Lifestyle
Top 10 Happiest Countries in the World in 2021
Is there any scale weight that can be used to measure happiness? What is happiness? What is the definition of happiness, where is happiness, where is its address, is there any secret recipe for happiness? These questions have been revolving in the human mind since the beginning of life. Among many factors, your location or the country you are living in is a top factor in defining happiness. A happy country is where you have the assurance of life, do the work you enjoy, treat with respect, have an adequate income, close social relationships, and a sense of purpose.
The United Nations every year releases a report on the happiest countries in the world and ranks them according to different factors. So, what factors does the UN consider making a list?
Global Happiness Mapping by the United Nations
Basically, happiness is measured by asking a different question to the people from 149 countries in the world. As a measure of happiness, the country's social benefits, social generosity, personal freedom, gross domestic product (GDP), life expectancy, and the level of corruption come forward.
After that, the UN compiled the report based on information from the Analytical Research Gallup; however, this year, the highest priority has been given to the people's overall situation in the corona virus epidemic. The epidemic has also affected people's happiness in the world. According to the United Nations Happiness indicator report, out of the 149 countries, one-third of them showed negative emotions.
Read Post pandemic wanderlust list: Best international destinations to travel.
The Happiest Countries on Earth in 2021
Now, let's see the 10 happiest nations in the world as per the 2021 report.
1. Finland
This is the fourth time Finland has been crowned as the happiest country in the world. Apparently, it looks like the country has the secret recipe for staying happy. But the fact is that a high income with a top education system always keeps this country ahead of the rest countries around the world. But this year, the government played an important role during the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, Finland was ranked high on the calculation of mutual trust, which eventually helped to protect lives as well as livelihoods during a pandemic.
2. Iceland
Despite being a small country and life risk due to volcanic eruption, Iceland ranked second on the list. It has a 350,000 population that knows how to stay together and stay strong during tough times. For example, the country stayed strong during the 2007 financial crisis. Although the country faces ups and downs of natural conditions with long winters, Icelanders are friendly and hard-working people, which reflect in the happiness rating.
Read Spending Money for Happiness: 10 Effective Ways.
3. Denmark
It seems the world's most bike-friendly country has found happiness in recent years. With the highest quality of lifestyles and the high life expectancy, the Danish way of life has been a secret desire for many countries. As a bike-friendly country, the citizens take care of the environment, which leads to general happiness. Besides, well-paying jobs, excellent social security, and a good work-life balance are what make them happy.
4. Switzerland
Swiss people are one of the most politically astute Europeans and engaged actively on any issues that appeared in the country. Further, the Swiss governmental system is different among the European countries. Most of the country's decision-making is based on a vote, even on workers' vacations, which directly correlates to happiness. Besides, living with those fairytale landscapes would make anyone happy.
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5. The Netherlands
The Netherlands scores high on social structure, GDP per capita, and generosity. Besides, it has a low corruption rate. This indicates a high trust level as well as kindness. Nevertheless, both of these elements are important for the well-being feeling. They were sixth last year but moved up this year. Dutch happiness starts from a young age as teenagers show high satisfaction levels.
Top breakfast sandwich recipes to kick off your day deliciously
Not many dishes can compete with the flexibility of a sandwich. Whether it’s in the morning or late in the evening, the sandwich is often only as good as the creativity of its maker. Breakfast can also be argued as the most flexible meal of the day where both sweet and savory are equally viable. When putting breakfast and sandwiches together, you get seemingly limitless possibilities. Here are some of the best mouth-watering breakfast recipes worth getting out of bed for.
The Savory Options
Avocado Burger
A burger technically counts as a sandwich, but its buns can be swapped out with any bread of your choice. The main gist of this hearty delight is to grant you a memorable savory experience that showcases the wonders of avocado. The star ingredient is complemented by a fried egg, a sausage patty, gouda cheese, and tomato jam. This isn’t the most straightforward ingredient as frying the eggs and sausage patty separately is needed before combining it all, but the effort is worth it.
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Scrambled Eggs, Tomatoes, and Grilled Cheese.
This may be one of the messier dishes on the list, but its blend of tomatoes, scrambled eggs, and grilled cheese makes this a recipe that is perfect for those craving for a savory fix without wanting to feel stuffed at the end of your meal. Fresh chives are also welcomed into this mix and do well to bring all the flavors together for an enjoyable breakfast.
Monte Cristo
This sandwich is a staple at almost every restaurant around, but that doesn’t mean you can’t top them with your own take at home. The classic French toast sandwich requires white bread, ham, swiss cheese, and either turkey or chicken. Naturally, eggs will come into play with this French toast recipe as well. It is a relatively safe option that never fails to please the palate.
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Open-Faced Egg Sandwiches with Arugula salad.
This is definitely the go-to pick if you’re up for a savory bite in the morning, but are health conscious. The open-faced sandwich is usually a bold choice that falters when the prime ingredients are either too heavy or too moist. The Arugula salad eliminates this concern and works perfectly with this sandwich style. Not only does this recipe help you keep you on track with your diet, but it is also one of the easiest dishes to prepare and can be done in about 15 minutes if you intend to cook your egg while preparing the rest of your sandwich.
