VSCOcam (Free) – the best free filters, i.e. Aesthetic series and the Hype Beat series.
Afterlight ($0.99) – user friendly editing tools, and lets you add effects like light leaks and dust.
Litely (Free) – filters photos in a really subtle way.
Instagram (Free) – because why not, they have some great filters.
2. Practice focal-point shots
Image Credit: instagram.com/graymalin
Just focus on one thing.
3. Practice top-down food shots
Image Credit: instagram.com/songofstyle
Basically just hold your phone above your food so that everyone in the whole restaurant sees you taking the photo.
Make sure it’s in a photogenic restaurant, you know, one with wooden tables. To find these restaurants just look on Instagram, and go to the ones with the most appealing “looking” food. Who cares about taste anyway.
Next increase the exposure, and brighten up your photo.
Also slightly increase the contrast.
Lastly, sharpen your photo so everyone can see every detail of your delectable meal.
4. Practice the faded and desaturated shot
Image Credit: instagram.com/mortenordstrom
Take a photo of anything that makes you feel something. You know, a picture that evokes emotion.
Then, fade your colors, and bring down the saturation so it looks alluring, but not grey-scaled.
5. Practice all-white minimalistic shots
Image Credit: instagram.com/irenekly
This is very simple. All you basically need to do is put something in front of an all white background.
Then just choose a filter that makes your pic look light and delicate.
6. Practice nature shots
Image Credit: instagram.com/misvincent
Venture out into the wilderness, or go someplace new.
Make sure there’s a focal point- a flower, a lighthouse, an animal, or open landscape.
Add a slight vignette, which puts more focus on your subject.
Lastly, bump up the contrast.
7. Practice city shots
Image Credit: Instagram.com/christopher.kadima
This image might be a stretch, but get out into the streets, and be careful not to run out into oncoming traffic.
Snap some photos of buildings casting shadows.
Clarify your photo on Instagram with the Lux filter.
8. Practice the colored wall shot
Image Credit: instagram.com/brightbazaar
Find a colored wall.
Stand in front of it- you are the object of focus.
Make the color pop by playing with the temperature (warmth in Instagram’s editing tools) and increase the saturation slightly.
The other day, I happened to come across a picture of my parents when they met back in the 80’s (there was a dinosaur in the background, I swear). My mother was wearing a yellow blazer with pointy shoulder pads and hair that can only be described as “puffy.” Meanwhile, my Dad was dressed slightly like Ferris Bueller. Some eras transcend time and are always iconic. The 80’s were not ones of those eras. We look at our parents fashion as ghastly outdated with the brazen attitude of, “what were they thinking.”
They, in fact, were thinking the exact same thing that we today are thinking. Fashion is a fun way of self-expression and everybody wants to be up with the times. But, time truly is the best judge. Some trends become icons and are always in style (the little black dress will never fail to impress). While some styles have seen better days (i.e. ponchos). I’m excited for the day my kids look at pictures of me (that have yet to be taken) and balk at how horrendous our fashion was currently is. Here are the most popular trends of today that our kids will certainly mock of for:
It’s really just a bra disguised as a shirt. It’s not even really a bra (trust me I know-I own like seven of these). They’re so much fun to wear with high-waisted shorts, which by the way…
The best way to accessorize a pair of high-waisted shorts is by pairing them with a red solo cup. They are the perfect accompaniment for getting high and wasted. However, they are also a fashion anomaly. The area of the material is correct, but it is not proportional to what it covers. There’s so much above the butt-cheeks, and not enough on them.
You know what they say: “sky’s out, thighs out.” And, golly, I love a guy that can rock a pair of salmon-colored short shorts. But I can’t help but feel that in ten or fifteen years, the colorful style is going to be a little ridiculous in hindsight. In the meantime, rock on all you skinny, PBR-drinking frat bros. I love seeing your pasty white thighs (no, seriously, I’m not even kidding).
It’s not a shirt, but it’s also not a dress. It’s the hybrid species of both. It’s got all the chic, flirty skin that a crop top shows, while also having all the swag of a dress. Make sure you buy one soon, because by this time next year, they’ll be littering thrift shops and yard-sales everywhere.
Printed pants are a reincarnation of the boho-chic style of the 60’s. They are bold and allow for a lot of self-expression. However, the more bold a style is, the more it’ll stand out in our memories.
5. Sidecuts
Image Credit: Rolling Stone
Sure, it’s cool now, but give it a few years and this hair cut will be more dated than a mullet. People who can rock this hair cut look like a total BAMF. Every era comes with its bad haircuts and this one belongs to us. Let’s live it to the fullest while it lasts (*proceeds to shave head*).
I really can’t envision a future where young people will not chuckle at this style. Maybe I’m just being salty because I love this trend, but I’ve never been able to pull it off due to my wide hips and thighs.
The 20-teen’s fashion era will be marked as the period of hybrid fashion. We couldn’t choose between comfortable sneakers and high heels, so we went with both.
2. Wearing leggings as pants
Image Credit: Pinterest
I know the popular consensus is that leggings can be worn as pants (and I myself, often wear them as pants). They’re comfortable and very trendy for now. But you know what they say, today’s leggings are tomorrow’s parachute pants (nobody actually says that, btw).
