How to Impart STEM Education to Your Children

How to Impart STEM Education to Your Children

Science Education When it comes to technological innovation, the
United States remains number one. Yet, among 15-year-olds
worldwide, the US ranks 29th in math literacy, falling behind
Finland, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Liechtenstein.[1] This
means that the US delivers a less-than-excellent education in
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM
education). Due to the declining quality of public primary and
secondary education as well as an overall lack of financial and
societal support (only 10 percent of children's TV characters are
scientists or engineers),[2] fewer young American students are
showing an interest in STEM education.

Given that so many US students have shied away from STEM studies,
American industry has been forced to continue its practice of
outsourcing overseas. This business strategy will not change unless a
sufficient number of American students pursue college and graduate
degrees in the sciences. As of late, there has been renewed attention
to STEM education as well initiatives and funding from the White House
on its behalf.[3] To contribute to this new momentum, parents and
caregivers can play a significant role in exciting their children
about STEM education and its professional possibilities. What are the
steps in taking this proactive approach? This article will help you to
get your children more involved in STEM education and loving it, too.

_Note: While this article relates in particular to the US situation,
the need to boost STEM education is similar in many Anglo countries,
and the methods outlined here are of great benefit to children in
these countries too._

!! Steps !!

* Discover your child's natural affinity and
academic aptitude. Every child's constitution is different, and
even though the theory of neuroplasticity tells us that the human
brain can adapt to almost anything, some children are able to
learn about the sciences more easily than others. Since it's clear
that different forms of knowledge exercise different parts of the
brain, some students will probably require a little more time and
effort than others to learn the same academic subject. As a parent
or caregiver, it is most important to understand the strengths and
weaknesses of your child, support him or her through the process,
and to try to alleviate unnecessary stress.

* Provide an environment that will instill a
healthy balance among your child's IQ (Intelligence Quotient), EQ
(Emotional Quotient) and PQ (Physical and Physiological quotient).
Fundamental for your child is the PQ; a child will not be able to
learn if he or she is hungry, tired, or indisposed. EQ also plays
a very important role in a child's academic success. If a child
feels emotionally deprived, he or she will not be able to learn.
IQ blooms only when PQ and EQ are supported to be their best.
Teach children about the ways in which
science and technology add value to the
quality of human lives. If children
understand all of the wonderful things
technology has done and can do, (for example,
the cell phone, the Internet, video games,
cures for diseases, for example), then they
are much more likely to get excited about
what they can achieve by pursuing an
education in science and technology.

* Make sure children can relate to the examples you pick. Talk about
curing illnesses rather than relating technological progress to
something like cancer stem cell research. Young children will not
understand highly technical language. If you can base your
discussion of scientific progress in a story about someone or
something a child is already familiar with (such as a family
member or friend who has been ill), your message will be much more
effective.

Create a science and technology environment
outside of school. This can be accomplished in
many ways:

* View science and technology TV channels with your child. Engage in
discussions about what you viewed afterward.

* Try an experiment that you saw demonstrated on TV or in a video.
Part of the fun can be gathering the items needed to perform it as
well as setting up the "experimental lab."

* Conduct Internet searches on performing fun experiments. There are
many sites dedicated to science projects for kids.

* Make home experiments fun occasions. Organize groups of kids to
participate at your home, in your backyard, garage, or another
safe place.

* Join or organize science and technology (S&T) related groups on
social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn in order to brainstorm
with other parents and caregivers. You might even be in contact
with teachers in S&T through these online communities.

* Find or start a supplementary school like the Saturday math school
in a Boston suburb established by Russian immigrants.[4]

* Become a member of the local science museum and keep a watch on
activities for kids. Incorporate regular visits into your family's
activities.

* Use building blocks, puzzles, and games for family activities.
Leave these in obvious places so that kids pick them up, play with
them, and view them as part of their everyday surroundings.

* Most importantly, engage in conversation about science-related
topics with children in way that pertains to everyday life
experiences.

* Bring science and technology closer to life
by pointing out its daily applications. Help children understand
how science and technology have led to such things as running
water, electricity, and cars. Create a before-and-after scenario
in order for your child to realize that people did not always have
running water, electricity, or cars. By explaining the history of
technology, your child will begin to comprehend that technology is
related to progress and serves a very important purpose in
day-to-day living.

* On a regular basis, conduct a task analysis
in relation to metacognition standards.[5] This way you can help
teachers correctly evaluate the cognitive abilities of your child
and match the mode of instruction to his or her skill level.
Explain that science and technology can lead to
fame and monetary gain. Appeal to children's
fantasies and tempt them! Provide examples of
great scientists and achievers. You can easily
find examples by conducting an online search.

* Consider making a home project out of researching the lives of
famous scientists and innovators. Show your child how to find
age-appropriate resources on the Web or in books and magazines to
find interesting facts. Have him or her report back with findings!
Work with your child to create a poster, Powerpoint, video, or
interactive presentation. Why not use technological media to
display knowledge about science and technology?

Teach critical inquiry skills to your child in
the early stages of his or her life. Start by
demonstrating how to observe, ask questions,
create hypotheses, and test those hypotheses.
Inquiry is the basis of science, math, and
technological activity. When one is interested
in how something works, inquires into it, and
then makes discoveries, the desire to learn
more ignites! Curiosity leading to inquiry
provides the best foundation for perpetual
self-improvement through study and
experimentation.

* Encourage children to ask questions. Try not to brush aside their
queries, even if they don't make sense or are not good questions.
Turn the bad question into an interesting and relevant question
and then engage in discussion. You don't necessarily need to know
all of the answers. An important part of the process is helping
your children learn how to find answers themselves through your
guidance.

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* Make a firm decision that you will teach your child science and
technology. Do this early in on in your child's life starting from
the age of two. This will give you the opportunity to play with
building blocks and picture books in an S&T-oriented way. By the
same token, if you haven't been focusing on S&T in your child's
life, start now. It's never too late to share the importance of
S&T in their lives.

* It's crucial to assess your child's learning capacity and build
your expectations in relation to it.

* Evaluate a school's scientific curriculum and rate of success
before enrolling your child. If you have no choice but to enroll
in a school that you don't feel is providing adequate S&T
education, supplement it in the home environment. You might
consider tutoring if needed, although without adding too much to
your child's workload.

* Make your home a comfortable and encouraging place to offset the
stress of school.

* Interact with faculty regularly to take stock of the situation and
enlist remedial help if needed. Seek support that is empathetic
and encouraging, not indifferent or dismissive; negative attitudes
affect the parent and caregiver as well as the child.

* Be on the lookout for ideas on meeting challenges related to
teaching technology as well as on improving children's capacity to
interact with technology.
For an international perspective on the science performance of select
countries, see the list below.[6]

!! Warnings !!

* Do not pressure your child to take on more than he or she can
handle. Your child's well-being and his or her pure interest in
the subject is more important than grades. It is important for
your child to feel proud of being an S&T student.

* Make sure your guidance is timely. Waiting too long to introduce
your child to the excellence of a science education may lead to
irreparable loss. If you start too late, your child may wind up
feeling indifferent and inadequate. All the same, do not resign
yourself. There is always interest to be found in technology and
its applications to life, even with those who seem to be
uninterested.

!! Things You\'ll Need !!

* Books about science (chemistry, biology, environmental,
engineering, physics, etc.), science experiments, fun math facts,
information about technology

* Science experiment materials: consider making a space in a
cupboard for these materials that accessible to your children when
they want to conduct experiments.

* TV program guide, DVDs, etc. based on science and technology

* Museum schedules

* Online bookmarks of interesting and relevant science and
technology educational websites.

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Nurture Future Leaders

* How to Improve Your IQ

* How to Master the Art of Emotional Intelligence

* How to Build a Science Project

* How to Conduct Scientific Research

!! Sources And Citations !!

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

How to Impart STEM Education to Your Children

How to Impart STEM Education to Your Children

Science Education When it comes to technological innovation, the
United States remains number one. Yet, among 15-year-olds
worldwide, the US ranks 29th in math literacy, falling behind
Finland, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Liechtenstein.[1] This
means that the US delivers a less-than-excellent education in
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM
education). Due to the declining quality of public primary and
secondary education as well as an overall lack of financial and
societal support (only 10 percent of children's TV characters are
scientists or engineers),[2] fewer young American students are
showing an interest in STEM education.

Given that so many US students have shied away from STEM studies,
American industry has been forced to continue its practice of
outsourcing overseas. This business strategy will not change unless a
sufficient number of American students pursue college and graduate
degrees in the sciences. As of late, there has been renewed attention
to STEM education as well initiatives and funding from the White House
on its behalf.[3] To contribute to this new momentum, parents and
caregivers can play a significant role in exciting their children
about STEM education and its professional possibilities. What are the
steps in taking this proactive approach? This article will help you to
get your children more involved in STEM education and loving it, too.

_Note: While this article relates in particular to the US situation,
the need to boost STEM education is similar in many Anglo countries,
and the methods outlined here are of great benefit to children in
these countries too._

!! Steps !!

* Discover your child's natural affinity and
academic aptitude. Every child's constitution is different, and
even though the theory of neuroplasticity tells us that the human
brain can adapt to almost anything, some children are able to
learn about the sciences more easily than others. Since it's clear
that different forms of knowledge exercise different parts of the
brain, some students will probably require a little more time and
effort than others to learn the same academic subject. As a parent
or caregiver, it is most important to understand the strengths and
weaknesses of your child, support him or her through the process,
and to try to alleviate unnecessary stress.

