Author: sandhravinod

THE UNEXPECTED BENEFITS OF BEING JACK OF ALL TRADES

There is an age old saying which goes like this “Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than the master of one.” In today’s fast moving world this phrase is more relevant than ever. With increased advancements in all fields of life and the increasing need for versatility in the workforce it is more important than ever to be knowledgeable in a wide variety of fields.

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Advantages of knowing different skills

Learning new skills and gaining knowledge can be advantageous in many ways. lets take a look at the advantage of learning new skills,

Having a broad variety of knowledge and skills can help individuals navigate different roles and industries with ease. And it helps them find new and interesting career paths that otherwise would not have been considered. By pursuing multiple interest and hobbies people are able to find joy and meaning in multiple areas. This can help them lead a more balanced and satisfying life where one’s personal and professional pursuits complement each other and provide a sense of fulfillment.

People who know different skills are seen as more intelligent as these individuals become better problem solvers. This is because when you are open to learning new skills and have experience in a variety of fields it would help you approach a problem from multiple angles and you would be able to develop a unique perspective about the topic. As a result you would be able to come up with creative solutions in any situation. This is particularly valuable in today’s world where many of the most difficult challenges require interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration. Apart from this having a broad skillset mean that you have a good foundation in a variety of fields. So it would be easier for you to learn new concepts more quickly, making you easier to adapt to new situations. This is a quality that all employers are currently looking for.

Having interest in learning new skills and experiences gives you greater opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship. By having a broad range of skills individuals can identify gaps in the market and you will be able to find connection between multiple fields that others might miss. This helps these individuals develop unique solutions to meet those needs. As a result they engage in business ventures and innovative products that may not have been possible if one had specialized in a singe area.

Finally learning new skills can help individuals develop a growth mindset, which is the belief that abilities and talents can be developed through hard work and practice. This mindset helps individuals view challenges as opportunities foe growth and learning, rather than threats to their self-esteem. By overcoming our fears and resistance through learning new skills, individuals can become more resilient, adaptable and confident in their abilities all of which are the characteristics that is needed to lead a successful life.

How does learning new skills benefits our brain.

Learning new skills not only increases our chances of getting employed it can also have a significant impact for our brain health. every new skill is a challenge to our brain, and when we challenge our brain we create new neural connections and pathways. This improves our cognitive abilities and memory.

Boosting Brain Plasticity

Our brain has the ability to change and adapt in response to new experiences by creating new pathways and connections this is called the plasticity of the brain. So when we learn new skills our brain creates new pathways and as we practice these pathways become stronger. As we continue to learn newer skills it improves our cognitive ability and help us learn new tasks faster.

Delaying Cognitive Decline

As we get older our brain’s ability to make new neural connection decreases. However by continuously learning new skills and gaining experiences we can delay cognitive decline. Studies have shown that older adults who engage in activities that challenge their brain have lower risk of cognitive decline

Improving Memory

When we learn new skills, we have to remember and recall new information and this strengthens our memory. It can also help us make connections between different pieces of information faster and improves our ability to remember information and solve problems faster.

Reducing Stress and Axiety

When we engage in activities that challenge our brain, we activate our prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for regulating our emotions. Additionally learning new skills gives us a sense of accomplishment and mastery, which can boost our self-esteem and reduce stress and anxiety.

In conclusion , while there are curtain benefits to specializing in one area, being the jack of all trades but the master of none can have significant benefits in today’s fast moving world. The ability to adapt quickly, learn new things easily, pursue different interest, see connections between fields,and bring unique perspectives to problems are all valuable traits in today’s job market and society. Therefore individuals should not be afraid to explore different fields and cultivate a diverse set of skills.

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PROCRASTINATION LAZINESS OR GENIUS?

We’ve all been there, the deadline is looming , time is running out yet we find ourselves scrolling endlessly through Tick Tok or Instagram we know that we have work to do, that sense of fear is slowly crawling into the back of our mind yet we still don’t feel like doing anything why is that? what makes us feel like that? In this article let’s take a deeper look at procrastination.

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What is procrastination?

