4 Ways To Use Mindfulness When Writing Essays
Essay writing can be overwhelming and exhausting – even for those of us who love writing. If you find yourself stuck in the “I’ll do it tomorrow” circle or the “I can’t finish my paper because it’s not perfect” mindset, these four mindfulness practices can help boost your writing and your confidence.
1. Be Mindful of Overanalysis
Analysis plays an important role in any form of writing, but it’s especially important when writing essays. Arguments need to be constructed strategically, and it’s important to consider where and how you present information to the reader.
With that said, you can also reach a point where you’re overanalyzing just about everything. Overanalyzing can lead to over-thinking, anxiety, stress and fear of failure.
When you find yourself stuck in the over-analyzation loop (or paralysis analysis, as psychologists say), stop what you’re doing and give yourself a moment to calm down. Take long, deep breath, and focus on your breathing.
Once the mind chatter quiets, you’ll be in a much better place to look at your writing from a rational state of mind that isn’t overthinking everything.
2. Be Mindful of the Perfection Delusion
The goal with any form of essay writing – or academic project for that matter – is to give it your all and do the best you possibly can. Many of us take this idea to the extreme and strive for perfection.
Perfection may seem like a good thing to strive for, but it’s a never ending cycle with little reward or satisfaction. Why? Because you never finish your work.
Let go of the impossibly high standards you set for yourself. These standards act more like barriers that prevent you from writing freely and completing your essay.
I’d venture to say that the need for perfection and the fear of failure are two major reasons why students use essay writing services for their assignments. That perfection delusion makes us believe we aren’t good enough to complete the task on our own, so we’ll get someone with the right credentials to do it for us.
3. Be Mindful of Procrastination
“I’ll write that paper tomorrow,” said every student ever. Many of us get stuck in the procrastination trap, which usually leaves us scrambling to get things in order at the last minute.
The key to success with anything in life – and that includes essay writing – is to take action. Far too many of us get stuck in the planning phase and struggle to move into the writing, or “action” phase.
Stop putting off your writing, and dive in.
Be mindful of when you start thinking about doing a task rather than actually doing it. Ask yourself if you’d rather spend your time thinking endlessly, or produce something real (i.e. your essay).
4. Be Mindful of Mental Chatter and Distractions
Quieting your mind’s mental chatter and letting go of distractions will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the writing experience. When you’re fully immersed and engaged in what you’re doing, you’ll find that the words flow freely and you can keep those pesky mental criticisms in check.
Simply being mindful of the present moment can help tear down mental barriers that keep you from completing the project. What techniques do you use to break through your apprehensions and just start writing?
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5 Simple Ways To Build Your Own Online Business Within One Year
Nigeria is one of the best African countries to live if you are a young entrepreneur. That is because you’ll probably be able to build an English language online business. This will allow you to make western wages while residing in a country where the cost of living is lower.
The only problem people will have is deciding which kind of online business to start. Try to build the next Snapchat or Twitter if your dream is to own a billion dollar company, but almost everyone who does it will fail. We’re going to look at the easiest options you’ll have success with.
Start Shooting Videos
If you want to be great at something it generally means being in the top 25 percent in the world, which is easy if you work hard and you’re passionate. When you finally reach that level you can make videos about the subject.
Everyone from Toronto DUI lawyers to Chinese jugglers have a YouTube channel these days. If you keep uploading informative videos it’s possible to make thousands of US dollars per month.
Search Engine Optimization
There is usually one rule that always stands true when it comes to making money online. If you can help another company increase their profits they’ll always be willing to hire you because they can’t lose.
Perhaps the most common way to do this is by building backlinks for other websites, which will help them rank higher in Google. You can get clients by emailing people and offering to do the first small job for free.
Writing Multiple eBooks
You don’t have to be a superb writer to make money with books. You only need to know enough information about a certain subject to be helpful, but unlike shooting videos you can research topics instead of being an expert in them.
Then you publish books in places like the Amazon Kindle store and with a little marketing you can earn thousands of US dollars from a cheap eBook. The real trick with book publishing is to write as many as possible.
Sign Up To Job Boards
What is the one thing in the world every website needs? They’ll want content and you can provide it for them instead of writing books. The income isn’t passive but you’ll make money much quicker.
iWriter is a good example of a site to get started with. If you’re capable of writing good articles you’ll be able to choose the ones you like from a job board. Once they’re approved you’ll instantly earn money.
Build An Affiliate Site
When you build a website and promote products you’ll get a commission for each sale. The possibilities are endless as long as you know how to generate traffic. Being able to offer the right products to your readers helps too.
At a recent conference criminal lawyers in Toronto did remind everyone about eBay helping send their top affiliate to jail. If you’re going to go down this route it needs to be done in a legitimate way.
It’s Time To Take Action
If any of these ideas seem interesting to you now is the time to take action. Within the next year you could possibly be making more money than you’ve ever made in your life. None of these are impossible businesses to build and you need to keep going until you succeed.
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Payday Loans Expanding Rapidly In South African Market Place
Since the credit crunch, around five years ago, lenders have found it increasing difficult to acquire funds from banks and other financial organisations. As a result, many have turned to payday lending companies e.g. Wonga South Africa, to tide them over with short term credit until their next payday. Payday loans are a ‘last resort’ for emergency financial situations, such as unexpected bills or home repairs and on many occasions. It’s important to remember that these loans are not designed to be a regular staple of your budget, they’re only for short term emergency use and should be paid back as quickly as possible. Unfortunately there’s evidence that a small percentage of users are using them incorrectly.
