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Working Out and Sticking To It: 5 Ways To Stay Consistent With a New Healthy Routine

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It can be tough to figure out how to get into a new workout routine, no matter how hard you try to create a schedule you can stick to. Here, we’ll take a look at five steps that you can take to get consistent with your healthy lifestyle. 

1. Get an accountability buddy. 

It can be tough to go it alone when it comes to developing new habits, and hooking up with a friend for workouts can help you stay on track. When you know that someone else is depending on you to show up at the gym, you’ll be less tempted to skip out on your workout. 

2. Find an activity that you love. 

While you might not love every workout, you shouldn’t generally dread exercising. It can take some time to find a workout that you enjoy. Whether that means hitting up a group exercise class, getting out for bike rides on the weekend, or playing soccer with friends, finding an activity that you look forward to can go a long way in helping you stick to healthy habits long-term.

3. Fuel yourself properly. 

It can be tempting to cut your calories in order to get faster results at the gym, but doing so creates unsustainable progress. It’s important that you take your time when losing weight and getting stronger, and that you focus on fueling your body so that it has the power necessary to carry you through your tough workouts. If you’re not sure about how to eat right, don’t try to figure it out by reading diet programs online. Schedule an appointment with a registered dietitian to learn how to eat in a way that makes your body work for you.   

4. Get prepared. 

Preparation is more than half the battle when it comes to working out. To get settled in a new healthy routine, you’ll want to make the process of getting to your workout as mindless as possible. The night before your workout, set up your clothes, fill your water bottle and put it in the fridge, and set up your equipment (if you’re working out at home). When you know that everything is in place and ready for you to get started in the morning, it can be a little bit easier for you to get up and moving as soon as you hear your alarm.

5. Reward yourself. 

No, we’re not talking about taking yourself out for a cheeseburger and drinks at the end of a hard workout (sorry to disappoint), but choosing non-food related rewards for the accomplishment of fitness-related tasks can be a serious motivator. Think about getting a pedicure after you hit the gym for five days in a row, or getting yourself a new pair of running shoes when you finally hit your goal mile time.  

Is Your Dog Getting Enough Exercise? What You Need To Know

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It can be tough to know if your dog is getting enough exercise, especially if your furry friend has only recently become a part of your family. Here, we’ll take a look at what you need to consider to figure out whether your pooch is getting enough time to run and play. 

Talk To Your Vet

No matter what you notice at home, your vet is the expert on your pet’s health. Talk with them about how much exercise your dog is getting, and ask them for suggestions if they tell you your dog needs to move more. If your dog is older or has joint problems, as your vet for suggestions on how to reduce their discomfort while increasing their level of activity. 

Keep an Eye on Their Weight

Weighing your dog every few months can give you a good idea of whether they’re getting enough physical activity. If your dog is a puppy, keep an eye on your vet’s recommendations for weight gain. If your dog is older, be sure to mention any unusual weight gain to your vet. While some weight gain is typical with age, too much weight gain can put stress on your dog’s joints.

Keep an Eye on Behavior

Many not-so-great puppy and older dog behaviors are simply due to not getting enough exercise. If your dog is feeling bored and full of energy, there’s a good chance they’ll find a way to take that energy out on an object within your home. If you’re noticing that your dog seems to have a lot of pent-up energy that’s tough to get out with daily walks alone, think about adding a second walk or taking them to a dog park so that they can socialize while also running off some energy. If your dog seems hyperactive, you may be tempted to put them on medicine to curb their behavior. Trying an extra daily walk can often fix the issue. 

Excessive energy isn’t the only behavioral sign that your dog isn’t getting enough exercise. If your dog becomes withdrawn or shows other behaviors that signify a change in personality, it’s possible that they simply need to get outside for extra physical and mental stimulation.  

