Monday, April 29, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
5+ Reasons to Smash Your TV in Right Now!
....or at least stop watching this week.
The average American watches five hours of TV a day.
It's not a good thing.
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| from flickr - the great 8 |
However this coming week, April 29th - May 5th, is National Turn Off Your TV Week.
Here are 5 reasons you should Turn off your TV this week:
Here are 5 reasons you should Turn off your TV this week:
1) It's not productive - In a recent 2012 study on multi-tasking from Ohio State found that those who tried to read a book while watching TV had a significant decrease in what they retained over those who focused solely on the book. Another fellow blogger, Zach Brunke, writes about how he improved his productivity here.
2) It entrances you (not in a good way) - If you've read up anything on brain waves you might be familiar with the fact that there are 4 main types of brain waves; Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta. Beta waves are typically in effect when we are awake, alert and thinking about something. Alpha waves are in effect when we are in a state of both physical and mental relaxation. TV actually switches the brain to Alpha waves. Good right? Well while your in that relaxed state your more susceptible to influence and messages... like advertisements.
3) It lowers your self-image (if you look like me that is) - An Indiana University study that focused on both black and white children found that after prolonged watching of TV, black children tend to have a lower level of self esteem since often black individuals are presented in a negative light. White children, more specifically white boys, are typically shown to have higher levels of self-esteem after hours of TV watching as white males are typically shown in positions of power.
4) It may cause ADD - Numerous studies from Harvard and beyond have determined that large amounts of TV during early childhood can result in ADD or ADHD later on in life. Dr. Dimitri Christakis who has done a number of studies on the topic discussed it during this TEDx Rainier talk:
5) There are better things to do - There are a number of things you can do instead of watching TV and still be able to entertain yourself. Call a friend. Go on a walk. Check out a meetup.com group. Read a book. Make a multi-step plan to get to your next goal (That's what I'll be doing anyway). If you live in the developed world you are someone blessed beyond what could be expected in the developing world - go outside and enjoy this life that you've been blessed with don't just sit on a couch watching your life pass away.
+)(Guys) It lowers your sperm count - I was just looking around on the interwebs and came across this article at the last moment. Another reason not to watch TV is because guys who watch little to no TV have almost double the sperm count of those that watch over 20 hours a week. If you're trying for a baby and not reaching success you may want to hide the clicker for at least a week.
I hope you'll join me in this semi-annual week focused on weaning people from the addiction of (at least one of) the glowing rectangular boxes in your life.
What do you think? Does TV have some positive qualities I haven't mentioned here? I'd love to hear from you in the comments box.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Thought for Thursday - What is your Mantra?
What is your Mantra?
What do you repeat in your mind (or aloud) day in and day out?
According to the Mayo Clinic what your "mantra" - or your daily "self-talk" has a definite impact on your health.
Does it sound like this:
"I'm so dumb"
"I'm so fat"
"Everybody's against me"
"What's the use?"
"Who's John Galt?"
Or does it sound like this:
"I'm so thankful for..."
"I'm so blessed because..."
"Life is great because..."
"I'll try again a different way"
"I've been through tougher tests than this"
It's easy to be convinced that nothing is working. It's difficult these days to see things in a positive light.
However, if you take the time to acknowledge your thoughts and nudge them in the positive direction the benefits are overwhelming. Those benefits include lower rates of depression, stress and you're even less likely to catch a cold.
Take a moment and put your inner monologue in check. If that "voice in your head" is encouraging and tells you that you can achieve great things - let it continue. But, if it continues to downplay your achievements, discourages your ambition or even worst - insults you! Then decide today to change the monologue to something more positive.
What do you think? Do you have an inner monologue that pushes you forward or holds you back? Do you have a great inner mantra that you use on a regular basis? If so, share it in the comments below.
 |
| from bartsblackboard.com |
What do you repeat in your mind (or aloud) day in and day out?
According to the Mayo Clinic what your "mantra" - or your daily "self-talk" has a definite impact on your health.
Does it sound like this:
"I'm so dumb"
"I'm so fat"
"Everybody's against me"
"What's the use?"
"Who's John Galt?"
Or does it sound like this:
"I'm so thankful for..."
"I'm so blessed because..."
"Life is great because..."
"I'll try again a different way"
"I've been through tougher tests than this"
It's easy to be convinced that nothing is working. It's difficult these days to see things in a positive light.
