Takeaways:

Redefine Your Happiness

Let Go of Surface Pressure

Enjoy the Little Things

Embrace Quality Over Quantity

Don’t Be Afraid to Show Off the Real You

Many of us are trapped in an idea of a happy life that involves having a huge circle of friends, going to some of the best schools, getting married, having children, and so on. This can be very toxic: if it doesn’t work out exactly as planned one feels incomplete or lacking in purpose. Introverts in particular suffer from this pressure, as they might prefer to keep a small group of friends, spend a lot of time alone with their own thoughts, and sometimes want to adjust their personality so that they become more extrovert. These strategies will help you live an introvert life very successfully:

• Reimagine Your Happiness: What might happiness mean to you? Is it all about a picture-perfect family life, or perhaps wealth and status? Maybe it’s about achievements and status. Maybe it’s all about a sense of personal expansion and artistic creativity. Tell yourself that it is absolutely possible to be happy, and you don’t need to be a particular ‘type’ of person or achieve a specific number of goals in order to be happy. As the Israel-born, US-based positive psychology coach Derek Carpenter puts it, happiness comes down to your choices and your behaviours and what you can and cannot control. It’s okay to be an introvert and still be happy. It might just mean that your road to happiness doesn’t follow the traditional route.
• Stop caring about what other people think of you: Society influences many of our decisions, leading us to act in ways that align with societal expectations. You’re not as great as you’d like to be or as others tell you to be; you’re so much better than that. You’re already perfect. What does it mean to ‘get your shit together’? It goes beyond just fear, anxiety and negative self-worth. The cliché also suggests striving to be better than you already are. There’s a sense that if success meant doing the right things, you’d be experiencing it and feeling fulfilled. But perhaps getting it together indicates that you’re on the right track and can focus on achieving more. Beyond that, all improvement beyond basic competence can be interpreted negatively. I think our concept of what it means to ‘get it together’ would be revolutionary if we got rid of our obsession with external approval. Start working toward your goals, what you love, and you’ll see where it takes you. But know that someone else isn’t going to fix you.
• Appreciate Life: Learn to RESPECT the things around you and take FULL advantage of the beauty of life on Earth.Implementation Intentions: I will waste less time ruminating on the past when I am idle, but will think of something that I am grateful for in my life.The Rutgers study suggests not only that appreciation can lead to satisfaction with life, but also that life satisfaction can thwart negative emotions: when people are experiencing sadness, they’ll feel better if they engage in pleasurable activities. For example, taking romantic walks will make people feel better when they are sad, irrespective of whether they are in a loving relationship or not. The Rutgers team found these relationships while separating feeling good from doing good. Gratitude and good deeds aren’t just linked because they both make people feel good; rather, when people are happy, they are more likely to engage in pleasurable activities. The study therefore shows that happy people are nicer to others, but they’re also motivated to get more happy. ‘One way to capture the immediate happiness from a good deed is to live in the moment and take full advantage of the simple pleasures of life,’ Glidden suggested. In fact, doing so will help you last longer. In these instructions for building gratitude, the standards are lofty but the assignments are useful and easy. Even mundane activities can have long-term benefits.
• Quality over quantity: As an introvert, you might enjoy being alone but understand the value of healthy connections. Maintain strong genuine relationships even if that means you aren’t everyone’s best friend and never have groups of people to hang out with. ‘Try to stay grounded in who you are,’ recommends Scott Barry Kaufman, a cognitive scientist at New York University and host of the YouTube channel by the same name. ‘Focusing on what you’ve been told you should be or you are “supposed” to be or the norm of social existence will make you miserable. Be you — the best and most authentic version of you, and realise you can find happiness!’

Stop Following the Rules: Don’t buy into the myth of a ‘right way’ to be happy. Do what you want to do, even if it’s not what everyone else is doing. You can be alone, or you can work on your knitting. Follow your values and your desires. The bottom line is: be yourself, and be happy being yourself.

Let me know if you have any other suggestions or have found more about how we introverts can live well.

Thank you!

Introverts Paradise was originally published in Short. Sweet. Valuable. on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

For centuries, cultures worldwide have linked the mind-body connection with mental well-being and spiritual insight. It’s like this beautiful dance between our thoughts and our feelings, you know? Many times, it’s tied to religious practices and finding emotional healing.

Now, in Eastern societies, they’ve been all about this holistic approach to keeping our inner selves in harmony and staying psychologically healthy. But, let’s be real, in our fast-paced modern Western world, we seem to have lost touch with these ancient traditions, caught up in quick fixes for mental issues.

