Our access to lightning-fast information is incredible, revolutionary, often essential to productivity… and actually very distracting. Even if you’re trying to avoid these distractions, they seem to appear everywhere you turn. I don’t know if you’d noticed yet, but even this article is being beamed into your eye-holes through an array of satellites and blue lights. It’s easy to get caught up in notifications or media, especially if you’re working from home. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. When I first began writing at home, the diversions were endless. Luckily, this particular diversion includes a few tips to improve your habits with devices.

Break a Habit to Build One

For most of us, the day starts with an all-too-familiar alarm. You reach over, silence it, and you’re immediately looking at a screen. There’s a very important decision next: put it down now, or keep at it? Your half-awake brain probably wants some flashy lights, but that’s actually a good way to wreck your day. Research shows that your half-awake state in the morning is not a bug; it’s a feature of your brain. When you interrupt that state, you force yourself to skip important processing. Your subconscious prediction of your day is replaced by random information.

That information also usually releases dopamine. Dopamine is a major factor in productivity. Its primary purpose is to motivate us towards or away from something. When you frontload the dopamine, you’re reinforcing a motivation towards the distraction, and away from your real goals. Avoiding your phone early in the morning makes it easier to focus on what really matters to you. The best way to build this habit is to try to get up and immediately decide on something to do for at least one hour. Personally, I prefer to meditate or work on some chores. If you find that this is a struggle, pay attention to how your brain convinces you to check the phone. It’s usually related to emotion and not logic. Resist that emotion, and you’ll be more motivated towards your real goals.

Time Limits: Productivity Hack

We’ve all tried to start a habit with willpower once or twice. It’s a very impressive mental image, just deciding to change and doing it. However, we usually fall flat, especially with limiting technology. The foremost reason for this is the addictive nature of our phones. Start to take back your time by setting time limits. There are options for Android and iOS to set time limits for specific apps, either in the settings of the device or the settings of a given app.

What you’ll see is that, even with a reminder to limit an app, you might not want to in the moment. This is largely because of what experts call nomophobia, the fear of being without your phone. In an article by Well+Good, Iowa State researcher Dr. Hallet calls nomophobia “FOMO in overdrive,” a combination of “the fear of not being able to connect with people, of losing our connectedness, of not being able to access information, and of being inconvenienced.” Case studies by Iowa State indicate that your best bet is to accept that it won’t be perfect, and keep trying anyway. Pay attention to your improvement over time, and don’t worry too much about the occasional slip.

Separation of Sleep, Entertainment, and Working Habits

We’ve established that your phone can have side effects on your morning routine, but what about falling asleep? Unsurprisingly, yes; using technology too soon before sleeping can have negative effects. Your sleep might be strained and less restful if you’re checking emails or social media in bed. But what about the reverse? It turns out, you’re more likely to become tired while working, if you have a habit of working where you sleep. Similarly (and sadly), binging a full season of your favorite show in bed can leave your mind racing instead of powering down.

Any disruption to your sleep can have major consequences for your productivity. In an article by Harvard Business Review, Dr. Charles Czeisler discusses a study of medical residents: “In a study our research team conducted of hospital interns who had been scheduled to work for at least 24 consecutive hours, we found that their odds of stabbing themselves with a needle or scalpel increased 61%…” This shows that, while you may want to clear a few more emails or check a few posts before going to sleep, it also might ruin your productivity tomorrow. It’s best to keep these things separate as much as possible.

So, When DO We Get to Our Doom Scrolling?

Not in the first hour of the day or in bed, and not too long in a sitting; sounds restrictive. One other thing: try not to look at your phone during breaks while you’re working. A study in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions indicates that looking at the phone itself, and not any particular app, can crush your concentration. So, how can we justify texting our friends back or updating our page, when it’s apparently always bad to look at our favorite device? The trick is being aware of when you’re most productive and leaning into it, because everyone is different. If you’re a morning person, it’s probably better that you push back on social media until the afternoon. Everyone knows that the opposite is true, too; a night owl doesn’t get much done in the AM. But, did you know that things are more complicated than that?

There are six different chronotypes, or rhythms people function by. They were distinguished by a team of chronobiologists from the Institute of Medicine of RUDN University. They include highly active, moderately active, daytime, and daytime-sleepy types. So, if you’re the daytime-sleepy type, maybe your lunch break should be spent relaxing instead of struggling to stay awake with busywork. Maybe you’re the opposite, and you can afford to check Facebook in the morning before the sun really rouses you. This is the core reason why flexible hours are known to improve productivity. Once you know your best hours to work, you can choose the best hours to relax, too.

Now Get to it – And Bring Good Technology Habits With You

Technology can be your greatest resource, or a thorn in your side, especially with big app companies competing for your attention. Don’t forget to be careful with how and when you use it, and you’ll notice that your experience improves. The good news: you’re already getting there. By taking the time to read this article, you became more aware of how your technology might be affecting you, and hopefully picked up some helpful tips. If you keep up an interest in improving your habits, there’s always more to learn and more room to grow. Until next time – best of luck.

Photo Credits

Photo by Miriam Alonso from Pexels

Photo by UrbanOrigami from Pixabay

Guest Author Bio
Sebastian Allen

Sebastian Allen I’m Sebastian Allen, and I help connect mental health, productivity, and technology through digital marketing. I specialize in making sure that the voices of brands that deserve to be heard can get to the people that need to hear them. I first came into this process aiming to help raise awareness and availability of mental health solutions. Too often these things are overlooked or even stigmatized.

Aside from that, this is my way of moving towards my passion of creative and informative writing. I’ve always loved sharing new ideas and thoughts with people, and I have always wanted to publish a fantasy novel. The best way to be a writer, after all, is to start writing and never stop, so here I am.

When I’m not working, I enjoy time with my wife and my two puppies at our home in PA. Together we go on long walks and oscillate between wishing it were cooler and wishing it were summertime.

