Being Smart With Your Time Spent Gaming

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It can be very easy to feel like your wasting time when you’re dedicating a large part of your life to video games. People often lump this sort of entertainment into the same basket as watching television, often making gamers feel lazy for doing what they enjoy. These titles can offer much more than simple fun, though. Along with this, if they are used correctly, you can improve a great deal of your life with them, and this post is going to show you how to do it. Exploring three areas, it will give you all of the tools you need to be smarter with the time you spend on games.

Use Them To Improve Your Skills

While it may seem like staring at a screen isn’t a great way to learn, video games can be a powerful tool when you’re trying to improve certain skills. A MOBA, like Dota 2 or League of Legends, can give you the ability to deal with stressful situations, along with helping you to make quick decisions. First-person shooters, on the other hand, are best for people who want to boost their dexterity. To figure out which games you’ll need to work on the areas you want to make better, you’re going to need to do some research, using websites which list titles by the skills they require to play as your guide.

Use Them To Make Some Money

Along with helping you to improve yourself, more and more options are opening in the world of gaming which enable you to make some money. If you want to stick to normal games, low-level Esports can be a great way to achieve this, and it doesn’t have to be hard to get into them. Of course, though, finding an online casino is where the real money is in this part of the field. Relying on the gaming skills you already have, a lot of these sorts of sites can appeal to those who like a challenge, while also helping you to earn something in the process. Of course, though, you have to be careful not to spend too much on it.

Use Them For Your Social Time

Finally, as a slightly different approach, a lot of people find that it starts to get harder and harder to find time for things like seeing friends, playing games, and enjoying other entertainment as they get older. With a tough job making you busy, you will need to look for ways to bring these parts of your life together, and gaming could be the best way to do it. Online games and voice chat make it very easy to spend all of your social time playing. You’ll need to find titles which everyone enjoys, and this can be done by using websites like Steam to see what they already play.

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Hopefully, this post will give you everything you need to start making more of the time you spend playing games. There is never a reason to feel bad about doing what you enjoy, but there’s also nothing wrong with using an emotion like guilt to improve yourself in a healthy way.

Skills Video Games Can Help Develop

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Video games have had a bad rep since they first came out. They were considered to be time-wasters which played no role in developing any real-life skills. However, studies have been conducted to the contrary of this, showing that video games can enhance certain abilities. Of course, like all media forms, if you play them too often, there are various detrimental effects out there as well. But here we will focus on the positive side of things.

Patience and Perseverance

The most complicated games, in particular, require a great deal of patience and perseverance if you are going to see them through to their conclusion. For example, in role playing games, you need to be patient for your characters to develop the skills that you require to complete them. And this has an obvious link to growing and developing a career. You can’t expect to skip to the finish line without first putting in the necessary work to get there.

Strategic Planning

Many of the most interesting video games out there require you to take the time to pursue a successful strategy through them. And forward-planning is also a skill which will stand you in good stead when you are moving through life as well. The ability to think a few steps ahead can help you out in social situations as well. And just like you are rewarded by being able to progress through the game, the same is true of experiencing rewards in real life too.

Social Skills and Leadership

Perhaps the most common and lasting negative stereotype about gamers is that they are antisocial loners. But video games have always been developed with an idea of interactivity in mind - just think back to the early days of arcade games. In today’s online multiplayer gaming world, people interact with each other via voice and video chats. And since a lot of games involve cooperation, you can also develop your leadership skills through this medium as well.

Mental Abilities

There are plenty of games out there which are directly linked to improving brain functionality. And there are the ones which are indirectly linked. So, casino games like kaszinohu.com can end up boosting mathematical abilities. But all sorts of games can play a big role in your hand-eye coordination, memory, strategic planning, thinking outside the box etc.

A Sense of Empathy

As video games have become steadily better with their graphics and more cinematic, creators are working hard in creating characters with whom you can have some empathy. And there are also many games in which your decisions directly impact the fate of the characters. So, far from being emotionally numbing, video games can also elicit all sorts of different emotions.

Unlike watching TV - which is a largely passive activity - video games play a role in developing all sorts of different skills. Are you a gamer yourself? What sort of life skills do you think video games have helped you out with?

