#I have such a specific routine and requirements list of how to sleep and if one thing is removed I freak out

[redshoes-blues]

I’m one of those can’t-sleep-without-a-fan-on people and my fan just broke. right before bed. I feel completely ridiculous for crying over this as an adult but I’m so upset, I probably won’t be able to sleep now. I hate having sensory issues so so much

[urdreamgirlangel]

a soft exit from doom scroll culture 𐙚🧸ྀི

Life wasn’t created to be lived through a screen, it was created to be lived through experiences ₊˚⊹ ᰔ michi

I constantly feel like I’m missing out on life. I’m never physically doing anything but I am always.. always scrolling. And for what? To be entertained. For those weak ass dopamine hits. To distract myself from my thoughts and my mental state. To have an excuse as to why I’m not doing something.

Neglecting yourself? Doomscrolling? Having trouble sleeping? Eyes always tired? Unhappy? Always feeling drained and tired?

Don’t you guys ever feel like you’re missing out? I mean you must since you’re here.

So I decided to try a digital detox.

Not in some extreme, delete-everything-and-vanish kind of way (I actually tried that many times and failed each one). I just wanted to see what would happen if I gave my brain a break. If I stopped reaching for my phone the second I felt bored, uncomfortable, or lonely. If I actually let myself sit with things instead of escaping into a timeline that never ends.

It was weird at first.

My brain kept telling me to “check something,” whether it's Instagram, TikTok, even Pinterest like ?? girl for what?? I realized I’d trained myself to need noise. Constant noise. And without it? I felt unsettled. Quiet. But underneath all that static, there was something else too. A kind of peace I didn’t know I missed. My mind actually started to feel like mine again.

Because the truth is, I don’t want to live a life I’m watching from the sidelines. I don’t want to be so overstimulated I can’t even hear myself think. I want to choose what I consume. What I feel. What I do with my time.

I want to remember that I don’t have to perform every moment. I don’t have to be productive to be worthy. I don’t have to post everything to prove I exist.

Sprinkles ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⊹ ࣪

I thought to myself I should have rules. I should try setting rules and boundaries because, as I said, social media isn't the problem, but rather how we use and interact with it is.

When you do scroll, do it purposefully (because you’re looking for something specific rather than because you’re just bored and you’re trying to entertain yourself quickly)

Delete and uninstall any apps you no longer use & make note of the ones you use too much - a lot of similar posts I’ve read on this topic always talk about keeping tumblr because it’s not that bad blah blah.. But can you really say you don’t scroll mindlessly on here? People use tumblr as an escape from all those other apps, but at the end of the day, it’s still social media.

Set time limits for screen use

Reduce use bit by bit

be careful with what you consume

Don’t be afraid to be bored. You are going to be bored and lonely.

Silence your notifications

Realize it’s okay to have social media but it shouldn’t be abused

Be in the moment. You don’t need to have a hot girl walk with a podcast playing in your ear. Bitch, be the podcast. Yap to yourself and look fucking crazy because I do. And it’s fun.

Find something to do with your free time, in my post Pretty Girl Content, you will find some hobby suggestions, or even in my Enhance Your Whimsy posts.

Tech-free zones - keeping your phone out of the bathroom, kitchen, bed, dining area

Check-in windows: only check social media during scheduled times

A ‘why I opened this’ list - every time you open an app, ask yourself why and write it down. Write it down. After a few days, review it to see your patterns and learn from them. nd if you wanna share thats ok too!

Dopamine Menu - a list of things that gives you pleasure or satisfaction a healthy way. instead of reaching for your phone when you feel lonely, bored or restless, pick something off the list and then do it.. They start easy with the first course, then require more effort and engagement as the course goes up.

Angel’s Dopamine Menu ꒰ঌ ໒꒱

🧁 Sweet Treats (Low-Effort)

Light a candle and practice breath work

Make a cute warm drink

Do mobility routine

take a shower

say affirmations

style dream closet mentally

cuddle blanket and/or pet

stand in sun for 3-5 mins

change into favourite cozy outfit

🍱 Comfort Courses (Medium Effort)

journal with dreamy prompts or about something i’m curious about

write a letter to my future self

Walk around the block

Bake something cute and simple

read a book

Reorganize space a bit (clear bed, fluff pillows, wipe mirror)

Watch a comfort show, no snacks, no other screens

have a tea party with plushies

🥘 Soul meals (High Effort)

solo adventure

Deep clean space

write letters to past you, present you and future you

go to a concert

choose a topic that fascinates me and go full research mode

start a new cute slice of life anime/kdrama

work on a hobby (start a scrapbook, upcycling an outfit, etc.)

write or continue writing a post

sign up for a workshop/class that excites you

learn a new skill (writing, language etc)

host a themed night for yourself (cottage core evening, 2000s movie night)

Plan my dream life

But now that we’ve got that out of the way, I have a question for you

What do you want from these apps? ೀ

𖹭.ᐟ Is it validation?

𖹭.ᐟ To feel seen without having to do much?

𖹭.ᐟ A distraction?

𖹭.ᐟ Community and connection?

𖹭.ᐟ Inspiration?

𖹭.ᐟ Entertainment?

𖹭.ᐟ Self-expression?

𖹭.ᐟ FOMO?

Are you actually getting it? Or are you just stuck in the loop, hoping the next scroll will finally give you what the last hundred didn’t?

People say cons of not having social media is not knowing what’s going on “in the outside world” but.. to me that’s a pro because I get to focus on myself and my mind and loa. So nothing else really matters to me since I’m focused on building the life for me starting with myself. Which I really need right now given my mental state. When i deleted tiktok, I feel good about not downloading it. Whenever I need it, I redownload it. Hair content. That’s about it. Then I delete. I dread even redownloading it because I’m kind of impatient. But I also do the same for tumblr. If I need a little pick me up, a sweet post and I know I have no one around give it to me and I really need to hear it from someone else, I redownload. I use it on my pc mainly now and I don’t find scrolling on my pc interesting enough to do it all the time.

So let’s get to the more philosophical, harsher side.

₊˚ 🦢・��✧ Modern life encourages consumption, rather than understanding and contemplation - challenge yourself, learn about something that honestly doesn’t seem that big of a deal, like learning random facts about random things. Remember libraries and book shops exist.

₊˚ 🦢・₊✧ One thing about social media it will give you unsolicited advice and opinions, it will try to make you feel like you have to listen and believe what is being shown to you. It could cause you to stray from your own beliefs if you aren’t strong in them. People’s opinions being thrown at you left and right when you aren’t even comfortable and strong in yourself is… jarring. “You shouldn’t do this bc..” but what if I want to? And why are people mad that I want to? Or don’t want to? Realizing I don’t wanna hear anyone’s opinions before I was grounded in mine was a big reason for my detox and regulation.

₊˚ 🦢・₊✧ You pick up a lot of stuff you consume online unconsciously. For instance, I watched a lot of American and Canadian tv growing up.. now I react to certain situations in certain ways (just like a lot of the characters I saw on TV) and I literally didn't notice until like a few days ago. That's the result of repeatedly consuming the same kind of content. So guess what- the thing people call ‘brain rot’… is actually rotting your brain. Surprise, surprise.

₊˚ 🦢・₊✧ Social media constantly exposes you to other people’s timelines, and it quietly convinces you that you’re behind in life. But most people are only sharing fragments- the polished, curated parts. And when we forget that, it’s easy to start holding ourselves to unrealistic standards or feeling like we’re not doing enough. You are not late. You are not less. You are unfolding, slowly and softly, in your own time. And there’s something quietly magical about that.

₊˚ 🦢・₊✧ And on that note… influencers really do be scamming sometimes. Like, a lot of it is just the same old stuff, just prettier now. They take outdated ideas and wrap them in pink ribbons and call it healing or empowerment. Suddenly, being “feminine” means looking a certain way, acting soft and quiet, never taking up too much space, and spending money just to seem effortlessly perfect. But don't get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with liking pink, or soft things, or wanting to feel pretty. But when femininity becomes a performance—when it’s reduced to a list of aesthetics you have to buy into to be “the ideal woman,” that’s not empowerment. That’s marketing. They just dressed it up and made you feel like you chose it. But it’s still about control. About shrinking yourself into something small, sweet, and palatable. It’s not just influencers because some of them genuinely believe in this and don’t realize what they’re doing. In the end it just leads back to men trying to be in control... Ew. You might not even realize how much of what you like or think you like is just what society has convinced you need to like to be worthy of love or attention. This is not to say you can’t enjoy this stuff because I most definitely still do. But do so mindfully. This is also not to say that life can’t be aesthetic and pretty because it can and anybody that says not is just.. boring I guess. Just be mindful.

So I’m detoxing. To control the identity I’m building for myself and making sure it’s something I like, something I’m doing for me rather than for the algorithm. This is not to say that social media- or rather, how we use it- is to blame for everything. Because it’s not. People around you can genuinely suck. You have to pull away from that. The point is, if it’s not benefiting you, it’s depriving you.

Log out. Go outside. Touch the real world. You deserve to feel real again. -`♡´-🧁

follow @urdreamgirlangel 444 more

inspired by:

⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆ michi goodbye TikTok, hello living

⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆ xiao's you don't have to be that girl

⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆ denee you'd be hotter if you logged out

[shaotie]

What D.I.D I Do Wrong? - Facts Sheet

Once again this is something I'm just throwing up here to have an online backup copy because of my irrational fear of losing all my hard work on the world building for this au (that might never get finished), enjoy or feel free to ignore 🙂🐢💚

When different personas share control with Leo or take control it won't always be directly mentioned, instead it will be hinted as to who is in the front based on Leo's words, actions, preferences, and such. So here is a list of some facts about each aspect of his shattered mind.

Orado

favorite color: blue

favorite food: pizza

favorite animal: elephant (they're big, strong, formidable creatures with tusks who are able to throw their weight around to protect themselves and their families)

favorite siblings: April and Raph (Raph is big, strong, and Leo's main external protector, April regularly provides Leo with a safe space where he can be himself)

least-favorite siblings: Mikey and Donnie (Mikey's too emotion-led - Orado doesn't understand him - and although Donnie is more factual he makes 'scary' tech that Orado doesn't understand, which makes him a potential threat to Leo in his eyes)

favorite activity: likes sitting back and watching the world around him as Leo goes about his day. Gains comfort from predictable routines.

biggest fear: someone manipulating/controlling/hurting Leo like what Krang Prime did to him.