* Provide an environment that will instill a
healthy balance among your child's IQ (Intelligence Quotient), EQ
(Emotional Quotient) and PQ (Physical and Physiological quotient).
Fundamental for your child is the PQ; a child will not be able to
learn if he or she is hungry, tired, or indisposed. EQ also plays
a very important role in a child's academic success. If a child
feels emotionally deprived, he or she will not be able to learn.
IQ blooms only when PQ and EQ are supported to be their best.
Teach children about the ways in which
science and technology add value to the
quality of human lives. If children
understand all of the wonderful things
technology has done and can do, (for example,
the cell phone, the Internet, video games,
cures for diseases, for example), then they
are much more likely to get excited about
what they can achieve by pursuing an
education in science and technology.

* Make sure children can relate to the examples you pick. Talk about
curing illnesses rather than relating technological progress to
something like cancer stem cell research. Young children will not
understand highly technical language. If you can base your
discussion of scientific progress in a story about someone or
something a child is already familiar with (such as a family
member or friend who has been ill), your message will be much more
effective.

Create a science and technology environment
outside of school. This can be accomplished in
many ways:

* View science and technology TV channels with your child. Engage in
discussions about what you viewed afterward.

* Try an experiment that you saw demonstrated on TV or in a video.
Part of the fun can be gathering the items needed to perform it as
well as setting up the "experimental lab."

* Conduct Internet searches on performing fun experiments. There are
many sites dedicated to science projects for kids.

* Make home experiments fun occasions. Organize groups of kids to
participate at your home, in your backyard, garage, or another
safe place.

* Join or organize science and technology (S&T) related groups on
social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn in order to brainstorm
with other parents and caregivers. You might even be in contact
with teachers in S&T through these online communities.

* Find or start a supplementary school like the Saturday math school
in a Boston suburb established by Russian immigrants.[4]

* Become a member of the local science museum and keep a watch on
activities for kids. Incorporate regular visits into your family's
activities.

* Use building blocks, puzzles, and games for family activities.
Leave these in obvious places so that kids pick them up, play with
them, and view them as part of their everyday surroundings.

* Most importantly, engage in conversation about science-related
topics with children in way that pertains to everyday life
experiences.

* Bring science and technology closer to life
by pointing out its daily applications. Help children understand
how science and technology have led to such things as running
water, electricity, and cars. Create a before-and-after scenario
in order for your child to realize that people did not always have
running water, electricity, or cars. By explaining the history of
technology, your child will begin to comprehend that technology is
related to progress and serves a very important purpose in
day-to-day living.

* On a regular basis, conduct a task analysis
in relation to metacognition standards.[5] This way you can help
teachers correctly evaluate the cognitive abilities of your child
and match the mode of instruction to his or her skill level.
Explain that science and technology can lead to
fame and monetary gain. Appeal to children's
fantasies and tempt them! Provide examples of
great scientists and achievers. You can easily
find examples by conducting an online search.

* Consider making a home project out of researching the lives of
famous scientists and innovators. Show your child how to find
age-appropriate resources on the Web or in books and magazines to
find interesting facts. Have him or her report back with findings!
Work with your child to create a poster, Powerpoint, video, or
interactive presentation. Why not use technological media to
display knowledge about science and technology?

Teach critical inquiry skills to your child in
the early stages of his or her life. Start by
demonstrating how to observe, ask questions,
create hypotheses, and test those hypotheses.
Inquiry is the basis of science, math, and
technological activity. When one is interested
in how something works, inquires into it, and
then makes discoveries, the desire to learn
more ignites! Curiosity leading to inquiry
provides the best foundation for perpetual
self-improvement through study and
experimentation.

* Encourage children to ask questions. Try not to brush aside their
queries, even if they don't make sense or are not good questions.
Turn the bad question into an interesting and relevant question
and then engage in discussion. You don't necessarily need to know
all of the answers. An important part of the process is helping
your children learn how to find answers themselves through your
guidance.

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* Make a firm decision that you will teach your child science and
technology. Do this early in on in your child's life starting from
the age of two. This will give you the opportunity to play with
building blocks and picture books in an S&T-oriented way. By the
same token, if you haven't been focusing on S&T in your child's
life, start now. It's never too late to share the importance of
S&T in their lives.

* It's crucial to assess your child's learning capacity and build
your expectations in relation to it.

* Evaluate a school's scientific curriculum and rate of success
before enrolling your child. If you have no choice but to enroll
in a school that you don't feel is providing adequate S&T
education, supplement it in the home environment. You might
consider tutoring if needed, although without adding too much to
your child's workload.

* Make your home a comfortable and encouraging place to offset the
stress of school.

* Interact with faculty regularly to take stock of the situation and
enlist remedial help if needed. Seek support that is empathetic
and encouraging, not indifferent or dismissive; negative attitudes
affect the parent and caregiver as well as the child.

* Be on the lookout for ideas on meeting challenges related to
teaching technology as well as on improving children's capacity to
interact with technology.
For an international perspective on the science performance of select
countries, see the list below.[6]

!! Warnings !!

* Do not pressure your child to take on more than he or she can
handle. Your child's well-being and his or her pure interest in
the subject is more important than grades. It is important for
your child to feel proud of being an S&T student.

* Make sure your guidance is timely. Waiting too long to introduce
your child to the excellence of a science education may lead to
irreparable loss. If you start too late, your child may wind up
feeling indifferent and inadequate. All the same, do not resign
yourself. There is always interest to be found in technology and
its applications to life, even with those who seem to be
uninterested.

!! Things You\'ll Need !!

* Books about science (chemistry, biology, environmental,
engineering, physics, etc.), science experiments, fun math facts,
information about technology

* Science experiment materials: consider making a space in a
cupboard for these materials that accessible to your children when
they want to conduct experiments.

* TV program guide, DVDs, etc. based on science and technology

* Museum schedules

* Online bookmarks of interesting and relevant science and
technology educational websites.

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Nurture Future Leaders

* How to Improve Your IQ

* How to Master the Art of Emotional Intelligence

* How to Build a Science Project

* How to Conduct Scientific Research

!! Sources And Citations !!

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

How to Make a Chocolate Cake Shooter

How to Make a Chocolate Cake Shooter

This wonderful shooter is the *perfect* drink to have at a
bar to celebrate an adult's birthday. When done correctly,
it actually tastes like the name of the drink – a
chocolate cake!

!! Ingredients !!

* 1/2 shot (3/4 ounces/ 22ml) Frangelico or hazelnut
liqueur

* 1/2 shot (3/4 ounces/ 22ml) vodka

* Lemon slice, one per person

* Brown sugar, for sprinkling

!! Steps !!

Fill halfway with ice Fill a cocktail shaker or mixing glass halfway
with ice cubes.

Measure and pour the liqueur and vodka into the glass.

Cover with a lid or use another mixing glass. Shake the contents
well thoroughly for about 5 seconds.

Use a strainer and strain the contents into a shot glass.

Sprinkle brown sugar on a lemon slice.

Shoot the drink and suck the lemon immediately. If you've followed
every step, it should taste like chocolate cake!

!! Video !!

!! Things You'll Need !!

* Cocktail shaker

* Cocktail strainer

* Shooter or shot glass

* Cutting board and knife

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Make a Purple Haze Shooter

* How to Make a Politician Cocktail

* How to Make an Irish Car Bomb Beer Drink

* How to Make a Scooby Snack Drink

* How to Make Chocolate Vodka

!! Sources And Citations !!

* The idea for this article came from UrbanFoodie.net,
http://www.urbanfoodie.net/category/cocktails/

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

Build Your Future: Invest in Yourself

Build Your Future: Invest in Yourself

_Photo credit: Arkady Golod [1]_

My friend (and writer of brilliant blog, Exile Lifestyle), Colin
Wright, once said to me (paraphrasing), "You can never go wrong with
investing in yourself - that way, everything that you learn and have
can go with you. You can invest in three ways - your health, your
network, and your knowledge, and all three are necessary to be
successful."

_Wiser words have never been spoken._

Investing in yourself is the true way to improve yourself. If you
trade your time and effort now for increased skills or knowledge,
relationships, and better health, your results will multiply in the
future. While we all have to do what is necessary and proper to
maintain equilibrium - keep working at our jobs, for instance - we
should be leveraging our spare time for self-investment instead of
wasting it on things that truly don't matter.

Taking an attitude of investing your time in yourself now will result
in payoffs later. The key is to discriminate between what is investing
and what is not - because more things can be considered "investing"
than we think. Being social - talking to just about anyone - is
investing because it improves your communication skills, extroversion,
and builds relationships. And, yet, many people like being social
because it's fun. Investing doesn't have to be boring - in fact, by
pursuing what you're interested in, you can invest in yourself very
effectively.

However, no amount of intellectual or emotional investment is worth it
if we don't invest in the first pillar: health.

!! The Importance Of Health !!

Your health, first and foremost, determines how effective you are. How
you treat your body determines your mood, your ability to focus, and
how you treat others. In short, how you feel determines how you behave
- and the best way to feel great is to live a healthy lifestyle.

Here are some simple ways to invest in your health:

* *Exercise Often*: Engaging in exercise makes you burn calories,
lose weight, feel good, and stay mobile. It's the catch-all for
good health, in my mind. Make sure to switch things up to keep
your body adapting and to make things more interesting; don't do
the same workout 5 days a week.

* *Eat well*: People will tell you different things, but as long as
you maximize your green vegetable and fruit intake, while
minimizing processed foods, you're eating pretty well. Buy organic
produce as often as you can: the difference in things other than
price - like taste and nutrition - is very noticeable. Eating
smaller meals and sticking to "natural" foods like nuts, fruits,
veggies, and meats is a nice rule of thumb, though you can eat
some carbs as well to give you energy that lasts throughout the
day.

* *Sleep well*: Figure out what you need to function at your best,
and make it your mission to get that much sleep every night. This
is simple but the hardest change to implement, in my opinion, but
the rewards are great. Don't get cocky - your body does need
sleep. Give it the rest you deserve.

I could go beyond that, but that foundation of exercise-diet-sleep is
more than good enough as a jumping-off point. Remember: getting the
fundamentals of living healthily is essential to being effective,
focused, and feeling good each and every day.

