Do you go about clicking away gleefully with your digital camera at everything and anything? And have you by any chance, been a wee bit impressed with all your photos? Then, do consider making money from your hobby! Make your digital camera your money spinning device. Sounds cool? Well it is! Freelance Digital Photography or Stock Photography has so much demand in the internet that you can make a tidy packet with it.Yes, go ahead and give it a shot! You do not need any expensive photography equipment, special printers, special photography training or diplomas for stock photography. Just your passion and your digital camera will do!
What is stock photography? Your photographs are bought by a company and stored in a database. These photographs are then licensed to publishers, advertising agencies, and other companies for their use. There are a many people out there willing to pay for your hobby like newspapers, magazines and book publishers. Even websites , stock photography sites , postcard printers and the travel industry postcard printers require these photos.
All you do need is a:
• Digital camera (minimum of 4 mega pixels) with 3X zoom.
• Access to the internet.
• A Light box.
That's it!
How do you earn money from the photos? First, you upload your digital photos to stock photo sites and whenever someone downloads your photo they pay a royalty to you. You can submit your images to more than one stock agency site and you can earn money with the same photograph all your lifetime! Moreover, you are allowed to sell the same photo a 'number of times'. Thus, each time a person purchases your photo, your royalty will earn money for you.
How to sell your photos successfully:
1. Sign up in Stock Photo Sites:
These stock photography sites will act as an agent to advertise and sell your photos. Register in at least 3 stock sites and make money from those sites at the same time.
2. Learn all about your Digital Camera:
Read and understand the user manual and experiment different modes and techniques with your digital camera. Many professional photographers use simple Point and Click cameras to shoot close-up, macro photos. Set your camera to shoot the highest quality and largest size photos.
3. Find out how to sell your photos:
You should explore and study what kind of pictures sell. Learn how to sell and where to sell. Send only quality photos. Photographs with people are the highest selling stock photos.
Few tips before sending in your photos to photo stock sites:
• Never provide exclusive rights to anyone.
• Refer to the Terms and Conditions of the photo stock agencies.
• Get a Model Release (which is a no-objection certificate) signed from people who pose for your photos.
• All your pictures should be watermarked, so that no one can steal them.
• Make sure that your image is original and truly copyrighted by you.
Don’t be disappointed and frustrated if you are rejected in your early days due to poor quality, or not having commercial value. Don’t quit! Never give up! Keep on practicing! You will be successful in stock photography in no time!
Good luck and start earning!
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Top 5 Stock Photography sites
The dawn of the digtial camera era has seen the mushrooming of many budding amateur photographers. Yes ,you too can become a photographer and all that it takes for you to become one is a snap! Or maybe a click! Actually many clicks! :) Just snap , click and shoot away as many pictures as possible .Your digital camera does not need film, right? And THAT is a great boon. In course of time you will learn all about lighting, backgrounds and staging your digital photos for better effect that you would become skilled at the subject!
Some helpful hints before you submit your photos to photo stock sites:
• When you apply, you will have to submit a few sample images. Your photos will be estimated for quality.
• Shoot some sample images with bright light and preferably inside a photo light box.
• Always, always upload only the best images.
• Use relevant keywords. If your keyword is bad, your image will not sell or be seen, no matter how good your image is.
• Check out the most in-demand image subjects and do not wast your time uploading the least requested photos.
The 5 top stock photography sites where you can exhibit your photography skill are:
1.Fotolia - http://www.fotolia.com
The ideal files size that Fotolia demand should be at least 2000 x 3000 pixels. for web use and print use
2. Dreamstime - http://www.dreamstime.com/
Dreamstime requires that the images should be at least 3MP in size or more and it must in RGB JPG format only.
3. BigStockPhoto - http://www.bigstockphoto.com/
This site requires you to take a photographer test after studying their tutorial pages. If you get through the test you, then you can upload your photos, which will be reviewed by the editors.
4. iStockPhoto -http://www.istockphoto.com/index.php
iStockPhoto specifies that the images should be in RGB JPG format and a large file. All files should be 1200 x 1600 pixels minimum - anything smaller will be automatically discarded.