Croque Monsieur
On the other end of the spectrum, the Croque Monsieur is a decadent choice that will spoil anyone who takes a bite. The dish debuted in France back in 1910 and was a staple delicacy in French restaurants ever since. Cheese lovers will appreciate the method of preparing this dish; needing the sandwich to be cooked under a broiler until the cheese is bubbled. It certainly is a classic that may have a retro way of preparation, but certainly won’t go out of style anytime soon.
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Breakfast BLT
The BLT is another mandatory option on sandwich menus these days, but the splash of egg and ham spins this dish into a breakfast delight. Its simplicity is often the reason for its popularity and can be argued as the template of which other sandwich recipes follow. Fried egg, ham slices, mayonnaise, and tomatoes are incredibly common recipes for a sandwich, but the BLT still holds these ingredients together to create a safe, enjoyable meal for all.
The Sweet Options
Croissants Filled with Brie and Strawberries.
While savory dishes primarily feature eggs in their breakfast ingredients, sweet options commonly include fruit. Croissants are a versatile type of pastry that can rock either end of the flavor spectrum. In terms of sweetness, strawberries and brie make for an excellent combination that complements the texture and flavor of the croissant itself - the best part is that it only takes five minutes to prepare!
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Fried Banana Sandwich
While not many sweet sandwiches require cooking, fried banana is well worth the effort. Regular bananas are definitely possible, but frying said fruit with a cinnamon raisin English muffin will ensure that the temperature and quality are consistent. While it is not the healthiest breakfast out there, its ingredients are simple to acquire and will delight friends and family.
Strawberry and Banana Quesadilla
Quesadillas are commonly consumed as a savory side during lunch and dinner, but you’ll be surprised how well making a sweet version of it works. Bananas and strawberries are a classic pair that goes well with the doe. If you are feeling a little more daring, chocolate sauce, peanut butter, and even coconut are worthy inclusions that amplify the dish’s flavor without contrasting against the fruity notes.
Read Mango desserts: Some mouthwatering recipes for trying at home
French Toast with Peaches and Mozzarella
Certainly, one of the stranger combos on this list, preparing French toast with peaches and mozzarella is definitely worth a try. Peaches from tins usually come with juice and syrup that has its own purpose of complementing Mozzarella cheese out of all things. To ensure that the dish remains unanimously sweet instead of a flat hybrid, adding in some honey can work in the dish's favor.
Brie and Blueberry Waffles
it’s interesting how well waffles can make for the bread component for sandwiches as well. Two slices of waffles, housing brie, and blueberries is a combo we never knew we wanted. Not only do the eye-catching colors of the berry make for a visually stunning dish, its subtle sweetness bonds perfectly with cheese oddly enough. It isn’t the most conventional dish out there, but it certainly is worth a try.
Read Health Benefits of Different Types of Nuts
HungryNaki expands service to 5 more zones
App-based food delivery service company HungryNaki, a concern of Daraz Bangladesh, has recently stretched its service to five more zones to reach more people.
At a time when the country has entered "strict lockdown" in the wake of a fresh surge of coronavirus infections and fatalities, food connoisseurs living in Savar, Gazipur, Keraniganj, Tongi and Cumilla will get food delivery service from HungryNaki.
From Thursday, food lovers from these areas can order their favourite delicacies. People of those areas can also place orders for necessary groceries.
Also read: Daraz acquires food delivery Start-up HungryNaki
Restaurants, including Mithai (Cumilla), Tasty Treat (Keraniganj), Pizza Hut (Savar), will be delivering mouth-watering dishes to the food connoisseurs. There will be 100 other restaurants offering the food lovers a delicious gastronomical journey through HungryNaki.
The app-based food delivery service company will charge Tk19 as a delivery fee.
Abu Saleh Didar, head of commercial at HungryNaki, said: "HungryNaki wants to spread its service across the country and live up to the expectations of the food lovers and customers. So, we have recently expanded our service to five more zones. We will keep expanding so that even someone from a suburb can enjoy what he/she loves."
Read Best Food Delivery Apps in Bangladesh in 2021
BEUFF leaves strong first impression with virtual format
Successfully connecting the film-lovers from different corners of the world through its virtual platform, the first-ever Bangladesh European Union Film Festival (BEUFF) concluded on Wednesday after a three-week run to mark the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence, as well as of the friendship between the EU and Bangladesh.
It was organised by the European Union's mission in Bangladesh, in partnership with all the EU Member States' individual Embassies in Dhaka: Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Italy and Spain, as well as the two cultural centres- Germany's Goethe-Institut Bangladesh and the French Alliance Française de Dhaka.
The festival featured 7 Bangladeshi films from young aspiring filmmakers, 7 EU feature films, and 7 international short films on climate change.
Read Cannes Film Festival 2021: Movies and Filmmakers under the Limelight
Discussing the festival's success and other aspects, a webinar was arranged on Wednesday with the associates of the festival's organizing partners.
Broadcast live on the Facebook page of the Daily Prothom Alo, the festival was joined by the European Union in Bangladesh's Deputy Head of Diplomatic Mission Jeremy Opritesco, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh's Director Dr Kirsten Hackenbroch, Alliance Française de Dhaka Director Olivier Dintinger, Director of Operations at RedOrange Media and Communications Petra Van Der Eijk, Dr Nepomuk Zettle from the film department of Goethe-Institut Munich, Dhaka International Film Festival's Director Ahmed Muztaba Jamal, and Producer-Director Arifur Rahman from Gupi Bagha Productions Limited.
