What Are the Symptoms of Information Overload?

Information overload is a problem that a large number of us face every single day. This is one of the biggest concerns of the modern, digital age and it's something that can have a devastating effect on our health and on our mood.

Despite this though, many of wouldn't describe ourselves as suffering from the condition, quite simply because we don't really know what it is...

How do you know if you're really suffering from information overload or if it's just regular old 'stress'?

Let's take a look at specifically what information overload really is, what the main symptoms are and how it might be affecting your life.

What is Information Overload?

Information overload, also known as 'information fatigue', basically describes a situation where you begin to feel weighed down by the huge amount of data that you're forced to deal with on a daily basis.

The most obvious source of this information is all our technology. At any time you might be looking at multiple different screens at once, you might be waiting for notifications from your smart device and you might be listening to music. That's a lot of different data streams, all of which require concentration and all of which can create at least a small amount of stress.

The Signs and Symptoms

Thus, the main signs and symptoms of information overload tend to be somewhat similar to general stress/adrenal fatigue.

The thing to recognize is that each time you're focussed on your screen, or you're jolted awake by some kind of notification, this causes an elevation in stress hormones. At the same time, it requires mental energy, which of course is a finite resource.

This can then cause you to feel tired and 'burned out'. At the same time, you'll see the symptoms of chronic stress such as:

• Increased cardiovascular stress
• Blood pressure
• Tiredness
• Low mood

You might also find though that you start to get tired from focussing and decision making, which can ultimately leave you very much drained and make it hard for you to continue focussing and making decisions regarding other things. Thus you may find that you are slower to make decisions, that you are less motivated or even that you suffer with confusion and impaired vision.

If you find that you have no motivation in the evenings, that you feel almost incapable of making even the smallest decisions, or that you are constantly stressed - consider just how much information you are dealing with during the day!

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The Biggest Disease Affecting Humanity: “I’m Not Enough" by Marisa Peer

The Secret to Achieving Any Personal Growth Goal!

We all have unfulfilled desires-aspects of our lives we want to change or grow. And we all know - from experience - that having a desire, an intention, or even a plan is not enough. How many times have you wished, intended, and planned to lose weight, start meditating, write that novel, get a new job, or change a relationship pattern-only to find yourself repeating the same old habits that give you the same old results?

There is one tested and proven secret to attract and create what you desire. This secret has been used by the leaders in every field to achieve every kind of goal. It's not natural talent, perfect timing, or good fortune. It's something we all can do, no matter who we are or what we've been through.

That secret is Daily Practice - taking one action every day to engage in what you desire.

Daily Practice is the way you take life into your own hands-and invite Providence to assist you. It insures that you live your priorities and shows the Universe what's important to you. It insures that what is most important isn't pushed aside.

To create a powerful and sustainable Daily Practice - one that is both doable and effective, simply ask yourself the following 12 questions. You don't have to take a lot of time with this or give it a lot of thought-though you can, if you want. Simply ask yourself each question and see what comes to mind. Then, go on to the next question.

Are you ready?

Here we go!

QUESTION #1: What is your number one personal growth goal?

What is most important to you right now? What's your dream? Choose one thing you want to practice, no matter how big or small.

QUESTION #2: Why do you want to practice this?

What's your purpose? What do you hope to experience, gain, or contribute?

If you don't know why you are doing something, it will fall by the wayside. When you don't feel like doing it or when something else comes up, you will let it go. Knowing your "why" keeps you going strong!

QUESTION #3: What exactly will you do?

Define the actions you will take.

For instance saying "I'm going to eat healthier" and "I'm going to start exercising" are good intentions, but poorly defined practices. Instead, it would be better to say that "I'm going to stop eating fried foods and I will eat at least one cup of fresh fruit or vegetables three times a day" or "I will take a brisk walk for twenty minutes every morning." Be specific.

QUESTION #4: How often will you practice?

