. Phone addiction has slowly crept into our lives and we cannot deny it.


The notifications we get on our mobile phones from apps like Twitter and Facebook bring jerks of pleasure similar to what people attain from gambling and drugs. Mobile phones have become a staple in our lives, they are an extension of people’s self. Separating users from their devices can sometimes cause irritability, anxiety, and psychological symptoms akin to those of substance addiction.


What Does Research Show?

Talking to CNN Holland Haiis, a digital detox expert said that technological addiction can occur to anyone, it’s unremarkably the novel 21st-century addiction.


But smartphones aren’t only creating an unhealthy lifestyle, they are also causing users to waste their time. A senior lecturer teaching psychology, Dr. Sarita Robinson of the University of Central Lancashire, points out that when users add up their phone usage throughout the week, the time drained out can be a huge surprise. You can compare it to what happens after Christmas when you get to the scales and find that you put on so much weight in so little time.


A study presented at the conference of the Radiological Society of North America in 2017 showed interesting findings regarding internet and smartphone addiction among teens. The study looked at teens’ brains who exhibited internet or smartphone addiction and the authors identified certain changes in reward circuits of the teens’ brain, especially the neurotransmitter GABA in relation to other neurotransmitters. After going through sessions of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to treat their addiction, it was found that the teens’ brain chemistry went back to normal and they appeared more like those of non-addicted controls.


Tech is doing damage when it comes to the mental health of phone users, but the same technology can unplug the unhealthy phone-use behaviors and the associated phone addiction problems. It may sound a little off, but using apps can offer solutions to this emerging addition problem. There are three apps that may help you limit your time in phone usage and distractions:


BreakFree App


BreakFree helps users to minimize the amount of time they spend tapping on and using their phones. It keeps a tab on the amount of time you spend using apps and making phone calls, and how frequently you unlock the phone. To remind you that whatever you’re doing with your phone could relate to addiction, the app calculates what it refers to as “addition score” from those metrics. It will even send you reminders telling you that you need to slow down. Mrigaen Kapadia, the app's founder had a clean mission with the introduction of the app. Kapadia says that BreakFree aims at allowing people to realize phone company isn’t better than human company. People don’t have to become slaves to technology. BreakFree runs on both iOS and Android devices.


Moment App


A phone-use management tool, Moment app sets your phone’s daily usage limits and it will compel you to put off the smartphone by volleying you notifications to do that. The app tracks the time you spend using your iPad and iPhone every day. A phone user can set the phone usage limit so they are notified when they go overboard. Moment Family helps manage the family’s screen time right from the user’s phone. It helps the family set up their dinner time that is devoid of phone screen tapping. Moment runs on iOS devices.


Flipd App


Individuals wanting an aggressive approach to unplug may consider Flipd app for Android and iOS devices. If you feel you can’t get hold of your phone usage, you can rely on Flidp. It allows users to lock their phone for certain durations. Once an individual locks their phone, they can’t go back to unlock. Even when you try restarting the phone, it can’t disable the app. You can’t just cheat with this one!


Besides, you can remotely flip off another user’s device; this is helpful if you are working as a team to manage your time on phone use. Flips claims that is has managed to help its users save way over 9 million minutes of disruptions translating to 15 years.


To conclude, maybe you have a phone addiction and you don’t seem to know what to do. You have tried all ways and although the BreakFree app you are using to beat this behavior has shown some positive results, you still can’t untie yourself. You may want to seek the help of one of the trusted 12 step recovery programs to begin the journey to recovery from your phone addiction and other mental problems you may have developed during that time.

About The Author

Charles Watson is a freelance health and addiction writer currently publishing work for Sunshine Behavior Health. He can be reach directly on Twitter at the handle @charleswatson00.


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19 October 2017

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Why Are Fidget Spinners Attractive?




What is the use of Fidget Spinners?

If you’re reading this, then you possess a fidget spinner or you probably know someone who has one and are wondering why are fidget spinners addictive. Read on to know why these fidget spinners and fidget cubes are the must-have devices these days similar to things like yoyo, slinky and fingerboard.