International growth
As well as being a household name in the UK, Wonga have also grown throughout other parts of the globe and now have a presence in Spain, Canada and Poland. They’re rapidly growing their customer base in South Africa with over a million customers served already. The solidification of big brands in the short term lending market has helped reduce the risk to customers of loan sharking from smaller websites with less credibility.
The Benefits
There are a few advantages to these types of loan when used for short term lending purposes. One being that although you’re still required to undergo a credit check, these are usually a lot less restrictive than bank loan applications. The quick access to the funds is another fundamental benefit of using a payday loan, particularly for unexpected bills, which could otherwise cause a lot of stress and worry. As long as you have a bank account, you are over 18 and have an income, you are typically entitled to apply for a payday loan. You may be asked for proof of your income, such as pay slips, bank statements or tax returns.
The Future of online lending
With the financial situation as it is for many people, it seems that payday lending will always be part of the lives of many and if used in the way it was intended, it can help to alleviate urgent money worries. There are always times in our life when we aren’t quite prepared financially for unexpected costs and with access to payday loans, it can often save the hassle and stress which comes with being unable to make payments.
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5 Effects Of Not Don’t Clean Your Tongue Daily
You brush your teeth daily. It is as white as snow. However, you don’t clean your tongue because you always forget. This is not good as you may be at risk of some mouth diseases. Brushing your teeth is therefore as important as flossing your tongue. This is because bacteria are oftentimes lurking around the tongue and the only way you can get rid of them is to brush.
Here are 5 things that usually happens if you don’t clean your tongue.
Halitosis
Halitosis is also known as bad breath and it is one of the biggest consequences of not cleaning your tongue. When you don’t clean your tongue, the bacteria builds a house on it, lives there and if it stays longer than usual, it will give off a foul smell. If you have bad breath, you will discover that no one wants to talk to you.
Gum disease
When some people brush, their gum bleeds profusely. You would think they got punched or something. No, it is because they don’t brush their tongue. It is called Gingivitis and it makes your gum red, swollen, and quick to bleed.
Tooth loss
Since your gum is weak and susceptible to bacteria attack because you don’t brush your tongue, it may affect your tooth. You may slowly begin to lose it one after the other. To halt this, try as much as possible to regularly clean your tongue.
Dull taste buds
You will lose your sense of taste due to bacteria, dead skin and other food residues covering your tongue. As a result, your sense of taste will not sharp. Accordingly, when you take something sweet and you don’t feel the taste on your tongue, it may be due to not brushing your tongue.
Black Hairy Tongue
This is like the most advanced stage of a very dirty and unclean tongue. This occurs when the papillae (the small, nipple-like structures on the upper surface of the tongue that give the tongue its characteristic rough texture) is replete with leftover food and drinks {coffee}. The tongue becomes very dark if you don’t clean it. This is harmless, and it disappears after brushing the tongue. Regardless, you don’t want to be displaying a dark tongue to friends.
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7 Strong Reasons You Should Invest In Real Estate
In a bid to attain financial stability, many search for proper investments with their income. Real estate is one of the most robust investment options, especially in the long run.
Here are 7 reasons you should take advantage of this robust investment option and invest in real estate.
It’s as Safe as Houses
“Safe as houses” is a popular slang in real estate that basically means real estate investments are perfectly safe because of the paying character of house property as an investment. Property value tends to increase without the volatility of the share market which makes it an all-round safer investment. When you factor in the return and risk associated with buying property and shares, property is considered a far safer investment.
It Doesn’t Need Specialist Knowledge
You don’t need specialist knowledge to start investing in real estate. It is easier to research than stock and shares. Understanding the stock market requires a lot of education as well as research brokers and fund managers to help. Investing in property is however a lot simpler: it’s as simple as jumping online to start looking for properties from legitimate and registered realtors, real estate firms or property and real estate listing websites. A significant amount of research can be done online, by visiting open houses and auctions or contacting realtors and real estate firms – without needing to have vast specialist knowledge beforehand.
Technology Has Made Things Much Easier
Today, technology has made real estate investments a lot easier. For example, advertising your property is as simple as tweeting about it, sharing a post about it on Facebook or posting an ad on a property and real estate listing website like Jumia House, Nigeria Property Center etc. There’s so much technology readily available to real estate investors, that you can easily manage a portfolio of properties without really needing to leave your home all the time.
It’s a Remarkable Flexible Investment
With property, regardless of your financial aims you are mostly able to find an investment strategy that works for you. There’s the long-term capital growth strategy where in the long-term the property purchased delivers capital gain (provided the right area with correct supply/demand ratio and demographics is selected). Then, there’s the positive cash flow strategy where you can rent out the property for cash flow. There’s also the adding value strategy where you can renovate, subdivide or even alter the use of an existing property to develop, create or increase the value of the property.
Full Control
For property investments, once you’re done paying for the property and settling legal requirements, you directly own the asset and have virtually complete control over it. You can directly influence the asset worth (by adding value to it) and cash flow (e.g. by raising rent).
There’s an Investment for Every Budget
If you do some research you’ll see various offers from realtors and real estate firms offering affordable entry points for real estate investment. The only thing required is for your income flow to be stable enough to support payments in installments till you fully own the property. If you buy smartly, you can even expect equivalent or better growth on these affordable assets than more expensive assets.
A Few Years from Now You’ll Wish You Did
Investments typically take time before they yield large returns. This is why if you start today and invest smartly, you’ll be patting yourself on the back a couple of years from now for a job well done. To be honest, we are at a point where real estate investments just make sense. But, like any other investment, please be sure to understand what you are doing and be diligent enough to do your work and research to find the 1-in-100 deals that make sense. Some suggestions on real estate companies to consider for this research are Elegant Court, WhiteBricks, Propertylink Real Estate Investment Limited, Cappa and D’Alberto PLC etc.
