Making a better you How to change your bad habits - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Making a better you How to change your bad habits - Introvert Whisperer Making a better you: How to change your bad habits Every person is like a fingerprint; one entirely different from the other, and so are our habits. Each one of us has at least one bad habit we become so committed to, that we hardly bother to try to get rid of the same. It might be eating unhealthy food, laughing at the wrong moment, biting nails, chewing the gum too loudly, or not to practice your last New Year’s resolution. There is just no limit to acquire these habits. If you will ever speak to a smoker, about 70% of them will say they would like to give up on smoking. Drug and alcohol abusers struggle to give up on addictions once they are into it. Many of us have an unhealthy excess weight that we could lose if only we would eat right and exercise more often. So why don’t we do it? “Habits play an important role in our health,” says Dr. Nora Volkow, director of NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Understanding the biology of how we develop routines that may be harmful to us, and how to break those routines and embrace new ones, could help us change our lifestyles and adopt healthier behaviors.” Habits are a result of repetition. Ohh, wait! I am not saying that repetition is bad, repetition is completely normal, in fact, it is often helpful. We wake up in the morning, brush our teeth, shower, comb, and all this without really being mindful of it. We can even drive on familiar routes without really thinking of the directions and all this only because we have been repeatedly doing the same over the years. So if repetition is completely normal then what is the real problem? Habits are hard to break once they get deeply wired by constant repetition in our brains. For example, feelings you experience after consuming drugs or watching porn. You will hardly think of bathing, but your mind will constantly keep triggering the enjoyable moments, which are different from your day-to-day routine. What can you do to change your bad habits? Just like you need to lift heavy weights to build strong muscles, but you need strong muscles to lift heavy weight. Similarly, you need to practice good habits to get rid of bad ones. Try Replacing rather than Eliminating Habits that you have right now are in your life are for a reason and in some way or the other, they provide a benefit for you. For example, many of us are habitual to biting our nails or tapping our feet when we are stressed. Similarly, many find drinking as a solution to come over an emotional trauma. Because every bad habit provides some kind of benefit in your life, it is very difficult to eliminate them. Thus, we should rather try replacing a bad habit with a good one that provides a similar benefit. For example, if you are habitual to smoking when you are stressed, then it is a bad idea to plan to stop smoking. Instead, you should come up with a different plan to deal with stress and try to insert that into your routine. Bad habits address certain needs in our life, and when fulfilling a need cost just a few bucks (buying a cigarette) then people hardly think of the bad side. Thus, it is very hard to cut out a bad habit without replacing them.   Focus on one habit at a time Just like, you cannot work the whole day or even continuously for 8 hours, similarly, you cannot focus on more than one habit at a time. Our willpower has a limited amount of energy every day, and when it is pushed beyond its limit, it becomes hard to control. If you will try to focus on getting rid of more than one habit at a time, you will more likely get stressed as you will try to control your emotions, practices, and thinking in multiple ways. How does this affect habit development? It is simple.   You will not succeed if you try to change multiple habits at the same time. Each one requires a significant amount of willpower to resist, which leaves you in a glucose-depleted state. Most people do not have the willpower energy to focus on multiple habits.   