Blog / Website: https://medium.com/@sebastian.allen917

Mental health is related to many things in our life. It’s a factor when it comes to our dreams, ambitions, feelings and love life. When people keep their mental health in check, it makes them feel relieved and happy. This enables them to push themselves and reach their optimum potential. Likewise, when people disturb their mental health, this can lead to uncontrollable and abnormal behavior. Understandably, ignoring the warning signs isn’t a great idea, as it could cause long-term illnesses. 

No matter what your goals are in life, you need to train your mind to achieve them. Here are five cool mental exercises that can help you perform better and make the most of your life:

1. Imagine Success

Make a habit of imagining what success looks like to you; literally picture it in your head. If you are asking for a raise at work, visualize the conversation you will have with your boss and the exact points you will put forward; even see yourself getting the raise. This exercise removes self-doubt and builds self-confidence. You can also use visualization in this way to increase motivation.

2. Cut Out Negative Self-Talk

We have a tendency to be more unkind to ourselves than we are to others, to constantly degrade and abuse ourselves, believing we will never succeed. Saying the same negative things, again and again, imbibes them in our minds. Be kind to yourself. Accept that everybody makes mistakes and keep taking steps to achieve your goals. Replace your negative self-talk with positive messages to inspire yourself.

3. Learn to De-Stress

It’s extremely important to reduce daily stress, as it can rob you of energy and positivity. If something specific is causing you stress, it’s wise to work towards resolving the issue. 

You can de-stress in many ways, such as spending time in nature, taking time away from your mobile and social media, taking a weekend trip, practicing mindfulness or meditation, eating well and exercising and by simply talking to friends.

4. Practice CBT

Ridding yourself of anxiety, negative thoughts, harmful emotions and other burdens is necessary for success. However, keeping thoughts and emotions at bay is not always easy!

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a practice of observing one’s self, forming logical conclusions and dealing with one’s negative side. It can be practiced without any professional guidance and at your own pace. If you’re new to CBT, this is a great DIY guide to start out with.

5. Analyze Everything

Analyze every bit of your life that matters. Why did something happen? Why did it make you feel the way you did? How might the other person have perceived the event? Analysis is the first step in making important realizations about your life. It can make a big difference in how you see and think about the world.

Overall, a positive mentality, along with practicing positive affirmations, plays a major role in helping you perform better in life. Give these five exercises a try and let me know which one helps you the most!

Photo Credit

Photo from Flickr – some rights reserved

Guest Author Bio
Daniel Thompson

A huge fan of Real Madrid FC, Daniel is mainly interested in writing about European soccer, green technologies, environmentalism and environmental science. Daniel is currently working on his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.

For instance, paper is the traditional suggestion for a couple’s first anniversary. Its meaning is fitting, as just like the beginning of marriage, paper is fragile, yet will last a lifetime if properly cared for. Leather, on the other hand, is recommended for year three as a symbol of the shelter and security a couple has built between them. By the time they reach their first decade of marriage, the symbolism continues, and a couple has much to celebrate. The traditional gift is tin or aluminum, which speaks of the pliability or flexibility that a successful marriage requires.

However, this doesn’t mean gifts need to be limited to these suggestions. Thinking outside the box can be fun! For example, tickets to a concert could be the ‘paper’on your first anniversary, and a flight somewhere on a ‘tin’ plane could be the way you celebrate your tenth. Of course, if you love the idea of keeping to a traditional gesture, referring to a list of anniversary gift ideas by year can be extremely helpful.

In the meantime, if you’re thinking of throwing a modern spin on your next wedding anniversary celebration, here are a few ideas to get you started:

Just The Two of You

Fly Overseas
If this is a milestone anniversary, consider travelling overseas to a romantic city like Paris, or pack your swimsuits for a sunny getaway in Bali. Or, perhaps you postponed your honeymoon and take this opportunity to finally visit the vineyards of Italy or the Great Wall of China.

Visit Your Favorite City
Booking a weekend trip to your favorite city may be just what you need to relax and unwind while still being kind to your pocketbook. Take in an exhibition, stroll around a botanical garden or return to your favorite haunts. The idea is to maximize time together and minimize travel time.

Couples Spa
This could be the ideal getaway for those who have a demanding lifestyle that affords very little room for relaxation. Ask family members to look after the children or get a house sitter to care for pets in your home.

Want your family and friends to help you celebrate? These ideas are just some examples of how you can plan with a crowd in mind:

Celebrations With Friends and Family
 
Get Tickets to an Event      
Whether you share a favorite headliner or adore opera or sports, get tickets for an exciting event that you’ll all enjoy. Kick it up a notch and make it a black tie dress code!

Book a Private Room at a Restaurant
Go out for dinner and make it extra-special by booking a private room at your favorite restaurant or one where there’s a special set menu. This allows you to spend unrushed time together without the worry of having to give up your table for the next reservation.

Rent an Airbnb for the Weekend
Save yourself the trouble of trying to accommodate large numbers of people in your home and instead, invite everyone to a nearby Airbnb. Not only will there be room for everyone, but you can also choose the amenities you want, such as a games room, hot tub, surround-sound stereo system etc.

How you celebrate your wedding anniversary and the gifts you choose will ultimately be up to you. No matter what you decide – traditional or modern, a small celebration or a large one – I hope these ideas inspire you to plan your next anniversary celebration that’s as unique as your love!

Photo Credit

Photo courtesy of Flickr – some rights reserved

Guest Author Bio
Trenton J. Smith

Trenton is an aspiring writer who loves to research and write about a wide variety of topics. When he is not writing, he enjoys gardening and long walks with his dog Boomer.

Travel with Small Duffel Bags and a Small Back Pack

I only travel with what I can carry in my hands and on my back. That forces me to be a minimalist. In my case, I use the small Eagle Creek duffel bags. I carry two small bags rather than one regular size bag for several reasons: First – it keeps me balanced. One big bag would make me lopsided and it would be too heavy for me to lift. Second – two small bags can fit into the luggage sections of tourist vans far more easily than a larger bag could. Third – I often use one bag to carry stuff I’ll need for the next few weeks and leave the other bag in a guest house to pick up a few weeks later.  This lightens my load tremendously.