Hosted by noted filmmaker, media personality and International Film Initiative of Bangladesh (IFIB) President Samia Zaman, discussants on the webinar lauded the participation of the audiences and talked about the new reality of film festivals around the world amid the challenging situation of COVID-19 global pandemic.
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"Before starting the festival, we had no other option than to do it virtually, and then we were wondering if we will find any audience, considering the COVID-19 crisis. We thought people would probably be bored by watching the films online as we all have been hearing about online fatigue, but after the festival got started, we were quite surprised to see that the audience was quite high and the engagement was quite strong," European Union in Bangladesh's Deputy Head of Diplomatic Mission Jeremy Opritesco said at the webinar.
"So that was an excellent surprise and that led us to the conclusion that having an online festival is probably something that has to be looked at, even in the future when the COVID crisis will be ended," he added.
Also read: First-ever Bangladesh European Union Film Festival (BEUFF) kicks off online
Echoing the same, Dr Kirsten Hackenbroch, Director of Goethe-Institut Bangladesh said, "It's the future - the home cinema; the smaller, semi-public living room screenings. I think we are going to see more of the hybrid format and it would be really interesting to explore how we can make use of this new virtual reality. It becomes more private, then again, it opens up more to a global world because we can bring more people together in Q and A sessions much more easily and interactively."
Dr Nepomuk Zettle, representing the film department of Goethe-Institut Munich also agreed with her, adding that the online festivals are challenging yet good additions in the time of COVID-19. He said, "My personal guess is that we will see more hybrid formats in the future and I am very much hoping that this is not only the first European International Film Festival but also that there are many to come."
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Alliance Française de Dhaka Director Olivier Dintinger said, "We had no alternative within the COVID-19 situation, yet we managed to reach a new audience through this festival and even reached people who have never come to Dhaka or Chittagong and couldn’t visit in a normal format. We are still missing the experience of watching movies in cinema halls. It's a completely different dynamic that we have been collaborating with festivals like the Dhaka International Film Festival this year, and I hope that we will be able in coming months to witness more of these hybrid formats."
Petra Van Der Eijk, Director of Operations at RedOrange Media and Communications said, "This has been the first-ever European Union Film Festival in Bangladesh and it has been a great success, almost all Bangladeshi films were sold out and even we were asked for extra tickets. That's a very good result I would say, and also, as already said by other discussants, we can reach a broader public around the world which is especially also the goal of the festival and the bigger projects which the film festival belongs to. As for people from the Netherlands, I know for sure they looked at Bangladeshi films and that is really something great."
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She informed that more than 4,400 people watched the films at this festival while almost 10,000 people visited the dedicated website, and over 1.5 million new visitors have visited the Facebook page of EU to learn about the festival during its timeline.
Producer and Director Arifur Rahman said, "I really believe online is not the only option and cinema is an experience that needs to be felt within. As artists and filmmakers, we all believe that we can obviously cope-up; for example, if we look at the film history, when sound came - people never thought sound will be 100% compatible with films but now we cannot imagine most of the films without sounds."
Also read: Curtains down on 14th International Children's Film Festival Bangladesh
"So the same kind of shifting is going on virtually now but it's actually not appropriate in my opinion. Currently, I am in France for the Cannes Film Festival; it's physical and here we can have all the ideal experiences, we can see the emotion of the filmmakers. That's really important in this journey - we have to see the expressions and the filmmakers' journey on their faces. So definitely the format should be hybrid, and as for the online formats - it has its positive-negative both sides."
Explaining the existing situation in the country, DIFF Director Ahmed Muztaba Jamal said, "We need support from the bureaucrats and associates. For film censoring, getting funds, getting the permissions and everything else, we have to go through many hardships. It's very complicated as sometimes it gets very difficult to convince the government people of the necessity of a film festival."
"A film festival can work as an ambassador of a country. It can also help build a strong cultural environment in the country, as well. Cinema is a strong media that can easily reach people, again proved in our DIFF which was organised back in January this year. Many audiences joined our festival in person and joined a lot of seminars and conferences that we organised via the virtual platform. Most notably, the film conference on Satyajit Ray that we arranged this year, was watched by over 40,000 people," he informed at the webinar.
Read Female filmmakers of Bangladesh have made their mark in the industry
A dedicated website (www.beuff.org) was launched on June 9, allowing the audiences access to all films and other information related to the festival.
The festival also featured masterclasses, questions/answer sessions with directors, discussions on gender representations in cinema, climate change and a handful of other issues.
Organizers of the festival expect to bring more engaging festivals in the future that can promote EU's cultural exchange with Bangladesh and further shed light on vital issues such as education and skill development, climate change adaptation, food and nutrition security, good governance, safe migration and sustainable reintegration of refugees, empowerment of women and girls: EU's priorities for development cooperation in Bangladesh.
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Post pandemic wanderlust list: Best international destinations to travel
For more than a year, people around the world have been going through kind of house-arrest situations due to Covid-19 pandemic. Due to various restrictions, including lockdowns and travel bans, human kind have rarely been able to get out controlling the spread of the virus. However, after months of vaccinations worldwide, restrictions have been relaxed, and travel bans have been lifted in most countries. As a result, the travel will increase significantly in the post-Corona period; online booking platform Airbnb predicts1. Here we have listed the top 10 coolest places to travel post pandemic when the world goes back to normal.