So when they are in a depleted state, it becomes too easy to give up on all that you started, instead of just one. Thus, try baby steps, which is focusing on one habit at a time. Go into it with a plan To start developing good habits, you have to stick to a plan. The habits you develop while you are young will impact not only your productivity but also health, financial security, happiness, and comfort. How much money you make, how well your body functions years from now, how much time you spend with your friends and family â€" all of these is directly linked with healthy habits you practice today. Thus planning will help you make your today better. Here is what you can do: As simple as that â€" a plan that is neither too easy nor too complicated works the best. Write down your plan â€" writing your plan is a simple way to remind yourself what needs to be done at that moment. What is the Substitute?   invest some time in finding a substitute for your bad habits Give yourself a month or two â€" Changing a habit is not simple. The conventional wisdom is that it takes 28 days to get free of a bad habit thus make sure your plan gives you enough time to change your bad habits for good. Tracking your achievement motivates you The habit of tracking your achievements or downfalls is very helpful in long-term as it encourages you in many ways. For example, if you decide to restrict yourself by a few cigarettes, you need to track their number, like how many, right? It is a great idea to keep track of what is working and what is not. Tracking comes down to checking if you did not engage in your bad habit that day and even if you did they how much more or how much less. Just as if most of us has a habit of counting the number of pushups, we did in the gym each day, similarly, counting days without your addiction helps you build a streak that motivates you to grind further without bowing down. When you are clean for one day, and you have not been in years, that is a bliss. The second day added to a chain feels like an event worth celebrating. Then comes the first week, first month, 100 days in a row, the first year and still counting. Achieving this feat of not embracing a bad habit for over a year is enough to give you a sense of accomplishment. In addition, it also provides priceless data, helping you to identify your pitfalls or how often you avoid triggers of your negative behaviors. Get rid of tempting situations When you are home alone with no friends or family members around, do not take it as an opportunity to have your favorite cookies or donuts left in the jar. Habits are often performed with barely any conscious thought that could be ignored but not stopped. Thus, try to divert your mind by keeping it busy with something else like watching TV or listening to music. If you always stop for a donut on your way to work, try a different route.   If you are trying to avoid checking your cell phone all the time, shut down your cell phone or put it in airplane mode. Try to get rid of tempting situations as much as possible. Outsiders can help Do not feel shy of announcing it to your friends that you are trying to make a change by giving up on this or that habit. Just tell everyone about your new mission. Put it up on your wall or computer desktop with #anewme. Just like I did when I used to work with Thanksforthehelp. How is this beneficial? There are two advantages: In my experience, once we let our friends know that we are trying to give up on a bad habit they work as a reminder. If we try to practice the habit we declared to quit, they will surely poke us, reminding us of our promise to yourself. Thus, you will think twice before practicing the same habit as you may wonder what your friends or family will think of you. Moreover, try finding someone you can call, or an online forum you can tap into when any of your cravings start to kick in, and you are struggling. Let your allies hold you accountable, and that will help you give up on a habit. Love your life No matter what happens, let your life know that you love it. Learn to embrace every situation life throws at you with a positive attitude. Remind yourself that you were born with the ability to make a change in your life. Every moment is an experience and those moments have to have quality. The habits, which you decide to follow need not always, be the one which contributes to your career or health. It can be as simple as start worrying less, drinking more water, etc. When you know that you love something your life in this case it becomes very easy to make efforts for it and efforts will surely bring a change.     Author bio Himanshi Goel has been associated as a Social Media Expert with CDR-Report.comsince its start. She really loves to pen down her thoughts on mental constructs, habits, personal development and anything that pleases her eyes. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