Nutritional Requirements: Orado can function just fine on any sort of diet and doesn't have any specific nutritional needs.

biggest weakness: His smug over-confidence, his limited understanding of emotional needs, and his distrustful nature combine with his need for control and his desire to protect Leo, which means he sometimes ends up hurting Leo without realizing it by putting up walls between him and the people in his life who are trying to help him. Although he possess book smarts he is very lacking in street smarts which makes him susceptible to Leon's manipulation. As as result he allows Leon to behave in ways he convinces Orado are logically beneficial but are actually to Leo's detriment.

Origins: Originally Orado, Cleo, and Penelope were all one, but when Leo's mind shattered it broke that section into his logical/protective side (Orado), his emotional/anxious/fearful side (Cleo), and his tender loving side (Penelope). Orado doesn't know any of this, he only knows that both he and Cleo feel soothed when Leo is healing and Cleo flows into him.

Cleo

favorite color: bright green

favorite food: sushi (especially salmon and tuna) and sugary junk

favorite animal: unicorn (the sparklier and more colorful the better!)

favorite sibling: Mikey and Raph (she loves Mikey's creative, emotional, huggy side and Raph's protective, tender loving side)

least favorite sibling: Donnie (he's all facts and logic like Orado and doesn't have a good understanding of how to care for Leo's emotional needs)

favorite activity: exploration, learning about the world directly around her (in a safe setting), coloring (especially with Mikey), and watching action movies with Leo's family or laying in bed and doom scrolling through shorts (both things which often over-stimulate her).

biggest fear: afraid that Leo's really still in the prison dimension, so anything that reminds her of that place or challenges the reality that he escaped sends her for a loop.

nutritional requirements: because of the intensity and wildly unpredictable nature of her emotions she needs quick sources of energy so often encourages Leo to reach for sugary junk food instead of healthy options. She also requires lots of access to healthy fats to keep her grounded (fish, nuts, avocado, etc). If Leo neglects this need she becomes overstimulated much easier which makes Leo himself feel more physical pain and become more emotional; and it may lead to her becoming wired so she can't sleep or in any way regulate herself.

biggest weakness: Cleo's lack of self-control, lack of a logical side to balance out her intense emotions, lack of understanding of consequences, and poor memory means she more often than not hurts Leo's healing process with her emotional outbursts that she believes are actually protecting him because they quickly and effectively push away whatever problem made fear spike in Leo's heart.

Origin: Originally Cleo, Orado, and Penelope were all one, but when Leo's mind shattered it broke that section into his logical/protective side (Orado), his emotional/anxious/fearful side (Cleo), and his tender loving side (Penelope). Like Orado, Cleo doesn't know any of this, she only knows that her raw nerves and intense emotions are soothed when parts of her flows into Orado; only she doesn't comprehend that is happening because Leo is healing, nor does she understand that her angry outbursts are counterproductive to his long term healing and are often a direct reason why she is drained out of Orado.

Penelope

favorite color: pink

favorite food: a variety of fruits, especially exotic ones

favorite item: Leo's soft, plushy stuffed unicorn and his hoodie

favorite animal: cats (especially kittens)

favorite siblings: Mikey, and Raph (Mikey is loving, fun, and creative, and Raph shows his love through his protective nature and can be surprisingly tender)

least favorite siblings: none, she loves them all - including Casey, who Leo's other personas don't really give much thought to as a part of the family.

favorite activity: hugging and interacting with Leo's loved ones - it doesn't matter what they do as long as they do it together.

nutritional requirements: a variety of nutrients that can only be obtained through a healthy diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables.

biggest fear: Krang Prime

biggest weakness: If Leo isn't getting his needs for attention/touch met a part of her will bleed into Cleo, throwing her rational, logical side out of whack. She will seek the attention and touch she needs in passive aggressive ways: taking partial control to make Leo cry or make passive-aggressive comments when he's in hearing range of his family to get their attention; squatting his finger in the drawers, making him walk into the corners of walls or bite his tongue to get his needs for touch met in other (unhealthy) ways; and making activities Leo does alone difficult by affecting his vision or motor skills in the hopes he'll put that activity aside and seek out attention (ex. she can distort his vision so it appears as though he has dyslexia so he can't read the words in his comics, and she can make him twitch or make random, jerky hand movements when he's trying to paint)

origin: Originally Penelope, Orado, and Cleo were all one, but when Leo's mind shattered it broke that section into his logical/protective side (Orado), his emotional/anxious/fearful side (Cleo), and his tender loving side (Penelope). Unlike Orado and Cleo, Penelope remembers everything that happened. She was the very first distinct persona to separate from Leo's intact mind before it shattered into pieces and she remembers everything that happened from that day on. She is also the only one who knows that she, Orado, and Cleo are supposed to be one; and she is the only one who understands where Shadow and Boo came from and how important their work is in repairing the damage Krang Prime did to Leo's subconscious.

Boo/Boo-Goo

favorite color: yellow

favorite food: cheese (all types but especially swiss, yummy!)

favorite item: the old stuffed teddy bear with one eye missing that Raph sleeps with

favorite animal: dogs

favorite sibling: Donnie (he lets Boo hang out with him in his fancy lab and lets him either play quietly or talk on and on for hours about any silly little thing he wants without interrupting him)

least favorite sibling: Raph (he provides rules that Boo doesn't always like and keeps looking at him and checking that Leo's ok, which makes Boo feel uncomfortable because he feels insecure when he's looked at just wants to be allowed to play)

favorite activity: playing with toys (especially in Donnie's lab), cuddling with Raph's teddy bear, cuddling with Splinter and listening to him tell stories

nutritional requirements: He doesn't know, he's just a little kid! Leo's other personas make sure he gets what he needs, especially Shadow.

biggest fear: Let's just say he's afraid of a lot of things

biggest weakness: He feels insecure and unloved. That combined with the fact he's basically the cumulative total of Leo's insecurities as an emotionally neglected turtle tot and presents as a young child means that his sometimes mistakes innocent comments from Leo's family to mean they don't want him/love him and his feelings are hurt easily, provoking Cleo's wrath.

origin: Originally Boo/Boo-Goo was combined with Shadow, but when she couldn't hold Leo's mind together anymore they were separated into two parts. Boo floated around inside Leo's mindscape in his vapor-like state for a few days before clinging to the insecure child-like side of Leo's personality that never grew up, thus providing him with his own distinct personality and giving birth to the silly, fun Boo-Goo side of his persona.

Shadow

favorite color: deep, dark, blackish purple

favorite food: none

favorite item: none

favorite animal: octopus, because of their ability to change shape and color to blend seamlessly into their environment

favorite sibling: Shadow doesn't have any favorite/least favorite siblings because she never ventures to the outside world and never explores inside Leo's mindscape, so she knows very little about them

favorite activity: none, she's too busy working hard around the clock to keep Leo's mind from completely separating to take the time needed to develope a complete, distinct, individual personality. But if she had to pick one it would be flying a kite because of the way it flies high in the big, open expanse of the sky and flows with the wind

nutritional requirements: she needs dense nutrients like Penelope and healthy fats like Cleo. Because her work is so vitally important to Leo's brain function and neural connectivity she is the first to get these nutrients before they are distributed to other parts of his mindscape.

biggest fear: not being up to the task of keeping Leo from slipping into total insanity.

biggest weakness: unknown, but she is very, very shy.

origin: She and Boo were originally combined as the part of Leo's mind that flowed through his neurons, ensuring healthy connections were maintained and keeping his personality intact. When Leo's mind shattered she was forced apart from Boo into the back right corner of his mindscape. Even though she isn't a complete, distinct persona on her own her work is too vital to allow her to combine with any of Leo's other personalities like Boo did, so although she is aware of her surroundings and possesses a degree of sentience she is mostly like a busy, functioning computer deep inside Leo's brain (or perhaps that's because her work is so vital to Leo's sanity she can't take any time out to figure out exactly who she is).

Leonardo:

favorite color: deep, dark blue

favorite food: unknown

favorite item: unknown; although he likes the ocean

favorite animal: unknown

favorite sibling: unknown

least-favorite sibling: unknown

favorite activity: unknown

nutritional requirements: unknown

biggest fear: unknown

biggest weakness: unknown

origin: Leonardo is a personification of the cumulative total of Leo's good memories of his dad - especially the times his dad taught him and his brothers and was a strength for them.

Leon

favorite color: black

favorite food: black caviar

favorite item: anything luxurious and expensive

favorite animal: who cares about animals?

favorite sibling: he's chill with April

least-favorite sibling (in descending order): Raph, Donnie, Mikey (Raph tries to spoil his fun, Donnie makes tech that lets them find Leo when he convinces Orado to portal them away to somewhere tropical, and Mikey is just plain annoying)

favorite activity: lounging around in silk robes, smoking cigars (not that he can anymore because Orado stopped him early on after Leo got exceptionally sick from his first cigar), and eating expensive delicacies in the lap of luxury in some tropical resort (it doesn't matter to him if he's a mutant turtle in a human resort - the only thing that matters is that it's one of the best resorts around with the best food; after all he'll be long gone and on to another resort in a different part of the world before the cops or Earth's Protection Force officers show up). Did I mention he also loves causing conflicts, starting figurative fires to sit back and watch them burn, and enjoys the choas when he provokes Cleo and sets her lose on the world (plus he has an unhealthy interest in real fires)?

nutritional requirements: what's nutrition?

biggest fear: fear? I'm not following you

biggest weakness: According to Leon he has no weaknesses, and no one better try to tell him any different! (Although his selfish persona often harms Leo's sensitive emotional balance and drives him into the void) Who said that!?

origin: Unknown, however he has some connection to Leo's heart despite the fact he presents as a selfish persona who has no understanding of other people's emotions.

🔹🔹🔹

🔹What D.I.D I Do Wrong? Masterpost

🔹My Main Masterpost

[pleaseeeimjustagirl]

It Is Time For 'Baddie Hibernation'

Hey babes we have 3 months before the summer! It is time to tighten up! This is the time to work on your physical and mental I know we all want to be hot girls this summer so now is the time to prioritize ourselves!