5. ShutterStock - http://www.shutterstock.com/
This site has a referral program from which users can earn money. Images must be at least 2.5 megapixel to be accepted and new photographers’ minimum size is 4.0MP.
Two other great websites to consider are crestock.com and StockAndPrints.com.
You make your own inexpensive Light Box at home to take awesome professional photos! You will find a great tutorial here.
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
Pin It now!
Some helpful hints before you submit your photos to photo stock sites:
• When you apply, you will have to submit a few sample images. Your photos will be estimated for quality.
• Shoot some sample images with bright light and preferably inside a photo light box.
• Always, always upload only the best images.
• Use relevant keywords. If your keyword is bad, your image will not sell or be seen, no matter how good your image is.
• Check out the most in-demand image subjects and do not wast your time uploading the least requested photos.
The 5 top stock photography sites where you can exhibit your photography skill are:
1.Fotolia - http://www.fotolia.com
The ideal files size that Fotolia demand should be at least 2000 x 3000 pixels. for web use and print use
2. Dreamstime - http://www.dreamstime.com/
Dreamstime requires that the images should be at least 3MP in size or more and it must in RGB JPG format only.
3. BigStockPhoto - http://www.bigstockphoto.com/
This site requires you to take a photographer test after studying their tutorial pages. If you get through the test you, then you can upload your photos, which will be reviewed by the editors.
4. iStockPhoto -http://www.istockphoto.com/index.php
iStockPhoto specifies that the images should be in RGB JPG format and a large file. All files should be 1200 x 1600 pixels minimum - anything smaller will be automatically discarded.
5. ShutterStock - http://www.shutterstock.com/
This site has a referral program from which users can earn money. Images must be at least 2.5 megapixel to be accepted and new photographers’ minimum size is 4.0MP.
Two other great websites to consider are crestock.com and StockAndPrints.com.
You make your own inexpensive Light Box at home to take awesome professional photos! You will find a great tutorial here.
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
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Saturday, August 8, 2009
The dreaded Writer’s block
I’m feeling absolutely and totally uninspired and unable to write! Words just don’t seem to happen. Why is my mind blank? Why am I not getting any ideas? What is this new occurrence I am experiencing? My head feels like a block. Like a block of wood or a block of ice? Perhaps like a block of building? No, this feels different! Moreover, I feel a sort of panic as well.
However, I have heard of a situation where writers have a temporary inability to think and write. Of course, these happen to be my symptoms at this point in time! I’m inept at getting even a single sensible sentence on paper or my word processor. Right now, all that I’m capable of, is to stare at my blank sheet of white paper and my black keyboard! I am at a total loss for words .Yes, that’s it! I have the dreaded Writer’s Block - a writer’s nightmare!
‘If I don't write to empty my mind, I go mad ’- Lord Byron. But dear Lord Byron, my mind is so very empty that I’m going mad because I’m not able to write!
Well, technically, writer’s block happens due to depression, physical illness or even financial pressures. A sense of failure, the pressure to produce work, the end of a relationship may also contribute to a writer's block. In a few cases the stress of living up to a previous big success can also cause writer’s block. A writer and neurologist Alice W. Flaherty has contended that literary creativity is a function of specific areas of the brain, and brain activity being disrupted in those areas can cause the block. Whatever!
Ok then, fine, its time for me, to put into action all those amazing awesome advice I have read about when one is struck by the dreaded block. I’m off for a walk now, to get some fresh air - it oxygenates the brain as well! Then, maybe I’ll do some meditation, watch a cool movie, catch up on my family and friends and basically, take a break! Certainly, tomorrow is another new dawn, another new day, and hopefully new ideas will roll out as words!
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
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However, I have heard of a situation where writers have a temporary inability to think and write. Of course, these happen to be my symptoms at this point in time! I’m inept at getting even a single sensible sentence on paper or my word processor. Right now, all that I’m capable of, is to stare at my blank sheet of white paper and my black keyboard! I am at a total loss for words .Yes, that’s it! I have the dreaded Writer’s Block - a writer’s nightmare!
