#it’s tiring! and not helpful! and counterintuitive to creating an actual community!

[constellations-and-energy]

idk how to tell u this but trans people fighting with and policing each other down to the fucking terminology they choose to use to describe their own experiences is literally just weakening us against the people who want us all dead.

if we could all learn to have a little more perspective and realize that ALL of our oppression, shared or unique, stems from systemic problems engrained in the patriarchal society we live in I think we’d have a much easier time forming a strong trans community where all trans people feel seen and accepted and heard. wouldn’t that be something? a nice change?

let’s all collectively pinky promise to stop running around our little blog cages having an “I’M more oppressed 😣” contest. ALL trans people have more in common than not, and it is important that we acknowledge and connect with every individual and community based on their specific needs while being conscious of how this awful society affects ALL of us.

if you need someone to be mad at, how about turning your eyes forward instead of towards the member of your trans family standing next to you.

feels like i’m swinging at a hornet’s nest here but if i have to keep seeing transgender people going after each other with 0 self reflection or examination beyond trying to prove their point and “gotcha! you, fellow transgender person, are oppressing me!” im going to lose my mind.

[byakuyasdarling]

I’m so fucking tired of seeing people be absolutely publicly (in tags) rancid to those they disagree with. I don’t like pr//oship at all, it makes me extremely uncomfortable — but am I about to say the most wretched shit about the people in that community simply because they exist? No, because that’s extremely counterintuitive, especially for the countless examples of victims groomed into it. Many people mislabel themselves as pros.hip because of the alternate twitter definition (anti-harassment over ships) and some of the hyper-aggressive posts an.tis create make us look like fucking irrational people who disproportionately harass others.

How is your post actually helping? It’s not. You’re throwing gasoline into a fire and only solidifying their belief that ant.is are assholes and everything that doesn’t fit in their paradigm should be censored. If you actually wanted to help you’d educate those people and failing that, block and leave. There’s nothing more proactive you can do.

Those are still people behind the screen, and I feel you forget that. Show the bare minimum of decency and move on. Touch some grass. Get a hobby.

The amount of hypocrisy in this community is terrible. I’m an “an.ti”, I disagree with pr.oship immensely and not comfortable with interacting with their content, but I don’t HARASS people as I have a braincell— I know many an.tis are not like this too, the majority are very nice.

Don’t harass others, it’s that simple.

[percywalter-blog]

Benefits of Manuka Honey Fundamentals

Manuka honey-There is no doubt concerning the benefits of honey. You might also be able to utilize Manuka honey to soothe eczema. It helps to soothe skin conditions by reducing inflammation and redness.

If you would like to give Manuka honey a go, speak with your doctor (or a pharmacist) first. One of the most significant advantages of this particular honey is its special antibacterial property known as the special manuka factor or UMF. You might not have heard of manuka honey, so first you must learn about where to buy manuka honey edmonton, but it's an incredibly effective all-natural ingredient that's found in New Zealand.

Another excellent chiropractic advertising tool is to use small appointment postcards. You must also search for innovative suggestions to communicate and to the newest trends available in order for your practice can be absolutely the most influential in your region. You can create your practice to stick out from the rest in your city or town by having appropriate chiropractic advertising suggestions and tools that could be of fantastic assistance.

Interestingly, scientists have discovered that regularly consuming manuka honey can help decrease these signs. Because in fact, there are hundreds of cabbage types, you can assume there are lots of manners in which cabbages are included in recipes. Purchase a few pounds of frozen padded oysters and as soon as you've seen how good they are, you are going to want to eat them daily.

Lucky for you, there are a number of few tactics to establish the standard of honey you desire to purchase. The notion of consuming honey for good oral health may appear counterintuitive, as you have likely been told that consuming too many sweets can result in cavities. Not just that, but nonetheless, it often contains anti-caking agents and sugar also.

The body has to keep the pH in a slim collection to stop deadly consequences.  You ought to be able to ascertain the sum of honey necessary by assessing the sum of fluids leaking from the wound. Additionally, there are around 150 kinds of Chinese herbs that are helpful for improving fertility.

One of the absolute most important facets of facial rejuvenation is understanding what kinds of skin care products actually get the job done. Organic skin care and beauty products have lots of benefits in comparison with commercial products. Bear this in mind while you learn about the advantages of aging skincare.