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What’s The Difference Between Diet Coke vs. Coca-Cola Zero?
When it comes to Coca-Cola products, people tend to be die-hard fans. Many of us know someone who can’t go a day without a Diet Coke (or two or three). And while Diet Coke has been a leading sugar-free soft drink since it was first released in 1982, it came to light that young adult males shied away from this beverage — identifying diet cola as a woman’s drink. The company’s answer to that predicament came in 2005 — in the form of a shiny black can — with the release of Coca-Cola Zero.
While Diet Coke was created with its own flavor profile and not as a sugar-free version of the original, Coca-Cola Zero aims to taste just like the “real Coke flavor.” Despite their polar opposite advertising campaigns, the contents and nutritional information of the two sugar-free colas is nearly identical. With that information in hand we at HuffPost Taste needed to know: Which of these two artificially-sweetened Coca-Cola beverages actually tastes better? And can you even tell the difference between them?
Before we get to the results of our taste test, here are the facts:
Diet Coke
Motto: Always Great Taste
Nutritional Information: Many say that a can of Diet Coke actually contains somewhere between 1-4 calories, but if a serving size contains fewer than 5 calories a company is not obligated to note it in its nutritional information. Diet Coke’s nutritional information reads 0 Calories, 0g Fat, 40mg Sodium, 0g Total Carbs, 0g Protein.
Ingredients: Carbonated water, caramel color, aspartame, phosphoric acid, potassium benzonate, natural flavors, citric acid, caffeine.
Artificial sweetener: Aspartame
Coca-Cola Zero
Motto: Real Coca-Cola Taste AND Zero Calories
Nutritional Information: While the label clearly advertises this beverage as a zero calorie cola, we are not entirely certain that its minimal calorie content is simply not required to be noted in the nutritional information. Coca-Cola Zero’s nutritional information reads 0 Calories, 0g Fat, 40mg Sodium, 0g Total Carbs, 0g Protein.
Artificial sweetener: Aspartame and acesulfame potassium
Ingredients: Carbonated water, caramel color, phosphoric acid, aspartame, potassium benzonate, natural flavors, potassium citrate, acesulfame potassium, caffeine.
The Verdict:
Twenty-four editors blind-tasted the two cokes, side by side, and…
- 54 percent of our tasters were able to distinguish Diet Coke from Coca-Cola Zero
- 50 percent of our tasters preferred Diet Coke to Coca-Cola Zero, and vice versa
Here’s what our tasters thought of the two sugar-free soft drinks:
Diet Coke: “Tastes fake right away.” “Much fresher brighter, crisper.” “Has the wonderful flavors of Diet Coke’s artificial sweeteners.”
Coca-Cola Zero: “Has more of a sharply sweet aftertaste I associate with diet sodas.” “Tastes more like regular coke, less like fake sweetener.” “Has an odd taste.” “Tastes more like regular.” “Very sweet.”
Overall comments: “That was a lot more difficult than I though it would be.” “Both equally palatable.” A few people said Diet Coke tasted much better … unbeknownst to them, they were actually referring to Coca-Cola Zero.
IN SUMMARY: It is a real toss up. There is not one artificially-sweetened Coca-Cola beverage that outshines the other. So how do people choose between one or the other? It is either a matter of personal taste, or maybe the marketing campaigns will influence their choice.
Which sugar-free Coca-Cola product do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below.
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7 Ways To Make Long Road Trips More Comfortable
Travelling is generally fun. But having to travel long distances by road can be a nightmare! Damilola Ojo, shares 7 ways to make travelling by road more comfortable for you.
Get a good night sleep
Most times, because we pack at the eleventh hour, we end up getting very little sleep the day before we are to travel. Avoid this. Have a good night’s sleep before the travel day; unwind, relax and prepare your body for the trip. It’s much easier to cope with the stress of road travel this way.
Wear a comfortable outfit
This is very important especially for the ladies. For long drives, relegate fashion to the background for a bit and let comfort take center stage. There really is no need to dress to impress since you are going to be in a car or bus for the better part of the day. Loose fitting pants and shirts are ideal for road travel.
Pack healthy snacks and eat light
If you decide to pack snack along with you on the trip, be sure it’s healthy, not the type that’s likely to purge or upset your stomach. Also, eat light. You don’t want to be that person in the vehicle with the constant need to ease himself/herself, and some of the time you are going to have to do so out by or in the bush because the nearest toilet might be a mile away.
Be mindful of your posture
You should keep your body moving during the trip, especially if you are a passenger. Periodically switch sitting positions, pump your ankles and move your arms to prevent aches and pains. You should also avoid slouching and can consider taking along with you a travel pillow or a small pillow to support your back. If you are the one driving, you can also consider using cruise control (if your vehicle has one) when you can, so you can rest your feet for a bit. Be sure to set the cruise control at a safe speed.
Use relaxation techniques
Playing soft music during the trip or using relaxation techniques like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation etc. can help reduce your stress levels during a long ride. You can also take full advantage of the few stops during the trip to stretch and walk around. In addition, you can take a book along with you to read and take a biro and notebook to scribble thoughts on and maybe write journal entries or even new music (if you are a writer or songwriter).
Bring along disposable pre-moistened body wipes
Riding along in a car for hours can make your body feel sticky so you can bring along disposable pre-moistened body wipes to freshen up a bit during the ride and keep comfortable. You can wipe your body down in the privacy of the restroom at a rest stop or simply wipe yourself discreetly in the vehicle. Favour alcohol-free disposable wipes when buying these – they are kinder to your skin.