 Lack of Endurance

When you do get your dog out for a walk or a jog, pay attention to whether they have trouble keeping up. In the event that your dog is huffing and puffing the whole way, or needs frequent breaks, you’ll want to get your dog on an exercise program that helps them build up their endurance. Taking your dog on shorter daily walks can be a fun way to help them build up to longer walks, and playing fetch with them in your yard can help them build endurance through short bursts of energy followed by periods of rest. 

For Your Bucket List: 5 Islands To Visit Before You Die

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The salty air, the feel of the sand on your feet–there’s not much better than getting away to an island vacation. Whether you love lounging on the beach or you’d prefer to soak up local culture, taking island vacations is a fantastic way to take a break from your day to day life. Here, we’ve compiled a list of five islands you’ll definitely want to add to your vacation bucket list. 

1. Maldives

If you’re into ocean scenes, there’s a good chance you’ve set your computer background to a photo of the Maldives without knowing it. Known for gorgeous wildlife, inviting locals, and crystal clear waters, the Maldives are known as some of the most beautiful islands in the world. The chain of islands consists of 26 natural atolls which poke just above the Indian Ocean’s surface. Currently, the Maldives is the lowest-lying nation on the planet, and due to global warming, it sinks a bit lower every year. Surfers and beachcombers alike love the island’s relaxed vibe and wide variety of wildlife.

2. Palawan, Philippines

Ready to jet set to paradise? You’ll love Palawan’s white sand beaches and pristine coral reefs. Known for offering divers some of the best underwater spots in the world, you’ll want to be sure to sign up for a snorkeling or scuba trip to ensure that you get to see all that Palawan has to offer. When you’re on the island, be sure to book a day trip to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. You’ll be amazed as you make your way into the limestone cave system, complete with an underground river. 

3. Bora Bora, French Polynesia

From the beautiful turquoise waters to the wide variety of wildlife that swim just below the surface, both people seeking to become one with nature and those who are looking for a chill place to kick back and relax love all that Bora Bora has to offer. Many people spend time diving and snorkeling, while others prefer to hike through the palm trees in the island’s many forests. 

4. Seychelles

Located just East of Kenya, this stretch of 115 granite and coral islands seems to go on forever. Powdery beaches make lounging near the water a dream, while the rich variety of fish in the surrounding waters make the Seychelles an angler’s paradise. Be sure to sample some local spicy Creole cuisine when you’re in the area.  

5. Santorini, Greece

The rich history of Greece combined with the beauty of a shining sea make Santorini the perfect place for anyone who wants to relax while also getting to learn more about Greek culture. The island’s signature blue-topped churches are gorgeous against the blue and green sea below, and tourists love trekking through the islands’ mountainside neighborhoods to get a better view of the ocean. 

5 Tips to Launch Your Dream Career as a Game Developer

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If you have a strong passion for gaming and want to leave your mark on the video game world, a game developer career is definitely the way to go. The average salary of $115,000 per year doesn’t hurt either, making it well worth the effort it takes to break into this competitive industry. And you can count on it being an uphill battle, for sure, especially if you’re located in an area fairly saturated with talented tech professionals. Fortunately, you can get past the initial hurdles and achieve great success by simply following these five tips on how to launch your dream career as a game developer.

Target a Niche

Although it’s good to have a broad view of the game development landscape as a whole, you need to focus on a niche to truly stand out from the crowd. There are many roles to consider in the game development world, such as:

  • Concept artist
  • Storyboard artist
  • UI designer
  • Level designer
  • Animator
  • Programmer
  • Scriptwriter

To figure out your niche, think about where you want to focus your talents to start. As you advance your career, you may get to try out additional roles, especially if you work in small teams. So, you won’t be stuck with your initial choice if it’s not what you expected.

Get Well Educated

While you don’t have to go out and get a bachelor’s degree in computer science, game design, and the like, it certainly can’t hurt. Your degree will ensure you gain the right skills needed to excel in the industry while giving you a competitive edge.

If you do decide to go without formal education, do as many free tutorials as possible to build a strong skillset. Then, put your newfound skills to work in completing your own projects, like creating characters, building levels, and writing stories.