What to Know About AP Exams in 2019

What to Know About AP Exams in 2019 Attention high school AP students: beginning this August, you can expect changes to the AP exam process. Items on the agenda include enhanced free test prep materials for AP teachers, an earlier AP exam registration deadline in November, and a $40.00 late fee for late registration or exam cancellation. If youre planning on taking an AP course, read on to learn about the changes that could affect your AP exam experience in 2019. Change #1 for AP exams in 2019: new study and assessment materials The College Board has developed study tools and curriculum materials for teachers. This includes a library of unit-by-unit planning guides for AP classes, real exam questions, unit assessment tests, and a performance dashboard on which students and teachers can track performance on AP course materials. For teachers, study and assessment tools could make it easier than ever to help their students master an AP subject. For students, these resources could help keep their studying more focused during the yearincreasing their understanding of the AP subject and boosting their AP exam performance at the end of the year. [RELATED: The Ultimate Study Plan for AP Courses] Change #2 for AP exams in 2019: new exam registration deadline According to the College Board, high school students are more likely to take an AP examand to do wellif they commit to doing so at the start of the school year. For that reason, the College Board has moved its AP exam registration deadline to November. However, it suggests students decide whether or not they wish to take AP exams even earlier, by October. If you fail to register by November, or later change your exam selection or cancel your exam altogether, youll be charged a $40.00 late fee. [RELATED: The Top 4 Myths About AP Exams] Change #3 for AP exams in 2019: new curricula for certain AP courses For all AP classes, you can expect the curricula to be clearer and more streamlined due to the College Boards new AP course resources. Several popular courses, specifically AP World History and AP Biology, will also be updated. Some major changes for the AP World History curriculum include: Organization of the course into four historical periods from 1200 CE to the present Organization of the course into nine units covering those four historical periods Addition of a sixth theme, Technology and Innovation A new framework outlining specific skills necessary to ace the AP World History exam Some major changes for the AP Biology curriculum include: Organization of the course into eight commonly taught biology units, including the cell cycle and ecology Correspondence of the eight units with four Big Ideas in biologyevolution, energetics, information storage and transfer, and systems interaction Better connection of learning objectives to what is taught A new framework outlining specific skills necessary to ace the AP Biology exam For a full list of AP courses, visit the College Board. [RELATED: What Are AP Through-Course Assessments?] Being aware of these changes and what they will mean for your AP studies can benefit your overall AP experience. If youre on the fence about taking an AP exam next year, sit down with your schools guidance counselor to learn about your options and to determine which academic plan is best for you. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

What Are The Latest Developments In Online Tutoring Systems Or Platforms

What Are The Latest Developments In Online Tutoring Systems Or Platforms 0SHARESShare Education is very much part of life today. Proficiency, good academic result, in-depth knowledge and very good communication skill are important to land a job in today’s scenario.  Industries these days look for candidates who are multi-skilled. With the arrival of the internet, the whole lot seems to be available on the net. Its vast reach and easier availability have made things very easy. One of these is the educational system. Nowadays you have a virtual classroom session that may be attended from the comfort of home. Students can access online experts anytime from wherever they want. They may ask questions about various topics and get their doubts clarified.  There are online tutoring websites offering solutions to your home work as well! You may even get the required guidance for your test preparation. The online tutoring system supplies the keys to unlock the essential subjects for your children without the threat of discrimination. Students are not discriminated for color of skin, caste, religion or sex. Now online tutoring  platform  has become a dependable stand for NCLB students. As a part of the latest development US Govt has introduced a special session for this section. They are now eligible to attend structured classes and enjoy the free educational support. The use of Skype, Google chat, sharing of whiteboard, audio visual sessions make the sites attractive.   Experts are however, working recurrently to improve the system so as to make it more effective. [starbox id=admin]

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK REQUESTED BY NCDHHS ADD MATH - Heart Math Tutoring