Stop occasionally
Especially if you are the one driving, you should build some stops into your timeline when planning road trips, especially if you have children with you. Stop for some minutes to stretch, use the restroom and walk around to relax your body and help improve your blood flow.
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5 Misconceptions About The City Of Port Harcourt
The city of Port Harcourt is the third most developed metropolis in Nigeria after Lagos and Abuja. It’s been dubbed Nigeria’s oil capital and can arguably be called the oil hub of Africa. The city, also known as the Garden City because of its numerous avenues and ornaments, has over the years been rife with a number of misconceptions. Damilola Ojo, a Jumia blogger, reveals 5 misconceptions about the bustling city.
It’s an Expensive City to Live in
Things in the city are not so cheap but they definitely are not as expensive as rumours tend to exaggerate. There are still places you can go to get a lot of affordable things; you just need to ask around to know these places.
Things are Unsettled
The city is actually quite laid back. You might expect to see the craziness of rushing for buses or cabs, but the commuters are most of the time calm and enter the means of transport in an orderly way; the transportation drivers, however, are another thing entirely. The people are generally quite laid back as they typically favor enjoyment over violence.
Full of Violence
The city experiences occasional bouts of violence, especially around or during their election season. However, it is unfair to dismiss the city as one that’s full of violence. Admittedly, looting, cultism and violence are vices the city has to deal with but these are most of the time limited to specific areas that can be avoided. It certainly doesn’t mean that the entire city is unsafe or prone to senseless bouts of violence.
Most of their Youths are Juveniles
Juveniles are in every state across the country, they are not peculiar to Port Harcourt alone and they are definitely not the brand of every youth in that region. There are indeed some bad eggs among their youth, who erroneously believe violence and crime is the way, but there is also a larger number of young hustlers looking for legitimate ways to survive and achieve their goals. There are lots of smart youths there, who thought might be willing to cut one or two corners to succeed, are brilliant and resilient enough to succeed without submitting to a life of crime and violence. This is one of the reasons the city is such a dynamic business domain.
It’s Sin City
The people of the city indeed love the night life. The city can, in all truth, be described as a destination for night owls as many places that are silent during the daytime come alive at night. However, this is mostly because the people are by nature inclined to luxury, enjoyment and relaxation. They love to have fun and enjoy themselves; they love the good life. But who doesn’t? We all do. Besides a good number of them work so hard during the day, it’s only fair they unwind whenever they can.
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3 Types Of Toxic People You Need To Avoid At All Cost
You’ve seen these people. You’ve been around them. You may have even encountered them directly. They stand inside elevators, staring at you as you race toward the doors closing in your face. They don’t talk; they dictate. They don’t conversate; they interrogate. Dread is their wardrobe. Agitation, their favorite color. Goodwill flees when they enter a room. Although talking to them for 30 seconds is like taking a 10-mile hike on a rocky road in wet stilettos, you can neutralize toxic people. You just have to identify which type of pestilent personality you’re dealing with—and then follow these steps to inoculate yourself from their effects.
Type I: The Toxically Infused
People like this likely spent much of their formative years in environments (households, schools, neighborhoods) where social interactions were often abrasive and contentious. The volume knob for conversations turned from loud to yelling. Patience had a brief life expectancy, and courtesy was virtually extinct. For the Toxically Infused, corrosive communication has become habitual and ingrained. Convulsive exchanges are their normal engagement. They simply don’t interpret their conduct as being flagrant and unseemly.
Behaviors: talking loudly in public spaces, imposing on and interrupting conversations, unmannerly speech, inappropriate comments, gratuitous profanity.
The Inoculation: Firm guidance. To defuse the infused, you’ll need to think like an uncompromising mentor. The Toxically Infused have not been taught or exposed to the ways of civil etiquette. They have no concept of an “inside speaking voice” and are bluntly unskilled in tact and diplomacy. If you demonstrate you are well intentioned rather than demeaning, they will often act upon the opportunity for self-improvement.
Inform with insight. Metaphors and analogies are great for giving someone a reference model for conduct. For example, if someone nearby is talking loudly and refuses a request to tone it down because they don’t think it’s a big deal, try this comparison: “I get that, but let me ask you something: Does it bother you when someone blows cigarette smoke in your face? Talking loudly around others can have a similar effect on them.”
Type II: The Toxically Complicit
People like this know acceptable standards of conduct. They realize mocking and bullying are bad behaviors but participate in them, cashing in their principles for advancement. The Toxically Complicit view themselves as doing what’s needed to survive (and sometimes thrive), and they rarely reflect on or are censured for their insensitivity.
Behaviors: gossiping, status-seeking opportunism, double-dealing hypocrisy, shunning and excluding individuals, condoning by silent consent.
The Inoculation: Demonstrate character. The Toxically Complicit have a moral compass; they just stick it in their pockets and follow the crowd. Be the North Star. Redirect them. Challenge them on being enablers and practitioners of mistreatment, and make their doing so a deal breaker for your respect, rapport and reciprocation.
Give them a moment, and then make your position clear: “You can be someone who steps on people or someone who stands up for them. I’ll walk away from you on one, but with you on the other.”
Type III: The Toxically Insurgent
People like this need to be equipped with warning signs blinking from their foreheads. Sirens should sound when they are within range. They are belligerent by choice, staunchly believing the Machiavellian adage “It is better to be feared than to be loved.” Disparaging others is like breathing to them—they need to do it to feel alive. No one feels good around them. Everyone wants to avoid them. The Toxically Insurgent keep the threat of a blindside attack at DEFCON level. And like a lead-encased room designed to be impervious to nuclear radiation, their “logic” is equally impenetrable to kindness and sensibility.
