Fresh Start

Balancing Text and Images on Your Portfolio Website

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When individuals observe balance and harmony, they feel happy. The sense of ease and happiness against repulsion and displeasure distinguishes aesthetic from visual imbalance. Everything immediately stands to reason with a pleasing visual balance, particularly in portfolio websites.

A high quality of aesthetics and visual display conveys to many potential clients and associates that you have a strong work portfolio and work ethic.

We developed this guide to all you need to know about balancing text- and image-based content formats.

In Search of the “Ratio” in Portfolio Website

You’ve arrived at the wrong destination if you’re seeking a “magic ratio” to define how much room to provide to text or visual components. Only plan, procedure, and conceptual design are present.

However, the following recommendations can be useful to you.

  • We are in a very visual era right now. Make a great visual impact to draw viewers in. The majority of projects will have more visual information than written content
  • Aim for a graphic to be included in between 60% and 80% of the design for the initial appearance
  • Visual effects and text should seem roughly equivalent in visual weight across most projects. Ensure the text and the images are cohesive

Guidelines for Finding Balance in Portfolio Website

Here are some ideas to consider when trying to achieve balance.

  • Don’t even use words until you have to
  • Communicate information. Don’t explain something you can demonstrate. Avoid using extraneous phrases or imagery that are repeated
  • If the style feels off-balance, make the text visual or convert pictures into text
  • Strive for equivalent surface space for images and text to achieve an “apparent balance” if you are unsure how much text is necessary

How Can Text and Images Be Balanced in a Portfolio Website?

Any website can balance text and graphics in a variety of ways, such as:

  • A split screen layout can give both parts equal room by placing the picture material on one half of the monitor and the text-based information on the other. Site balance is achieved even if the text content is smaller than the image because it will maintain the same visual weight
  • Rotating text and picture in square designs: If your website is created using panels, you can achieve balance by rotating the text and image content in each panel

What Are the Advantages of Text and Image Balance in a Portfolio Website?

Successful text and image fusion can have a range of advantages and benefits. These consist of:

  • Optical symmetry: Because text and images are two separate sorts of material, it doesn’t imply you can’t balance them against each other to produce them. For instance, equivalent images and text on either side of the display can strike the ideal balance while making your website appear symmetrical and well-aligned
  • Both attractive and educational: By skillfully blending your text and pictures, you may build a website that is both visually appealing and educational, using technology for learning
  • Enhancing customer experience: By balancing text with pictures, you may make your site extra user-friendly by sparing visitors from having to read a lot of content. This successful content will be broken into subtopics, graphic imagery, and photos to make the website more user-friendly and straightforward to read

Listen to Your Viewers’ Expectations

It’s critical to consider the audience’s expectations when combining text and images. For instance, a consumer might be disappointed to see a major update with little text because they would not anticipate a graphic novel from an author.

When considering people’s expectations, a range of demographic variables are considered, but odds are you already understand what is effective and what isn’t from the approach to designing experiences. Expand on the results.

Pay Attention to the Method of Delivery

The delivery technique is another element in balancing text and images. Projects that are displayed on screens have more visual elements. As you enter the portfolio, the balance favors more text.

Both large and small businesses depend on text or images. Legibility is a major consideration. When discussing anything significant, an image or a term will probably be employed. Numerous phone apps employ a picture or a text block from display to display due to their small sizes, allowing users to concentrate on one piece at a time before going to the next.

Conclusion

Although the brain processes images more quickly, words can help us grasp things better. Optimizing your portfolio website and establishing a balance between text and visual material go hand in hand.

Consider balance throughout the entire website for a stunning appealing portfolio website.

Discover How Do Nightmares Make Writers More Creative

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The image of a dark shadow following me like Dementors was chasing Harry Potter is still live in my mind. It is a nightmare I started having when I was about 13 and it keeps repeating every now and then. I always manage to run away from that shadow, but it never stops following me. It is a recurrent dream that is chasing me for over 15 years now.

