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Micro-acts of Joy: Secret to Being Happier and Healthier?
Amidst the chaos that is contemporary living, uncovering pockets of joy becomes a potent catalyst for elevating both happiness and well-being. Micro-acts of joy, small yet impactful gestures, have the potential to transform our daily experiences. This article explores the fascinating connection between these micro-acts and the enhancement of overall well-being.
How Happiness Affects Health
Happiness is not just a fleeting emotion; it serves as a cornerstone for overall well-being, profoundly impacting both mental and physical health. The link between happiness and health is a subject of extensive research, revealing a symbiotic relationship that goes beyond mere positivity.
From a psychological standpoint, a happy and content mind contributes to reduced stress levels. The release of endorphins, often termed 'feel-good' hormones, acts as a natural stress reliever, promoting a sense of calm and tranquility. This emotional equilibrium, in turn, fosters resilience in facing life's challenges.
Read more: How to raise happy, confident, strong girls
On a physiological level, the benefits are equally significant. Studies show that individuals with a positive outlook tend to have lower blood pressure, reducing the risk of cardiovascular issues. The immune system also receives a boost, making the body more resilient to illnesses.
Furthermore, the connection between happiness and longevity is a compelling aspect. Studies indicate that those with an optimistic outlook on life are likely to enjoy a longer lifespan. It emphasizes the vital role of emotional well-being in determining one's overall health and lifespan.
In essence, happiness becomes a powerful elixir for a healthy life, influencing the mind and body in intricate ways. Cultivating joy not only adds vibrancy to our existence but also acts as a fundamental building block for a resilient and thriving state of health.
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How to Flex Your ‘Forgiveness Muscle’
Forgiveness is often overlooked in the grand scheme of self-improvement, yet it is key to unlocking a sense of liberation and inner peace. In the hustle and bustle of a new year, reflecting on the art of forgiveness — both towards ourselves and others — is essential.
Forgiveness is not just a gesture; it is a powerful tool for personal growth and emotional well-being. As we embark on a new year, let's delve into the profound journey of flexing our “forgiveness muscles.”
Benefits of Forgiveness
Inner Peace and Tranquillity
Forgiving oneself and others allows for the release of inner turmoil, leading to a profound sense of peace and tranquillity. The burden of resentment lifts, creating space for emotional well-being.
Read more: How to Improve Focus by Training the ‘Attention Muscle’
Improved Mental Health
Studies suggest a strong link between forgiveness and mental health. Letting go of grudges and resentments can alleviate stress, reduce anxiety, and contribute to overall psychological health.
Enhanced Relationships
Forgiveness plays a pivotal role in nurturing and sustaining healthy relationships. Whether it is forgiving a friend, partner, or family member, it fosters understanding, empathy, and a stronger bond.
Emotional Liberation
Holding onto grudges can be emotionally exhausting. Forgiveness liberates us from the shackles of negative emotions, allowing us to experience joy, happiness, and a renewed sense of self.
Read more: How to Utilise the Power of Visualisation to Achieve Goals
Increased Empathy
Choosing to forgive cultivates empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It promotes a compassionate outlook, fostering a more harmonious social environment.
Personal Growth
Forgiveness is a catalyst for personal growth. It encourages self-reflection, self-awareness, and the opportunity to learn from challenging experiences, ultimately leading to greater resilience.
Health Benefits
The benefits of forgiveness extend beyond mental well-being. Studies suggest that forgiving individuals may experience lower blood pressure, reduced heart rate, and overall better physical health.
Read more: How to Make Realistic New Year Resolutions that Stick
Stress Reduction
Letting go of grudges and embracing forgiveness can significantly reduce stress levels. The ability to navigate conflicts with a forgiving mindset contributes to a more relaxed and balanced life.
Positive Influence on Others
Demonstrating forgiveness serves as a positive example for those around us. It creates a ripple effect, encouraging others to adopt a forgiving attitude and contribute to a more compassionate society.