I’ve been hearing for years, “you must love yourself before you can love anybody else,” and “self-love is the most important kind of love.” But, what does it actually mean to love yourself?
The way I see it, before you can love yourself, you have to like yourself. You must become somebody with traits you admire and qualities that you see as valuable. Loving yourself means developing yourself into a well-rounded individual that has strong interests and hobbies. It means having goals that motivate you to spring out of bed each morning (or at least walk with a slight bounce each day).
But loving yourself also means doing things for yourself. Think about it: if you’re willing to make a sacrifice for a loved one in your life, why aren’t you willing to make a sacrifice for yourself. But, you may be inclined to ask, “how do I make a sacrifice for myself?”
Think about it this way: have you ever woken up at say 5am to drive your significant other to the airport because you know it’ll make their life easier and therefore make them happier? Sure, it’s a sacrifice, but it’s worth it to make them happy. Likewise, loving yourself means making sacrifices now for the sake of making yourself happier in the future. It can begin with very simple easy tasks.
For example, I love myself enough to make my bed every morning, because I believe at the end of a long day, I deserve to climb into fresh, crisp sheets. It feels better at the end of the day for me to get into a made bed, rather than an unmade one. I make this sacrifice every morning to make myself feel better at night, because I’m worth it.
But loving yourself also means bigger things than that:
Self-love is doing what is hard now to make life easier and more enjoyable later.
Self-love is turning off the TV and going for a walk because pondering your own life is more important than losing yourself in somebody else’s.
Self-love is walking away from an unhealthy relationship because crying now on your own accord is better than waiting for somebody else to make you cry.
Self-love is reading the New York Times in the morning because being informed is better than sleeping on the train into work.
Self-love is taking night classes because having a challenging and fulfilling career is worth more than sticking with a job you don’t enjoy.
Self-love is knowing how to stop after a few beers because being tipsy is more fun than making a fool of yourself and being hungover the next morning.
Self-love is tipping the pizza guy (or girl) an extra dollar because the feeling of generosity is worth more than an extra buck.
Self-love is also fully understanding who you are and who you want to be. Fight Club authorChuck Palahniuk said through his character Tyler Durden, “you are not your job, you’re not how much money you have in the bank. You are not the car you drive. You’re not the contents of your wallet. You are not your f***ing khakis. You are all singing, all dancing crap of the world.”
The approach was a bit of tough love, but if you dig deep (like, really deep) you could loosely argue Durden’s message preaches one of self-love. The world will probably fail to see you as anything different or extraordinary, so it’s up to you to find your own worth. Value comes from within, rather than from your job and the money in your wallet. For example, while the world probably doesn’t care that I’m writing this blog right now, I care about it and that’s all that matters (though if you were to share it on Facebook, I wouldn’t be opposed).
That being said, self-love is about what you do. Your car and your khakis do not create you, it’s your thoughts and your actions that make you who you are. You are the collection of unique thoughts, ideas, and experiences rattling around in your head. You are how you spend your days.
Do you want to spend your days idling and waiting to be loved by somebody else who sees your worth, or do you want to go out, seize your worth and not give a damn about what people think of you? What are you doing for yourself to make you love yourself?
Human beings love getting cheap thrills from tip-toeing to the edge of danger, and nothing seems to please this innate aspect of human nature quite like horror movies. Whether we love to hate them, or hate to love them, we can’t get enough of them. Here are the 50 scariest horror movies of all time:
Vacations are supposed to be relaxing, but it’s the process of getting there that can stress you out. From the flight, to the hotel, to packing the right things, how can you possibly stay calm?!
Worry not jet-setters, there are things you can do before and during your trip to help make everything easier. Check out this list of the 12 best travel hacks before you prepare for your next trip.
Photo by shetravelesavvy.com
1. Take photos now, remove people later
If you’re someone who’s always dreamed of taking photos that are unobscured by tourists, then this hack can finally fix that problem. Now, when you’re standing in front of the Colosseum, or the Eiffel Tower, those lines of people taking up space can be deleted, using this lifeprotip. “Put your camera on a tripod; Take about 15 pictures about every 10 seconds; Open them all in Photoshop from File->Scripts->Statistics; Choose “median.” Voila!
2. Pack an empty water bottle
We all know you can’t take a bottle of water through security at an airport, but what about a bottle? If you bring a plastic bottle with you (empty, of course) you can fill it up on the other side. This way, you’ll have water for the flight, without the huge cost. And you’ll also be able to use the bottle for the rest of your trip.
3. Pack materials that dry quickly
A huge suitcase is not the easiest thing to maneuver, so instead, choose to pack light, and be careful about materials. If you only bring a few things, you can wash them in your hotel room and leave them up to dry. Then you can re-wear the clothes again. Materials that dry quickly > bags full of dirty clothes.
4. Book the aisle and window seat
If you’re traveling as a pair, choose the aisle and the window seats instead of two seats together. Often, if the flight isn’t full, no one will opt for the middle seat, so you’ll end up with the whole row for just the two of you. And if the flight is full, the traveler will most likely be willing to trade seats with one of you so you can sit together.
5. Screenshot your maps
Google maps is your best friend, if you know how to use it best. When traveling out of the country, make sure you look up your route before you leave the hotel–i.e. while you still have wi-fi. Then screenshot a photo, or multiple photos, to look at later if you get lost. This way, you won’t waste any data, and you won’t have to buy a map book.
