How To Make Any Sport More Enthralling

Sports are a great pastime, and a hugely popular one for many people around the world. But sometimes, you might find yourself wishing that they could be just a little bit more exciting, especially if nothing much has really been happening within the game itself for a while, whichever sport you happen to follow most of all. Fortunately, there are so many things you can think about doing in order to make a sport more interesting and exciting, and in this post we are going to take a look at just a few of them.

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Betting

A lot of people like to make sports more interesting through the simple act of betting on them. Although you do of course need to make sure that you are taking care not to land yourself in any particular trouble here, and that you are only ever gambling what you can afford to lose, betting it nonetheless is a hugely enjoyable thing for a lot of people. You can bet on the simple outcome of the game, or you could even try your hand at some of the other markets that will always be available - such as score outcome or difference, or anything else. This gives you a reason to be invested in the game, which really helps.

Fantasy Teams

If you have never looked into creating your own fantasy team, this is something you might want to think about. It can be truly amazing how much of a difference it makes to your enjoyment of the game, and in quite a different way to when you are betting on it. Your fantasy team can be in pretty much any sport and involve whoever you want, and the beauty of it is that it allows you to kind of play a game within a game. To start, you can check out some daily fantasy sports tips or just go ahead and try it for yourself. In either case, you are going to find this really makes a huge difference to your enjoyment of the sport in question.

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Getting Involved

One way that sports are always going to be a lot more exciting is if you get involved in playing them yourself. Although this is not always viable, most people should be able to find a local club or group they can get with and start playing. That alone is going to mean that you are much more likely to enjoy it and feel a part of it, and before you know it, this could even make that sport suddenly a bigger part of your life. That is a great reason to get into it, even before you think about all of the other benefits to your life it might bring - such as getting fit and possibly even making you some money on the side.

These are just some of the interesting ways to make a sport more interesting, no matter who you are or what the sport might be.

The Hard Skills That Go Into Creating A Game

Whether you want to seek a career in working with one of the big development teams out there or you want to cut your teeth in the indie scene, you have to build the skills that are crucial to making a video game. Here, we’re going to look at some of the skills that are vital for almost anyone seeking a career in video game development, and how you can build them.

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Programming

Simply put, video games are a type of software and all software is driven by code. Programming is the ability to write and use that code to create software of all kinds and a little coding is recommended for anyone wanting to go into any career in games. Though it can be tough to learn, and different languages are used for different engines and software, there are plenty of online coding courses that you can get started with, from free YouTube lessons to the more driven and focused paid lesson plans.

Game engines

Engines are effectively the software that is used to determine the operating rules of the game world. Engines are built out of code, and games are built using engines. However, the majority of developers do not start by building an engine from scratch (though it is sometimes necessary.) They may instead learn an engine to find a framework they can start with. Take the time to learn which engine is best for the time of games you want to make by comparing Unity vs Unreal and other options. Then, learn what language you need for them and how those engines operate to start game development.

Animation and graphic design

Most large development teams do have dedicated roles focused on little more than creating the best possible models and graphic elements, and animating them to bring them to life. However, in most cases, beginning game developers are going to be entirely in charge of the visual aspects of their own games. Learning to use rigging and animating software like 3dmax or Maya is essential to create the visual side of interactive media that is crucial from the player’s perspective. You can choose to specialize in this or not later down the line.

Game and level design

You also have to think about how the different assets you have developed all come together to actually create a game. Game design is just about the creative side of the process as well as the practical. What are the goals of the game, the challenges the player faces, and the mechanics that they use to address those challenges? Coming up with these, as well as the method that the player controls elements to manipulate those mechanics, is at the core of every single video game, from Pong to The Witcher 3.

There are a lot of positions in games that use skills not mentioned here, from creative writing to composing music. However, for the nuts and bolts of game development, these are the skills you need to consider.

Step Away From the Book! Making the Most of Your Downtime

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There's a lot of responsibilities on our shoulders when we are going through college. It's not just about our education, but it's about making sure that we are tackling debt as well as giving ourselves a good quality of life, while also doing that all-important studying. It can feel like there's a lot to do but at the same time, we've got to make sure that we are tackling our demons, whatever they may be, in the most appropriate ways. Downtime may seem few and far between, but what can we do to make sure that we are giving ourselves a good quality of life while also tackling our insecurities?