Essential Skills to Learn Before Going to Study Abroad
Annually, thousands of students embark on a journey beyond their borders to pursue higher education. This adventure, although promising, can be laden with challenges. To navigate these waters successfully, students must arm themselves with a set of skills that transcend academic prowess. This guide delves into the top ten skills indispensable for a rewarding study abroad experience.
10 Essential Skills to Learn Before Going to Study Abroad
Independence: The Foundation of Overseas Education
Independence is the most significant transformation students encounter when studying abroad. It's a multifaceted skill encompassing self-reliance and responsibility. From basic chores like laundry and grocery shopping to more complex tasks like managing personal finances and making informed decisions, independence is critical. Developing problem-solving skills to tackle unexpected challenges is equally important, as it ensures students can handle various situations without constant guidance.
Read more: 10 Essential Life Skills for Teens to Learn before College
Research and Planning: Your Blueprint for Success
A thorough understanding of your destination's culture, legal system, and day-to-day life is vital. This means researching not just your academic institution and its curriculum, but also local customs, public transportation, and essential services. Effective planning helps mitigate culture shock and eases the transition, making your study abroad experience more enjoyable and less overwhelming.
Financial Literacy: Navigating Economic Waters Abroad
Mastering local banking systems and effective budgeting are paramount. Learn how to open a bank account, manage transactions, and understand currency exchange rates. Budgeting becomes a lifeline abroad; it involves setting realistic spending limits for various needs, including rent, food, transportation, and entertainment. Regularly tracking expenses helps avoid financial pitfalls and ensures a sustainable lifestyle.
Cross-Cultural Communication: Bridging the Gap
Adapting to a new culture requires a deep understanding of both verbal and non-verbal communication. This includes being aware of cultural norms in conversation, greetings, and gestures. Respectful and empathetic communication is key to forming meaningful relationships and avoiding misunderstandings. Embracing the local language, even at a basic level, can significantly enrich interactions and open doors to deeper cultural insights.
Adaptability and Empathy: The Heart of Cultural Immersion
The ability to adapt to new environments and empathize with different cultures is crucial. This skill is about more than just surviving; it's about thriving in a foreign setting. Adaptability means being open to new experiences, whether it’s adjusting to different academic structures or embracing unique social customs. Empathy allows you to appreciate and respect cultural differences, fostering a more inclusive and enriching experience.
How to Utilise the Power of Visualisation to Achieve Goals
Visualisation is the power of imagination that enables individuals to manifest their aspirations into reality by harnessing the mind's capabilities. This powerful tool can transform fuzzy desires into vibrant blueprints for success. This can significantly impact your journey towards achieving personal and professional goals. Let’s look at some visualisation techniques that can help fulfil your desires in real life.
Visualisation Strategies That Can Make Your Goals a Reality
Crystallise Your Vision
Imagine the perfect scenario before you act.
For instance, if you are preparing to give a presentation in the office, picture yourself delivering an impeccable presentation. See the room—bright lights, attentive faces. Feel the confident aura around you.
Or, if you are an athlete who is preparing for a marathon, you can envisage completing the race. Feel the warmth of the sun, hear the crowd cheering. The clearer the vision, the more powerful its effect on your aspirations. Dive deep into these detailed mental images—they will pull you closer to the goal.
Read more: How to Make Realistic New Year Resolutions that Stick
In this way, people of any profession can utilise their mental power to imagine their successes.
Emotional Involvement
Visualisation stir emotions in the form of joy, excitement, and satisfaction. Emotions can drive people with strong determination to reach their targets. So, let your emotion propel you to forward your journey.
For example, if you want to lose weight, you can try to imagine the situation of hitting your fitness target. In the same way, an athlete or a weight lifter can immerse himself in the thrill of crossing the finish line or lifting heavier weights. Feel the rush of adrenaline, the joy of overcoming challenges. It can inspire and energise you to carry out regular exercises and hard work required on the journey to success.