If you’re planning to travel in third world countries, avoid getting luggage with wheels. The sidewalks are uneven. The curbs are high. The wheels add weight. It’s just not practical.

My backpack is a small PacSafe camera bag. Of course, I carry my camera in it, but I also carry my MacBook Air, iPad, iPhone, external memory, external power supply, noise cancelling headset and all the cables and other paraphernalia I need. The PacSafe bag is lined with a wire mesh that prevents thieves from sticking knives through the bag. It’s lined with an RFID shield to prevent others from reading my credit cards and passport. It has a place for everything so I can quickly scan the cubbyholes to check that I have everything. Although I’m generally a low-budget traveler, I don’t mind spending top dollar on luggage because it pays off big time.

Computer, Tablet, Smart Phone

I buy Apple everything. Aside from the fact that I am an admitted Apple bigot, I am certain I can get technical support from certified Apple technicians anywhere in the world. I have a global Apple support plan, and I had to use that support in Bangkok. Worked like a charm.

I bought the MacBook Air because it is the thinnest and lightest-weight computer I could find in the Apple lineup that would do the work I needed to do. I had an iPhone 5 that is at least 5 years old by now. I had my telecom company unlock the phone before I left so I just need to buy a new SIM card every time I go to a new country.

I debated about whether to buy an iPad or not because there are arguments, both pro and con, once you have a computer and a smartphone. In the end I did buy one and I’m glad I did. I can carry the iPad around with me on a day’s outing and use the mapping feature so I don’t get lost.  I’m building quite the eBook library on the iPad and I can read the books easily and naturally on it. It would have been a bit awkward on the computer. There are probably half a dozen applications I use regularly that just seem to fit the tablet format better than the computer or iPhone format. I would definitely recommend you pick up a tablet of some sort before you head out the door. You will find it’s worth both the extra weight and the cost. 

Back Up My Computer Files with Carbonite

When I had a home office, I backed up my files on a large, local external hard drive. There are some obvious problems doing that when traveling. So I choose to backup with Carbonite and keep my backups in the cloud. Simple, cheap and weightless. You should do that too.

Build a Growing Library of E-Books

I love to read books. On earlier trips, I bought paperback books and read them in my room. I had so many books that I had to pay overweight charges at the airport. During the last 15 months on this trip I’ve built up a library of more than 40 books on my iPad. The books are always there for me. I can read them in bed even after ‘lights out’ because the tablet screen is backlit. These books cost less than half of the cost of a paperback book and I can download them immediately – no need to hike over to the local bookstore. (Actually, I still go to the bookstore, but only to get ideas about books to buy.) As long as I travel, I’ll never plan to buy another printed book.

Never Get Lost with CityMaps2Go

On earlier trips I would buy paper city maps to help me navigate my way around cities. Then I’d throw the maps into my day bag. This was good, but not great. I still got lost.

Then I discovered CityMaps2Go. This is a free app that runs on tablets and smart phones. This app allows me to download electronic maps of the territories and cities I’m visiting. Then it tracks where I am so I never get lost. I can look for specific tourist sites or hotels. Given those two, it’s a piece of cake to navigate from where I am to where I want to be. Once I have a marker for where I am and another for where I want to go, I can walk around new cities without ever worrying about getting lost. It gives me a sense of confidence I’ve never enjoyed before.

Advise My Banks That I Am Travelling

When banks recognize that someone is making ATM withdrawals from foreign countries, it’s not unusual for them to freeze the account or, even worse, treat the card as lost or stolen. By advising my banks in writing that I would be traveling overseas, my banks did not freeze my accounts. It’s a simple step I forgot to handle during my first trip out of the country.

Collect All the Right Electronics

In addition to the computer equipment I mentioned above, I bought some other electronics that proved quite valuable.

A few months ago I bought a Plantronics 725 headset with active noise-cancelling – invaluable for phone calls with clients when I am in noisy environments. Then I bought all the software I needed. Whenever the vendor comes out with an update, I download and install it automatically. 

I bought a Sony compact camera – the HX400V. This is a top-end compact, but I would urge others to buy a smaller camera that is shock-resistant. Your travel camera will take a bit of a beating and you don’t want to have to be afraid to throw it into your day pack.

I bought a 10500 Asus battery pack. This is an external battery pack that’s sufficient for recharging an iPad or an iPhone but it won’t recharge a computer.

There is clearly a heavy overhead for maintaining and carrying these electronics. In fact, I bought the PacSafe backpack I mentioned earlier just for the electronics. It cost more than the most expensive backpack you’ll find in outdoor stores but I see it as essential to protect the investment I’ve made in the technologies that allow me to earn my living, manage my money, book travel arrangements, stay in touch with friends and get the training I need.

I have one piece of valuable technology that does not even weigh a gram: Fongo. Fongo is a Canadian-based telephone service that allows me to make free phone calls to nearly everywhere in Canada. Other places in Canada cost about 2 cents a minute. And I can call American numbers – both landlines and cell phones – for 2 cents a minute. The company offers low-cost phone calls to most of the other countries in the world.

I prefer Fongo over Skype because it is easier to connect, the prices are lower, the voice quality is better and I have not yet had a call dropped. Skype still has a few advantages over Fongo, though. For one, calls between Skype users are free. For another, Skype offers video connections.  And third, Skype has a call recorder while Fongo does now.

My cousins south of the 49th parallel should look for a similar app – something like Line2.

Take the USANA ‘The Essentials’ Religiously

No, I’m not a USANA distributor, so this is not some self-serving pitch for you to buy products from me. If you want to find a dealer, I can point you to a few.

