How to Improve General Knowledge

Do you ever wonder how certain people can be so good at general knowledge? They seem to have such a vast knowledge on a majority of topics and appear to be able to answer any question you or anyone else throw their way.
Wonder how they obtain that sort of knowledge? Want to improve your general knowledge? Well here's some ways in which you can. 


1. Read 

One of the best ways you can get a broader knowledge upon topics is through  immersing yourself in reading material. Reading is brilliant for gaining knowledge about things you will never experience first-hand or don't have the time to go and see, it's a source of knowledge that is often described in detail. Books, magazines, websites, newspapers, and the like, can all be used to gain a wider general knowledge. The more you read the more you will come to know. Then when a certain topic comes up that you have read about, something will trigger your mind to be able to remember key bits of information.

2. Study and Summarise 

Pick out a certain topic that you would like to study and gather the 'key information' from it. You only want to remember the key points of a topic (unless if you are going to go into real detail) as general knowledge is made up of many topics and it would take too long to go into every topic in huge detail. So when reading up on a certain topic make sure you are also taking note of the main points.

3. Mind Maps

Mind maps when laid out in the right way are brilliant at summarising key information whilst at the same time making it easy to read and remember. Make the mind maps colourful, use curved lines instead of straight, include pictures, and keep points brief. The more your mind map stands out the easier it will be for you to remember it. For a better idea about how to use a mind map, type in 'Tony Buzan mind map' on Youtube. 

4. Media

Media is another thing that offers much information. Whether it be the news, newspapers, media websites, social networking sites, etc. However these are constantly being updated with new stories so make sure you also keep up to date also.

Don't Give Up

Is there something that you would really like to be good at or succeed in? I'm sure there is when you think about it? Maybe you've always wanted to play a musical instrument, or maybe a renowned artist, or are you wanting to become an author? We all have aspirations of what we would like to do or be good at, however, there always seems to be something that holds us back...ourselves. 

It can be very easy to say that you want to be an astronaut or want to become an artist, but like all things, you will need to put in the work and effort. Don't give up! It can be all to easy to stop when the going gets tough but remember without hard work how are you supposed to improve? It's like someone who goes to the gym and works-out. If that person doesn't put in the effort to making sure his/her muscles are working hard then there isn't going to be much improvement. 
Hard work can be tiring but is something that produces results when you keep it up, and that's what you need to keep in mind - to keep going and pushing yourself forward to your goal, your ambition!

Other people can also play a big part too. If you get people around you who are encouraging you then this will help your morale and aid you in driving onwards. On the reverse if you get people telling you that you are wasting your time and that you are never going to get anywhere with it, this can have a discouraging affect. Interestingly though when people are discouraging to you, this can also act as motivation to assist you, by wanting to prove your critics wrong and showing them that you can succeed. 

If you do find it tough and the road arduous then there will be no doubt that you will feel like quitting along the way, maybe only the once or maybe several times. When I was learning to play the piano there were many occasion that I wanted to give up but am glad now that I didn't, because now It's something that i couldn't imagine not being in my life - it's definitely a hobby that I'm grateful to have.

A thing that I do when working hard at something that has helped keep me going in many a situation is to think of who else I know is doing what I am doing. That person/or people then become my rival(s) in my head and aid in persisting with what I am doing. For example: I have recently started going to the gym, coming up to two months now, and I know a few other people who also go. I can tell you that it is hard work and sometimes I really don't feel like going, but thanks to thinking about the people I know going to the gym and working out, it unleashes my competitive side and drives me to work-out so that I can better them. I do this for a lot of things and it's something that helps me to carry on. 

In conclusion, yes if you are wanting to improve at something or be good a something or get the job of your dreams etc, you are going to have to apply yourself and work hard, just remember: don't give up. 
If you do find it hard with motivation then a trick that might interest you is this: Don't Break the Chain.

How to Improve Your Memory

Memory, as discussed in other posts of mine, is a remarkable thing. We have the ability to recall and remember so much information - so it's not surprising that a lot of people want to know how to improve it.

Whilst at times our memories can seem temperamental, they are a vital part of us, to sustain who we are - our character, our identity.

A strong memory can be achieved by the majority of people, with like most things some tips that will be needed to be stuck to. Improving ones memory does take some time but will be worth it in the end. 
Regardless of age (excluding very young children and babies), from students, to bank managers, to more senior-aged people, these tips are simple and effective for all.

In this post, I won't be discussing about memory techniques you can use to help with actual memorisation, but the core life habits to improve memory itself - or keep it at its most optimal state. 

1. Get enough sleep

Sleep is a vital part of memory, not only allowing your mind to recharge but also allowing your mind to, embed as it were, the things memorised for the day. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation can have negative effects on a persons memory, decreasing a persons short-term and long-term memory. It is best to get seven or more hours, but too much sleep can also be detrimental, so be careful.

I previously wrote a post: The Functions of Sleep if you want to know more about the role sleep plays on our mind.