!! Your Knowledge And Skills !!

Your knowledge and skills are the places where you can actually "see"
your improvement. Being more skilled - in both breadth (number) as
well as depth (how "good" you are at a particular skill) will make you
more indispensible in every area of your life, from the workplace to
your home. Reading books, trading ideas, and learning how to do new
things will make you smarter and will also help with your lateral
thinking and creativity - you'll be able to combine knowledge from
various disciplines in order to solve problems.

To invest in your skills, the route is very simple: *you must
practice*. Practicing a lot - provided you're also pushing your limits
- will make you better at anything. Period. Don't be afraid to learn
how to do new things either. By doing so, you're adding another tool
to your Swiss Army knife of skills - skills that will come in handy
later in life.

To increase your knowledge, it's also a simple route: consume lots of
information. Now, this doesn't mean that you should read the news all
day. Instead, consume good sources of information. Read what people in
your business are reading so you can stay up-to-date. Watch TED talks
[2]. Go on Fora.tv [3]. Read books of all different kinds - business,
history, political, whatever you're interested in. If you're
interested in everything (like me), then you're in luck - just read
whatever appeals to you and be confident that you'll benefit from
them. For one, exposing your brain to new ideas leads your brain to
generate some of its own ideas. Those ideas, in collaboration with
other ideas, can advance society.

Investing in your knowledge and skills allows you to be a more
versatile, competent, and interesting person. This is also extremely
helpful when it comes to...

!! Network And Relationships !!

Your networks and relationships are also great things to invest in.

Actually, since "networking" seems too big-business-esque, let's just
call this "investing in your relationships".

Building good relationships with everyone around you - your family,
your coworkers, and even the barista at Starbucks - is essential for
living a good life. As humans, we're social beings. We need contact
with others in order to feel our emotional best. Not to mention,
building good relationships leads to a bevy of benefits - you always
have friends to go out with, you always can have close relatives to
support you, and you can end up having a network of people who you
have business connections with who may be able to help you out if
you're ever in need of a job.

Well, how do you improve your relationships?

Simple. _*Care.*_

Care about others and spend time with people that like you who for you
are, and you'll be a winner. The more time you spend with people, the
better your relationships will be - well, as long as you're having a
good time with them.

If you ever find yourself without friends to go out with, go out
anyways and make an effort to meet new friends - especially if you're
in a new city. Expanding your circles of friends is always a good
thing, since you'll always be able to meet friends-of-friends in an
ever-expanding circle of relationships. Having good people skills is
very underrated but is necessary, I'd argue, for living a balanced,
healthy lifestyle.

Keep in mind that this also applies to your family. Taking time out of
your day to spend time with your children, for example, can be seen as
"investing", since you're planting the seeds for a deeply fulfilling
relationship.

If you're spending time with people and you're not getting what you
want out of the relationship - maybe you need different friends that
fit you. Go out and meet them at places that cater to the things
you're interested in. Go to a bookstore if you like books. Go to your
favorite cafes and spots in your city and just talk with the people
who you'd think you like to meet.

With each and every relationship you make (or try to make!), you're
presenting yourself with another opportunity to enrich your life and
theirs as well. Great relationships are like nothing else in life, and
we should treasure them all.

!! Don't Worry About Not Investing !!

When I first got into the idea of investing my time, I obsessed over
whether I was investing enough of my time into things that mattered.

Don't. Time spent worrying is time spent not enjoying your life -
which is what you should really be doing in the first place.

As long as you're using your time well to enrich your skills,
knowledge, and your relationships, while keeping your health well,
you're fine.

In fact, this gives you an excuse to have more fun and be more social,
since you're now investing in your relationships instead of thinking
of it as "spending time with my friends that I could spend working."

As long as you don't think of investing as work, you're on the right
track. After all, this is all meant to be fun, not something to labor
through.

Don't Forget To Follow PickTheBrain of Twitter [4]!__

_*Related Articles:*_

Words That Overcome Fear and Dread [5]

Words That Heal and Empower [6]

Links:
------
[1] http://www.foundshit.com/convex-mirror-ball-focus/
[2] http://ted.com
[3] http://fora.tv
[4] http://twitter.com/pickthebrain
[5] http://bemoreconfident.info/../words-that-overcome-fear-and-dread/
[6] http://bemoreconfident.info/../words-that-heal-and-empower/

How to Defeat a Facebook Addiction

How to Defeat a Facebook Addiction

Probably the most widely used and known social
networking site, almost half of Facebook's users
visit it every day.[1] And some of its users
spend an inordinate amount of time on Facebook,
allowing the hours to while away unnoticed, the
chores to go uncompleted, and even going so far
as to ignore family and friends in the actual
world.[2]

While "Facebook addiction" or "Facebook addiction disorder" are not
medically approved terms, the reality of addictive behaviors on
Facebook are a growing problem for many Facebook users, and one that
therapists are seeing more frequently in their patients.[3]

If you've found that connecting, sharing, and learning via Facebook
has taken over all avenues of communicating and learning in your life,
it's possible that you're suffering from Facebook addiction. And
relax! This article isn't about stopping your enjoyment of Facebook;
rather, the aim here is to help you identify whether you're using
Facebook in an addictive way, and help you to find more constructive
ways to connect socially via Facebook.

!! Steps !!

_ Recognize the signs of a Facebook addiction.
While there is currently no such thing as a medically blessed
diagnosable "Facebook addiction" or "Facebook addiction disorder"
that a health or medical professional could categorically state
you're suffering from, addictive behaviors have common threads that
can lead to dysfunctional socializing and obsessive behaviors. The
following signs indicate an unhealthy neediness for Facebook:

* You wake up and the first thing you do is "check Facebook". And
it's the last thing you do at night.

* Nothing else thrills you or you feel "empty" without Facebook. All
you want to do is spend time on Facebook, even to the exclusion of
getting work done that needs to be done, or meeting family
obligations. When not being on Facebook causes physical pain,
sweats, illness and you're champing at the leash to get back on
it, your obsession has become an unhealthy one.

* You're not able to go for more than a day without using Facebook.
If forced to do so, you find yourself suffering from Facebook
"withdrawal" symptoms, such as finding nothing else interesting,
trying to find ways to get back to Facebook even if it means using
a computer that is either out of bounds (for example, not yours),
or difficult to get to, or you find yourself intensely worried
about missing out on Facebook updates. These are all very
unhealthy signs.

* Even if you're not on Facebook constantly (indicating you need a
reality check), checking it many times during the day is a sign of
compulsive behavior. Spending more than an hour on Facebook a day
will easily cut into all the other obligations you have in life
and may cause social dysfunction problems.[4]

* Your real life isn't going so well and Facebook presents a fantasy
escape life where everything seems unencumbered, neat, happy, and
easy – all things that are the opposite of your everyday life.

* Adequate sleep ceases to be important to
you.[5] Instead, you're prepared to stay up way too late just to
be able to accommodate your Facebook neediness. After all, you
excuse yourself, your friends might think it's remiss of you not
to be around!

* Nostalgia has you in its grip. When Facebook starts becoming a way
through which you're living in the past, it's a sign of needing to
break from it.[6] Rehashing old loves and friendships with the
hope that you can pinpoint the exact moment where your life should
have taken a different turn and trying to patch it up through
fantasizing over Facebook is looking backwards and beating
yourself up over what didn't work out. Realize the importance of
living in the here and now. This type of nostalgia is even more
damaging if you have a loose tongue about the relationships you're
actually in because other people will be reading your words and
some may perceive them as a betrayal or as signs of an emotional
affair.

* You've tons of friends on Facebook but you still feel very
lonely.[7]

Start questioning what you're doing on
Facebook. Rather than simply going on Facebook
and "falling under its spell", start
consciously determining what you're really
getting out of Facebook. Asking questions about
its value to you in your own life's context is
healthy, especially when you feel that you
might have been overdoing it a bit. Whittle
down to the things that bring real value,
within a defined time limitation. Record what
you're doing on Facebook for a week. Be
diligent about this reality check task and
don't spare yourself; buy a small notebook and
devote time to its updating. Things in
particular to keep an eye out for include:

* If you're just checking in to respond to pokes, to see friends
updating their profiles, to write a new note, or to see what songs
your friends are adding, you're addicted to trivia. And letting
trivia run your day is not conducive to a satisfying life
long-term!

* Are you wandering about Facebook aimlessly? You've just confirmed
a new friend, and you're curious as to the friends of that friend
and whether any are your friends, or could be your friends, and
what those friends are doing? If this sounds all too familiar,
you're time on Facebook has turned aimless. And you're being
lulled into this by the connectivity ease of Facebook without
being alert to the lack of productivity resulting.

* Are you excusing yourself because of work? Even someone using
Facebook for business purposes can start allowing the business
socializing to bleed into general socializing under the rubric of
"work". It's important to notice when you're falling into this
transitional phase and to demarcate work and socializing, in order
to put a time limit on both. Otherwise, you're giving yourself too
large a justification to just keep on keeping on Facebook.

* Is that friend really a friend? How beneficial is maintaining a
friendship with someone you've never met but linked up just
because they were a friend of a friend of a real friend of yours?
They might be amazing but if they're barely connecting with you,
they might be part of the peripheral distractions that are causing
you to sink into Facebook rather than interact on Facebook in ways
that have true value.

* Is any of what you're doing constructive either from a personal or
a professional point of view? Be honest with yourself!

Perhaps you need to revisit the purpose?Decide what is of value
on Facebook. Whatever the reason for being a part of Facebook,
boundaries matter and knowing what is of value and what is not
will help you to rein in poor online habits. Even a reason of
wanting to ensure that your family is kept up-to-date of your
interstate or overseas happenings can meander out of control if
your concept of "family" expands. If you use Facebook for work
and personal reasons, the value will probably be broader, but it
is still important to define the value boundaries for work and
personal time. When deciding upon what value you're getting out
of Facebook, consider the following:

* Are you enjoying it? Is this enjoyment balanced with a whole range
of other enjoyable pursuits in your life too?