Behaviors: soapboxing, condescension, being judgmental, abusive and inappropriate comments, undermining and embarrassing others, hijacking credit for other people’s ideas and work, spitefully withholding information to sabotage.
The Inoculation: Sin aire, no existe—without air, it doesn’t exist. The Toxically Insurgent act with a scorched-earth policy, so learn to snuff out or douse.
Fire cannot burn without oxygen, so don’t give them any. Your reactions and rebuttals are the air this type needs to sustain their flames. Completely refuse to respond to or accommodate them in any way, including isolating them from others whenever possible, unless and until they can conduct themselves with civil consideration. This is like putting a jar over a candle. Poof. Second, be direct, be decisive and then dismiss. Frankly state, with flame-retardant austerity, your objections to their conduct, and document every exchange. Clearly list what your next steps (consult HR protocol) will be to critically curtail their interaction with you.
Do not let toxic people infect your demeanor, morale or self-esteem. With a little know-how, you can boost your psychic immunity against them.
Alicia Bassuk is a leadership coach and performance consultant with UbicaStrategy.com and can be followed on Twitter @aliciabassuk.
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5 Of The Most Breathtaking Beaches In Mexico
Mexico is a dream destination for any avid traveler. From the breathtaking beaches to the ancient wonders of past civilization found in the hinterland, there is something for everyone. If you are looking for a luxurious vacation in the country, the beaches provide the best springboard before you venture inwards. If you are new to the country, here are some of the best beaches that you must explore during your vacation:
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Cancun
These are some of the most renowned beaches in the world and they are popular among visitors. The vast white sands and clear blue waters make these beaches an ideal place for the family to have fun. There are restaurants serving amazing delicacies and drinks. Other than the beaches, there are golf courses for those who are inclined and a vibrant nightlife and all sorts of water activities.
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Playa del Carmen
Once a sleepy coastal town, Playa del Carmen is now among the most popular beaches along the Yucatán Peninsula. If you are a nature lover, you will enjoy viewing the ancient ruins of Tulum or alternatively, you can take a dip into the Caribbean Sea and explore the mysteries of marine life. The beauty of these beaches is the fact that it not only caters for beach goers, but also those who are inclined towards an outdoor life. The turquoise waters and white beaches have a hold on every visitor.
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Acapulco
Acapulco might have lost its allure since the 1950s when it hosted greats like Elvis Presley and John F. Kennedy. However, this is slowly becoming an exclusive vacationing spot due to the exclusive beaches and exciting water sports. It is a hideaway for most travelers who want to enjoy time at the beach and hit the swanky clubs later. The nightlife is booming once again and more tourists are being attracted by the laidback nature of Acapulco.
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Puerto Vallarta
This is a tourist hotspot which has nevertheless managed to maintain its allure due to its small town charm. For the vacationer who wants a quieter time,Puerto Vallarta beaches offer an idyllic setting to unwind. The restaurants are elegant and you will always find a touch of class in every corner of the small town. The sophisticated seafront adds to the glamour and it is no wonder big celebrities opt for this exclusive nature of the area as opposed to more open beaches.
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Tulum
For one of the most exciting vacation experiences on the Mexican coastline, you have to try Tulum. Located near the Tulum ruins,the beaches in the area boast soft sands which you can enjoy throughout the year. The Mayan ruins add to the allure of the area and whether you are a historic buff or not, you will love the experience. The underground caverns filled with water are great to explore and there are bio-reserves which are well maintained.
These are just some of the best beach destinations you will find on Luxury Link. Go ahead and make your vacation even more exciting by visiting one of these beaches in Mexico.
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First Person: I Married The First Person I Had Sex With, Here’s Lessons From That
She stroked my leg under the table in the Student Union. I liked that, so I married her. I’m serious. This is what I’m like; I tend to go all-in immediately. I commit like crazy. At least this is what I used to be like. I’ve changed a lot since then.
Soon we had sex, first in bed, and then in the shower. It was pretty good. Three months later, I proposed to her in bed in Paris. That was the same bed we spent most of our time in while in Paris. I proposed to her because I didn’t want to lose her.
Next, I went out and spent the last few hundred pounds of my bank overdraft on an engagement ring. I took her to the top of the Eiffel Tower and officially proposed to her there. I did this mostly because I was trying to be romantic, trying to do what you’re supposed to do.
A few years later we married, and flew off into the sunset to start a new life in America. By the time we divorced, we had lived together for around eleven years, and had been married for nine. That was a long period of my life, and it was rich in learning. Here’s what I learned.
People change
I was about 22 when I got married. At that age, my personality was just about crystalized. It would take a couple more years, until the age of about 24, for my pre-frontal cortex to fully develop. I was a child when I got married, and even more of a child when I got engaged. I didn’t know what I wanted, or even who I was. I didn’t have the ability to be aware of my emotions, or to know what I felt about my thoughts.
As we get older, our personality fixations hopefully soften, and we develop more dexterity in our ability to cope with things emotionally. We develop increasing choice and self-awareness. At least this is what happens when we are open to growth, integration, and feedback. This kind of change occurs particularly rapidly if we increase self-awareness through meditation and therapy or coaching.
I started meditating at around the age of 27, and I started to change a lot. I became less accommodating. I was less willing to just do whatever my wife wanted without taking into account what I wanted. That was a big change in our dynamic. I had been the provider, the problem solver, the planner, and the one who made everything work smoothly. Now I started to let go of that. I wasn’t interested in making everything go smoothly anymore. I wanted to chill out a little and do nothing. I wanted to put my feet up and relax when I got home from work.