Photo by theguardian.com
6. Board the plane first
Those annoying people shoving to be the first in their boarding group have one thing right: you do want to be the first person on the plane. Why? Because there is a limited amount of space in those overhead bins, and if you don’t want to be sitting with your bag the entire flight, you need to get there first.
7. Save a copy of your passport to your email
International travel can be terrifying, what with the stress of having to carry a passport around. Before leaving the country, you should make a copy of your passport and email the files to yourself. That way, in the event that it ever was stolen or lost, you can still identify yourself, and won’t be stuck out of the country. You’ll be thanking your lucky stars for this hack.
OK, it sounds boring, but these accounts are actually a great way to save some cash on your international trip. If you have one, you can get a refund on all ATM fees worldwide, in addition to never having to meet a minimum balance, or pay a monthly service fee. Score!
9. It never hurts to ask… for an upgrade
If you choose to book a hotel, when you’re checking in, ask for a free upgrade. Sometimes, if you’re nice and the hotel isn’t full, they will give it to you. What’s to lose?
10. Or you can rent an apartment instead
Hotels can often be overpriced, and in some places, you don’t really get to experience the actual city because the resorts are so blocked off. Instead, consider looking to rent an apartment or home for the time you’re visiting. Check out Airbnb, Homeaway, or VRBO. You’ll most likely save money, and some homes come with cool perks (like home-owners who can tell you the best non-tourist places to visit).
Photo by wired.co.uk
11. Bring plastic bags
Your mother has probably been telling you this one for years, and it is actually really helpful. Pack some extra plastic bags when you travel, in order to store dirty clothes you want separated, or in case of emergency (like a toothpaste explosion).
12. Pack a power strip
International converter plugs are a pain to keep straight. And if you’re a technology-obsessed millennial, you probably have more than just a phone to charge each night. If you bring a power cord, you’ll only need one converter, and then you can plug all of your chargers into that, which will keep you organized, and make your life much easier.
This is either the dumbest idea in the world, or the most genius!
These days it’s challenging to choose the correct way to send a message of love. There are so many ways. You could be typical and send it via text, email, or through Facebook. You could give the person a call and have a conversation. You could proclaim your message on Twitter for your beloved (and your 127 followers). You could be romantic and write a love letter, or really romantic and hire a sky-writer. Or…..you could send your special someone a potato.
Yup, you read that correctly. Clearly, somebody got really stoned (I’m assuming) and said, “guys, I think we should write messages on potatoes and send them to people,” and then they turned it into a business. (Actually, their website doesn’t give any backstory, so I had to employ some artistic license here, but that does seem pretty plausible, right?)
Potatoparcel.com is the only website in the world that specializes in spud communications. For $7.99 you can send a medium-sized potato to anybody in the United States with 100 characters (or you can pay $9.99 for 150 characters). The website was created by Alex Craig of Denton, Texas. He spoke with LifeDaily over email stating that the business has only been operating for two months, but in that time, they’ve mailed over 2,000 potatoes and accumulated more than $20,000 in revenue. Maybe potato parcels will become the next wave of communication. There seem to be quite a few people already hopping on the trend.
On the same day NASA announced that we’re one step closer to discovering life on other planets, Bluestar Alliance announced they’d be bringing back our favorite girls’ world. That’s right kiddies, Limited Too will be back in 2016 and is expected to reopen 200 stores over the next five years. You guys, that is so fetch. I’m so happy they didn’t close for good!
I remember my first time going into Limited Too. My mom took me to the mall on a Friday evening and I danced in my underwear in the dressing room to Hilary Duff’s Come Clean. Oh, and I made her sit on the parent couches outside waiting for me (“no you can’t come in Mom, I’m 12 now. I don’t want you in the dressing room with me. What would the store employees think!?”)
Image Credit: giphy
At its peak, Limited Too had roughly 600 sparkly pink stores, according to Business Insider, but they were forced to close many of them when the 2008 recession to a serious toll on the economy (parents probably couldn’t afford to buy their little girls inflatable furniture anymore). The remaining stores were turned into Justice, a travesty of our childhood left to mock us as we traversed the malls in our high school years (mainly to shop at Hot Topic).
But for those of us that remember the good ol’ days, let’s take a moment to reflect on some pivotal first’s in our lives and the incredible Limited Too outfits we wore to express our blossoming identity (while our mothers chuckled at our horrendous style):
Sometime around the summer before middle school, we discovered that boys existed and we could flirt with them (well, attempt to flirt). We’d sit around the community pool with our pink towels and a copy of Seventeen Magazine that somebody stole from their older sister. Of course, the boys never talked to us, but with still wore our adorable tankini with purple sunglasses.
First day of middle school (spaghetti straps with a t-shirt underneath):
Puberty was really awkward because there was the desire to express yourself, but also not express yourself too much or the other kids would make fun of you (a girl once said she hated me because I drew on my sneakers). Therefore, the first day of school was incredibly stressful because you wanted to look like you tried, but not like you tried too much. The result ended with you wearing spaghetti straps to show you were mature, but you had to put a tee underneath because you didn’t want to look like you were copying the high school girls (also your Mom didn’t let you leave the house looking like that).