2. Reduce stress

Too much stress is harmful for the mind and can make remembering things harder than before. Chronic stress has been shown to have a negative affect on the hippocampus. Of course there is a limit to how much stress can be removed from ones life, as stressful situations are bound to appear regularly, however, there are ways to help keep them under control.

Here's a previous blog post of mine: The Common Causes of Stress and How to Deal with it.

3. Exercise

Exercising on a regular basis is not only great for your overall health, but also for your brain. When exercising, circulation is improved and more oxygen is transported to the brain. Something as simple as this can help ward-off memory loss that is so common with ageing.

4. Eat and drink healthy

To get your mind to reach its most optimal level, nutrition is of vital importance to sustain it with the minerals and vitamins it needs to stay healthy. Fruits and vegetables are great for providing the nutritional properties that your brain will benefit from. Also, omega-3 is also very beneficial for your brain. You can find omega-3 in fish which is good for you anyway.

On the other side to eating healthy, try to avoid saturated fat and limit your calorie intake, as-well as this, limit alcohol consumption.

Two previous posts of mine discuss the benefits of fruits and veg. These are: The Benefits of Individual Fruits (Part 1) and The Benefits of Individual Vegetables (Part 1).

5. Exercise your mind

As well as physical exercise, mental exercise is also of great use to keep your mind in good shape. Doing different types of mental activities promotes the development of nerve connections which can help to improve memory. If you have things that you have memorised (for example; countries and their capitals), try and review them regularly. A variety of different mental exercises is the best thing to do as it causes your mind to think differently and use different parts of the brain.

Some of these exercises could be: learning to play some music, learning a language, writing stories, sudoku, word-searches, crosswords, mathematical games, puzzles, and anything else that engages your mind like these do.

What is the Chaos Theory

The chaos theory is a certain field of study in mathematics, and if you've seen 'Jurassic Park', you may remember Dr.Malcolm explaining to Dr Sattler why he disagreed with John Hammond about having dinosaurs on the island. It was in fact the chaos theory he explained in very simple terms. It's quite hard to explain in detail though, but I'll give it a go. There will be much more you can add to this of course - I'm no scientist. :)

The chaos theory is normally attributed to Edward Lorenz. Although there had been previous work on chaos, it hadn't really been explored in much detail. It was Lorenz's work that in a way revolutionised the way we think about chaos.

In 1961 Lorenz was working on a weather system that could predict the weather by using a system of equations. Lorenz decided to recreate a past weather sequence, but began mid way only printing out to three decimal places instead of the whole six. For example; 5.323 instead of 5.323451. On the surface, Lorenz did not expect this tiny change to have an affect on the end results. However, much to Lorenz's surprise, that small change radically affected the sequencing and changed its whole course. From this Lorenz was then able to determine that even the tiniest changes can have a huge effect on the long-term outcome, whilst short-term, it would appear as though nothing dramatically had changed whatsoever.

Since Lorenz's weather machine, there has been numerous scientific papers been wrote over the years about the chaos theory, by a number of different people.

The chaos theory studies the effects in dynamical systems, seeking to predict or explain the outcome through seemingly small factors. This effect is often called the butterfly effect. A small change in one place during the system may result in vast differences to the outcome, and so to predict the outcome, these factors and small changes will need to be taken into consideration.

The butterfly effect may at first appear to be an unusual occurrence, but when stopped and thought about can actually be found in many simple systems. For example: rolling a football along the ground. You may roll the ball in seemingly the same place each time, however, the ball never lands in exactly the same place. Some small initial factors are needed to be taken account for; things like varying force used to roll the ball, tiny bumps on the ground, wind direction, how you roll the ball etc... These may seem like small things to note, but can actually cause the outcome to be vastly different.

The systems that the theory of chaos are used for are purely deterministic. This means that there are no random elements involved but is based purely on initial conditions. However, just because there is no random events involved in a deterministic system doesn't make outcome-prediction simple. In fact, long-term prediction is generally impossible, and simply because these systems are deterministic does not make them predictable. This is known as chaos.

How to Improve your Maths

You might remember a while back when I posted an article called: Improve your mental maths, where I wrote about some simple tips to improve your maths mentally.

Looking back, there is a lot more to write about mental maths and I might publish a second blog post in the near future about more tips you can use. 

At the moment however, I'm going to write about how you can get better at mathematics in general and not just in your head.

For many people, maths is a dreaded subject simply because of the difficulty a lot of people find with it. It doesn't have to be though, and by using these tips, I'm sure your maths will start to see an improvement.

1. Practice

The main thing you can do which is going to help more than any other piece of advice on this list, is to practice, practice, practice. I can't stress enough how essential it is to practice. Whenever you see people who are good at something in particular; for example some who plays a musical instrument, won't have become brilliant overnight, things do take time and effort to see the results. This is no different for maths, so try to schedule yourself some time for it.