Fidget spinners have achieved massive hype and success in a relatively short period of time. But now currently, there are different versions of them to make it the best toys and games product on amazon.


Why Are Fidget Spinners Addictive?

Fidget spinners: Why does everybody feel that they need one? How do they help us?

Taking a closer look, every fidget spinner has a central bearing that you grip with your index finger and your thumb and there’s a three-pronged blade that rotates. Although, depending on the model, the styles of the blades as well as the material may vary. When you initiate a spin, they can spin for minutes at a time. The fidget spinners were initially designed and marketed as tools for anxiety and were targeted for children with ADHD and autism.


In case of the fidget spinner, the sensation that comes from holding a fast spinning object as you tilt it back and forth and actually feel the various spinning forces move in your hand, it can be very calming and so satisfying indeed.


An article on Health.com shows if Fidget Spinners Can Really Help Anxiety and ADHD?


Do Fidget Spinners Actually Work?

According to science, fidget spinners are really efficient when you combine it with other forms of treatment. But fidget spinners alone do not cure any anxiety and currently there is no research that shows that. However, there are several reasons as to why fidgeting can actually be beneficial.


Did you know that your body movements are a part of your thinking and expression process? Just try texting a friend or someone and try not to move at all as you are thinking of what to type. It’s impossible right. It’s like this urge to move in order to get our point across or for our thoughts to come out exactly how we intend them. Notice that when someone is thinking, they might actually look up or may have varied facial expressions. So why does that actually happen. This is because physical movements can assist with cognitive abilities, similar to writing things down in order to remember them more easily or drawing to help your thinking process. So fidgeting can actually help you think and express yourself.


When you’re fidgeting with an object, that also helps to create an emotional attachment to it which can serve as a replacement to having a real human available; to some extent though. I am just saying that objects like fidget spinners are addictive and can be an outlet for the need of human interaction.


Apart from the sensation that you feel spinning it, another massive appeal with fidget spinners specifically is the variety of tricks that you can do, tricks of varying difficulties that you can perform. So there is also the sense of a new challenge and mastering a new skill that comes along with it.


Also read: List Of Most Interesting Websites 2017

Fidget spinners come in a variety of colors as well as some containing more heavy-duty materials that can cost upto a thousand dollars.


Last Words

Thank you for reading, share this article and subscribe to my newsletter to stay tuned for latest updates on technology news and tips.

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16 December 2016

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How To Improve Your Typing Speed And Accuracy?




This is computer world and today every work is based on the computer and good typing speed and skills are extremely needed. Without this, you can’t work quickly and efficiently. If you are good at computer typing, then you can efficiently complete any job or work very promptly. Today every employee in computer companies are good at typing as they know the value of it. So in this post, I will tell you the best sites to improve typing skills.


Best Websites to Improve typing Speed and skills

I have selected these sites on the basis of their ranking, user-friendly interface and some of my personal experience.


#1 TypingTest.com


This is one of the best and popular site to increase your typing skills. In this site, you can set the minutes period to have your typing test and once the test completed, the site will generate all the summary of your typing speed, accuracy and the errors that you had made while typing.

Features:

  • What if you could type as fluently as you speak? Typing Trainer web typing course will get you there!
  • Make your keyboarding classes engaging – meet Typing Quest, an online typing course for schools!
  • Now typing gets fun! Play their numerous typing games to become a true keyboard master

#2 Goodtyping.com


This is one of the best choices to learn quick typing online. On this website, you have to create an account to access the courses available on this site and the sign-up process is free. On this site, you have the option to expertise typing in different languages like English, Spanish, French, German, Italian etc.

Features:

  • Learn how to type correctly in just a few hours using all your fingers.
  • You will soon be typing faster than you ever imagined.
  • 27 guided lessons to learn step-by-step from the beginning.
  • Choose between 23 different keyboard layouts.
  • Web-based course. No downloads required.

#3 TypeRacer.com


Today most of you try to chat faster and faster, this site is best for that. In this, you can enter into a typing race, you can chat with your friends by knowing yours typing speed and accuracy. Also, you can compete against your friends in this site.