Doing the Things That You Enjoy

The great thing about being absorbed in an activity that you care about is that it doesn't deplete your energy stores. If anything, it adds to it. Whatever you like doing, focus on it. Even if you are someone that struggles to get away from the laptop and ends up playing poker late into the night, it is still something that you enjoy. And when you delve into a hobby and try to get more out of it, it easily takes you away from your daily worries. With something like online poker, there's always an abundance of poker strategies. We can believe that we have to spend every spare moment studying, but when we end up being so focused on results, stress tends to follow. It's about doing the things that you enjoy, but also giving yourself the permission to enjoy them.

Good Quality Rest

It may seem obvious, but having proper downtime it’s about resting mentally and physically in between classes during the night or whenever you get a chance. As students, the temptation to stay up late always looms large. You've got to be strong and not give in to peer pressure. The fact is you will feel it when you've got to have some proper downtime. The best thing anybody can do to ensure that they rest properly is to focus on good quality relaxation. It doesn't necessarily have to be about sleeping more, but putting things into your life that makes you relax, such as deep breathing exercises or meditation, can help keep anxieties at bay. Incorporating a daily habit will give you the opportunities to check in with yourself. If there is a day where you're not feeling quite right, is it because you haven't prioritized yourself? Rest is crucial, but it's about finding the right type of rest for your needs.

Stepping Away From Everything

Turn your phone off and shut your laptop and just think about nothing. Our brain is constantly turning and there are concerns about deadlines or what's going on in our job. Learning to detach yourself gives you the perspective to not overly worry about everything. When you tell yourself that you will step away for 20-minutes, it may only be the last minute or so where you feel truly at ease, but the next time you step away from everything, you may relax quicker. It's all about practice.

Debt And The Path to Success

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These days, it’s just about impossible for the average person to get ahead in life without taking on debt. If you want to get an education, start a business or buy a house, you’ll probably need financing to do it. Taking on that debt can be a whole lot easier than getting rid of it. It’s therefore vital to approach the issue mindfully.

Make sure you have a clear plan to repay debt

In simple terms, the longer you need to pay back debt, the riskier that debt becomes. The reason for this is that you are fairly likely to know what will happen in the short-term future. Seeing into the long-term future, by contrast, is much more difficult.

For example, let’s say you borrow money to cover Christmas. You know, from experience, that there are ways to make some quick cash in the New Year. You can therefore be fairly sure you have it covered. Now let’s say you take out a loan to pay for an education. This stretches for years into the future. Really, nobody can know for sure what will happen over that time.

That said, anyone can do their research and use it to create reasonable long-term projections. For example, in the case of education, you could initially look at job opportunities and salary expectations over time. If they looked good, you could then go on to check if the jobs were in sectors with long-term potential. If so, then you would have a clear plan to repay your debt.

Take a “debt to success” mindset

You may have heard of the “Debt to Success System”.  Is Debt to Success System scam? No.  Are there many “Debt to Success System” scam imitators? Yes, and you need to avoid them. The whole point about the debt to success mindset is that you make peace with your past actions. Then you move on, focusing on future success.

This approach helps to alleviate the stress of managing debt. It flips the situation from being one of recovery to one of discovery. Instead of being negatively motivated (by fear of missing debt repayments), you’re positively motivated (by future growth).

Turn debt management into a game

Turn debt management into a game in which you aim to beat the banks. They want to make as much money out of you as possible. This means that the way to win is to make sure that you’re always paying as little as possible for your debt.

The foundation for your gameplay is to keep your credit score as high as it can possibly be. After that, it’s about deploying your resources strategically. For example, if you have a mixture of high-interest debt and low-interest debt, then you generally want to focus your disposable funds on the high-interest debt.

You also want to be quick about moving your debt to a better location whenever you can. For example, if you can transfer a balance from a higher-interest product to a lower-interest product, then you make a gain! Last but not least, remember that even the best game players can benefit from some coaching, so look at getting helpful advice, at least with big decisions.

Remote Learning Challenges (And How To Overcome Them)

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To continue your education today, you don't necessarily need to enter a traditional classroom environment. There are many affordable and accessible learning options to consider, including the option of studying online at home. 

Many courses can now be completed entirely online, although you might be required to meet up with other students and your tutor occasionally. Then there are those courses that can be started offline and then continued online, and sometimes you might be forced to follow this pattern, as is the case at the moment with the recent pandemic situation.

Remote learning certainly has its benefits. You can remain in the comfort of your own home, and you can fit in the needs of your course with the needs of your family. But there are challenges, and these include the following. 

#1: Distractions

When you're working from home, there are distractions everywhere. It could be your TV, for example, or it could be the sites you enjoy on the internet. Distractions might also come from your family, friends or neighbors popping around for a chat. When you are distracted in any way, there is the danger of falling behind with your work. So, what can you do?