Thinking Of Driving An Uber To Fund Your Studies? Some Things You Should Know First

There’s no better path to a brighter future than education. Higher education can imbue you with the skills, knowledge and resources that you need to achieve the career of your dreams or even take a bite of the entrepreneurial apple. But like anything worth having, studying is hard. Not only must you navigate the perils and pitfalls of full time learning, you must also navigate the perils of maintaining a home, paying the bills and keeping the roof over your head and the food on your plate. This is hard enough for those with a full time job, but when our studies limit the time in which we can earn, it gets a whole lot harder.

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In the gig economy, many drivers who own their own vehicles have chosen to dedicate their free time to becoming an Uber driver, and in recent years this has become an especially popular money making opportunity among students. Given the flexibility and the fact that it can potentially pay better than most student jobs, it’s not hard to see why so many students flock to it. But if you’re considering making some money this way, it’s essential that you keep the caveats in mind.  

Make sure your car is up to the job

Uber driving is not for those with diesel vehicles. Diesel vehicles are marathon runners rather than sprinters. Being an Uber driver inevitably involves short journeys at relatively low speeds. This means that over time your Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) will become blocked with soot and won’t get the opportunity to purge (which usually happens automatically when travelling at high speeds at 2000-3000 rpm). This can result in a total breakdown of your vehicle and a very expensive repair.

If, however, you’re one of the many students driving electric or hybrid cars, you have the ideal vehicle to earn a crust as an Uber driver.

Never drive while tired, angry or hungry

When you’re driving to fund your studies, it’s easy not to treat it with the gravity that it deserves. But make no mistake, if this is to be profitable for you, your behavior on the road must be unimpeachable. That means that you never get behind the wheel unless you are well fed, well hydrated, well rested and ready to turn on the charm. Driving while angry, tired or hungry can cause you to make poor decisions on the road which could compromise your safety, the safety of your passengers and your reputation.

Don’t sacrifice speed for safety

If you’re trying to make money as an Uber driver, it’s vital that you aren’t tempted to race yourself to the finish line. Sure, your passengers want to get to where they’re going quickly… But they’d rather get there in one piece. Driving for speed can make you sacrifice safety. You could wind up with a poor review or even visiting www.DuffyLawCT.com/state-crimes/traffic-crimes/ to seek legal counsel for the dangerous driving claim made against you. Slow and steady always wins the race when you’re an Uber driver.

Bring your winning personality to work

Finally, your tips will make all the difference between making okay money and making great money from this side hustle. That means you bring your winning personality and your biggest smile to work for each and every passenger, even when you’re not feeling as sunny as you could on the inside. You might just surprise yourself with how much better wearing a smile makes you feel.

5 Life Lessons and Values to Teach Your Child

When it comes to parenting advice, one of the most popular topics is values you can teach your child in their early years to help them in later life. Here, we break down five of the most relevant and easily-delivered life lessons you can give to your child.

How to manage money

It may sound harsh, but it's never too early to start teaching a child how to manage their finances. Many people find themselves in financial difficulties when they reach college or graduate age, simply because they've never had to deal with being responsible for their own money before.

By teaching your child early about how to balance their pocket money with how much they want to spend, you'll also be teaching them how to deal with bills, bank accounts and savings when the time comes.

Make healthy food choices

Just like their finances, many young people struggle to eat healthily when they move out of the family home. And just like teaching them how to manage money, if you can give your child some good sound principles about nutrition and the importance of a good diet, they'll go on to form good habits that will last a (longer) lifetime.

The joy of learning

Instilling a love of learning in your child is, arguably, the most important lesson a parent can teach a child. Think about it: for most of the first two decades of their life, your child will be in education in one form or another. With that in mind, it's never a bad thing to encourage them to enjoy it.

Studies have shown that children who grow up actively encouraged to enjoy learning are more likely to avoid struggling in school, underperforming in exams and facing hardship in the job market when they grow up. Anything you, as a parent, can do to help your child cope with the pressure of education later in life is a precious and easy gift for you to pass on.

The courage to speak up

It's very important that when you're encouraging your child to enjoy learning - whether that's through reading with you, seeking out information on their own, and testing themselves - you don't accidentally teach them to simply agree with all the information they're given.

This is a hard lesson to teach, but having the courage to disagree is a vital part of growing up to be a well-rounded and confident individual. We don't mean encouraging them to challenge authority at every step, but teaching a child that there are times when it's appropriate to speak up can bring big rewards in the future.