Top 10 best places to travel post pandemic
Many first-world countries are in a race to reopen as the rapid vaccination program is going to. Hence, travel lovers will certainly look for safe countries.
USA
The USA is top on the list as they progressed toward the vaccination program, and 50% of the population got the vaccine. This makes America the top safest nation in the world. As per the Bloomberg, USA now has 334 vaccinated travel routes, which means quarantine-free travel is possible for the Covid-19 negative report and for the vaccinated people2.
Hopefully, the USA will vaccinate most of its population by the end of this year and can attract travelers from different parts of the world.
Read Best Honeymoon Destinations in Asia
New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the first countries that controlled the Covid cases strictly and flattened the curve successfully. Although only 10.3% of the population got vaccinated to date2, the country has relatively lower Covid 19 cases, and they are ahead of any other countries in terms of preparing for tourism.
New Zealand is already popular for its untouched nature, along with great hiking sports even before the pandemic3. Moreover, the country's awe-inspiring landscapes make it one of the best attractions for travelers.
Read Top Indoor Playgrounds for kids in Dhaka City
Switzerland
Switzerland already relaxed the entry restrictions for Schengen Area and many other third countries4. Now the travelers from Schengen countries don't need to go through quarantine. However, the travelers will have to show negative Covid-19 test results.
Besides, vaccinated people from other countries can also easily visit the country without going through quarantine. Furthermore, 41% of Swiss people have already got their vaccine. So, the country is on the way to emerge as one of the safest nations after Covid-19.
Read:Project Hilsa: Largest restaurant in Bangladesh with elegant interior, pricey food
France
France faced the somewhat worst Covid-19 situation last year. But they have successfully recovered from that condition, and now the country is well prepared to reopen soon. The country has vaccinated more than 40% of the total population.
France is one of most traveled countries in the world. The country's elite buildings, protected castles, and ornate churches have made France's tourism industry famous5.
France also tops the list of tourist destinations among other European countries. France now allows entry from some specific countries and puts a restriction on some vulnerable countries.
Read Top Amusement Parks in Dhaka for Family Day Outs, Children Fun Activities
Spain
With the 41.7% vaccination, Spain is on its way to becoming a safe nation to travel post pandemic. However, Spain still has an entry restriction. The country recently lifts the entry restriction for UK nationals upon providing the negative Covid report or vaccine report7.
Visitors from the rest of the counties will have to wait for more. Spain is the second highest visited destination in Europe. In 2017 alone, 81.8 million tourists visited here. Spain has 47 traditional sites declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Read:Best Bandarban Resorts to Enjoy Vacation
Australia
From the beginning, Australia has taken a strict position to stay safe from coronavirus. The Australian borders are still closed for international travelers. However, Australia may take more time to open up the borders as the country vaccinated only 14.2% of its population2.
When the borders open, you can safely enjoy the huge harbor in Sydney or even experience eating through Melbourne's impressive food scene. Further, you can even soak up the sun in Perth.
Norway
Known as aurora borealis country, Norway is the top destination for those who want to bless their eyes with the scenic aurora. It offers a clear night viewing for the aurora. However, the country still has travel restrictions. But Norway is still working to make it safe. 36.5% of the Norway people are already covered by the vaccine2, which means the country will still take more time to reopen.
Read Top Historical Places in Dhaka City to Visit on Weekends
Denmark
Denmark is one of the best destinations in Europe, which has some of the most incredible natural sights on earth, such as majestic cliffs, floating sands dunes which change location from time to time. These attractions contain 65 million years' worth of history8.
Currently, the country welcomes fully vaccinated people from the EU, Schengen, UK, and USA. Soon to be open for other nations as the country vaccinated 43.2% of the population2.
Read Visit Chalan Beel at Natore in Bangladesh to Pacify Your Soul
Japan
Want to taste authentic sushi after being locked down for more than a year? Japan will be your ultimate destination. Besides, bathe in the streamy soothing water can make you experience authentic Japanese hospitality. With the iconic high-speed bullet train, it would be easier to get around. However, the country is yet to run the vaccination at high speed. With a 64.1 Bloomberg Resilience Score, Japan is 23rd safest nation in the world to visit post pandemic.
UAE
UAE has been a top attraction for Americans and Europeans as it is one of the most tourist-friendly countries. Nevertheless, coronavirus has affected its tourism too. But the country is getting ready to serve the tourists. So far UAE is the top nation that vaccinated more than 70% of its population and they are already inviting the visitor with some restrictions.
Read:Singapore Tourist Attractions: Best places to visit and craziest things to do
Bottom Line
In the future, the tourist might face a new traveling rule across the world. For example, tourists may be required to wear masks and gloves. This could be for a lifetime or for several months, especially if the virus continues to spread. We hope our list of top 10 post-pandemic beautiful international travel destinations may help your wanderlust sole to plan your next tour.
Also Read Bangabandhu Memorial Museum: Witness to History and Tragedy
Reference:
Airbnb predicts 'significant' travel rebound, Retrieved on July 1, 2021.
The Covid Resilience Ranking The Best And Worst Places to Be as The World Finally Reopens, Retrieved on July 1, 2021.
8 Best Places To Go During COVID-19, Retrieved on July 1, 2021.
Switzerland Relaxes Entry Restrictions for Travellers From chengen Area & Third-Countries, Retrieved on July 1, 2021.