Middle School Dance (denim skirt with mid-calf leggings):
To call it a dance is rather presumptuous. A more appropriate name would be the “middle school stand-around while you make awkward eye contact.” Regardless, you waiting weeks for this thing. You had your outfit planned out days in advance and you were even daring enough to wear a skirt (with leggings of course, let’s not get out of hand). However, when the day actually arrived, the event was too boring to be fun. Nobody would dance, they’d just stand around awkwardly in the gym.
Somewhere along the way, you turned 13 and suddenly somebody was having their Bat Mitzvah. The invitations always said semi-formal dress, but what did that mean? Your mother probably went with you to your favorite sparkly pink store and helped you pick out the perfect party dress. “You girls will look so cute dancing in them,” she said. Unlike the school dances you went to, Bat Mitzvahs sometimes came with party motivators who were basically college kids that were hired to be the life of the party and motivate a bunch of 13-year-old to dance. Yeah, it ended up being pretty awkward regardless.
Limited Too really was the coolest store ever! Just take a moment to reflect on this awesome commercial they had involving a locker spa:
Interviewing for a job can be a particularly stressful event, as you need to be personable while expressing your interest and experience. No matter how much time you’ve spent preparing and researching, there will always be a question or two that catch you off guard because interviews are inherently unpredictable.
While you might not know what the interviewer will ask, you should know what they want to hear. If you don’t find out early on what the goals of the position are, you could very well spend the entire interview talking about skills that have nothing to do with the position. In an interview with SavvySugar, Michael Junge, author of Purple Squirrel and Google recruiter, explained that his number one tip for nailing an interview is to find out what the other person thinks is important at the beginning of the conversation.
“If you and I sat down and I had no idea of what your goals and expectations are in a new hire, I can spend the entire interview talking about elements and aspects of my background that are totally meaningless to you. And I may have experience that’s completely relevant and miss it. And I see this happen all the time.”
Junge explains that the best way to find out this vital information is to simply ask “I have a general idea about the goal of this position, but I’d love to hear in your own words what you’re looking for in a new hire or what makes someone successful.” This kind of questions will get them talking about what kind of expectations there are for the position, and let you know what information and experiences you need to focus on to be more useful.
Do you have any other important interview tips? Let us know in the comments.
Wanderlust: a strong desire to travel. We all have it sometimes, but if work consumes most of our lives, how can we get out and see the world? What if there was a way to incorporate travel into your job?
There is! More than one way, as a matter of fact. There are a ton of jobs that include or require travel for those who are just itching to get out and see the world. You don’t have to let a career hold you back–you can let your career work for you in getting you out the door. Here are 10 great jobs for those who love to travel.
1. Travel Industry
Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first, shall we? There are a myriad of jobs in the travel industry that allow you to travel–like flight attendant, pilot, or working on a cruise ship. These jobs focus on the action of traveling, but you’d definitely get a chance to see the wide world around you.
Photo by foxnews.com
2. Recruiter
As a recruiter, it will be your job to visit colleges around the world and hire the most talented graduates. You might work for a technology company, or even a sport’s team. A ton of companies in a variety of fields have use for recruiters, and if you were hired, you would get to spend a lot of time on the road.
Photo by forbes.com
3. Sales
There are a lot of sales jobs that involve travel, but it depends on the industry. Pharmaceutical sales, for example, requires you to put in almost as many miles as you do hours, as you fly around the country and meet with clients and potential buyers.
Photo by smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com
4. English Teacher
We’re not talking about the English classes you took in high school, we’re talking about teaching the language of English overseas. Many countries will hire recent graduates with any major to teach English to young students as their second–or third–language. You’ll not only get to travel, but live abroad!
Photo by accessenglish.org
5. Travel Writer
The dream job for many writers, Travel Writers obviously get to see a lot more of the world than your Average Joe. And the job sometimes comes with great perks, like free meals or hotel stays in the hopes of a good review. But be warned: this is a really tough job to land, so you might want to start building your writing portfolio ASAP.
Photo by wisebread.com
6. Au Pair
If you love travel AND children, you might consider becoming an Au Pair to a foreign family. Like a nanny, only better because you’ll be living overseas, you’ll get to stay for free with your host family, while having tons of time to travel around your new city.
Photo by aupairworld.com
7. Archaeologist
Archaeology is a great field for travelers who love history and don’t mind getting their hands dirty. You’ll get to travel the world to go to digs and really experience culture up close and personal. But this job definitely needs a master’s degree, so if you’re in a hurry to travel, this one might not be for you.
Photo by britannica.com
8. Reporter
News and media is an fast-growing industry, so why not consider getting into the middle of it with a job that incorporates travel? Some large companies will allow reporters to choose to work overseas as a foreign correspondent, so you’ll be the first on the scene in any foreign affairs.
Photo by commons.wikimedia.org
9. Photographer
There are hundreds of paths for a photographer to follow if he or she wants to travel. Create photos for advertisements, shoot destination weddings, or work for a magazine (ever heard of National Geographic?). It’s a tough industry to be successful, but if you’re passionate and talented, why not go for it?
Photo by gapyear.com
10. Volunteer
And if you aren’t strapped for cash and still want to travel the world, why not volunteer? The Peace Corps sends workers around the globe, and there are various other international organizations you can choose to work for depending on your passions. This way, you’ll definitely get to see the world.
The most well known, and successful people in the world have uttered the most inspiring quotes about doing work that you love.