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK REQUESTED BY NCDHHS â€" ADD MATH - Heart Math Tutoring COMMUNITY FEEDBACK REQUESTED BY NCDHHS â€" ADD MATH COMMUNITY FEEDBACK REQUESTED BY NCDHHS â€" ADD MATH November 19, 2018 The NC Department of Health and Human Services released a draft statewide Early Childhood Action Plan and is asking for community feedback in writing by November 30th. The goal of the plan is to improve early childhood outcomes across NC for children ages 0 â€" 8. Ten high level goals range from improving housing and hunger to health and academics. While it is encouraging to see reading included in the plan, (goal #10 is stated as “Grade Level Reading: Young children across North Carolina will read on grade-level in elementary school.”), it is surprising that math is not currently included as a goal.This document should ideally drive action across the state and so what is included (or excluded) matters. Photo credit:www.cvcsd.stier.org Here are some reasons it is important to include math in efforts to improve early childhood outcomes: School-entry math skills are predictive of later achievement in both math and reading â€" with an even higher correlation than school-entry reading skills. (Greg Duncan, et. Al, 2007) Only 40% of fourth graders in North Carolina are on grade level in math. (2017 NAEP) Math at age 7 impacts socio-economic status at age 42 (Source: Ritchie Bates, Enduring Links From Childhood Mathematics and Reading Achievement to Adult Socioeconomic Status, 2013) The Early Childhood Action Plan can be found here: https://files.nc.gov/ncdhhs/ECAP-Draft-11.01.18.pdf Community members are invited to go on record requesting that math be incorporated as a high-level goal along with reading (“Grade Level Reading AND Math”) by emailingEdnv. EXAMPLE FEEDBACK: Dear NCDHHS â€" I saw a copy of the Early Childhood Action Plan and want to urge you to include math in goal #10 (“Grade level reading and math”). Math is critical to academic confidence, high-school graduation, and post-secondary and employment options, and skills must be developed early. Here are some additional stats: School-entry math skills are predictive of later achievement in both math and reading â€" with an even higher correlation than school-entry reading skills. (Greg Duncan, et. Al, 2007) Only 40% of fourth graders in North Carolina are on grade level in math. (2017 NAEP) Math at age 7 impacts socio-economic status at age 42 (Source: Ritchie Bates, Enduring Links From Childhood Mathematics and Reading Achievement to Adult Socioeconomic Status, 2013) In early years, math and literacy skills are closely tied (executive function skills, language that organizes/categorizes/describes, ordering and quantities). Please make sure families, educators, and community leaders know how important both subjects are to success and that neither subject is left behind at children’s detriment. Thank you.

The Science of Roberto Carlos Impossible Free Kick

The Science of Roberto Carlos Impossible Free Kick If you are a football fan, youre probably aware of Roberto Carlos impossible  1997 agains France. He seemed to do something that defied the laws of physics, make the ball turn in the air around a group of players, and into the goal.If you are not familiar with it, you can watch it here.So how is this impossible kick possible? The animated TED video below explains the science that made it work in a very interesting way. Watch it and see if you can answer the questions.Answer the questions below in comments and we will respond.1. Just before going out of bounds, it ____ to __ ___ and ____ into the goal.2. What did the ball need to make it go into the goal, according to Newtons first law of motion?3. What made the ball curve? What is the name of the effect?4. What makes the kick so hard to do?5. How did Newton notice the Magnus effect?6. What would you have to do to make the ball spiral?7. Do you have a favorite moment in football history? Describe it.

2018 Official Guide to the GMAT Review Series Problem #167 (Back solving Variable in Choices)

2018 Official Guide to the GMAT Review Series Problem #167 (Back solving Variable in Choices) GMAT MBA Admissions Blog in this series, one of our most experienced GMAT tutors, John Easter, applies useful strategies to answer questions from the 2018 Official Guide. Problem #167 of the 2018 Official Guide to the GMAT states that four extra-large sandwiches of exactly the same size were ordered for m students where m4. Three of the sandwiches were evenly divided among the students. Since 4 students did not want any of the fourth sandwich, it was evenly divided among the remaining students. If Carol ate one piece from each of the four sandwiches, the amount of sandwich that she ate would be what fraction of a whole extra-large sandwich? (A) (m+4)/(m(m-4) (B) (2m-4)/(m(m-4)) (C) (4m-4)/(m(m-4)) (D) (4m-8)/(m(m-4)) (E) (4m-12)/(m(m-4)) It's a VIC (variables in choices), and there is only one variable, so, obviously, it's time to back-solve! STEP 1: Pick a nice value for m that is greater than 4. This is our pick. Anything should work, so let's say m = 6. STEP 2: Solve the problem when m = 6. The result is our target number. So, six students divided three sandwiches equally. That means each of these students got1/6 of each of three sandwiches. Now, because 4 students didn't want any of the last sandwich is was divided equally between the other 2 students, one of whom was Carol. So, Carol ate 1/6 of each of the three sandwiches that everyone shared and1/2 of the forth sandwich. Carol ate 1/6 + 1/6 + 1/6 + 1/2 sandwiches. That's 1 sandwich. So, our target number is 1. STEP 3: Plug our pick into the answer choices until we find our target number. A nice thing to notice is that all of our answers have the same denominator: m(m-4). If we plug 6 into that denominator we get 12. Since our target number is 1, we only need to find an answer with a numerator equal to 12. (A) 6 + 4 = 10. Nope (B) 2(6) - 4 = 8. Nope (C) 4(6) - 4 = 20. Nope (D) 4(6) - 8 = 16. Nope (E) 4(6) - 12 = 12. Yep The correct answer is E. An important caveat - this pick worked really well, but it's always possible that more than one answer will turn your pick into your target number. It's rare, but it can happen. If it does happen, don't panic. Pick a new number and try it on the answers that produced your target number. One of them will work and the others probably won't. If, by some chance, more than one answer still produces your target number, rinse and repeat. Now you try this problem with your own pick. About the Author John Easter is one of MyGuru’s longest tenured and most experienced GMAT tutors. He is also the founder of Owl Test Prep, another great source for GMAT advice.

