TJ, Author at 1Africa | Page 5 of 18

How To Set Up A Budget

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June 26, 2015

Do you know where your money goes, or does it kind of just disappear from your account? A budget—even a basic, barebones one—is one of the best ways to make sure you’re spending less than you earn, and starting early is important. When you’re young and your career is new, you don’t have a lot of money. Getting into the habit of categorizing your bills and tracking your expenses will help prevent a lot of financial problems before they start. If you’re making a budget for the first time, it may be easier to start with paper, a pen, and a calculator, but we’ll get to more advanced tools you can use to show you how to set up a budget in a bit.

Start by calculating how much money you make in a month. If you get paid hourly, multiply your wage by the typical number of hours you work each month. Then, write down all of your regular expenses. This includes recurring costs like your rent or mortgage, utilities, car payments, and so on. For more complex things like food, you may need to track what you spend over time. Gather up your receipts for the past few weeks, or use your bank’s transaction history if paperwork isn’t your thing. If you can’t get a precise number, estimate in the meantime. Then, keep track of all your expenses for the next month or two. At the end of each month, add everything up to see how much you’re spending in each category.

Ideally, the amount you spend in a month should be lower than the amount you earn. If it’s not, start going over your list and see which expenses you can cut down on until it is. If you have to, cut ruthlessly. For some, it may be as easy as cutting those lattes, but for others, you may have some big decisions to make—like whether you can afford to live in that expensive city.

Once you get the hang of tracking your expenses, you can try using a service like Mint to manage it for you. Connect your bank account and it will automatically tag your transactions, so you can easily see how much you’re spending on bills, groceries, restaurants, shopping, and other categories. You can also use it to set budgets for different things like groceries or entertainment and get notified when you’re going over. So you’ve gotten into the habit of tracking your spending, and now it’s time to create that budget. There are a few different philosophies here. Some people prefer to have a very detailed transaction history with strict allotments for expenses like food, clothing, and entertainment. Others… suggest dividing your money into four categories:

Fixed costs (50-60%): This should include every cost that you know is coming each month, that rarely change. That means rent, gas, power, groceries, your cellphone bill, and anything else that generally stays the same. Some of these may vary a bit from month to month, but are at least somewhat predictable, and are necessary for regular life.
Investments (10%): As you build your savings (which we’ll discuss later on), you’ll eventually want to invest some of your money so it grows over time. If you have any investments like a company 401(k) that come out of your paycheck, you can count it here.
Savings (5-10%): Short- and long-term savings should go in this category. This includes saving up for vacations, gifts, or large purchases like a new TV or computer. You should also include an emergency fund —which is just a block of money you keep in a savings account for unexpected emergencies like car repairs or sudden bills—in this category.
Guilt-free spending (20-35%): This category is where you can put whatever you want. Dining out, drinking, or splurging on entertainment is often seen as a financial vice, but the truth is, we do these things because we enjoy them. As long as you have the other three categories covered you can spend this money without feeling guilty about your budget.

You can (and should) adjust the percentages based on your age, your financial goals, and what you find important. Remember: the more you save, the more money you’ll have later on to buy a house, retire early, or achieve other goals.

Ultimately, budgeting just means knowing where your money is going and planning ahead. If you don’t want to go to the trouble of writing down every single dime you spend at the gas station, this model will still cover most of what you need to budget for. The only thing you need to decide is how much you’ll place in each category. We’ve included recommended percentages as a guide, but you can adjust as needed. If you can’t afford to save or invest 10% of your income after expenses, save what you can. You can also add more to your savings rather than forcing yourself to spend 20% of your budget on guilty pleasures. The more you can save, the better!

Source: lifehacker.com [Edited]

The Five Don’ts Of Leadership

TJ

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June 26, 2015

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In our interactions with fans of the 1Africa site so far, it’s been clear that one of the issues that you’re passionate about is leadership. Since we belong to a continent where this is such a hot topic, we need to constantly be pushing ourselves to better understand this area. A better understanding of leadership, if turned to practical application, will then hopefully improve the quality of leaders we have in Africa and lead to the possibility of a better life for all. This is not just about top level political leadership but it touches on every part of human culture where leaders may be found.