Build a Strong Portfolio

As you put your all into completing your own projects, start building a large portfolio full of your best work. You can then use the portfolio to demonstrate your game design skills whenever you’re ready to apply for your first job in the field.

A website format works best for a game developer portfolio. As you complete each web page, go in-depth about the process of making each piece to show the tools and techniques you used along the way.

Join the Gaming Community

A strong professional network is key in landing your dream job in the game design field. You can start building that network by joining gaming communities all over the web.

You might want to start by participating online at: 

  • GameDev.net
  • Indie Gamer
  • Devmaster
  • Quora

As you dig around online, you’ll also find groups on Facebook, LinkedIn, Reddit, and other platforms dedicated to your niche of choice.

Start Networking at Tech Events

Attending game design conferences and other tech events is a great way to build your professional network. Start by looking for conferences hosted in your area – unless you have a big travel budget, that is. If you’re in Western Washington, for example, the Game UX Summit might be a great conference to attend.

At each event, focus on building relationships above all else – and the help building your career will naturally follow. Do what you can to volunteer your time helping others as well, so you can gain a great reputation in the industry.

With these tips on your side, you’re well on your way to a lucrative and rewarding game developer career. Just be sure to keep your eye on the prize and you’ll soon start to realize your dreams of becoming a leader in the game design world.  

How To Use Facebook In A Healthy Way

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Facebook, when first introduced, was a great way to let your friends know what you were up to in college. Now, it’s something where everyone seems to be getting into arguments with people from the opposite side of the aisle and, quite frankly, has played a part in causing a rift between people around the world. Instead of jumping into the pile of arguments and breaking your mental health, instead opt to approach Facebook in a healthier way. To do that, we’ve come up with five steps to make sure you’re getting the most out of social media without it taking over your life.

5. Set a Limit

When setting a course of action on using Facebook the right way, you should first track how much time you’re spending on the app. If you are spending more than 30 minutes per day on social media, you’ll want to start cutting down immediately because that’s the maximum suggested by the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. The best way to limit time is by turning off push notifications, instead catching up on everything during your designated Facebook time.

4. Know What You Want

You shouldn’t hop on Facebook without knowing exactly what it is you’re looking for in your session. People tend to lose track of time and just scroll with no end in sight, and this can turn into hours of browsing and poor mental health. Go on Facebook looking for a specific person’s post, to update your status, find something on the Marketplace, etc. It makes it much easier to be in and out when you have a plan of attack.

3. Cut the Friends List

One way to completely minimize your time on Facebook is by slashing your friends list and the amount of people that you follow. If you limit your friends list to only those that you know and talk to on a regular basis, then you’ll only be seeing what they post. If there’s a slow day where they don’t post anything, then your Facebook time will only be a few minutes, leaving you plenty of time to create your own memories to share.

2. Follow Positivity

There are some accounts that you should still follow, even if you don’t know them. That’s because they can give off a good vibe that you otherwise wouldn’t get on Facebook. You’ve probably seen the sports arguments that people get into on Facebook, but that’s nothing compared to political arguments. Try to steer clear of any political talk for your own time and sanity, instead focusing on short form videos with wholesome content.

1. Don’t Post Every Thought

Not everything that comes to your mind and not every photo that you take on your phone needs to go on Facebook. It’s not just a matter of oversaturating your profile with posts, but exposing too much of yourself. There have been countless people that have shared just a little too much and it came back to bite them. Whether it be something offensive from their younger days, pictures of them partying when they weren’t supposed to be, or even something more minor, you can share too much.