‘If I don't write to empty my mind, I go mad ’- Lord Byron. But dear Lord Byron, my mind is so very empty that I’m going mad because I’m not able to write!
Well, technically, writer’s block happens due to depression, physical illness or even financial pressures. A sense of failure, the pressure to produce work, the end of a relationship may also contribute to a writer's block. In a few cases the stress of living up to a previous big success can also cause writer’s block. A writer and neurologist Alice W. Flaherty has contended that literary creativity is a function of specific areas of the brain, and brain activity being disrupted in those areas can cause the block. Whatever!
Ok then, fine, its time for me, to put into action all those amazing awesome advice I have read about when one is struck by the dreaded block. I’m off for a walk now, to get some fresh air - it oxygenates the brain as well! Then, maybe I’ll do some meditation, watch a cool movie, catch up on my family and friends and basically, take a break! Certainly, tomorrow is another new dawn, another new day, and hopefully new ideas will roll out as words!
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
Friday, August 7, 2009
Are internet writers lowering the writing standard?
Has the internet led to a lower level of writing standards? Well, definitely yes. Of course, there is a huge battalion of amazing good professional writers on the internet, but at the same time there are a zillion aspiring writers who have jumped on to the bandwagon of writing, by the opportunities provided by the internet. Ahem..you can consider me, one as well !:) The internet is constantly throwing up new and exciting modes of communication and there seems to be opportunities up for grabs for everyone!
Writing for the web and writing for print are poles apart. When writing for the web, the writing standards are often not the highest priority, as the web sites focus more on driving traffic to their sites to either market or promote their advertisements. Furthermore, the web visitors too, just skim through the writings seeking specific information. They do not seem to have the patience to read in detail or be bothered about the writing quality, as long as they hit upon the info they are seeking! Content is all that matters while the traditional writing techniques are totally ignored.
Oh, the joy of reading perfect English with traditional writing techniques on print! Don’t we sit down for hours on end with a book and savor each word and expression and feel the situation and emotions? Then, why is it, when it comes to reading on the web , we just browse through it all,ever so quickly? Maybe, we are in a hurry to go to the next site in the hope of finding better information!
Though we have a wealth of information at our fingertips on the internet, we are also bombarded by people voicing their opinions with incorrect English and spelling errors. Yes, there may be people whose native language is not English ( like me),but then one has to go an extra mile to sound good and write a little aptly .A reader has to be pampered. A reader should be able to relax and enjoy reading. A reader should in no way be under stress to analyze what the article is all about!
Unfortunately, we do see a trend where many non native English language writers ,do not even realize that they are writing in faulty English. Just because they make sentences with a few English words, they deem themselves to be good writers.
Anyway,by following the tips given below, just before publishing whatever on the internet, anyone can write well:
* Make some effort to follow the fundamentals of the English Language.
* Never translate literally from your native language.
* Spell check
* Grammar check
* Learn new words and idioms everyday.
* Use a word processor.
* Ask some one to proof read your article before submission-you will learn a lot like that!
* Have an open mind to accept your mistakes and correct them.
And, finally the most important tip - read and reread what you have written. Reading your writing the next day works wonders in improving it.
‘It's never perfect when I write it down the first time, or the second time, or the fifth time. But it always gets better as I go over it and over it.’-Jane Yolen
In conclusion, never ever think that it is acceptable to just publish whatever! Even if it is for the forums, it should be proper. Thus, by following these simple steps the internet’s writing standards will definitely improve.
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
Pin It now!
Writing for the web and writing for print are poles apart. When writing for the web, the writing standards are often not the highest priority, as the web sites focus more on driving traffic to their sites to either market or promote their advertisements. Furthermore, the web visitors too, just skim through the writings seeking specific information. They do not seem to have the patience to read in detail or be bothered about the writing quality, as long as they hit upon the info they are seeking! Content is all that matters while the traditional writing techniques are totally ignored.