As in everything, there are do’s and don’ts that should guide us to better understand what we do in life. Here is a list of five don’ts of leadership that should apply, whether you are a team leader in a small company or the president of a country:

Don’t allow what has been to prevent what can be. Being creatures of habit, we often times find ourselves trying to stick with what has worked in the past. Many visionary leaders become stuck trying to relive past successes. The challenge with this mindset is that we become only as good as our greatest performance and we never accomplish anything greater. Don’t allow yourself to get stuck in the power of yesterday. Embrace a greater victory today.
Don’t let the principle of your own leadership keep you from reaching people for God. As leaders, we forget that the world does not revolve around our belief system. many times we develop an arrogant mindset and theology that “it’s my way or it’s wrong.” This mindset can destroy your organization and kill your ability to reach others.
Don’t use people to build your vision, instead use your vision to build people. There is a major difference in being a leader and being a ruler. It begins in the way you view the people who work in your organization. As a leader, you must want more for people then you want from people. Develop a culture of service within yourself. Live life to empower people and not control them.
Don’t discount the small things. Learn to celebrate every victory. Small wins are just as important as big wins. Don’t just celebrate your personal breakthroughs, learn how to celebrate the individual victories of the people you lead.
Don’t lose your passion. Passion is the fuel that keeps you going. When days are rough, your passion will give you the push you need.When we lose our passion, we become like a car that runs out of gas. Sitting on the side of the of the highway of success, stuck between exits.

Ultimately, as we have said before, leadership is about people and guiding them towards the fulfillment of their dreams and aspirations. Any person who calls himself a leader should be humble enough to recognize that he cannot do everything on his own. He must have the capacity to not feel threatened by the ideas of others but also be willing to appeal to existing ‘ancient’ wisdom when it is necessary to do so.

If you are a leader at whatever level, there is wisdom found in following the way of the greatest leader ever to have lived. We often hear about Jesus Christ as a Saviour and Messiah but not much about Him as a practical leader. If you’d like to know more about him and his leadership style and, more importantly, how it can become a part of your life, please click on the banner or pop-up below.

Includes content from josephmfoster.org

6 Foods That Can Make You Happier

TJ

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June 26, 2015

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If you’re in need of a little more glee, here are 6 foods that can make you happier.

Probiotic-rich foods

In a recent Dutch study, 20 healthy volunteers received either a probiotic supplement or a placebo for four weeks. Those who received the real deal showed a significantly reduced reactivity to sad mood, which was largely due to a reduction in aggressive thoughts and rumination (you know, when you over-think or obsess on the negative). The conclusion: the type and amount of bacteria in your digestive tract impacts your mood. Scientists even have a name for it: the gut-brain axis, or the communication highway between the GI tract and the brain, and it’s fascinating.

In an animal a study conducted at McMaster University in Ontario, gut bacteria from mice with different personalities were swapped. Fearless mice became timid after receiving gut bacteria from anxious counterparts, and the reverse was also true — fearful rodents became more expressive and less apprehensive. The researchers also found that aggressive mice became calm when scientists changed their gut microbes by health-ing up their diets. All of this means that, for all intents and purposes, your gut bacteria can literally be mind-altering. To reap the benefits, stock up on probiotic-rich fermented foods, including kimchi, sauerkraut and kefir, or consider popping a probiotic supplement.

Fruits and veggies

In a study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology, nearly 300 young adults kept daily food journals for three consecutive weeks, in addition to completing psychological and mood-related ratings. Researchers found that a higher intake of produce resulted in more energy, calm and a greater sense of happiness. They also noted that the effects were seen not only on the days more veggies and fruits were consumed, but also throughout the following day. Another study, published in the journal Social Indicators Research, which tracked 80,000 adults, found that consuming a higher amount of produce boosted mental well-being, with the magic number for happiness being seven daily servings. To use produce to elevate your mood, choose fruits and veggies first and build each meal around them.