How To Cultivate A Healthy Approach To Instagram

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Instagram is a great way for us to share our finest photos, but just like any social media app or site, it can be addicting. People can spend several hours per day just scrolling through Instagram and posting photos of themselves, especially when trying to find the right filter. It’s important to not use Instagram as a full time job that you don’t even get paid to do, so focus on a healthier approach to the app. Here’s how to do just that in five easy steps:

5. Post Dump

You’re not trying to be the next Jenner, so you don’t have to take a photograph with your phone and think that it needs to go straight to Instagram. Instead of posting every photo as they happen, try to do a once a week photo dump. This will allow you to filter the photos that you actually want to share, and it will mean you’re spending a lot less time on Instagram and worrying about filters. All in all, you’ll save literal hours of your life by not posting in real time.

4. Don’t Compare Yourself

The dream for many is to become an Instagram influencer and post about life experiences such as travel, as well as expensive things that we purchased. Because of this, you’re only seeing the most lavish moments in peoples’ lives on Instagram, likely including your own. You shouldn’t spend time comparing your own life to others on the app and wish that that could be you. Studies have shown that this is terrible for your mental health, so only worry about you. With that said…

3. Try Not to Follow Celebs

Nobody is going to make you feel more inadequate than the top 1 percent of influencers on Instagram or those that are famous already without the app’s boost. If you’re following celebrities, make sure it’s because they’re posting content that’s actually interesting to you, such as behind the scenes footage and short funny videos. If you’re following them for their private jet or luxury car posts, it’s not going to be good for you.

2. Stop the Scroll

No matter how many people you’re following on Instagram, it literally will not end if you continue to scroll. They’ll find a way to suggest other accounts for you to follow. Because of this, it’s easy to continue to scroll through and start to randomly follow accounts that you don’t even know. You look up from the clock and realize that you’ve been scrolling for hours on end. When you pull up Instagram, try to only look at the top few posts in your feed and then stop.

1. Learn the Algorithm

Follow a lot of sports accounts? You can expect to see a lot more on your recommendations. The same goes for any category that can be tagged. Unfortunately, that can mean some pretty toxic stuff that gets plastered onto your feed even if you follow just one account out of spite. Make sure to clean up the list of people you follow so that you’re getting the most wholesome content on your feed. This also makes things better for your mental health and it doesn’t seem like the time spent on Instagram is wasted.

Does YouTube’s Algorithm Promote Extremism?

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It may have happened to you when browsing the internet. You see a link to a video on a website like Reddit or Twitter and it leads you to watching a video about extreme ideals from one end of the spectrum or the other. At first, you might watch this extremist video out of spite or morbid curiosity, but before you know it, you’re being suggested very similar videos to the point where you may become indoctrinated into a way of thinking. This is because YouTube’s algorithm is built in a way where if you watch just one video on a particular subject, you’re bombarded with many on the same topic.

You tend to fall into what’s known as a channel cluster thanks to the YouTube algorithm, which funnels your suggestions into more specific topics. If you watched one video that criticized “SJWs” (social justice warriors), that leads to topics that start swaying to the right of the aisle. Suggested videos become more far right until you’re getting some very scary topics that are extremely racist and sexist. The same can be said for anti-capitalism videos and how it can lead to far left ideals such as forcefully tearing down the government. These rabbit holes were once reserved on YouTube for one cat video leading to an hour-long compilation playlist, but it has become very extreme politically in recent years.

This seems to be especially true when it comes to the far right of politics. Consumption of far right and ‘anti-woke’ content on YouTube – while small relative to politically moderate and nonpolitical content – is stickier and more engaging than other content categories,” says one study conducted by Stanford University, adding that “The growing engagement with radical content on YouTube may simply reflect a more general trend.”

With that said, the far right extremist content tends to generate more of a response, and thus, is more ingrained into the algorithm. If you see a video speaking about politics and there’s no bias in one direction, you’re likely to just say “meh” and move on to the next video. When you vehemently oppose something, you watch the entire video out of seething curiosity and react with dislikes, getting in comment wars, etc.

