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How to “Find” More Time for Reading Each Day

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We often hear people say they wish they could find more time to read. The problem is we’ll never really find more time to do anything – we have to make the time. Unfortunately, this usually means giving up (or at least cutting into) the time we devote to other things. Whether it’s cutting out an extra hour of sleeping or television viewing, the time will appear, as if by magic,  if you make it appear.

The time may actually be…. oh I don’t know… an arm’s length away. As in right there in our hands!

One of my favorite ways to “sneak in” extra reading time is about as simple as it gets – I keep whatever book I’m currently reading within reach at all times. If I’m meeting my husband and/or daughters for lunch, I carry it in my purse. This way, if I beat them there, I can read a little while waiting.

During an especially fascinating Golden Age of Hollywood biography or Agatha Christie mystery, I’ll actually leave early to make sure I have 15-20 minutes of reading time in the parking lot. Hercule Poirot and I have solved many a crime in the Olive Garden parking lot.

Another simple way to find more time is to cut into the time you spend sleeping – whether that means setting the alarm for 30 minutes earlier or turning in 30 minutes earlier, that 30 extra minutes can be invested in a great book. If you were to do both, you’d suddenly have a whole hour each day to devote to reading.

Of course, you’d have to make sure you actually spent your new-found time IN a book and not ON your phone.  In fact, a shocking study by musicMagpie.co.uk has revealed the number of books people could read if they simply reduced their digital intake over a month.

In the 23 hours we spend on our phone social networking, we could of read one of the following 5 books:

  • The Handmaid’s Tale
  • To Kill a Mockingbird
  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
  • Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
  • Jane Eyre

With today’s generation now being more digital than ever, is it time to take a short break a few hours a day? My answer is a resounding YES!
Again, just be sure to make sure you pick a book up when you put the iPhone down. It’s easier once you’re in the middle of a great book… when that happens, it’s harder to pick the phone up than it is to put it down.

The infographic below will blow your mind – it makes you realize just how much time we spend plugged into our phones.

Enjoy the infographic (click for the larger version) – I’m off to another adventure courtesy of Agatha Christie.  – Joi

Find More Time for Reading Infographic

Infographic Credit: musicMagpie.co.uk

7 Self Improvement Habits That Lead to Career Growth

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You career can move at whatever speed you set for it. If you want to climb the ladder fast you need to put in adequate efforts. Unless you are super genius in your field – and even then it is doubtful – you are not indispensable. The recession has taught this lesson the hard way to most “experts”. Here are a few not so well-known ways that will help you:

  • Learn To Smile – smile a lot. Smile when you greet your boss, your colleagues, your clients. Nobody likes to see a grumpy face. Everyone has problems; it is best that you leave yours at home. When you are at office, be as pleasant as you can be.

 

  • Acknowledge Your Mistakes – everyone commits mistakes sometime or other. Do not pass the blame on somebody else. First of all, you are not fooling anyone; secondly, you will be respected better if you acknowledge your mistake and do your best to repair the damage.

 

  • Under-Promise And Over-Deliver – do not be one that talks too much and does too less. Always promise less and deliver more. Your superior as well as your colleagues will gradually identify you with the highest quality work.

 

  • Say ‘Thank you’ and ‘Sorry’ As Often As Is Necessary – anyone does anything for you, be fast to appreciate it. Be equally fast to apologize if you have made a mistake or hurt anyone’s feelings.

 

  • Learn To Say ‘No’ And You Want To Say ‘No’ – many say ‘yes’ when they desperately want to say ‘no’ because they feel it would be impolite. Saying ‘no’ rudely is impolite; but you need not say it rudely. Practice saying ‘no’ politely and without giving too many excuses. Do not be hard on yourself; it takes lots of practice but once you get there, you will find that your life is much easier and contrary to common belief, your popularity will grow.

 

  • At Work Place You Work – while a few tiny coffee breaks are okay, do not make it a habit to indulge in personal work at office. Avoid taking personal calls, surfing the Net for personal stuff, answering personal emails, and so on during working hours. Give all you have during the working hours; and disconnect yourself from office after working hours.

 

  • Dress Appropriately – it is okay if sometimes on a Saturday or Friday evening you come in full casuals. However, for regular working days, dress your part. You are the face of the company hence, if you dress sloppily that is what others will think of you, your work and your company.

 

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6 Great Careers That Could Make You Happier

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Happiness at Work

We all have periods of being unhappy at work; that’s perfectly normal. Something changes that we don’t like, or we just need a break to recharge and refresh, but sometimes, it’s more than that. The periods of unhappiness are prolonged, there’s no enjoyment and you feel dread at the idea of going in to work. If that’s the case, it may be time for a career change. Many people worry that they are trapped in their current career because they are too old or they don’t have the experience or qualifications to do anything else. However, this doesn’t need to be the case. It is never too late to make a change. Here are six careers to consider, which could make you much happier.

Marketing

Marketing is a great career path. It allows you to work flexibly and do a lot from home. More women are choosing to follow a career in marketing because it’s easy to work round a family, and allows them to use both their logical mind and their creativity. If you are interested in a career in marketing, consider studying an online MBA. Marketing jobs with an MBA are much easier to get into and can pay highly. Studying an MBA for marketing jobs can be your first step towards an exciting new career.