Coffee

Coffee drinkers can be thought of as curmudgeons, but research has actually linked regular java consumption to positivity. In one study, researchers found that coffee consumed in the morning was linked to energy, kindness and pleasure. Coffee enjoyed socially was tied to affection, friendship, satisfaction, and good nature; and when sipped leisurely, cups of Joe induced calm, happiness and tranquillity. Another study, published in the JAMA Internal Medicine, found that women who drank two to three cups of coffee a day were 15 percent less likely to develop depression over a 10-year span, compared to those who consumed one cup or less each day. Now that doesn’t mean a pot a day is a recipe for bliss, but if you enjoy coffee there are other health benefits to making it a daily habit.

Dark chocolate

Even thinking about dark chocolate brings a smile to my face, but research backs its happiness benefits. The antioxidants in dark chocolate can trigger the walls of your blood vessels to relax, lowering blood pressure and improving circulation. That may be why one study found that eating about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate daily for two weeks reduced levels of stress hormones in people who rated themselves as highly stressed. Dark chocolate also contains magnesium, a mineral that has been shown to help alleviate PMS symptoms, including fatigue, depression and irritability. Finally, dark chocolate’s unique natural substances trigger a sense of euphoria that’s similar in to the feeling of being in love!

Mushrooms

I adore mushrooms. In a previous post I wrote about five surprising benefits of this underrated superfood, and due to their unique nutrients, mood regulation may be a sixth. Shrooms are rich in selenium and research has linked a deficiency of this mineral (which doubles as an antioxidant) to a higher risk of depression, anxiety and fatigue. Mushrooms are also the only plant source of natural vitamin D, a key nutrient of us aren’t getting enough of. In a study of people with seasonal affective disorder, which affects 11 million Americans, scientists found that those who upped their vitamin D intake experienced an enhanced mood. To bolster your intake, incorporate mushrooms into omelettes or quiche at breakfast, salads at lunch and sauté, grill, or oven roast them at dinner.

Green tea

A Japanese study, conducted with more than 40,000 people, found that levels of psychological stress were 20 percent lower in people who drank five or more cups of green tea per day compared to those who drank less than one. The results held true even after other factors were accounted for, including age, sex, medical history, body mass index, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and diet. Reach for green tea as a beverage, or incorporate loose tea leaves or brewed green tea into cooking. It’s fantastic in smoothies, marinades, soups and sauces.

Source: Health.com

Addiction Ain’t The Real Thing

TJ

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June 25, 2015

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We all go through life looking for something. Psychologists say that human needs can all be categorized into certain boxes where we all snugly fit. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs comes to mind. Sadly though, not everyone gets what they want in life and sometimes we end up manifesting our true desires for good things by finding alternatives in places that may be destructive. One of the greatest and most tragic examples of this is addiction. As the video below explains, there is more to addiction than just being a ‘bad habit’. The reality is, it stems from something deep within us which hungers for more but, sadly, addiction ain’t the real thing.

Oversimplifying deep human struggles is one of the worst things we often do. We look at someone who is struggling with an addiction and we condemn them. “I’d never allow myself to do something like that,” we scoff. We sit on our high horses and ridicule people for things we actually don’t fully understand.

Generally speaking, few people decide that they will just wake up and get involved in something that can potentially ruin their lives. If anything, most people just want to live quiet, contented and peaceful lives. It could be that unmet expectations, tragedy, hurt and disappointment all lead people to paths they never thought they’d tread on. Rather than condemn and judge, maybe the wiser thing to do is to reach out and find out what is at the core of the addiction. We may well find there is a void that needs to be filled.

There is a loving God who is present, willing and able to fill whatever voids exist in our lives. Connect with Him today. To start with, please grant us the chance to share the story of His healing and saving love by clicking on the pop-up or banner below.

What Your Facebook Status Says About You

TJ

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June 24, 2015

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It’s possible to know what your Facebook status says about you.

Why do some people update Facebook by writing about a party they went to last night, while others share a great article they found? That question has lead a group of UK researchers to examine whether your personality type might change the way you use social media – and the results will probably make for uncomfortable reading for all of us.