Well, you should be firm with yourself. Remind yourself why you need to crack on with your work and remove as many distractions as you can ahead of time. You might install a website blocker on your laptop, for example, or you could turn your phone off if that becomes a problem for you.  

You should also let people know when you need to work, perhaps by giving them your schedule so they know when not to bother you. And if things do become too much of a problem? Well, work elsewhere, such as at your local library, where there should be fewer distractions. 

#2: Academic struggles

If you're struggling with your studies at home, you might be tempted to give up. You might also turn in work that won't be acceptable. These aren't good scenarios, but they can be overcome. 

Firstly, know that many tutors have already taken steps to support their students. With online services akin to Bakpax, teachers can gain an understanding of where their students are academically, so they might have solutions available to help you. Your tutor should have provided you with their email address and an indication of their office hours, so get in touch with them and let them know about your struggles. They might even be contactable over Skype or Zoom for a face-to-face meeting.

If you aren't able to access help from your tutor, you could speak to other students. If study groups have been set up for your online course, you could meet up with people in your area, or chat to them online. You could also contact people you know who have taken your course, as they should be able to offer you advice. 

You also have access to the internet so look online for help with your particular course, as you might find free study guides and other resources that can be made available to you.

These are just two of the challenges that are associated with remote learning, but they can be overcome. If you're relating to them, follow our suggestions, and commit to further research online for extra help.

Which Game Station Should I Buy?

It can be confusing to choose the right games console. There are so many out there, with so many different games that it can be mind boggling to sift through them all to find the one that stands out for you. You may think that the XBox One is the most powerful and then there would be the PS4 with huge diversity in its gaming titles. You also have the Nintendo range of games consoles and games, and these can be exceptional when you’re looking for fun multiplayer Mario games! 

There is no right answer for which the best console is that you should buy. Why? Well, games consoles are individual. What’s good for one is not good for all, and you need to base your choice on the games you play, if you’re using it to learn and create, or you simply want to relax with it and even the budget you have. You also need to consider how many people will be using the consoles that you purchase. With this in mind, let’s talk through what you need to think about before you buy your game console!

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Who Is It For?

Before you buy anything, you need to ask yourself who it’s for. You could buy the best XBOX ONE X games but if they’re not age-appropriate for the kids, you’re going to struggle with not feeling like you’ve wasted your cash. The average gamer age is 35 in the United States, so you need to think about which consoles will fit you and what won’t. 

What Are My Gaming Options?

Below, we’ve put together a list of consoles that you should consider buying - with a little bit about each of them!

• Nintendo Switch

Best for families and younger gamers, the Nintendo Switch is like the Disney of the gaming world - it’s suitable for everyone of any age! Some of the games include Zelda, Mario and Pokemon, and Nintendo games in general often avoid most of the violence and language that other consoles include in their games. The Nintendo franchise is long in the tooth, so you will know the history of GameBoy and other Nintendo consoles out there. The Switch allows for multiplayer gaming, and it’s one of the easiest consoles to use out there!

• PlayStation 4

Excellent for the older teens in the house and adults, the PlayStation 4 is the perfect console for gamers who love to be online and interacting with people all over the world. There are some excellent role-player games as well as shoot-em-up games that can be enjoyed by all. There are even sporty games like FIFA that are perfect for those who want to play in a team. There are tons of single-player games that are just as great as the multiplayer games. The console has a lot of platforms and one of the most popular games, Fortnite, began on PlayStation 4. There’s not really much room for family games with the PS4, either, which makes it less than inclusive for the family market. However, the PlayStation store is easy to use and you don't just get games on the console, either. You can buy and download movies, TV shows and demos so that you can keep up to date on the games coming out!

• XBox One

Another one great for kids and older teenagers, the XBox One is brilliant for the Minecraft fans out there. There is a correlation between their biggest competition - the PlayStation 4 - and themselves, but there is less for families with the XBox One. Instead, it’s great as a high-value, high-powered console for teenagers. There are usually tons of deals for the XBox One out there, but you have to wait for the sales and know where to look when you’re shopping around. 

How Much Do You Have To Spend?

The last question that you really need to ask yourself is what your budget is for your console? The right budget will fit the criteria for your console, and you can ensure that you are buying the right one when you hunt down the best deals. Thankfully, there seem to be sales all of the time when it comes to games consoles. The year has Black Friday, holiday sales, end of season sales and upgrades, too. The few hundred dollars in price between each console really do make a big difference, and seeking out the best value is important. There are usually bundle deals with games and accessories included, but new deals always come and go. All you have to do is ensure that you buy at the right time!