A brilliant thing you can do would be to incorporate maths into your daily life. For example: when shopping you could do the costs in your head, doing discounts and taxes, counting people and working out percentages of certain categories (like male:female ratio etc), and time maths - which incidentally could help with your time-management skills.

2. No calculator

I'm not stating that using a calculator is a bad thing to do as there are many instances where we cannot mentally calculate something. However, using a calculator too often will only get you more used to not doing the calculations for yourself. Sure, you're getting the answer - but do you really know how. 

When you're next faced with a math problem, instead of whipping out the calculator and punching in the numbers, try doing it for yourself. Over time you'll start to see problems become easier to solve.

3. Learn the Multiplication table

The multiplication table is a really great resource to use for becoming better at maths. It helps with multiplication, division, and addition - but mainly multiplication. Start by learning individual number sets. For example; your three times tables, then your four times tables, then five, six, seven, and so on...

Use the 20x20 multiplication table, which at first may seem daunting, but by doing a bit each day though, it won't look anywhere near as scary as it first did. Don't forget to be patient, you won't learn the table over night. You've just got to remind yourself that persistence is the key.

4. Enrol in a math class

Whilst it is certainly within your capabilities to teach yourself maths and become quite proficient in the subject, there is nothing like having a teacher (someone who knows what they're doing) for help, instruction, and guidance. 

A teacher will have a syllabus to stick to and will make sure that you get regular homework. Homework sounds bad and isn't everybody's favourite thing to do, but it does help you to cement things into your mind.
Going to the lessons will allow you to review maths fairy frequently as-well, so coupled with homework and revision, it should prevent rustiness. 

It's also a great opportunity for you to get some one-on-one help and advice. The great thing about maths is that there are multiple ways of doing certain problems, meaning you can use the method that feels most comfortable for you. Maths teachers will be able to advise you of some of the more effective ways to deal with particular maths problems.

5. Learn math terms

Make sure that you get to grips with mathematical terms. Having an underpinning knowledge of these terms will allow you to grasp the relationships they have with each other a lot easier than someone who doesn't know what these terms are. 

You don't have to learn all of them, but having an understanding of the common mathematical terms will be extremely beneficial for you. Some examples would be things like: average, circumference, diameter, area, volume, common denominator, cube root, factor, denominator and numerator, acute and obtuse angles, polygon, prime number, prime factor, radius, ratio, right angle, and whole number.

6. Use simple steps

When becoming familiar with a certain thing, try to organise a small, clear, simple set of instruction sheets for yourself to review and use. Using your instruction sheet, do a few practice questions. You'll notice that the more you do these questions and the more you refer back to your set of instructions - the easier and more ground into your mind it will become. 
This will mean that when you come to doing these problems without your instructions to refer to, because of the practice you've been doing, you will already know the steps you are going to take to solve the problem, and won't need your instruction sheet anyway. 

Compiling instruction sheets for individual problems and topics will be very beneficial for improving you maths. When you no longer need the sheets, don't throw them away. Keep hold of them and put them somewhere safe (like a folder) and review them from time-to-time. If you don't do maths frequently then you will start to forget how to do things, but having these clear set of instructions on-hand will mean re-familiarising yourself wont be too much trouble at all.

7. Write out problems

When solving problems, unless you're trying to become a lot better at mental maths, write down everything you do. This includes all formulae and working out. Make sure that it's not only written out in full, but that it is written neatly allowing you to know what's happening with a simple glance. 

While it is a lot more tempting for you to skip over bits and do them in your head, only writing down the answers, it isn't nearly as beneficial for you as writing them down in full is. It causes you to slow down as you're having to take the time to write the problem out, and causes you to think about the problem more. It also defines them in your memory.

It's great for going back and checking answers as you're bound to have one or two (or more) wrong when learning. If you've done it in your head, how will you know where you went wrong - you won't. If however, you've written out all of your workings and the procedures you used, and it's clear to read - it will make finding and correcting your error a lot simpler.

8. Don't learn things late at night

I know there will be lots of people who smile at this, knowing to-well how hard it is to effectively learn something late at night. Your brain has been active throughout the whole day and at this time of night will want some rest, so by making it continue working when it's already fatigued, would not be doing yourself any justice whatsoever. 

You'll find that you will start to notice small errors slipping into your process, which you know full well could have simply been avoided, but because your brain is tired, it's not able to tackle the problem all guns blazing like it normally would. 

It's not uncommon to start feeling your eyelids getting heavier and heavier, and to start reading the same line two or three times before dropping off to sleep.

Mornings are the best time of the day for concentrating on something, when your body has recharged its batteries and is ready to face another day. You will notice a difference when studying early in the morning rather than studying late at night.

Summary

These are some simple effective tips that will definitely help you to see an improvement in maths, and if done frequently and properly, I can guarantee that an improvement will be made. 

So to quickly sum up a few points: make sure you practice and review regularly, learn things when your concentration levels are high, write out the process you use, get yourself a teacher if possible, learn mathematical terms, try not to use a calculator where possible, learn the multiplication table, and make things simple for yourself. I hope this post has been of use to you. :)

How to Cope with Exam Stress

Exams can be a stressful time for any of us regardless of age, and just because you may not be at school any more, you're still going to come up against them.