Discover FRANCE, Retrieved on July 1, 2021.
Coronavirus - Advice for Foreign Nationals in France, Retrieved on July 1, 2021.
Travel guide to Spain, Portugal, Malta and other holiday hotspots, Retrieved on July 1, 2021.
25 Best Things To Do In Denmark, Retrieved on July 1, 2021.
United Arab Emirates (Travel Restrictions, COVID Tests & Quarantine Requirements), Retrieved on July 1, 2021.
Spending Money for Happiness: 10 Effective Ways
“Whoever said money can’t buy happiness didn’t know where to shop” – this witty line from Gertrude Steiner refers to all of us when we spend money on our favorite things. Some people might say money can’t buy happiness, and that's may be true up to some extent. In reality, it doesn’t have to buy you happiness; rather it can be an instrument for being happy. Let's discuss some of the best ways to spend money for happiness.
What is Happiness?
Many of us spend almost the whole life in pursuit of happiness. Happiness is something that can’t be defined easily. In simple words, happiness is a positive emotional state where you feel contented, satisfied, and joyful.
From scientific the viewpoint, release of hormones, like dopamine and serotonin can make a person happy. These important neurotransmitters are primarily associated with the expression of happiness in a human body. More to say, these hormones can leave a positive impact on both body and mind. They can accelerate and motivate a person towards the state of mental serenity.
Read: 3 Inspirational books to read in quarantine
How to Spend Money for Happiness?
Experience over Things
Are you planning to buy a new furniture or gadget and thinking that it will bring you happiness? Well, think again. Even though a materialistic good may give you some pleasure initially, it will eventually turn into a decorative piece few days later. Research shows that people tend to derive more happiness from experiences; rather than spending money on material goods.
To buy experience, you can spend money on tours and fill your bucket list. The concept of gathering new experiences, may include visiting a new place, or meeting new people, or trying new cuisine. Such experiences may unleash possibilities of deriving delights and happiness that will exist in your memory for a long time.
Read IKIGAI: The Japanese Secret to a Long Healthy life
Spend On Goods That Alleviates the Experience
This might sound contrary to our previous point. Spending money on certain goods can truly bring you happiness. Some material goods can help to alleviate your boredom.
For instance, instead of buying an expensive showpiece or furniture; try to spend on something that can connect you to an experience. It can be a new pair of headphones or a musical instrument or a new phone that improves your online experience.
Here, the key idea is to derive pleasure from the instrument; in lieu of making the instrument the mode of happiness.
Read: Off Road Vs Road Cycling: Know the Difference
Getting Gifts for Others
You might be thinking how does that help your happiness? Well, the human mind works in surprising ways and one of them is deriving happiness from doing things for others. You don’t have to spend a lumpsum amount to gain pleasure. Some small acts of kindness or little gifts may help your brain to release dopamine to trigger happiness. So, the next time when you wish to give something to your friend or family, just go ahead and do it.
Donating to Charity
Philanthophic activities like charity work is another great way to find happiness. Donating to a charity or someone in need can leave a long-lasting impact in mind. This is in line with our previous point that a human mind is instinctively helpful. So doing things for others or helping people in need is bound to bring happiness.
But a question may arise against that where to donate money? During the pandemic situation, numerous people have lost their jobs and shelters. You can do research and find some benevolent organizations who are working for the underprevileged people. The thought of doing good naturally triggers happiness and this feeling is perpetual.
Read Best Sites to Sell Used Electronics in Bangladesh
Find Small Pleasures
Instead of spending or splurging on lavish items once in a full moon, get in the habit of finding small pleasures. What we mean is, find small expense sources that can give you pleasure rather than going after something that might break your bank.
A fancy dinner night is sure to give you a lot of pleasure. Alternatively, you can frequently enjoy coffee or snacks with your favorite friends or family members. These moments can bring you more happiness.
Read:Egg Diet For Weight Loss: Does It Work?
The key here is the perpetual feeling. You should maintain a small and constant source of happiness rather than something that comes once in a while.
Get yourself Time
This point isn’t directly related to spending money; rather it focuses on the accumulation of money. In today's world most people spend time to earn money. Money can bring you happiness in many ways. However, sometimes, you need to sit back and relax a bit. Take some time off from your work to focus on your life and destress. Taking a short break from your regular life-routine, you can rejuvenate your soul and bring more happiness in your life.
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Avoid Financial Stress
The gist of this article is all about spending money to get happiness. However, in pursuit of happiness, you should not spend too much. You need to balance your expenditure cycle considering the limit of your earnings. While searching for happiness, you sure don’t want to add up more stress in your life? You should spend as per your wish, just make sure you are spending sensibly.
Travel
There is nothing more exciting like making memories in a new place. Travel memories are something that you will cherish forever. They will be a constant source of happiness and remembrance. The tour experience can be as per your budget. It does not mean that you have to splurge and travel to an exotic location. You can also go somewhere close, or any nearby place that’s an escape from your everyday life. This is honestly one of the better ways to spend your money for happiness.
Read Renowned online payment gateways in Bangladesh for domestic, international transactions
Start a Garden
Well, this will require some dedication besides money. Plantations can be a great source to induce happiness in your life. You can start a small garden on your terrace or your balcony. This can give you a new purpose to live a healthy and happy life. It can also serve as an escape from the stress of work or relations in everyday life. The joy of creating lives (plants) can take away the monotony from your routined life and cherish your soul.