Resolve disagreements peacefully

With the courage to disagree comes the responsibility to resolve those disagreements without causing further problems. This is something that kids can pick up with practice, and it all starts from their earliest days; children who are able to settle arguments with calm, logical explanations, referring to facts and pointing out obvious contradictions, are more likely to be listened to than those who simply shout until they feel they've gotten their way. The takeaway should be that it's fine to disagree when you feel someone is wrong, but never to fight about it.

Survey finds U.K. universities leading the way with youngsters most likely to own an Electric vehicle

It seems that the educated in our society are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious and are taking measures to help protect our planet. Indeed, a recent survey shows that cars owned by universities in the UK are more likely to be electric than vehicles owned amongst those not involved in higher education. Indeed, it claims 7.78% of the cars owned by universities were electric vehicles whilst only 0.11% of the general population of the UK had invested in the more environmentally friendly version. Does this mean that electric vehicle usage is on the way up?

What the public thinks

This recent debate entitled 'Should you Buy Electric Cars' showed that there was a 50:50 split between yes and no. Many in the yes camp believed they were essential if we want to improve our environment, including making our air cleaner. They also argued that it would make car ownership cheaper in the long run, as fossil fuels get more and more expensive. Those who voted no argued that they weren't an instant cure for environmental problems as we have to burn coal to make the electricity in the first place. It seems when it comes to public opinion the jury is still out. This study suggests that those in higher education institutions are embracing electric cars but it might not be the case for the wider public

What the Automobile Association Thinks

The AA is generally supportive of electric vehicles. They are happy to offer full breakdown cover for these modern cars, just like they would any other. They believe that an electric vehicle revolution is happening and in response, they have partnered with Chargemaster, suppliers of electric vehicle charging solutions to ensure that there is sufficient infrastructure in place to keep those who are making the transition into electric vehicles going. It seems the AA believe that electric car usage will keep on increasing.

Survey Findings?

Statistics are important to us here at Higher Ed Geek, so let's consider them in more detail. The percentage difference between the figure of 0.11% represents the percentage of electric cars owned in the general population to 7.78%, the percentage owned by universities. This figure is a staggering 7073% increase, which shows that universities are much more likely to invest in electric vehicles. The study suggests that those with a high degree of education are more environmentally conscious, or perhaps that the faculties of science within the universities have proved the worth of the electric car. Maybe it is the locations of the universities, usually in city centres which can make charging cars easier that has swayed decisions. Either way, it seems universities could be a driving force in making electric vehicles more popular across the population.

Any Concerns?

Whilst universities are embracing new technology the general population might still have some concerns. Concerns about how to make remote travel possible are legitimate, as are concerns over maintenance with complicated electric engines making it impossible for car owners to perform DIY fixes. There are also concerns about where we source lithium and other rare metals used in the engines of electric cars, is there an ethical way to mine these? It seems that whilst universities are leading the way and showing us that electric car usage should be our way forward, there are still issues to iron out if the general population is to follow.

Do You Want To Enhance Your Gaming Experience? Here’s How

Gaming is one of those things that many people do in their spare time. Many people have different reasons for it. Perhaps gaming and concentrating on one thing helps them focus on other aspects of their lives, maybe it relaxes you or simply you just enjoy it. But how do you enhance your gaming experience? I wanted to share with yous some of the things you could try.

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Branch out and try different things

Maybe you love gaming but perhaps have gotten a little bored of the ones you regularly play? That can happen at time,s and not all of us have the money to buy the latest release. So this is where the internet can be a blessing. Looking online you will find all sorts of games to try. You could try free slots online for a bit of fun, perhaps find a game online that others can join in with, or even download some games from the app store to your phone. We all know how some of them can get very addictive. It isn’t always about what your games console can offer, it is more about finding a game that you enjoy playing.

Create the ideal gaming environment

Enhancing your gaming experience might start with your environment and where you play your games. It could be that you enjoy playing in your living room or perhaps you have your own dedicated space. If you do, you could consider investing in a gaming chair or creating a great little space that is comfortable for you and perhaps friends and family who play with you. It is certainly something to think about and there are plenty of inspiring pictures online on websites like Pinterest to create gaming nooks or rooms.

Play online with and against your friends

Maybe you have just finished the game and not even considered that there is an online version you can join in with, but most gaming series these days do give you the option to play online. This could be a little more competitive and also give you the opportunity to play against friends or family, or perhaps even join forces with them in teams to take on other competitors who are playing all over the world.