Normally, your pre-exam nerves are worse than they are when doing the exam, but by the time you're taking the exam, you've worked yourself up into such a state that it seems just as stressful in the exam as-well.

Having too much stress can be harmful for your health, and will probably not allow you to perform at your very best. Having said that however, controlled stress can allow you to focus and reach your peak performance.

Revise

One of the best steps you can put in place right now to help with exam stress is to revise. Revising will help (and overcome if done correctly) any uncertainties you have and strengthen your knowledge.

If you're having trouble revising, then read a previous post of mine: 11 Tips to Revise Effectively.

Deep Breathing

Although it may not sound like it'll help, it will. Short and shallow breaths will cause your heart to beat faster than usual and will not help you control your stress. Instead take deep deliberate breaths to help keep your heart rate to a natural rhythm and to help with your anxiety.

Exercise

Doing regular physical exercise is a recognised way of coping with stress. Just 10 or more minutes a day can make a big difference. It doesn't even have to be strenuous, it can just be something as simple as walking.  

 
Sleep

If you're tired and haven't been getting enough sleep, anxiety can be made worse and blown out of proportion. It's a good idea that you get enough sleep.

If you want to, you can read to previous posts of mine: How to Relax before Bed, and How Much Sleep Do We Need.

How to Build your Vocabulary?

Why Build A Better Vocabulary?

Regardless of your age or intelligence, having a good vocabulary will help you to have a better understanding of certain academical situations.

You'll find it easier to express yourself, and easier to explain things to others in a clearer fashion. You'll feel comfortable with different social situations, not having to withdraw from the conversation because of a subject that's alien to you.

Having a great vocabulary is great for job interviews, in fact interviews in general.

It can very helpful when reading texts that are unfamiliar to you.

You can also use them for games such as boggle, scrabble, and the like.

When having a good vocabulary, and being familiar with long and difficult words, it can be really useful for speaking publicly. 

It might seem like junk to learn, but it will stick with you and help you in the future.

1. Read, Read, And Read Some More 

This is one of the best ways to get yourself familiar with a larger range of vocabulary. Most of the words in your vocabulary have been learnt through context, and by exposing yourself to as much vocabulary as your can - it can only get better.

When you do come across a word that you're unsure about, try to imagine what it means and then look it up in a dictionary. Just keep repeating this process and you'll be surprised how much your vocabulary can improve.

2. Monitor The Context 

As I said in point #1, most of the words you learn is by context. So whenever you hear a word that you're unfamiliar with, try to understand the context it was used in. The great thing about this is you just have to be in ear-range of a person speaking, or within reach of reading material.

3. Look Up Words You Don't Know 

Try to get yourself into the habit of looking words up that you're unfamiliar with. If you're fortunate enough to have access to the Internet (which I'm assuming you do if you're reading this), you have loads of choices of dictionaries and thesauruses.

4. Learn A Word A Week 

Challenge yourself to learn a word a week. This is definitely doable, with seven days at your disposal to get accustomed to the new word. If you do this, you'll be expanding your vocabulary by fifty-two words a year. If this is too easy for you, then do two words a week, or three words a week - it's up to you. On the other-hand, if this is a bit much of a challenge, then do a word every two weeks.

5. Repetition 

It's no good learning a new word if you're going to forget it. You need to try and get it into your long-term memory.

Research suggests that by going over a word twenty times will help it to become part of your vocabulary.

You can review your words with index cards, or any other memory trick that can help with the memory process.

6. Insert Them Into Conversations 

Once you feel quite confidant that you know the meanings of a few newly-learnt words, your next step is to put them into a conversation. Don't try to use them in every sentence, but just insert them when the time is right, like you would with any other word.

The more used to the words you become, the more you're inevitably going to use them casually, not even having to think about when and where to say them.

7. Take Vocabulary Tests 

Get yourself to take a quick vocabulary test a day. You'll be forced to think about words, and words you come across that are unfamiliar to you, you can just look-up on a dictionary and become acquainted with.

You can find vocabulary tests on the Internet just by doing a quick Google search.

Some Words To Consider Using

Here's a few words you may want to learn if you're unsure which words to start with, but there are loads more out there to choose from:

• Abhor
• Abjure
• Acquiesce
• Arcane 
• Avarice
• Amiable
• Brazen
• Brusque
• Candour
• Chide
• Clandestine
• Coerce
• Coherent
• Connive
• Debase
• Decry
• Demure
• Deride
• Despot
• Embezzle
• Enmity
• Erudite
• Extol
• Feral
• Fractious
• Furtive
• Gratuitous
• Haughty
• Impertinent
• Impudent
• Incisive
• Indolent
• Inept
• Infamy
• Innate
• Insatiable
• Insular
• Intrepid
• Inveterate
• Jubilant
• Knell
• Lithe
• Lurid
• Maverick
• Maxim
• Modicum
• Morose
• Myriad
• Nadir
• Nominal
• Nuance
• Obsequious
• Panacea
• Penchant
• Perusal
• Plethora
• Predilection
• Repudiate
• Rife
• Salient
• Serendipity
• Staid
• Superfluous
• Sycophant
• Taciturn
• Truculent
• Umbrage
• Vex
• Vociferous
• Wanton
• Zenith

11 Tips to Revise Effectively

I hate exams (like a lot of us), and even worse is when I have no idea what any of the answers are. In a position like this it's not surprising to see an end result of a fail or a very low score.