But how do these bad dreams influence creativity? Every human on Earth is having nightmares, but do they have a special effect on writers or on their creativity level? Do these nightmares have a hidden meaning?

Let’s find out more about nightmares and if they make writers more creative.

What Are Nightmares?

Nightmares are those bad dreams which make you wake up during the night. And while the sensation of fear has invalidated your body, you wake up all sweat and disturbed by what you just saw in your dreams.

We experience more nightmares when we are children. Researchers from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine say that from 10 to 50 percent of children aged 5 to 12 years, experience disturbing nightmares that make them wake up their parents.

This means that the severity of their nightmares is high enough to disturb their parents.

As the time passes by, the frequency of the nightmares decreases. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says that only two to eight percent of adults experience nightmares.

But, What Triggers Nightmares?

Scientists say that the nightmares experienced during adulthood have the same triggers as the ones from childhood. Such triggers could be:

  • Listening to scary stories
  • The death of a beloved one
  • Watching tv shows or horror movies
  • Having a stressful day at school or work

Whether these triggers are common for childhood and adulthood, there are also some that are specific to adulthood.

As we grow up, we gain more and more control over our behavior and cognitive functions. We have the power to control and keep them under control.

But when something bad happens, our ability to manage our behavior and thinking weakens.

Triggers such:

  • Bad eating habits – like having a midnight snack
  • Conflicts unresolved that we never stop thinking about
  • Unknown allergies
  • Depression
  • Trauma
  • Insomnia

can cause you to experience that night troubles.

What do we know about nightmares?

  1. We know that the nightmares are occurring in the REM sleep (rapid eye movement sleep). This phase is unique in our sleep and makes it easy for nightmares to appear because of its characteristics. Our muscles relax, and our eyes move faster, creating the conditions to dream vividly.
  2. Although every one of us has his own opinions, issues and perspective, some themes are common to most adults. Running from someone who is chasing you and not having the power to escape or falling from a very high building are common themes among adults.
  3. If you are on medication, you may experience nightmares, depending on the addictive substances you are taking.

But, how can a writer be inspired by his or her nightmares?

We all know that inspiration does not come if you clap your hands. There are a lot of exercises to boost your creativity. Some of them may work, some not. I tried some and all I can say is that they are helpful.

A lot of writers ask for advice on how to boost their creativity, and all I can say is to dive deeper into your dreams.

I tried to remember all the details of my dreams, some of them being full of feelings and sensations that would make a great story.

My solution to the problem of keeping track of one’s dreams was to write them down on a dream journal. I noticed that after I wake up, I clearly see all the dream details.

And this is the best moment to write down what you have just dreamed.

As the time passes by, more and more details will get lost.

You will boost your creativity and you will have a great start for an awesome story. Your brain is working also during the night, so nightmares are one of the things that he is part of. And why not use your brain at its fullest?

Wait, is this possible? Do I really become more creative?

The answer is, yes. Have you ever wondered where the Frankenstein story came from? Or how was Edgar Allan Poe so inspired to write such horrific, yet awesome stories?

You might think that as a writer you barely have time to sleep because you often enter a writing frenzy state. Stephen King got the idea for his famous masterpiece Misery while flying to London and experiencing a nightmare.

You can also draw what you have just dreamed and get inspired like Robert L. Stevenson did for his The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde novel.

There are so many writers who leveled up their creativity just by paying enough attention to what they experienced during the night. So yes, it is possible to become more creative if you listen to your brain during the night.

In fact, there are lots of studies which investigated the relationship between nightmares and creativity. One study conducted by Michelle Carr proved that during a word-association task, those who experienced nightmares scored significantly better than those who do not.

This means that it is a positive relationship between nightmares and creativity.

You might find yourself too troubled to form sentences and all you can do is to write down some ideas and memories. As a writer, you can always use the help of some nerdy writers or you can hire a writer online who can proofread your drafts.

As a writer, you can get lost through ideas. It is always helpful when a fresh and new perspective is used to improve your drafts. This is the moment when you can ask for help from a professional.

How Useful Are Nightmares to Writers?