Traveling creates a whole range of stresses. I breathe polluted air in many countries and there is no getting away from it in the cities. When I change guest houses or hostels, I also change mattresses. I never know for sure how well my food has been prepared. Although I make every effort to drink bottled water, I can’t always get it. I’m facing constant uncertainty in terms of travel arrangements, sleeping arrangements and daily schedules. All of that creates a lot of stress. On top of that, travelers are vulnerable when they are traveling alone because they have no one to look after them when they get sick.

It’s vital that I stay healthy all the time. At a minimum, when I do get sick, I need to bounce back quickly. The USANA supplements I take have done wonders to help keep me healthy in spite of all the germs I come in contact with. They are so important to me that I have them air-shipped to me at a premium. Sometimes I even have to pay duty on the products. It’s worth it. I simply don’t get sick.

Learn to Teach English as a Second Language

My income on this trip has been spotty. After a year of traveling like this, I realized I needed a more stable source of income, but I didn’t want to sacrifice the travel. This led me to take the most advanced online course available to teach English as a second language. I took the course through www.myTEFL.com. The course cost $295 US but the school gave me a 40% discount, so the cost was manageable. Now I have my TEFL certificate in hand.

In April I will start teaching English to elementary and high school children in Nepal. That will give me practical experience. The combination of the TEFL certificate I earned online, practical experience in Nepal and my university degrees should set me up to get short-term teaching jobs all over the world. In fact, once I am well into teaching in Nepal, I will start applying for teaching jobs in Japan, Shanghai, Brazil, Argentina and other places that look interesting.

Teaching English does not pay a lot of money – typically something on the order of $2,000 US a month with room and board thrown in. But it provides a wonderful opportunity to learn about a new country, meet the people and see the sites. At the same time, I put a little money in the bank.

Read the Guidebooks

The guidebook I prefer is the ‘Insight’ series. This is a series of high-quality guidebooks with plenty of pictures, maps and background information on every aspect of a country. I download the books to my iPad and read them in preparation for my visit to a new country. When I go to a city or a tourist area, I take my iPad with me and carve out time to read the books while I’m at the tourist site. It helps me be sure that I know exactly what to go see – and then to understand what I’m seeing.

For macro-planning, I bought a book called ‘1,000 Places to See Before You Die.’ Wonderful book. It’s organized by country. When I’m planning to visit a country, I can quickly build a list of the top 3 to 10 places to visit. By cross-referencing the two books, I know I’m seeing the best a country has to offer a short-term visitor. (And, in an existential sense, we are all short-term visitors.)

I regret that I have not been able to learn more than a few words of the language in the countries I visit. For one thing, I’ve discovered that it’s difficult for me to learn languages. For another, I only spend a little time in each country. Third, the people I meet tell me they look forward to speaking English with foreigners.

Lynda.com Training

I work while I travel. In fact, it is essential that I earn money while traveling because my miniscule pensions are inadequate to allow me to do much more than survive. I take on billable projects that often require me to master new skills. Fortunately, I can learn those skills rapidly by taking courses on Lynda.com. This site offers a wide range of courses on photography, web development, business, software, video etc. I highly recommend that long-term travelers who expect to earn while traveling subscribe to this service.

I Never Take Offense

I’ve learned to never take offense. No one ever means to be rude.

In most countries, people ask me the same 5 questions:

Where are you from?
How old are you?
Where is your family?
What religion are you?
Are you rich?

The first question is normal. In North America, we would see the other questions as intrusive. Here, they are seen as normal questions. I have fun with the questions and use them as conversation starters.

Young children are quite direct. They ask me why my skin is so pale. They want to know why my ears stick out, why I have no hair and why my nose is so skinny. In Myanmar, a country that has only recently opened its borders to tourists, even some of the adults look at me with interest.  I have never sensed hostility or envy – I’ve only sensed curiosity.

Photo Credits
Photos are Fair Use

Buy Your Travel Clothes at Home

I thought I would buy travel clothes in various countries as I traveled through them. That is a good idea if you want to pick up a few accent or fun items here and there but a bad idea for assembling your ‘real’ travel wardrobe. When I was traveling I found it was hard to find the quality and style of clothes I wanted. I wasted a lot of time looking around. At home, I knew exactly where to go to get what I wanted.

Without question, your most important piece of clothing is your shoes. Get shoes with thick rubber soles. I bought New Balance shoes and lived in them.

Buy most of your clothes at MEC if you live in Canada or REI if you live in the States. The clothes are a bit pricey but they will last you longer than stylish clothes and will give you a lower ‘cost per wear.’

Take the Biggest External Battery Pack You Can Find

Battery packs are heavy and I wanted to minimize my weight, so I made the mistake of discarding my battery pack that would recharge my phone, iPad and camera. In retrospect, I see that was a big mistake. In many parts of the world you simply cannot find a place to plug in your iPad or phone. Right now, I’m sitting in a Starbucks in Makati, Philippines. This is the business centre of the country. The coffee vendor offers good internet but there is absolutely no place to plug in to recharge my battery. This is not unusual outside North America.

If your electronic equipment is important to you – and they are vital to me – then buy the biggest battery pack you can you can find. Keep it charged.

Give a Friend an Irrevocable Power of Attorney

While I was in Asia, I lost my Bank of Montreal ATM card. Getting a replacement should not have been a problem – or so I thought. I called my bank, explained that I was traveling and had lost my card, and asked for a replacement. The bank agent asked me to go to my local branch in Canada to get a replacement. I tried to explain that I was on the other side of the planet and that it would be inconvenient to fly back just to get a replacement. The agent wouldn’t budge.

I could have short circuited this problem if I had given a friend an irrevocable power of attorney before I had left the country. I could have had the POA notarized in Canada and there would have been no question that it was legitimate. As it turned out, I had to turn backflips to get a replacement card. The lesson is clear: give a friend an irrevocable power of attorney. You never know when you’ll need it.

Keep Your Luggage Locked – Always

I have a couple travel locks I slip through the zipper pulls to keep my luggage locked. It’s always a bit of a hassle to put them in place and then remove them just a few minutes later. So, when I was in ‘safe’ places I didn’t bother. That proved to be a mistake. You are NEVER in a safe place.