Capture footage and share your gaming online

Finally, more people are searching the net and looking online at YouTube for gaming tips and hints as well as tutorials to completing certain stages of a game. So why not create some videos yourself? If you are an expert at a game, have a particular hack for something, or just want to share your knowledge and thoughts along the way, then capturing the gaming footage and talking along with it or doing a voiceover could  be the ideal start to your very own gaming channel online. Who knows where this could lead, as many have gone on to be successful.

I hope that this has given you some ideas on how you could enhance your gaming experience.

Protecting Yourself As A Geeky Gun For Hire

Paying for your education ain’t cheap, much less paying for a reasonable standard of living so that your studies aren’t impeded by thoughts of “What will I eat this week?” or “How likely am I to be homeless by the end of the week”. Although many undergraduates pursue low paid low skilled part time work in their down time, there are some who feel no need to wait until their graduation to fulfil their entrepreneurial ambitions, devising side hustles, building their own businesses and establishing themselves as freelancers. Your education imbues you with skills that are enormously valuable to individuals and businesses alike, and so it makes perfect sense to monetize your talents in order to ensure that your higher education isn’t impeded by money troubles.  

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Whether you’re writing content, producing videos, building apps or websites, providing tuition for your fellow students or providing technical or IT support to small businesses, it’s essential that while you’re earning your crust you place the infrastructure to protect yourself as a geeky gun for hire...

Protect yourself from plagiarism

If you’ll be making money with your prodigious writing talent you may think that all you need to do is start writing and the rest will take care of itself. And while this may well be the case, it behoves you to protect yourself from plagiarism. When you write content you are the legal owner of that content (unless it’s white label or ghostwritten content) and as such you need to protect yourself from others plagiarising your work. If someone else claims ownership of what you’ve written it may cast aspersions on your reputation that your budding freelance career could do without. That’s why you should use anti-plagiarism software like Copyscape and Grammarly.

Know who to turn to when you need legal help

If you’re providing technical, IT or digital marketing support to small businesses you may be entrusted with potentially sensitive data. While there will be legally enforceable contracts protecting their interests, their contracts may well be less interested in your protection. While it’s unlikely, should something go awry with their sensitive data you may find yourself blames and facing legal charges for something you had no part in which is why it’s important to know what to look for in a white collar crime attorney. Even though it’s extremely unlikely doesn't mean that there’s no chance that it will happen to you, and so it’s in your best interests to ensure that you know how to protect yourself.

Guard your anonymity with a VPN

When you’re working in the digital realm, you may well find yourself producing content that while well constructed is contentious for those who consume it. You may garner vitriolic dislike for your work or on the other hand you may garner the unwelcome attentions of an internet superfan. It doesn’t take the technically savvy long to determine your IP address and from there work out where you live. Thus, it’s always a worthwhile precaution to use a Virtual Private Network or VPN when submitting work.

In entrepreneurship, as in all things, it always pays to be careful!

Surviving A Serious Injury During Your College Years

Most of us think of our college years as some of our most physically vital. After all, many of us are young when we attend, as well as active in sports and fitness. However, if you are unlucky enough to sustain an injury during college, it can have a profound effect not only on your physical and mental well being but on your studies as well. For that reason we have put together the guide below that can help you survive a serious injury during your college years. Read on to find out more.

Notify all your teachers

One of the first things that you will want to do once the emergency itself has passed is to get in contact with your teachers and let them know what has happened. Luckily this isn't too difficult to do as most have direct emails now.

If possible, can give them so idea of how long you will be away and whether you will need to drop their class and pick it up next semester too. Although, you may be able to catch up with the work while you are recuperating, or even access an online study program that will make sure you don't get too behind.

It's also a great idea to CC in your department heads when letting people know of your predicament. Then they can record this as official absence and then there will be no confusion when it comes to matters of attendance on your record that could interfere with your graduation.

Speak to finance

Of course, if you do have to drop classes, then it's worth discussing this with the finance office, because you may be entitled to a refund for a discount off of next semester. There may even be financial aid available for students in your position as well as help with your housing costs, so it's always worth asking these questions.

Keep up your medical care.

Keeping up your medical care is vital.

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Next, although your injury may be preventing you from attending classes, it is vital that you go to your medical appointment and complete the treatment assigned to you by your doctor.

Of course, the cost of this may be concerning to you as a student, and this is why many people choose to check with a personal injury lawyer to see if they have a case for compensation. Something that can alleviate the financial burden on students that have suffered an injury and allow them to keep focused on getting well.

Don't let your social life fade.