Buying a console is a luxury, and buying the right one will mean that you have years of fun ahead of you. Choose wisely!

Accessible And Affordable: Flexible Learning Options To Consider

In years gone by, studying meant going away to university or college and spending anywhere between a year and six years visiting the library, attending lectures and tutorials and taking examinations. Today, there’s a whole raft of learning opportunities available. If you’re looking for accessible and affordable ways to study, here are some flexible options to consider. 

Online programs

Online courses and programs have revolutionized the way we learn. Billions of people all over the world use the Internet, and this has made studying far more accessible. Rather than having to choose between working and learning, people can now do both. This is beneficial for those starting out on a career path, as well as those who are keen to climb the ladder and progress to the positions at the top of the tree. You can choose to undertake courses at all levels online, from entry-level programs to advanced qualifications, and you can fit studying in around your work commitments. 

If you are interested in online courses, take some time to explore options, look at different schools and colleges, compare syllabuses and think about what kind of job or role you’re working towards. There is a vast range of programs available, including an online communications degree, qualifications in management and leadership, programs for sales and marketing, journalism and creative writing courses and certificates in accounting and finance. Before you decide which option to choose, read job descriptions and requirements carefully to see which courses would be most beneficial and attractive for prospective employers. 

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Apprenticeships and internships

Apprenticeships and internships offer incredible opportunities to learn and gain practical skills. In many cases, these are paid placements, which provide you with the opportunity to earn while you learn. Apprenticeships are often geared towards vocational roles and trades, and they combine classroom learning with the chance to experience the world of work. Apprentices learn from more experienced professionals and they can hone their skills and try new techniques under the watchful eye of a mentor or manager. As an apprentice, you’ll have a wage, but you’ll also have a good chance of securing a job once you complete the program. Internships are slightly different, but they offer the same platform to gain experience on the job. Not all internships are paid, but some will offer a wage or cover expenses. If you impress while undertaking an internship, your employer may decide to keep you on or offer you a job at the end of the agreed term. Even if you don’t get a job offer, you will have gained valuable experience, which is great for your resume.  

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Learning, training and studying play an instrumental role in enhancing your career prospects and enabling you to fulfil your potential. If you’re looking for flexible ways to develop new skills and gain qualifications, it is possible to study while working. If you have a dream job in mind, or you’re keen to take the next step on the ladder, take a look at online courses and programs,  and keep an eye out for internships and apprenticeships.

Health Degrees That Will Have an Impact

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The past year has seen the vast majority of us endlessly impressed and in awe of healthcare workers. The rapid spread of coronavirus and the rise of Covid-19 has meant that 2020 has been a particularly difficult year for anyone operating within or in support of the medical field. Many of us have been inspired by these individuals' hard work to the extent that we’re considering pursuing a healthcare career ourselves. Not only are healthcare roles massively reliable and consistently in demand (something that many of us are now actively seeking since losing our jobs through the pandemic), but you get the extra reward of knowing that you’re improving others’ lives on a day today basis. Of course, the field of healthcare is huge. So, here are a few specific career paths that you might want to consider following!

Nursing

Let’s start with nursing. Nurses’ duties range from practical work (such as taking blood, dosing medication and managing IV lines) to theoretical work. Nurses can also operate in a wide variety of settings, ranging from hospitals to general practitioners to nursing homes. If you want to become a nurse, you’re going to have to complete a nursing degree. This will give you all of the skills and qualifications you will require to become a registered nurse. The average nursing degree will take three to four years of full-time study to complete, plus placements that will help to train you up on the job. It’s also good to be aware that there are a number of different areas of specialism that you might want to take into consideration as your studies progress. These include child nursing, emergency nursing or midwifery.

Public Health

If you’re looking for a less hands on role, an online mph degree in public health could be a good idea to look into. People working in public health have the set goal of improving the health of all members of society through promoting healthy lifestyles, preventing injury and disease, or controlling infectious disease. There are, of course, many smaller paths that this career path could diverge into. Popular public health roles include:

• Dietician or nutritionist

• Epidemiologist

• Microbiologist

• Occupational health and safety specialist

• Health educators

• Community health workers

As you can see, the scope here is huge!

A Doctor

Of course, a very straightforward option when looking to work in healthcare is to become a doctor. To do this, you’ll have to take an extremely lengthy medical degree - around six to seven years of full time study, followed by placements and other specialist training. Doing this pays off though. You will be able to truly help people at the same time as earning a significant amount of money to afford yourself a comfortable lifestyle.