Routines

♡ Routines are super important. they are your key to success and living an organized life. If you have not created a routine already I created a blog post on how to create a productive routine. This is the time to stick to your routines in the morning and night and adjust them if needed. 

Physical 

♡ Hygiene. Consistency is key for your facial care routine to work so be consistent in applying all your products. If you aren't seeing results with a certain product you have been using for over 3 months maybe try and find a better product. I recommend using a gua sha three times a week there are so many benefits in using a gua sha blog post coming soon! Don’t just focus on your facial care focus also on your body care use African exfoliating net sponges, shave regularly, apply lotions and body oils, and use feet masks to peel dead skin.

♡ Diet. For my girlies who are on a weight loss journey and want to be snatched before summer, it is time to be dedicated to sticking to your diet. I don’t have any specific diets to recommend do what works for you. If you struggle with Binge Eating Disorder like me I have a book that I can recommend that will help you work on your ED and also help you lose weight “The Binge Code” by Allison Kerr and Richard Kerr. This book has been a game-changer for me!  For my babes who aren't focused on weight loss, it is still important to try and eat healthier try including a variety of whole foods into your diet and drink waterrr!!! Water is so good for us from our skin to our digestive system try and drink at least 50oz but aim for 100oz of water daily.

♡ Movement. Try and include some sort of movement daily we must move our bodies daily. Figure out what type of exercise you like walking is very simple and costs absolutely nothing. Start small with 10 minutes of outdoor walking daily. Natural light is so beneficial for our mental health and mood. Yoga and pilates are such amazing slow and impactful forms of exercise. I've been including yoga in my nighttime routine there are so many channels and videos on YouTube you can follow. There are so many other forms of exercise you can try some free and some that cost money.

♡ Supplements. Help and maintain our overall health they can also help with our daily requirements of essential nutrients. I will be listing a few supplements below <333

Multivitamin. Find a reputable multivitamin and take it daily or as instructed. Multivitamins can boost energy and give you vitamins and minerals you might be deficient in.

Magnesium. Improves mood, sleep, exercise performance, regulates blood sugar, and so much more. Magnesium is overlooked by many but so beneficial for us. I've been seeing the bedtime magnesium mocktail I have yet to try but I plan to.

Omega 3(fish oil). Helps with typical brain and eye development. It can fight inflammation and help prevent heart disease and the decline of brain function.

Vitamin D. A lot of us during the winter time have a deficiency in vitamin D because the sun is not out a lot so vitamin D supplements are a must-have they help with regulating mood, reducing depression, healthy bones, and so many other amazing benefits.

Vitamin B Complex. Helps boost energy levels, brain function, digestion, and cell health. There are so many other benefits.

Probiotics. Helps improve gut health, puts healthy bacteria into our gut that in turn helps our digestive system, and inflammation, and can even help aide your weightless journey. 

Mental 

♡ Sleep. Our bodies function so much better when we are getting a good amount of sleep. You think clearly and your mood is better. Try and set a bedtime for yourself and stick to it. I had to sleep train myself at the beginning of the semester it was so harddd but I'm reaping the benefits now I have energy during the day, my mood is better in the morning, and my brain functions better during the day.

♡ Journaling. We have a lot of emotions that we carry throughout the day and it is important that we let them out and journaling is the best way to do so. I have three journals. One journal is for my emotions, another for gratitude journaling which I highly recommend you get into, and finally my last journal for shadow work. You do not need to have three journals but I like to have everything separate it helps me. 

♡ Book. I love reading and listening to self-help books. We all have issues that we need to fix and thankfully we have so many self-help books dedicated to so many different issues people face on a daily. I have so many recommendations I’ll list below.

The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest (self-sabotaging)

The Most Powerful Woman In The Room Is You by Lydia Fenet (confidence and career)

Atomic Habits by James Clear (building good habits)

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson (living a carefree life)

The Binge Code by Allison Kerr and Richard Kerr (binge eating, weight loss)

The Shadow Work Journal by Keila Shaheen (internal healing)

The Eldest Daughter Effect by Lisette Schuitemaker and Wies Enthoven (eldest daughters)

The Game Of Life And How To Play It by Florence Scovel and Joel Fotinos (from pessimistic to optimistic, affirmations, and manifestation)

The Power Of The Pussy by Kara King (femininity and dating) 

8 Rules Of Love by Jay Shetty (dating and psychology)

The Muslim Woman’s Manifesto by Kashmir Maryam (religion, mental health, and women)

These are the books I can recommend so far there are more searches for books related to the issues you may be facing or things you want to improve on in your life<3 

♡ Therapy. I'm a big mental health advocate and it is very important that if you are dealing with mental health issues you get help<3. I've dealt with my issues before and I used better help I found the best therapist who helped me through so much. I love the way they allow you to choose your therapist. I recommend that you use better help. For my NYC teenagers between the ages of 13-17, there is a website called talk space that offers free online therapy for NYC teens NO REFERRAL IS NEEDED. If I find more websites that offer free therapy for other teens around the world I will let you all know<3.

If you have any tips that you want to share down in the comments please do I want all of us to be happy and glowing this summer!

[r3g-p14y3r]

Okay so, to start off this is a ficlet for my new OC Catal! Made it to help myself develop ‘em. Uh, 1647 word count, so not too long. Tags: @gyxtar0luvs @aquacomet @cosmic-quakes err…not sure who else!

Assistance Required

“So, uh, that’s how today went. Terrible, really, but I’m confident that I handled it pretty well.”

Even with what’s essentially their brain being poked and prodded at, Catal remains unfazed due to the frequency of these checks.

After having had numerous incidents of the previous mechanic’s shop harassed by some of their “fans,” they decided that they’d hire a personal one for the sake of that poor soul who had to deal with the nonsense that only he himself should have to deal with.

Speaking of—

“Mind opening your eyes? Want to make sure everything is still working properly.” The organic’s voice interrupted his thought (rude; he doesn’t remember what the sudden spark of realization was for anymore), leaving him to pull away from the memories of the last few hours.

Snap. With a simple command, Catal complies with the request. What follows is the usual routine: rerun some tests, offer words of gratitude to the mechanic, and then usher said mechanic out of the house. The barrier between him and the outside is quickly shut as soon as the other is gone.

“Now, what was it that popped into my mind before?” The bot leans against the comparatively large door as his antennae slowly sink. “What was it? I know it was something important…”

Did I forget to eat? No…I did that several days ago.

What about my work schedule? M…no, no, I double checked all of the battles for the week and which ones are assigned to me to watch over. None of that has slipped from my mind.

So…if it isn’t food or work, then what is it? Maybe tracing back to what he was thinking earlier might help.

There was that train of thought about his previous mechanic, for one. Tsk, a pity that he had to switch because of some nosy little—

Wait that’s it. Fans.

“OH! I WAS GOING TO LOOK FOR A BODYGUARD!” he exclaims as he perks up.

Catal doesn’t miss a beat and practically bounces off the surface they were supported against like a ball, bounding toward their room up on second floor.

No, they did not almost trip on the stairs.

…Okay that’s a lie. He still needs to get those atrocious slabs modified; they’re built for the average organic, not a 4’0 automaton like himself.

“Alright, let’s see,” they mutter bemusedly to themself once they ricochet inside and swing haphazardly into their rolling chair beside their bed. “I’ll put up a job posting tonight since I’ll be quite busy tomorrow,” they declare after a long period of silence.

The plush likeness of himself to the right of the monitor says nothing in response to the ramblings of the announcer, content to simply sit, observe, and support as they type out the requirements for the listing. One pair of tiring hands work on the keyboard, and the other drums its fingers idly on either side of the one typing.

As time ticks by, the bustle of the outside world fades in Catal’s audio receptors and the sky settles into a warm— yet bright— red-orange gradient with the setting sun. The cool colours of the room’s interior mix with this warmth, carving harsh shadows into the unaffected areas like whittled wood as the day draws to a satisfying close.

“And…there! Posted.” A peppy voice pierces the quiet veil. The owner of that voice dusts their hands off their slacks. “That’s done,” they sigh. “Now, hopefully, someone will accept. Well, someone competent to be specific.”

The gentle hum of the monitor whirs to a stop once he clicks the power button, which afterward has him getting up from his seat to close up the soundproofing curtains.

Shff, the fabric shifts against the curtain rod.

The room is plunged into absolute silence.

It’s eery, yes, but in his opinion it’s much better than having to listen to the screech of metal and rubber from whoever hosts those stupid races on the street. “People are trying to sleep, for goodness sake.” With pinned-back antennae, they make their way over to the far side of the room. “Maybe I should put a restraining order on the culprit. If not for me, then for the rest of those who are closer to that atrocious ruckus,” they grumble unhappily before dragging themself to bed and hopping in.

He shuffles to the centre. “Sorry my little friends, no show for you tonight.” Three pats are given to each individual plush sat on all edges of the mattress; no more, no less. Each one is as soft and warm as the flames that flare in The Glass Tower’s biggest lounge. “I’m tired since I didn’t rest well last night. Perhaps another time.”

Without leaving that warmth, Catal stretches an arm to the switch, shuts off the lights, and proceeds to flop into a supine position as that arm snaps back into place. The only thing that greets his eyes is the dark ceiling high above.

He shuts them.

It’s peaceful, this environment. No outside sounds, no light— no disturbance.

No sound. No light. No…no...

Okay scratch that, it’s empty. This environment feels empty. It doesn’t matter how many plushes he surrounds himself with, how much decor he stuffs in this tiny room, or how long he plays music from the radio for. It still feels like something is missing.

It’s always felt as though something is missing.

“What’s missing?” Oh, but that is a rhetorical question. He knows what the answer is: company.

No, not the overwhelming bustle of the audience cheering for today’s fighters.

No, not his colleagues and their comments as he narrates the events of the battle he watched over.

No. Neither of those seem right. They aren’t…what’s the word? Close? Personal—

Personal, that’s it. They aren’t personal enough. All the time spent in either kind of company he thought of are merely surface level and distant. It doesn’t satisfy the hole in his chest.