I remember two overnight bus trips I took in Thailand. I kept my backpack close to me and slept with one eye open. An experienced thief worked his way through the bus looking for opened bags. He found mine and pulled out most, but not all, of my cash. He never touched my passport or anything else. The result was that I suffered a loss that was a major inconvenience but not a catastrophe. It wasn’t worth reporting to the police. I met a few others on the bus who suffered the same fate.

In addition to zipper locks, I also bought a loop lock. This lock has a metal cord that wraps through my luggage handles and something fairly secure such as a building pipe or a big piece of furniture. Thieves can break these locks if they really want to, but that’s not the point – 99.9% of all thefts are ‘thefts of convenience’ (I just made that number up!). If you make it the least bit inconvenient for a thief, he won’t bother stealing from you.

Don’t Cancel Your Old Phone Number

When I left Canada, I cancelled my cell phone number because I planned to be away for 5 years or more. I set up a VOIP service with Fongo and chose a new phone number. Obviously, the people who call me at my old number can no longer reach me. Recently I found that Fongo allows you to transfer your old phone number to their service. That’s a huge plus! Of course, callers can only reach you when you are in the presence of WiFi, but that does not need to be a problem. You can just roll your calls over to voice mail and play them back the next time you are near a good internet signal.

Interestingly, I’ve found that the voice quality and the number of dropped calls with Fongo is far superior than with Skype. My friends south of the 49th parallel should look for an American VOIP service such as Line2. One of my buddies recommended I check out Google Talk to make free phone calls anywhere in North America from anywhere in the world!

Don’t Buy a Good Camera!

A few months ago I bought a beautiful Sony HX400V compact camera. This little beauty is loaded with features that made me drool. I paid $500 USD for the camera in a duty free shop in Bangkok.

Then I started learning what is wrong with the camera. One day I crawled onto a boat and dropped my camera bag just a few inches; the camera hit the boat with a thud. That knocked the camera out of whack! I didn’t think the impact was great enough to cause a problem but I was wrong. Fortunately, the camera was still under warranty. I took the camera into the Sony repair depot in Bangkok along with my receipt and they did an excellent job of repairing the camera within a few days.

But there are a couple ‘gotchas.’ First, I had to pay $20 for the taxi to get out to the Sony depot to drop the camera off and another $20 a few days later to run back to pick it up. Ouch! A couple months later while I was in the Philippines, I needed another repair. The Philippine service centre would not initiate the repair without my warranty card. I had thrown that card away because I had registered my camera online. As it turns out, the Philippine service centres don’t have access to those online registrations (the Philippines operates in the dark ages in so many ways I can’t begin to explain how bad it is.) At the end of the day, I could not get my camera repaired in the Philippines and I had to wait until I returned to Bangkok. I later learned that the Philippines offers one of the worst customer support programs for all products and services in the world!

My advice would be to buy a smaller camera with fewer features for a lower price and ask specifically whether the camera is shock resistant (not shock proof). You want to be able to throw you camera in your knapsack and carry it around on your outings without worrying about breaking it. I need to look into lighter weight, shock resistant cameras before I can recommend one. In the meantime, I recommend you check out what Kim Komando has to say about cameras. She gives good advice about a wide range of consumer products.

Figure Out the Bare Minimum You Can travel With – Then Get Rid of a Third of It

I was planning to go to some cold countries and some warm countries so I packed for both seasons. I knew the water in India and Nepal was undrinkable so I bought a top-of-the-line Katadyn water filter and extra filters. I bought a nano-lantern because I knew that some places didn’t have electricity. And the list goes on and on.

I lugged this stuff around for six months and then realized that I wouldn’t need the water filter or some of the other stuff for at least another year. When I finally ‘got it,’ I started throwing stuff away, giving stuff away and mailing stuff home. With a bit of work, I was able to get my load down to what I could carry in my own two hands. At that point I was truly mobile.

Now, I’m planning to head off to Nepal and I need the stuff I mailed home to Canada. No problem! I just sent an email to my Canadian friend and asked her to send me the box I sent to her some 9 months ago. Sure, it cost me a few bucks to mail the stuff back and forth but it is definitely worth it because I didn’t have to carry it for those 9 months. Now, I will have the stuff I need during my trip in Nepal. When I am ready to leave Nepal, I will mail the stuff home again.

Photo Credits

Luggage from morgueFile
Luggage lock from Flickr – some rights reserved
Camera from pixabay – public domain
Man using water filter from Flickr – some rights reserved

Computer Failure

I bought some Adobe software a few months ago and have had nothing but trouble installing it. After 15 hours of calls to the Adobe Customer Support Centre over the course of a month or so, an agent finally recommended I contact the Apple Technical Support Centre for help. The Apple expert there recommended I re-install my operating system. He assured me several times that all my files and emails would be safe. That turned out to be totally bogus!

As soon as I started downloading the new operating system I faced my first crisis – none of my software worked and I lost all my saved emails. This was a crisis for me because I use my computer to earn my daily bread and pay for my travels. Without it, I am stranded. Now I was faced with the task of completely rebuilding my system from the ground up and I needed help fast. 

My first step was to buy the AppleCare program for $300. That allowed me to go to the Apple Support Centre in Bangkok and ask for help. Unlike North America, however, the Bangkok centre does not back up the software and data before re-installing the operating system. Since I had my data on an external drive, I wasn’t worried about that. The Bangkok centre reloaded my OS, but then I had no application software. It took me days to re-install all the software. Of course, the software vendors were now offering their upgraded versions. This meant I had to pay new license fees and buy new books to learn how to use the new versions of software. The whole effort cost me a minimum of 100 lost hours and about $600 Canadian, and that was just to get back to where I was before I followed the Apple guru’s advice (I have still not solved my problem with Adobe.)