In any relationship, the partners mesh together like a pair of cogs, with teeth interleaved. When one of the people starts to change, it can wreak havoc on the relationship. In that marriage it did. The breaking point was when my son was not returned to me (I’ll explain later). That’s when I started intensive psychotherapy, which of course led to more change, which made our marriage even worse. In hindsight, I probably should have visited an international lawyer instead of spending the next few years fighting for a marriage that was inevitably falling apart.
Don’t get me wrong, change is not bad. In fact, change is good. Increasing self-awareness is very good, very important. It’s what’s necessary to live a fulfilling and healthy life. I recommend meditation, therapy, and coaching to everyone. The thing is, we all change, and we change a heck of a lot in our twenties, especially if we’re meditating and getting therapy or coaching.
I recommend not getting married, which is, by definition, a life-long commitment, until you’ve done a lot of inner work.
Only do what you want
As much as possible, take action based on what you truly want, not based on what you think is “right” or “acceptable.” Every decision I ever made that went against what I truly wanted came back to bite me in the ass. Each of those decisions, which may have looked “right” to outside parties, or on paper, or to my conscience, ended up leading to outcomes that I wanted even less.
When my wife would not return from vacation in our country of birth with my baby son, I dropped everything to keep our family together. I reverted to my role as the problem solver. I bought and sold houses at great financial loss, compromised my career, left my community, relinquished my green card, and spent years entangled in complex and expensive international tax scenarios. I wanted to keep my family together, but I didn’t want all of that. I took action that I thought was “right.” I thought I was being a “good” husband. I thought I “should” put my family first.
With hindsight, I see that if I had not taken action, if I had stood my ground, if I had spent time feeling what I wanted, validating it, and enjoying the empowered feelings associated with that, I would have made very different decisions. The outcomes would have been very different, and probably much more in alignment with what I truly wanted. Perhaps the outcomes would have been less destructive for everyone, including my son, and including myself.
I’m not writing this to bitch about my ex-wife. I don’t even have anything negative to say about her. I’m also not writing this to dwell on mistakes and feel bad about them. I’m examining this part of my life with you, right now, in order to both gain and impart as much value from it as possible.
When I look back, I know that it was very clear to me what I wanted, and I chose to go strongly against that, to not trust that, to not honor that. I believe that everything I wanted, regardless of what was “right,” could have been available to me if I had stood firm in my authority and my power, the power of honoring what I wanted.
“Right” is just a dead mental concept. What you truly want is living and powerful, and your clear intuition, your drive and motivation, can be trusted. What you truly want is all you can really know for sure. whereas what’s “right” is usually wrong.
Every relationship is a success
All relationships are successes. We gain so much experience from being in relationship, especially a “bad” relationship. All of life is about relationship, and we get to practice relationship particularly intensely in intimacy with our partner. All of our transference comes up as we begin to see the positive and negative traits of our parents in our partner. We get to heal, or deepen, the wounds of our childhoods with our partner. And then we get to reflect on that, and to integrate and grow.
All relationships have a natural end. For some relationships the end comes with death. For others the end comes with separation or divorce. It might seem that some relationships would have been even more successful had they ended sooner, with less suffering and hurt. However, relationships always end when they do, and when they do turns out to be when one or both people understand that they should.
My wife divorced me. Even though it destroyed my life as I knew it, I don’t take it personally. It was her right. In hindsight, I would have been happier had she done it much sooner.
Read the full story by Duncan Riach, an engineer and psychologist focusing on adaptive and healthy living, and artificial intelligence at PS. I Love You.
The post First Person: I Married The First Person I Had Sex With, Here’s Lessons From That appeared first on The Trent.
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7 Healthy Ways To Fry Food
There has been much talk about fried foods generally being unhealthy, but we all know as Nigerians we really can’t but fry our foods from time to time.
Damilola Ojo shares ways to help make your fried foods healthier to eat. The goal here is to minimize oil absorption.
Choose Heart-Healthy Oil With A High Smoke Point
The sub-heading says it all. Heart-healthy oil with low cholesterol is what you should use when frying your foods. Also, different oils have different stabilities, also called the ‘smoke point’. The higher the smoke point the more stable your oil and the better suited it is for cooking at high temperatures.
Keep Your Oil Fresh
Please don’t wait till your frying oil is dark-brown or even black before you change it. The more oil is exposed to high temperature, the more readily it breaks down and releases free radicals etc into your food. It’s advisable to reuse your oil for about 3 or 4 times, after which you should change to a fresh one.
Keep Your Oil Clean
Make sure your oil is clean and be sure to remove the crumbs or debris that might be left in the pan after frying. It’s important to often remove this debris because they will continue to burn in the pan. The burned particles will cause the oil to discolor and eventually infuse it with an off flavor that will affect the taste of the food. Slotted spoons can easily be used to remove these crumbs.
Heat Your Oil To The Proper Temperature
Be sure to heat your cooking oil to the proper temperature before you start frying. Without doing this, your food will end up absorbing more oil than it should, defeating the goal of minimizing oil absorption and increasing the fat and calorie content of your food.
Maintain The Proper Temperature When Cooking
It’s not enough to heat to the proper temperature before cooking; you should also maintain the proper temperature when cooking the food. If this is not done, the food will absorb excess oil, not only adding fat and calories to it but also making it soggy and greasy. Typically, a greasy fried food is a badly fried food.
When Battering Food Before Frying…
When battering foods before frying, you should use carbonated liquids or a small amount of leavening (baking soda) or both in the batter. They help to release gas bubbles as the food cooks and further reduces oil absorption.
Drain Your Friend Foods Immediately After Frying
To prevent excess oil from clinging and soaking into the food, you should drain your fried foods on a paper towel, one to two minutes after frying.