After I over analyzed all the studies about nightmares and creativity, an idea popped up. How useful are nightmares for writers, actually? How can I, as a writer, maximize the potential my nightmares have?

Well, these are some tricky questions. But studies helped me clarify some aspects.

Empathy – a study from 2013 showed that people who experience nightmares frequently, also display mirror behaviors. They tend to be more aware of the people and surroundings.

And it is well-known that there is a positive relationship between empathy and creativity, although we do not know the exact relationship. Nightmares might determine you to write more vivid, fuller of life stories.

The recall rate is high – this might be due to the characteristics of nightmares. It is hardwired in our brain to remember more bad things than good things.

This is especially visible when taking into consideration nightmares. They can be a great source of inspiration for your next horror or thriller story.

I talked a lot about nightmares. What are they, what triggers do they have or how are nightmares and creativity linked.

But, how can you take advantage of nightmares, as a writer?

Oh well, nightmares inspire you. They make you more creative in ways you wouldn’t have known were possible. The truth is, our brain is working all the time. And just a few of the things it is noticing reach the consciousness level. You must take advantage of them.

Write down as many details you remember. Or, if you have some hidden talents, you can draw or paint. The thing is, while you will be working on remembering as many details as possible, your creativity level will increase.

Your brain will be exercising, and your imagination will be unleashed. So, what are you waiting for? Start that dream journal and begin creating the most vivid and gripping stories you have ever written.

About the Author

Tiffany Harper is an experienced writer from New York (USA) and an extremely active woman. She began her career as a journalist, now she works as a subject matter expert with university assignment help, best essay writing , custom research paper, makes researches for domywriting reviews, Paper Writing Pro Service, and My-Assignment.Help. Also, Tiffany works as a special mentor with master thesis writing service, best paper writing services, expert writers, Pro Papers review, mostly in wellness and healthy lifestyle area. She gets inspiration for writing from travels and meeting new people, feel free to contact her on Twitter.

Positive Words Research – Do Nightmares Make Writers More Creative?

Do Nightmares Make Writers More Creative

Achieve Flawless Skin: Keep Off Complications In 7 Steps

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The subject of skincare has been around for a long time, ever since people started to feel conscious and concerned about their skin and overall appearance. Over the years, skincare routines and products have been introduced to the masses and each one is the one “guaranteed to work”. While some products may work for some skin types, while the others don’t, it is always a question as to what is the most effective product, or ways, to achieve flawless skin without the complications.

You will come to learn that the natural ways of skincare will always be the most effective in keeping the skin flawless and healthy. Here are the ways on how to achieve flawless skin.

How to Achieve Flawless Skin While Keeping Off Complications

1. Drink a lot of water

Drinking water is not only vital for survival, it is also an effective and the most basic skincare ingredient. Water is the best and most natural way to keep your skin hydrated all the time. Well-hydrated skin will allow it to rejuvenate constantly, paving the way to a clean and fresh aura all the time. Hydration can help keep the cells active, and skin cells can renew continuously.

2. Don’t wear a lot of makeup, let your skin breathe

While makeup is ideal to enhance one’s beauty and facial features, it goes against many skincare rituals that make the skin, especially the facial area, maintain its flawlessness. There are many factors to consider on makeup versus skincare. The most staggering of them is that makeup product, no matter how skin-safe they may be, cover up the pores and does not allow your skin to breathe freely.

3. Wash your face at morning and night

The face, being the most glorified part of the body, is also the most exposed. Day in and day out, the skin is exposed to many harmful chemicals and pollution that can affect the health and flawlessness of the skin. This is why washing the face in the morning and nighttime is important. It is recommended that you wash your face only with clean water and avoid using soaps and other skincare products unless necessary or with a doctor’s recommendation.

4. Use the same skin care product

There are hundreds, possibly thousands, of skincare products out there. All claim to be the best and most effective products for you. While the use of skincare products may sometimes be unavoidable or is recommended by a dermatologist, it is important to remember to use only one type of skincare product at a time. This is until when you are able to select the product that is most effective for your skin.

