What Shift to Virtual Learning is for Future of Classroom Learning

“We are living in the 21st century, and technology is everywhere around us. Even before the global pandemic, virtual learning tools were implemented by both college professors and experts conducting business courses”, says an expert that wrote best TOEFL preparation reviews. However, it seems that COVID-19 has put a major focus on e-learning and conducting classes online. 

According to the data provided by the World Economic Forum, over 1.2 billion children aren’t available to attend classrooms due to the coronavirus outbreak. The statistics do not exist for employees who were in the process of attending courses to learn skills. However, it is presumable there are millions of them throughout the world, and the pandemic hit them hard, too.

It seems that technology has already motivated (or forced) those involved in organizing the learning process to adapt. Now, everyone is forced to move to a virtual environment. Even when the pandemic is over, will we be able to return to the classroom learning we know from the past? Will this shift to virtual learning adjust the conduction of classes in organizations and business environments?

It seems that the number one challenge of virtual teaching is ensuring that every person attending the course needs to have the same conditions and experiences during the learning process. Those are the two sides of the equality coin when it comes to virtual learning environments.

Online courses might seem more accessible to everyone, and short courses are a great way to upskill yourself. Whether the companies or the employees are paying for these classes, the price for online-only courses is more affordable. Additionally, you don’t have to waste time and money to get to the classroom location, and all resources should be available in the electronic format, too.

But what about the hardware and software employees work with when attending the course? What if companies didn’t secure laptops for their employees? What if some attendees have outdated laptops that are slow, which affects their overall experience? How will they follow classes streamed live if their internet connection is not reliable? What if they don’t have the software required to open specific files? They might use free tools, which are not as good as premium apps used by others. Does that put them at a direct disadvantage?

Another challenge for virtual learning environments is keeping your concentration. It might be convenient if you can go through the course at your own pace, and at the time of day and night when it suits your schedule. But it takes more focus than many think to follow an entire online learning session, especially if it’s not interactive or entertaining. The online attention span is traditionally low, and the fact you are alone in the room with no one watching will only make it easier to reach for your phone or take a look at the TV. Ultimately, the pace of going through the classes will end up being slower than with classroom learning.

An article in Tomorrow’s Professor Postings asks the question if it is possible to accurately evaluate a person who attends a course in the virtual world. How certain can you be that a person you might not have talked to or seen at all understood what you were teaching?

It is not much different in a business environment. Many tutors love the fact that they can communicate face to face with the people attending their course. They feel like they understand better if they crossed the message successfully.

The social factor is imperative, too. Not only it adds to the motivation of competing one against the other, but it is also easier to enter a discussion regarding a topic in a classroom. That improves the focus of each attendee and allows them to adopt new information quickly. On top of that, you have topics and vocations ideal for distance learning, but some topics are extremely hard to teach in a virtual environment.

It would be foolish to refuse tech assets when they could help you in classroom learning. The approaches might vary, but some ways to use technology in the classroom can be applied from elementary school to business courses.

Here is how you can use technology to your advantage in the classroom:

  • Add new elements to presentations – most business courses these days utilize presentations, but the trick is in making them as engaging as possible. Use videos for particular segments, and implement moments where you will stop the presentation from having a discussion with the attendees.
  • Secure laptops for all attendees – it might be tricky if employees are forced to bring their own laptops because not all of them are identical. If you can afford it, it would be great to add a laptop for each attendee to use during the course.
  • Make all resources easily accessible – you can consider placing presentations or live course recordings on a particular platform after the class. Every attendee should find it easy to access all resources at home or whenever desired.
  • Add self-assessment tools – simple tests with questions to answer about the topics taught at the course is an excellent way for attendees to assess how well they understood the course. If the teacher has access to the results, it could inform them about which of the attendees could use extra help with a specific topic

Hybrid Learning – Is It Our Future?

It doesn’t have to be the battle between classroom learning and virtual teaching environments. It seems that hybrid learning could be our future, which implies incorporating both virtual and classroom learning elements. HR managers, directors, companies, providers offering courses, and other relevant parties need to work together to find the balance between the two. That is why the ultimate thing to consider is the goal that you are trying to achieve. Based on that, it will be easy for an organization to determine the best method to reach that objective!

Positive Words Research – What the Shift to Virtual Learning Means for Future of Classroom Learning

5 Ways to Motivate to Study Boring Subject to Complete a Project

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a boring subject? A problematic project plan that seems impossible to execute? This is quite natural as most students end up facing this situation at least once throughout their academic journey. Nevertheless, no matter how boring the project or subject is, you still must give it your best and make sure that it will be finished on time.

It’s quite common that students find themselves forced to do things that they’re not really fond of. These are the right things to do and studying a boring subject is one of them. Here are some tips that will help motivate you to finish a challenging project or study a boring issue.

1. Don’t study alone:

It’s quite difficult to feel motivated when you’re all by yourself. Studying with friends and colleagues can make this difficult time easier. Start a study group with friends and split chores. This way you won’t feel overwhelmed by the number of tasks that must be finished over a short period of time. It’s an excellent idea to prepare the correct plan for a project. Moreover, a friend might know something that you don’t know so you can finish your studies fast.