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6 Things Nigerian Startups Are Worried About
Startups are the backbone of any economy. They are established by young Nigerians who make efforts to secure capital and start something on their own. This is not a simple task. Ask any young person who owns a business, you will be taken aback by their experiences and tales of running one in Nigeria. These startups which can be likened to small scale businesses have provided employment and contributed their own quota via creative ideas, to either offer solutions to societal problems or a service. Despite this, there are quite a number of challenges they are encountering and are quite worried about.
Here are 6 issues that Nigerian startups face.
Power
The issue of electricity can’t be over flogged. If power can be stroked off the list of things startups are worried about, it will have an overall impact on the startup. First of all, you will not factor in money for buying a generator or fuel into your budget. Such a money will be invested in the business or employ more hands. But power is epileptic. You will be gobsmacked if you see the amount even big organizations budget for huge generators and diesel let alone startups.
Business registration
Kudos to the Nigerian government for launching the 60-day national plan for ease of doing business in the country. It is good but it is more than just launching a plan. The time, money and stress of registering just a startup are discouraging. This is why many startups just register their business name while they leave the other paperwork for later. Business registration should be automated so that it won’t take more than a week to register a startup. In fact, priority should be given to startups.
Capital
Thanks to venture capitalists and seed investors who are supporting these startups to keep them afloat. Obviously, this is usually after you have invested a certain amount of your capital in the business. Where do you get the capital from? It is usually from friends and family. Banks are likely to deny you loans. And of course, the Naira to dollar fluctuations is also an issue.
Little tangible corporate or government support
Corporate organizations rarely support startups. They prefer to sponsor or support entertainment programmes or ideas. If you pitch your idea to them and it is not entertainment related, you are probably wasting your precious time. Corporate organizations should sponsor competitions, where individuals with startups ideas can compete and get, will get financial support to implement the idea. As for the government, they are trying but there is more to be done.
Taxation
There are different bodies that collect taxes in Nigeria. And they charge to pay all sorts of rates. Although some organisations fail to pay tax, it’s not their fault sometimes. The government needs to block these loopholes and harmonize the taxation process. Hence, startups will know that they are not double taxed.
Lack of patronage from Nigerians
It is worrying that Nigerians don’t buy made in Nigeria goods. They prefer foreign to Nigeria made. Patronizing Nigerian startups doesn’t only means you are supporting them, it shows you recognize their efforts.
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4 Tips On Buying The Best Car For You
You see cars for sale everywhere, but the question is which one is the best one for you. After all, you are going to be spending a significant amount of money, so the last thing you want is to end up buying the wrong type of vehicle.
Buy with your head not your heart
Unfortunately, when it comes to buying a car an awful lot of us buy with our heart. This is partly because the vehicle you drive says a lot about you.
If you can afford to buy a big, fast and expensive car, you will usually make a good impression. However, that soon changes when you cannot afford to keep the vehicle on the road and end having to go back to using the bus.
It is always best to buy a small car that you know you can afford to run. Provided you make sure it is an economical model, you will have no problem saving up so that you can buy a bigger and better car the next time.
Research is essential
Before you go out to buy, it is always wise to do some research. It is important to work out exactly how much you can afford to pay and stick to that budget.
Many buyers forget to factor the cost of maintenance into their calculations. The cost of servicing a car varies greatly. It is never wise to assume that because a car is good for fuel economy that it will also be cheap to service and buy parts for that vehicle.
You also need to bear in mind that your tyres have to be replaced regularly, so you need to find out how much these would cost as well. The last thing you need is to discover, too late, that you have to buy expensive specialist tyres for it.
Is it practical?
As well as understanding the costs involved in buying and running the type of car you are interested in buying, you need to think about how practical it will be for you. It is important to think about how you are likely to want to use your car both now and in the future.
For example, if you are planning to start a family soon, buying a two-seater would not be the best long-term decision. Of course, you can sell it, but doing so is a hassle and it will also cost you money to do so. In that situation, you would be better off buying a family car.
Is it a good car?
In South Africa every time a car changes hands, it has to undergo a roadworthiness test. However, it is important to understand that this test only covers the basics. Therefore, it is usually worth having one of the more comprehensive tests that are available from this page carried out. Doing this will help to make sure that you buy a car that will not let you down or cost you a lot of money to keep on the road during the first year, or so.
As you can see, buying the right car for you is not difficult to do. All you need to do is to give yourself enough time to gather all of the relevant information, analysis it and make a decision.
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Importance Of A Tractor Trailer Lawyer In Your Personal Injury Lawsuit
American roads are not getting safer and if recent statistics are anything to go by, things are bound to get worse. One of the largest culprits in traffic accidents is the large tractor/trailer truck. According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 3,852 people died in large truck accidents in 2015.
This was a 22% increase in the number of casualties from similar crashes in 2009.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) says 1 in 10 highway accidents involves a large truck again, highlighting the risk other road users face.
Why Large Truck Accidents are Different
The worst thing about tractor trailer and large truck crashes is the extent of devastation. In addition to death, most victims end up with devastating injuries and disabilities.
In a collision involving a tractor trailer, the ends are against you if you are in a smaller car, motorbike or if you are a pedestrian. You are likely to be seriously injured and the following months will be focused on convalescing. This is where tractor trailer lawyers come into play. These types of accidents are more complex than the usual auto accident lawsuits, hence the need for expert legal input.
A truck collision claim is different from other types of personal injury lawsuits in the following ways:
- Fast response: The trucker will immediately alert a dispatcher who will then send a legal team to the scene in order to reduce the exposure of the trucking company. This works to your disadvantage if you don’t hire an attorney quickly.