The recommended answer here is "daily." Daily practice establishes your practice as a part of your circadian rhythm, your 24-hour life cycle. Actions repeated daily become "grooved" faster, run deeper, and have greater effect. So, do at least one thing, every day that moves your practice forward.

QUESTION #5: When will you practice?

Set a time. Then, put it on your schedule.

If you don't schedule it, inevitably, other things will come up. Before you know it, you'll be at the end of the day. It's likely that you will feel too tired at that point. Then, you'll put it off until tomorrow. My friend, Matt Clarkson, passed along a great illustration about "tomorrow." He tells me there's a pub in England with a sign that says, "Free Beer Tomorrow."

QUESTION #6: How long will you practice?

Commit to a specific minimum. If anything, under-commit, so you'll say, "Oh that's nothing, I can do that." If you commit to too much, you're more likely to skip it or see it as "too much effort." Once you get started, you're likely to do more because you're "into it." So, start small and expand from there.

QUESTION #7: Where will you practice?

It's important to choose a place that's conducive to what you're doing. For instance, if you are starting to meditate and you try to do it in a busy or noisy place, it's not likely to work well.

To support your practice, decorate your space with appropriate pictures, quotes, or décor that signifies what you are doing and why it's important to you.

QUESTION #8: Do you need any special equipment, supplies, or support for your practice?

Some examples include: having the right food in your house for your nutrition or weight loss practice, having the right tools and materials for your creative project, setting appointments with a personal trainer for your workouts, or downloading a guided meditation to support your meditation practice.

What will help you succeed?

QUESTION #9: How will you track your practice?

Especially when starting something new, it's a great idea to keep a journal in which you define what you're doing and why, list your goals, and make notes on your experiences.

Logging your efforts makes your practice more concrete, substantial, and real. It records the work you've put in. You are more likely to stick with something that you've put a lot into it.

Making notes on your practice also enables you to review what you've done.

QUESTION #10: How often will you review and modify your program?

Check in with yourself and see what's working, what isn't, and what changes you'd like to make so your practice is more enjoyable and effective.

At first, you might want to review and modify on a weekly basis. It's likely you'll go through some trial and error. Rather than being discouraged when things don't go well, use that as information to alter your routine to make it even better.

QUESTION #11: How will you keep your practice fresh and inspiring?

The same activity will be different every day, if you stay alert, purposeful, and present with the fine details of what you are doing-rather than mindlessly going through the motions.

Become a life-long student of your practice. Read what others are doing. Experiment. If things are getting stale, mix it up. Practice in a new location, adjust your technique, or practice with someone else. Use variety to keep your mind fresh and awake.

Remember "why" your practice is important. What do you want to achieve? What are you afraid might happen if you let this go?

QUESTION #12: How will you remind yourself to practice?

Put your practice in your schedule. Post a note on your alarm, your bathroom mirror, your refrigerator, or the dashboard of your car.

Now, you're ready to go! If you've answered these 12 questions, you've set yourself up for success. Now, it's time to take action.

Remember, Daily Practice is THE PATH to achieve any personal growth goal. It's the way to engage in and live your dreams every day.

So, what will you grow in your life?

Enjoy your practice!

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Secret-to-Achieving-Any-Personal-Growth-Goal!&id=9412659

5 Memorization Techniques for Students

Memorizing techniques for students is the state of mind to remember what you studied the time you wanted to remember it. The opposite of this technique is when you cannot remember something (i.e.: an answer for a question), this is when you should know more about these 5 memorization techniques for students.

1. Relax: the first technique you should use to remember all what you studied during the exam is to relax your mind and body so that you can breathe in a normal way to help you access your entire mind so that you fetch what you want with the least effort, here are some points to help you relax:

a. Simulate circumstances: there are different circumstances to simulate, like simulating exams time, simulating teachers' questions, simulating lecture hall. By simulating exams time, for instance, you will feel less anxious during exams and more relaxed to be able to access your entire brain and fetch from it what you want to remember.

b. Use the same gadgets: most students get new gadgets (pens, rulers, protractors... Etc.) to solve exams with. Using the same gadgets you were using during your study time-even if your gadgets were old-can help you feel comfortable and relaxed so that you can remember better, also prepare yourself better by getting extra gadgets with you.

c. Imagine the worst case scenario: in this place the worst case is that you don't remember anything to solve a certain question. You should prepare to have other plans to solve your exam, like leaving a space for this question and return to it when you finish solving the rest of the exam. By preparing different options you are ready to memorize in the worst case scenario.