It’s a good idea to spend time with someone who’s on the same boat. Invite your friends over and engage in some fun couchsurfing and discuss your thoughts and fears. It’s always good to know that you’re not alone and that your worries actually make sense. Moreover, each member of the group can think of the trickiest question and find answers for, which takes the load off your shoulders.

2. Visualize yourself taking action:

Use the power of imagination to help teach yourself how to get motivated. Your brain can be the best teacher to show you how to get motivated while struggling with a difficult project plan. Whenever things start to feel extremely challenging and difficult, close your eyes and start visualizing yourself taking action. Think of the time you’re done, how this will help improve your academic and career chances in the future.

Every subject studied and each project plan finished add to your experience. It will eventually prove useful when students compete for an interesting job in a highly competitive job market.

3. Always remember it’s just temporary and imagine how it will end:

One of the best ways to learn how to motivate yourself is to remember that you won’t study forever. This is temporary, and you must think of how things will be once they’re done. Studying a difficult subject or finishing a challenging project means that you’ll have essential knowledge. You’ll get good grades which will qualify you for a reputable degree from the best college or university. There are lots of ways that can help you get done with tasks on time. Think about hiring assignment services and get help from the experts. This will give you more time to finish the most challenging tasks.

Even when things seem so hard, and you start dreaming of getting some sleep, you should always remind yourself that this will pass. There’s nothing that compares to the sense of achievement after completing a challenging project.

4. Small actions add up:

To better stay motivated, students should understand that everything counts. We sometimes become our worst enemies, and your mind might start playing tricks on you. Don’t let negative thoughts curb your enthusiasm if you feel that you haven’ done enough. It’s a good idea to have a plan and a target goal, but most times we set too high goals that we can’t achieve. As a result, you’ll end feeling frustrated.

Think of achievable milestones and enjoy the sense of accomplishment every time you finish a small task. It will give you more energy for the parts that follow.

5. Get some supportive comrades and spend time with them:

Supportive study mates have a significant impact on you. Surrounding yourself with positive people can help you unwind and deal with stress. These people will listen to you, support you, and give you advice about any challenging project or subject. Receiving support and advice from others will help you finish difficult and challenging projects faster because they’ll tell you that you’re doing fine. You can engage in some fun activities to help you clear your mind and take your mind off complicated topics. This is a good way to recharge before working again.

Try to hang up with people who have finished the same projects before. See how they managed to overcome obstacles and listen to their tips. They can help adjust your project plan and draw attention to problematic areas.

6. Make every thought serve you and move you forward:

The importance of the project or subject you’re studying should be reflected in every action you take. Let all your thoughts be focused on how to become better at what you do. How can you optimize resources including time and skills and complete the job the way it should be done? Use your past experience and knowledge to finish the assignment in the best quality.

Add interesting thoughts to boring topics to help you study things better. Think about watching videos to help explain more difficult topics or tutorials that show how to make an excellent plan for any project.

Challenges and problems make us stronger and more competent. Every difficult subject or project qualifies you to more interesting job offers in the future. With time, these problematic chores will get easier, and you’ll become better at handling similar issues. These tips will help you stay motivated and focused so you can finish all tasks on time. They also help you become a better student who stands out from the rest.

Author’s Biography:

Crystal Roman is a student consultant who helps students find their true passion and explore their potentials. She has worked with tens of students to help them find the right study program. She also coordinates between several institutions and organizations to help students find internship and scholarship programs.

Positive Words Research – 5 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Study a Boring Subject and/or Complete a Project

5 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Study a Boring Subject and/or Complete a Project

Dentists Can Help Patients Overcome Fear And Stay Positive

At some point in our lives, we all have been afraid to go to the dentist. It’s just the fear of someone going through our mouth with all sorts of different instruments. While most individuals eventually overcome this fear, not all do. These patients find it hard to go to the dentist due to fear that ranges from being checked to operated on. Most of them have anxiety that usually relates to pain.

As dental professionals, there are certain steps that can be taken to help patients overcome this fear. These step help patients overcome their anxiety and make their visits more pleasant.

1. Converse with your patients

To help ease the mind of patients, it is important that you form a relationship with them. So before you start examining them, small talk with them to get to know them a little bit. This helps calm the patient down and also forms a personal connection with them. This connection helps them relax and trust you as a practitioner more.

Make sure when you converse with your patient, it is not your usual “doctor talk.” Ask them about their day and go from there. The purpose of the conversation is to connect with them which will allow them to relax.

2. Talk to them about their fear

Dental anxiety isn’t a new phenomenon and it is up to you as a dentist to make sure your patients are comfortable. So rather than ignoring their anxiety, ask them how you can help with it? Discuss with them exactly what the reason behind their anxiety is and address it. Explain to them the procedure and also mention how you can alter it to relieve some fear. If it is being scared to have a procedure done then you can even discuss anesthesia and sedation with them.

The more solutions and information you share with the patient, the more positive they will be towards the treatment. One reason behind such anxieties is the fact that individuals aren’t aware of exactly what is to happen and how.

3. Discuss a stop signal

Some patients remain anxious, no matter what. To help ease their minds a little, you can discuss having a stop signal with them. The signal can be something as simple as the patient raising their hand. The stop signal will prompt you as a dentist to stop the procedure once the signal is shown. Having a signal gives the patient some control over the treatment. This shows them that if the procedure gets too much for them, they can stop it which provides them with a sense of ease.