The researchers tested more than 550 people for the so-called “big five” personality traits – extroversion, neuroticism, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness – and how those traits were linked to the way they behave on Facebook.

The results, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, perhaps unsurprisingly indicate that we are all really just a bunch of insecure attention-seekers.

“Greater awareness of how one’s status updates might be perceived by friends could help people to avoid topics that annoy more than they entertain,” Tara Marshall and her colleagues from Brunel University wrote of their findings, in a sentence that indicates at least one of the team was inspired to do the study by someone who kept coming up in their news feed – a far more brilliantly passive-aggressive response than just clicking “unfollow”.

So what do your Facebook status updates say about you?

You post a lot about your loved ones.

Uh-oh, you may think you are full of love, but the research team found posting a lot about your romantic partner was linked to having low self-esteem.

“Considering that people with low self-esteem tend to be more chronically fearful of losing their romantic partner, and that people are more likely to post relationship-relevant information on Facebook on days when they feel insecure, it is reasonable to surmise that people with low self-esteem update about their partner as a way of laying claim to their relationship when it feels threatened,” they said.

You post about meals you just ate or your exercise regime.

Chances are, you are a narcissist. That is you are self-aggrandising, vain, and exhibitionistic. Ouch. The research found narcissistic personality types used Facebook for validation, and suggested they “may broadcast their diet and exercise routine to express the personal importance they place on physical appearance”.

You post a lot about what’s going on in the world.

Okay, you can breathe a sigh of relief. The study found posting lots of articles about intellectual topics was linked with having a higher degree of openness; that is you tend to be creative, intellectual, and curious.

“People high in openness, then, may write updates about current events, research, or their political views for the purpose of sharing impersonal information rather than for socialising,” the researchers said.

You write a lot about your children

According to the study, chances are you are more conscientious than most. But even that may have a dark side.

“Conscientious individuals may update about their children for purposes other than communicating with their friends,” the researcher said. “Perhaps such updates reflect an indirect form of competitive parenting.”

(Or perhaps this study reflects the research team needing to do a friend cull?)

But the whole thing isn’t just an exercise in character assassination. They also discovered what factors might get you more ‘likes’ and comments on Facebook. And it ain’t just being an outgoing person who posts a lot.

“Narcissism rather than self-esteem was associated with receiving a greater number of likes and comments to one’s updates,” they said. While all those intellectual articles about the world may mean the poster is a better person, they aren’t necessarily getting the attention of their friends.

Instead, posting about achievements, social activities and everyday life got the most likes and comments.

“Thus, narcissists’ publicising of their achievements appeared to be positively reinforced by the attention and validation they crave,” they concluded.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Do Politics And Religion Mix?

TJ

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June 24, 2015

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Growing up in the church system as I did, it wasn’t unusual to hear preachers describe certain types of ‘career choices’ as dirty. Apart from the obvious ones like drug dealing and thieving – if they can be called careers at all – one that often got a bad rep was politics. We’ve all heard, I’m sure, the old adage “politics is a dirty business”. Well, when I was young, I generally got the impression that Christians could be involved in anything safe – accounting, law, teaching – but politics was a place to stay away from.

Fast forward to now. The world, no different from the way things have always been, is troubled and in need of leadership that cares about people. Is it right that Christians, who by definition of being followers of a great leader, are sitting back and watching, only able to comment and complain from the sidelines? It can’t be. The following video by sevenly.org should inspire us to recognize that no matter what we do, we have to live according to purpose.

To answer the question, “do politics and religion mix?”, I am of the opinion that the two do mix very much. I say this in the context of recognizing that every person is created with a unique set of gifts. Some people are born to be athletes, some to be painters and there are those whose gifts lie in the arena of politics. This is not a discussion about separation of church and state. That’s a completely different conversation altogether. Rather, this is a question about whether Christians should get involved in a domain that they’re apparently ‘supposed’ to steer away from because it’s considered to be ‘dirty’. In that sense, politics and religion do mix. People should get involved and not shy away from what they are called to do.