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Goal-Specific Techniques
One needs to customise their visualisation methods for specific goals. If one is aiming for a promotion, one should envision confidently handling responsibilities in the new role. Also, picturing leading and motivating others with ease is important too.
Tailoring the visualisations to match your aspirations precisely will strengthen your belief and determination. It will make your path to success clearer and more achievable.
Visualisation Scripts
Imagine detailed mental scripts outlining steps to achieve your goals. You can visualise smoothly tackling work challenges, learning and growing from each experience. These detailed mental scripts will guide you through the journey towards your goals. It will also boost your confidence in handling challenges along the way.
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For instance, if you want to go abroad for higher studies, imagine all the steps, such as taking IELTS, choosing Universities, applying, getting a visa, etc. Thus, mental scripting can help you meet the requirements one by one systematically.
Vision Boards
It is necessary to build a visual collection of your dreams. If longing for travel, gather images of dreamy destinations. Arrange these images, words, and symbols into a collage. Then, hang it where you can see it often.
This vivid display will energise you and remind you of your aspirations. It can reinforce what you are striving for each day. Let its presence inspire and focus your efforts, like working hard to save money for travelling.
Read more: Personal Grooming Tips and Tricks for Better Life and Career
Top 10 Financial New Year Resolutions and Ways to Implement Them
At the dawn of another year, setting financial resolutions becomes crucial for a stable future. It can serve as a roadmap towards economic well-being, empowering individuals to manage money more effectively. Proper management of expenses aids in reducing debt, making savings, and creating new investment windows. Prioritising financial goals ensures a more organised and secure financial journey. Overall, it fosters the path towards achieving long-term aspirations. Let’s take a look at some practical resolutions to manage your finances in 2024.
Top 10 Financial New Year’s Resolutions and Ways to Fulfil Them
Creating a Budget and Sticking to It
Creating a proper budget is key to managing money smartly. Try using apps or spreadsheets to split your money between what you need, what you want to save, and what you can spend on non-essential or luxury things.
By keeping a close eye on your spending and sticking to your budget, you can avoid spending money on things you do not need. It helps you keep your expenses within your budget.
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Practising Mindful Spending
Being mindful about spending means making choices that align with your goals and it leads to a more stable financial future. It is very important to take a mindful approach to spending by thinking before you buy. Try to focus on what you truly need rather than what you want right now. You may consider if your purchase brings long-term benefits.
This way of spending helps you control your money better and keeps you on track to reach your financial aims.
Paying off Debts and Loans
One should make it a priority to clear off debts with high interest rates as they can weigh one down financially. For instance, credit card debt needs to be paid in due time to avoid fines. To repay big debts arranging money from savings or low-interest loans can be considered depending on the situation.
In the new year, one can prepare a repayment plan to settle all debts and get financial freedom.
Read more: 5 New Year Resolutions that are actually achievable
Building an Emergency Fund
Life can surprise us, so it is wise to have a safety net for unexpected costs. Try to stash away money for an emergency fund that can cover living expenses for three to six months if needed. You may look into FD or DPS packages offered by different banks or financial institutions. This practice can help you save more money while making sure you can access them easily.
Whenever you hit a milestone on your savings journey, take a moment to celebrate your progress towards your financial safety net.
How to Make Realistic New Year Resolutions that Stick
Resolutions give us an opportunity to outline our aspirations and step towards personal growth. Beginning of the year is a great time for setting resolutions to embrace fresh beginnings with the pursuit of positive change. However, not all resolutions last longer. People often fail to keep resolutions. Let’s find out how to keep the New Year’s resolutions.
Why New Year Resolutions Fail
Tradition over Purpose
Many resolutions arise from tradition rather than a genuine need for change. When resolutions are set solely because it is customary at the start of a new year, the motivation to pursue them may dwindle compared to goals rooted in a true necessity for transformation.