2. Link what you study with images: linking what you study with real images can help both your brain's sides function which can help you to memorize and retrieve what you want in a better way.

3. Link what you don't like with what you like: a rule of thumb when you are studying a part that you don't like is to link it with a thing you love so that you mix bitter with honey, the same way doctors produce medicine, to memorize what you don't like using a better way.

4. Use colors: colors link what you study with it, but you must have a meaning for each color like linking the green color with grass and anything related to gardens or linking yellow color with the sun and anything related to space. By doing this, you can memorize what you studied better.

5. Study from different sources: all subjects have different sources that you can increase your knowledge from. When you study from them, like knowing more about a subject from Wikipedia, or reading a reference at your library, you can memorize what you studied better.

Bonus tip:

By studying from one source while feeling bored of this source, like studying from the school book only, can make you feel bored and will decrease your concentration to what you are studying. By studying each hour a different subject, you will feel bored less which will help you memorize better.

http://ezinearticles.com/?5-Memorization-Techniques-for-Students&id=9224135

2 Steps to Overcome Negative Thinking to Better Deal With Stress

Most of us have heard the saying: The optimist sees the glass half full, while the pessimist sees it half-empty.

In its simplest terms, positive thinking is optimism and negative thinking is pessimism. It is an attitude towards life, yourself and particular predicaments and events in life.

Negative thinkers, tend to see the negative in everything, even in the most positive situations, and they dwell in that negativity, so they are much less equipped to deal with stress that then has more of an impact on their health.

People who are negative on a regular basis do not necessarily do this intentionally. Negative thoughts are often automatic reactions to unexpected crises, challenges, stresses and disappointments. For some, negative thinking is a natural reaction to life no matter the circumstances, as they habitually focus on the negative in any given situation.

For example, a negative thinker gets a raise at work, and automatically thinks it's not enough money. A negative thinker who is graduating from college may miss a wonderful moment because they dwell on not graduating with honors.

Negative thoughts can creep in everyday situations, no matter how positive one's day may actually be, like a wife whose husband cleaned the house as a surprise, and all she can focus on is the areas he missed.

Negative thinking is typically a thought process that is well engrained in the mind from years of repetition, where one automatically focuses on the negative instead of seeing the positive.

Children who grow up in dysfunctional families with critical parents often adopt this style of thinking because critical parents tend to focus on everything that is wrong, and negativity becomes commonplace, so that even when that child does good things, they are often overlooked

Follow these 2 steps to help you with overcoming negative thinking patterns.

STEP 1: IDENTIFYING NEGATIVE THINKING PATTERNS

A negative nature can be overcome by identifying negativity and sources of negativity, and taking conscious steps towards becoming a more positive person. Take the time to evaluate if any of these apply to you:

Filtering: In filtering, negative thinkers will magnify the negative aspects of a given situation and filter out any positive elements. For example, a negative thinker gets a raise and focuses on the fact that it's too small or a student gets an A- on a paper, and is upset because it was not an A.

Personalizing: Personalizing is when one blames themselves whenever anything bad occurs, it is an automatic reaction. For example, you get rear ended, and blame yourself because you chose to turn onto the ill-fated street or a friend cancels a lunch date and you assume that it's because he or she does not want to see you.

Catastrophizing: One of the more volatile negative thinking patterns, and possibly most harmful to health and wellness is catastrophizing, which is when one automatically anticipates the worst-case scenario in any given situation. For example, you arrive late for work and know the rest of the day will be a disaster, or your child gets the flu and you automatically fear that he or she is sicker than they are.