Revising can prevent this feeling (or at least help you to feel more confidant during the exam). I once heard from a academic that anyone can pass an exam with good marks, it just depends if and how they revise.

As I have a few electrical exams coming up and a music theory exam as-well, I thought it would be a good idea to share some revising tips and which one I find the best.

1. Summary Papers 

I thought I would start with my preferred method of revision, and that is to make summarised notes on a page. About 80% (or sometimes more) of the information that we take in when learning is useless, and only 20% (or less) being the key parts. So with this in mind, I divide the page into two long sections (A4 paper,) and start making subtitles with the key points underneath.

The summaries of each sub-heading may take up only a few lines, maybe a whole page, maybe more, the main thing is that you're just noting down the important exam points.

For my last main exams I took (all about electrics), I had only 12 sides of A4 summary pages to revise - which beats reading through books upon books in my opinion.  

2. No Distractions 

However good a multitasker you think you are, you wont be able to revise effectively with noise and interruptions (e.g. the t.v.).

In order to concentrate fully on the information you're trying to absorb, quietness is the best way to go.

If you're in a position where it wont be possible to revise quietly, then more revision will have to be done so you can ground the information into your mind.

I have heard however that baroque music helps while studying. Here's the link to the page: Music moves brain.  

3. Questioning 

Get your friends and family members to question you, particularly the parts you're struggling with. This is a great memorisation technique.

4. Past exam papers 

Past papers are an excellent resource for revision and definitely help if done correctly.

When I did this in the past I would go back over my test (once completed) and tally up all my wrong answers. I then would correct myself mentally and say the right answers out-loud before proceeding to redo the whole test. I would repeat this process until I had no answers incorrect. I did about sixteen different practice exams in this style, It was long and hard but I think I achieved 100% for the exam I took.

5. Study-buddy

Despite the sub-heading it doesn't just have to be just one person you have to study with, it could be a whole group. 

This can be really beneficial as questions will be thrown this way and that way, resulting in acquired exam knowledge.

The downside is that you may be tempted to muck around, but if you're all serious about revising then it should be fine.

6. Take breaks 

Breaks are essential for optimizing the time you spend revising. You are human like the rest of us and our brains become fatigued if pushed too far. This is why short regular intervals are necessary. Whilst you take these breaks, get a drink of water to keep you hydrated and some fruit for those essential vitamins.

A rough guideline to when one should take these breaks is up to oneself, I suggest every 45-60 minutes.

7. Mind maps 

For people who are visual learners mind maps are great. Choose a heading to start with, place it in the middle of your page and branch off sub-headings from it. Then sub-headings from the sub-heading etc.

Personally they're not my style but for a lot of people they work really well.

8. Diagrams and sketches 

Another great one for visual learners is the inclusion of colour, pictures, diagrams, sketches and the like, can really help to solidify the points in your mind.

9. Repetition 

It's a sensible to decide to revise, however if you're going to revise just the once, chances are that you're not going to remember a lot in the exam. Repetition and consistency must be used in order for you to reach and maintain your peak amount of knowledge on the subject.

If you want to I have a previous post about self-discipline for reading.

10. Revise in plenty of time 

Don't put revising off when you know that you have an exam coming up. Force yourself to study, you'll find that once you start it isn't as bad as you were expecting it to be. Quite often the worst part about revising is thinking about revising.

On the day of the exam you'll be glad you did that revision.

11. Revision cards 

Create your own pocket-sized revision cards to carry around. Whenever you have some downtime take out your cards and read them over. For example: on a train, on a bus, whilst in a queue etc.

If only one thing sticks in your mind afterwards, then it's time well spent, after all it is during downtime.

Like I said at the start, exams are hated by many of us and can bring misery about. If you do revise though with one of the above study methods or a different way that works for you you'll do better.

Remember, you're not the only one who's ever been under this amount of stress.

If anyone who's reading this is taking an exam of some sort, I wish you good luck.

What Is O.C.D?

O.C.D stands for 'obsessive compulsive disorder' and is deemed an anxiety disorder.

Although not classed as mentally unstable, O.C.D sufferers have recurring obsessive thoughts related to a particular matter. Normally to help themselves feel more at ease sufferers will do something about these thoughts, resulting in them  carrying out something that is either obsessive or compulsive or both.