If we cannot the advice from such icons, then there is no one for us to take advice from.
Warren Buffet
Image Credit: wallstplaybook.com
“There comes a time when you ought to start doing what you want. Take a job that you love. You will jump out of bed in the morning. I think you are out of your mind if you keep taking jobs that you don’t like because you think it will look good on your resume. Isn’t that a little like saving up sex for your old age?”
Mark Twain
Image Credit: huffingtonpost.com
“The law of work seems unfair, but nothing can change it; the more enjoyment you get out of your work, the more money you will make.”
Steve Jobs
Image Credit: images.boomsbeat.com
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
“I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”
Maya Angelou
Image Credit: feelgrafix.com
“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.”
Patanjali
Image Credit: lokashantiyoga.com
“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bounds. Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image Credit: austininternationalschool.org
“If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, go out and sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures. Sweep streets like Handel and Beethoven composed music. Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say, here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well.”
Pearl S. Buck
Image Credit: voanews.com
“The secret of joy in work is contained in one word – excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.”
Kahlil Gibran
Image Credit: famousauthors.org
“Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.”
Bill Gates
Image Credit: tribune.com.pk
“Paul and I, we never thought that we would make much money out of the thing. We just loved writing software.”
Stephen King
Image Credit: famousauthors.org
“Yes, I’ve made a great deal of dough from my fiction, but I never set a single word down on paper with the thought of being paid for it … I have written because it fulfilled me … I did it for the buzz. I did it for the pure joy of the thing. And if you can do it for joy, you can do it forever.”
Ella Fitzgerald
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives / Redferns
“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.”
Malcolm Forbes
Image Credit: teraz.sk
“I think the foremost quality – there’s no success without it – is really loving what you do. If you love it, you do it well, and there’s no success if you don’t do well what you’re working at.”
Judy Collins
Image Credit: geneseetheatre.com
“I think people who are creative are the luckiest people on earth. I know that there are no shortcuts, but you must keep your faith in something Greater than You, and keep doing what you love. Do what you love, and you will find the way to get it out to the world.”
Quincy Jones
Image Credit: billboard.com
“The people who make it to the top – whether they’re musicians, or great chefs, or corporate honchos – are addicted to their calling … [they] are the ones who’d be doing whatever it is they love, even if they weren’t being paid.”
Johnny Carson
Image Credit: foxnews.com
“Never continue in a job you don’t enjoy. If you’re happy in what you’re doing, you’ll like yourself, you’ll have inner peace. And if you have that, along with physical health, you will have had more success than you could possibly have imagined.”
Rumi
Image Credit: bbci.co.uk
“Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart.”
There is no room for dreaming small in this world, and to dream big you must set big goals.
Your goals should scare you, and they should scare others around you, but they should also ignite a fire deep inside you that makes you so excited for the future, that you can’t wait to get started pursuing your goals.
And the sooner you get started, the closer you are to having your dreams come true.
1. Our dreams allow us to get really excited
Ever notice that your biggest dreams are the ones that fill you with so much hope, and so much excitement. Those dreams can very well keep you alive because the thought of fulfilling them means you’ve served your life’s purpose, and made an imprint on this Earth.
2. They encourage us to make long-term improvements
Big goals allow us to expand our mind and not think so small. For big dreams and big goals to come to fruition, your vision needs to grow tremendously to make it happen. And not only is this really exciting, but it is super healthy for us to have big goals.
3. We become much more resilient in the short-term
When we have big goals to accomplish, we know that every second counts, and we don’t have time to waste. Our best hours and days can no longer be spent on meaningless and time wasting activities. When we have such important goals, we start accounting for the present moment much more than we ever would, and we have drive, passion, and tremendous vision.
4. We ‘get real’ with ourselves
Big goals force us to confront reality. If we believe that our goal is actually attainable, then next we must ask ourselves how can we achieve it? We have to be honest with our strengths and weaknesses and address our poor habits and behaviors. A system needs to be in place that will allow us to work towards our goal. And therefore, there is no room for blaming others if something is not working, we need to take responsibility for ourselves.
5. We develop powerful habits
All in all, our big dreams will encourage us to change our behaviors, which is the biggest benefit of setting these goals. Going after our dreams with all of our heart and soul will force us to make changes in our lives that will allow us to be more productive and positive people. We will develop daily habits that will change our lives forever, and we will push ourselves to achieve what we once may never have thought possible.
Believe it or not, making your bed every morning will improve the quality of your life.
“But Michelle,” you say,” I don’t mind having a messy room and an unmade bed. I’m not dirty. I’m just not organized.”
To which I say: exactly. You don’t mind coming home to a messy room everyday, but do you enjoy coming home to a messy room? You believe you aren’t dirty, but you’ll admit to being unorganized.
If you’ve recently come home and thought, “gross, I need to take care of this. I’ll do it later,” then you need to make a change. If you’ve ever come back to a hotel room and thought, “these fresh sheets are incredible,” again I say, it’s time to make a change.
Some people genuinely enjoy a messy room. They like the creative element and organization gives them stress. However, these people are incredibly far and few between and even if you are a creative type, organization will probably do more for your craft than clutter.