Motor Scooter Accident

I rented a motor scooter to run around Koh Samui, Thailand (a veritable playground for adults). I loved the scooter until I fell off!!!  Motor scooter accidents are minor irritations for those in their twenties but can prove to be serious for those in their seventies! I couldn’t move my right arm and I feared the worst. I made a quick trip to the Koh Samui Hospital.

The service there was superb. I wandered into the emergency department and was seen within 2 minutes. The nurse set up an x-ray for my arm and 12 minutes later the work was done. Within 10 minutes of coming back to the ER, the doctor saw me to tell me that my arm was not broken, only sprained; I should wear a sling for a few days and then I should be back in action. Then I was faced with the hospital bill. Be sure to sit down before you read on! The total bill came to $28 Canadian (about $20 US) for the whole visit. I almost laughed when I paid the bill. A foreigner visiting a Canadian hospital would likely be hit with a fee of $150 just to walk through the door. In the US, it could be an order of magnitude greater. The Thai hospital didn’t look as spiffy as a Canadian hospital but its staff struck me as every bit as educated and professional. I have to take my hat off to health care in Thailand. At the same time, I wonder about the high costs and long delays we suffer in Canada.

Lost Debit Card

About a week ago I lost my debit card so I called my bank, the Bank of Montreal. I knew they would look after me. Well, I was in for a shock.  First, the bank cancelled my card, which was fair enough, but there was no way in hell they would mail me a new one. Instead, the BMO Customer Service agent asked me to go to my own branch to get a replacement card. When I pointed out that I was on the other side of the planet, I could tell she just didn’t get what I was saying! She just told me once again to go in and pick up a card. An alternative would’ve been to ask the branch to give a card to one of my friends. I would have to call the branch to ask for that clearance. This sounded like a great alternative – until I tried to act on it. 

When I called my branch, my call was routed to voicemail, not a person. I left my name and number and was confident my branch manager would call back the same day, as promised in the voicemail message. I waited all night (that means day in Canada) but never received a call. So, I learned that calling your bank branch and expecting a call back is a sure sign of being out of touch with reality.

Well, I was confident there was another backup plan – I could use the online banking service to send money to myself wherever I was. After all, the web site was proud to state that it sends money all over the world via Western Union. Again, this proved to be false. I was just about to leave Thailand to visit Myanmar, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Unfortunately, the BMO online banking service does not permit Western Union transfers to those countries (apparently if I were going to Namibia things would be fine.) If I still had hair on my head, I would have pulled it out by this time. BMO’s ultra-conservatism forced me to send money to my friends in Canada by Interac and ask them to trot over to a Western Union office at their convenience to send money to me. This reminds me of the days we had rotary dials on our phones.

Lessons Learned

So, what are the take-aways from all this?

First, I would say that you can never imagine all the setbacks you’re going to face. I never imagined that I would face three heavy hits in 30 days or that these would be the hits. You can’t avoid the misfortunes that come your way, you just need to be resilient enough to deal with them as they come up.

A second lesson is that you need to put backup plans in place before you leave home. I had the foresight to sign up with Carbonite to back up my data before I left home. However, I didn’t sign up for the AppleCare program. I also should have given a durable power of attorney to one of my friends before I left home. Now I have to handle that with a lawyer in Thailand, mail the power of attorney back to Canada, and wait for my good friend there to handle things on my behalf.

A third lesson learned is that you need to be resilient. Don’t operate at the edge of your potential – leave a buffer. When things go wrong, don’t give in to the temptation to become frustrated, no matter how great that temptation is. It just doesn’t help. Instead, figure out what steps you need to take and start taking them promptly, regardless of how long it will take for them to play out.

A fourth lesson is that the things I feared would befall me, never did. No one has attacked me on the streets or the beaches. Vendors have never set one price and then charged another. I have never gotten sick from the food. I have never found myself without a place to sleep for the night or gotten so lost I couldn’t find my way home again. 

My advice: don’t spend too much time worrying about what might go wrong. Just make sure you are able to handle whatever comes your way when it does.

Photo Credits

Photo from Flickr – some rights reserved

Lake Bled, Slovenia

Adjoining the town of Bled, this serene Slovenian lake rests within the Julian Alps of the country’s northwestern region. If you are searching for a unique, picturesque location to relax in, the lake’s tranquil surface and surrounding forests will surely offer some peace and perhaps even evoke a fairy tale nostalgia. For the photographers out there, Castle Bled, perching above the lake on the north shore, is certainly worth your attention. At twilight, the castle’s reflection shimmers with a refulgent orange tinge.

Castle Bled, perching above the lake on the north shore, is certainly worth your attention.

Basilica Cistern, Istanbul. Turkey

Brimming with architectural wonders and fascinating nature, Turkey is visited and loved by many tourists. If you visit this ancient country searching for somewhere to widen your eyes and stand on end your neck hairs, seek out the Basilica Cistern. What is amazing about this place is not simply the history of it, but the fact that all of the basilica is under water! The Turkish language calls it Yerebatan Sarayi, which literally translates to “Sunken Palace”.

Enlarged cisterns provided a water filtration system for the
Great Palace of Constantinople and other buildings.

Ancient texts indicate that this basilica housed gardens. These gardens were surrounded by a colonnade and face the Hagia Sophia – another historical religious place in Istanbul.

Enlarged cisterns provided a water filtration system for the Great Palace of Constantinople and other buildings. It continued to provide water to the Topkapi Palace and into modern times, too. If you are looking for a spectacular view in the center of the city, then visit this basilica.

Curonian Spit, Lithuania

Lithuania, of eastern Europe, is up next. Personally, I enjoy Lithuania’s great views, its natural tranquility and the slow pace with which nature seems to shift. The Curonian Spit is a ninety-eight-kilometre long, thin, curved sand-dune spit that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea coast. European author Thomas Mann held a summer house here; Jean-Paul Sartre, the famous French Philosopher, visited the Spit only to fall in love with the area’s beauty. According to travel guides, summer is the ideal time to witness the Spit’s beauty.