4. Be transparent about procedures

As mentioned before, anxiety tends to take over when individuals aren’t aware of what is to happen. Explaining to your patient in detail the procedure can help reduce fear as they are more aware of what is to come. Be sure to leave no details out so if you plan on using anesthesia, tell them exactly what it does and how they will feel when anesthesia is applied. By being transparent with your patients, you get their approval for the procedure and also let them know what is to come so there is no surprise for them during the procedure.

5. Create a friendly ambiance

The interior decor of your practice plays a part in soothing fear of patients. Don’t have posters of gum disease or videos of dental procedures playing as patients wait in the waiting room. You want them to relax not trigger their phobia even more. Instead, what you can do is decorate your office with posters of healthy teeth and bright smiles. Have soft music playing in the waiting area to help patients relax as they wait for their turn to be treated.

6. Ensure your patient is comfortable

As the patient sits in the chair, you want to make sure they are as comfortable as possible. In this way, you don’t add to their discomfort. Offer them a blanket and position the chair so they are as comfortable as they can be. You can also offer some sort of distraction for them so they don’t have to think too much about the procedure. Give them a headset with music playing or have a TV installed in the room so they can watch something they like as the procedure goes on.

While your approach may slightly differ, the above approach has been trialed and tested by dentists in Ocala and has worked for over a decade. Forming a relationship and always putting your patients first is the key to any successful dental practice and it all starts with helping patients overcome their dental anxiety.

About The Author

Dr. Andrew Carlson is a registered dentist and a member of ADA. He is part of the VIPcare Dental team: a team of trusted dentists in Ocala, FL that values their patients and caters to all their dental needs.

Positive Words Research – Here’s How Dentists Can Help Patients Overcome Fear & Stay Positive

Dentist and patient

Students Depression: 5 Ways to Encourage Positive Thinking

Nearly every person on the planet experiences a depressing episode at least once in their lives. Sadly, in many cases, this happens exactly during one’s student years. Many factors contribute to this, from the hormonal cocktail of puberty to outright unrealistic expectations the world seems to heap upon one’s shoulders. It really is no wonder that suicide is the second leading cause of death among students (ADAA) or that 1in 5 college students suffer from anxiety or depression (TheConversation). In fact, real numbers can be higher, and we’ll never know because the majority of those suffering do not seek help.

It’s overwhelming to be so stressed with assignments, removed from home and support, and anxious about social and financial issues. That’s how many students are these days, and they have no one but themselves to rely on for getting through this.

Of course, it would be best to seek help, guidance, and counseling. But let’s be real, few people have the means and willpower to do this, especially when they are already struggling with a depressive episode. Thus, you have to use self-healing methods to fight theworst of it off. Positive thinking is one of those methods, and there’s research toprove its efficiency. The trick is to learn how to use and reinforce it whendefault thoughts in your head are far from positive.

5 Ideas on How to Nurture Positive Thinking within Yourself

1.     Assume the best. Forcibly if you have to

One of the greatest dangers of depression is how one absolutely innocent thing can drag you down a devolving spiral of dark negative thoughts. For example, you get a new assignment and five minutes later you become a trembling ball of anxiety and the only thought in your head is that you don’t have it in you to succeed.

Does that sound familiar?

Forcing you to assume the worst is what depression does, so you have to intentionally redirect those thoughts. Every time you get that kind of feeling, you need to stop yourself and play a game of positives. Go like this, you get a new complex assignment and next, you tell yourself ‘I can do it, I know which books I need, I have done similar things before, I have the power to succeed’. And even if you don’t really believe it yet in your heart of hearts, repeating those affirmations to yourself will help you get there.

2.     Provide yourself with positive visuals

As a student, you should know that images have a great power. In fact, it will be a part of your program to learn ways to visualize your data. That’s necessary for making your academic papers more comprehensible and authoritative. And you can apply the same methods of visualization in your quest of encouraging your brain to think positive.

Of course, you can simply stare at some specific images when repeating positive affirmations to yourself. Accompanying information with a picture makes the human brain memorize it better, as proves research. However, to beat depression, you need something more powerful. Instead, you should create charts, diagrams, and videos that will commemorate positive moments in your life and show your progress toward your goals.

Making these visuals personal will help you remember the good times and enhance your inner optimist, who is sleeping due to the depression. And working on them will take your mind off negative thoughts as you’ll be focused on a task. Visualization tools you use for your academic work will ensure that you create those ‘positive thinking aids’ fast, so your study schedule won’t be affected.

3.     Make an effort to surround yourself with positivity

Do you know what doesn’t help fighting depression? Toxic environment and people, both of which contribute to this mental disorder. There are studies to prove it. But what you need to take from them is that your environment has the power to affect your mental health. Therefore, you can use it to achieve the opposite effect.

Surrounding yourself with positive people and hanging out in places with a good and welcoming atmosphere will do this. Start with your favorite café and then look at various clubs and societies they have on campus.

4.      Become a philanthropist

A great way to promote positive thinking within yourself is seeing the happiness on other people’s faces and knowing you put it there. So, when you feel depressed, go out to your local shelter and volunteer to help out. Or participate in some community programs. Or find some other way to give to other people.