* Do you feel obliged to respond to some people on Facebook even
though you'd prefer not to?

* Which parts of Facebook really do improve your personal and
professional life? It can be helpful to list these for clarity,
and to clear some of the negativity and the trivia.

Spend a holiday season on activities other than FacebookTry
giving up Facebook for a specific event to see how you fare.
This article is not advocating leaving Facebook entirely unless
that's the choice you feel you want to take. However, it can be
very advantageous to choose a special event and to decide that
for the duration of that event, that you will not use Facebook
at all. You can even warn your other Facebook friends that this
event is coming up but whatever you do, stick to it. For
example, some Facebook users take summer vacation breaks, some
take a break for a religious observance such as Lent,[8] and
some people take breaks when special family events such as a
wedding or a birthday are coming up and they need to prepare,
travel, be available for it, etc., without wanting to be
distracted.

* Any well defined event carries significance for breaking a habit
because they represent occasions during which you need to focus on
other than yourself, whether it be faith, family, or some other
important external matter. This can help to take you outside of
any internal funk that has you glued to Facebook, as well as
providing a set period during which you've promised yourself that
you won't use Facebook. During this break, reflect on your
Facebook neediness and think through how to restore a more
even-keeled approach to using Facebook.

* The good thing about telling your Facebook friends that you won't
be on for a bit is that you've just burned a bridge that will
cause you to "lose face" if you do sneak on. Be strong and give
them the reassurance that you're one to keep your word.

Target solutions to enable smarter, brighter usage of Facebook in
the future. While you could quit Facebook, it's probably far more
productive, constructive, and socially useful to manage it and to
put Facebook in its place in your life. Some of the positive
solutions for healthy Facebook usage include (and you'll think of
others):

* Avoid fiddling with the periphery. Take a
good look at your profile. Does it work for you or does it bother
you? Changing a profile image over and over is a sign of worrying
too much about your Facebook image. If the current image works,
leave it be. If it bothers you, fix it right now, photo included.
Why? Because once you fix it, be prepared to leave it alone_ for a
long time. Keeping your profile stable will build trust in the
online environment; not constantly trying to update it will spare
you one more unnecessary fiddle on Facebook.

* _ Stop changing your status frequently. Think
"so what?" before attempting to do this. Every time you change it,
it logs into your friends' news feed on the home page and clogs it
up. Why do you feel compelled to announce your every move or mood
you are temporarily experiencing? It ceases to be of interest for
others, and it's more unnecessary fiddling for you! Without
changing your status, it remains as is for a week and then resets
to "What are you doing right now?"_ for you to say something.

* Think of how often you use Facebook applications. In order to use
an application, you must install it on your account. And then use
it; and many apps are compelling enough to draw users in for hours
at a time.[9] Before adding any application ask yourself "How
productive is this?" If it is worthless, think about what it's
doing to your friends who get to be at the receiving end of your
invitations to gain points, receive gifts, or to see results...
Each time a person receives an invitation, they need to accept or
ignore it. Don't be the cause of other people's fiddling. And make
applications work for you, not the other way round; get rid of the
ones that are sheer time-wasters or pointless.

* _ Present the most used applications on your
profile and hide the rest. Even when hidden, the application can
still be used. Clogging your profile with everything you have
makes it unappealing to a person due to the clutter and is a
hassle when a person has to scroll down to write on a wall or add
an item on the bottom.

Be careful of the race to have as many friends
as possible. If you're driven to have more
friends on Facebook than you can ever
realistically engage with regularly, it's
important to stop what is, effectively, a
"friendship addiction".[10] Having more friends
than you can realistically connect with can be
a source of anxiety rather than pleasure. Enjoy
the friends you already have on Facebook but
weed out those who aren't adding anything to
your Facebook experience.

* Given that Facebook almost compels you to add friends, if you're
vulnerable to defining your self worth through the amount_ of
friendships rather than the _quality_ of them, then Facebook can
be dangerous for you while you're recovering from any other sort
of addiction or going through emotionally difficult times.[11]
Resist the urge to add people you don't really know or want to
engage with, and to cull those who mean very little to you from
your friends list.

* Beware of the potential of Facebook to increase a sense of
loneliness rather than assuage it. Spending time on Facebook
rather than with face-to-face friends will increase any feelings
of loneliness you may already have and ironically, the more people
you're trying to keep apace with, the lonelier it'll seem because
you'll end up with quantity rather than quality.[12] Switch from
using Facebook as a substitute for friendships to using it as a
way to energize and synergize the friendships you already
have.[13]

* Avoid being a Facebook automaton. If you're
caught saying, "I'll facebook you later" or "I'm going to do some
facebooking", then you're well overdue for taking a break from the
site to hang out with friends in the real world (or offline life).
Every time you feel like saying "I'll facebook you", check
yourself and rephrase that with "I'll see you", or "I'll call
you". And mean it - settle the catch-up time straight away.

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* To hide a Facebook application addiction from your friends, click
on the "Edit" next to the Application on the left hand side. Click
on the "Edit Settings" of each application and uncheck the "Mini
Feed". This will disable the specific application's activity
logged in your friends' News Feed and your Mini-Feed on your
profile. This method is very helpful if you take a lot of movie
quizzes. Of course, hiding your addiction isn't healthy, so it's
far better if you can manage to rein it in.

* Ironically, even some of the very mental health professionals who
are supposed to be able to help the rest of us spot our addictive
online activities are themselves enthralled by it![14]

!! Things You\'ll Need !!

* Alarm clock with timer sound to limit your Facebook time

* Other distractions

* Calendar with meet-ups penned in to spend time with others

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Quit Facebook

* How to Avoid Wasting Time on Facebook

* How to Facelift Your Facebook

* How to Compose a Message on Facebook

* How to Permanently Delete a Facebook Account

!! Sources And Citations !!

* Original source of initial text, VideoJug,
http://www.videojug.com/film/what-is-facebook-addiction VideoJug,
shared with permission.

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

How to Recover From Empty Nest Syndrome

How to Recover From Empty Nest Syndrome

The nest of family love is like a nest of birds. When it is
the right time to fly, the young will fly away, as is the
way of life. Parents must deal with the absence of family,
friends, and love when children have flown from the nest of
their family to build their own. However, for some people,
especially for the primary caregiver, this can be a time of
great emptiness and sadness, that can easily tip into
depression if unheeded. This article will discuss methods
that will help your children to leave home secure in the
knowledge that they have a solid home base behind them, and
ways for parents to deal with grief from separation.

!! Steps !!

Discuss the future together Prepare for the departure. If you're
expecting your children to be leaving within the next year, take this
time to check that they are aware of how to do the basic essentials
for caring for themselves alone. Make sure they know how to wash
their clothes, cook for themselves, deal with neighbor disputes,
negotiate for good deals when buying things, and know how to
appreciate the value of money. While some of these things will
improve with practice, it's important to talk through and show how to
do some of the basics so that they're not left completely adrift.
Using a how-to site like wikiHow for explanations on household tasks
and lifestyle issues can be helpful if needed.

* If you don't know that your children are leaving until the last
minute, don't panic. Accept that this is happening and be
enthusiastic for them, offering your support at any time it is
needed. It is better for your children to know that you support
them, love them, and are willing to be of help to them than to see
you fretting and worrying.

Treat it as a new adventure Shift aside the terrifying thoughts.
Both you and your children will be better off if you treat this as a
big adventure. Your children will be feeling a range of emotions from
being terrified to being over the moon about their upcoming new
experiences. For children who are frightened at the prospect of
leaving, it's important to reassure them by telling them that the
unknown is worse than the reality. Help them to understand that once
they're into their new routine, it'll be familiar, fun, and
successful.

* Let your kids know that your home is their permanent base, for
whenever they need or want to return home. This provides both you
and your children with a very secure sense of belonging and
safety.

* If your kids are miserable for the initial time they're away,
don't be secretly pleased about this. They're going to have to
work through these emotions while they're getting used to the new
arrangements, and they'll need your active support in this, not a
secret wish for them to come running back home. This means not
actively offering coming back home as an option, and not sorting
out all the things for them – let them learn to do things on
their own, including administrative and negotiation tasks. They
will make mistakes but equally, they'll learn best that way.

Yes Mrs Wibbly, your daughter is exceptional! Explore the ways that
you intend to keep in touch with your children. You'll feel a sense
of loneliness and emptiness when they're gone because you can't just
turn around and tell them the things as you always used to do.
Keeping up constant communications is vital for maintaining a sense
of family togetherness and to keep up with the news. Some of the
methods you can consider include:

* Make sure they have a decent cell phone that can connect easily to
networks and will last the year. If they've had a cell phone for a
while now, you might need to upgrade or at least upgrade its
battery. Buy prepaid phone minutes so that they don't have to be
concerned about the cost of calling you.

* Schedule a weekly call-in time. While you may feel tempted to call
more often than this, it will become a burden unless they choose
to do so, so try not to expect too much from them. Be sensitive to
their need to grow and become their own adult person.

* Use email or texting for all the in-between things you'd like to
share. These are great mediums because you can say things without
being overly emotional.[1] Be aware as time goes on, though, that
your son or daughter may not reply as frequently as they do
initially. This is part of their settling in and developing a new
group of relationships, etc., and it does not mean they've stopped
caring.