From a psychologist’s point of view procrastination can be defined as an intentional, self-imposed delay in initiating or completing a task that needs to be done. It is a complex behavior that involves delaying or avoiding a task despite the fact that there will be negative consequences, and usually human beings try to avoid negative consequences. This behavior is often linked to factors like low self-esteem , lack of motivation and perfectionism. People who procrastinate can go through feelings like shame, guilt, stress and frustration which can further fuel the cycle of procrastination. But its important to remember that not all procrastination is bad, sometimes procrastination is good as it can bring creative solutions to problems. This is because even when we are procrastinating and doing nothing our brain is still working on the solution sub consciously and this can lead to unexpected solutions and breakthroughs. So the key is to find a balance between procrastination and productivity.

Why procrastination can be helpful and harmful

Procrastination can be viewed from two different perspectives, It can be viewed as negative and harmful or positive and helpful. From a negative point of view procrastination can be seen as a destructive habit that can lead to missing deadlines, low quality of work, increase in stress, anxiety and frustration and feeling of low self-worth and confidence. All these are negative results of procrastination.

But on the other side procrastination can be seen as natural and even beneficial to creativity. This is because when we procrastinate we allow our mind to wonder endlessly, this can help us bring “out of the box” solutions to the problem at hand or approach the problem from a different perspective. In this sense procrastination can be seen as a tool for fostering creativity and innovation.

So procrastination has two sides to it’s coin. There is a fine line between healthy procrastination and harmful procrastination. Healthy procrastination involves taking breaks and allowing your mind to wonder, rest and recharge. This gives your brain time to get inspired and come up with original and innovative ideas like a funny name or a thought provoking article. For most procrastinators their best ideas come when they are under pressure. On the other hand harmful procrastination involves constantly putting off work and failing to meet our responsibilities.

Why do we procrastinate?

Ok, so now that we know the meaning of procrastination and the two perspectives of procrastination, lets answer the next question, why do we procrastinate? One main reason for why people procrastinate is, because our brains are wired that way. We always tend to prioritize short term rewards over long term rewards i.e. we naturally look for immediate gratification even if we are putting off something that’s more important in the long run. Neurologically procrastination is linked to prefrontal cortex, which is the part responsible for decision making, planning and impulse control. So reduced activity in this region can make it harder for us to prioritize and make decisions. At the same time procrastination is also linked to increased activity in the limbic system, this is the part responsible for emotion and pleasure. during procrastination we often engage in activities that provide immediate gratification like scrolling through social media, which gives us a dopamine rush and makes us happy.

Another factor that contributes to procrastination is “analysis paralysis”. This is the tendency to overthink and overanalyze a task to a point where it becomes overwhelming and we don’t know where to start. Whenever we have to do a daunting task its natural for us to avoid it altogether.

The reason behind why we procrastinate is multifaceted but by understanding the underling factors that contribute to procrastination we can develop strategies that reduce negative procrastination and find the balance to become more productive in our everyday life.

Strategies to reduce procrastination.

Identify the root cause: Understanding why we procrastinate can help us develop strategies for overcoming it. Some common causes for procrastination includes fear of failure, lack of motivation, and feeling overwhelmed. By identifying and addressing these issues we will be able to reduce procrastination.

Breaking tasks down to simpler steps: Large complex steps can be overwhelming so by breaking them into smaller simpler and manageable steps the task would look doable and procrastination reduces.

Set realistic deadlines: Setting deadlines can keep us on track and hold us accountable. However it is important to set realistic deadlines so that we don’t feel pressured or overwhelmed.

Eliminating distractions: Distractions like social media ,TV programs and so on can contribute to procrastination. By eliminating these distractions we can be focused on making progress in our work.

Focus on benefits: Always focus on the benefits of completing a task, for example completing a work project on time can help you get promotions or other incentives. Similarly finishing a school work early can give you more freedom to go out and play.

Practice self-compassion: Negative self -talk and and harsh self criticism can lead to negative procrastination. Practicing self compassion and developing the ability to forgive ourselves for minor mistakes and imperfections can help build a positive mindset and help progress towards our goals.

In conclusion, finding a balance between healthy and unhealthy procrastination is like walking a tightrope, it requires planning, skills, focus and a safety net. While it is important to understand the negatives of procrastination we shouldn’t overlook its positive sides. So let’s procrastinate strategically.

And if all else fails remember the wise words of author Douglas Adams: “I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” Happy procrastinating!