Failure to Anticipate Obstacles
A common oversight to fulfil resolutions is the lack of foresight regarding potential obstacles. The barriers are different for every individual. If someone neglects to identify and plan for potential barriers, it can significantly increase the likelihood of encountering setbacks in achieving his or her resolutions.
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Unrealistic Goals and Lack of Accountability
Setting excessively challenging or overly simplistic objectives often leads to failure. Lack of accountability further diminishes the likelihood of accomplishing these goals. Studies reveal that accountability doubles the chances of achieving set objectives.
Neglecting Tracking and Planning
Neglecting regular progress tracking and inadequate planning contribute to failure. Establishing a routine review system and meticulous planning are essential to keep resolutions. This process fosters consistency and allows for adaptations to challenges that may arise along the way.
Unclear Purpose and Self-Doubt
Unclear reasons behind resolutions and succumbing to self-doubt are detrimental. People tend to set goals without a clear roadmap. It leads to frustration and eventual abandonment of their resolutions. A strong emotional connection to goals helps dispel excuses and strengthens commitment.
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10 Tips to Help You Keep Your New Year's Resolution
Set Specific and Measurable Goals
First, establishing clear, measurable objectives is foundational. Try to begin by establishing precise, measurable objectives that can be effectively tracked. Specificity ensures clarity in what you aim to achieve and aids in progress monitoring and strategy refinement.
Measurable goals provide a tangible way to track the advancement and make necessary adjustments for success. When goals are well-defined, they become more manageable, and progress becomes more apparent.
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A hat worn by Napoleon sold for $2.1 million at an auction of the French emperor's belongings
A faded and cracked felt bicorne hat worn by Napoléon Bonaparte sold for $2.1 million at an auction Sunday of the French emperor’s belongings.
Yes, $2.1 million.
The signature broad, black hat — one of a handful still in existence that Napoléon wore when he ruled 19th-century France and waged war in Europe — was initially valued at 600,000 to 800,000 euros ($650,000-870,000). It was the centerpiece of Sunday's auction in Fontainebleau of memorabilia collected by a French industrialist who died last year.
READ: Princess Diana’s iconic black sheep sweater could fetch at least $50,000 at auction
But the bidding quickly jumped higher and higher until Jean Pierre Osenat, president of the Osenat auction house, designated the winner.
‘’We are at 1.5 million (euros) for Napoleon’s hat ... for this major symbol of the Napoleonic epoch,'' he said, as applause rang out in the auction hall. The buyer, whose identity was not released, must pay 28.8% in commissions according to Osenat, bringing the overall cost to 1.9 million euros ($2.1 million).
While other officers customarily wore their bicorne hats with the wings facing front to back, Napoleon wore his with the ends pointing toward his shoulders. The style — known as “en bataille,” or in battle — made it easier for his troops to spot their leader in combat.
The hat on sale was first recovered by Col. Pierre Baillon, a quartermaster under Napoléon, according to the auctioneers. The hat then passed through many hands before industrialist Jean-Louis Noisiez acquired it.
READ: Maradona's 'Hand of God' ball expected to rake in $2.7m-$3.3m at auction
The entrepreneur spent more than a half-century assembling his collection of Napoleonic memorabilia, firearms, swords and coins before his death in 2022.
The sale came days before the release of Ridley Scott's film ‘’Napoleon'' with Joaquin Phoenix, which is rekindling interest in the controversial French ruler.
How to Spend the Weekend in a Creative Way
Weekends are like a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of daily life. This period offers a precious window for rejuvenation and self-expression. However, avoiding the pitfalls of idleness and monotony during these treasured days is pivotal. It is the time to shun procrastination and embrace creativity, ensuring these moments are not squandered in lethargy. Engaging in diverse entertaining and stimulating activities can transform weekends into an enriching experience, igniting a sense of fulfilment.
10 Creative Ways to Spend Your Weekends
Reading
You may immerse yourself in a captivating book during the weekend to explore new worlds, gain knowledge, and engage your mind. Reading goes beyond mere entertainment; it expands horizons, fosters empathy, and acquires knowledge.