Oh, the joy of reading perfect English with traditional writing techniques on print! Don’t we sit down for hours on end with a book and savor each word and expression and feel the situation and emotions? Then, why is it, when it comes to reading on the web , we just browse through it all,ever so quickly? Maybe, we are in a hurry to go to the next site in the hope of finding better information!
Though we have a wealth of information at our fingertips on the internet, we are also bombarded by people voicing their opinions with incorrect English and spelling errors. Yes, there may be people whose native language is not English ( like me),but then one has to go an extra mile to sound good and write a little aptly .A reader has to be pampered. A reader should be able to relax and enjoy reading. A reader should in no way be under stress to analyze what the article is all about!
Unfortunately, we do see a trend where many non native English language writers ,do not even realize that they are writing in faulty English. Just because they make sentences with a few English words, they deem themselves to be good writers.
Anyway,by following the tips given below, just before publishing whatever on the internet, anyone can write well:
* Make some effort to follow the fundamentals of the English Language.
* Never translate literally from your native language.
* Spell check
* Grammar check
* Learn new words and idioms everyday.
* Use a word processor.
* Ask some one to proof read your article before submission-you will learn a lot like that!
* Have an open mind to accept your mistakes and correct them.
And, finally the most important tip - read and reread what you have written. Reading your writing the next day works wonders in improving it.
‘It's never perfect when I write it down the first time, or the second time, or the fifth time. But it always gets better as I go over it and over it.’-Jane Yolen
In conclusion, never ever think that it is acceptable to just publish whatever! Even if it is for the forums, it should be proper. Thus, by following these simple steps the internet’s writing standards will definitely improve.
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
Pin It now!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Earn money writing
Are you a writer ? Would you like to expand your experience? Would you love to reach out globally?Well then,if so, online writing is just the right option for you! Or perhaps, you always wanted to be a writer but never did know how to go about becoming one. No worries. There are some sites where you can submit your articles and if you can get paid for it, wouldn’t that be gratifying as well?
There are many paid to write sites and there are equal number of scam sites as well. You do have to be so very careful not to waste your time with them. These paid to write sites offer cash and not gift cards or prizes.
The writing sites generally have the following methods of payments for the articles submitted.
1) One-time payment sites:
Sites like DailyArticle, Constant Content, Textbroker and Demand Studios make a lump sum payment on per article basis.
2) Upfront payment sites:
In Associated Contents and Helium sites, you may get paid upfront payments as well as ‘click money’. Click money is payment for each time someone clicks on your articles.
3) Passive income sites:
These sites either pay a writer based on the page views an article has generated like Triond Suite101, Shvoong or allow writers to display Google Adsense on their articles and take a cut from the revenue earned like Hubpages and GZYN
4) Specialized writing categories sites:
These sites focus on specific topics. At Letter Rep, you'll find only letter writing assignments, Wisebread focuses on finanical issues, Storymash specializes in works of fiction whereas Ground Report and Newsvine deal only in news articles. Payment schemes varies from site to site.
5) Liaison Sites :
Sites like Guru, Elance, Odesk and Get A FreeLancer are not publishing sites but they connect and liaison between writers and publishers. These sites generally take precautions to safeguard both the writers and as well as the publishers from getting cheated. Payments are always on a one time basis unless a writer is able to strike a sort of private arrangement with a publisher.
6) Scam Sites:
There are sites like Academia-research and Essaywriters.net. which are scams.Poetry.com is another scam site which promise that your winning poems will be included in their forthcoming collections and then go about asking for payment to get them published!
Warning: Stay away from sites if they-
• Ask for money
• Don’t pay up their upfront rates.
• Their websites do not exist
• Want you to do a test assignment
• Don’t spell out their requirements
So then, Good luck and Happy Writing!
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
Pin It now!
There are many paid to write sites and there are equal number of scam sites as well. You do have to be so very careful not to waste your time with them. These paid to write sites offer cash and not gift cards or prizes.
The writing sites generally have the following methods of payments for the articles submitted.
1) One-time payment sites:
Sites like DailyArticle, Constant Content, Textbroker and Demand Studios make a lump sum payment on per article basis.