There’s a current hypothesis called algorithmic radicalization that has been studying this very phenomenon. Research began in 2021 with several major studies, and results are still being worked on to this day. One study has already noted that YouTube’s “Changes appear to have affected the propagation of some of the worst content on the platform, reducing both recommendations to conspiratorial content on the platform and sharing YouTube conspiracy videos on Twitter and Reddit.”

With this hypothesis, YouTube acts as the starting point for extremism where it hosts content and the algorithm catches people who have fallen down this “rabbit hole.” From there, the content starts to spread like wildfire across social media platforms, and for some people, it converts them into having these extremist views. Interestingly enough, though, the algorithm tends to capitalize on how people already felt or what their interests were. With that said, perhaps it’s not a YouTube problem to begin with, but rather people already having those types of seeds planted and YouTube is the symptom.

How To Make The Most of LinkedIn For Your Job Search

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Long gone are the days where you asked to talk to a manager at a random company you wanted to work for, shake hands and fill out a one page paper application. Now, you have to play the recruiting game, and a big part of that is through LinkedIn. Around 125 million people per year land interviews thanks to the job networking site, and about 35 million landed jobs because of their profiles. Do you want to land your dream job without having to actively apply left and right? Here’s how to make the most of your LinkedIn profile when job searching.

5. Set Your Status

Are you currently searching for a job, but haven’t gotten any emails from recruiters on LinkedIn? That’s because your profile might not be popping up for them when they’re searching for new candidates due to your settings. You can change your work status through LinkedIn in just a couple of easy clicks. First, click on your profile picture, then select view profile. From there, click the ‘open to’ button on the introduction card, then select ‘finding a new job.’ Voila, recruiters will now be able to see that you’re ready to work.

4. Bio Essentials

By nature, humans are very visual creatures, and that includes those working in the recruiting field. Because of this, you’ll want to make sure that your bio on LinkedIn actually stands out. This means taking a nice, professional looking photograph to use as your primary profile picture, as well as a good background image to capture attention. You should also include a good summation of your work history without overusing the buzzwords that we’ve all come to be annoyed with over the years.

3. Detailed Experience

While you may have captured a recruiter’s attention with your bio, there’s nothing they love more than reading every minutiae of experience that you have. It doesn’t matter if you worked at a fast food joint, recruiters want to know exactly what you did while working there, what kind of awards you received and what you can bring to the table. This includes your educational experience, too. Don’t leave any details out as you’ll be able to fit into more spots and make the recruiting process much easier.

2. Link Everything

If you have links to anything, you’ll want to include them on your LinkedIn profile. This is especially true for those that are working in creative fields like graphic design. Recruiters are going to ask for your portfolio at one point or another, so it’s best to include that in your profile and skip the hassle. Links are also great if there is a news story about you, even if it’s on a local scale. This is tangible evidence of your accomplishments that don’t need to be researched.

1. Proofread

Finally, and this is probably the most important detail, make sure to proofread everything on your profile. Recruiters are instantly turned off with spelling and grammatical errors, and having to try to piece together details that may have been left out is time consuming. Even if you have to have someone else read your profile for you, it’s worth it in the long run as you’re setting yourself up for success and a new job.

How To Become An Influencer On Instagram

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For many of us, there’s a dream where we can just travel the world, post our photos on Instagram and get paid for doing so. While it sounds like a literal dream, there are plenty of people who make a living doing just that. These people are known as influencers, and they promote brands on a global scale through Instagram. Want to know how to become one? Follow these simple steps to start making money on your favorite app.

5. Build a Strong Bio

Any strong influencer that wasn’t famous before coming onto Instagram always has a strong profile and bio. Make sure that you have your profile picture set to something eye-catching and that you have your specifics filled out, including a business email so that potential clients can contact you. Use keywords that promote your interests and garner company attention, and include links to all your other social media profiles. Lastly, throw in a little bit about yourself and what makes you unique.