Share a Meal
Sometimes the simple act of sharing food can give a person limitless happiness. This is something that you can feel instant. Human beings are naturally inclined to be sociable. A simple way to share happiness is sharing a meal. Try it next time with your friends or colleagues.
During the pandemic situation many people can not afford food. You can also share food with a distressed person sitting beside your favorite food store. Such activities will not cost you huge money but you can feel immense happiness in return.
Read:Thunderstorm Lightning Struck Safety Tips: Stay Prepared
Bottom Line
To sum things up, there are a lot of ways that you can get happiness by spending money. We truly encourage and appreciate you in the journey of deriving happiness. But, we also suggest that you should be a responsible spender in order to avoid financial stress. We hope that this article helps you to get some ideas about finding happiness. So which one are you going to try next?
3 Inspirational books to read in quarantine
Introduce yourself to motivational books during this pandemic. It can help you get yourself to pick up the pieces and start over when you can’t see the light, and need a little push to put you back in the race of life. You literally are not alone when you are with a book. Among the blessings and gifts of human beings, books rank high. A touch of reading your favorite book is enough to transform your thought processes. Here we have picked 3 inspirational books to read during the Corona virus quarantine period.
Best motivational books to inspire you during pandemic lockdown
‘The Alchemist’ by Paula Coelho
This book is a singularly motivational masterpiece. The book tells about a Spanish shepherd boy named Santiago following his dream. He begins his journey with a dream of finding treasure in the Pyramids of Egypt.
On the way, he happens to meet few people including a nomad woman, a man who claimed himself king, a man who claimed himself an alchemist, and then a real alchemist. All of them help Santiago in the way of his dream. He encounters many obstacles or hurdles during his trip. His money gets stolen; he becomes a victim of hypocrisy, and even gets captured in the desert.
Read Rich Dad Poor Dad– Worth Reading in Your Quarantine
If you enjoy surrealism, ‘The Alchemist’ book will win your heart. What is more? This book is a magical source of inspiration that extends beyond Santiago’s Sahara and into all lives, whether young, old, or teenage.
Get the book
‘The Obstacle is the Way’ by Ryan Holiday
In this book, Ryan Holiday describes how you sometimes feel about your age, status, situations, physical conditions, and attitude. Every obstacle may be unique. But your emotional responses – like fear, frustration, confusion, helplessness, depression, and anger – remain the same.
This inspirational book, ‘The Obstacle is the Way’ will introduce you to Stoicism, the ancient Greek philosophy which teaches the development of self-control. Here, the writer Holiday uses the firm philosophy of Stoicism to deal with the concept ‘you are only your troubles’.
READ: Gender Dichotomy: Woketopian Impact on Human Lifestyle
In this book, Holiday depicts how some characters including men and women experience day-to-day frustrations and horrors, from imprisonment to debilitating illness. Reading this book, you will see how the characters had to tackle rivalries, political headwinds, resistance, conservatism, and economic calamities which in turn became fuels for them.
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The Alter Ego by Todd Herman
This book establishes the idea that finding your Alter Ego gives you the freedom to unlock your inner creative force.
As per Herman, the way your Alter Ego battle the natural challenges you face with greater optimism can unlock a more playful and empowering approach to overcoming fear.
Utilizing the alter ego, you can achieve goals either big or small. Along with the way, it will unlock the capabilities you didn’t know were there.
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In the book, ‘The Alter Ego’ the words are full of motivation. This book aims to show you the how people can do arduous tasks when it is most needed but least expected.
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In a nutshell
Motivation is critical and has been proven to be the difference between underachievers and highly successful individuals. Scientific research has established that there is a connection between motivation and the unseen residual energy levels. This explains why motivational books and speakers have been accepted by all individuals regardless of age.
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Egg Diet For Weight Loss: Does It Work?
When it comes to dieting, salads, quinoa and detox shakes come to mind as staples for weight loss. Normally, food with high fiber content and low fat are favoured as they are low on calories and help to increase metabolism. The intention is to burn fat, therefore sugar, fat and anything fried is highly avoided. What if we told you there was an ingredient out there that could help with that, but isn’t a chore to consume? Believe it or not, eggs aren’t only used for bodybuilding diets; they have fat loss properties that almost put them on par with other dietary staples. Here is how the egg diet can help with weight loss.
What is the Egg Diet?
The first thing to note about the egg diet is that despite its health benefits, its portion should be comparable to what’s seen on the food pyramid scale. Dairy products and meat are almost at the top of said pyramid, which means that the serving size should be one of the least out of all the ingredients for a well balanced diet. Still, eggs should be a core component of your diet, specifically chicken eggs due to being low on calories and carbohydrates while packing an impressive amount of protein. Although eggs are beneficial for attaining muscle mass, it is still safe to consume the ingredient daily for its weight-loss benefits.
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While it is possible to go on an “egg only” diet, it would be difficult to supplement your body with other critical nutrients like Vitamins, Carbohydrates and even fat. Therefore going down this route is an unsafe risk not worth taking. Like any ingredient-focused diet, constantly consuming one particular ingredient can get boring after a while, which is where eggs can really come into their own.