2) Upfront payment sites:
In Associated Contents and Helium sites, you may get paid upfront payments as well as ‘click money’. Click money is payment for each time someone clicks on your articles.
3) Passive income sites:
These sites either pay a writer based on the page views an article has generated like Triond Suite101, Shvoong or allow writers to display Google Adsense on their articles and take a cut from the revenue earned like Hubpages and GZYN
4) Specialized writing categories sites:
These sites focus on specific topics. At Letter Rep, you'll find only letter writing assignments, Wisebread focuses on finanical issues, Storymash specializes in works of fiction whereas Ground Report and Newsvine deal only in news articles. Payment schemes varies from site to site.
5) Liaison Sites :
Sites like Guru, Elance, Odesk and Get A FreeLancer are not publishing sites but they connect and liaison between writers and publishers. These sites generally take precautions to safeguard both the writers and as well as the publishers from getting cheated. Payments are always on a one time basis unless a writer is able to strike a sort of private arrangement with a publisher.
6) Scam Sites:
There are sites like Academia-research and Essaywriters.net. which are scams.Poetry.com is another scam site which promise that your winning poems will be included in their forthcoming collections and then go about asking for payment to get them published!
Warning: Stay away from sites if they-
• Ask for money
• Don’t pay up their upfront rates.
• Their websites do not exist
• Want you to do a test assignment
• Don’t spell out their requirements
So then, Good luck and Happy Writing!
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
Pin It now!
About Blogs and 'Dear Diary'
Blog! It’s the modern version of ‘Dear diary’. Oh, how we hid our diaries from prying eyes and kept it so very private! Well, all that has changed now. The trend now is to let the whole world know what you are doing, what you are thinking, your ideas and opinions on this , that and other about everything! First, you will be intimidated by the fact that your thoughts are out there exhibited to the whole world but then, slowly but surely you do get the hang of it and the obsession to publicize your thoughts becomes overwhelming and you are hooked!
‘Dear diary’ belonged only to you but your blog belongs to the world! There’s more to it. Your blog can earn you money. Well..well.. well. So, the idiom ‘a penny for your thoughts’ is true after all! A decade back, surely if someone had even suggested that dear diary will go so very public,you would have pooh poohed. No soothsayer had prophesied the magnitude of the blog phenomena.
Didn’t we keep a dried pressed leaf or a flower, a card or whatever souvenir in our diary? It was for our eyes only and we did think it made our dear diary so very cute filled with these mementos. Whereas now ,as our blog is for the world to see, pictures and visuals with a dash of audio are added to the blogs to catch the attention of the readers. In the early stages of blogs, they were just textual but then as the blog’s popularity became extensive, the blogs got categorized according to genre and so you have, Artlogs, Sketchblogs , Photoblogs , Vlogs(video blogs), MP3 blogs and audio blogs called Podcasts. Hmm.. Quite a category and genre! To top it all, the obsession to publish one’s thought is so great that it is quite a vogue to write blogs on mobile devices like mobile phones or PDAs and these are known as Moblogs!
‘Publication is a self-invasion of privacy.’ quotes Marshall McLuhan.Oh no,not any longer.The passion to publicize one's thoughts and actions is so great that micro blogging is the fad now! It is about publishing one liners on whatever you are up to! Like Twitter or Tweeting for instance.Do you feel about something? Just publish it. Do you have an opinion about something? Just publish it. Are you doing something? Just publish it .Thus,micro blogging and sharing your thoughts and feelings instantaneously with friends and family and the whole world in general is the flavor of the month!And you do have a variety of categories or genres on the menu list to choose from.Happy blogging! :)
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
Pin It now!
‘Dear diary’ belonged only to you but your blog belongs to the world! There’s more to it. Your blog can earn you money. Well..well.. well. So, the idiom ‘a penny for your thoughts’ is true after all! A decade back, surely if someone had even suggested that dear diary will go so very public,you would have pooh poohed. No soothsayer had prophesied the magnitude of the blog phenomena.