Sure, things like prescription meds and passive therapies have their place and have helped millions, no doubt. But here’s the thing: when we focus solely on the technical side of mental health, we end up missing out on some vital human stuff, like mindfulness, positive vibes, and just taking a moment to chill and breathe.

Lately, though, there’s been this awesome surge in scientific evidence backing up what many cultures have known for ages. Take gratitude, for example. Simply saying “thanks” or feeling grateful for stuff has been shown to do wonders for our relationships and how we feel inside.

In 2003, Emmons and McCullough did this cool study where they asked people to jot down their blessings every day or week. And guess what? The folks who did that ended up feeling happier and healthier overall.

They later tried a similar thing with school kids, and the same deal! Those who counted their blessings were more upbeat and satisfied with life. It even seemed to make school more enjoyable! Who would’ve thought, right?

Now, let’s not get it twisted. Gratitude isn’t just about saying words or writing them down. It’s about really feeling it deep down. But when we do take a moment to appreciate the good stuff in our lives, magic happens! Our mood lifts, we become nicer people, and our mental well-being gets a serious boost.

And get this: Eastern cultures have been onto this for thousands of years! Buddhist teachings have been all about finding peace of mind and optimal functioning, using practices like gratitude and mindfulness.

So, here’s the deal: if you’re feeling a bit off or just want to improve your mental health, why not give this gratitude thing a try? Start counting your blessings today, and watch how it transforms your life, one smile at a time!

Ever had someone tell you, “Hey, straighten up!” or give you a gentle scold for slouching at a family gathering? It can be a bit bothersome, but guess what? They’re onto something important. Your posture — how you hold your body when you’re sitting or standing — is like the backbone (pun intended!) of all your movements. It determines how well your body deals with the stresses it faces every day, whether it’s carrying stuff, sitting weirdly, or just dealing with good old gravity.

And let’s talk about gravity for a sec. If your posture isn’t up to par, your muscles end up doing extra duty to keep you standing tall and balanced. Some get tight and inflexible, while others slack off. Over time, this can mess with your body’s ability to handle the everyday stuff, like lifting things or even just sitting comfortably. Plus, poor posture can put extra strain on your joints and ligaments, up your chances of accidents, and even make your organs — like your lungs — work less efficiently.

Now, researchers have linked bad posture to things like scoliosis, tension headaches, and back pain, though it’s not the only culprit. But here’s the kicker: posture isn’t getting any easier these days. Sitting in funky positions for too long or constantly staring down at screens — thanks, smartphones — can really throw things out of whack.

So, what’s good posture look like? Picture this: your spine, when viewed from the front or back, should look like a neat stack of blocks. From the side, it’s got these three gentle curves — one at your neck, one at your shoulders, and one at the small of your back. And get this, those curves aren’t something you’re born with. Babies start out with a simple “C” curve in their spines, and the rest develop as they grow and strengthen their muscles.

Alright, now imagine standing up straight. You should be able to draw an invisible line from just in front of your shoulders down to behind your hip, then to the front of your knee, and finally, a bit in front of your ankle. This setup keeps your center of gravity right over your base, making movement smooth and easy with minimal strain.

Sitting down? Keep that neck straight, not craned forward, and let those shoulders relax with your arms close to your sides. Your knees should be at a comfy 90-degree angle with your feet flat on the floor. Not feeling too confident about your posture game? No worries. Try tweaking your setup — adjust your screen so it’s eye level, make sure your elbows and wrists are well-supported, and maybe throw in a pillow for extra comfort when you sleep.

Oh, and it’s not just about sitting up straight. Keeping your muscles and joints limber is key. Sitting still with perfect posture for too long can actually be worse than moving around a bit with less-than-perfect posture. When you do move, do it smartly — keep your load close to your body, carry your backpack symmetrically against your back, and don’t forget to take breaks and get some exercise. It’s like a full-body tune-up!

And hey, if you’re really feeling unsure, why not chat with a physical therapist? They’re like the posture gurus, and they’ll set you straight — pun totally intended!

Picture the early birds bouncing out of bed with the sun, full of energy. But as the day rolls on, they start to wind down until they’re crashing around sunset.

Now, let’s switch gears to the night owl. They’re the ones who hit snooze a few times, stumbling out of bed way after the sun’s up. It takes them a bit to wake up, maybe with a cup of coffee, but once they do, they’re on fire! They’re just getting started as the sun sets and they’re still going strong into the wee hours.

Sound familiar? Yeah, it’s a story many of us can relate to. But are you a true early bird or a night owl? And is it all just hardwired into us from birth?