Don't forget that anything you take in will always have an impact on your entire body. You must not merely pay exclusive attention to your facial skin but the remainder of your body as well needs pampering and attention. The majority of the skin care products found on the store shelves nowadays do not include the essential ingredients that will lower the lines and wrinkles on your face.

If honey is kept properly, it is going to keep for quite a while without losing its healing properties. However, that's the very reason you need to compare night creams before you put yourself in harm's way. Another thing you've got to deal with if it's still true that you opt to go this route, is fatigue.

The medical health professionals are extremely generous and loving individuals. If you don't, you might undergo significant health consequences. Health is really the most innovative aspect in our success, therefore we should keep ourselves healthy in any manner.

It's possible for you to slim down in 1 week or you may slim down in a couple of weeks, you simply have to eat right and make sure that you watch your calories intake. If you own an issue with weight especially, cinnamon will go quite a way to aiding in fat-loss. Protein is a vital part of your diet plan and many individuals don't consume enough.

You will wind up very tired and free of strength in any way. If you believe that this form of formula would be easy that you find, you'd be wrong. Even though you'll slim down, you will begin putting the pounds back on very easily later on.

You don't need to grow your problems by scorching yourself. Getting tired easily is among the more important indicators of coronary failure. Because of this, honey is regarded as a last-resort option against infection.

[sandranelsonuk]

47 Resources for People Who Love to Write but Can Never Find the Time

Tugs at your soul, doesn’t it?

You love to write. You always have.

But honestly — who has the time?

Not only do you have a job and family and friends, but there are a gazillion tiny distractions popping up on your cell phone 24 hours a day, all interesting, all seemingly important, all keeping you from what you were born to do:

Write.

The good news?

2017 is your year. This year, you’re going to make it happen.

Here’s how:

Put Your Ass in That Chair

Having the time to write, and using that time to write, are two very different things.

In fact, many people who perceive that they have too little time actually just fail to take advantage of spare time when the opportunity arises.

It doesn’t matter how much time you find for writing if you can’t consistently get your ass in that chair.

So use the following resources to help you to win the motivation game:

Mentally prepare yourself for the realities of what’s ahead by reading this letter to beginning writers.

Visit the Writer’s Relief blog to get 100 words of encouragement from five different writers who understand what it’s like to struggle.

Stick around on the same blog to read more tips on staying motivated to write.

Feeling sneaky? Use these 10 tricks to motivate yourself to write.

Find your tribe and get fired up by this passionate writing community on Reddit.

Or go all-in and take yourself off to a writing retreat.

  Set a Blazing Fire in Your Belly

An inspiring goal will cut through procrastination and bullshit like a hot knife through butter.

You’ll wake excited to work. Time will magically appear in your calendar. And finding focus when you sit down to write will be easier than ever.

Conversely, writing time without a clear goal easily becomes wasted time. It’s the writer’s version of busywork — it looks and feels like writing but produces little of value.

The following resources will show you how to create goals that make finding writing time a cinch:

Decide whether you’re an “artist author” or a “professional author” and set your goals accordingly.

Apply this six-step system for setting writing goals you’ll actually stick to.

Or use these 7 questions to help you set meaningful goals as a writer.

Find out what best-selling author Seth Godin believes is one of the main goals of a being a writer.

Download this handy workbook for the goal-oriented writer that will help define and organize your writing goals.

Use these six steps to make sure your goals are grounded in reality.

Or use these questions from Prolifiko to validate them.

Watch this TED talk about why you might want to keep your goals to yourself.

  Feed the Body to Fuel the Brain

How often have you had the time to write but didn’t take advantage of it? Maybe you didn’t feel like writing. You weren’t in the mood for it. It happens sometimes, right?

Well, you can blame it on an absent muse or just accept that your mind doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Your physical state affects your mental state. The body is the vessel for the mind.

If your body feels tired and sluggish, your brain is unlikely to produce its best work. (Which is another great reason for getting up early to write.)

Use these resources to help your body support a focused, creative mind:

Discover which are the creativity superfoods in Articulate Marketing’s guide, What writers should eat.

Once writing, keep your brain fuelled with the right healthy snacks.