Bruges, Belgium

Another small but amazing city, this time in Belgium and named Bruges, should spike your attention, too. The historic city center is a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO. Beautiful Bruges, along with a few other canal-based northern cities, such as Amsterdam and Stockholm, is sometimes referred to as The Venice of the North. This city also has a significant economic importance thanks to its port and was once the chief commercial city in the world! Filmmakers love it too – just look for the film ‘In Bruges’ to descry some of the city’s wonder. 

Bruges: Venice of the North

Split, Croatia

Finally, the last place for you to visit in Europe should be the amazing white city named Split, situated in Croatia. Gifted with amazing surrounding nature, this city lies on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea, centered on the Roman Palace of Emperor Diocletian. Here you can find many historical sites, see amazing ancient buildings and enjoy great weather all year long. Don’t forget to pack a swimsuit and comfortable shoes because you are going to see – and do – a lot in this Croatian phenomenon. 

Now all you need is a hotel room for your European road trip. I would certainly recommend Hotels.com. It will help you to get the best deal and it will also save you a fair amount of money. Why not also check out the various hotel coupons at ChameleonJohn.com! You will surely find your perfect hotel room in order to begin discovering the wonders of Europe. Go! Begin the best time of your life!

Photo Credits

Photo one by Edward Wexler at English Wikipedia – Public Domain

Photo two by Dpnuevo at Wikipedia Commons – Public Domain

Photo three by Hans Hillewaert at Wikipedia Commons – Public Domain

Guest Author Bio
DovilÄ

DovilÄ—, the copywriter of ChameleonJohn.com, has a Bachelors Degree in Communication Science. Along with this, she has been a professional writer for more than 5 years. DovilÄ— studied PR and Journalism at university.  Starting this year, she will resume her studies to achieve a Masters Degree in this field too. At ChameleonJohn.com, she writes various articles about saving money, fashion, traveling, family and others

Here’s a list of items you may want to invest in to get started – 3 ‘must haves’ that’ll get you on your way to having the gardening hub you’ve always wanted:
 
A Garden Shed

A garden shed is essential if you want to keep your garden supplies and maintenance tools organized and in tip-top condition, and it will also free up space in your garage. When considering a garden shed you may want to consider styles that come with benches, as they will invariably come in handy. If you think outside the box, you might even achieve a lovely garden room!

A garden shed is essential

Garden Furniture

Aside from adding a sense of functionality to your outdoor area, the right garden furniture can turn your outdoor space into a personal work of art. However, do keep in mind there are many styles and materials available, so keeping a clear vision and making choices that capture your individuality is important. The good news is, shopping for garden furniture is relatively easy. There are a myriad of manufacturers out there that offer them in varying colors, styles and materials – from tough rattan, solid wood or wrought iron to budget-friendly plastic. Each of them are worthwhile investments that you can enjoy for years as long as you do your homework.

Garden furniture can be functional and beautiful

 
A Barbeque

A barbeque is a definite asset in your garden and is oftentimes the pride and joy of the backyard. With a barbecue, your culinary skills will reach new heights as you discover just how versatile it is – from finger foods and sumptuous meals, to unique and delicious desserts – it can do it all. It makes life simple, allowing you to prepare a meal while you enjoy a couple of drinks with people that appreciate your outdoor area as much as you do – your family and friends. Oh, and don’t forget an apron!

So what makes a good garden hub? Well, it’s the right combination of functionality and aesthetics that works for you. You can create your own unique space without spending alot of money and without too much effort, and by doing so, you’ll make the most of your outdoor area and be able to enjoy it with friends and loved ones for years to come.

A barbecue is a definite asset

Photo Credits

Garden Shed by Su Yin Khoo on flickr – some rights reserved
Garden Furniture by Crinklecrankle.com on flickr – some rights reserved
BBQ by woodleywonderworks on flickr – some rights reserved
Hydrangea by Gil Namur – All Rights Reserved

Guest Author Bio

Samantha Young
Samantha Young is passionate writer and traveler who loves to discover new things and experience different cultures. This is the reason why she sets aside ample time and monetary resources to visit tourist attractions that are known for their diversity. Now she brings you captivating articles about travel and leisure.

Christmas is the perfect time to indulge one’s sense of adventure. From starting new traditions or tweaking old ones, to taking part in some of the wonderful celebrations your community has to offer (local Home And Lifestyle magazines like YAM Magazine make this easy)…the possibilities are endless!

This year, I decided it was time to expand my horizons in one specific area of the holidays – the libation.

Guided by natural curiosity and an aversion to taking the ‘same old’ approach to my decision-making, I took a closer look at what my local BC Liquor Store had to offer. I soon realized there was adventure on every shelf, around every corner and behind every label. Always a lover of sharing my enthusiasm, I’ve come up with a few ideas on how to maximize your holiday ‘cheer’:

BEER

In addition to ‘old faithful’, why not try a beer that has been oak-aged? Or, how about a limited edition seasonal brew with notes of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg? Never tried an import? Maybe this is the year. The variety is endless, and some are available in single bottles or cans – perfect for sampling.

WINE/SPARKLING WINE/CHAMPAGNE

After you’ve gathered an ample stockpile of your ‘go to’ (because you never know who’s going to drop in), now’s the time to try that special bottle you’ve had your eye on but have always talked yourself out of. Treat yourself to the experience and share it with like-minded friends or family members. Make an event out of it, slow things down, savor each sip. Close your eyes and take the time to smell the aromas and really taste what’s in the glass. 

SPIRITS

There are more versions of your chosen spirit than you can shake a candy cane at – follow your instinct on this one. Is there something you linger in front of while shopping, or do you simply want to know what something tastes like? Reach for spiced or dark rum instead of your usual white. Try a gin with slightly different botanicals or one made from a local distillery. Maybe you’re ready to try a Scotch aged in different casks, or perhaps with a little more peat? What the heck is a digestif, how do you drink them and is there really one made by Monks that don’t speak? Tequila, cognac, liqueurs…whatever you choose, create some anticipation by taking your taste buds where they’ve never gone before.