Catal is lonely, that he knows for sure. The thrill of violence is still there, as well as the privilege of being seen in a positive light by the public, but it isn’t enough. Bloodshed doesn’t bring about close connections, and neither does fame.

“Do I want the scrutiny of an individual though?” That theoretical person— if they were to get close— could pick me apart at a moment’s notice with how fragile my shell is. That person could narrow me down; my likes and dislikes; my habits; my fears and hopes and dreams.

He’d be perceived if anyone grew close enough. He’d be vulnerable. And vulnerable is a state he hasn’t experienced since the moment he lost his arms. He isn’t ready to be vulnerable.

They open their eyes.

The sheets ruffle underneath the bot as he flips onto his stomach and reaches for a plush, bringing it closer to inspect its features.

This particular cuddle buddy resembles a Crellic; long tufts of baby blue fur cover its body, speckled with maroon here and there. Beady, coal black button eyes stare back at him with no emotion as his gaze drifts to the broad tail, and then the antennae. It’s like him in that sense, the little appendages sticking out atop its head, and the reason why it’s his most favourite among the rest.

His thoughts scurry away from the stuffed creature in his hands and back to people.

With a crowd, to have their favour, you don’t have to pay attention with every single one of them. You gather what gets the majority going and stick with it unless the pattern changes. However, when it comes to individuals and bonding with them…

You have to look closer; you have to truly observe their expressions, microexpressions as well as the rest of them. You have to learn what makes them tick to form a strong connection—

And Catal isn’t good at that. He’s good at entertaining, not… not whatever that is.

One hesitant finger idly traces the outline of the plush’s right eye. Then the left, and then its stitched-on fangs. “Oh, what am I doing? I should be asleep,” he whispers, “not thinking about relationships and feelings.”

After repeating the motions of their hand a few more times, they hiss through their teeth and return to laying on their back, this time with the small thing in tow.

“I should be asleep,” he repeats.

<><><>[][][][][]<><><>

That night, he doesn’t get sleep.

“Oi C, ready to star—” a string of gravel erupts from the Nexili’s mouth, which is soon cut off as soon as the man sees the state the announcer is in. “Oh. Bad sleep again?”

“It was more so no sleep, my friend.” The nickname comes as easy as blinking, however untrue it may be; everyone is called a friend. Doesn’t mean they are.

All four of Mx. Insomnia’s hands drag behind him like shackles against the patterned carpet in the announcing deck. “Nothing to worry about though; this was just a one-time incident. I’ll be in better spirits tomorrow,” they dismiss with a few flaps of a hand. It feels heavy with emotion, though it’s hard to figure out what exactly.

Catal clears their throat for dramatic effect. “With that aside, the people are waiting! No need to dilly-dally any longer, now is there?” They flashes the most energetic smile they can muster behind himself to his fellow colleague.

Another day, another chance to wow the crowd.

Another day of trying to fill the ever-expanding void.

“It’s showtime.”

[vampirkit]

list of my random hcs for kamilah sayeed (x lucy) that no one asked for but here they are bc i need to write them down:

kamilah has read literally EVERYTHING (except for modern fiction bc she says she’s read the same stories a thousand times before); and

lucy lovesss modern sapphic romance fiction + gets super excited about the plot and the characters getting together, so she tells kamilah about it. And kamilah is like, “oh, that’s similar to [insert a NICHE ASS 1500s novella that no one has ever talked about in the last 500 years bc why tf would they]”

kamilah has the nicest (and most effective, bc she’s had 2000+ years to deveop it) skincare routine known to man - even though she doesn’t technically need it. she is an immortal vampire after all; tell kamilah that, though, and she’ll respond: “i have an image to maintain, do i not?”

more under the cut

due to the fact kamilah’s day job requires human employees and council duties require nighttime hours, kamilah rarely ever sleeps. she drowns herself in work (literally constantly) bc it gives her something to do other than mulling over her past. yes, vampires don’t actually need sleep, but everyone does so anyways, bc they have all the time in the world really; there’s no real need to stay up all the time. and

lucy asks kamilah when she’s free (it’s never more than 5 hours at a time), adjusting her schedule accordingly (i’m writing a fic where lucy confronts kamilah on that issue, so prepare for angst)

lucy sends kamilah historically inaccurate memes - on purpose - bc she knows that kamilah will respond with a mini essay explaining how that’s wrong and the true events (it’s the easiest ways to draw stories out of the ancient vampire); kamilah never catches on

kamilah ONLY listens to music on vinyl (i imagine “Turn Me On” by Norah Jones constantly playing in the background of her penthouse); and

lucy sends kamilah spotify links all the time, bc she wants to know what kamilah thinks (of that! specific song!). kamilah promptly orders the album’s vinyl record to give it a listen, and she returns with a simple x/10 rating for the entire album

kamilah loves the lego botanical series. it all started when lucy bought her one, expecting typical unamused kamilah^TM; but she actually really enjoyed it???? (only after lucy convinced her to give it a try) and now it sits on the coffee table next to kamilah’s business magazines and lucy’s pile of current reads

kamilah always upgrades to the newest iphone, yet she uses her phone for less than an hour a day AND all of her devices wallpapers are the boring default ones

mhmm simple gold band thumb thing for kamilah. yes. on her right hand. and occasional rings on her middle + ring fingers on her left hand when she’s feeling extra slutty

[knavearcade]

November 2024 Oracle Cards for Each Human Design Energy Type

If you’re like me, this past month has felt very long in a hazy, restless kind of way. Based on these cards, next month wants us to take some time to process what’s transpired so that we can use it to make December better than the whole year’s been. There’s a “footnote” kind of energy I’m getting and I think that’s primarily because Pluto will finally leave Capricorn for the last time. Since 2008, it’s mostly been in that sign, save for most of this year (Pluto went into Aquarius on January 20th and then retrograded back into Capricorn on September 1st). While the specific area of your chart will tell you what that’s meant for you personally, as a whole, we’ve been grappling with our concepts of work ethic, hustle culture, and the gig economy. How has that affected you? Who were you prior to 2008 and who are you today?

We are entering uncharted territories and that can be seen with the cards I’ve chosen for the month. The illustrated herbal cards come from the Apothecary Spirits Oracle, which is a beautiful deck that was just released a few months ago! It’s quickly become a new favorite!

As for the square, collage-style cards… they are actually from my upcoming oracle deck! The Refract & Reflect Oracle is still a work in progress and if you like what you see, I need your help to make it a reality! I have bills and other expenses to prioritize before I can get another prototype made, so now more than ever, every dollar made from booking a reading or leaving a tip means a whole helluva lot. 

~~

Generators

Nocturnes & Gardening Tools

Even though they say the veil is thinnest towards the end of October, you can always develop your magick. Generators, you’ll benefit from doing inventory on the routines that work for you in terms of getting things done and making things happen. What healing modalities have helped keep your mind clear and body energized? Is it time to book a therapy session or perhaps find a new therapist entirely? Have you ever tried the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT aka “tapping”)? November is a month for you to fine-tune what tools are in your toolkit; sharpen, replace, and donate as needed.

~~

Manifesting Generators

Softness & Passionflower

Getting ahead doesn’t always require a forceful hand or putting the pedal to the metal. Sometimes, all you need is a gentle touch, a little lightness on your feet, or a clear head after a good night’s sleep. For many of us, the end of the year gets very hectic with family gatherings, business deadlines, and the end of the school semester, and we try to go full-speed ahead. But instead of trying to push through and get everything done on nothing but three cups of coffee and two hours of sleep (on and off, of course), I invite you to rethink your task list and give yourself some grace. Pay attention to where you’re running on auto-pilot because that’s simply the way it’s always been this time of year. But what can be approached with more ease? What do you truly need to attend to? What can you release?

~~

Projectors

Illuminate & Darling River Rose

This month, Projectors, I invite you to remember all the ways you’ve grown. I invite you to remember what you’ve realized about yourself, your truths, and your capabilities. As we near the end of the year, how have you changed? It’s so difficult for us to see ourselves as well as we can see others, but it’s so beneficial when we can. Take some time this month for introspective work and don’t be afraid to broaden the scope of your trajectory. Who were you at the beginning of the year? What were your goals and hopes? What about five years ago? What about 15? If you have the opportunity, look at old photo albums, playlists, journals, and anything else that you can get your hands on.

~~

Manifestors

Cleanse & Juniper

This November is a good month to clear your physical, emotional, and energetic spaces. There are some big revelations and ideas that are eager to make their way to you, but the paths are a little crowded or murky. Spending time on both literal and metaphysical cleansing practices will prime you for whatever comes next. This can be as simple as carving time out for ritual baths, clearing out the photos on your phone (at least back them up, Mercury Retrograde is coming up on the 25th btw), or vacuuming the cobwebs in your home. It can also look like lighting herbs (I love rosemary), playing good music, and visualizing all your anxieties melting off your body and sinking into the earth.

~~

Reflectors

Stories & Nettle

It’s bitter medicine, but heartbreak always teaches us something new, right? For many of us, November (and the end of the year in general) can bring up a lot of sore spots, especially in the realm of relationships and family. If you find yourself revisiting a lot of hurt, try to look at things from different perspectives. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes or try to think of how an outsider would see things. And don’t forget about the scope of the timeline. In a longer trajectory, how did things turn for you or anyone involved? You don’t have to do any of this on your own either, talking it out with a trusted confidant or therapist can lead to some breakthroughs in the patterns you may have been holding onto.

~~

If you like what you’re seeing of the Refract & Reflect Oracle, I’ll be sharing more of the cards and the process on my Ko-Fi membership site! Thank you!

[molianno]

How to Simplify Your Skincare Routine

When it comes to simplifying skincare, many people immediately ask me, "What products should I use?"  

Hold on—teaching someone to fish is better than giving them fish. You are responsible for your own skin. If you just follow a product list, you still won’t know what to do when you encounter problems next time. But if you learn the right approach, you'll be able to handle new issues with ease.

You can begin simplifying your skincare routine by focusing on the following aspects:

 1. Analyze Your Skin and Identify Your True Skincare Needs

A proper simplified skincare routine should be based on a thorough understanding of your skin and the right skincare knowledge. With this foundation, you can analyze your skin concerns and figure out what your immediate needs are, then select products accordingly.  