Didn’t we keep a dried pressed leaf or a flower, a card or whatever souvenir in our diary? It was for our eyes only and we did think it made our dear diary so very cute filled with these mementos. Whereas now ,as our blog is for the world to see, pictures and visuals with a dash of audio are added to the blogs to catch the attention of the readers. In the early stages of blogs, they were just textual but then as the blog’s popularity became extensive, the blogs got categorized according to genre and so you have, Artlogs, Sketchblogs , Photoblogs , Vlogs(video blogs), MP3 blogs and audio blogs called Podcasts. Hmm.. Quite a category and genre! To top it all, the obsession to publish one’s thought is so great that it is quite a vogue to write blogs on mobile devices like mobile phones or PDAs and these are known as Moblogs!
‘Publication is a self-invasion of privacy.’ quotes Marshall McLuhan.Oh no,not any longer.The passion to publicize one's thoughts and actions is so great that micro blogging is the fad now! It is about publishing one liners on whatever you are up to! Like Twitter or Tweeting for instance.Do you feel about something? Just publish it. Do you have an opinion about something? Just publish it. Are you doing something? Just publish it .Thus,micro blogging and sharing your thoughts and feelings instantaneously with friends and family and the whole world in general is the flavor of the month!And you do have a variety of categories or genres on the menu list to choose from.Happy blogging! :)
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
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Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Are you at a loss to choose a topic for your blog?
Are you tossing and turning to decide on the topic of your blog? Well, it is indeed the very foundation for a successful blog! Have you noticed all those poor blogs lying scattered - dumped or neglected on the blogsphere. Why? It’s because those bloggers had run out of content ideas. Therefore, take some time off and decide on the topic before starting your blog! A successful blog needs time , dedication, hard work and effort. A blog without a plan is a total waste of time. Just follow the tips given below and you will definitely have a successful blog .
1. Choose a topic that you are ardent and dedicated about :
Are you in love or passionate about something or anything? Then, pickup that subject! The enthusiasm for your topic would naturally reflect in the sincerity of your writings and will gel with your readers. You will be able to stay motivated for a long time only with a subject you are really interested in. No matter what your topic is, whether it is about cooking, reading, automobiles, gadgets ,news, tips, comments, articles or anything ,as long as you are fervent with the topic, it is sufficient!
2. Select a theme you can write a lot about:
There are already so many bloggers out there on the web! And you do have to attract readers, right? So,choose a theme where there is scope for expanding ,besides, you will be writing for global viewers. You should be able to update your topic regularly to keep your content fresh.
3 Pick a topic you would like to discuss and debate with others:
You should be able to discuss and debate your topic with your readers, as successful blogs are all about enjoying discussions from various viewpoints and perceptions!
4 Decide on a topic you enjoy exploring:
To keep your blog's content interesting and relevant to readers you should be able to offer the latest trends in your topic. You would have to do a bit of digging for the latest news and moreover, if the topic is after your heart, you will love all the digging, plowing and shoveling!
Chew over your subject and your topic wisely before you take the plunge!
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
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1. Choose a topic that you are ardent and dedicated about :
Are you in love or passionate about something or anything? Then, pickup that subject! The enthusiasm for your topic would naturally reflect in the sincerity of your writings and will gel with your readers. You will be able to stay motivated for a long time only with a subject you are really interested in. No matter what your topic is, whether it is about cooking, reading, automobiles, gadgets ,news, tips, comments, articles or anything ,as long as you are fervent with the topic, it is sufficient!
2. Select a theme you can write a lot about:
There are already so many bloggers out there on the web! And you do have to attract readers, right? So,choose a theme where there is scope for expanding ,besides, you will be writing for global viewers. You should be able to update your topic regularly to keep your content fresh.
3 Pick a topic you would like to discuss and debate with others:
You should be able to discuss and debate your topic with your readers, as successful blogs are all about enjoying discussions from various viewpoints and perceptions!
4 Decide on a topic you enjoy exploring:
To keep your blog's content interesting and relevant to readers you should be able to offer the latest trends in your topic. You would have to do a bit of digging for the latest news and moreover, if the topic is after your heart, you will love all the digging, plowing and shoveling!