Read more: Benefits of Reading Habit for Mind and Body
Traversing the lines of a well-crafted story or delving into informative texts engages your mind in discovery and enrichment. Relaxation blends with mental stimulation as reading deepens your understanding of the world. Altogether it is a perfect choice for a fulfilling weekend activity.
Distance Learning: Top Universities Offering Online Courses for International Students
As the world grappled with the reality of the pandemic, most of the academic activities across the world moved to online platforms. Educational institutions utilized technological tools to provide classes and even hold exams. And with that, the concept of distance learning resurged in the limelight. Many renowned universities offered distance learning even before the pandemic. With time, it is becoming a popular and convenient way of attaining a higher degree. This article looks at some of the best international universities providing distance learning opportunities.
What is Distance Learning?
The concept of distance learning is nothing new. The earliest example of distance learning dates back to the 1840s. Back then, Sir Issac Pitman taught shorthand to his students via postal mail. However, today’s concept of distance learning largely differs from that of the 1800s.
Distance learning today essentially mimics an actual classroom with teachers and students. Universities across the globe partner with platforms like Coursera, and edX to provide certification courses to aspiring students. Some universities offer these courses on their own platform. Recently, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are also made available through distance learning opportunities.
Read more: Best Countries for Bachelor's Degree in 2023
8 Best Universities in the World with Distance Learning Opportunities
This list includes universities offering certificate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. It's important to note that distance learning bachelor’s programs are less common than master’s or certificate courses.
University College London
University College London or UCL was founded in 1826. It was established after the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. In addition to their London campus, the university has campuses in Qatar and Australia.
UCL has 11 academic wings ranging from arts and humanities to medical sciences. It ranks 12th in US News’ list of Best Global Universities. The university offers 403 undergraduate degrees. Additionally, it offers 621 master’s degrees, and 271 online courses/degrees. The online courses are a mix of certificate as well as postgraduate degrees in all of their available academic wings.
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Parenting a Teenager? 10 Tips to be Their Best Friend
In today's world, parents often face a significant dilemma when raising a teenager. During this stage of life, the teens strive for independence while still requiring guidance and support from their parents. Striking the right balance between being a parent and being a friend to an adolescent child is quite challenging. Let’s take a look at some effective tips for parents to establish a strong, supportive, and amicable relationship with their teenage children.
10 Tips for Parents to Form Friendship with Their Adolescent Children
Open Communication
Strong parent-teen bond hinges on effective communication. Parents should endeavour to foster open, non-judgemental dialogues with their teenage sons and daughters. It creates a safe space for them to freely express their thoughts and emotions. It is essential to bear in mind that actively listening, rather than merely hearing, conveys a genuine interest in their perspective.
Allowing them the freedom to convey their feelings and ideas, even in cases of disagreement, nurtures trust. Trust, nurtured through open, non-judgemental conversations, forms the foundation of a healthy, enduring relationship with adolescents.
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Respect Their Independence
Adolescents strongly desire independence. Granting freedom at a certain level enables them to learn from both their triumphs and missteps, fostering personal growth. Trusting their judgement, even when it may seem risky, demonstrates faith in their abilities and boosts their self-esteem.
However, maintaining a guiding presence is equally important, stepping in when necessary to provide advice and support. Striking this balance of trust and guidance empowers teenagers to become responsible, self-reliant individuals. It also shows that they can turn to parents when needed.
Shared Interests
Discovering shared hobbies or interests is a powerful way to nurture parent-teen friendships. These mutual activities can be anything, from participating in a sport to pursuing a shared hobby or even jointly binge-watching a TV show.
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Engaging in such activities forges a unique bond that transcends the conventional parent-child dynamic. It connects on a personal level and promotes not just enjoyable moments but also meaningful conversations. Sharing interests deepens the connection, rendering the relationship more enjoyable.