Understand what empty nest syndrome is, so that you can recognize
the symptoms in your own situation. Empty nest syndrome is a
psychological condition that affects principally women, producing
grief when one or more of the children leave home.[2] Most commonly
it occurs when children leave for school, college, or university
(usually late summer and autumn), or when children marry and leave
home to live with their spouse. Empty nest syndrome often coincides
with other major events in life, such as menopause, illness, or
retirement.[3] It impacts women in particular because motherhood is
viewed as a primary role for both working and stay-at-home moms, and
a role to which women dedicate themselves as a principal
responsibility for an average of 20 years. A child leaving can
precipitate a feeling of redundancy, accompanied by feeling lost,
unworthy, and unsure about the future.[4] Feeling sad and crying a
little is a normal, healthy reaction to be expected of any parent;
after all, it is a big change. It becomes a problem when you have
feelings that stand in the way of your life, such as thinking that
your life is no longer worthwhile, you're unable to stop crying
excessively, and you're unable to resume a normal life of seeing
friends, getting out and about, or resuming some activities that get
you back into the swing of things.[5]

* Psychologists consider that the transition from being an actively
involved mom to being an independent woman again takes around 18
months to two years.[6] This means that it's vital to allow
yourself the time to grieve, work through the loss, and rebuild
your life is important. Be gentle on yourself and the expectations
that you have.

Accept support. If you find that you're really not coping and feel a
deep sense of emptiness, sadness, or an inability to get your life
back on track after the children leave, it's important to get help.
You might be suffering from depression or a similar psychological
ailment that is preventing you from enjoying life to its fullest.
Talk to a professional. Cognitive therapy or similar types of
therapy that enable you to talk through your issues might work well.
Or, you may simply need a listening ear and confirmation that what
you're going through is real, does matter, and in time, will pass.

* Acknowledge your grief. It doesn't matter what other people think
or say about getting on with it. Unacknowledged grief will gnaw
away at you if you don't face it and let yourself be upset for a
time. Allow the grief to work through your system.

* Treat yourself. While going through the hardship of grief, don't
neglect yourself. Have a regular massage, go to a movie now and
then, buy your favorite expensive chocolate box, etc. All sadness
and no happy moments is a recipe for continued blues.

* Consider having a "letting go" ritual. Having a ritual in which
you "let go" of your children as they turn into adults, and let go
of the active parenting role, can be an important and cathartic
way to help you to move on. Some suggestions include: Sail a
lantern with a candle in it down a stream, plant a tree, bronze
something special of your child's, hold a ceremony that reflects
your faith, etc.

* Talk to your spouse about your feelings. He or she may be feeling
similar emotions and will relish the chance to talk it through.
Or, they may simply listen and acknowledge what you're going
through, which is an important source of acceptance for you.

* Consider keeping a journal to document your journey. Prayer or
meditation may also help.

Try those things you've not yet managed to get around to... Start
looking to your own needs. Once you're satisfied that you've set your
child on the right path, the busyness will wear off and you'll start
noticing the big change in your life. The way in which you choose to
perceive this change will color your feelings and approach to it –
if you see it as a gaping hole, you'll feel much more miserable than
if you choose to see it as an opportunity to revive some of your own
interests and pursuits.

* Avoid creating a shrine out of your child's bedroom. If they
didn't clean it up before they left, throw some of your emotions
into removing all that trash! Eliminate some of the clutter, but
carefully place your child's keepsakes in safe storage.

* Write down all the things you'd promised yourself you'd get around
to doing one day. Now is the time to start doing them. Pin this
list somewhere obvious and start working through it.

* Build new friendships or revive lapsed ones. Friends are an
important part of your transition from parent full-time to
person-at-home-without-kids. Get out there and meet new people.
There will be other empty-nesters like you looking for friendship
too. And friends can prove a useful source of information about
hobbies, activities, and job openings too.

* Take up a new hobby or interest. Or revive an old one that you
allowed to lapse while raising children. Anything from painting,
photography, woodworking, to skydiving and travel!

* Go back to school or university. Select a course that you feel
resonates with you at this point in life. Work out whether this is
a completely new path you're setting out on, or whether it's to
upgrade your existing qualifications. Either way is good.

* Restart a career – either pick up where you left off or start a
new one. Realize that even though you're "rusty", you have the
advantage of experience, so after some initial relearning, you'll
be off to a much faster start than when you were fresh out of
school or college.

* Consider volunteering. If you're not quite ready to go back to
work just yet, volunteering in potential workplaces can be a good
way to transition back into the workforce at a pace that suits
you. It also gives you the chance to try things to see if you like
them or not.

* Try participating in charities. Doing something positive with your
free time can be very fulfilling.

Time to rediscover one another Rediscover the love of your life.
Unless you're a lone/single parent, you'll be left with your spouse
or partner. And this can be a difficult time if you discover that
there's a problem with your relationship you hadn't faced because
having the children around helped to cement together your spousal
relationship. Or, it can simply be a case that after being parents
for so long, you've forgotten how to be lovers. This is a time to
talk honestly and openly about the direction of your relationship
together and to decide what happens next.

* If your children were the only bonding force in your marriage, you
and your spouse may need to work on your own relationship to
restore what has been neglected between the two of you, especially
if you feel that your relationship is now redundant. Seek couples
counseling if you feel this would assist the transition back to
being alone together again.

* Acceptance that this is a difficult time of transition can allow
both of you to forgive the uncertainties and messiness of growing
together as a couple without kids again.

* It can help if you develop the mindset that you expect your spouse
or partner to have changed at least a little. After all, both of
you have aged a lot since meeting and you've been through many
different experiences during the times of raising your children,
experiences that probably neither of you envisaged when you first
fell in love. As time moves on, many people become clearer about
what they do and don't like, what they believe and don't believe,
and these discoveries may now be more evident than when you first
married or paired up. Trying to see this as an opportunity to
discover each other's "new" selves can be a fruitful way to revive
a flagging relationship.

* Spend more time with your spouse or partner and get to know them
again. Take a vacation together to help revive the feelings of
closeness and reliance on one another for emotional support.

* Allow time for your relationship to blossom anew. This can be an
exciting time of rejuvenation for both of you.

* Sometimes, none of this will patch up the reality that you've
grown apart. If you realize that your relationship is beyond
repair, talk it through or seek support, to enable you to reach a
decision that will enable both of you to move on happily into the
future.

Start looking for the brighter side again Focus on some of the
positive points of your kids moving out. Focusing on some of the
positive changes resulting from your children moving out can ease the
sense of loss considerably when you weigh up what you've gained.
While this doesn't belittle the importance of your sadness and the
big transition you and your children are going through, it does help
you to try and see the brighter side of your future. Some of the
positive points include:

* You may notice that the refrigerator does not need refilling quite
as often. This means less trips to the grocery store and less
cooking required!

* Romance with your spouse may increase. The two of you have time
and space now to return to being just a couple; make the most of
it.

* If you used to do all of your children's laundry, there will be a
lot less washing and ironing for you to do now. Try not to give in
to doing it again when they return home for breaks. Expecting them
to have grown up enough to do this for themselves is an important
step to letting them grow up.

* You've got your bathroom back.

* Smaller water, phone and electricity bills will help you save
money. And that saved money can be put toward a vacation with your
spouse or friends!

* Feel extremely proud of yourself for having raised children who
are capable of going out into the world and surviving and thriving
on their own. Give yourself a pat on the back.

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* It can probably be more traumatic for the child left behind - they
no longer have their playmate and friend. They may be feeling
quite insecure now - so spend some time with them, discuss what's
going on with them. Point out you'll all meeting up again soon
enough.

* It is a good idea to start planning and preparing for an empty
nest before your children all leave home. This will ease the
transition considerably, and will also demonstrate to your
children that you're getting on with your life in expectation that
they'll do the same.

* Expect your relationship with your children to change when they
become adults living on their own resources.

* If you like and your place of residence allows you to, get a pet.
If you have a pet to take care of you may have a decreased desire
to baby your children.

* Parents more susceptible to suffering from empty nest syndrome
include those who found it hard to leave home themselves, those in
an unhappy or unstable marriage, those who derived much of their
self-identity from being a mom (or dad), those who find any change
experience stressful, those who mothered (or fathered) full-time
with no external work, and parents who are overly worried that
their children are not ready for the responsibility of living on
their own.[7]

!! Warnings !!

* Be aware that sympathy may be thin on the ground because children
leaving home is perceived as a normal event in life. See your
mental health specialist because empty nest syndrome is recognized
as a real cause for concern and care.[8]

* In some cases, it may not be your relationship that is in trouble.
When children move out and the mom was a constant in the child's
daily life she will experience separation anxiety. Some cases are
severe depending on how close she is to her child. It may just be
the fact that she will have some issues to deal with and workout.
But you can do it together. In time it should get better, maybe
even less painful for her to go through. Moms know that the baby
birds will fly away. It's just very hard to let them go. Moms may
be afraid that they will not see their kids anymore.

* For children, it's important to try and understand that for moms,
your leaving is like a knife in the heart. Be patient with mom.
She will come out okay. For moms, you will see them again. Yes,
it hurts. But you have to let them grow up. They want to
experience life. All you can do is be there for them, listen to
them, and love them.

* Don't make big decisions until you've come through the grief of
empty nest syndrome. You may regret selling your home or moving
away if done under the pall of deep sadness. Wait until you feel
happier again to make large decisions.

!! Things You'll Need !!

* Hobbies and other interests

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Encourage Your Family to Live Frugally

* How to Plan and Organize a Family Reunion

* How to Accept Change

* How to Get a Family Member to Leave You Alone

* How to Keep Relationships Healthy Within Your Family

!! Sources And Citations !!

* VideoJug, How to Deal with Empty Nest Syndrome,
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-deal-with-empty-nest-syndrome
– partial source of article, shared with permission.

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

Why You Don=?UTF-8?B?4oCZ?=t Have Time NOT To Exercise

Why You Don't Have Time NOT To Exercise

[1]

It's so easy to put off exercising. Long work hours, chores to do at
home, friends and family to see ... hitting the gym ends up being yet
another forgotten item on an overwhelming to-do list.