At the very least, you should go to the nearest support group and share your story. Not only will that help you, but seeing that you are making progress in battling your demons will inspire others in the same position.

5.      Turn bad situations into learning experiences

Positive thinking cannot prevent you from making mistakes or experiencing something bad. However, that’s when you need to apply logic.

Yes, something went wrong, but here you are. You survived, and now you can look back, learn from the experience, and be stronger for it!

Positive Words Research – Students vs. Depression: 5 Ways to Encourage Positive Thinking

Students vs. Depression 5 Ways to Encourage Positive Thinking

Best 9 Productivity Hacks For Procrastinators To Act Now

Procrastination is a habit of postponing your obligations without an apparent reason. This type of behavior includes everything from getting up from the bed to meeting a job deadline. Once a person sinks deep into procrastinating they may experience difficulties with getting back on the track. Although procrastination has some upsides like not rushing into decisions and actions, it’s important to learn how to avoid getting into trouble.

There is a common misconception that procrastination leads directly to lower productivity. This sort of claim, however, is not entirely true. Although it’s not advisable to postpone your work and leave for tomorrow what you can finish today, people don’t just stare at the wall, doing nothing. While work is on hold, one might do some online shopping, pay the bills, clean up the house a bit, etc. When you put everything on paper, this could count like fairly productive time.  Additionally, writers often take time before they start working on a project. While the deadline keeps closing in, a writer’s mind keeps working on ways to finish the project. When that “last minute” hits, the writer would sit down and become more efficient.

Case study service editor Miranda Black states: “I always prepare for work by cleaning up around my desk because it keeps my mind free and more creative. When the time comes, my mind is already prepared to execute the task.” This actually means that procrastination is not the opposite of productivity, to say the least, it helps a person become more productive if you follow some simple rules.

 1. Don’t snooze

We already mentioned waking up as one of the issues that procrastinators really have trouble dealing with. In most cases, they would hit the snooze button endlessly until the last minute, and not too seldom until they’re already late. There is an easy trick that might help you cope with this kind of problem.

  • Set the most annoying alarm sound you can think of. This could be a song you don’t like or a high-pitch sound that’s difficult to listen for longer than ten seconds.
  • Don’t put your phone or alarm clock near to you. This way you will have to get out of the bed in order to stop the alarm ringing. Once you get up from your bed it’s unlikely that you’ll go back.

In addition, you can set more alarms so if you manage to ignore the first one, the others will make you jump out and seize the day.

2. Create a schedule

Break your day into actionable segments. Make every moment of your time count by setting up deadlines for each part of the day. However, don’t forget to add some free time, it will help you to juice up and continue with your work. Pauses are excellent productivity boosters.

3. Move your deadline ahead

This practice allows you to start earlier with your work, even if you wait for that last minute bell. The fact that you know you still have the time to finish the project will simply keep you relaxed, therefore you won’t rush or do something wrong because you were too hasty.

4. Keep your phone as far as possible

Although there are hundreds of productivity apps and time trackers, phones are the easiest way to lose track of time. What starts with answering a simple message could result in hours lost on social networks, funny videos, etc. Leave the phone aside and answer only to important phone calls.

5. Carrot and a stick

We all like gifts, no matter who is presenting us with the prize. Therefore, rewarding yourself for a job well done is a great way to motivate yourself to work. For example, you can set up different awards for various milestones.

6. Get out of the house

It’s easy to stagnate when you’re inside. Getting comfy on your sofa while watching your favorite show is the easiest way to forget you have work to do. If you feel bad about delaying your work but you just can’t get enough focus to start working, it’s best to get out and take a walk. The fresh air will do you good, oxygen will pump up your brain and give you the energy to start working.

7. Use notes

Write down your obligations and put them in places where you spend the most of your time. If you go to the fridge and you see a large note saying “Clean up the pool” it should make you go out and finish this daunting task momentarily.

8. Wake up earlier

If you feel that you need more time to finish all your work, consider waking up earlier. It will give you a few extra hours that you might need in order to finish your tasks and have enough time to procrastinate as well.

9. Cut corners where you can

Most procrastinators are perfectionists. They don’t start working until they’re absolutely sure they will put out the best results and finish everything perfect up to a fault. Try and become just a bit looser when it comes to working. Work until it’s done, not until it’s perfect.

Conclusion

As we can see, procrastination is not the end of the world. However, it makes you waste a whole lot of time. We human beings can get back most of the things that we lose, time is not one of them. Once lost time is forever lost. Use your time wisely.

Author’s Bio

Mary Whitman

Mary Whitman is a freelance writer and blogger based in Adelaide, South Australia. In her spare time, she enjoys talking about Sustainable Development and writing essays.
Here at Positive Words Research, we are looking to share with our readers original content that hasn’t been published on other sites so if you are comfortable with Positive Words Research being your sole publisher, we are more than happy to share with our readers your inspiring and empowering story.

Positive Words Research – 9 Productivity Hacks For Procrastinators

Positive Thinking Attitude Influence Success In Student Life

For most of us, even the thought of positive thinking seems too far-fetched when compared with the practicalities and ironies of life. The term has been used so often that it has lost much of its significance. However, experts reveal that there is a lot more to the impact of positive thinking than mere instances of happiness.