Want to Be the Best Babysitter Ever Get Certified!

Want to Be the Best Babysitter Ever Get Certified! Photo courtesy of pixabay.com 1.  CPR: As an active babysitter myself, this is the most popular request I have received. The Red Cross offers courses, and there are many other online options as well. This certification does cost a bit of money, but if you have already signed up to babysit for someone, you may consider asking them to use part of your pay to pay for the course. It is very quick and easy, but it will help you gain trust in any family you babysit. 2.  First Aid:  Chances are that if you are CPR certified, you are also first aid certified. But if you choose to opt out of the CPR, the first aid certification is a good starting position that will still get you in many doors. This course will teach you the basic facts of caring for a child, such as how to treat simple cuts, how to perform the Heimlich maneuver, and how to stabilize a child until further help arrives. 3.  General Babysitter Certification:  Check out if there are any 4-H Clubs near you that offer babysitter certification services. These courses provide useful tips as to how to entertain children, what to do when children act up, and what to do in emergency situations. You can also receive your first-aid certification through the program. The clubs will often come to schools to conduct the certification, which will be one day a week for a month, but there are other options as well. If there is no 4-H near you, check for a Safe Sitter course. It offers many of the same things as 4-H. You can also find a similar course at your local YMCA. The top three certifications are the most important to have, as they directly relate to the safety of the children. There are, however, other steps you can take to further set yourself apart from other applicants and increase your credibility. Photo courtesy of pixabay.com 4.  Drivers License:  You will find that many parents want to hire someone that will be able to pick up/drop off their children at school or extracurricular activities. So, having your license (and access to a car) can prove a valuable asset. 5.  Lifeguard:  Especially for the summer, this certification is very valuable. Many families may have access to a pool club or public pool, and they will want someone who they can trust to swim with their children and help as needed. Of course, all of these places have lifeguards, but extra reassurance is never a problem. Furthermore, if these families have pools in the backyard, you will act as the one and only lifeguard. 6.  Pet Care:  Pets are common in family households, so parents like you to be comfortable around them. Whats even better, however, is if you can take care of the pets. Its actually possible to become certified in pet sitting. If you own a pet yourself, that may be enough, but it can never hurt to be over prepared. 7.  Nutrition:  Consider taking some nutrition classes or a Cooking 101 session. These will give you more credibility when a parent wants someone that can prepare meals for their children. If your school does not offer a class, or if it cant fit in your schedule, keep an eye out for events going on locally. There are many opportunities you may not realize were ever out there. 8.  Tutoring:  Being a certified tutor can also play to your advantage. It shows that you are able to work well with children in addition to being an academically strong candidate. While not all of these certifications are necessary, nor does having them necessarily mean that you will get the job, they will certainly provide an advantage over a disadvantage. Most parents are willing to give you a chance if you show that you are responsible. Think back to your favorite babysitters and what you liked about them, and aspire to be like them. At the same time, do not forget that babysitting is not always fun and games. You should be prepared for anything and know how to respond. With everyone wanting a babysitting job these days, consider going the extra mile with these certifications to seal the deal.