If an O.C.D sufferer doesn't fix their obsessive thought, then uneasiness, fear, and the feeling of threat can grip them.

O.C.D is actually quite common and is surprisingly the fourth most common 'mental disorder', however it is not an illness and many sufferers are ordinary to talk to, they just have anxiety problems. Still, this is not healthy for the mind.

Many individuals who do have O.C.D, will tell you that what they're doing is irrational and maybe quite unreasonable, but they just don't feel safe or at ease without doing such a thing. 

This is why logical reasoning and comforting words don't work for people with higher levels of this anxiety disorder.

What are Obsessions?

Obsessions are the images, impulses, and ideas that run through the sufferers mind over and over again. These may be permanent thoughts that always play upon the individuals mind, or thoughts that may arise from particular situations in which the thoughts are connected to.

A person suffering with O.C.D doesn't want to have these thoughts, but just cant help themselves from thinking them.

What are Compulsions

Obsessions are the thoughts that cause the person to become anxious or afraid, the behaviours that come about to help the individual (what the individual finds to help) deal with these situations - these are the compulsions and are sometimes described as ritualistic characteristics.

For example: An individual might feel anxious about saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, and so may retract socially as to avoid these situations and become very quiet when amongst people, as-well as having their communicational skills deteriorate. 

Common obsessive and compulsive behaviour

• Concern with dirt or germs.,
• Excessive concern with environmental contaminants. Examples: asbestos, radiation, pesticides or toxic waste.,
• Excessive concern with household items. Examples: cleansers, solvents.,
• Bothered by sticky substances or residues. Examples: adhesives, chalk dust or grease.,
• Concern or disgust with bodily waste or secretions. Examples: urine, faeces or saliva.,
• Excessive concern with animals or insects. (Distinguished from Specific Phobia.), 
• Concerned will get ill because of contaminants. Examples: AIDS or cancer,
• Concerned will get others ill by spreading contaminants,
• No concern with consequences of contamination other than how it might feel.,
• Fear of eating certain foods. Examples: excessive concern about risks of certain foods or food preparations. (Distinguished from concern in gaining weight.),
• Excessive concern with becoming pregnant or of making someone pregnant,
• Need for symmetry or exactness. Examples: certain things can’t be touched or moved, clothes organized in closet alphabetically, bothered if pictures are not straight or canned goods not lined up. (Distinguished from O.C.P.D.), 
• Exactness in dressing. Examples: excessive concern about appearance of clothing such as wrinkles, lint, loose threads; may not wear garments out of concern they will become worn.,
• Exactness or symmetry in grooming. Examples: bothered if hair not parted exactly straight or hair not precisely same length on each side of the head.,
• Fear of saying the wrong thing or not saying it “just right”.,
• Need for exactness related to feared consequences.,
• Excessively bothered by things not sounding “just right.”,
• Finds certain sounds irritating. Examples: “sh” sound, lisps, static/noise, sniffing,coughing, ticking clocks, dripping water. (Distinguished from irritability not specific to O.C.D.),
• Arranging and re-arranging objects to prevent bad outcomes.

When does O.C.D begin?

O.C.D affects all ages, from children to full-grown adults.

O.C.D can begin when you're a child (more common among ages 10-12); organising toys, having to carry out specific tasks, not stepping on cracks etc., these usually disappear with age.

For adults, O.C.D normally begins in the teens or early twenties, it can develop later on but isn't as common.

How bad can O.C.D get?

Quite a lot of sufferers don't develop really serious obsessive and compulsive behaviour, but for those who do, living a normal life can become very difficult and sometimes impossible.

How to Improve your Handwriting

Well this is common, the habit of unreadable handwriting and for many I wouldn't even class what they write as handwriting. You may think 'It doesn't matter as long as I can read it'. 

Of course it's great that you can read your own handwriting but if others cant, think about all the things you may write out: letters (although e-mail can be a substitute), cards, job application forms, notes, homework and the like for students (if it cant be done on the computer), directions and addresses for somebody, postcards, examinations (which aren't online) etc.

To improve handwriting you will need to put effort, time and patience to make an improvement, until you are able to write at full speed with neatness.

Personally I'm quite happy about my handwriting, but it can be messy sometimes (especially when note-taking). If you want to and if you put in a lot of practice, you can become really advanced and master all sorts of insane 'fonts'.

1. Choice of Pen 

To improve your handwriting it's not necessary to buy a gold plated, diamond covered state-of-the-art fountain pen. In fact a simple Biro will be sufficient, however, fountain pens and handwriting pens are a lot easier to write well with than ordinary pens (like biro's).

Different nibs, pen widths, ink types, will all factor to how your handwriting is formed.

For lefties, special left-handed pens can be bought. I myself am a lefty and have never tried these pens, I find normal pens fine.

2. Grip 

Although you may be concentrating fully on what you're writing, your pen doesn't need to be held with the grip you would use for a sword. 

A light and supportive hold is what's best, allowing your pen strokes not to be so tense and rigid, but letting it flow nicely.