Chew over your subject and your topic wisely before you take the plunge!
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
Pin It now!
Build Brainpower
Build Brainpower? Yes, just as we build muscles through physical exercise, we can build brainpower through mental exercise - that’s what researchers have suggested! To have mental competence, your first step should be to exercise your mind! I recently came across a real cool word called ‘mental gymnastics’ and I was immediately taken in with the word as I thought that this word is so very apt for mental activity. Of course, our brains get rusty with disuse, just as our muscles shrivel without exercise and so certainly it is a good idea to work out our brains regularly. Our daily to-do list should include a healthy diet, some physical activity, and of course mental gymnastics.
What mental activities are helpful for mental stimulation? Well, the following activities are real good brainpower boosters.
• Crossword puzzles
• The Sudoku number puzzle
• Scrabble, the word builder
• Learning new languages, crafts and so on.
• Reading stimulating books on philosophy, mystery stories, different cultures and religion that make you think.
• Solitaire (card game) and Mahjong games are alsogood for mental acuity.
Apart from these mental activities, bust yourself with these busters to boost up your brains!
• Stress buster: Stress causes memory lapses and so practicing meditation, yoga, or exercise for a few minutes daily helps in reducing stress.
• Solitude buster: Take time out to be with friends or family. Be connected and maintain an active social lifestyle.
• Eat Brain-Healthy food: Antioxidents, omega-3 fatty acids, fruits, vegatables, unsaturated fats are all linked to a healthy brain.
• Sloth buster: Be active by walking, doing household or garden activities and aerobic exercises as well.
• Mental Dust buster: Learn new intellectual games and activities to keep the mind sharp.
Since it is a fact that even in old age the brains can grow new neurons, most age-related memory loss is simply due to inactivity and a lack of mental exercise and stimulation!
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
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What mental activities are helpful for mental stimulation? Well, the following activities are real good brainpower boosters.
• Crossword puzzles
• The Sudoku number puzzle
• Scrabble, the word builder
• Learning new languages, crafts and so on.
• Reading stimulating books on philosophy, mystery stories, different cultures and religion that make you think.
• Solitaire (card game) and Mahjong games are alsogood for mental acuity.
Apart from these mental activities, bust yourself with these busters to boost up your brains!
• Stress buster: Stress causes memory lapses and so practicing meditation, yoga, or exercise for a few minutes daily helps in reducing stress.
• Solitude buster: Take time out to be with friends or family. Be connected and maintain an active social lifestyle.
• Eat Brain-Healthy food: Antioxidents, omega-3 fatty acids, fruits, vegatables, unsaturated fats are all linked to a healthy brain.
• Sloth buster: Be active by walking, doing household or garden activities and aerobic exercises as well.
• Mental Dust buster: Learn new intellectual games and activities to keep the mind sharp.
Since it is a fact that even in old age the brains can grow new neurons, most age-related memory loss is simply due to inactivity and a lack of mental exercise and stimulation!
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
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Monday, August 3, 2009
Should seniors start a blog?
Most definitely YES! Blogs are the ‘in’ thing and if you don’t have a blog ,you are not cool! Since blogs are like personal diaries you should most certainly have a blog to share your experiences and your wealth of info with others! Remember that , as long as you have something interesting to say, there will be a large number of people on the internet who will not mind reading it. In fact they may even want to! You can write about anything –your life, your opinions, about someone you admire, any news you found interesting, your political commentary, or links to web sites you liked - just anything as along as it is interesting.
If you are a marketing expert, you can start a blog about marketing .Some professional and amateur journalists dominate a large chunk of worldwide audiences by using blogs to publish breaking news, political debates and so on. You can post photos that you would like to share as well.
‘The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium.’ ~Norbet Platt
Apart from this you get the chance to meet like-minded people over the internet, have a sense of purpose, build your self confidence and of course it does wonders to your Brainpower!:)
What should you do before you start a blog? Well..browse around, sniff around a little, looking at other blogs to have an idea about blogs. If, you are a beginner, like me, I would not recommend you to look around too much, as you may be disheartened seeing all those awesome, amazing and incredible blogs . Decide on a theme - chew over your subject and your topic wisely.