In the educational context or from a professional outlook, a positive attitude helps regardless of your situation and mindset in life. When we talk about student’s struggle at college or university level education, it is apparent that positive thinking is more relevant as compared to children in preschool.
This is why teachers are advised to incorporate exercises and discussions in the class in order to instill the right positive thinking attitude towards studies and academic commitments.

As a consequence, we’re going to examine the details of the influence of positive thinking in a student’s life and how our attitude affects our success.

The Power of Negative Thinking

We tend to have countless of thoughts over the course of each day. Most of the chunks come from the remains of the thoughts from yesterday and before.

Unfortunately, some of these thoughts are negative. Common examples include, “I won’t be able to complete this assignment”, “how am I supposed to deliver this presentation to a large audience tomorrow?”, “I am not good enough to be recognized in the class”, etc. The thoughts attach themselves to our mind and bring us down.

Negative thoughts blur our attention. Imagine wandering in the world of The Walking Dead, and a herd of zombie is advancing towards you. It doesn’t matter what your mind was occupied with before witnessing this scene. Your immediate response would be to run away from this herd.

Agreeably, quite an extreme example to narrate, but this is what negative thinking does. The thinking will consume our thoughts in a way that will make it quite hard to get over the mental barriers and consequences.

The Shining Power of Positive Thinking

The power of positive thinking is visible, only if we have the knowledge and will to see through it. A psychology professional at the University of North Carolina, Barbara Fredrickson, examined the relationship between positive thinking and actions. She concluded that its impact to transform our lives can be quantified.

Fredrickson’s experiment contained five groups who watched different videos and displayed different types of emotions: happiness, satisfaction, anger, fear and neutral. The groups were then requested to visualize the same situation and explain how they would handle the situation.

The participants who watched positive and inspiring videos registered a better idea generation ability as compared to other groups. Fredrickson’s experiment concluded that positive thinking actually enhances the mental boundaries up to a great extent. On the other hand, negative thinking limits the creativity and thinking capacity of the brain.

How Positive Thinking Fabricates Skills

The dynamics of positive thinking is also often termed as “broader and build” theory. The theory states that the positive emotions come as a motivating drive that urges the individual to be imaginative and work for his or her best interests. Consequently, this leads us towards attaining future skill development.

How to Think More Positively?

Contain yourself strictly

Not from productive things, but yourself from falling into the never-ending ocean of negative and depressive thoughts. Before thoughts, stop yourself from negative self-talk and stay optimistic no matter what the situation is. Keep telling until you convince yourself that you are better than that, deserve more, and can live better against all odds.

Try to rewire your ideas for the good. Take the self-improvement process in a step-by-step manner. First, identify what your negative thoughts really are and why they exist. Second, try to extract the positive lessons from the negative experience. Lastly, rewire the negative thought using the positive extract to turn the thought into a positive and inspiring one. Consider the example of getting a B in Calculus. It will be easy for you to say, “I didn’t perform well in the exam as intended”. Rather, try to come up with something like, “I pushed myself for the Calculus preparation in a quite short time”. Or, “The grade I scored is better than I expected given my packed schedule along with other commitments”.

Author Bio

Lara Hawkins is a professional motivational speaker and conducts seminars and workshops for both students and professionals worldwide. Besides her regular job and passion to work for our self-improvement and fulfillment, Lara also operates an accomplished assignment company the UK with a large number of under- and postgraduate disciplines under her expertise.

Here at Positive Words Research, we are looking to share with our readers original content that hasn’t been published on other sites so if you are comfortable with Positive Words Research being your sole publisher, we are more than happy to share with our readers your inspiring and empowering story. 

Positive Thinking in the life of a Student

5 Habits to Help You Stay in Present Moment in Everyday Life

Living in the present is a goal most people have tried to re-commit to, but it’s a lot easier said than done. Most of us spend a lot of our time reflecting on the past (the good and the bad) and planning or worrying about the future. The ability to stay in the present moment is rare, and it takes a lifetime of practice.

Rare are the times we’re truly aware of the awesome moments as they unfold. It’s why most people say their wedding day and other major events “fly by.” Fortunately, for some events, we know how important it is to have photographs and videos. Hence the massive wedding industry promotions. It’s great to preserve those memories, but they’re still in the past. How can we actually stay in the present moment on a daily basis?

Here are five habits to help you hone present-moment living and shake off the negativity that can come with trying to stay in the present moment or future:

1. Actively take note of what’s happening at the moment

Tapping all your senses including the tastes, smells, textures, what you hear and what you see is one of the best ways to pull yourself back to the present. It isn’t easy. However, the influx of experiential marketing showcases that as humans we’re hungry for full-sensory experiences. We’re so used to just energizing a few senses that the others are desperate for attention. Throughout the day, take note of what your senses are discovering, and you’ll be whisked to stay in the present moment.

2. Try meditation

Meditation isn’t easy and “true meditation” means you’re living in the moment with zero to minimal distractions. There’s a reason meditation guides will so often remind you that, “If you feel yourself getting distracted, simply acknowledge it and bring yourself back.” We’re both in need of more sensory experiences and always trying to distract ourselves.