Freelance

There are many ways to earn money as a freelancer. Some of the best include writing, design and photography. Freelancing works well for many people because they are able to take the work they want, set their own hours, and take time off when they need to. However, work isn’t always available, and income might not be steady, so make sure you are prepared for this.

Healthcare

Working in healthcare is a great way to give back and help others, which is something that makes many people happy. There are many other options aside from being a doctor, these include working in administration or research, as well as nursing, or working in specialist fields. The hours can be long and demanding, but the rewards are great.

Teaching

Many people find happiness teaching. Helping to educate, care for, and shape young minds. Teaching any age group, from pre-school to college, can be wonderfully rewarding. Many students never forget their favorite teachers, and the ways they influenced their lives.

Web Developer

Web developer work is great for those with a keen interest in technology and the internet, and fantastic attention to detail. This can be a rewarding job, as you’ll work on a wide range of projects, and see the immediate results of efforts.

Event Planner

Working as an event planner allows you to use your creativity, organization, and communication skills. Helping people plan for and prepare special days, sharing in their happiness, and reducing their stress levels, can be exceptionally fulfilling work.

Happiness from a career will depend on what you are looking for and what you enjoy. Try to find something you love doing, which offers you any flexibility or perks that you need.

Maggie Hammond is a retired nurse and freelance writer, exploring and writing in the U.S. in retirement. An advocate for public health and nursing qualifications, she feels passionate about raising awareness of the current strain on public health organisations.

How Online Education Can Change Your Life in a Positive Way

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Online Education

The most successful people in the world always keep learning and the internet has made this a much easier task. When you invest in your education and keep increasing your knowledge and develop your skills, the world seems like a different place because many more opportunities will come your way. Below are some of the main ways education can change your life in a positive way.

Online Education Improves Your Career Opportunities

A wide range of high quality, accredited courses are now provided from reputable colleges and universities such as Washington State University. Many of these courses entitle you to apply for senior roles once you graduate, which would have been a lot more difficult to do in the past. For example, when you earn your MBA online, an MBA program like this dramatically increases your earning potential.

You Become More Confident

Online education puts you in control of your life. You can literally enroll in any course, anywhere in the world. Once you complete one of these courses, it will give you the confidence required to advance in your career, change your career, work for yourself or become an expert in a certain topic.

You Increase Your Social Circle

When you study online, there’s a good chance you will meet new people and build relationships with individuals, which would be almost impossible to do in the past. Over time, you could build a huge network of online friends and contacts that could be extremely important in the future.

You Get More Opportunities in Life

Every time you complete an online course, it opens up new opportunities for you. More employers and companies than ever all around the world recognize the value of online qualifications. This means you are in a better position to travel and to create a better lifestyle for yourself and your family.

Online Education is Less Disruptive

Traditionally, when a student started a new course they had to make huge changes in their life. However, with an online course the disruption to your normal routine can be kept to a minimum.

You don’t have to relocate to a location close to your college or university, you don’t have to travel to and from lectures, and you can study at times that suit your lifestyle. This is extremely important if you live a hectic life and have other responsibilities such as a family and a day job.

It’s a Less Stressful Way to Learn

Some students prefer to learn at their own pace. However, this is not always possible when you are in a classroom full of students and your lecturer is explaining things too quickly or too slowly for your liking.

This is not a problem when you enroll in an online course. Instead, you can study in a way that you find comfortable. If you like to study and learn at a slow pace that’s fine, or if you want to graduate quickly, many courses allow you to finish a lot quicker.

The internet gives you a unique opportunity to learn new skills and increase your knowledge. You can benefit in many different ways, including the ways mentioned above.

If your only hurdle for pursuing an online education is a financial hurdle, there are even sources to help you pay for school!

Keys to a Career in Psychology

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Online Education

If you are looking at psychology jobs you might feel that your goal, whether that’s to be a specialist in a busy, exciting hospital, or have your own bustling private practice is an almost unimaginably long way away.

Fortunately, though it will need a lot of hard work, getting a job as a qualified psychologist requires only a few foundation stones, that we’ll look at today.

Degree Courses

The most direct route to a career in psychology is to follow your A Level studies with a degree course in the subject. It’s important to research different universities before you make your choice: different institutions have varying reputations, not just overall between different subjects. You can find university rankings online, and also research into the student experience and find out if the university is close to a town that provides the nightlife you are interested in, has a sports team you want to join, or a good reputation for extracurricular theatre you want to get involved in.

It’s never too early to start thinking about this: Psychology is a BSc course that will require careful choice in you’re A Levels to make sure you have the qualifications the university wants in its students. Though these vary from institution to institution, there will be some common subjects that will give the best chance at getting onto the best course for you.

Bursaries and scholarships may also be available to help fund your education, so do your research and write to local institutions and councils as well just looking at the university website.

Conversion Course

If you’re approaching the study of psychology later in life, and don’t wish to commit another 3-4 year course of full time study, conversion courses are available at some institutions that can intensively teach the knowledge and skills you’ll need if you’re already qualified to degree level.

Work Experience

Whether you are looking at a degree course or your first jobs in psychology being able to demonstrate work experience is invaluable. It’s not easy to find work experience placements or internships directly in a psychologist’s office or clinic as there few of these positions and they are extremely sought after.

Thinking creatively can be useful here: volunteering with charities like Mind, which focus directly on mental health or with homeless charities like Shelter can get you valuable experience and also demonstrate your interest and commitment to the field.