After all, "I don't have time" seems like a decent enough excuse.
You've got other priorities. You might not even _like_ exercise much.
And those folks who do spend an hour or two every day walking, cycling
or working out? They're clearly not very focused on their work or the
other "should do"s in their life.

The thing is, if you're busy, you can't afford _not_ to exercise.

!! Exercise Gives You More Energy !!

Maybe you're put off exercising because you're worried about being
tired. If you hit the gym at lunch, you'll be exhausted all afternoon,
won't you?

Actually, probably not. Sure, if you overdo things and push yourself
too hard, you might feel tired – but *moderate exercise will get
your blood pumping and leave you _more_ alert and energetic.*

If you're struggling with just getting through the day, then try
taking some exercise. Sitting at the computer for ten hours straight
might _feel_ productive ("I got into work at six this morning...") but
you're probably slowing down, making mistakes and missing out on
creative insights.

!! Exercise Lowers Your Stress Levels !!

It's hard to work when you're feeling anxious, upset or angry. Yes,
you might be able to pour some of that negative energy into your work
("I'm going to get this $%"& report done!") – but overall, you're
going to find that it's hard to concentrate.

Being stressed out isn't good for you or for the people around you.
How often have you snapped at a colleague or family member, just
because you were in a bad mood? How often have you had to spend time
patching up that relationship?

When you're stressed, you might feel that the last thing you want to
do is summon up the motivation to get some exercise. Get moving
anyway. *Once you've been jogging or cycling for a few minutes, you'll
find the stress melting away – almost miraculously.* Exercising has
a proven effect on our mental state, so much so that doctors now
"prescribe" exercise for milder cases of depression.

!! Exercise Prevents Health Problems !!

How much work are you going to get done if you land up in a hospital
bed? *A lot of health conditions – especially long term, chronic
ones – are heavily linked to lifestyle factors.* If you're unfit and
rarely or never exercise, you're putting yourself at greater risk of
stroke, heart disease and cancer.

If you have a piece of equipment at work that's vital to your job, you
take good care of it: you wouldn't be able to do any work at all if it
broke down. Do you take similarly good care of your body?

Along with a healthy diet and getting enough sleep, exercising is
hugely important in staying healthy – or even getting back to a
greater state of health.

!! Exercise Can Help You Think !!

I'll bet that, at some point in your life, you've had the experience
of a _great_ idea coming to you when you're not at your desk. Perhaps
you were in the shower, out walking, chilling out with friends, or
doing something else totally unrelated to your work.

When you're busy, it's tempting to keep on trying to _do_ your work.
That makes it hard to _think_ about it in a creative way, or with new
perspective. *Getting away from your desk and heading to the gym (or
pool or running track) gives you the "head space" which you need in
order to come up with new ideas.*

You might even want to keep a notebook or voice recorder to hand, so
that you can jot your ideas down.

_So ... have you really got the time *not*_ _to exercise? What could
you do today to be more active?_

Don't Forget To Follow PickTheBrain on Twitter [2]!

_*Related Articles:*_

4 Musts to Staying Committed To Your Diet [3]

The Massive Benefits of a Healthy Diet and How To Make Yours Stick
[4]

Links:
------
[1] http://bemoreconfident.info/wp-content/blogs.dir/22/files/HLIC/7b4fca23e1182e17a3345b2c1e3ef978.jpg
[2] http://twitter.com/pickthebrain
[3] http://bemoreconfident.info/../4-musts-to-stay-committed-to-your-diet/
[4] http://bemoreconfident.info/../the-massive-benefits-of-a-healthy-diet-and-how-to-make-yours-stick/

Mind Tools: Performance Appraisals

Mind Tools: Performance Appraisals

Getting real results from performance reviews - All Readers - All too
often, performance appraisal gets relegated to the bottom of a
manger's list of responsibilities. Yet it's critical to organizational
success. Find out why, and how you can conduct more effective
appraisals yourself.

Mind Tools: Using Well-Formed Outcomes in Goal Setting

Mind Tools: Using Well-Formed Outcomes in Goal Setting

Identify and clarify your intentions - All Members - Have you ever set
a goal, but not really achieved it? Use this goal-setting approach to
turn your vision and dreams into reality. Where to go from here:

Mind Tools: Mentoring

Mind Tools: Mentoring

An essential leadership skill - All Readers - As a leader, you need to
nurture and develop your staff. And mentoring is an effective way of
doing this. Find out what's involved!

Mind Tools: Mind Tools Newsletter 145

Mind Tools: Mind Tools Newsletter 145

Help Your People Shine! - All Readers - In it we show you how
mentoring can help you develop your team members, and improve your own
skills too!

Mind Tools: Combining Parenthood and Work

Mind Tools: Combining Parenthood and Work

Understanding and managing the challenges - All Members - It's tough
being a working parent. Find out what you can do as a mom or dad to
ease the challenge, and fulfill your potential both at work and in the
family.

Mind Tools: The Product-Process Matrix

Mind Tools: The Product-Process Matrix

Using the right process for the volume of work you're doing - All
Readers - If you do repetitive work, is there a more efficient way to
complete those tasks? The Product-Process Matrix helps you align your
tasks with the right process, helping you become more efficient.

Mind Tools: Dialogue Mapping

Mind Tools: Dialogue Mapping

Bringing order to chaotic meetings - All Members - Chaotic meetings
can be frustrating, unproductive, and miserable to experience. Find
out how to use Dialogue Mapping to keep your meetings organized,
focused, and productive.

Mind Tools: Authentic Leadership

Mind Tools: Authentic Leadership

Being a leader that people want to follow - All Members - "Authentic
leadership" is a popular buzz-phrase right now. But what does it
actually mean? This article explains, and helps you to become an
authentic leader.

Mind Tools: Coaching Through Change

Mind Tools: Coaching Through Change

Helping people embrace change - All Members - Coaching is useful for
helping people understand the change that's happening within an
organization. Find out how you can coach this way.

Mind Tools: The Hogan Development Survey

Mind Tools: The Hogan Development Survey

Identifying career derailing behaviors - All Members - Sometimes, the
things we do can limit our careers without us being aware of it. The
Hogan Development Survey can help you uncover behaviors that interfere
with productivity, interpersonal success, and career advancement. Find
out more about it here.

Mind Tools: Mind Tools Newsletter 151

Mind Tools: Mind Tools Newsletter 151

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate! - All Readers - Learn what the
7 Cs of communication are and catch up with all of the other new
career-enhancing resources at MindTools.com.

Mind Tools: How Good Are Your Project Management Skills?

Mind Tools: How Good Are Your Project Management Skills?

Skills required by project managers - All Readers - Project management
involves using basic management skills as well as knowing numerous
specialist techniques. Take our quiz to identify areas where you can
expand your skills.

Mind Tools: How Good Are Your Management Skills?

Mind Tools: How Good Are Your Management Skills?

Are you getting the best out of your team? - All Readers - Good
management is the foundation of organizational success. Evaluate your
management skills with this test.

Mind Tools: Sirota Three-Factor Theory

Mind Tools: Sirota Three-Factor Theory

Keeping employees enthusiastic - All Readers - David Sirota believes
that people come to the workplace already motivated, but companies let
them down. Find out how his theory tells us to improve the workplace
and promote enthusiasm.

Mind Tools: Break-even Analysis

Mind Tools: Break-even Analysis

Determining when a product becomes profitable - All Members - Using
Break-even Analysis, you can quickly and easily determine if a project
is likely to contribute to the bottom line, and then decide whether to
pursue it further.

Mind Tools: Rumors in the Workplace

Mind Tools: Rumors in the Workplace

Managing and preventing them - All Members - Rumors in the workplace
can destroy productivity and harm morale. Learn how to use
communication as your primary tool for managing, and ultimately
preventing, rumors at work.

Mind Tools: Multitasking

Mind Tools: Multitasking

Can it help you get more done? - All Readers - Multitasking can
actually reduce your efficiency. Find out how to get out of the
multitasking habit.

Mind Tools: Mind Tools Newsletter 149

Mind Tools: Mind Tools Newsletter 149

On Time and On Budget, Always? - All Readers - Most of us need to
deliver "projects", even if we don't work in a formal project
environment. But how good are your project management skills?, Find
out with our latest self-test here in this newsletter!

Mind Tools: "Blue Collar" Workers

Mind Tools: "Blue Collar" Workers

Making the most of people's hard work and skills - All Members -
Managing blue-collar workers can sometimes be difficult because we
don't always understand the nature of manual labor. Find out what you
can do to improve your understanding and better appreciate people's
roles.

Mind Tools: The Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Theory

Mind Tools: The Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Theory

Choosing the right leadership style for the right people - All Readers
- You often need to use different styles of leadership with different
individuals or groups. This theory shows you how to choose the right
style for each group.

Mind Tools: Managing "Rogues"

Mind Tools: Managing "Rogues"

Controlling disruptive people - All Members - Does someone at work
refuse to follow the rules, or try to use the system to his or her
advantage? These behaviors, if left uncorrected, can cause serious
problems. Find out how to manage these "rogues", and control their
actions.

Mind Tools: Mind Tools Newsletter 147

Mind Tools: Mind Tools Newsletter 147

Coach Yourself! - All Readers - In it we show you three great ways to
boost your career

Mind Tools: Is This a "Morning" Task?

Mind Tools: Is This a "Morning" Task?

Scheduling important activities for the right time of day - All
Readers - When should you schedule your most important tasks? Find out
when you have high and low energy, and schedule yourself accordingly
to get more done.

Mind Tools: Gantt Charts

Mind Tools: Gantt Charts

Planning and scheduling more complex projects - All Readers - Gantt
charts are one of THE core of project management, and are often
produced in Microsoft Project. Learn how to interpret, and construct
them.