3. Practice 

I'm sure I've said it before, the more you practice the better you will become. 

Try to write a letter per day. If you can't manage this then try a paragraph, bearing in mind the more you do the easier it will become.

Try different fonts and styles, and be patient - it's unlikely that you're going to achieve perfect handwriting overnight.

4. Posture 

You need to stay relaxed but yet straight, keeping the desired amount of grip on the pen, resting lightly on the table (or surface of choice).

Also try to keep your arms bend at 90 degrees.

It's amazing how much posture can affect your handwriting, don't forget to be in an area where you have lots of room for your arms to relax. Hunching them up because of lack of room can make handwriting awkward.

5. Find your Font 

Each one of us have our own preferences to handwriting fonts, so find the one that's right for you. 

It's no good trying to perfect a handwriting style that you don't like and you don't plan to use. (Unless your doing things like calligraphy).

If you're unsure how to go about learning or practising different fonts on your own, don't worry head over to Google images to get some ideas.

6. Lined Paper 

Try to write on lined paper wherever possible, it gives you guidelines to height and form, as-well as keeping it straight.

If you don't have lined paper, you mark very light lines out with a pencil and a ruler. You can also get guidelines to put underneath the paper if you don't want to have to draw your own lines.

If you can draw on a plain piece of paper using guidelines, or self-drawn light guideline - it does look nice.

7. Calligraphy lessons 

You can sign up to a calligraphy class and watch your handwriting grow. While learning calligraphy you will need to be perfectly neat to get the best results, you'll also have a teacher and other class members to help you. 

My grandma does calligraphy and is a very neat hand-writer. :)

10 Reasons why you should Play Chess

Chess is a game normally associated to intelligent, strategic individuals who enjoy the adrenaline rush of outsmarting and outplaying others around them. Although there is a bit of a stereotype for chess players, you don't need to have an IQ of 200 to play.

There are millions of people who enjoy playing chess every day and have numerous tournaments around the world throughout the year.

As chess is not reliant on age and has no need of retirement, chess is a very highly competitive sport and requires an immense amount of dedication, with both young and old battling it out to become no.1.

Chess is part of the curricula in nearly 30 countries and is a subject in all public schools - you will see why if you read below.

 

1. Logical thinking 

Chess develops logical thinking because the whole game is based on logical thinking. Not wanting to make a blunder and wanting to capitalise on your opponents mistakes or positional errors requires planned thought.

2. Improves maths and science 

Maths and science are subjects where you are either right or wrong. So with chess players, (who when playing chess will see a move they make to be either the right or wrong play,) can relate similar thinking to both these subjects.

In a 1977-1979 study at the Chinese University in Hong Kong by Dr. Yee Wang Fung, chess players showed a 15% improvement in math and science test scores.

Dr. Calvin F. Deyermond, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the North Tonawanda City School District, wrote: "Chess develops intellectual, aesthetic, sporting, decision making, concentration, and perseverance skills.We have seen the effects of this wonderful game in our classroom and as an extracurricular activity. Not only is it mentally challenging but it attracts not only gifted pupils but also students at all levels of learning. Many students who have been experiencing problems, particularly in mathematics and reading, sometimes demonstrate remarkable progress after learning chess."

3. Teaches independence 

Chess is an individual sport and how well you do comes down to how well you can play. True you can go to clubs and have lessons, but it will always be your own decisions which make or break a match.

This naturally teaches independence, having to rely on yourself and not others around you.

4. Promotes studying 

With chess, like most things, the more you study and practice, the better you will become. As I said before about chess being highly competitive, to remain at the higher levels of the game, regular practice is necessary.

Chess players are able to apply this to other things already having the discipline to put the work in.

5. Improves memory

Chess is difficult sport to compete in and many things must be known by memory. Chess improves the ability to store and gain information.

According to a two-year study conducted in Kishinev under the supervision of N.F. Talisina, grades for young students taking part in the chess experiment increased in all subjects. Teachers noted improvement in memory, better organizational skills, and for many increased fantasy and imagination (Education Ministry of the Moldavian Republic, 1985).

With so many different variations of play, players usually memorise certain patterns and strategies to deal effectively with their opponent. Looking into openings, traps, and end game positions.

6. Patience and concentration 

Patience and concentration are two things that come naturally to a chess player (especially concentration).

Without concentration you will 90% of the time lose a game (100% of the time if you're against a good player).

Without patience you could make moves to early which your opponent could counter and build upon.

7. Imagination and Creativity 

With so many possible outcomes and so many strategical paths to go down, a chess players imagination and creativity will be tested and over time improve.

8. Improves school grades and your level of learning 

A 1990-92 study using a sub-set of the New York City Schools Chess Program produced statistically significant results concluding that chess participation enhances reading performance.

In a 1974-1976 Belgium study, a chess-playing experimental group of fifth graders experienced a statistically significant gain in cognitive development over a control group, using Piaget's tests for cognitive development. 