While my curiosity plays a part in the selection process, it doesn’t stop there. I make it a habit to research my new find when I get home, as the education always seems to complete the experience. It’s extremely satisfying to me to try something new and then learn all I can about it. This satisfaction is typically prolonged as I single-handedly take conversations at future family gatherings to new heights.

I’ve never forgotten that simple advice from my friend, and continue to look for ways to keep life interesting on a daily basis. If I keep this up, I just may have a shot at becoming The Most Interesting Woman In The World…

Stay curious, my friends. 

Photo Credit

Photo by Wikimedia Commons

One of the most influential theories developed about motivation, namely, the expectancy-value theory, asserts that the amount of energy people are willing to put into something is dependent upon the degree to which people expect to succeed at the task and the degree to which they value the task and value success on the task. Scientists such as Atkinson and Eccles have been working extensively on these notions.

If motivational tips do not necessarily work out for everyone – each individual ultimately has to find out what works best for him or her – there are some general guidelines that most people have some interest in following whenever they want to achieve something. Although the idea here is not to explain the nuts and bolts of the expectancy-value theory of motivation, the tips listed below mostly derive from it.

1. Work on projects that are important to you

According to Feather’s work (1982), value and expectancy are two variables that do not add: they multiply. In other words, if you do not value the task you are about to work on at all, chances are that you will never finish it: multiplying huge expectancy by null valuation of the task is always equal to zero!

Therefore, if you hate writing stories but think that publishing a book would bring you fame and money, the very fact that you dislike the task itself should be a red flag. Before you undertake something, take some time to ask yourself whether you truly value the activity that you will have to perform. The results from seeing yourself giving up on a project can be significant: experiencing too many personal disappointments can lead you to hold yourself in low esteem. And that certainly won’t help you begin new tasks you realistically could finish…

2. Work on projects that you expect will bring you something

Once again, the idea that value and expectancy multiply instead of adding is crucial here: you could love writing stories, but if you see no real point in writing them, it is quite likely that you will start them but seldom write the last sentence. You need to value the potential success that will result from carrying out the task. Your ultimate goal should not necessarily be material: there is no need to accomplish something for money. The expected value of the task does not need to lead to fame either.

In fact, writing stories for the mere reason that you truly enjoy the process and expect satisfaction from rereading them can suffice. Publishing them on your personal blog and receiving positive comments from your readers can be pleasing too. But you ought to determine whether this kind of success is valuable enough to you. If you initially believe that such an accomplishment is banal or insignificant, you may end up quitting along the process. Therefore, before you even begin your project, you should evaluate if the success that lies ahead is something you will consider satisfying at the other end of the road.

3. Work on something you think you can be successful at

If value and expectancy multiply, you need to have faith in your personal capacities: if you think of yourself as a bad entrepreneur, starting your own business is not likely to be a successful venture. From the minute you decide to take action, it should be clear in your mind that your project has a fairly good chance to thrive under your drive! Opening a café or a restaurant calls for a lot of resilience: if you don’t even believe that you’re the right man or woman for this, who will?

Of course, doubt is allowed. In fact, it probably is a positive thing not to go out there and do things blindly as if there were no obstacles. Questioning your approach and your philosophy and asking for help or for advice are great ways to ensure that you constantly adjust in order to be as successful as you possibly can be. But remember: before you do whatever that is related to your project, you need to expect – to a certain degree – that your chances of doing well are good.

4. Have some plan and deadline in mind

Now that you know that you (1) value your project and the potential success deriving from it and (2) expect to succeed with your project, it is important to build a certain structure. Identify which stages are necessary. Think about them, plan them, write them down. If you want to become a yoga teacher, you ought to buy the apparel, take lessons, get certified… and ultimately find a way to teach lessons yourself, whether it is by joining a school or founding one on your own.

Depending on your project and your lifestyle, you can decide to plan short-term or long-term. In both situations, however, you should find a way to establish some kind of discipline. A good start would be to determine a deadline. Obviously, not everyone can say “I will finish this project on MM/DD/YYYY; it’s do or die.”  The idea, however, is to have some sense of the moment you would like the project to be finished. For example, you could decide that you want to be a yoga master by 2015, with a one-year margin of error. This provides some sense of duty while giving you the necessary leeway in case your project does not exactly unfold the way you though it would.

5. Create some kind of habit

Following Jim Ryun’s quote cannot hurt: “Habit is what gets you going.” Worst case scenario is that you will eventually find out that routine is not your thing and you somehow work better when you leave it just a little bit in the hands of randomness. If you can’t stand forcing yourself to sit down on your chair and write a little bit of your book every Sunday morning from 9 to 12 a.m., then maybe you should consider adopting a more flexible schedule.

Finding enjoyable ways to work on your project does help. If you find that you work best when you listen to jazz , then please do that. If you realize that going to a café and ordering a macchiato does the trick, why would you refrain from doing it? Habit does not need to be boring: on the contrary, it ought to be something you enjoy, something that makes you feel good, something you would want to reproduce every time you have the opportunity to do so.

Conclusion

Although there is no infallible recipe for finishing the projects you undertake, it is essential to put the odds on your side. You cannot afford seeing everything you start end up falling apart: the price to pay is too high in terms of self-esteem. Motivation is a slippery concept, but putting into practice the aforementioned tips, most of them linked directly with the expectancy-value theory, should help you select the right projects for yourself and see them through to their successful conclusion.

Photo Credit

Microsoft Office Clip Art Collection

Guest Author Bio

Alexandre Duval

Alexandre Duval is a blogger for Honda Blainville, a Quebec-based car dealer offering the latest Honda CRV 2013. He has lived in and visited the United States, English Canada as well as Europe, and he is currently completing his master’s degree in political science at the University of Quebec in Montreal.