4. Caption This

Most people will hop on Instagram to post a photo or two and then put no caption behind it, which is absolutely fine. However, if you’re trying to become an influencer, you have to use a lot more than a one word caption for each of your photos. Make the caption as storytelling as possible, and use hashtags where necessary. This will get you more attention from people who don’t even follow you, allowing you to grow your brand. This is also a green flag for those looking for influencers to market their products.

3. Engage With Your Followers

Another sign for a company that a particular account is worth using as an influencer is the fact that they’ll engage with their followers. Sure, there are people like the Kardashians and Jenners that don’t have to reply to any comments to have their influence felt, but we’re not at that level yet. For now, try to respond to as many people as you can. This is a sign to companies that you know their product and can do a little PR work that they don’t have to in the long run.

2. Always Be Posting

There’s almost no chance that a company will be betting on an influencer when a person only posts once or twice a month. Growing your brand and getting the attention from companies that you need requires you to frequent Instagram as much as Norm frequented Cheers. Get familiar with what your most popular posts are and what time they were posted and find yourself a good rhythm/schedule. It’s ideal to post at least once a day to go down the influencer path, but more is better.

1. Pick the Right Endorsements

Alright, so you’ve developed your big following, you’re posting almost every day and you’re ready to start making money. Now’s the time where you have to be selective of what companies you’re sponsoring. Don’t just blindly fall into a deal with the first offer that you get. There could be a lot of hidden details that hinder you and the company’s reputation may be subpar. Have another set of eyes to help you out in the process so that you’re selecting what’s right for you.

What Makes Trump’s Social Media Strategy So Effective?

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In the course of United States history, only three presidents have been impeached. The first came when Andrew Johnson was impeached in 1868 and we didn’t see it again until Bill Clinton 130 years later. Then, Donald Trump made history when he became the third president to be impeached, and the first president to be impeached twice.

It seemed that so many things went wrong during the Trump presidency, but he was still able to keep almost all of his loyal following. So much so, in fact, that his contingency was willing to believe that his reelection bid was stolen from him and advanced on the Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. So how did someone known for real estate, reality television and no prior political history develop such a strong following? The marketing, of course. More specifically, Trump knew how to play the social media game.

Before Trump came along, most politicians would be very selective with the words they used on social media, with many simply having a social media management team to post for them. Not Trump, though. Trump would let loose any thought that came to his head and let people know how he felt on any and every subject from the economy to sports. 

This helped to establish Trump as someone who was not part of the establishment. He was sending out tweets on an almost hourly basis in the same way that your average Twitter user would do. This made him more accessible to people on the internet and relatable. Although you might not agree with what he was saying, nobody has been able to establish the kind of presence that Trump did leading up to his Twitter ban in 2021.

It wasn’t just Twitter that saw a massive uptick in Trump interest, as Facebook users (who tend to skew older these days than when it was first introduced) were able to garner him a lot of monetary support. His social media manager, Brad Parscale, said that advertising on Facebook made it so that Trump wasn’t spending all of his own money on his campaign. This was able to bring in nearly $300 million in funds. “Facebook allowed us to do that in alarming numbers,” Parscale said. He added that the Facebook campaign got the other social media platforms interested in having Trump related coverage to bring in more money.

Nobody purchased more advertising in their 2016 campaign than Jeb Bush at $82 million, while Trump spent just $10 million, which placed him eighth overall for any candidate. Trump’s grassroots campaign and social media coverage spread like wildfire, though, generating an estimated $1.9 billion in free advertising. Hillary Clinton was second on that list…at $746 million.

Trump followed what was known as ‘big seed’ marketing in the fact that he already had a lot of followers, and many of them shared the same opinions as him. Because of this, there was no such thing as “bad press.” All Trump had to do was tweet, and he would be talked about ad nauseum for what he said rather than any specific policies. This is what caused the saturation of Donald Trump, and led to him being the most visible candidate and won him an election. 

“I really believe that fact that I have such power in terms of numbers with (social media), I think it helped me win all of these races where others spent much more money than I spent,” Trump said. “I think that social media has more power than the money others spent…I proved that.”