Every skin type is different and unique, and what may work for others may not work for you. Therefore, it is advisable that you test out products and isolate which one is the most effective, or seek help from a dermatologist because they can recommend the best products for your skin type.

5. Stay out of the sun

The sun, although always tempting and inviting especially during summer, is harmful to the skin. The UV rays emitted by the sun can cause skin irritations, skin diseases, and even skin cancer. It is plain and simple: as much as you can, stay under a shade and stay out of the sun.

6. Use steam to open up your pores

The steaming method to open up pores has been a long and effective technique for skincare. Opening up your pores is one way to exfoliate your skin better and clean off dead cells, bacteria and other elements that can potentially damage the skin. Through opening up your pores and cleaning off the dirt, it would allow your skin to rejuvenate and renew skin cells faster.

7. Ice can help firm up your skin in a pinch

Believe it or not, icing your skin is an effective technique for skincare and firming up your skin. Jasmine Tookes, Victoria’s Secret model, shares that she has been doing this skincare technique and the effectiveness of it shows on her face.

Before going to sleep, use ice water, to wash your face, or you can wrap ice in a cloth and move the cloth against the skin. Ice water can help the blood circulate faster in the skin, which makes the skin tighter and young-looking.

Modern ways of skincare may also be effective but best with a doctor’s guide. With Medicare, you can have regular sessions with dermatologists as part of a package.

The habit of skincare should be done diligently because the skin is sensitive and is the most exposed part of our body. You don’t need to worry about spending much on skincare products, because as sensitive as the skin may be, it can be maintained by an all-natural routine.

About the Author

Ryan Varela is the CEO of Boost Health Insurance which provides customized and affordable health care plans for thousands of customers across the United States. Ryan has nearly a decade of experience in the healthcare industry and continues to serve the greater need to educate and deliver access to affordable options to those who need health care the most.

Positive Words Research – How To Achieve Flawless Skin While Keeping Off Complications

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Top Reasons About How To Find The Courage To Switch Career

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Are you deciding to switch an established career at a late-life stage of life is indeed a challenge?! We need to determine various aspects before making the actual jump, and this post is showing all in a nutshell. According to the USA Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average baby boomer from 18 to 48 age held 11.7 jobs in a career. Older workers are now exploring new job opportunities. These jobs are available thanks to innovative job profiles like social media, cybersecurity, financial regulations, and international relationship management. According to an anonymous survey, 82% of workers are ready to change the job after the age of 45.

These statistics indicate that changes in career and directions are inevitable and happen at any age. Now, the question is that why people prefer a change in job or career path at a later stage of life.

Reasons behind the change in career at a later stage of life

To Cut the Stress

After 40 human body starts its declining phase and physical stamina goes down gradually that becomes visible after 50. It also cut the stress-bearing capabilities and tolerance to physical as well as psychological stress. Therefore, despite high position, good pay scale, and a number of benefits like paid time off, medical care, and long vacations are proving worthless against the day-to-day stress they bear in a regular in-house job.

Learning Appetite

Everybody wants a reason to jump out of bed in the morning with excitement and new energy. Unfortunately, one and long career lost it after a long span, and monotony in life begins that proves boring. If a new career is challenging and provide opportunities to learn new things, skills, it brings excitement to daily life. It is a strong reason to leave the old one and adopts a new one immediately.

Respecting Passion

Many stick with a career to make money only even though they are not passionate about it. At a midlife stage, they have saved enough money to start a career that follows their passion and fulfilling life.

For a Shake of Changing Pace

Despite all excitement and lucrative career, many are tired of the frantic pace of working life and want to bring fresh air into it. Therefore, they decide to leave even a successful career behind and begin a new journey.

Checklist before a Switch Career

Whatever the reasons seem to trigger a change in your career at a later stage of life, you must consider following things before taking a jump as a precautionary measure.

Recognize Your Strength

We have seen that an employee held an average of 11.7 jobs in a career. It means most of the jobbers have multiple jobs in a career and each new job comes with some innovative and challenging experiences where skills and strength develop further. At a later stage of life, you have to recognize your strength and weakness well through analysis. It will help you identify how you will fit into a new career at a later stage of life and new types of job environments.