Meditation doesn’t require any special equipment, and you don’t need to force yourself to sit for hours in vain. A few minutes per day, preferably in the morning and night, is a great help. There are also countless tools from candle gazing to guided tapes.

3. Tackle your technology addiction

Most of us struggle with some form of technology dependence. Download an app that keeps track of how often you check your phone to give yourself a reality check. Make a pact with loved ones that when you’re together during certain events, such as dinner or a date, phones are on airplane mode.

Technology is a major distraction and can do more harm than good when we depend on it too much. How can you lessen technology usage in your life?

4. Get in touch with nature

Whether you live in a metropolitan or a rural area, you’ll be able to find green spaces that help you get centered. Check out parks, nearby trails, or take short day trips to the great outdoors. Forest bathing is a way of connecting with nature on a deeper level. Leave the phones at home and make yourself aware of the awesomeness of your surroundings. Nature is a natural antidote to living in the past or future.

5. Start writing

Whether it’s starting a journal or writing a handwritten letter to surprise a loved one, writing forces our brain to focus and slow down. Our brains tend to work faster than our hands, which is why so many studies have shown that writing things down helps us remember them better than typing.

For a double whammy, write positive affirmations and work towards cognitive reconditioning of your self-talk. Penmanship is also a fading skill, and if we don’t use it, we lose it. Focusing on bettering penmanship is an easy, accessible, and fruitful goal that also has calming and meditative properties.

Living in the present isn’t a resolution that requires waiting until the New Year. Know that you’ll slip up, but making it an active goal on a daily basis will get you closer to living a calmer, more joyful life. What can you do right now to make the most of this moment?

About the Author

Trevor is a freelance writer and recovering addict & alcoholic who’s been clean and sober for over 5 years. Since his recovery began, he has enjoyed using his talent for words to help spread treatment resources and addiction awareness. In his free time, you can find him working with recovering addicts or outside enjoying about any type of fitness activity imaginable.

Here at Positive Words Research, we are looking to share with our readers original content that hasn’t been published on other sites so if you are comfortable with Positive Words Research being your sole publisher, we are more than happy to share with our readers your inspiring and empowering story.

in the present

Reduce Stress By Positive Thinking. This Guide Will Help You

Have you been feeling empty and tired recently? Okay, these are the first signs of coming depression. Not to develop it to the full extent, you need to get out from the darkness and come back to the light of life. We know what you need to cure the upcoming disease – positive thinking! If you wish to find out how to reduce stress by positive thinking, then keep on reading!

Stop Negative Self-Talk

Everyone talks to oneself, right? The point is how you do that in various situations. For example, you failed the exam in college. The first thing that comes to your mind has to be probably: “I am useless” or “I failed it again.” Guess what? This is a completely wrong way of thinking. You should get rid of such thoughts right away!

Instead, you have to forgive yourself and motivate for the future: “Next time, I will do better,” or “It is okay to make mistakes. I have still passed the test though the score is not the best.” If you are feeling the depression is coming, change the strict attitude to yourself by comforting kind words.

Be Grateful

You should always be grateful to everything that surrounds you. In the period of upcoming depression, you should remind yourself of how grateful you are even more. To embrace a more positive attitude, you have to stop for a moment and see how much you have: the loving family, the opportunity to study in college, two arms and two legs that allow you to function fully, and many other things.

To understand clearer what you should be grateful for, write down all the things you have, both material and nonmaterial, and smile when the list is over. Why smile? Because there are many things you should say “Thank you” for when you wake up each morning!

Positive Thinking Meditation

If you do not feel that anything mentioned above helps, then try positive thinking meditation each day. 20 minutes a day will be enough – concentrate on positive thoughts and observe yourself from outside.

Make slow deep breaths and reflect on something that brings you joy – it might be the sunny day at the sea or walking with your dog or spending time with your funny friends. Reflect on how much joy it brings you and smile inside and out.

If you try and think positive, stress will never appear in your life again! Can you not think positive because you are overloaded with tedious essays? Relax! Have a look at our editing services for students and get back to meditation!

Laugh More

Laughter is an amazing thing that is able to reduce the stress and make our lives longer. If you do not find any reason to laugh in your everyday life, just look at its funniest part!

First of all, you should surround yourself with people who are able to make you laugh. If you do not have any, watch the comedies on TV or enter the groups on Facebook that will post one joke per day minimum. After waking up, visit the group, read the joke, and get the positive vibes for the rest of the day. How to find the correct group? Well, do you love the animals? Then, enter the group 9GAG Cute where funny videos with adorable pets are posted. Seriously, you will not be able to resist and not laugh and melt looking at the cute puppies and kittens.

Justify the Person’s Bad Behavior

Each time you hear something negative directed at you, do not take it personally. The polite and thoroughbred person will never say anything nasty to anyone. If the person still does something bad, you need to understand that s/he might be upset or angry, s/he might be going through the relationship crisis, or someone is sick in his/her family.

The person says it to lash out and not to hurt anyone. Plus, you might misinterpret his/her intentions and understand him/her wrong. You need to think positively and say to yourself: “I simply misunderstood him/her. S/he did not mean what s/he said,” or “This person had a bad day – I should not feel grumpy about what s/he said.”
Think positive and do not allow anyone to ruin your day!