If you are grappling with these and other issues, we believe that God can provide the wisdom and clarity you need for your life. If you’d like to find out more, please click on the banner below.

Taking Care of Personal Hygiene (Part 2)

TJ

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June 23, 2015

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Taking Care of Personal Hygiene (Part 2)

Today is the second of a two-part series on taking care of personal hygiene. This is an issue that a lot of young people, wanting to make a good impression on the world around them, need to know about. This last post, carrying on from where the team at Lifehacker left us yesterday, deals specifically with showering, oral hygiene and some other tidbits. Like yesterday, we hope you find them beneficial.

How to Shower Properly

Showers are ubiquitous because they are essential to both cleanliness and health. They’re also fairly straightforward: acquire soap, rub it on yourself under running water. Simple, right? Well, there are still a few other things to keep in mind. For starters, the order in which you wash yourself in can matter a lot. Start by allowing water to run over for a couple minutes. Warm water can make it easier to remove dirt and residue. Make sure it isn’t super hot, which can dry out your skin.

As we established earlier, you should do any shaving towards the end of your shower. Washing your face should also come towards the end, as this is the area that most benefits from being run under warm water. Of course, all this waiting around may start to feel comfortable, but don’t dawdle too long… Spending more than 10 to 15 minutes or so in the shower can start to strip away healthy oils and damage your skin more than it helps.

You also need to take care of your out-of-the-shower habits. As Women’s Health Magazine points out, you could be making things worse if you don’t clean your washcloth or loofah regularly:

Washcloths and loofahs can harbor bacteria, mold, and yeast, says dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, M.D. If you use a loofah, make sure you replace it at least once a month. Schlessinger says the best way to keep loofahs clean is to dry them completely between uses—even if that means storing it outside of the moisture-filled shower. If you prefer washcloths, grab a fresh one every day, and avoid using it on your face. This is very irritating to the skin and ends up causing dry areas, breakouts, and even sores, says Schlessinger, who recommends washing your face with your hands instead.

Your towels should get cleaned fairly regularly as well. In addition, try to experiment with different soaps, shampoos and conditioners to find the right ones for you.

How to Brush Your Teeth Correctly

Your teeth are more complex to clean than most parts of your body, and more painful if you don’t. Decaying teeth can be agonizing. It doesn’t take much time, but it’s easy to get it wrong. Just sliding a toothbrush over the outside of your teeth for ten seconds won’t help you much… You can divide your mouth into four sections (bottom left-right, and top left-right), and spend about 30 seconds on each.

You also need to follow up brushing your teeth with flossing. Flossing is the process of placing dental string between your teeth and dislodging any bits of food or gunk that may be stuck, as well as sliding it across your teeth to remove any residue on the surfaces.

Wind: Wind 46 centimeters of floss around middle fingers of each hand. Pinch floss between thumbs and index fingers, leaving a two and a half to five centimetre length in between. Use thumbs to direct floss between upper teeth.
Guide: Keep a two and a half to five centimeter length of floss taut between fingers. Use index fingers to guide floss between contacts of the lower teeth.
Glide: Gently guide floss between the teeth by using a zig-zag motion. DO NOT SNAP FLOSS BETWEEN YOUR TEETH. Contour floss around the side of the tooth.
Slide: Slide floss up and down against the tooth surface and under the gum line. Floss each tooth thoroughly with a clean section of floss.

Flossing isn’t just for those popcorn kernels between your teeth, either. In fact, it’s one of the best things you can do to fight bad breath (if that isn’t a motivator, I don’t know what is). While you’re at it, pay attention to your tongue too. The tongue is an often-neglected part of oral care, but your tongue houses bacteria that causes bad breath. Tongue scrapers can scrub the bacteria hiding on your tongue away and help reduce bad breath. Many cheap toothbrushes include tongue scrapers on the backs of their heads that you can use if you don’t want to buy yet another accessory.