OK, so if you are in a full body cast, then you probably don't want to be going to too many parties. However, there's a lot to be said for having a strong support network of friends, especially when you are living away from home and your usual friends and family group.

Your institution may even have a mentor program, or offer social and other support through religious groups on campus, so be sure to explore these possibilities and to help to stay emotionally and socially healthy as well.

Your Career Is a Journey, Not Just a Job

Far too many people assume that their careers are just a collection of jobs they work at. For instance, they might start as a regular office worker doing miscellaneous tasks, and then they’ll upgrade to a senior member in the future and take on different responsibilities. It’s the typical way to approach your career and, understandably, it’s popular because it provides job security and an aim. However, most people get into this mentality of their careers becoming just a job and nothing more, and we believe it’s a poor way to approach your life.

Careers should be thought of as more than just jobs. Careers should ideally be based on what you love or feel passionate about, and you should approach them with the love and attention you would expect for something that is going to take up a major part of your life. If you think about it, people can work in their careers for well over 40 years before they retire. If your job is going to take up over half of your lifespan, then it might as well be something you truly connect with.

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Careers are learning experiences

An excellent way to approach your career is to consider it a huge learning lesson. For instance, people don’t realize that oil water separators are essential for various kinds of industries and they’re crucial to the operation of many different factories and manufacturing plants. It’s not just about learning about your job either. There are many life lessons you can learn from embarking your career of choice, and there are countless ways to experience new things. You’ll learn from the people you work with, you’ll pick up life tips from the way you interact with others, and through adversities, you’ll learn how to recuperate and get your life back on track.

Careers take up most of your life

As mentioned at the start, careers typically take up over half of our lives, hence why we need to ensure that they naturally become a part of our lives. This is something that we can start learning from millennials; they approach their work with a very loose mindset. They’re not afraid of hopping between jobs because they’re searching for a workplace that can be integrated with their lifestyles. They want to work hard and have aims, which is why they approach their careers differently to other generations. Always look for a career that resonates with you. Something that makes you happy and something that puts you on a path to learn new things.

Summary

Hopefully, this article has put things into perspective and has given you an idea of how you can approach your career in the future. Don’t think of it as a job–think of your career as a part of your life that you can benefit from in many different ways. Otherwise, you could end up despising your job and hating your choice of career which could ultimately turn into regret for the rest of your life.

7 Productivity Hacks Anybody Can Use

Do you wish that you were a more productive person? Whether you want to be more productive at work, home, or both, the hacks in this post could be suited to you. Not everybody is naturally productive, and in this day and age, distractions can plague us at every turn. To help you get more done, read on and you’ll find some hacks that can help just about anybody:

1. Set Yourself A Time Limit To Complete A Task

There are lots of time blocking methods you can use to complete tasks, and one of them is by setting yourself a time limit. Different limits work for different people. For instance, some set a 45 minute timer, work non stop, then take a 15 minute break. Some do 25 minutes working, then a 5-10 minute break. The key is to ensure your work blocks don’t feel too long, and that your breaks are decent but that they aren't so long that you become completely disengaged from your work.

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2. Keep The Novelty Up With Your Setting

The setting you work in can help you to get more done. Usually, if a place has novelty, you’re more likely to stay focused. This is why some people like to do a little work in one place, before moving one or two more times throughout the day. It stops you from feeling stuck in one place for too long. You could start working at the library at the great equalizer before moving on to a coffee shop.

3. Plan Your Time Carefully

Creating a plan for your time in advance is a good idea. Write down every single thing you have to do that day, even including food and small tasks. Then allocate time slots. This will give you a realistic idea of when you should be finished with tasks, and could help you to get more done.

4. Find The Right Productivity Playlist

Listening to a playlist while you work can be a great pleasure, but you need to make sure that it’s motivating and not distracting. You might like Mozart, or you may prefer to listen to dance music. Music with little words is usually better for mentally taxing projects.

5. Start Your Day Early

Starting your day early can help you to get things done before the whole world has woken up, and that can make you feel great, which in turn encourages you to get even more done. Some of the most successful people get up at 5am. You could even make a start on Sunday to make Monday less terrifying.

6. Work Standing Up

Stand up desks are somewhat of a trend these days, because studies have proven that standing up while we work increases productivity and is better for long term health.

7. Get Some Exercise Before Starting The Day

Before you start the day, get some exercise. Even if it’s just a small amount, getting your blood pumping should help you to feel productive for the rest of the day.