Author’s Bio

Helen is a prolific writer who inspires other people to find their predestination in life. Her life motto is, ‘Do what you care for, love what you carry out.’
She also believes that each individual on the planet has special expertise, and the only complication is to be open in order to see this talent in its full volume.

Here at Positive Words Research, we are looking to share with our readers original content that hasn’t been published on other sites so if you are comfortable with Positive Words Research being your sole publisher, we are more than happy to share with our readers your inspiring and empowering story.

stress

Time Is An Illusion: Without Memory There Is No Time

Science finally proves that time is an illusion and that without memory there is no time. Time is just memory stored in space. Our own memory is not stored in our brain, it is stored in space and our brain is just connected with that place in space.

But how does this discovery that time is an illusion impact our lives, perception of reality, and our thinking?

The scientific discovery that time is an illusion benefits me in more ways. I thought about it and I reached five conclusions that I consider will ease life and improve well-being.

1. Live in the Present

If time is an illusion, doesn’t exist and it’s just a memory, why re-living memories. And I am referring here to bad memories. The notion of forgetting and forgiving takes another form, easier. Forgetting and forgiving means just not focusing anymore on those hurting memories. Let them be, there is just a bunch of information stored somewhere in space, anyway.

2. Jump to Positivity

If time is an illusion, doesn’t exist, then there is no need for the notion of “going through time”. Therefore, there is no need for so much learning through the hard ways. You can just jump through time, and because there is no time, it actually is… jumping through memories.

You can connect to the memories of someone positive that was generous enough to share it publicly with the world, and jump into the ocean of good feelings and emotions. For example, start with this list of positive words. This list of beautiful words is also a list of positive feelings and emotions. Pick a positive word and look through the vast internet for the meaning and the articles written about it. In this way, you will actually jump in the good, nice, inspiring, and happy memories of someone else. And just like that, you are connected with 3-4 happy consciousness (memories) of 3-4 positive people. You will be happier.

3. Connect with Positive Memories

If time is memory stored not in our brain, but in space, then we can randomly connect with any positive memory that we want. We could label certain memories as happy memories and we could just draw that positive energy from our memories by focusing on the label. This is where gratitude helps us. If we label each day 2-3 things that make us happy then it will be easier for us to remember them in the future. Because when we are grateful today, we are actually labeling memories as happy memories. We are improving our future well-being and diminishing the time it takes to keep alive and even restores our happiness.

4. Release Fear of the Subconscious Mind

If time is memory stored in space, then the subconscious mind could be all these memories stored in space, by us and by everyone. This is not frightening, it is actually more relieving if you look from another point of view. Release the fear of the subconscious mind that so many people feel… and try to change with many development programs. I am not against personal development. I just want to underline the importance of what you focus on in your personal development. Ask yourself: On what energy and consciousness are you focusing? Does it make you happy? Is it fun? Do you feel love when you learn or train yourself? My opinion is that we came here on Earth to have a lot of love and fun. And when you are not feeling happy, that is a clue to do something else.

I see a lot of people working so hard to change their subconscious minds. But memory can not be changed, you can just disconnect from that memory and connect with another memory… maybe with the memory when you have gone back in time and changed your own memory. But this is not true, this is just you creating another story for yourself, another memory. The old memory is well long behind you already stored in space. Yes, this is one way to do it, to take the old hurting memory, keep it close to you but rewire it into a more empowering story. But the hurting memory will still be close to you, hurting you.

There is another way, a new way. Disconnect from the old hurting memory and live in the present. Be grateful for what happens today, for the memories you are creating today. Connect with positivity all around the world, connect with lighter and shorter ways of doing things.

5. Release Lack of Time and Regain Freedom

If time is memory, you can release time by releasing memories. Once a month I do a reflection which can be considered meditation but it’s more like a connection with the empty space. I call it the release-connect technique. I release memories, good or bad and I connect with empty space. In this way, I diminish my attachment to various memories (good or bad) and make space for new memories to unfold. You can try it also. How do I do it?

I take some moments alone and start to picture that I am a locomotive carrying a lot of wagons behind me. Then I picture myself going in space where I can float. And the wagons slowly distance themselves from me floating away from me. They are not destroyed, they just safely float away from me with all the loads and burdens that they have. I trust that they are stored by the Universe somewhere and labeled properly. Then I just imagine myself a simple locomotive floating in space, being so light and free of everything. This is how I get my complete freedom.

See what Nassim Haremein, award-winning of the Einstein 2017 prize, has to say about the fact that time is an illusion and without memory, there is no time. The link will open a short video posted by Nassim on Facebook. Click here: without memory, there is no time.

About the Author

Elena-D-Calin

Elena is passionate about positive words and she is the person behind Positive Words Research. She also likes science discoveries related to spirituality and psychology.

Find her on her Facebook profile or PWR contact form.

Increase Downloads with Mobile App Promotional Videos

You’re developing a mobile app and you’re sure it will be successful. But what’s the most effective way to tell the world about it? Let’s assume that you still have a month or two before launch. How can you create the most demand and excitement around your app’s release? How can you increase downloads with Mobile App Promotional Videos?

You could focus your efforts on your app’s website, or spread the word on social media. But even the best website copy and the most amazing tweets can’t build up demand and get people excited as much as a great promotional video can.