Features:

  • Enter a typing race, Get matched up with online opponents
  • Practice, Improve your typing skills on your own
  • Race your friends, Invite people to a private race with chat

#4 Typing.com


This is one of the best site that provides typing tutorials, typing games and free official typing certificate and lots more. You can learn from basic to the higher course that is available on this site. To get the typing certificate you have to apply for the typing certificate on this site.

Features:

  • Free Grading & Classroom Management for Teachers
  • Single-Sign-On & Classroom Roster Syncing
  • Common Core aligned Typing Curriculum
  • Perfect for all ages & levels, K-12 and beyond

#5 PowerTyping.com


This is another good site to make your typing skills better. This is the site which allows you practice on both kinds of keyboards that is Qwerty keyboard and Dvorak keyboard in it.

Features:

  • Free online typing lessons for Qwerty typing lessons and Dvorak Typing lessons
  • Typing practice allows practicing your own text
  • It contains some various practice stories

#6 10fastfingers.com


If you want a quick way to test your typing speed, try out its 1-minute free Typing test (available in over 40 languages). You can quickly see how fast you can type and compare your result with your friends. The more you use their typing game, the faster you will be able to type as the typing test uses the top 200 words of each language.

Features:

  • If you want a quick way to test your typing speed, try their 1-minute free Typing test (available in over 40 languages).
  • Ready to compete against the big guys? Then check out their typing competitions! Every competition is open for 24 hours, during this time you will have the opportunity to reach the first place.
  • Text Practice Mode lets you create your own text to practice or pick from a huge list of user generated practice texts.

#7 Qwerty Warriors


It is not an online site like that offers courses for improving your typing speed and accuracy. It’s a typing game that is sure to improve your typing speed and accuracy. You need to demolish the oncoming attacks by words. You need to type words to perform each attack.


#8 Sense Lang


Sense-lang has been providing a free, very unique and user-friendly typing course. Our learning method has been proven to help millions of people around the world learn, practice, and improve their typing speed and accuracy.

Features:

  • Design a class-level program specifically for their students
  • Grade students assignments and tests
  • Track students progress

#9 Keyhero


Key Hero is a great place to improve your typing skills. The game keeps track of all your performances (WPM and accuracy) and helps you understand what type of mistake you make. It offers various type of tutorials that can help you improve your typing skills and accuracy.

#10 Keybr


Touch typing is the ability to use muscle memory to find keys fast, without using the sense of sight, and with all the available fingers, just like piano players do. It significantly improves typing speed and eliminates errors. Touch typing simply makes you more productive and it is a skill worth learning. Keybr generates random, but readable and pronounceable words using the phonetic rules of your native language. These words look almost natural, and often they really are. Typing sensible text is much easier than repeating random letters, and it helps you to remember frequent key combinations.


So above are the Top Best websites to improve typing speed and skills. By this site, you can effortlessly improve your typing skills and can be masters in your work on the computer either it is of any office related work or any other accounting work. The good typing skills will always help you become a better candidate for any company or for any work. Hope you like the post. Don’t forget to share it with your loving ones.


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30 July 2016

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Creativity Boosters That Will Help You Write Better

light-bulb-creativity
Writer’s block! Yes, this is one of the problems of almost all writers and bloggers out there. Staring in a blank page is the most frustrating stage of the writing process. Blog content creation is not merely writing down whatever comes to mind. In the blogging world, capturing the interest of the readers and make them engaged on your writing is the main goal. So how are you going to do that? How can you come up with an article or content that can catch the small attention span of picky audience?

A large dose of creativity is the solution to your writing dilemma. If you are in your most creative state of mind, great ideas, amazing concepts, and right words just flow naturally. Sounds easy, right? But it is not. To become creative at all times is easier said than done. You cannot simply say to yourself that “I have to write a blog post so I need to be in my creative self”. If you don’t want to feel disillusioned, uninspired or just plain bored with your blog or website, then you should stop complaining and just look for a bit of a boost to write.