Mind Tools: The Action Priority Matrix

Mind Tools: The Action Priority Matrix

Making the very most of your opportunities - All Members - Categorize
the items on your to-do list according to the effort they require, and
the impact they'll have, and find out which are "quick wins" and which
are "thankless tasks".

Mind Tools: Project and Program Governance

Mind Tools: Project and Program Governance

Using Senior Management Support to Ensure Project Success - All
Members - Find out why steering groups, panels of experts, and
oversight teams are not time-consuming irritants, but can actually
help you make your project a success.

Mind Tools: Writing Meeting Notes

Mind Tools: Writing Meeting Notes

Creating effective, actionable records - All Readers - Want to write
meeting notes that actually get read? This article will show you how.

Mind Tools: Mehrabian's Communication Model

Mind Tools: Mehrabian's Communication Model

Learning to communicate clearly - All Members - To communicate a
message effectively, we have to do more than choose the right words.
Learn why tone of voice and facial expression can be much more
important.

Mind Tools: Conducting a Project Healthcheck

Mind Tools: Conducting a Project Healthcheck

Finding out how a project is progressing - All Members - Project
healthchecks can help you get a project back on track. Find out how to
run them here.

Mind Tools: Building the Trust of Your New Team

Mind Tools: Building the Trust of Your New Team

Getting Real and Living the "We" in Team - All Members - To create a
high performing team, your team must believe in you as a person and a
leader. Find out how to build your team's trust.

Mind Tools: Mind Tools Newsletter 150

Mind Tools: Mind Tools Newsletter 150

A Milestone to Celebrate! - All Readers - We celebrate the publication
of our 150th newsletter by offering readers our Celebration Team
Productivity Bonus Pack, worth $150, when they join the Career
Excellence Club.

Mind Tools: Coaching for Talent Development

Mind Tools: Coaching for Talent Development

Helping people become more effective - All Members - Coaching is one
of the most effective ways of developing talent. Find out how to use
coaching to improve people's performance, and reach your
organization's goals.

Mind Tools: How Good Are Your Change Management Skills?

Mind Tools: How Good Are Your Change Management Skills?

Find out which change management skills you need to improve - All
Readers - Do you know how to plan and implement change effectively?
Take our quiz to find out which change management skills you need to
develop.

Mind Tools: Developing "Character"

Mind Tools: Developing "Character"

Learning how to stand your ground - All Members - We all need to stand
our ground sometimes. Find out what character is, and learn how to
develop and defend it.

Mind Tools: Impact Analysis

Mind Tools: Impact Analysis

Identifying the full consequences of change - All Members - Changes
rarely happen in isolation. Learn how to analyze the impact of
proposed changes systematically and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Mind Tools: Mind Tools Newsletter 155

Mind Tools: Mind Tools Newsletter 155

New Role? Make a Real Impact! - All Readers - Find out what you should
focus on in those first critical months in a new role, and take
advantage of our special offer!

Mind Tools: The Wheel of Life

Mind Tools: The Wheel of Life

Finding balance in your life - All Readers - When you're focused on
work or a special project, it's easy to forget about the important
areas of life. Learn how to identify which areas you need to pay more
attention to.

Mind Tools: Informal Coaching for Managers

Mind Tools: Informal Coaching for Managers

Knowing When to be a Coach - All Members - Informal coaching is a
great way of dealing with issues before they get out of control. Find
out how to use this type of coaching as part of your management
approach.

Mind Tools: Overcoming Fear of Failure

Mind Tools: Overcoming Fear of Failure

Facing fears and moving forward - All Readers - Fear of failure can
affect life at work, and at home. Learn how to overcome your fears so
that you can keep moving towards your goals.

Mind Tools: The Iron Triangle of Project Management

Mind Tools: The Iron Triangle of Project Management

Balancing your budget, scope, and schedule - All Members - In project
management, the three constraints of budget, scope and schedule are
closely linked. Find out how to deliver your projects successfully
within this "iron triangle."

Mind Tools: What Is Coaching?

Mind Tools: What Is Coaching?

Understanding what coaching is - All Members - Coaching is great for
developing people's skills and abilities. Find out what it is, and
learn how you can use it to boost performance.

Mind Tools: Motivating Yourself

Mind Tools: Motivating Yourself

Practical tools and strategies - All Members - Need some extra
motivation to get things done? Learn how to motivate yourself to do
those undesirable tasks.

Mind Tools: Formal Warnings

Mind Tools: Formal Warnings

Understanding and issuing them - All Members - Formal warnings are
likely to be part of your organization's disciplinary procedure. Find
out when and how you should use them.

Mind Tools: How to Be Patient

Mind Tools: How to Be Patient

Learning to stay calm - All Readers - Impatience damages
relationships. Learn how to become more patient at work and at home.

Mind Tools: Personal Mission Statements

Mind Tools: Personal Mission Statements

Defining your goals - All Members - Do you know what you want to
accomplish in work and in life? Personal mission and vision statements
can help you achieve your goals in a very focused way.

Mind Tools: Psychometric Testing

Mind Tools: Psychometric Testing

Measuring "hidden" traits - All Readers - It can be difficult to
objectively assess traits such as personality, attitude, and values.
Find out how psychometric testing can help you measure these "hidden"
attributes.

Mind Tools: Changing Career Within Your Organization

Mind Tools: Changing Career Within Your Organization

Staying challenged with a new role - All Members - You don't have to
move company to change your career. Find out how to do this without
leaving your current organization.

Mind Tools: Mind Tools Newsletter 161

Mind Tools: Mind Tools Newsletter 161

A Good Decision - Every Time - 31st Aug 2010

Mind Tools: Building Rapport in Coaching

Mind Tools: Building Rapport in Coaching

Developing mutual understanding and trust - All Members - Building
trust and rapport is vital for developing effective relationships.
Find out how you can build and maintain rapport with the people you're
coaching.

How to Make Slovakian Leco Stew

How to Make Slovakian Leco Stew

_ Lečo (pronounced leh-cho_) is a Slovakian style
vegetable stew with kielbasa sausage. It tastes great with crusted
bread and sour cream. Here's how to make this delicious dish!

!! Ingredients !!

_

* 6 tomatoes

* 2 yellow bell peppers

* 4 cloves garlic, crushed and minced

* 2 white onions, chopped coarsely

* 2 eggs

* 1 package of Kielbasa sausage, chopped into slices

* 4 tbsp vegetable oil

* Sour cream (as garnish_)

!! Steps !!

* In a large skillet, preheat the oil on medium
high and sauté the onions for about 7 minutes.

* Add the garlic, sausage, and peppers and cook
for 10 minutes.

* Stir in the tomatoes and continue to cook
until soft.

* Add in the eggs and cook for an additional 5 minutes.

* Season with salt to taste.

* Serve with crusted bread and garnish with
sour cream.

!! Tips !!

* You can incorporate other vegetables and experiment with different
kinds of meats to suit your taste.

!! Warnings !!

* This can be very hot when serving immediately. Eat with caution.

!! Things You\'ll Need !!

* Large skillet or frying pan

* Wooden spatula or similar stirring implement

* Cutting board and knife

* Serving plates

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Cook French Beef Stew

* How to Cook Low Fat Sausage Risotto

* How to Cook Sausages

* How to Fix an Overspiced Stew

* How to Make Stewed Tomatoes

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

It's World Tourism Day! How to Travel Safely as a Photographer

It's World Tourism Day! How to Travel Safely as a Photographer

All that AND a bag of chips! Traveling as a photographer, with your
photography equipment in evidence, presents its own sets of
challenges when it comes your personal safety and comfort. Carrying
such equipment singles you out as someone who is not necessarily from
the area, potentially making you a target for tourist fraud or theft.
And not knowing the etiquette or rules of taking photographs in some
places can lead you into dangerous situations or brushes with the
law. Even not taking the right equipment can spoil an otherwise great
travel experience.

Traveling as a photographer requires some forethought and planning, as
well as knowing the possible pitfalls. In this article, you'll learn
how to keep safe, well-organized, and knowledgeable as you travel with
your camera.

!! Steps !!

This is *not* traveling light! Get insurance coverage for your
photography equipment. Check whether or not your travel insurance
covers your photography equipment. If not, seek additional insurance.
It's never possible to know whether or not your equipment is safe –
it might be stolen, lost, or broken at any part of your journey.
Knowing that you're properly covered in the event of any of these
things happening will ease the pain of losing your equipment a
little. More importantly, knowing you've got insurance can also stop
you from reacting in a foolhardy fashion and trying to defend your
equipment if you're mugged.

* Type up a list of every photography item you're taking with you.
Keep a copy in your email draft folder or in cloud storage, a
printed copy with someone trusted back home and several printed
copies on you in different places, such as your handbag and
suitcase. These lists will help you to identify stolen or lost
property quickly.

Have everything in order with your papers. Carrying a camera can
sometimes raise a suspicion that you're a photo journalist or
someone trying to document suspicious activities, and that can cause
paranoid guards or police to be wary of you.

* Make sure that your passport is up-to-date with at least 6 months
on it before expiry.

* Get all necessary visas prior to travel.

Hmmm...wonder if they still use this?! Have all of your vaccinations
before leaving, and be sure to include proofs in your papers.

Take the right photography gear with you. In some countries, you
might not be able to just "pick up" things you forgot to bring, or
there may be issues of compatibility or affordability involved. On
the other hand, you don't want to overload yourself with
non-essential gear. Plan in advance to be sure that you have each
piece of photography equipment that you know you'll actually need,
as well as any suitable spares but no more. Some suggestions to
consider include:

* Different kinds of converters Carry all suitable
plug-ins and converters for the destinations you're headed for. If
you're going to be in multiple countries, check online what you
might need.

* Portable hard drive Carry a small, portable and durable
external hard drive. Some countries may not allow you to carry
your computer with you and you will want a place to store your
photographs safely. (Try to find out this information in advance.)