Making your bed allows you to accomplish something before you’re even fully awake:
With all the stress and responsibilities we’re constantly committed to, it can feel like crossing anything off your to-do list is an uphill battle. Everyday, you have a million things to get done. But, if you can begin each day completing a task, then you’ll realize that wasn’t so bad, and you’ll be more willing to take on the next challenge. Making your bed also gives you a little satisfaction that you were able to get something done. Each time you complete a task, your brain tells your body kudos, and you want to achieve more of those good feelings. As a result, you look forward to completing other tasks. It’s baby steps, but it’ll get you somewhere.
Being messy will affect other areas of your life:
Have you ever cleaned your house/apartment (or if you’re like me, your glorified walk-in closet) because you’re having guests over? You want them to think you’re clean and organized and you want them to walk into a refreshing space. When you come home everyday to your own mess, you’re sending yourself the nonverbal cue that you are a messy unorganized person. This subconscious thought will trickle into your work ethic. Because you already believe you are messy and unorganized, so of course that disorganization will occur in other areas of life. Cleaning your personal space sends the nonverbal cue that you value yourself enough to come home to a clean environment everyday. Because you believe yourself to be an organized person (after all look at how lovely your bedroom is) you’ll allow yourself to be organized in other areas of life.
Making your bed will have a ripple effect:
So, you’ve started making your bed everyday…big whoop. You’re life hasn’t really changed because of it. A few weeks go by and making the bed becomes habit. You fall into the routine of it and every morning you get up and automatically do it.
Well, now you notice the clothes on the floor should be hung up, so you start doing that. When that becomes routine, you get in the habit of flossing every night before bed. After a few weeks of doing that, you decide to pick up a book and start reading again to help you fall asleep. A few more weeks go by and a friend mentions she keeps a journal to keep track of her life. You think that’s a good idea too so you start journaling. You realize you have all these goals that you were too lazy to pursue or they seemed too daunting, but if you can get in the habit of making the bed regularly, you can probably get in the habit of running, saving money for a travel fund, and volunteering regularly. And just like that, you’re on you’re way to becoming the best version of yourself, all because you made your bed this morning.
Instagram account People are Awesome posted this clip. The account focuses on the incredible ways people can maneuver their bodies, and although this trick had very little to do with body maneuvers, it’s quite impressive.
Two incredible guys timed the trick perfectly and the outcome makes you think it must be a cleverly edited video. It’s not possible for physics to work this way, right? Even if they were able to match the timing perfectly, it seems impossible that you could put on a bathing cap by jumping into its way.
Don’t believe me, see for yourself:
Surely, this trick can’t be real:
It is real (and don’t call me Shirley). The Slow Mo Guys, who like their name suggests are simply a couple of guys who do cool stuff in slow motion, demonstrated how it works. When you fill a rubber swimming cap with water and add gravity you find the fastest way in the world to put on a hat (this is how Speedy Gonzales gets dressed every morning). The guys also discovered that you have to drop the cap on the top of the head, rather than directly on the face.
The Slow Mo Guys did this same trick, but they used a slow motion camera to record exactly how gravity and rubber work together. The outcome is bizarre and fascinating. Also, pay close attention to the guys reaction when the cap hits his head. The water and rubber move so quickly, that by the time his body reacts, the cap is already on his head. Yeah, humans are pretty awesome.
The tricky thing about eating healthy, fresh foods is that junk food is designed to make you crave it. Everything from the convenience to the perfect ratio of salty and sweet has been carefully created to make you keep coming back for more.
It doesn’t help that we often have emotional ties to these foods, which make binge eating almost impossible to avoid. Think about it, when you get dumped do you reach for the rocky road ice cream, or the apple slices? Most people pick the ice cream ten out of ten times, but that ice cream won’t be doing your mental state or health any favors.
According to Kayla Itsines, physical trainer and Instagram mega-star, remember these three tips the next time you’re bored, upset, or just too lazy to prepare a healthy meal.
3. Get Organized
Photo by www.free-stock-illustration.com
You might have the best intentions of eating right, but if you don’t get organized, you’ll find yourself surrounded by temptations with a weakened determination. There will always be a candy bowl calling your name at work, but if you prepare meals and snack for yourself ahead of time, you’ll be less tempted to indulge in the chips and candy.
Try setting a day and time each week to get all your food shopping and meal preparation out of the way, so you’ll have healthy, quick options for those days where you’re too tired, tempted, or lazy to eat well.
2. Get to Know Yourself
Photo by www.lifeworkscommunity.com
This might seem silly, but we all have eating patterns and binge-triggers that we don’t even realize. Taking some time to figure out why you eat when and what you do will be a huge part of beating the binge. Do you always reach for the chocolate bar around 2 p.m. when work gets slow? Or maybe you find yourself craving some ice cream after a bad day. Whatever the reason, those foods only make you feel good temporarily, and will leave you feeling guilty once the binge is over.
1. Treat Yourself
Photo by www.parksandrecreation.wikia.com
This might seem counter-intuitive, but one of the best ways to avoid binge eating, is to treat yourself! Instead of setting limitations on your diet, and ultimately making you want that food more (since we all want what we can’t have), allow yourself to have your favorite treat once a week. Maybe it’s a really decadent meal, or a slice of chocolate cake if you have a sweet tooth. Whatever your treat is, just make sure it doesn’t turn into a binge.