Well, it turns out, it’s a bit more complicated. Most of us aren’t extreme early birds or night owls; we’re somewhere in between. It’s all thanks to our circadian system, those nerve cells in our brains that respond to light and regulate our internal clocks.

And speaking of clocks, our circadian rhythm plays a big role in deciding when we feel sleepy or alert. It’s like our body’s conductor, keeping everything in sync.

But can we change it? Kinda. Our bodies are unique, so even if two people have the same schedule, they might experience it differently. Hormones play a big part too, like cortisol for early birds and night owls.

So, can we tweak our rhythm? Sort of. Consistency is key. Stick to a regular sleep schedule, and your body will get the memo. And don’t forget about light! Sunlight during the day helps set our rhythm, so get outside if you can.

Do you have difficulties sleeping? This article might give you the answer: How to Fall Asleep in 2 Minutes

It’s not easy to go against your body’s preferences, but as long as you’re consistent, there’s no wrong time to wake up or hit the hay. Just make sure you’re getting enough rest for the adventures ahead!

Want a ray of sunshine in your life.Changing a few settings can add a bit of spark to your life.Moving to a new town, starting a new career, losing weight after yo-yo dieting over the past 15 years, can add spark to life. Change is like an adventure.

Can you really transform your life in six months? Is it a distant fantasy? Not as far away as you think. But if you do want to shift your life for the better over the next six months, all you have to do is refine the way you pursue it. Are you ready? Here’s your friendly guide to changing your life in six months:

1- Defining Your Dreams:

You can even write down the goals and dreams you have for yourself. Science says that, help yourself by being descriptive and specific about what you want to do and keep it close so you’ll be able to revisit it when you start to lose focus, as you will. The secret is to stay focused on your dreams, your various goals, as often as you can.

You don’t have to hold out for a pen and paper if they aren’t immediately available to you. Instead, scribble what you want onto whatever is accessible — your device. Think about that big glittery goal you’ve been fantasising about — that would be your star.

Dreaming of becoming the world’s strongest? Start with three key steps:

Workout daily

Eat wholesome foods

Team up with a trainer

Sure, these might sound daunting, but let’s simplify them. For your daily workouts, consider:

Finding a welcoming gym nearby

Starting with 10 crunches a day

Next, articulate them as a series of tiny steps: attainable goals that you can pursue starting today. This makes them fresh and approachable, and your dreams begin to feel real.

2. Starting Small, Yet Forgiving:

This time it will be different. Maybe you will resolve to succeed impeccably, but then you must allow for mistakes on your journey. If you have felt completionist guilt at a New Year’s resolution, you will know that self-criticism simply leads to burnout.

Instead, be as kind with yourself as you would with a good friend. Set that alarm for a reasonable time (7.50am?) and start putting things in motion. Celebrate your small daily successes — all those micro shifts will add up.

3. Celebrating Your Progress:

It’s party time! Taking a moment to acknowledge your accomplishments along the road helps you appreciate the improvements you’re making. You realise your daily efforts are actually having an effect — slowly but surely, you’ve been changing. And if you hit a pot-hole, no worries — it’s part of the process.

Keeping in mind that change is all about enjoyment, kindness and celebrating each step, let’s just see where these six delightful months can take us.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read this article. Your interest and engagement mean a lot to me. If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback, I would genuinely appreciate hearing from you. Your input helps me improve and create content that resonates with you. If you haven’t already, please consider following along for more updates — it truly helps me out. Thanks again for your support! and if you want to make my day here you can invite me a coffee.

Do you want to talk about something everyone has experienced? Studying! It’s boring. For example, compare playing video games to studying. Video games are a lot more fun. But what if we could make studying as fun as video games? Let’s see how we can make studying more like a video game.

Well-Defined Goals:

Have you ever played your favourite video game? I’ve played a few in my time. You always have a quest — to rescue the princess, to kill the final boss, whatever. When you’re a student, everything starts to feel rather vaguer. No one tells you exactly what to do anymore. That’s why I always try to give my students a quest. Instead of me telling you what you have to do, decide for yourself what you have to achieve, at what point, and make it feel like an achievement when you get there. Knowing exactly what you have to achieve makes studying feel more like an adventure.

Low Risk, High Reward:

One of the greatest things about gaming is that you can suck and still keep dying. And when you die, it’s not like, okay, you failed Halo again. So this is what we do. You suck at studying, so what? The good news is, it’s not really about sucking. It’s about breaking large tasks into smaller tasks. Every day, create manageable sub-tasks. You might have a high-level goal to cover Homer and Shakespeare in your literature course but, like every gamer, divide that massive objective into discrete mini-games. Each study session will be a kind of mini-game. In each of these mini-games, you can suck and still have a chance to get back in the game again. The only bad moment is the one when you give up.