The Miscellaneous Essentials

There’s almost no limit to the amount of extra stuff you can use on your body to keep it clean, smelling nice, or squeeze out that extra little bit of beauty. Some things are necessary, others are superfluous. Here are some of the things you should consider adding to your repertoire:

Deodorant: The basic function of deodorant is to combat the funk that your body starts to emit when too much bacteria builds up on your skin. Which brand you buy doesn’t matter much and they mostly only differ by scent. Though you may want to consider unscented deodorant, as your personal scent can actually be an important part in your romantic endeavors. For best effect, apply the antiperspirant at night.
Mouth wash: If you practice proper oral care, mouth wash shouldn’t totally be a necessity, but it can’t hurt. It helps to eliminate extra bacteria and can help fight cavities. Just make sure you don’t use it as a replacement for brushing or to mask bad breath. Only solving the underlying problems will actually help.
Perfume/cologne: Using an artificial scent is largely a matter of personal preference. For some it can be attractive, others can use too much and make it off putting. If you want to try experimenting with perfumes and colognes, start by learning how much is too much.

You can find all manner of ways to improve your appearance and hygiene if you look hard enough, but don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by fancy products or claims of super, scientifically-advanced chemicals that will make you more attractive. The basics are still the most important: clean yourself regularly, groom your hair neatly, and if you decide to augment your natural scent, do so lightly and with restraint.

Lessons From The Life Of James Horner

TJ

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June 23, 2015

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We woke up today to the news that a plane registered to Oscar Award-winning composer, James Horner, crashed near Santa Barbara, California yesterday. The composer, aged 61, is now missing and feared dead. Some of the most beautiful music ever heard on the big screen can be credited to Horner, namely the soundtracks for Titanic, Braveheart and A Beautiful Mind, among other famous pieces. While many mainstream sites are reporting cautiously on the story, some have all but confirmed that Horner is no more. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Horner’s “death was confirmed by Sylvia Patrycja, who is identified on Horner’s film music page as his assistant.

‘We have lost an amazing person with a huge heart and unbelievable talent,’ Patrycja wrote on Facebook on Monday. ‘He died doing what he loved. Thank you for all your support and love and see you down the road.’

Horner was piloting the small aircraft when it crashed into a remote area about 60 miles [95km] north of Santa Barbara, officials said. An earlier report noted that the plane, which was registered to the composer, had gone down, but the pilot had not been identified.

For his work on the 1997 best picture winner Titanic, directed by James Cameron, Horner captured the Oscar for original dramatic score, and he nabbed another Academy Award for original song (shared with lyricist Will Jennings) for “My Heart Will Go On,” performed by Celine Dion.

‘My job — and it’s something I discuss with Jim all the time — is to make sure at every turn of the film it’s something the audience can feel with their heart,’ Horner said in a 2009 interview with the Los Angeles Times. ‘When we lose a character, when somebody wins, when somebody loses, when someone disappears — at all times I’m keeping track, constantly, of what the heart is supposed to be feeling. That is my primary role.'”

Reading this, one cannot help but be inspired that this is a man who was able to find his passion in life and consistently run with it for so many years. He never needed to prove a point to anybody or try to run anybody else’s race because he knew, as he said himself, what his primary role was. When he came to the end of his life, he was doing what he loved.

Can you say that for yourself? Do you know what your primary role is in life or are you just coasting along, slurping up whatever comes along and whatever people tell you about yourself? If you are doing the latter, it may be time to stop and reflect. Much as we may want to think we can find this role on our own, we do need to be humble enough to know that we are created beings, whose purpose is known only to God. Connect with God today and develop a relationship with Him that will give meaning to your life. Please click on the banner below to find out more.

Taking Care of Personal Hygiene (Part 1)

TJ

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June 22, 2015

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Taking Care of Personal Hygiene (Part 1)

Today is the first of a two-part series on taking care of personal hygiene. This is an issue that a lot of young people, wanting to make a good impression on the world around them, need to know about. This first post, courtesy of Lifehacker, introduces some foundations and then deals specifically with shaving. Tomorrow’s post will look at showering as well as oral hygiene. We hope you find them beneficial. Enjoy!