Many people send me skincare consultation questions, listing several concerns and finally asking, "Do you have any product recommendations?"  

There isn’t a single product that can solve all problems—just like there’s no food that provides all the nutrients the human body needs. Generally, you should prioritize your skin concerns.  

For example, if you're dealing with sensitivity, acne, brightening, and anti-aging all at once, you should first address the sensitivity. Once your skin is stable, you can gradually tackle acne, while anti-aging and brightening require long-term commitment. These are not concerns that can be solved with just one or two bottles of product.

Additionally, since the skin is the body’s largest organ, your lifestyle, diet, sleep, and overall health will all be reflected in your skin. While skincare products can certainly have an impact, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is even more important.

2. Focus on Basic Skincare, and Use Targeted Products to Enhance Results

While targeted skincare is important, if your basic skincare routine is lacking, skin issues may persist, and functional products could end up worsening the situation.  

Cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection are simple steps, but they are also where most people make mistakes. For example, using a cleanser that is too harsh can lead to over-cleansing, while overusing hydrating masks due to dryness can cause the skin barrier to become overly hydrated, resulting in damage. Inadequate sun protection can lead to sunburn or hyperpigmentation.  

In short, everyone, regardless of skin type, should prioritize a solid basic skincare routine. Once your skin is healthy and stable, you can add targeted products to address specific concerns.

 3. Avoid Using Too Many Products at Once—It Could Backfire

Now that we've discussed basic skincare, let’s move on to functional products and how to pair them.  

Skincare is a gradual process, and skin issues don’t develop overnight. When multiple concerns overlap, you need to address them in order of priority.  

Most functional products, while effective, can also be more irritating. Blindly increasing the amount you use or mixing products randomly could cause skin sensitivity and make matters worse.  

In general, I recommend using no more than three products in your routine: one or two serums and one lotion or cream (choose according to your skin type and hydration needs). If the serum you're using in the summer provides enough moisture, you may only need one serum.

By reducing the number of products, you can ensure that each one is used in sufficient quantity, which is more effective than blindly layering multiple products.

 Conclusion

The above is an analysis of how to simplify your skincare routine, particularly for those over 30. I hope it helps you!

[prakashhospital1]

Coping with Difficulties in Memory

Memory difficulties can significantly impact daily life, affecting everything from personal relationships to professional performance. Whether you're experiencing occasional forgetfulness or more persistent memory issues, understanding the causes and effective coping strategies is crucial for managing these challenges. At a neurology hospital in Dadri, specialized care is available to help diagnose and address memory problems with a comprehensive approach.

Understanding Memory Difficulties

Memory difficulties can arise from various sources, including stress, aging, neurological conditions, or lifestyle factors. Common issues range from minor forgetfulness to more serious conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Identifying the root reason is critical to effective management. While occasional memory lapses are often benign and related to everyday stress or fatigue, persistent memory problems may indicate a more serious condition requiring professional evaluation.

Coping Strategies for Memory Difficulties

Establish Routines: Creating daily routines and using organizational tools can help manage memory issues. Using calendars, reminders, and lists can assist in keeping track of important tasks and appointments.

Healthy Lifestyle: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can have a positive impact on memory. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep are crucial for cognitive function and overall brain health.

Mental Stimulation: Engaging in activities that challenge the brain, such as puzzles, reading, or learning new skills, can help keep the mind sharp and improve memory.

Stress Management: Chronic stress can impair memory function. Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, and mindfulness can help manage stress levels and improve memory.

Professional Support: Consulting a healthcare professional is essential for persistent memory issues. At a neurology hospital in Dadri, specialists can provide comprehensive assessments and develop personalized treatment plans to address the root causes of memory problems.

FAQs About Memory Difficulties

1. What are the common causes of memory difficulties?

Memory difficulties can be caused by a variety of factors including stress, lack of sleep, aging, neurological conditions like Alzheimer's disease, and lifestyle factors such as poor diet or lack of mental stimulation. Identifying the cause is essential for effective management.

2. How can I determine if my memory problems are serious?

If memory problems are persistent, worsening, or interfering with daily activities, it may be a sign of a more serious condition. Consulting a healthcare professional, can help diagnose the underlying issue and guide appropriate treatment.

3. Are there any specific treatments for memory difficulties?

Treatment options vary depending on the underlying cause. For stress-related memory issues, stress management techniques and lifestyle changes may be recommended. For neurological conditions, specialized treatments and therapies provided by a neurology hospital may be necessary to manage symptoms and improve cognitive function.

4. Can lifestyle changes improve memory?

Yes, adopting a healthy lifestyle can positively impact memory. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and mental stimulation are all beneficial for cognitive health and memory improvement.

5. When should I seek professional help for memory problems?

If you experience persistent or worsening memory issues, or if memory difficulties start to affect your daily life, it’s important to seek professional help. A neurology hospital in Dadri can provide a thorough evaluation and tailored treatment options to address your specific needs.

Conclusion

Coping with difficulties in memory involves a multifaceted approach, including lifestyle changes, stress management, and seeking professional support. Understanding the underlying causes of memory problems and utilizing effective coping strategies can significantly improve quality of life. For those experiencing persistent memory issues, consulting with specialists offers a pathway to comprehensive care and personalized treatment plans. By addressing memory difficulties with the right strategies and professional guidance, individuals can enhance their cognitive health and overall well-being.

[hinterlanddental]

Finding the Best Dentist in Gympie: Your Ultimate Guide

Introduction

Choosing the right dentist is a crucial decision that can have a significant impact on your oral health and overall well-being. In the vibrant city of Gympie, Queensland, you have access to a wealth of dental professionals, each with their own unique expertise and approach. To ensure you find the best dentist in Gympie to cater to your specific needs, we've compiled this comprehensive guide to help you navigate the local dental landscape.

Assessing Your Dental Needs

Before embarking on your search for the perfect dentist, it's essential to take a moment to evaluate your current oral health status and any specific concerns you may have. Consider factors such as:

Preventive care requirements (routine check-ups, cleanings, etc.)

Restorative needs (fillings, crowns, root canals, etc.)

Cosmetic considerations (teeth whitening, veneers, orthodontics, etc.)

Specialized treatment needs (sleep apnea, pediatric care, oral surgery, etc.)

By clearly defining your dental needs, you can more effectively narrow down your search and find a dentist in Gympie who is well-equipped to address your unique requirements.

Researching Gympie Dental Practices

Once you've assessed your dental needs, it's time to begin your research into the local dental practices in Gympie. Start by compiling a list of potential candidates, considering factors such as:

Reputation and Reviews

Seek out online reviews, testimonials, and ratings from other patients to gauge the reputation and quality of care provided by Gympie dentists. Look for practices with consistently positive feedback and a strong track record of patient satisfaction.

Services Offered

Ensure that the dental practice you're considering offers the specific services you require, whether it's routine check-ups, complex restorative treatments, or specialized care. Review the practice's website or reach out directly to inquire about their service offerings.

Qualifications and Expertise

Assess the credentials and expertise of the dentists within the practice. Look for dentists who are members of professional organizations, such as the Australian Dental Association, and have a proven track record of continuing education and advanced training.

Facility and Technology

Consider the physical environment of the dental practice, including the cleanliness, modern equipment, and overall patient-centric design. Evaluate the practice's adoption of the latest dental technologies, as this can be an indicator of their commitment to providing high-quality, efficient care.

Accessibility and Convenience

Factors such as office location, operating hours, and payment options can also play a role in your decision-making process. Prioritize practices that offer convenient scheduling and accommodate your lifestyle and budget.

Scheduling Initial Consultations

Once you've narrowed down your list of potential dentists in Gympie, it's time to schedule initial consultations. This provides you with the opportunity to meet the dentist, assess the practice's service and communication, and ultimately determine if it's the right fit for your needs.

During the consultation, be prepared to ask questions such as:

What is the dentist's approach to patient care and preventive dentistry?

How does the practice handle emergencies or after-hours concerns?

What are the typical wait times for appointments and procedures?

What type of payment plans or financing options are available?

How does the practice ensure patient comfort and minimize anxiety?

Pay close attention to the dentist's bedside manner, the staff's responsiveness, and the overall atmosphere of the practice. This will give you a better sense of the level of care and attention you can expect as a patient.

Comparing Dentists and Making a Decision

After completing your initial consultations, take the time to carefully compare the dentists and practices you've encountered. Consider the following factors to help you make an informed decision:

Quality of Care

Evaluate the dentist's clinical skills, attention to detail, and commitment to staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in dental techniques and technologies.

Patient-Centered Approach

Assess the practice's focus on patient education, communication, and involvement in the decision-making process. A dentist who prioritizes your understanding and comfort is often the best choice.

Personalized Treatment Plans

Look for a dentist who takes the time to understand your unique dental needs and develops customized treatment plans to address your concerns effectively.

Overall Comfort and Satisfaction

Consider factors such as the practice's atmosphere, the staff's friendliness, and your overall level of comfort and trust in the dentist. These intangible elements can significantly contribute to a positive healthcare experience.

By carefully weighing these factors, you can confidently select the best dentist in Gympie to partner with in maintaining your oral health and achieving your desired dental outcomes.

Conclusion

Finding the right dentist in Gympie is a journey, but with this comprehensive guide, you're equipped with the knowledge and tools to make an informed decision. By assessing your dental needs, researching local practices, scheduling consultations, and comparing your options, you can ensure that you entrust your oral health to a dental professional who aligns with your values and provides exceptional care.

Remember, your choice of dentist gympie can have a lasting impact on your overall well-being, so take the time to find the one that best suits your needs and preferences. With the right dentist by your side, you can look forward to a lifetime of beautiful, healthy smiles.