You may have noticed that training for any medical or healthcare based career takes a lot of time. So, you need to make sure that you’re completely dedicated to the venture before getting started. If you do go ahead, you’ll quickly grow to realise that healthcare careers offer so much more than stability. You’ll be able to see the hugely positive changes you can make to people’s lives day in and day out. It’s hugely rewarding and more than worth the investment of time, effort and money!

How Parents Can Help to Faciliate Online Learning

The COVID-19 crisis has turned the daily lives of families all around the world upside down. Up to 60 percent of all students across the world have been affected by pandemic related school closures, according to the UNESCO.

For parents who have no experience teaching their children at home, it is an enormous challenge to suddenly take on the role of primary teacher or overseers of their academic progress. The same can be said with kids who have never received education outside of a formal setting or institution.

While online learning has its challenges, it also has plenty of good opportunities. School days don’t have to be as strict and as structured as they were before, and the internet is a superb source of learning materials on top of schoolbooks and textbooks.

Here, we look at some tips to help parents facilitate online learning at home.

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Organize your technology and resources

Computers and internet connection are the basis of online learning. You may have to start from scratch, buying a laptop or tablet, and getting an internet plan. Or you may need to upgrade to a faster device and a more reliable connection. Either of these situations requires you to fork out for those things to ensure your kids can have a comfortable and productive home-learning environment. Check with your school or district to see if there are any grants or bursaries or other ways of funding if you are on a low-income or your child has additional needs.

Familiarise yourself with the guidelines around online safety

Your children will be spending even more time than usual online and may be doing it without supervision if you are working or looking after other members of the family.  LanSchool partnered with Bark for student safety so children should know what they should and shouldn’t be doing when they are online, but it is a good idea to go over the rules so both you and they know what is acceptable and what is not.

Create a learning environment

If possible - and it isn’t for every family - create a dedicated learning space. It can be a nook in your study, their playroom, or somewhere conducive to taking their online classes. Equip this classroom with boards, pens and papers, books, and other essential equipment and resources. As much as possible, make this classroom an educational and fun space for schoolwork and related activities - somewhere that they will enjoy spending time and learning in. Get them comfortable tables and chairs too.  

Implement a schedule, but be flexible

Having a daily schedule, as they do in school, gives the kids a sense of normalcy and routine Structure the school day around your child’s needs and yours too, given that you too will have responsibilities at home and work. This school day can mix indoor learning with outdoor activities to reduce screen time and to give them time to play and relax.

Learn to set reasonable goals for the kids. They also have to adjust and cope with the changes brought by these unprecedented times. Your goal, for now, is to get them on board and help them with their education at home.

Studying Better Without Relying On The "Cram" Session

A lot of students will, at some point, try cramming in preparation for an exam. However, those all-nighter study sessions right before the beginning of an exam will only tend to stress you out and get in the way of your ability to sleep and relax to get into the right headspace. Here, we’re going to look at some healthier habits to help you study more and study better.

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Relaxing might help better

One of the reasons that we tend to cram just before a test is that we’re feeling nervous about how we will perform, leading to stress. You may have already studied plenty already, but still, be stressed. You might think cramming will help you feel more prepared, but it only tends to induce even more panic. Instead, look at methods to help yourself relax and to calm your nerves the day before the test. Take the time to compose yourself, even if it means not taking a single look at your study materials.

Break it down

Rather than trying to sit and study it all at once, it may be beneficial to try and break down your exam subject material into different sections that you can study in ten-minute blocks. If you don’t have a lot of time throughout the weeks or months to study as much as you want to, such as if you’re studying while working, rather than setting aside one day to cram it all in, you might be better able to retain the information you need by creating ten-minute study blocks every day.

Use specific exam preparation tools

If you’re looking at taking specific qualification exams, such as CPAs for accounting, CFAs for finance, MCATs for grad school or the like, then you should know there are plenty of resources out there that can help you better prepare for those specific tests. Tools like UWorld are built for exam preparation first and foremost and can help you better structure your approach to some of the most important tests in your educational life. Simply cramming as you would for any other subject might not always be the best approach.

Better last-minute learning

Sometimes you simply can’t avoid last-minute learning. You might simply have time to run away from you or have other responsibilities to deal with. If that’s the case and you don’t have the time to “prepare” your approach to the exam ahead of time, then learning to better improve your last-minute study, as shown by Study International, might be more helpful than simply trying to cram it all. It’s recommended you work from your own notes or prepared slides, and break the day up with plenty of breaks to avoid getting bogged down.

The occasional cram session to help you memorize a few final details before you sit your exams can sometimes help. However, they should not be the primary tool you rely on to help you prepare for your exams. Consider the tips above the next time you think about cramming.