However, if you take the time to acknowledge your thoughts and nudge them in the positive direction the benefits are overwhelming. Those benefits include lower rates of depression, stress and you're even less likely to catch a cold.
Take a moment and put your inner monologue in check. If that "voice in your head" is encouraging and tells you that you can achieve great things - let it continue. But, if it continues to downplay your achievements, discourages your ambition or even worst - insults you! Then decide today to change the monologue to something more positive.
What do you think? Do you have an inner monologue that pushes you forward or holds you back? Do you have a great inner mantra that you use on a regular basis? If so, share it in the comments below.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
5 Examples of why it takes 10,000 hours to succeed
In Malcolm Gladwell's now famous book Outliers, he talks about the 10,000 hour rule. For those unfamiliar with the theory - it is the idea that to become truly skilled at anything one must put in about 10,000 hours of hard work and effort to achieve the desired expertise.
The following are 5 examples of people who have put in the 10,000 hours
Thomas Edison - Has been famously quoted and possibly misquoted that he tried 10,000 different versions of the light-bulb before he finally succeeded. By the time he and his team unveiled the light-bulb in 1879 Edison had been tinkering with things and inventing different items for well over a decade.
Bill Gates -started playing with some of the first personal computers when he was in his teens.He actually cold called Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS) one of the leading computer companies at the time, to pitch a program to them at the age of 19. Gates and his partner Allen pitched it and struck a deal with the company when initially the code for the program wasn't even written yet.
Will Smith - Will Smith wasn't always the well known actor. once upon a time he was a rapper who made a million dollars and then proceeded to almost go bankrupt. He has always been a top notch entertainer though and stays at the top primarily due to his work ethic.
Tiger Woods - Got his first pair of golf clubs when he was under 2 years old. He beat his father for the first time at age 11. He scored a 70 for the first time at the age of 12. At the age of 20 he became the first golfer to win three consecutive golf titles.
Zach Galafianakis - Zach Galifianakis is now known for the movie the Hangover but prior to the mid 2000's he was virtually unknown. He had several bit parts in a number of shows but it took him over a decade to have a breakout success.
So How about you? Do you know of anyone who seemed like an overnight success but, ended up working 10,000 hours to achieve the success they've achieved? If so post it in the comments below.
The following are 5 examples of people who have put in the 10,000 hours
Thomas Edison - Has been famously quoted and possibly misquoted that he tried 10,000 different versions of the light-bulb before he finally succeeded. By the time he and his team unveiled the light-bulb in 1879 Edison had been tinkering with things and inventing different items for well over a decade.
Bill Gates -started playing with some of the first personal computers when he was in his teens.He actually cold called Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS) one of the leading computer companies at the time, to pitch a program to them at the age of 19. Gates and his partner Allen pitched it and struck a deal with the company when initially the code for the program wasn't even written yet.
Will Smith - Will Smith wasn't always the well known actor. once upon a time he was a rapper who made a million dollars and then proceeded to almost go bankrupt. He has always been a top notch entertainer though and stays at the top primarily due to his work ethic.
Tiger Woods - Got his first pair of golf clubs when he was under 2 years old. He beat his father for the first time at age 11. He scored a 70 for the first time at the age of 12. At the age of 20 he became the first golfer to win three consecutive golf titles.
Zach Galafianakis - Zach Galifianakis is now known for the movie the Hangover but prior to the mid 2000's he was virtually unknown. He had several bit parts in a number of shows but it took him over a decade to have a breakout success.
So How about you? Do you know of anyone who seemed like an overnight success but, ended up working 10,000 hours to achieve the success they've achieved? If so post it in the comments below.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Thought for Thursday - EASY is a four letter word
"EASY" is a four letter word.
Many of us want our life to be easier. Our burdens to be less. We're obsessed with instant success. It's only after living a while that we realize that the 'easy' life is really just an illusion. Nothing worthwhile comes easy.
Don't take my word for it though. Here are a few quotes to prove the point.
1- “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
2. -“Don't pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.”
― JFK
3. - "God doesn't believe in the easy way"
--- James Agee
Many of us want our life to be easier. Our burdens to be less. We're obsessed with instant success. It's only after living a while that we realize that the 'easy' life is really just an illusion. Nothing worthwhile comes easy.
Don't take my word for it though. Here are a few quotes to prove the point.
1- “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
2. -“Don't pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.”
― JFK
3. - "God doesn't believe in the easy way"
--- James Agee
WORK however, is a four-letter word worth striving toward.
Monday, April 15, 2013
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