* Take the right type of camera for the type of trip you're taking.
If you'll be snorkeling or diving, use a camera able to withstand
being in water; same for wet jungle expeditions. If you're going
somewhere very hot or cold, take the climatic conditions into
account when deciding on the camera type. Remember that batteries
won't work well, if at all, in many extreme weather temperatures,
so you might need work-arounds.

* Be sure to pack your photography equipment correctly to avoid
damage. This isn't only for during transportation but also when
you're carrying it. Use straps if provided, especially if you
scare easily or get excited; it can be easy to drop a camera in a
moment of excitement at getting "just the right shot"!

* Invest in a travel tripod if you don't want to carry a larger one.
These are very compact and can improve the quality of your shots
considerably more than having nothing to lean on.

Just a bit obvious... Travel safe. Traveling with
photography equipment can set you apart as someone worth
robbing, begging from, or bothering. The following
safety ideas are aimed at reducing the chances of this
happening:

* Avoid carrying your equipment in well-known, labeled photography
bags. Thieves grow to know the sign of these very quickly and can
target you easily. Instead, try to ease your camera into an
ordinary bag, even if still encased in its proper bag. This is
more of a problem where there are lots of people and in countries,
cities, or areas with low trust issues.

* Travel with someone or as a group. When there is someone else with
you, they can keep an eye out for you while you're busy lost in
taking photos. They can also act as a deterrent to thieves or
muggers when it's obvious that you're part of a pair or group.

* Stay alert. Even though part of the fun of photography is to lose
yourself in seeing the beauty or the unusual around you, a
traveling photographer needs to be alert on two levels – the
first level is about staying alert for your safety, the second
level being looking for the ideal shot. Only after you're
reassured that you're safe should you take your photos.

* If you want to scout a place before taking photos, consider
leaving the photography equipment back at the hotel safe while you
do your check. That way, you can ponder and muse without having to
be quite so alert to the possibility of your equipment being
targeted.

* Look the part. Always act like you know what you're doing and
where you're headed, even if you don't. Being confident is a huge
part of being left alone by people looking for easy prey.

* If you have any suspicion at all that you're being followed,
immediately seek help. Stop in a shop, latch onto a group of
people, go into a restaurant, etc. Do whatever it takes to put the
person off. Once you are located somewhere safer, call the police
or friends to come and help you. Don't even think about taking out
your photography gear!

* Don't risk your life and limbs. Is that crazy shot really worth
dangling over the edge of the cliff or clambering out on a
tightrope wire? Be a sound judge of your physical limitations and
don't push them. Remember, you're holding equipment that you don't
want to drop, and if something does go wrong, the momentary
confusion between saving yourself or your equipment could be
enough to lose both of you. Just don't risk it.

Learn and respect the local laws and social customs. Knowledge of
local laws and customs can ensure that you don't put your foot in
it.

* Some cultures detest or fear being photographed because they fear
that the camera "steals their soul" (sympathetic magic or native
cultural belief).[1] Respect their beliefs even if you find it
foreign or backward to your way of thinking. Other people are
suffering from "tourist burnout"; they're frankly sick of people
taking their photos every which way and find it invasive or even
offensive. Always cease photographing any person who objects –
that's plain good manners. Read up on every culture you'll
encounter and want to photograph; that way you'll be able to avoid
distressing anybody.

* Avoid treating individual people as if they're part of the
backdrop or landscape. If you feel uncomfortable or arrogant in
taking photos, listen to your feelings.[2] Ask people if you can
take a photograph of them individually or at work, play, etc.
Consider how you would feel if somebody took photos of you without
asking for permission as you're trying to run your market stall,
or get on with your daily business. Not everybody appreciates the
limelight but some people will be incredibly honored and you might
even strike up a fruitful conversation, so it's always worth
asking first, as a bit of considerate socializing can oil the
wheels, so to speak. Another method for asking for permission
suggested by Darren Rowse is to gesture to the camera, smile, and
mime taking their photos with a quizzical look.[3] You'll usually
get an answer to this in affirmative because you bothered, but if
it's a no, respect that.

Be especially considerate when photographing children Be especially
considerate when photographing children as the close-up subjects of
your photo. It'd probably freak you out if someone drove up and took
photos of your kids playing on the front lawn. Keep this in mind when
taking shots of kids at play in their homes, and remember that for
some cultures, the fear of soul-stealing is greater in relation to
children, who are viewed as more fragile.[4] You don't want angry
parents tearing after you; seek to establish a relationship first
before taking photographic liberties.

* Sometimes it pays to pay. Not everyone agrees with this but think
about it: You've got the money, they've got the smile. Is this a
case of standing on your principles, or of throwing a bit of your
easy-earned cash to people living hard? Think it through
carefully. Not doing so might lead to conflict if there's a
general understanding in place that tourists cough up for photos.
If you don't like making a payment, carry small gifts from your
home country to appease people with, as suggested by Darren
Rowse.[5]

* Know the politics of a country before photographing anything that
can be construed as politically sensitive. If you're in France and
the students revolt, you're probably fine to take photos but if
you're in a repressive country and you try the same, you might
find yourself being rounded up by suspicious police. Use your
common sense at all times.

* Always obey signs that ask you not to take photographs. They mean
it. Religious establishments want you to respect their faith; law
enforcement and government agencies want you to respect their
government's idea of privacy and secrecy, from airports to nuclear
facilities; commercial entities worry about their copyrights,
trademarks, and confidentiality being breached; and places that
have animals worry about the animals being disturbed, scared, or
harmed by photography. There is usually a genuine reason behind
these requests and there will usually be an equally swift response
to you seeking to break their requests or laws. When you break an
actual law, you risk having your camera equipment being removed
from you and perhaps even being arrested. See "Tips" for examples
of the types of places and occasions to be careful about when
photographing.

Learn the basics of the language where you're traveling. Knowing
some basic words goes a long way to being a polite photographer and
will increase your chances of people agreeing to being photographed,
or letting their home or artworks, etc., be photographed.

* Carry a phrasebook with you at all times. One that fits in your
camera bag is a good idea.

* Try to learn the basic words for the area of photography that
interests you most. For example, if you love photographing craft
created by native peoples, learn the words for the craft items,
such as baskets, clay pots, woven blankets, etc. If you love
nature, learn the words for native trees and animals, etc.

* Always learn please, thank you, "you're welcome", "please help
me", and "you're beautiful".

Flickr is a great way to keep your photos somewhere retrievable Do
regular photo back-ups. Do your best to try and offload your photo
collection as you travel, so that if something does go wrong, you
don't lose the entire collection. Some ideas include:

* Mail home memory cards regularly. Try to use registered mail for
this and pad really well. Send it to a family member or friend
rather than your lonely mail box back home.

* Download your photos onto a computer or other storage system if
you're carrying such.

* Upload photos to cloud storage. This can be paid or free, although
paid storage at this stage will likely be greater than free. If
you really can't afford to maintain one paid account, open
different accounts with different cloud storage sites to cover
your needs. You'll need to have good records of where you've left
them though, along with passwords and any decoy email accounts
you've set up for this purpose. Keep in mind that photo exchange
online can chew up your broadband allowance in some places and you
may be asked to pay more.

* Places experiencing conflict are dangerous for traveling
photographers Check travel advisories from your own country
before venturing into countries in strife or with domestic
problems. Wandering into strife-torn countries with a camera can
be asking for trouble, especially if you're mistaken for a
journalist.

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* The following list suggests some places or occasions that, where
the country is not known to you, you would do best to either not
photograph, or to ask for permission to do so first: Airports,
military bases, nuclear power facilities, gaols, and
demonstrations (manifestations). Naturally, this list is very
country-dependent and you might be traveling somewhere that
doesn't care one bit; if so, you've made a great choice but if
not, be careful.

* Using your camera to keep tabs on receipts can be a useful way of
ensuring that you have a back-up in case receipts are lost while
traveling.

* Always keep emergency numbers on you. These should include your
embassy or consulate, your hotel, the local law enforcement
agencies, your family, and your airline. If you have friends or
friends of friends in a country, also have their phone numbers,
just in case.

* If you're an American citizen, be sure to check the US Department
of State (http://www.travel.state.gov) website for travel
advisories. For other countries, check your local foreign affairs
department or consulate websites for information relevant to your
citizenship and travel advisories from your country's perspective.

* US Dept. Travel Registration website If you're an
American citizen, prior to your departure, register with the
nearest embassy or consulate through the State Department
(https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ travel registration
website). Other countries might have the same registration system
in place; ask your local foreign affairs department for advice.

* If a country has vice police, be extra vigilant about what you
photograph. And be very careful if you're a woman; while you might
feel safe and respected at home, unfortunately, not all countries
carry the same level of respect and care for women, especially
where authorities consider that you are flouting expected
standards for women. Know the culture, know the rules, and know
the general limitations. Being open-minded about a culture does
not mean being blinded to its security or
authoritarian/totalitarian aspects.

!! Warnings !!

* On arrival back home, do your legality and cultural checks again
before uploading photos online. That delightful photo of a
building could have you breaching a trademark. There are some very
good sites online that will help you with the legal issues,
although the more restrictive commercial legal issues tend to
belong to developed countries rather than developing countries.

* If you intend to make a commercial profit from photographing
individuals, artwork, or specific sites that are trademarked, get
your lawyer's advice. For individuals, it is important to try and
get their written permission or even filmed agreement, rather than
assuming you've got the go ahead.

!! Things You'll Need !!

* Suitable carrying bags

* Photography equipment, pared down to the essentials

* Visas, passport, etc.

* Vaccinations

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Take Better Travel Photographs

* How to Organize Your Digital Photos

* How to Travel With an iPod

* How to Sell Travel Photos

* How to Achieve Picture Perfect Shots Via Digital Photography

!! Sources And Citations !!

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*