THE SCIENCE BEHIND HYPNOTISM

Most people know hypnotism or hypnosis as a party trick or a magic trick that magicians use to control you and make you cluck like a chicken or walk like a monkey. But what is hidden behind this facade is a rich history that dates back to ancient civilizations such as Greeks, Egyptians and Romans. In this article lets look at the science behind hypnotism.

[Hypnotism] by John Adams Whipple is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

The Beginning

Hypnotism is a practice that has been around for centuries. However it was during the 18th and the 19th century that hypnosis began to be studied and developed as a formal practice. The person to thank for bringing hypnotism to mainstream medical practice is Franz Anton Mesmer. He was an Austrian physician who believed that there was a magnetic fluid or force that flowed through the body and this force could be used to treat various medical conditions. He used techniques such as magnetic passes and “mesmeric” fluids to induce a trance like state in his patients, which he believed would help heal them.

In the 19th century another Scottish surgeon James Braid coined the term “hypnotism”. He was able to develop a more scientific approach to the practice. He developed techniques like eye fixation and verbal suggestion to induce a hypnotic state, similar to what we see and use in the present day. His belief was that hypnosis is a form of self induced concentration rather than a result of external forces and influences.

The use of hypnosis continued to grow throughout the 19th and the 20th centuries ,with many physicians and psychologist studying about it’s potential and using it to treat many mental issues such as anxiety and depression. Even Sigmund Freud who is regarded as the father of psychoanalysis was initially trained in hypnosis and he was a prominent figure in the field as well. But eventually he moved away from hypnosis as a primary tool in his practice and focused on developing his own method of psychoanalysis. Nevertheless, Freud’s early work in hypnosis paved the way for the use of hypnosis psychotherapy. However during the mid 20th century partly due to the rise in psychoanalysis and behavioral therapy the prominence of hypnosis reduced.

Again the 1950s and 60s saw the resurgence of hypnosis as a tool for managing pain and anxiety during medical procedures. Today it is widely used in clinical setting for a variety of purposes including weight loss, quitting alcohol and smoking, phobias, anxiety and stress.

The Science Of Hypnosis

The science behind hypnotism has been the topic of discussion and study for centuries but the exact mechanism of how hypnotism works is not yet fully understood. There are several theories that tries to explain the mechanism of hypnotism.

One main theory is the social – cognitive theory, this theory assumes that hypnotic state is a result of , a person’s willingness to be hypnotized and their level of suggestibility which is influenced by their beliefs and expectations about hypnosis as well as the social context in which the hypnotism takes place.

Another theory of hypnotism is the dissociation theory, it suggest that hypnosis involves a split or dissociation of consciousness, in which the hypnotized person is able to separate their conscious awareness from their unconsciousness. This allows a person to address their unconscious or underlying issues.

Resent research into the neuroscience of hypnotism suggests that hypnotic states are associated with changes with brain activity and connectivity , particularly in the areas of the brain that involves attention, perception and self-awareness. Some key areas of the brain involved in hypnotism are prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for functions like planning, attention and decision making, anterior cingulate cortex which is involved in attention and emotional processing and the parietal cortex responsible for spatial awareness and sensory integration. Neuroscience is a rapidly evolving field and ongoing research is helping shed light on the brain areas and network that is involved in maintaining and inducing hypnotic states.

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There you go guys, hypnotism is more than just a party trick there is a long history and a clear science behind it. Through on going studies and researches scientists continue to explore and expand the potential of hypnotism as a tool for improving health, well-being and unlocking the mysteries of the mind.

THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ANNA FREUD

HOW TO MAKE A NAME FOR YOURSELF WITHOUT LIVING IN YOUR FATHER’S SHADOW.

Children participating in nutrition education by U.S. Department of Agriculture is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

Today lets take a peek into the life of Anna Freud. She us born in Vienna in 1895. As you might have guessed already she is the daughter of the world renowned psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. She was a pioneer in the field of psychoanalysis and her contributions to the field of child development was unparalleled. You might have thought that growing up with the “father of psychoanalysis” himself would have given her advantage over the field but that was never the case. Lets take a trip down the memory lane.