Treating yourself promotes a healthier relationship with foods, and allows you to feel satisfied with your food without feeling guilty for indulging.
Let us know how these three tips work the next time you’re about to binge eat.
Strength isn’t limited to bulging muscles and the ability to lift heavy objects. Strength also refers to your mental habits; your perseverance or your ability to stay positive through the tough times can show strength, too.
So how do you know if you’re mentally tough? There are 10 things that all strong people know, from the way they view themselves, to the way they view others. Do these things sound like you? Then you must be mentally strong!
1. You’re emotionally intelligent
Intelligence is not only measured by your IQ, but your emotional intelligence–your EQ–is just as important. Being able to turn a negative into a positive and use bad emotions constructively can make you a very strong individual. And if you don’t have this skill, don’t worry. Your EQ is a fluid number, and you can definitely learn.
Photo by jugglu.com
2. You’re confident
Confident, but not cocky. You understand the difference, and that being confident is the only way to live life. You don’t tear yourself down, but instead, focus on all the qualities that make you a great person. Maybe you have an interesting skill, or maybe not. But you know you are special no matter what.
3. You don’t let toxic people affect you
You can’t always avoid toxic people in life–sometimes they are your coworkers or family. But you do know how to neutralize the negativity and not let others bring you down. You can understand anger and frustration when you feel it, and you don’t let those feelings (either in yourself or others) hinder your ability to stay strong in your own life.
4. You aren’t afraid of change
Flexibility is a common quality of those who are mentally strong. The ability to embrace change is a good thing, and embracing the changes life throws at you means you’re more likely to appreciate those aspects of your life.
5. You can say “no”
You know that you don’t always have to say “yes”, but that saying “no” sometimes is perfectly healthy. You don’t let others walk over you, and you understand how many commitments you can take on at once. You can confidently say “no” when you need to, without feeling stress or worry about it.
Photo by www.thebusinesswomanmedia.com
6. You don’t embrace fear
Fear is something that mentally strong people refuse to let stop them. You know that letting fear stop you from trying something new can only lead to regret. Being afraid isn’t wrong–but you shouldn’t let it take over your life. Instead, strong people work past their fear to embrace new experiences.
7. You do embrace failure
You know failure isn’t something to fear; instead, you use your failure to encourage you. That old phrase “try try again” is true. Making a mistake doesn’t mean you should quit, it means that you now know what not to do, so when you try again, you might succeed.
8. You don’t tear others down
Jealousy has no place in the mind of someone who is mentally tough. You can be happy for someone else’s achievements–they didn’t take anything away from you. Furthermore, emotionally strong people don’t judge others based on their appearance, because everyone has something great to offer.
9. You exercise
Research shows that those who work out see positive effects other than a healthy body, like higher self esteem, and better social skills. And adding other healthy things to your lifestyle leads to emotional intelligence as well–getting enough sleep, and limiting the amount of caffeine in your diet. You can’t have a healthy brain without having a healthy body.
10. You have a positive outlook
Mentally strong people don’t let the world or negative outside forces get in their way. You understand that if you don’t like something about your life, you can do something about it. You focus on the good things instead of dwelling on the things that are outside of your control, and you are happier and healthier for it.
We could all use a tip or two when it comes to beating procrastination.
Despite our best intentions, we sometimes fall into the trap of slacking off when it comes to getting our most important work done.
It’s a form of self-sabotage and being afraid to succeed, but in procrastinating, we are hurting ourselves and causing ourselves unnecessary stress in our lives.
I’ve written down 6 Game-Changing Ways to Beat Procrastination that was taken from a video by the very successful leadership expert named Robin Sharma. I have implemented a lot of his techniques into my own life as I believe they are beneficial and helpful.
1. Write down your magnificent obsession statement
Right now take an index card and write down your biggest goal for the next six months or the next year.
For example: By December 31, 2016 I am a bestselling author. Or I am the owner of my own business.
It’s very important to write “I am” because your dream life all starts with believing in yourself.
2. Create a dream collage
Take all the images of your ideal life and your dreams coming true and glue them into a notebook or onto a board. Why do this? Well, about 95% of your life is run by your subconscious mind. So only 5% of your life or what you’re perceiving is your conscious mind. And the subconscious mind operates through pictures, which is why it’s important to fill your subconscious mind with the pictures of your ideal life (i.e. your dream home, car).
3. 30-day procrastination diet
Pick one thing each day you’ve been resisting, and write it down it a calendar. For example, on the first day make your bed (if you don’t normally), on the second day- exercise, and on the third day- forgive someone. As you do what you’ve been resisting, you take back your power from the thing you were resisting. You will rewire the way your brain works and build your willpower (willpower is a muscle).
4. Power of exercise
Exercise is one of the best productivity tools known to human kind. A good idea is to work out for 20 minutes in the morning, and 20 minutes at night (for a second wind workout). Go for a walk, jump rope and get your heart rate going. You’ll be full of energy and full of focus.
5. Create distraction free environments
In the famous tennis player Andre Agassi’s book called Open, he talks about his tennis bag. And when it comes to his tennis bag, noone touches it. He says that when there’s disorder in his tennis bag, there’s distraction in his mind. Similarly, when there’s disorder in your workplace or disorder in your home, you will not be focused, you will procrastinate, and you won’t get big things done.