- More comprehensive evidence: After a truck accident, the evidence required to successfully lodge a compensation claim is more detailed. There are safety regulations standards that your lawyer will have to analyze to ensure the truck driver and the company are compliant. This is documentation from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) and it has to be analyzed by your attorney to build a solid case,hence the need to hire these professionals early enough.
- Involved parties: Unlike an ordinary car crash, the number of players involved in a trailer accident is larger. From the driver, owner, Truck Company, loaders, freight forwarders, consignors to brokers, all these have to be interviewed to help the case go forward. Your attorney takes charge of these investigations as you continue convalescing. They know these players and how to approach them in order to get the relevant information.
- Insurance issues: The large costs involved in truck accidents necessitate the involvement of insurance providers to try reduce liability of their clients. The insurance company will hire the best legal experts to ensure the cost is minimized. Different aspects of trucking insurance, such as Bobtail coverage, MCS-90 endorsement, and minimum financial responsibility among other issues means the legal input of an experienced tractor trailer lawyer is critical.
- Tractor trailer accident dynamics: Understanding this type of crash requires a lot of knowledge. A lawyer has to fully analyze the physics of the accidents by considering issues, such as multiple axes, centre of gravity, ability to pivot, and cargo problems among other issues.
A tractor trailer lawyer has the expertise and resources needed to win your compensation claim suit.
Sarah McNally is an experienced personal injury attorney working in NYC. She works with a team of tractor trailer lawyers to win justice for affected clients. She lives with family in the city. Visit Sarah’s blog here for more information.
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6 Tips On How You Can Cope With The Closure of Abuja Airport
The federal government of Nigeria has finally closed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for much maintenance and repairs.
Hopefully, it will be reopened on April 19th. Although quite a number of Nigerians and foreigners have expressed reservations about the closure, the safety of passengers should be the ultimate concern. Hence, the federal government has no choice than to shut down the airport.
Expectedly, the FG has made arrangements to ferry passengers to Abuja.
Here are ways to deal with the closure of Abuja airport.
Let your mind be at rest
The main concern of travelers and tourists about Kaduna is security due to recent events in the city. However, the Federal Government has assured passengers that they don’t need to worry about their security. The distance from Kaduna Airport to Abuja Airport by road according to Google map is 242.6 km (3h9m). Different security apparatus will be on the way all through your trip. So, let your mind be at rest and believe that nothing will happen. Kaduna has always been a safe and secure city.
Reduce your luggage
If you are traveling to Abuja for now, you should reduce the amount of luggage you carry. The stress of getting your luggage at Kaduna airport, then loading them into the bus coupled with the 3-hour travel can be unbearable. To cope with this, you should only carry essential items. Doing this will stop you from paying anyone to carry your luggage.
Make your own transport arrangement
You can also make your travel arrangement from Kaduna to Abuja. It is not compulsory to go with the buses provided by the government. So, if you have a friend who is familiar with the Kaduna to Abuja route, put a call through to him to pick you up at the Kaduna airport.
Travel by road
Some travelers may not be too disposed to fly to Kaduna en route Abuja. Then, your best option is to travel straight to Abuja via road. It is even cheaper to travel via road than flying. But, safety is always a major worry.
Avoid evening travel
You won’t like to be on the Kaduna road in the evening or wee hours of the night traveling to Abuja. Even if you get to Kaduna airport in the evening, delay your travel until the next day and spend that evening in a hotel.
Book a hotel close to Abuja Airport
You should book a hotel close to the airport to reduce the stress of arriving at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport and then you start another journey to your hotel. If you don’t know which hotel to book, Jumia Travel can conveniently help you search for hotels near Abuja airport.
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Easy Tips On Caring For A Patient Suffering From Dementia
Most people know dementia as that disease that interferes with one’s memory. This is true to some extent but that is not all about dementia. Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a wide range of signs and symptoms associated with the decline of memory and life skills which in severe cases interfere with the normal life of a person.
The tricky part about this condition is that you may not be able to notice the early stages of it thinking it is normal aging. There is need for you to pay close attention to your aging loved one in order for you to see these symptoms.
Some of the symptoms which show your loved one may be suffering from dementia include memory lapse, change in behavior and moods, withdrawal from their social life and other social activities, difficulty in perceiving time and places among many others.
Studies have been carried out and research has shown that there is no cure for this condition. The results however showed that there are certain activities which dementia patients can take part in to help reduce the chances of the condition worsening. Below are 5 tips that you can use to care for your patient and help contain the condition:
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Play and sing old songs together
This will not only bring some cheer to their life but also trigger some past memories in their lives. This is especially if you are singing songs that meant something to them in the past. According to http://ift.tt/2n045oL, playing childhood games and singing their childhood songs will bring childhood memories which are important to the patient.
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Reading loudly from the patient’s old books
As the caregiver, you should find out the books that the patient loved the most and read them out loud to them. It could be cookbooks or even story books. Let them touch and smell the books if they want to as it could bring back some memories.
Doing this on a daily basis will surely help the patient remember a thing or two from the past.
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Look through the family’s photo albums and videos
The first time, this is less likely to make any sense to them but when you do it daily, he/she will become more familiar with the subjects and by seeing them around him/her, he/she will know that they are family.
This activity is also capable of bringing back old memories, especially when he/she sees himself/herself in the video.
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Go out and explore nature
Interacting with nature and animals is relaxing and peaceful. Exposing your patient to this environment could help them remember their hobbies or their favorite pet and bring back some bits of their life before the condition.
The worst thing that you can do to a patient suffering from dementia is to keep him/her locked in the house.
Besides this, it is important to also mind their physical well-being and take them out for walks, feed them, bathe them and clothe them well.
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