From poached to boiled or scrambled, eggs have some of the most diverse ways to be prepared which can be an incentive to switch up the menu everyday while still consuming the recommended amount of eggs. The diet is traditionally run for only two weeks, and restricts all food consumption to only three meals a day - which means no snacking!
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Purpose Of The Egg Diet
It would be perfectly normal to question the point of an Egg diet if the risks are this intimidating and that there are possibly safer diets to commit to when intending to lose fat. The main purpose of this diet is to shock the body and break a plateau you might be on when losing weight. Once the body is conditioned to consume only the healthy contents of a diet, it tends to slow down in terms of metabolism, which is where the stint of the egg diet comes in handy.
The small window of time you have to enjoy the egg-focused diet is meant to heighten your overall fat and protein intake, while reducing the variety of carbohydrates you are allowed to take. You aren’t sworn off carbohydrates like a full ketogenic diet or Atkins, but it will dramatically restrict your choices in order to shock your body into a calorie and carbohydrate deficit.
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The risks of the extreme diet
If you have decided to embark on a harsh diet to shed the flab, it's high time that you consulted a good doctor. This is because you might end up doing more harm to your body than good. Harsh diets can help move the needle on the weighing scale in a short time but could take a toll on your health in the long run. Let's explore the impact of harsh diets.
Different types of harsh diets
Crash diet plans can be of two types -- low carb or keto diet, and a very low-calorie diet.
In a low-carb diet, sugary foods are excluded. The keto diet includes 5% carbohydrates, 25% protein, and 70% fat. Meat, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits and healthy fats are eaten more.
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Low-calorie diets usually involve eating very low-calorie foods for a short time. Say, 200 calories on the first day, 400 calories on the second day, 600 calories on the third day, 600 calories on the fourth day, and then fasting. Thus the routine continues.
This type of diet plan is very tempting due to desired weight loss of 1.5 to 2.5 kg per week. Low-calorie foods include eggs, bread, salads, sour yogurt, whole meal bread, soup, potatoes, eggplant, low-fat milk, red spinach and sweet pumpkin.
Low-carb and low-calorie diets are followed by a low-fat diet. Here the diet contains less than 30% of the total calories in fat. Low-fat foods include corn, popcorn, honey, rice, oatmeal, vegetable noodles, vegetable soup, beans, lentils, egg whites and tuna.
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Risk of death in strict diet
An uncontrolled harsh diet can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer. Furthermore, it can cause death through respiratory damage, kidney failure, and multiple organ damage at the same time.
The ominous impacts of harsh diet have been observed in the media world for ages. The most dangerous of these is anorexia nervosa. This is the final stage of a mental illness that results from excessive weight loss. It is mainly triggered by the intense fear of weight gain.
In 1936, Irene Fenwick, the actress of the American silent film, died at 49 of anorexia nervosa, which was referred to as ‘over-dieting’ at the time.
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American singer Karen Carpenter died of heart failure in 1983 at the age of 32. She was on a low-carb hard diet as well as taking extra medication to lose weight.
In 2006, Uruguayan fashion model Luisel Ramos died of excessive fasting at the age of 22. In the wake of Ramos' death, that year Italian fashion designers banned the size zero models for catwalks. And, 2006’s Madrid Fashion Week set BMI 18 as the minimum requirement for all models.
Brazilian fashion model Anna Carolina Reston followed a diet with only apples and tomatoes for years. At the time of her death in 2006, she weighed only 40 kg.
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Hila Elmalich, an Israeli fashion model, had to be taken to the hospital frequently due to excess weight loss. At the time of her death in 2007, the 34-year-old model weighed only 27 kg.
French model and actress Isabel Caro (28) suffered from a respiratory illness for almost two weeks before she died in 2010. It is said that she suffered from immunodeficiency due to anorexia.
German Instagram star Josi Maria (24) passed away in 2020. In social media, she shared her experiences regarding anorexia before her death.
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On October 2, 2020, Bollywood actress Mishti Mukherjee (27) died due to kidney failure linked to keto diet.
English TV star Nicki Graham (38) died on April 9 in 2021. According to doctors, Nikki's cause of death was Anorexia Nervosa.
The ill-effects of harsh diet
Muscle breakdown
You might experience muscle breakdown as well as fat loss due to a harsh diet. When the fat-to-muscle ratio becomes unstable, muscle breakdown begins resulting a decrease in metabolic rate. Weak muscles make it difficult to carry out daily activities such as carrying groceries or climbing up the stairs.
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Dehydration
The primary energy that the body uses when consuming calories or carbs comes from glycogen. It is a form of carbohydrate that is stored in the liver and muscles. Water is present in every gram with it. The fewer carbs or calories you consume, the more water you lose. This can lead to headaches, fatigue, and dizziness.
Imbalance of internal physical activities
Any kind of imbalance in the elements by which our physical activities are conducted becomes a cause of danger. The resulted complicacies may include convulsions, irregular heartbeat, the activity of cells, and formation of cell wall layer. Disruption of every little action might gradually lead the whole body system to collapse.
Increasing hairfall
Eating a low-calorie diet may increase your chances of experiencing hairfall. This is because the lack of adequate nutrition disrupts the normal functioning of your hair cells.
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Malnutrition
Extreme weight loss deprives your body from the nutrients required for healthy activities. Especially, nutritional deficiencies of vitamin D and calcium can impair the normal development of health. Malnutrition might lead to diverse diseases such as anemia, weakness, loss of consciousness.