Polarizing: Polarizing is common among perfectionists and negative thinkers who only see things in terms of good or bad. There is never a middle ground. They either view themselves as perfect or complete and total failures; a burden on emotional and mental health, where extremes can lead to chronic anxiety, and depression.

STEP 2: PINPOINTING YOUR NEGATIVE THOUGHTS

"If you don't think every day is a good day, just try missing one." 

- Cavett Robert

Identifying your negative thoughts is an important step in overcoming them. You may assume that you are already aware of your negativity, which may be true, but you may not be aware of what's causing it, the degree of it and how you naturally react to it.

1. Write down your negative thoughts as they occur. They might be an emotional reaction to something, or they might just be your everyday thoughts. You are looking for thoughts that cause you to feel upset or disenchanted. They could include blame, shame, perceived failure, or small problems that seem big. Write down the thought itself as well as anything else that is relevant, such as how it made you feel and why you thought it.

2. Determine the source(s) of your negative thoughts. Do you see any trends in the thoughts you wrote down? Is your negativity mainly in response to unexpected situations or is it due to common, everyday thoughts? Is it in response to someone or something in particular, or is it more of a self-confidence issue? Do you find yourself often using negative "absolute" terms such as never, nothing, anything, everyone, and no one.

3. Determine how you react to negative thoughts. Do you blow them into catastrophes? Do you dwell on them? The way that you react can intensify the negativity you experience, cause it to linger, or with a positive attitude, can cause the negativity to quickly dissolve.

These steps build awareness about your negativity and provide you with a starting point for tackling the problem. Once you know what you are up against, you will be more prepared to overcome it.

"The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful." 

- Tenzin Gyasto - the 14th Dalai Lama

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Ways to Improve Quality of Life - Improve Your Life With Long-Term Changes

There are qualities that we need to address to improve quality life. We all have these to some degree and must be cognizant of them so they do not take control of our life.

Fears change?

I have listed 4 qualities that we need to change. Once we will learn how to overcome these, surely we will obtain what we desire in life.

Enjoys Seeing Others Fail - There are individuals out there who enjoy seeing others fail. Some of the hide it well but instead of congratulating a person when they attain some form of success this individual deep down inside wishes that successful person falls flat on their face.

These feelings could stem from the individual having a narcissistic personality or some deep-rooted psychological problem. A successful person likes to see others achieve greatness as well, the more people who succeed the greater the wealth for everyone. This "evil eye" mentality may come back to haunt the person who enjoys seeing others fail.

In business and life if you help people they will help you at some point in time but if you kick a person when they are down you may find yourself in a similar predicament in the future so try to help individuals whenever possible. If you feel this way then seek out professional help, having this condition is not a character flaw but failing to get it treated is a sign of selfishness.

Irritable And Angry Most Of The Time - Everyone has a bad day here and there but if a person is constantly irritable that other people avoid them then that is a sign this particular individual is either in the wrong position or is dealing with internal challenges.

The reason a person gets angry is they feel like they are overwhelmed and out of control otherwise they wouldn't be angry. Unless the individual in question is suffering from withdrawal due to a drug addiction i.e. smoking cigarettes there is no reason for them to be irritable all the time.

This negativity can be toxic for your company, nobody wants to go near an individual who is constantly negative so if this sounds like you it may be time to look at your workload and maybe adopt some stress management exercises to keep the angst in check. We all get angry from time to time but it is how we deal with it that makes all the difference in the world.

Will Find Excuses And Blame Others For Failure - No one wants to fail, but we only fail if we stop trying. Whenever something happens that seems to be negative an individual with the wrong mindset will look for excuses why a particular project did not go according to plan.

Some of the excuses are "not enough time" "not enough money" "someone else dropped the ball" all of these excuses are nothing more than lies, the project did not go according to plan which does happen to the best of companies.

A successful person would say "you know what, this is what we did right and can implement and this is what didn't go according to plan and we can avoid in the future". By making you accountable to yourself and those around you will exude confidence and people respect that, no one likes a whiner and if a person constantly makes excuses they are essentially that a "whiner".