After recognition of your strength and skills, you can present yourself to the prospective recruiter with confidence, and they will consider your experience as a guarantee to meet your claims for delivery.

Passion for Learning New Skills

The job market is constantly evolving and coming with innovative roles/jobs that you have never imagined. New types of jobs require new types of skill sets too. For instance, intense digitalization has made computer skills compulsory for any employee working in any industry.

If you are not ready to learn new essential skills for your next career or role, you may hardly get succeed in your late career. Therefore, a passion for learning new skills constantly is a must.

Advantages of Experience

Some jobs and companies need highly experienced people in their organization for a certain post. However, a career switch with years of experience would provide you a good opportunity to grab those all at good perks and satisfaction.

Entrepreneurship

At a later stage of life, let’s say after 50 you have enough maturity, skills, experiences, and resources to start up a new adventure related to your niche expertise. Therefore, the highest rate of entrepreneurship is reported among the over-50 age group.

Recognize the Fastest Job Categories

Nurses and medical aids, teachers, and software engineer job categories are growing rapidly with stable demands. Similarly, some other job areas have big prospects, and you have to recognize those areas if aligned with your skills or passion and apply for it.

Overcome Myths

Despite enough thrill and enthusiasm regarding changing the job or career some prevailing job market myths may prevent you from taking instant decisions. Therefore, you must learn about those myths and overcome them all at once.

Myth 1 – Employer Refrain Hiring Aged Candidates

At a later stage, you may lose some physical and mental strengths to compete with young competitors for a post/job in some areas. However, you have intense experiences, strong confidence, and a rich set of skills as well as determination power to fulfill the promises or delivery claims. These all positive factors surpass your age-related issues and make it all minor in hiring considerations.

Therefore, don’t feel low or intimidated about any age-related issue.

Myth 2 – Unable to Compete Youngers’ Tech Prowess

We are experiencing constant waves of technologies and relevant innovations in the market. Computers, mobiles, and now wearable technologies are growing at a rapid pace, and penetration is almost 100% in all fields.

Therefore, you must be a tech-savvy candidate that can demonstrate adequate command and familiarity over the upcoming technologies. Learning new technologies, tools, and technique is not dominant of the young generation, you can learn all at any age and at any moment if you’re strongly determined it.

Myth 3 – Learning New Business

Many entrepreneurs want to start their own venture in new trades and trends, which were not existing before a decade or a half. They believe learning new businesses over-50 is daunting and challenging.

Unfortunately, that is not true at all. Today we have entrepreneur training courses, classes, and government/NGO organizations to support you in all respects. So, you have smooth sailing in starting a new business of your choice.

Myth 4 – Return in Employment

Some employees over-50 once lost their existing and prolonged jobs they feel extreme depression regarding re-employment. They lost the courage to return to their niche or other by rejuvenating their skills, strengths, and experiences. In fact, many companies looking for an experienced and stable workforce, and trends are increasing among the highly volatile job market where youngsters are frequently changing the job and have inadequate experiences to manage certain roles.

What you have to do is to recognize those areas and companies and make a strong presentation of your skills, experiences, and commitment to fulfill their expectations, you may have a good perk awaiting in your call letter!

Who Can Help You?

Present statics and surveys of the international job market reveal that switching careers at a later stage of life is becoming a common trend everywhere. In the United Kingdom and the USA like affluent countries, there are multiple reasons that people prefer switching careers or starting a new adventure, and they get significant success too.

Try to get in touch with your area’s Career advisers to help you to prepare resumes, face interviews, make effective presentations of your skills and experiences and most importantly provide mentoring services to boost morale to hit your goals. If you stay in Norwich, UK then our job portal Just Norfolk Jobs provides a strong platform to find the right jobs and assist you to switch careers at an advanced stage of life.

Author’s Bio ~ Manya Ray

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 – How To Find The Courage To Switch Career

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