Thursday, July 28, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Banish Seasickness!
Ah, those old memories of puking all day, all over the place while the ship was violently rolling and pitching in the mid atlantic in december.It was just my third day on the ship.
I never, ever wanna go through that again, I thought to myself.
So, here are a few tips and tricks I've gathered over the years to prevent sea sickness.
1. Eat Lightly: I cannot stress the importance of this tip.Avoid heavy and greasy food.If possible eat dry crackers or biscuits to soothe and settle your stomach.
2. Stay well hydrated: Drink plenty of water.Avoid alcohol as it will worsen your condition.
3. Keep yourself centred: Being at the centre of the vessel keeps the amplitude of rolling and pitching to the minimum.Also keeping yourself lower and as close to the vessel's bottom(say Eng.Rm) will keep the amplitude of the rolling minimum.
4. Lie back: Lie down when you cannot control the urge of sickness.
5. Consider traditional remedies like ginger.Ginger has been proven to be more effective than other medicines.
6. Ask for motion sickness pills from your Ships medical officer, but do this as a last resort, as it may cause drowsiness and you may not be allowed to operate heavy machinery.
I never, ever wanna go through that again, I thought to myself.
So, here are a few tips and tricks I've gathered over the years to prevent sea sickness.
1. Eat Lightly: I cannot stress the importance of this tip.Avoid heavy and greasy food.If possible eat dry crackers or biscuits to soothe and settle your stomach.
2. Stay well hydrated: Drink plenty of water.Avoid alcohol as it will worsen your condition.
3. Keep yourself centred: Being at the centre of the vessel keeps the amplitude of rolling and pitching to the minimum.Also keeping yourself lower and as close to the vessel's bottom(say Eng.Rm) will keep the amplitude of the rolling minimum.
4. Lie back: Lie down when you cannot control the urge of sickness.
5. Consider traditional remedies like ginger.Ginger has been proven to be more effective than other medicines.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Computer Eye Strain
Month End paperwork?
Appraisal reports due tomorrow?
Do you have tired eyes?
People with long hours on the computer are coming down with Computer Vision Syndrome.
Typical symptoms: Redness, burning sensation and/or irritation in the eyes;tired eyes,dry eyes.
Eye Strain, if ignored cam escalate into physical problems like persistent headaches and behavioural problems.
Here is how to sidestep this condition.
1. Take smart breaks: Rest your eyes after about 20 minutes of continuous computer work, or if eye strain is interfering with your performance.
2. Blink more often: Blink more while working as it retains the tears in your eyes and helps lubricate them continuously.
3. Ergonomics; Place the monitor at an optimum distance (24'' for most people, but experiment with different distances until you find the right distance), and slightly lower than your chest for comfortable positioning.
4. Brightness: Adjust the brightness of the screen such that it is comfortable.Avoid external bright lights focusing on the screen.
5. Shift Focus: Shift the focus of your eyes from short distance to long distance while on your Smart Breaks.
Eyes are designed to keep changing focus, so a prolonged fixed focus invariably strains the eyes.
Exercise your eyes by swivelling your eyes occasionally during smart breaks.
6. Splash cold water once in an hour.
Appraisal reports due tomorrow?
Do you have tired eyes?
People with long hours on the computer are coming down with Computer Vision Syndrome.
Typical symptoms: Redness, burning sensation and/or irritation in the eyes;tired eyes,dry eyes.
Eye Strain, if ignored cam escalate into physical problems like persistent headaches and behavioural problems.
Here is how to sidestep this condition.
1. Take smart breaks: Rest your eyes after about 20 minutes of continuous computer work, or if eye strain is interfering with your performance.
2. Blink more often: Blink more while working as it retains the tears in your eyes and helps lubricate them continuously.
3. Ergonomics; Place the monitor at an optimum distance (24'' for most people, but experiment with different distances until you find the right distance), and slightly lower than your chest for comfortable positioning.
4. Brightness: Adjust the brightness of the screen such that it is comfortable.Avoid external bright lights focusing on the screen.
5. Shift Focus: Shift the focus of your eyes from short distance to long distance while on your Smart Breaks.
Eyes are designed to keep changing focus, so a prolonged fixed focus invariably strains the eyes.
Exercise your eyes by swivelling your eyes occasionally during smart breaks.
6. Splash cold water once in an hour.
Friday, July 15, 2011
The Most Important Thing That Leads to Success
The most important thing that leads to success.
What might it be?
Could it be your Mindset?
But what kind of Mindset?
World renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck, after decades of research on achievement and success, has discovered the power of the right mindset, which is explained in her new book titled "Mindset:The new psychology of success"
What would be the right mindset for success?
Simply put, it is the 'Growth Mindset"
The flip side of the Growth mindset would be the "Fixed Mindset"
Lets test your mindset is, shall we?
Read the following four sentences, and write down whether you agree or disagree with each of them.