So clean out distractions, work alone as much as possible and get rid of clutter because mess creates stress and diminishes your focus.
6. Release your self-sabotage
Ever since we’ve been little kids, the world has pulled a veil of doubt and fear over our eyes. Our parents, teachers, friends, television and society has given us these messages like you can’t be world class, or you can’t be a genius, or you can’t have all the money you want, be in perfect health or do impossible things.
All of these messages create this subconscious realm called the saboteur. It’s a voice of fear that starts to scream anytime you get up off the couch, leave your comfort zone and do a goal that’s important to you.
The #1 reason for procrastination is fear- it’s a defense mechanism. Once you start to look at the reason you sabotage yourself in this way, you will be able to move past fear and leave who you were yesterday and become someone new and better today.
These 6 amazing bucket list goals for women will inspire you to live your life full out and on your own terms.
The beauty of being an individual is that you can create whatever you want out of your life. No one can tell you how to live, and no one could dictate your life but you.
6 Bucket List Goals for Women:
1. Give yourself permission
Waiting for permission from anyone, be it friends, family, or a significant other can kill your dreams and stifle your life. Give yourself permission to switch careers if that’s what you want. Dive into one of your passions in your free time, do what you love, and avoid constantly seeking approval from others.
2. Take control of your finances
Becoming financially free opens you to many possibilities. By working towards getting your financial situation under control by decreasing your spending or paying off your debts, you will free yourself of those binds, and you can truly own your time. Your years can then be spent doing what you love and not what you feel you have to to make ends meet.
3. Be authentic
To be authentic, you must first learn who you are. Learn about what you love, what irks you, and what you dislike. Once you know who you are and focus on your life centered around your purpose and your passions, you can disregard all the things society deems as ‘normal’ and you can live your life on your terms.
4. Love with your whole heart
Don’t assume your loved ones know you love them, tell them and show them. Explain to them how much you appreciate and admire them everyday. Inspire them, compliment them, and encourage them, and be truly present every time you spend time with them. Be open, and love.
5. Do 1 thing that scares you everyday
“Do one thing every day that scares you” is a great quote from Eleanor Roosevelt that encourages us to push beyond our comfort zones. Each time you do something out of your comfort zone, you gain confidence and continuously grow and become stronger. Maybe it’s public speaking, maybe it’s having an uncomfortable conversation, or maybe it’s trying something new. Whatever it is you are scared of, face one fear everyday.
6. Build an empire
According to German psychoanalyst Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, one important stage in the human lifespan is creating something that will last beyond your lifetime. For some, this stage is having children, but you can also build something that is completely unrelated to having a family. You can write a book, teach, or help pass a law that will benefit future generations to come. Build your legacy, and something that will outlast you…
If you haven’t yet heard of a Bro-Dal shower, basically it’s a bridal shower for men. But what’s it all about?
The term originated and got trending on BuzzFeed, and it appears to be catching on, being that it’s a great way for men to participate in the wedding bliss.
Usually the wedding and other events leading up to it are centered around the bride. A bro-dal shower lets the groom and his bro’s be more involved before the actually wedding, and before the bachelor party. It’s also a great idea for gay couples whose family and friends want to throw them a celebratory pre-wedding party with a theme.
Here are some photos from one of the first bro-dal showers ever thrown:
The Balloon Challenge was a very interesting challenge about happiness.
The story goes that a group of 500 people attended a seminar.
The audience was asked by the speaker to participate in a group activity, and then each person was given a balloon.
They were asked to write their names on their ballon, and then the balloons were collected and put in another room.
The people were then led into that room and were asked to find their balloon which had their name written on it within 5 minutes. Everyone was frantically searching for their name, colliding with each other, and pushing each other around. There was utter chaos.
At the end of 5 minutes, no one could find their own balloon.
Then the speaker asked each person to randomly collect a balloon and give it to the person whose name was written on it. Within minutes, everyone had their balloon.
The speaker then told the participants that “This is happening in our lives. Everyone is frantically looking for happiness all around, not knowing where it is.”
“Our happiness lies in the happiness of other people. Give them their happiness; you will get your own happiness. And this is the purpose of human life…the pursuit of happiness.” – Michael Baisden Live
Have you ever noticed that sticking one foot outside the covers while you’re trying to fall asleep sometimes feels like heaven?
I have no idea why, but it helps expedite the trip to dreamland. Well, fortunately for you, the really smart men and women over at the Science of Us Sleep Institute explained why sticking one foot outside the covers helps you doze off.
It all has to do with regulating body temperature. The decrease of body temperature is a signal to the brain that it’s time for sleep. On average, the human body drops 1º-1.5ºF when you sleep. So, if you’re blood is a little too hot, the extra energy keeps you awake.
Feet, which are great for regulating body temperature, lend a “helping foot” in falling asleep. You can watch how in the video below:
Scientists are unsure as to the specific reason why the body cools as it sleeps. However, one theory suggests that because it takes more energy to warm the body at night, evolution decided to just shut it down and put it into a somewhat-stasis mode. This conserves energy for all those important survival skills, like gathering food (and mating–let’s not forget how much energy is required for mating).
So, in conclusion, if you haven’t already discovered that sticking a foot outside of the covers helps you sleep, now you have another trick for chasing away insomnia. But remember, kiddies, the monster in the closet loves toes, and yours look especially scrumptious.