[fitjourneydaily]

Nervogen Pro Side Effects: Unveiling the Truth about This Popular Supplement

In today's fast-paced world, more and more people are seeking natural and effective ways to improve their health. One supplement that has gained significant attention is Nervogen Pro. Created with a special blend of natural ingredients, Nervogen Pro claims to offer numerous health benefits. However, before diving into how this supplement may benefit you, it's crucial to take a closer look at the potential side effects and understand the overall customer experience. In this comprehensive review, we'll explore Nervogen Pro, its alleged side effects, Amazon reviews, and key factors to consider. So, let's dive in! Understanding Nervogen Pro: Nervogen Pro is a popular dietary supplement designed to support nerve health and ultimately improve overall well-being. It features a unique formula that combines various herbal extracts, vitamins, and minerals, all aimed at alleviating nerve-related issues. The primary goal of Nervogen Pro is to provide relief from neuropathic pain, promote nerve regeneration, and enhance nerve functionality. Potential Side Effects of Nervogen Pro: Like any other supplement, Nervogen Pro may have potential side effects that users should be aware of. However, it is essential to note that natural supplements generally have a lower risk of adverse reactions compared to their pharmaceutical counterparts. Based on user reports and testimonials, the most common side effects experienced with Nervogen Pro are mild and temporary. These may include: 1. Gastrointestinal Symptoms: Some users have reported experiencing minor digestive discomfort, including mild stomach upset, nausea, or occasional loose stools. These symptoms usually resolve on their own as the body adapts to the supplement. 2. Allergic Reactions: Although rare, some individuals may be allergic or sensitive to specific ingredients present in Nervogen Pro. It's recommended to carefully review the ingredient list beforehand and consult a healthcare professional if you have known allergies or sensitivities. 3. Interaction with Medications: As with any dietary supplement, Nervogen Pro may potentially interact with certain medications. It's crucial to consult with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before incorporating Nervogen Pro into your routine, especially if you are taking prescription medications or have any pre-existing medical conditions. Customer Reviews on Amazon: When considering any supplement, it's always a good idea to look into customer reviews, as they provide valuable insight into the product's effectiveness and overall customer satisfaction. Nervogen Pro has garnered numerous reviews on Amazon, and the majority of them are positive. Users have praised the supplement for its ability to reduce nerve pain, improve sleep quality, and enhance overall nerve health. One satisfied user stated, "I have been battling with neuropathy pain for years, and Nervogen Pro has truly been a game-changer for me. My pain has significantly decreased, and I'm now able to lead a more active and fulfilling life." Another customer shared, "After using Nervogen Pro for a few weeks, I noticed a remarkable improvement in my nerve function. The tingling and numbness in my limbs have reduced, and I feel more energized and focused." It's essential to remember that individual experiences may vary, and what works for one person may not necessarily work for another. It's always recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regimen. Before purchasing and incorporating Nervogen Pro into your routine, there are a few key factors to consider: 1. Individual Health Requirements: Every individual is unique, and it's crucial to assess your specific health needs before deciding on any supplement. Consulting with a healthcare professional can help determine whether Nervogen Pro is suitable for you. 2. Dosage and Instructions: Follow the recommended dosage and instructions provided with the supplement. It's crucial not to exceed the stated dosage to avoid potential side effects. 3. Quality and Reputation: Ensure that the Nervogen Pro supplement you purchase is from a reputable source, such as the official website or authorized retailers. This ensures that you receive a genuine product with high-quality ingredients. 4. Supplement Duration: Understand that natural supplements usually take time to show noticeable results. Consistency and patience are key when incorporating Nervogen Pro into your routine. 1. Nervogen Pro 2. Nerve Health 3. Natural Supplements 4. Amazon Review Unlock nerve health with Nervogen Pro – explore reviews, discover its benefits, and learn about potential side effects. For more information and customer testimonials, visit the 'Nervogen Pro' website. Visit the Nervogen Pro Product Page. Read the full article

[focusdrinkselixir]

How can I enhance my concentration and focus?

Enhancing concentration and focus requires a combination of lifestyle adjustments, cognitive techniques, and environmental modifications. Here are several strategies to consider:

Establish a Routine: Create a consistent schedule for your daily activities, including designated times for work, study, and breaks. Having a structured routine helps train your brain to focus during specific periods.

Minimize Distractions: Identify and eliminate or minimize potential distractions in your environment. This may involve turning off notifications on your devices, finding a quiet workspace, or using noise-canceling headphones.

Practice Mindfulness and Meditation: Incorporate mindfulness exercises or meditation into your daily routine. These practices can help improve your ability to stay present and focused on the task at hand.

Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Large tasks can be overwhelming and lead to distraction. Break down complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps, and focus on completing one step at a time.

Use Time Management Techniques: Employ techniques such as the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working for a set period (e.g., 25 minutes) followed by a short break. This can help maintain focus and prevent burnout.

Stay Organized: Keep your workspace tidy and organized to reduce clutter, which can be a source of distraction. Use tools such as to-do lists, calendars, and task management apps to prioritize tasks and track progress.

Get Adequate Sleep: Ensure you’re getting enough high-quality sleep each night, as fatigue can impair concentration and cognitive function. Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep per night, and establish a relaxing bedtime routine to improve sleep quality.

Stay Hydrated and Maintain a Healthy Diet: Proper hydration and nutrition are essential for optimal brain function. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and consume a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.

Exercise Regularly: Physical activity has been shown to improve cognitive function and focus. Incorporate regular exercise into your routine, aiming for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week.

Limit Multitasking: While it may seem efficient, multitasking can actually decrease productivity and impair focus. Instead, focus on one task at a time and give it your full attention.

By implementing these strategies consistently, you can improve your ability to concentrate and maintain focus on your tasks and goals. Experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you, and be patient as you develop and refine your concentration skills over time.

[bella-studyblr]

Task Management:

Creating + Maintaining a Schoolwork Schedule

Key elements

Your schedule suits your individual time/task management preferences.

It is flexible enough to accommodate sudden changes, plus fluctuating energy levels, states of concentration, symptoms and moods.

Daily tasks are not over-whelming; they are small enough that they are achievable.

You do not get “burned out.”

It allows you to be consistent.

Steps to create your schedule

Decide if you want your planner to be paper or digital

Find an “order” that’s logical and achievable for you (more on this later)

Refer to your addendum/syllabus and write down all the assignments, tests and other events taking place that week/month (and their due-dates).

Then break these down, assigning tasks to each day of the week (more on this later).

Break down your tasks even further (more on this later).

Decide if you want to follow a simple daily to-do list or a timed schedule (more on this later).

Find your “order(s)”

Mandatory: Schedule assignments around other commitments (work, social, hobbies, etc.).

Do the hardest task first to get it out of the way (so that the rest of your tasks are less daunting, and because your smaller tasks require less energy therefore can be done even after completing the hard task).

Do the easiest task first to build momentum (give yourself a feeling of accomplishment which will motivate you to continue, and boost your self-confidence early in the day to establish a positive mindset for the rest of the day).

Do the task that’s due first to minimize deadline stress, and so your assignments don’t fall through the cracks (causing you to get discouraged and lose momentum).

Plan according to your energy level throughout the day and week: Do you have Pilates once a week? Maybe you can reserve that day for easier assignments. If you know you’re going to be tired for whatever reason, account for that in your planning.

Consider your state of concentration: If you know you’re too groggy or spaced out for the first hour of your day, you can either schedule easy tasks in that time, or none at all. If you take a medication in the afternoon/evening that makes you tired, schedule easier tasks or none, and get harder tasks done earlier/later in the day. If you have ADHD and crowded places mess with your concentration, but you like studying at a café, go when it’s not busy.

Be mindful of your emotions and symptoms: If you have depression, or are prone to depressive episodes, you’ll need to consider that when scheduling. You might have to rework your entire schedule when you get into a depressive episode (like adding lots of breaks). If suddenly you’re going through a big life event (like a breakup), you need to account for that when scheduling. For instance, if you can’t stand to be alone, maybe you can go out instead of staying in, and if your motivation is low, you may need to up your reward-system or break down your tasks even more.

Break down this week/month’s tasks

Refer to your addendum/syllabus and write down all your due dates for the time period you’re scheduling for.

Based on due dates, outside commitments, predictions of energy/mood/symptoms, assign assignments to the days of the week/month that make most sense for you.

Break down daily tasks into sub-tasks

You can do this (in advance) for your full week/month’s assignments, or do it every morning/evening.

Generally, your assignments will follow a variation of this formula: brainstorm, create an outline, research, write rough draft, edit and revise. Test/exam prep will look something like: check to see what the test is based on, pinpoint important sections, review to see how well you know the material, create a list of items to study, rewrite select notes, make flash cards, study topic 1, study topic 2, etc.

What are the individual components of these steps? Here are some examples. Brainstorm: what should my topic be, what should my thesis be, what points can support my thesis, what do I need to research, what questions do I need to ask my prof? Outline: topic, thesis, points, conclusion. Research: write down all the important parts from each source (separately), then sift through to sort into Supporting Point 1, Supporting Point 2, etc. Rough draft: opening statement(s), intro, point 1, point 2, etc., conclusion, closing statement(s). Edit/revise: read and check for grammar only, then read again and check for spelling only, read again and check for cohesiveness only, etc. Topic 1: Part A, Part B, etc.

Each of these small components can be individual items on your to-do list. Big tasks like, “write essay” are too big for most people. Even “write rough draft” is daunting. If you start with something specific and small like brainstorming, and work your way up, it’s a lot easier to approach. Plus, being able to check off tasks more often and more easily will boost your confidence and your sense of competence, thus building momentum.

Here is a sample to-do list: Research X for Point 1 of Literary Essay, create outline for History Essay, Edit/Revise Assignment 1, study Topic 1 and Topic 2 for Test 1.

To-do list or time-based schedule?

To do list: Write down all your assignments for the day. Put them in the order you want to do them, or go through them intuitively (based on what you feel like doing, or what’s most practical at the time/place you’re at).

Timed-based: Write down all your assignments, then write down the time you’re going to do each of them. You could set reminders or alarms if you want, or simply refer to the list. There’s an awesome app I recommend if this is your thing. It’s called Structured (iOS only).

Curate your study environment for maximum focus

Eliminate distractions such as uncomfortable clothing, sounds (or silence), phone and computer notifications, clutter in the room and on your desk, people who may try to talk to you (shut your door and/or inform them that you’re busy).

Designate a space to doing homework only and avoid spaces that you associate with other things (do not study in bed, as you will want to relax or sleep, and/or you will mess with your sleep by weakening the bed’s association with sleep).