Perhaps more noteworthy, they also did significantly better in their regular school testing, as well as in standardized testing administered by an outside agency which did not know the identity of the two groups. 

Quoting Dr. Adriaan de Groot: ...``In addition, the Belgium study appears to demonstrate that the treatment of the elementary, clear-cut and playful subject matter can have a positive effect on motivation and school achievement generally...''

During the 1995-1996 school year, two classrooms were selected in each of five schools. Students (N = 112) were given instruction in chess and reasoning in one classroom in each school. 

Pupils in the chess program obtained significantly higher reading scores at the end of the year. It should be noted that while students in the chess group took chess lessons, the control group (N = 127) had additional classroom instruction in basic education. 

The control group teacher was free to use the ``chess period'' any way he/she wanted, but the period was usually used for reading, math or social studies instruction. The control groups thus had more reading instruction than the chess groups.

Even so, the chess groups did better on the reading post-test; therefore, the gains in the chess groups were particularly impressive.

9. Socialisation 

Chess will always require you to play against somebody (unless you go against the computer,). Whether you attend clubs or tournaments (or both), there will be lots of people there who enjoy chess - promoting interaction and social transactions.  

10 It's Fun 

If you play it for nothing else, chess is fun and is great when you win. Chess never repeats itself and never feels repetitive. 

Here's the links to the websites I like: 

• For playing chess I use chess.com
• For learning and developing strategy, I normally use thechesswebsite.com

8 Advantages you gain from Playing an Instrument

Music can stir up a strong emotion in anyone. Whether it's sad, happy, exuberant, reminiscing, forceful - music has an effect on all of us.

You'll find when you listen to music, there will be things you like and things you don't like, this is your unique taste and is individual to you.

Learning to play an instrument can help you express music that you really love and is very rewarding. Not only will you enjoy it (if you stick at it and it's the right instrument for you), but others will enjoy to listen to you.

To most people who play instruments, they would say it's one of their favourite hobbies which they apply themselves to.

I count myself lucky to have been given the opportunity to play an instrument (piano) and have lessons, but unfortunately for many, this is not the case.

Instruments are expensive and lessons are too (depending who you're with).

That's not to say you have to have lessons to learn an instrument, now with all the resources people have - learning by yourself is easier than it ever has been.

There are many benefits to playing a musical instrument that I never realised and many people don't know about them either.
These only really are true if you play an instrument on a regular basis, otherwise you can't benefit fully from this skill.

1. Develops intelligence 

Not only is music nice to listen to and to play, but some studies have shown that learning an instrument develops intelligence, promoting brain activity and an increase in IQ. 

This is because of your brain having to process and concentrate on many different things at once. 

For example: emotion and feeling, pressure of played notes, loudness and softness, the changing rhythm, articulation, movements of hands etc.. Each instrument has its own difficulties.

2. Sense of Achievement 

Learning to play an instrument (especially when you first start), can be frustrating. After a lot of hard work and practice, you'll see that your hard work has paid off. This is a reassuring, comforting and enjoyable experience, making progress and advancing towards your target - what a sense of achievement. 

3. Self-discipline and Motivation 

Learning to play an instrument isn't a simple thing to do and takes a lot of discipline, patience, practice and motivation, all of the which are increased profoundly as you progress.

The nature of playing an instrument is (I would say) almost 100% work. You need to practice for regular amounts of time, have to remain focused, have to work through mistakes and difficult passages, develop your own sound, and a lot, lot more, including the perfecting of a performance.

Basically, you wont be able to learn and play an instrument at a high level without discipline and motivation, both naturally gained through practice.

4. Fun 

One of the main reasons for learning an instrument is because it's fun. When you first start out it's brilliant and you can't practice enough, but once the charm of learning the lower level basics has worn off, you may become tired and bored of it. 

As you advance however, new opportunities and pieces to play will be available - bringing many more hours of pleasure.

5. Career opportunities 

As-well as having fun while playing, you can also make it your profession, with many different routes to explore.

Some examples would be: Concert performer, composer, playing in an orchestra, piano tuner, bow rehairer and restorer, school; college or university teacher, the list goes on.

6. Stress relieving

Among many other things that can reduce and relieve stress, music is one of them.

After a stressful day of dealing with stressful things, listening to soft; soothing and relaxing music will help you to unwind. 

Try playing some before you go to bed, so you can get a better nights sleep.

Music has a very powerful influence on our emotions, and so the right sort of music can help. Although if you pick a very powerful; loud and fast-paced piece of music, you may end up more stressed than before. :)

7. Teamwork 

For those who play in a band, orchestra or the like, the art of teamwork will be acquired. Teamwork is a great quality to have and a lot of employers look for it.  

In music, timing and co-ordination are a must - otherwise the piece wont come together and will sound only half (if not less than half) of what it could and should be, so teamwork is necessary. 

8. Memory capacitance 

Playing regular music improves a persons capability to retain information. 

Studies have shown music students to have greater evidence of memory training and progression than those who don't play instruments.