Promotional videos convey emotions better than any other type of content. A great promo video generates hype and gives your potential users — and the press — something to talk about even before your product appears on the market.

But video is important for more than just pre-release hype. A promotional video on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store can significantly increase downloads. According to experiments by SplitMetrics, which took into account data from over 10 million users, video previews can increase conversion rates for mobile app downloads from 16 to 110 percent.

I don’t know anybody who’s against promotional videos out of principal. But I know a lot of people who won’t shoot a video because it’s too hard, too expensive, too time-consuming, or simply because they don’t have a good camera.

These are not good excuses. In reality, creating a promo video isn’t nearly as hard as it seems. Plus, there are lots of great examples you can look to for inspiration.

We’ll highlight some great app promotional videos. But before we do that, let’s take a look at Apple’s and Google’s rules for short video previews in their respective app stores.

App Video Preview on Apple App Store

[App Video Preview on Apple’s App Store. Image source: Hetzel.net]

Google Play’s and Apple App Store’s app preview rules

All promotional videos featured in the Google Play store must be uploaded to YouTube and then linked to in the Play store.

Apple’s App Store requires you to upload a video directly. Additionally, all App Store promotional videos must be approved by Apple. It takes around 24 hours for a video to be accepted (or rejected).

Google Play is clearly the winner when it comes to app localization. The play store can automatically show subtitles in any language you support. You can even create a completely different promo video for every country your app is marketed in without any hassle.

Apple’s App Store allows you to use only one language. This means that it’s especially important on the App Store to visually demonstrate your app’s functionality.

Google Play allows you to feature a video of any style that’s between 30 seconds and 2 minutes in length. The App Store, on the other hand, limits your creativity, allowing you to only show screen capture videos between 15 to 30 seconds in length. You can read more about app video preview rules here.

App video preview on Google Play

[App video preview on Google Play. Image source: Androidcentral]

Now we’ll talk about two types of video that can increase conversions on your app store product pages — screen capture and live action.

Screen capture

Screen capture videos — or as I like to say, “how to use it” videos — are the simplest style of promotional videos you can produce. As we’ve just mentioned, this is also the only style of video that the App Store accepts.

All you need to make a screen capture video is a screen recording app for your iOS or Android device. Apple recommends its QuickTime Player as a video recorder. But you can also check out AirServer for both iOS and Android, or Rec., AZ Screen Recorder, and Ilos screen recorder for Android.

When you record a video, make sure you do it in landscape orientation. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a lot of blank space on the sides of your video. Awkward.

When your recording is done, you can add music and a voiceover that explains the app’s functionality. You can find a voice that fits the style of your brand on gigi marketplaces like Fiverr, where prices — as the name suggests — start at just five bucks.

Here’s  an example of Mint Bill’s (iOS) screen capture promo video:

While a screen capture video can easily explain your app’s functionality and is simple to create, it lacks emotion. If you really want to get people to spread the word about your app, you need to tell a story. Thankfully you can do that on Google Play using a live action video.

Live Action to Increase Downloads

Even though live-action videos can only be featured on Google’s Play Store, a great video on YouTube can drive app downloads in both stores.

Showing a real-life situation in your video is more effective than showing a device’s screen because you can illustrate not only how the app works, but also tell the story of the idea behind the app.

Stories give your product personality while also convincing people that you know what you’re doing. If well-produced, a live-action video can be a major channel for attracting users.

In a live-action video, the app is typically a “hero” that gives people superpowers in real-world scenarios. But you can be more creative than that.

The promotional video for Todoist on Google Play doesn’t focus on the app’s functionality at all. Instead, they tell a story about the lives of different people using Todoist to achieve their daily goals. Todoist managed to convey their brand’s value by evoking emotions rather than describing how their app works.

Promotional videos like Todoist’s make your company memorable.

While the style of video that Todoist created may cost a fortune, there are many cheaper ways to create a live action video.

The video we created for Yalantis’s My Day Countdown Timer app mixes screen-captured footage from the app with live action shots incorporating music, voiceovers, and touchspot animations to showcase the app’s features.

Producing this video didn’t cost much, but we brilliantly described a real-life situation that appeals to the app’s target audience — young girls. We also added an element of surprise for viewers to remember and talk about.

Producing a video is like producing any other type of content — it requires talent and effort. Here are a few tips for you to make an effective video for the App Store and the Google Play Store.

How to make promotional videos that increase downloads of your app:

  • Keep your video short. Remember that an app preview is more of a teaser than a tutorial
  • Be user-centric. Anticipate possible questions and concerns and respond to them in the video
  • Show the app in action. Pick out one use case and explain how your app takes a user from point A to point B.
  • Show the problem that your app solves. Sometimes it’s great to highlight how complicated life is without your app.
  • Stress the app’s benefits and show what makes your app different
  • Don’t overcomplicate your video. A video should convey one clear message to its target audience.
  • Be creative. Even the simplest video that explains how your app works can go viral if you’re creative.
  • Include a call to action at the end of the video.

Author

Kate Abrosimova

Kate Abrosimova, Content Marketing Director at Yalantis (mobile application development company).

Kate loves building brands and writing about mobile technology, product development, and marketing.