1. You are a certain kind of person, and there is not much that can be done to really change that.
2. No matter what kind of person you are, you can always change substantially.
3. You can do things differently, but the important parts of who you are can't really be changed.
4. You can always change basic things about the kind of person you are.
Write down your answer somewhere and see the results at the end of the post.(No peeking beforehand allowed)
If you are someone with a Fixed mindset:
You tend to avoid challenges for the fear of failure, either in your own eyes or in the eyes of others.
You would feel threatened by negative feedback, and would rather attack your critics than do anything constructive about it.
You would feel insulted if someone questioned your knowledge or corrected you.
You would not be open to self improvement.
On the other hand, if you are a person with a Growth Mindset (or want to develop such a mindset):
You believe that abilities are like muscles-they can be made stronger with practice and mindful effort.
You relish new challenges despite the risk of failure.
You constructively react to negative feedback and criticism.
You look at the long term benefits rather than short term gains.
You are open to relearning old things, without getting your ego hurt.
You are willing to try new things that stretch your abilities.
In short, growth mindset is the most important thing that leads to success.
Further reading: Visit the official website to learn more about the Growth Mindset.
http://mindsetonline.com/
(Ans:If you agreed with 1 and 3 , you have a fixed mindset.
If you agreed with 2 and 4 , you have a growth mindset.
There is a be a chance that you might have agreed with more than 2 sentences.(as it happened in my case)
This simply means that your mindset is a composite of both Growth and Fixed mindsets, and you are the kind of person who adopts a particular mindset only in certain situations.
For example, I had a fixed mindset for many years that I was a bad dancer.But then I got a chance to learn dance in a class where no one knew me previously.Since I would not be judged by anyone I knew I went to the dance class and disproved it to myself that I was a bad dancer.(It turned out that I was just an average dancer who usually improved with more practice)
Whatever your results, just remember that the important thing to do is identify your mindset and modify it in such a manner that it leads to success.
What might it be?
Could it be your Mindset?
But what kind of Mindset?
World renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck, after decades of research on achievement and success, has discovered the power of the right mindset, which is explained in her new book titled "Mindset:The new psychology of success"
What would be the right mindset for success?
Simply put, it is the 'Growth Mindset"
The flip side of the Growth mindset would be the "Fixed Mindset"
Lets test your mindset is, shall we?
Read the following four sentences, and write down whether you agree or disagree with each of them.
1. You are a certain kind of person, and there is not much that can be done to really change that.
2. No matter what kind of person you are, you can always change substantially.
3. You can do things differently, but the important parts of who you are can't really be changed.
4. You can always change basic things about the kind of person you are.
Write down your answer somewhere and see the results at the end of the post.(No peeking beforehand allowed)
If you are someone with a Fixed mindset:
You tend to avoid challenges for the fear of failure, either in your own eyes or in the eyes of others.
You would feel threatened by negative feedback, and would rather attack your critics than do anything constructive about it.
You would feel insulted if someone questioned your knowledge or corrected you.
You would not be open to self improvement.
On the other hand, if you are a person with a Growth Mindset (or want to develop such a mindset):
You believe that abilities are like muscles-they can be made stronger with practice and mindful effort.
You relish new challenges despite the risk of failure.
You constructively react to negative feedback and criticism.
You look at the long term benefits rather than short term gains.
You are open to relearning old things, without getting your ego hurt.
You are willing to try new things that stretch your abilities.
In short, growth mindset is the most important thing that leads to success.
Further reading: Visit the official website to learn more about the Growth Mindset.
http://mindsetonline.com/
(Ans:If you agreed with 1 and 3 , you have a fixed mindset.
If you agreed with 2 and 4 , you have a growth mindset.
There is a be a chance that you might have agreed with more than 2 sentences.(as it happened in my case)
This simply means that your mindset is a composite of both Growth and Fixed mindsets, and you are the kind of person who adopts a particular mindset only in certain situations.
For example, I had a fixed mindset for many years that I was a bad dancer.But then I got a chance to learn dance in a class where no one knew me previously.Since I would not be judged by anyone I knew I went to the dance class and disproved it to myself that I was a bad dancer.(It turned out that I was just an average dancer who usually improved with more practice)
Whatever your results, just remember that the important thing to do is identify your mindset and modify it in such a manner that it leads to success.
A brave new world.
It is a brave new world.
We need brave people to face it.
We need brave people with new thinking to take charge and lead.
Take charge and lead whom?
Themselves, first and foremost.
The world will follow you once you take care of yourself.
I will make an attempt here to bridge the most diverse and eclectic streams of knowledge and give the most concise and practical modes to do just that.
It is a brave new world, as it always has been, because change is constant.
Will you be it's Brave New Individuals?
We need brave people to face it.
We need brave people with new thinking to take charge and lead.
Take charge and lead whom?
Themselves, first and foremost.
The world will follow you once you take care of yourself.
I will make an attempt here to bridge the most diverse and eclectic streams of knowledge and give the most concise and practical modes to do just that.
It is a brave new world, as it always has been, because change is constant.
Will you be it's Brave New Individuals?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)