Does Not Set Goals - If you do not set goals in life how will you measure results? Not trying to be rude but if you do the same things day in and day out without willing to make goals and measure them then what is the point of living?

Please don't take this the wrong way but if you had a job and you went to work every day but did absolutely nothing your boss would fire you. You are the boss of your own life so if you are not doing anything to make your life better what kind of message are you making about yourself as a person?

I know you are scared, we have all been there but you only have one life to live so why not try something different, positive and see where it takes you, who knows where you will be but one thing we know is what you are doing now does not produce results so take the first step and try something new.

Erase these negative mindsets and embrace new things to improve your life with long-term changes. You do it for the better.

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Why Mind Muscle Connection Is Important and How to Improve It

What is mind-muscle connection?

It is a connection that allows you to mentally control your muscles on purpose.

When performing a weight-bearing exercise, you can mentally control your target muscle during each repetition. The aim is to get a strong contraction within the target muscle.

It also allows you to individually control individual muscles and different body parts, i.e. moving your toes separately. With a good mind-muscle connection, you are aware of what every part of your body is doing. You are connected to it. It plays a big part in co-ordination.

With a good mind-muscle connection you can make your muscles work during a workout without any weights at all. You can feel your muscles working.

What are the benefits of mind-muscle connection?

• Less injury
• Better co-ordination
• Know what your body is doing
• More effective workouts
• More in touch with your body and aware of how it feels
• Efficient use of muscles in day-to-day activities
• The benefits are truly endless. Creating a mind-muscle connection puts you in touch with your body. This, in turn helps to reconnect your mind, body and soul and makes you more aware of how your thoughts affect your body.

While mind-muscle connection is extremely beneficial when strengthening our muscles, the connection with our body as we get older is important to avoid stiffening of the body. It can creep up without you even knowing. If you are connected to your body, you can stay in control and stay fitter for longer.

It can also help to improve balance and co-ordination.

Can a mind-muscle connection be developed?

It definitely can. It can take up to 45 days to retrain the brain and to develop new neural pathways. Training needs to be done almost every day.

It is important, however to give your brain a rest for a day or two to allow the new information to settle in. Remember that it needs a regular workout, just like your muscles.

How can I train my brain to have a mind-muscle connection?

A really good way to start is with a bicep curl.

Stand tall and tuck one of your elbows into your waist and assume the starting position of a bicep curl. Pretend you are holding a weight. Don't use a weight. It is important to start with no weights.

Place your opposite hand on your bicep. Look at your bicep and think about your bicep. Put your mind into your bicep.

Start to do a bicep curl really slowly. Feel how your muscle is working. Think about how your muscle is working.

As you continue to slowly do a bicep curl, try to make your muscle contract a little harder. Really connect with your bicep muscle and be in control of it.

Once you have worked one side for a while, repeat on the other side.

Once you have the idea, try moving your toes separately. Sit with your foot up and look at your toes. Put your mind into your toes.

Try and move your big toe towards you with your other toes moving away. Once you have that, try alternating your big toe back and forth with your other toes. Repeat with your other foot.

The important part is that you don't give up. You probably won't feel anything for the first few weeks but keep practising with just as much concentration every time. One day you will just 'get it' and then you will be able to call on it whenever you need to.

As you start to get the idea, try it with every muscle in your body. What you are essentially doing is putting your mind into your muscles and being in control of them.

Once you have established your mind-muscle connection, you can add light weights to your mind training. It is important not to move forward to fast by using weights that are too heavy. Form is everything.

A good mind-muscle connection will help you to get more out of life regardless of your age.

Kathryn is a leading health and prosperity coach specialising in helping people who are ready to embrace the possibilities and make the changes needed to improve their health and prosperity.

After healing her own life, Kathryn is passionate in sharing her knowledge to help others heal theirs. She has also used the same powerful and proven techniques to improve her own prosperity.

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