Early life of Anna Freud

Anna Freud us the youngest of the six children born to Sigmund Freud and his wife Martha Freud. Although her father was a world famous psychologist, her life was far from idyllic. Anna often felt neglected by her father who was always preoccupied with his work. She later wrote that she had to wait until she was an adult to have her father’s attention. Despite these challenges she had a close relationship with her father serving as his secretary and collaborator in the development of psychoanalytical theories. Anna was known to disagree with her father on certain points but she had deep respect and admiration for his work.

Anna was an excellent student and she showed an early interest to the field of psychology. She joined the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society to begin her training from some of the most prominent psychoanalysts of her time. She was particularly interested in working with children and began working with them at a clinic for psychoanalytic treatment.

In 1922 she moved to Berlin to continue her studies and work. It was here that she developed her theories of child psychoanalysis. Her work there was cut short by the Nazi party and she was forced to flee the country in 1938, and settle in London. Here, she established the Hampstead Child Therapy Course and Clinic which later became a leading center for the treatment of children with mental illness. Her whole life was dedicated to the advancement of child psychoanalysis and improving the lives of children with mental illness.

Contributions of Anna Freud to the field of Psychology

Anna Freud have made several significant contributions to the field of psychology lets see a few,

Development of child psychoanalysis: She is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of child psychoanalysis. She developed a unique approach that emphasized on the importance of early childhood experiences and relationship in shaping psychological development. Her work was instrumental in the development of effective treatment methods for children with mental illness.

Establishment of child focused therapy and clinics: She developed the Hampstead Child Therapy Course and Clinic in London, which became a leading center for the treatment of child mental illness. Her clinic became a model for similar institutions all around the world.

Advancement of the Theory of defense mechanism: Defense mechanism is the unconscious process that people use to avoid the feeling of stress and anxiety to protect themselves. The theory was initially founded by Sigmund Freud but it was refined by her. Her works on defense mechanism was groundbreaking at the time and it sill is influential to this day.

The life of Anna Freud is a story of resilience and her passion for psychology led her to becoming one of the most influential figures in modern psychology. Today her work and life continues to inspire and influence mental health professionals across the world.

THE ART OF THINKING FAST

“Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason so few engage in it.” – Henry Ford

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Thinking requires effort and in a world where every thing is just a click away, it’s no wonder that so many people would indulge in instant gratification rather than take time to engage in impactful thinking. Why bother with thinking when one can scroll endlessly through social media feed and Tik Tok videos? I mean let’s be real, who has time to sit down and ponder the mysteries of the universe when there are new episodes of your favorite shows to binge-watch?

In fact thinking can be exhausting. It requires concentration, mental energy and the willingness to question one’s own beliefs and assumptions. Let’s not forget that thinking also requires a certain type of intelligence, not every person has the ability to come up with coherent thoughts or ideas, and the effort required to do so can be overwhelming but not impossible.

What Is Thinking?

Psychologist define thinking as a cognitive process that involves mental processes such as perception, attention, memory, problem solving to generate new ideas, form judgements, and make decisions. Thinking can be broadly divided into two categories, controlled thinking which is slower and effortful and automatic thinking which is fast, effortless and largely unconscious. Then there is divergent and convergent thinking. A person who thinks divergently will be able to generate multiple solutions or ideas to a single problem where as a person who thinks convergently will focus on one single solution or idea that is the most logic or efficient.

Another important aspect of thinking is metacognition, it refers to our ability to monitor and control our own thinking process. It includes our ability to recognize when we don’t know about something, self evaluating our own thinking and problem solving strategies and also being able to adjust our thinking as needed. For example metacognition practices have shown to increase a student’s ability to transfer or adapt their learning to new concepts and tasks fast by gaining a level of awareness about their subject matter. So if you want to simply put it metacognition is thinking about one’s own thinking.

How to develop the habit of thinking fast?

Make minor unimportant decisions fast : For example, challenge yourself to choose your next meal in less than a minute, or when you go to a clothing store decide that you would buy what you want in half an hour and leave the store.

Practice doing the things you are good at faster: If you are an artist decide that you will finish a painting in 2 hours. See how fast you can do the things you are good at and take it as a challenge.

Practice meditation: There are many benefits to practicing meditation on a daily basis. It calms our body and mind and also build a more efficient brain by stimulating the formation of new brain cells and neural connection. Meditation also helps strengthen the communication between the brain cells which in turn speeds up mental processes such as the ability to think, learn and concentrate.