Grammar Schools - Tutor Hunt Blog

Grammar Schools Grammar Schools Grammar SchoolsSchoolsThe topic of grammar schools has always been a contentious one - by having what is effectively an entrance exam, do they pave a privileged path for certain children, leading them towards opportunity and prosperity, and consign those who did not perform well enough on that one day, when they were only eleven years old, to a second rate education? Many would say that this is being overly dramatic - there is, in theory, nothing subsidiary about state schools in comparison to grammar schools. A child of ability will flourish in any environment, as long as they are given opportunity: this is the power of education. Teresa May`s recent campaign to overturn the ban on creating new grammar schools has angered many people. Her most anodyne of opponents have stated that grammar schools do not actually provide better education, and a pupil who passes their eleven plus would do just as well if they attended a state comprehensive. The Education Policy Institute conducted a thorough data analysis, and concluded that `Once prior attainment and pupil background is taken into consideration, we find no overall attainment impact of grammar schools, either positive or negative.` More vociferous opponents of Teresa May`s proposal have said that grammar schools only help to widen the divide between children from affluent backgrounds, and those from average or lower income families. With grammar schools tending to crop up in more prosperous areas, it is easy to see the correlation here. There is also evidence that many teachers are drawn to grammar schools, as they relish the opportunity of working with children who are more intellectually able; and so there is an ever greater impoverishment of teachers to supply the needs of comprehensive schools. Teresa May has argued that increasing the number of grammar schools will enhance social mobility - a claim severely critiqued by many in the education sector. Malcolm Trobe, acting general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, has said, in reference to the Education Policy Institute report, `creating more selective schools will not raise overall educational standards in England and is likely to widen the attainment gap between rich and poor children,` The decision by Teresa May to increase the number of grammar schools is a radical volte-face, going against the policy of the last five decades. Since the late 1960`s there has been a trend towards comprehensive schools. Labour`s Education minister Tony Crosland launched a vehement campaign to `destroy every *expletive deleted* grammar school in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.` This impassioned policy was much to do with reforming the ideology of privilege, as it was to reform the secondary schooling system. It was a bold riposte against the conservatism of his opponents, and until Teresa May`s September statement, where she said she would end the ban on constructing new Grammar Schools, it was the prevailing opinion of almost every subsequent political party. By the 1980`s most of the grammar schools throughout the United Kingdom had either closed, or converted to comprehensives. In the 1995 Labour Party Conference, the Education Spokesman David Blunkett promised that there wou ld never be an increase of selective schools under a Labour government. The history of state funded Grammar schools has its roots in the mid 1940`s. RA Butler`s 1944 education reforms mandated that every child of ability should have access to further education. As innocuous as this sounds today, it was such an important reform, because it stressed the ability of the child, over the affluence and social standing of its parents. The pertinent part of the reform here is `child of ability.` Only those children of sufficient intellect were guaranteed a place at a grammar school. The eleven plus exam was thus formed: if a child passed they would gain admittance to their local Grammar school; if they failed, they were for the local secondary modern school. As of 2016 there are only around 160 grammar schools in the United kingdom. Of course there are many private schools that have a rigorous selection procedure, but the trend for assessing and segregating children for their admittance into secondary state schools has been unpopular for many decades. Will Teresa May`s decision to permit the construction of new grammar schools be see as a progressive move? Will her decision engender further division between the rich and poor, or is she courageously addressing the issue of the UK`s failing Pisa ranking (measuring maths and reading abilities), which in 2013 publications, had the UK reaching only 23rd position, falling behind Belgium, France and Germany? 3 years ago0Add a Comment