Build associations: Incorporate other events and items into your study/homework routine that you only use while doing that, so that you associate those things with studying/homework (examples: specific playlists, pencils/pens, cups/bottles, scents, rituals, decor, etc.).

Ensure good lighting (preferably including daylight).

Get dressed in clothes that make you feel good about yourself. They don’t have to be “professional” and they should definitely be comfortable. Do not stay in your pyjamas. Believe me, I know this can be hard, and I love PJ’s. But they are not good for productivity.

Don’t “multi-task.” It may feel like you’re getting more done this way, but by splitting your focus, not only do tasks take longer, they also diminish in quality. Commit to the task you’re doing.

Meditate: You can even meditate for just 1-5 mins right before studying, homework and/or classes.

Practice self care (daily!)

Sleep (enough, well, and regularly).

Daylight: Get outside, work by windows, use a light therapy box. These can help regulate your sleep, improve and maintain mental health, and boost energy.

Fresh air: Getting outside even for a couple minutes can help you refresh and reset, and feel good about yourself and your life. Fresh oxygen can help you wake up and is great for your health. Even just opening your window can do a lot for your mood, energy and motivation.

Movement: Try to move at least once per day. The benefits of exercise are numerous and immense.

Healthy and consistent eating: Avoid spikes in insulin levels by eating regularly so you don’t have extreme dips in your energy level. Also, brain power uses calories too, so make sure you’re eating consistently, and try to eat healthy. There are so many other reasons eating consistently is good for your health (and by extension, your productivity).

Relaxation and leisure: Make time for fun and socializing, as well as intentional relaxation. Hobbies, movies/tv, time with friends/family, meditation, baths, progressive muscle relaxation, etc.

Therapy: Your therapy sessions are not daily, but you can do 5 minutes of inner-work per day based on what you and your therapist are currently working on. Working with a therapist is a great way to stay on track with your goals, and develop the skills and positive mindset required for success in school.

Reward yourself

Track progress: Reflect on all the assignments you’ve completed and your grades to remind yourself that you’re capable!

Completing to-do lists daily maintains a sense of accomplishment which keeps your momentum going. Check those items off! Or give yourself gold stars! ⭐️

Treat yourself with non-food rewards: Tie completed school work with fun tasks like video games, or take yourself out for coffee, or some other small (non-food) outing. What I’m trying to do right now is not do my leisure activities until my daily tasks are done.

Develop a positive mindset

Take promises you make to yourself seriously. The more you break promises to yourself, the easier it will get to continue breaking promises. You will lose respect for yourself which lowers motivation, and you will lose trust in yourself which can become debilitating as well. The more you keep promises, the easier it will get, the more motivated you’ll become, and the more you’ll trust and respect yourself. Your confidence will improve, and you’ll feel better about yourself. Productivity is choosing yourself. Discipline is choosing what’s best for you instead of what you feel like doing in the moment. Discipline is a muscle, and like any muscle, it can be strengthened, and it can atrophy.

Remember your “why.” What is the end goal of being in school? What’s your career path, and why did you choose it? What will your life be like when you have that career? What would your life be like if you gave up and didn’t make it to your goal? Aiming for your dream while running from your nightmare is a great strategy for maintaining motivation. Lighting a fire under your *** can be a huge motivator.

Remember how good you feel when you get schoolwork done, and let this motivate you to stay consistent. You can also remember how you feel when you don’t get work done, but definitely focus more on the positive!

Go to therapy and/or hire a coach. There are SO many benefits to therapy and I’d honestly need a whole other post to get into it. You don’t need to be depressed or mentally ill at all in order to benefit from talking to a therapist. They can even help you with time management, procrastination, motivation and more! If you can afford it, please do it. It’s such a worthwhile investment.

Be consistent

No “zero days.” Do at least a bit of homework or studying every day so you don’t slip into vacation mode. Make schoolwork a daily part of your life, so it just becomes the norm.

Build productivity momentum (track progress, check items off your to-do list daily, treat yourself, keep promises to yourself, remember your “why,” remember how success feels).

Stay on top of projects. Your assignments are made up of smaller tasks you assign yourself across time. “Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.” - Robert Collier

Avoid burnout (more on this later).

Keep it interesting (more on this later).

Avoid burnout

Self-care: shower and/or bathe regularly, maintain proper sleep habits, stay hydrated, take care of your skin, do relaxation activities like meditation and reading, do fun activities, pamper yourself every now and then with face masks or foot baths, take your meds as prescribed, eat well and regularly, get outside often, move daily, etc.

Break up study/homework sessions into small, manageable chunks of time, with constructive (refreshing) breaks in between.

Break assignments down into even smaller tasks so that you aren’t over-working yourself during the course of a day, and so that you don’t overwhelm yourself (the stress can lead to burnout).

School-life balance: Keep up with your social life as best as you can, make time for your hobbies, maintain self-care, say no to things that don’t serve you, etc. Try to follow through with scheduled schoolwork 100% of the time, but know that you won’t. Sometimes you’ll need to prioritize mental health over schoolwork (be careful though, this is a very fine line, and a slippery slope). Sometimes things will come up and it’ll be out of your control. But more than anything else, there will be times when you just decide to prioritize something else like fun and socializing over schoolwork. This is why your schedule needs to be flexible: to accommodate sudden invites to hang out and random decisions to skip a homework/study session, but more importantly, flexibility will reduce the odds that you’ll skip in the first place. If your schedule includes hobbies and socializing, and anything else that’s important to you, then you won’t feel deprived. If you have school-life balance, you’ll have more of yourself to devote to schoolwork when it’s time to.

Keep it interesting

Romanticize your life by putting effort into making all of your daily tasks a special occasion.

Make meals and drinks special by using your favourite dinnerware and cutlery. Perhaps even incorporate extra elements such as: a beautiful tablecloth, napkins, candles and/or dim lighting, music, wearing your favourite clothing, etc.

Pretend you’re the main character in a movie about a successful, productive student (because you are the main character in your life).

Make games out of studying if this is something that interests you (the Forest app comes to mind).

Use lots of colours in your notes and buy colourful stationary! 🌈

Vary your approach/methods if needed to avoid boredom.

Study with friends (online or in person).

Reward yourself often.

Remember your “why.”

[lookbluesoup]

Writing US Military Characters

This is a non-exhaustive list of some common ‘quirks’ or habits that can give away a character’s military experience. Wrote it up for myself and it’s particularly useful when I want to show instead of tell. These are based on first person accounts from several vets! Thought others might like to use it too for a reference :D Ones with * or ** came up particularly often.

Like any guide, it’s just that - a guide, not a set of rules! A character is unlikely to do all of these, and other factors like ADHD, trauma, or just personality might effect what sticks. People are endlessly diverse! 

Eat, Drink, Dress, and Rest

* High tolerance for physical discomfort

** Eat very fast, and aren’t picky about the taste

** Can sleep anywhere - on a helicopter, in enemy territory, up high, underground, when it’s loud, when it’s quiet

* Can operate effectively without sleep for over 24hrs, or with erratic and limited sleep for days

** Wake up early, 0500-0700; Wake up quickly and ready for action

* Hair cut regularly. Beards stay clean shaven (alternatively some may avoid shaving when out of uniform)

** Dress practically and neatly, jackets buttoned/zipped up, ironed, polished

Take hat off indoors 

Organization and Talents

Gearhead

Gun nut

Detail oriented

** Pockets are meticulous. The same thing always goes into the same pocket, for easy reach. Pockets never full to bulging. Carry multitool.

** Hands stay out of pockets - ready. (Hands in pockets is forbidden in the military. Some Special Forces may keep their hands in pockets, as their ‘grooming’ rules are less enforced. Because they can)

Always carry things with left hand (and ”southpaws” must learn to use standard right-handed weapons)

** Know how to clean house and keep it organized (may choose not to out of uniform)

** Can make bed and shower fast

Organize clothes to be able to dress and maneuver their own space in pitch black (Navy specifically)

Know how to sew basic repairs (i.e. a button)

Layout items before packing. Tight roll clothes. Pack efficiently

** Can read maps effectively, may prefer them to a GPS, use landmarks

Deadlines not always considered concrete (There is a military mantra, “Hurry up and wait.” Often one would be told to complete something or arrive somewhere at a certain time, but nothing would happen due to someone else’s task meant to be finished earlier still being incomplete)

** Alternatively (or in tandem), arrive 5-30 minutes early to every event

Things kept packed securely in the car, “ready for sea” and “heavy rolls” (Navy specifically)

Routines and Social

** Respect for the “Other” or “Them” - other religions, cultures, races, and ethnicities - had to work crammed together with a diverse group that may have strongly opposing viewpoints, and learn to trust each other to have their backs in dangerous situations (For many, military is their first real experience with different cultures and beliefs)

* Respect ≠ Like. Will go above and beyond for a respected leader, even if they are disliked

Deeply suspicious of red tape, bureaucracy, and bosses on power trips, and will only do the minimum required for these

** Low tolerance for slacking/job skirting

* Volunteer other people for tasks, and willing to be volunteered for things

Don’t ask people to do things they aren’t willing to do themselves

Still follow orders of bosses they dislike. Still have the backs of coworkers they dislike

** Like clear orders, responsibilities, chain of command, and penalties

* Have Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C

Actions matter more than ceremony; definite respect for processions, but excessive reverence for the flag/anthem/etc viewed as posturing rather than true patriotism

High tolerance for boredom

** Adaptable, high stress tolerance, work efficiently, self reliant

** Avoid having their back to an opening (windows/doors/etc) or sitting anywhere someone can sneak up on them from

* Avoid loud, crowded areas, check perimeters, barricade doors, sleep last in a group (may coincide with PTSD)

Always walk on the right side of a road/grocery aisle/etc

Stand at parade rest, walk cadence, walk fast

* Walk quietly, even in boots, sneak quickly (military crouch run)

De-escalation in violence - in protective armed situations the standard is: 1) multiple warnings, 2) warning shots, 3) shoot to incapacitate. Shoot to kill is a last resort. (not following these steps could get an ally or potential ally killed) In verbal disagreement, resolve an issue before it escalates

* Wariness toward and tendency to feel Other’ed by civilians

* Immediate acceptance toward other military, expectation of shared values

Vernacular

Observe before speaking in a situation, only speak if it seems significantly important to