Instilling FOMO (Fear of Missing Out):

You know what it’s like. You’re not really enjoying the game itself, but you’ve got that little tug in your belly, the itch in the back of your brain: ‘Hey, you should log in. You might just get those daily rewards. Or you might want to join the others for an online multiplayer match.’ Video games are good at keeping us coming back with hooks like daily bonuses and social participation. Let’s bring that to studying. We can create study groups, create mini-rewards for hitting certain milestones, and follow through on each other’s progress. Let’s turn studying into a social adventure.

To sum up, adopting these gamer tactics will enable you to experience studying not as drudgery but as a thrill-filled expedition fuelled by reaching benchmarks, gaining rewards and team spirit. You ready, tiger? Let’s get cracking on cracking some books. Study mates? Bookmarks? Level up!

Remember, studying isn’t simply about finishing a race; it’s about having fun on the journey. Let’s make learning every study session an epic quest.

So, you’re probably wondering: $500 in three months? Is that even worth it? Well, let me share my strategy and you might see things from a different perspective. You see, I’m a firm believer in not putting all my eggs in one basket. Diversity is key, especially when it comes to income streams.

As I embark on this Medium journey, my focus isn’t solely on the numbers. It’s about building a community, creating valuable content, and fostering meaningful connections with fellow writers. Here’s my game plan for the first leg of my journey:

Month One: Laying the Foundation

First things first, I need to grab some attention. That means writing consistently, sharing useful content every day, and connecting with like-minded individuals who share my passions. But here’s the secret sauce: it’s not just about what I can gain, it’s about what I can give. Engaging with others, reading their stories, and leaving thoughtful comments — it’s all about paying it forward. Trust me, karma works wonders in the world of writing.

By the end of month one, my goals are modest yet achievable: 500 followers, 60+ stories published, 1000 views, and 400 reads. With a bit of dedication and a sprinkle of magic, I’m confident I can make it happen.

Month Two: Building Momentum

With the foundation laid, it’s time to crank things up a notch. More followers, more stories, more views, and more reads — that’s the mantra for month two. Consistency is key, so I’ll continue engaging with my audience, churning out quality content, and spreading positivity across the platform.

Sure, doubling my goals might sound ambitious, but hey, I’m all about setting the bar high. Besides, starting with realistic numbers gives me a solid framework to build upon. As long as I stick to the plan and keep the momentum going, success is within reach.

Month Three: Harvesting the Fruits of Labor

Ah, the moment of truth has arrived. By now, my efforts should start to bear fruit. With a growing following, an arsenal of stories, and a bustling community, I’m poised to hit some impressive milestones. Think 1500 followers, 180+ stories, 3000+ views, and 1200 reads. Crunching the numbers, that translates to a potential profit of $640.

profit, To learn more about how I calculated the profit visit this article: “Your Simple Guide to Medium’s Earning”

But here’s the beauty of it all: it’s not just about the money. It’s about the journey, the friendships forged, and the stories shared. So, fellow writers, what do you think of my strategy? Any feedback or suggestions to help me fine-tune my approach? Let’s embark on this adventure together and make magic happen!

Did you know that your phone can have a big impact on your brain? With the average American touching their phone around 2,600 times a day, all that scrolling can actually change the way your brain works. But what if you decided to take a break from your phone? Let’s explore what might happen to your brain and body if you give it a shot!

Take a break from your phone

After just one hour without your phone, you might catch yourself reaching for it three or four times. It’s no wonder, considering most of us check our phones about 52 times a day!

By the 12-hour mark, you might start feeling a bit of anxiety. Surprisingly, not checking your phone can actually trigger the release of the stress hormone cortisol. It turns out, your phone has a way of rewiring your brain in three key areas that are all about seeking rewards.

You see, when you’re glued to your phone, those TikTok notifications, text messages, and Instagram updates act like little rewards for your brain. They trigger the release of dopamine, giving you that feel-good boost. So, when you step away from your phone, your brain misses those rewards, leading to a spike in cortisol and, yup, some anxiety.

But here’s the thing: Quitting your phone isn’t all doom and gloom. After about 12 hours, you’ll find yourself not reaching for your phone as often. Sure, it might feel a bit strange at first, but it’s all part of breaking those habits. And by the time you hit the 24-hour mark, you might start experiencing a little FOMO. You know, that fear of missing out? It’s totally normal and can make your heart race a bit, but hang in there!