Stop multitasking there are many researches that suggest that it is less efficient to multitask. This is because multitasking can interfere with our working memory, reduce our concentration on each task hinder our performance and increase the time that we take to do each task. So watching TV when doing your homework may not be a good idea after all.

Being someone who likes to take time with thinking and making decision in not always a bad trait to have but there are situations where fast thinking and decision making can lead to a number of advantages like being able to do your work faster and avoid procrastination or it can help you seem smarter, confident and help you feel comfortable around others without the feeling of being left out. Even though there are genetical factors and natural talent that can make some people faster thinkers than others, there are plenty of ways to improve your thinking speed. But always remember that it won’t happen overnight, but with a little bit of effort and daily practice fast thinking is a skill that everyone can develop.

Is boredom only a perspective?

What is the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever done to pass time?

Depressed musician vintage drawing by The British Library is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

Francis Bacon , the famous English philosopher once said “I don’t think there is any truth. There are only points of view. Boredom, for example, is a point of view. So is total exaltation.” well if that is the case we have been viewing boredom all wrong! For most people, boredom is a dreaded feeling we all try to avoid at all costs. it’s that moment we are stuck in a meeting or in traffic, and we feel like our brain is slowly turning to mush. but according to Francis Bacon, its all just a matter of perspective. boredom is a point of view which means we can choose to see it in a different light.

What is boredom?

Boredom is a universal experience that we all encounter. It’s that feeling of restlessness, dissatisfaction, and the disinterest that creeps in every now and then when we have nothing to do or when we are doing something that fails to engage us. While boredom is a common human experience it’s also a complex and multifaceted emotion that has intrigued psychologists for decades. While most people view boredom as a negative emotion, it can also be seen as a signal that something is amiss in our lives. For example if we are bored at work it could mean that we need more challenging projects or that our values and interest don’t align with our work anymore. As Salvador Dali one said “Boredom is the mother of all creativity.” Boredom can motivate us to seek out new experiences, learn new things or make changes to our environment.

What causes boredom?

There are many factors that leads to the feeling of boredom, including

Monotony: Doing the same thing over and over again can quickly lead to boredom. This is especially true when the activities lack novelty and variation.

Lack of challenge: When a task is too easy or doesn’t require much effort, it can fail to engage us and lead to boredom.

Lack of control: When we feel that we have no control over our situation we may feel helpless and disengaged leading to boredom.

Understimulation: When we are not receiving enough sensory input, we may feel bored. this happens in situations where there is little to no stimulation like waiting in line or sitting in traffic.

Overstimulation: When we are overstimulated we become bored as our brains become overwhelmed and desensitized to the stimuli.

The Effects of boredom

While boredom may seem like an harmless emotion, it can have significant effect on our health and well-being. Chronic boredom has been linked to a range of negative outcomes like anxiety, depression, substance abuse and also many health problems. So one of the main problem of boredom is that it can lead to negative coping strategies like eating too much food, drugs or alcohol. These behaviors can give you temporary relief but can lead to long term negative consequences.

Ways to alleviating boredom

Engage in new activities: One way to compact boredom is to try new activities that challenges your brain. This keeps our brains busy and alleviate boredom.

Set Goals: Setting goals can give us a sense of direction, which helps alleviate boredom

Practice mindfulness: Practices such as meditation can help us be more present and engaged in the movement, which can alleviate boredom

Finding meaning: Find the meaning and purpose in every activity we do. The question we should ask ourselves is “why are we dong this activity right now?” or “How does it benefit me in the long run?” Once we know the answer we are likely to be more engaged in what we do and feel less bored.

Take breaks: Continuously working for hours can make us fell drained or overwhelmed, this can lead to loss of motivation and boredom. So sometimes taking brakes from an activity can recharge our batteries and we will be able to come back to it with renewed energy and interest.

Boredom is a very common human experience that can have significant impact on our mental and physical wellbeing. But by understanding the cause and effect of boredom we can develop strategies to alleviate it and lead more fulfilling lives.

So there you have it Folks. boredom and total exaltation are just points of view, according to Francis Bacon. While we may not be able to achieve total exaltation all the time, but with proper strategies we certainly can find ways to make the most of our moments of boredom and cultivate moments of joy and creativity. After all life is too short to be bored all the time!