If you are a newbie blogger or writer, one important thing that you have to work on is to have creativity boosters in writing well-written and thought-provoking content. To help you in constructing great blog posts, here are some useful methods that will boost your creativity in writing:

* Know how to be an interesting writer not in a bizarre and controversial way: Take better risks and write differently
Your writing should be engaging but other than that “YOU”, as a blogger/ writer, must be interesting first. You cannot write something worth the attention of others if you are a boring human being. Aside from being knowledgeable about the things that you write about, you must also have something to share to people that is fresh to the eyes, meaning something that they haven’t read or known before. According to some bloggers, there is no topic that is too boring to blog about, If the writing is boring the problem is not the topic, it is the content creator.

* Enjoy writing and get better at it: Consistent practice is the key
For many, writing is an activity that is not that appealing or exciting to do. But as you get to the habit of doing it, writing becomes less daunting and become a more enjoyable task. Keep on writing blogs and articles even if you think that you are just writing trash and not craft. Keep doing it until your skills in choosing the right and appropriate words develops, until you understand deeply the rules of grammar, and master other writing mechanics. It takes time to be good at doing something and practice is the key of it.

* Win the interest and your reader’s heart: Do your homework and research
If you have created a blog then you have probably chose a specific niche to write for. Knowing your target audience is very important in blogging and it will make your life easier as a blogger. Identify what your readers want, what catches their attention? and what made them visiting your blog every now and then? Once you find out the answer to these questions you can easily get people read your writing and build your credibility as a blogger.

* Unleash your creative potentials: Learn from the masters
You cannot unleash your creative potentials on your own. You can easily achieve that if you learn from the masters. Read other blogs, take part in forums or leave comments on websites that attracts you. In this way, you can get advice and writing techniques on how other popular bloggers do it, how they successfully increase their connections to their readers.

* Apply a persuasive writing technique in your blog: Develop confidence in writing
One of the mistakes of some bloggers and writers in their writing is that they can’t assist in shaping their reader’s perceptions. Yes, you present good tips, facts, news, etc. on your blog but there is an important ingredient missing on it – the confidence of the writer. The writing is impressive, the grammar is good, the topic is excellent but the delivery is “so-so”. What does this mean? You did a very well-written content but the problem is you fail to show the confidence in your writing. To be a good writer/ blogger, you need to work on your confidence in sharing your thoughts and ideas.

Author Bio:
Gabbie Keegan is a freelance writer and researcher at Bestes Says. She is a communication studies graduate and has a background in creative writing. She writes most about education, writing, and careers. You can visit her personal blog and add her in google+.

Image Source:- internet

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30 November 2015

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Some Inspirational Quotes For You

Please read carefully and relate with our life....You may enjoy more...


1) Heavy rains remind us of challenges in life. Never ask for a lighter rain. Just pray for a better umbrella. That is attitude.

2) When flood comes, fish eat ants & when flood recedes, ants eat fish.
Only time matters.
Just hold on, God gives opportunity to everyone!

3) Life is not about finding the right person, but creating the right relationship, it's not how we care in the beginning, but how much we care till ending.

4) Some people always throw stones in your path. It depends on you what you make with them...
Wall or Bridge? Remember you are the architect of your life.

5) Every problem has (n+1) solutions, where n is the number of solutions that you have tried and 1 is that you have not tried. That’s life.

6) It is not important to hold all the good cards in life. But it’s important how well you play with the cards which you hold.

7) Often when we lose all hope & think this is the end, God smiles from above and says, `Relax dear it’s just a bend. Not the end'.
Have Faith and have a successful life.

8) When you feel sad, to cheer up just go to the mirror and say, `Damn I am really so cute` and you will overcome your sadness. But don’t make this a habit coz liars go to hell.

9) One of the basic differences between God and human is, God gives, gives and forgives. But human gets, gets, gets and forgets.
Be thankful in life!

10) Only two types of persons are happy in this world. First is Mad and second is Child.
Be Mad to achieve what you desire and be a Child to enjoy what you have achieved....

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