Now the final step! Just get started! You will understand more and all about blogging when you try it out! Yes, that’s what I did. I just started and I got the hang of it! It’s real cool! I would suggest - start a blog to become skilled at blogging!
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
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If you are a marketing expert, you can start a blog about marketing .Some professional and amateur journalists dominate a large chunk of worldwide audiences by using blogs to publish breaking news, political debates and so on. You can post photos that you would like to share as well.
‘The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium.’ ~Norbet Platt
Apart from this you get the chance to meet like-minded people over the internet, have a sense of purpose, build your self confidence and of course it does wonders to your Brainpower!:)
What should you do before you start a blog? Well..browse around, sniff around a little, looking at other blogs to have an idea about blogs. If, you are a beginner, like me, I would not recommend you to look around too much, as you may be disheartened seeing all those awesome, amazing and incredible blogs . Decide on a theme - chew over your subject and your topic wisely.
Now the final step! Just get started! You will understand more and all about blogging when you try it out! Yes, that’s what I did. I just started and I got the hang of it! It’s real cool! I would suggest - start a blog to become skilled at blogging!
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
Pin It now!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Happy Surfing,Senior Citizens!
There’s great news! Internet use is 'good for the brain' -that’s the latest research news. It is believed that using the internet helps boost brain power especially for the middle-aged and older people. Great! Now you can spend hours happily browsing with the knowledge that your brain is being benefited by the browsing.
Of course, it is a well known fact that as the brain ages, a number of changes occurs, like the shrinking and the reducing of the brain cell activity. But now, a University of California Los Angeles team has established that searching the web enhances brain circuitry in older adults by stimulating centers in the brain that controls complex reasoning and decision-making. Thus, it also helps to counteract the age-related physiological changes that cause the brain to slow down.
Researchers have also discovered that compared to simple reading, the internet's various search and material options necessitate people to make quick decisions about what to click in order to get the relevant information. Thus internet searching requires analytical skills to distinguish relevant links from non-relevant ones and in the process it encourages brain activity and improves brain function.
Though internet surfing is good for the brain, too much time in front of the computer causes increased levels of stress, which is not good for the brains. So give your mind a break and practice Brain Wave Vibration. Brain Wave Vibration is just nodding your head up and down and turning your head from left to right and then from right to left.It will loosen up your neck and shoulders and reduces your stress level. Do ensure that your computer time is good brain time!
Since the brain likes new challenges, it continues to learn as we grow older too.And since these computerized technologies benefit the middle-aged and older adults , surfing the web has been added to the list of mind booster exercises. So, surf away happily and have fun surfing. Happy surfing!
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
Pin It now!
Of course, it is a well known fact that as the brain ages, a number of changes occurs, like the shrinking and the reducing of the brain cell activity. But now, a University of California Los Angeles team has established that searching the web enhances brain circuitry in older adults by stimulating centers in the brain that controls complex reasoning and decision-making. Thus, it also helps to counteract the age-related physiological changes that cause the brain to slow down.
Researchers have also discovered that compared to simple reading, the internet's various search and material options necessitate people to make quick decisions about what to click in order to get the relevant information. Thus internet searching requires analytical skills to distinguish relevant links from non-relevant ones and in the process it encourages brain activity and improves brain function.
Though internet surfing is good for the brain, too much time in front of the computer causes increased levels of stress, which is not good for the brains. So give your mind a break and practice Brain Wave Vibration. Brain Wave Vibration is just nodding your head up and down and turning your head from left to right and then from right to left.It will loosen up your neck and shoulders and reduces your stress level. Do ensure that your computer time is good brain time!
Since the brain likes new challenges, it continues to learn as we grow older too.And since these computerized technologies benefit the middle-aged and older adults , surfing the web has been added to the list of mind booster exercises. So, surf away happily and have fun surfing. Happy surfing!
Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved
Pin It now!
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