There are no classrooms that teach you basic hygiene growing up. Your parents may do what they can, but a surprising number of people make it to adulthood with gaps in their knowledge. We’re here to help fill those gaps.

[Recently], we asked our readers what necessary skills they weren’t taught growing up. While we got a huge response, personal hygiene skills were the top of several of our commenters lists. And it’s understandable. Most people don’t get outside input on these essential, everyday routines until much later in life. For that reason, we’re going back to basics.

Start by Forming Solid Habits

Of all the skill involved in personal hygiene, making it a habit is the skill that underlies them all. It doesn’t matter if you know how to properly brush your teeth if you only do it once a week. It may seem tangential, but it’s essential. If you don’t already have solid hygiene habits, start by identifying the areas where you do have solid habits and build on those.

As we’ve talked about before, if you need to create a new habit, piggybacking on an old one is the best way to do it. If you already have a routine for brushing your teeth, tack on flossing (or, if that doesn’t work, floss in the shower!). Be open to adjusting the order you do things in, but keep it as close to your existing routine as possible. Slowly build up over time, if necessary. While it’s generally expected that everyone has a full hygiene regimen by the time they’re an adult, but that may not always the case, depending on how you were raised.

How to Shave Effectively

Learning how to shave is a rite of passage for some families. Others, however, may not get in-depth lessons. Of all the things you might’ve missed growing up, there are few that could actually draw blood if you do it wrong, but shaving is one of them. There are many different ways of shaving, so there’s no one correct set of instructions—not to mention that men and women need dramatically different strategies. However, there are some basics that cover everyone.

The first thing you’ll need to do is pick how you’re going to shave. Electric razors are cheaper over the long run, but they often don’t provide the closest shave—which means your skin will feel rougher and you’ll need to shave more often. Disposable razors, on the other hand, can be much less irritating and have better results, but you’ll need to buy replacements over time.

Once you’ve decided what you’re going to shave, you need to learn how.

Of course, sliding a blade over your body isn’t the only thing that matters when shaving. How and when you do it matters as well. As WikiHow suggests, if you’re shaving in the shower, use warm water and shave last. The warm water will reduce skin irritation.

You Aren’t Perfect

TJ

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June 22, 2015

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The word ‘perfect’ is defined by the dictionary to mean ‘having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be’. It also means ‘absolute’ or ‘complete’. By these definitions alone, it’s fairly easy to see that very few of us can describe ourselves as perfect. Part of the reason why human relationships are so important is because nobody is so self-sufficient in reality that they don’t need anybody else. Yet, how many times do we spend our energies judging other people? It’s amazing that if you were to dig deeper into the lives of the most judgmental people, you might find things that are quite possibly worse and more horrifying in them than in those whom they judge. To judge another person is a choice that one makes, as we see in the short video below:

It’s been said that judging is a form of projection, a psychological theory in which “humans defend themselves against unpleasant impulses by their existence in themselves, while attributing them to others”. Because we hate, in ourselves, the bad things we do, say or think, we feel more comfortable to identify those things in others and judge. This isn’t healthy because it prevents us from really looking into ourselves and making the change we need to make.

In as much as I am not perfect, you aren’t perfect either. The only way we can really help matters is first to do some very honest introspection to make sure that we are in a good place ourselves. What’s the good of trying to fix everyone else’s house when one’s own dwelling is in a place of disrepair? Only when we are in a healthy place can we be of real benefit to others whenever we correct them or point out their wrongs. After all, we’re not saying here that helping, correcting others and even calling them to order is bad. We become our best when others share their experiences with us and speak firmly to us when we seem to be losing our way.

If you often find yourself being highly critical of others, being judgmental and mean, you need to pause and ask yourself some very probing questions. You need to investigate your motives because you may find that it’s yourself that you have a problem with. The Bible has this caution to give about this kind of behavior: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

God is willing and ready to help us to look at ourselves and change ourselves before we make moves to try and work on everybody else. If you’d like to know more, click on the banner below.

TJ

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