Tech companies are pretty savvy at keeping us hooked, playing into our brain’s natural reward systems. But by taking a break from your phone, you’re reclaiming control over those pathways. And trust me, it’s worth it!

As you continue on your phone-free journey, you might notice some interesting changes. By day three, you might start feeling those phantom vibrations or hear phantom rings — it’s like your brain is still expecting those notifications. But don’t worry, it’s just a sign that your brain is adjusting.

And guess what? By day three, you might also start noticing some positive changes in your relationships. When you’re not glued to your phone, you’re able to fully engage with the people around you. No more “fubbing” — you know, snubbing your loved ones for your phone!

As the days go by, you’ll likely notice improvements in your attention span, sleep quality, and even physical discomfort like neck and wrist pain. Taking a break from your phone isn’t just about giving your brain a rest — it’s about giving your whole body a chance to recharge.

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by your phone, why not give yourself a break? You might be surprised at how much better you feel when you disconnect for a while. Your brain — and your body — will thank you for it!

With more than 7,000 chemicals coming out each time you light a cigarette, it’s no surprise that smoking causes a lot of preventable deaths worldwide. But with 1.3 billion people actively smoking, what really happens when you quit smoking?

In the first 20 minutes after you stop:

Your blood pressure and heart rate go back to normal. Nicotine in cigarettes makes your heart beat faster and narrows your blood vessels. This also makes your hands and feet feel colder, but they’ll warm up soon.

2 hours later:

You start craving nicotine, which can make you feel moody, sleepy, tense, or have trouble sleeping. Nicotine also makes your brain release more dopamine, so feeling like this is normal when you quit.

After eight hours:

The carbon monoxide from smoking clears out, and oxygen levels in your blood go back to normal. Carbon monoxide and oxygen compete for space in your blood, and when the carbon monoxide clears, there’s more room for oxygen. Long-term smokers might have thicker blood and higher blood pressure from carbon monoxide exposure.

24 hours later:

You might cough more as your body gets rid of toxins from your lungs. Also, the risk of certain heart diseases goes down.

Within 48 hours:

Nicotine and its byproducts leave your body, and damaged nerve endings start to heal. Your taste buds, which might be flatter and less sensitive from smoking, begin to work better. But if you’ve been smoking for a long time, your taste buds might not fully recover.

At the 72-hour mark:

Nicotine withdrawal is at its peak, leading to headaches, nausea, cramps, anxiety, and depression. These are common symptoms when you quit addictive substances like nicotine or caffeine. But after this, things start to get better.

After a month:

The risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart diseases goes down. In three to nine months, hairlike structures in your lungs, called cilia, start to heal, so you might stop coughing and feeling out of breath.

After a year:

The risk of heart disease from clogged arteries goes down by about half.

After 10 years:

The chances of getting lung cancer decreased by half compared to someone who keeps smoking. After 15 years, the risk of a heart attack becomes the same as someone who never smoked.

Quitting smoking is hard, but it’s worth it. Even though there might be some damage that can’t be reversed, your body can still heal a lot when you quit. And remember, the best way to avoid these problems is to never start smoking in the first place. What’s your reason for wanting to quit?

I’ll give you the key details in a nutshell. This way, you’ll know what to expect in terms of earnings and when to expect them next time. Hope you find it useful.

If you would like to see more information. you can find it Here that is the source of the information which was written by medium’s Team.

Logic for calculating daily story earnings

When do I get paid?

You’ll get paid by the 8th of the following month.

How stories earn in the new Partner Program:

Step 1: Earning engagement points:

• Instead of just counting how long someone reads your story, Medium now considers different actions readers take.

Here are some scenarios:

• If someone not logged in reads your story for over 30 seconds, you earn points.
• If a non-member reads or interacts with your story, you see it in your stats, but you don’t earn money.
• If a member reads your story for at least 30 seconds, you earn money.
• More interactions like claps, highlights, and responses increase your earnings.
• If a member follows you after reading your story, you get a bonus.

Step 2: Adjustments to points:

• they make adjustments to points for different reasons:
• If someone follows you after reading your story, you get a bonus to encourage long-term readership.
• There’s a boost bonus for stories nominated by the community or our curation team.
• they also adjust earnings based on how many people read through your story completely. If many people do, you earn more.

Basic earning formula: Total number of members who read your story for at least 30 seconds / Total number of members who loaded your story.

Leave a comment if you find it useful!

Good luck for everyone!