Stones in gallbladder
During the formation of gallbladder stones, severe pain is felt in the gallbladder. These stones are formed slowly, when the digestive juices are not excreted in the gallbladder due to a lack of digestive food. Day by day these juices get hardened inside the gallbladder and block the gateway of the gallbladder. It results to indigestion causing pain and discomfort.
Decreased physical strength
Excessive calorie consumption would leave a detrimental effect on your energy. Besides feeling physically tired, your brain activity would be disrupted along with your body performance. Your mood can also be affected. Severe weight loss often leads to constant anger.
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Depression and inferiority complex
Most diets fail. And this repeated failure leads to long-term weight loss. Chronic dieters consistently experience guilt, anxiety and frustration, lack of concentration, and fatigue. And, many people even choose to commit suicide because they are mentally depressed due to weight gain.
Pilling Up
Above all, to avoid the risk of a harsh diet, it is best to get enough exercise with a natural diet while maintaining your normal lifestyle. If you can get used to proper physical exercises with a balanced diet from a young age, you will benefit.
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Off Road Vs Road Cycling: Know the Difference
The cycling industry has boomed in recent years; as Covid-19 has confined many to their quarters, more are picking up the bicycle as an outlet for fitness. As more start to commit to cycling full time, the activity becomes a hobby and the community begins to diverge between off road and road cycling. Neither is better than the other, but the skills required can be vastly different. Here is how you can know the difference between off road cycling and road cycling.
Versatile Benefits of Cycling as a Mode of Transport
Cycling isn’t exactly the newest sport around, but it has seemingly made a comeback with bicycles becoming increasingly popular globally, notably ever since the pandemic. According to the BBC, many have lost trust in the reliability of public transport and have found the need to get into shape whilst under lockdown. The demand has caught bike manufacturers off guard as the demand has superseded supply quite significantly.
Convenient Transport
While fitness and the convenience of transport is one thing, many home delivery services have faced a surplus in business due to the majority being homebound. Therefore, orders for deliveries have spiked and the bicycle is an affordable way to get into the business for quick income.
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Helps to Maintain Fitness
While runners and joggers have seen an impressive growth since the pandemic began, the bicycle is a more versatile tool that allows for many opportunities that a simple run cannot. Fitness facilities have been closed for months in some countries and the bicycle can grant anyone a proper workout, while serving as necessary, free transportation.
Environment-friendly
On the sustainable front, many progreen individuals have seen the value of a “zero CO2 emission” method of transportation. While the description may put road bikes on the pedestal due to its sheer practicality, the passion-driven off road experience is not one to disregard, as there is much to enjoy from that experience too.
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Benefits of Off Road Cycling
While off road cycling isn’t as practical as road cycling in terms of utility, there are benefits of having a bike that can excel on almost all terrain and designed for durability and a variety of weather conditions.
The first benefit that stands out is how mechanically savvy riders will have to be with the off road bikes in order to utilise all its functions. Mountain biking for example needs to balance proper weight distribution and conservation of energy in order to adapt to extreme slopes, terrain and other obstacles.
Additionally, building power and keeping momentum in your strides are important to comfortably ride on roots, rocks, mud and more as these conditions will inevitably force you to moderate your speed regularly to ensure you don’t fly off of your bike.
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Off Road bikes tend to put more emphasis on resistance and gear settings which will play a big part in making your experience easier depending on the terrain. While road bikes are generally easier as pavements would be the go-to terrain, having an intricate amount of knowledge on using suspensions, flat handlebars could expand your cycling skills as a whole.
Advantages of Road Cycling
Light, narrow tires and drop handlebars are what you can expect when you opt for the route of traditional road cycling. This form of cycling is all about speed, and that is exactly what the bicycles are designed to do. Its light frame and thin tires to reduce friction are engineered to forgo unnecessary bulk to make room for aerodynamism.
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The rider’s posture is also significantly lower to enable better weight distribution for better mobility. While there is no doubt that there is skill necessary in order to make the best out of road cycling, there are significantly less variables to consider in terms of terrain and obstacles.
Many have chosen this form of transport over the off road experience as pavements are normally everywhere; from homes to schools, offices, grocery stores and more. Because of this, the bulkier tires and full suspension mechanics aren’t really needed.
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Additionally, when it comes to convenience or doing the job, speed does matter more to most than the luxury of cycling in general. As a practical tool, the road bike is the preferred choice, but it does not come with as much as the former and it can break easier if not maintained properly.
Choosing Between the Two: Road Cycling & Off-road Cycling
As stated in the introduction, one isn’t objectively better than the other, and it comes down to more of preferences than anything else.
Road cycling has a lot more practicality than off road, but if you are hoping to hone your knowledge and skills as an avid cyclist, the offroad will teach you way more. There are ‘hybrid’ bikes that blend the lightness of road bikes and Mountain bike’s ruggedness, and are possibly the most versatile as a third option.
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The problem with the hybrid is that the combination fails to truly excel at either extreme, which means it would lose out to more intentional models - whether it is the durability of a mountain bike or the sheer lightness of a road bike.
Ultimately, it is the user’s choice as to what he or she wants from the bicycle. Lovers for convenience and delivery services would work wonders with a road bike to reach your end point quicker, but if biking has become a guilty pleasure of some sort, the off road could be your best bet to truly explore the potential of this industry.
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