Refer to people as “Sir” or “Ma’am”

Giving out nicknames

** Speak directly, make direct eye contact (sometimes comes off as rude, often intimidates)

* Don’t take criticism or disagreement personally, expect others not to, either, and will point out flaws even to superiors (but again, orders are respected)

** Clear communication, acknowledge messages by replying, even if that’s just a thumbs up or down

** Swearing. Lots of swearing. Every other word is swearing

** Dark sense of humor, and racist/sexist jokes - not indicative of individual’s actual belief system or violent tendencies

Unbothered by angry yelling, angry quiet people are more concerning

** Point with ‘knife hands’, not just a single finger

** Use a 24 hour clock instead of a 12 am/pm; i.e. 0800 hours, not 8am (Called ”Military Time” in the US) 

Describe locations by o’clock directions, i.e. dog standing at 6 o’clock

* Write out dates as day-month-year (US usually does month-day-year) i.e. 21Oct57

** Use phonetic alphabet to spell things out, or at least have it memorized

** Habitually use military terms or sayings, including:

Good to go - Mission ready, ready to proceed

Squared away - Compliment indicating exemplary service

Popping a smoke - Need to get out of here [From using smoke grenades to call helicopters for extraction]

“Sir yes sir” [A ‘sir sandwich’] 

FUBAR - F*cked up beyond all recognition

SNAFU -  Situation normal, all f*cked up

TARFU -  Things are really f*cked up

BOLO - Be on the lookout

ATL - Attempt to locate

IAW - In accordance with

Civilian - Non-military person

Roger - Message received and understood

“Say again your last.” - What?

Firearm- Gun

Ruck - backpack

March - walk

Double time - running

PT - working out

Rally point - meetup

Field day - Spring Cleaning (Navy specifically)

Get smoked - Laps, pushups, etc as punishment

[exitrowiron]

Trying harder to make life easier with Alexa

A little over a year ago I read a Bloomberg article that Alexa use had stalled and that users weren't adopting/integrating Alexa as quickly as Amazon hoped. The article cited internal Amazon data stating, "There have been years when 15% to 25% of new Alexa users were no longer active in their second week with the device." Another Amazon document said that new Alexa users discover half the features they will ever use within 3 hours of activating the device. Beth and I fall into that category... we mostly ask Alexa to tells us the weather forecast and occasionally ask other questions which she occasionally answers correctly. We also have an Echo device in the pantry and use Alexa to add items to a shopping list. When we lived in the apartment we used smart plugs and Alexa voice commands to control a few lamps. I also used smart plugs and Alexa routines to schedule/automate the Christmas lights at our old house.

When building our new house I tried to make it as future proof as possible. We have robust wifi to connect smart appliances (range, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer, and dryer) as well as Liftmaster garage doors, Moen shower valves, a Ring security system and Lutron lighting. When we moved in, I took the time to connect about half of these items to their 'brand' app but didn't bother with many others. According to the WSJ, I'm not alone. In a WSJ article last month LG Electronics said that less than half their smart appliances stay connected to the internet; Whirlpool said that more than half remain connected but declined to be more specific. This shouldn't be surprising because the process of connecting an appliance isn't very intuitive and it differs from one brand to the next.

The ROI on the effort to connect the devices isn't strong, especially if it is difficult to to do. For most appliances (washer, dryer, refrigerator, etc.) the primary benefit is notification of required maintenance, faults or malfunctions and limited diagnostic abilities. The refrigerator will also inform me if the door is left open, the dishwasher will remind me that the rinse agent is low, the dryer will tell me if the exhaust is clogged and I like seeing the notifications about my oven timer because I usually can't hear it.

Using Alexa to do things is even more difficult. First you have to add the appropriate 'Skill', oAuth into the app of the appliance, then discover the devices and build a routine. Creating the routine frequently requires an additional step of creating a 'Scene' in the subsidiary app, then discovering this scene in Alexa when you connect the skill. This isn't insurmountable for a Gen-Xr or younger, but again it isn't always clear that the juice is worth the squeeze. I made the effort, however and now I can start the dishwasher from my bed before I go to sleep (provided I already added detergent) and find out how much time is left on the dryer. Surprisingly, my life doesn't feel that much richer.

There are opportunities for complex, higher value Alexa routines but these are even more difficult. Leaving the house is a good example. With a great deal of effort, I've enabled the following:

"Alexa, we are leaving in the Subaru"

Open Liftmaster Center garage door

Execute Lutron Garage Lights Scene - On

Execute Lutron Goodbye Lights Scene (all house lights off)

Wait 5 minutes

Execute Lutron Garage Lights Scene - Off

Arm Ring Security System - Away

Arm Alexa Guard - Away

This was difficult because Liftmaster is trying to sell their own Alexa -type hardware so they refuse to integrate with Alexa. Likewise, Alexa refuses to disarm or change armed mode of Ring with a routine (even though they are sister companies). Solving both those problems required use of an intermediary Simple Commands/IFFT skill to backdoor the solution. I think this routine could get even better if I add a command to turn down the heat/ac and turn off recirc of the tankless water heaters but I will need to add wireless control to the Rinnai water heaters.

Having said that the Alexa Leaving and Arriving routines really are helpful and I like scheduling Alexa to automatically close the garage doors every night at 10 in case they've accidentally been left open.

When my Dad died last year I bought several Echos, smart plugs and a Ring system and installed them for my Mom. She loves being able to tell Alexa to turn on lights, show her who is at the front door and play Spotify. She couldn't have set up the system, but she is good at using it and that's what counts.

[desultory-suggestions]

Hi! Any tips for exams? I'm really close to a major set of exams and idk where to begin

Hello, Love! Ah, exams. One of the most stressful times for a student. There’s so much work, and each teacher/professor acts as if their class is your only one. So how do you prioritize and get through exam season? Here are some of my best tips!

Organization

First, what do you have to get done? Often times we have more than one exam, homework, work, etc. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, so plan out exactly what you have going on. You can do it on a calendar, website, or if you prefer a paper planner that’s fine! Write down the due date for every upcoming assignment (say in the next 2 weeks), the dates and times of your finals, and any important information.

Adding notes about the type of exam and requirements can help. Is it an open note exam? Is it early in the morning? Are you taking it online or on paper? How long do you have to take it? Knowing all of this ahead of time helps with planning. If the exam is early you set alarms and plan to go to sleep early the night before. If it’s open note you can focus on having comprehensive notes, if it’s not then try memorization.

Studying

Now that you know what you’re studying for, what needs to be studied? For each class, I like to make a list of every topic on the exam. Then I go through and highlight the topics in three colors. Green if I am confident in my knowledge of the subject. Yellow if I need a bit of refreshing. Red if I do not understand the topic or need to spend significant time on it.

Now get all of the information you need. Download or highlight any readings you’ve been given and make a list of the page numbers you need to read for each class. I split the list up by what seems related closely or by order of place in the text.

How you study really depends on who you are! Some people can sit down and read 200 pages, absorb it all, and have a great time. Others can barely stand to get through ten and feel like they haven’t learned a thing. If you don’t know your style, try to explore. Here are some types of studying that might work.

Note-taking! Even if the exam isn’t open note, writing or typing out information can really help with memory. Whether it’s word for word or writing out the concept in your own way it helps you really grasp the texts. Don’t be a perfectionist in your notes, just get them down. You can even doodle or draw the concepts! This is best for reading/writing learners.

Verbalizing! Maybe you need to hear it and speak it. You can listen to your texts as audiobooks, use apps like Speechify, or even read out loud to yourself. If you have the option, ask a friend or loved one to read the text to you. This is best for auditory learners.

Videos and movies! Some people are more visual. There are tons of online resources where you can watch lectures and see slides on the topic you’re studying. Youtube alone is a treasure trove of professors and academics who have put super-specific knowledge out there for free. Watch and try to take notes in a more visual way, drawing, graphics, color coding, etc. This is best for visual learners

Kinesthetic learners can often take parts of these other methods and combine them into something new. Walk or exercise while listening to your lectures. Do flashcards and slap the cards down like uno. Dance while you watch a video. Use pens you enjoy that lets you enjoy the physical experience of note-taking.

Physical and Mental Health

Exam season is super stressful. You can get really overwhelmed and busy, but don’t let it become an excuse for self-destruction. Pulling an all-nighter is not advantageous!

Hold to your routines as much as you can. Plan when you are going to get food, shower times, anything you need to. Brushing your teeth is still important even during exams.

Make sure everything is easily accessible. I like to get easy foods I can grab during exams, lay out my outfit the day before an exam, pack my bag the night before.

Get plenty of sleep. You need to be well-rested to learn and retain information. Set a bedtime, and plan to be done with everything before it. Start wrapping up an hour beforehand.

Try techniques like Pomodoro that have built-in break times, that way you know it’s not endless drudgery and you get time to rest between masses of text. If you’re like me and you hyperfocus, it’s ok to work through your break to maintain focus but take a break as soon as possible.

Don’t be afraid to ask professors for help, extensions, advice, etc. They really do want to help you, and everyone needs help sometimes. I’m a straight-A student, and people assume it means I don’t struggle. What it really means is when I struggle I get help ASAP so it doesn’t mess up my grade.

Your health is always more important than a grade. If you are getting exhausted and hurt, focus on yourself first. In five years this grade won’t matter. Worst case scenario you have to take the class again. It’s ok.

App Recommendations

Tide - Focus, Sleep, Relax, Breathe. You can set times to study with various soundscapes. It’s easy, free and helps you track your time.

Stoic. - Mood tracker, journaling, mental health, and meditation. Really relaxing. Lots of free features and great for checking in with yourself.

Egenda -  Simple class and homework tracker. Put in each class and add homeworl with due dates for each one.

Spanish Dict. - Super useful spanish dictionary, education, and translating app.

Alarmy - Great alarm clock app! Helps you wake up by requiring you to complete simple (or difficult) tasks or the alarm will go off again. Great for the constantly tired.

Notion - Basically does everything. Great of tracking, journaling, calendar, and even fun daily tracking things. 

Rememnber! You are smart, you are capable, you can do this. Good luck!

-Evan

(P.S. - I have a studyblr over @solar-scholar!)