Find out what people on Quora believe are the best foods for serious writers.

For fun, you could try eating like your favorite authors.

If your appetite is still not quelled, check out Jane Hu’s Writer Food From A To Z.

See how moving your body could sharpen your mind with this research.

Check out this fitness routine for writers.

  Stop Saying “Yes” to Every Damn Thing

Let’s face it, many of the tasks and responsibilities that squeeze your writing time get put on your plate by someone else.

And that’s fine — unless you only said “yes” because you couldn’t find a nice way to say “no.”

Because here’s the thing, tasks you begrudge don’t just steal time from your writing, they sap your mojo too.

If you’re serious about finding more time to write, you’ll need to retrain your inner people-pleaser to be less of a pushover and more of an asshole.

Check out these resources to discover how to say “no” without burning too many bridges:

Follow these 21 tips from Psych Central for saying no.

Use this simple email script to say no to someone (even a good friend) who’s asking for help.

Borrow one of these handy phrases for saying no in a way that doesn’t make people regret they asked.

Learn how to say “no” in specific scenarios with this guide from Fast Company.

Check out 100+ answers to the question “How do I learn to say no?” on Quora.

  Go Over to the Dark Side

There’s something magical about starting your work in those dark, early hours when few others are awake.

In fact, getting up early to write feels like unlocking a secret level in your favorite video game. Once you’ve done it, you can’t believe you didn’t discover it sooner.

Not only that, but your writing benefits from a well-rested brain, which does wonders for your focus and creativity. And when the session is over you can start your normal routine smug in the knowledge that you have already met your writing quota for the day.

The following resources will help you release your inner morning person:

Discover why waking early is the 1-step plan for super-productivity — and learn exactly how to do it.

Review this infographic from Funders and Founders for some handy visual tips about getting up early.

Join the 5 a.m. club with the help of this video from best-selling author Robin Sharma.

Still need convincing of the benefits of rising early to write? Read a fellow skeptic’s account of her experiment with early morning writing.

If you’re a self-confessed night owl, you’ll probably need these quick tips for making early mornings work for you.

  Embrace the Drudgery

There is tremendous power in repetition.

Writing habits, routines, and rituals — all create working patterns that make success almost inevitable.

Make yourself a slave to the routine, and the results will follow — or so the theory goes. But many writers can attest to the power of repeated effort marshaled in the right direction.

Of course, you need to repeat the right things — and what works for you may not work for others.

But if you use the following resources to create — or inspire — your habits and routines, you’ll create a system for success:

Learn how to build your own writing routine that starts where you are right now.

Check out these 16 tools to help you develop a daily writing habit.

Read James Clear’s guide to the daily routines of 12 famous writers.

Or visualize the working patterns of 26 famous creative people — including Haruki Murakami, Kurt Vonnegut, and Maya Angelou — with this colorful chart.

Feeling adventurous? Try one of these strange writing rituals from famous writers like Truman Capote.

Read Grammarly’s list of healthy writing habits you can adopt today.

  Tie Yourself to the Mast

If you’ve ever tried to stick to a regular exercise routine, you’ll know that getting yourself to the gym is the hardest part. Once there you do the work because, well frankly, hanging around a gym and not exercising is a little creepy.

It’s the same for writers. If you have a dedicated space for your writing, you’ll find it much easier to write once you’re there. (And your brain will start to associate the location with writing, making it quicker to get in the zone.)

That’s why you need to find a place where not writing is harder than writing.

The following resources will help you find your perfect writing spot:

Start by reading this list of 22 places to write when you’re tired of writing at home.

Find inspiration to fuel your writing by experimenting with these completely unexpected places to discover your muse.

Or get inspired by these real-world special spots where successful authors go to write. (Heck, you might even live near one of them.)

If leaving home isn’t an option, recreate the soundscape of your local coffee shop using Coffitivity.

But wherever you go, be sure not to be seduced by The Myth of the Perfect Writing Environment.

  Get Your Other Sh*t Done Quicker

If you really have no space for writing in a typical day, you only have one option.

You need to get your other work done quicker.

Counterintuitive, right? To get more writing done, you need to get better at the non-writing stuff.

Because it’s a zero sum game — less time spent on everything else means more time for writing.

So if you’ve shunned personal productivity in the past, now’s the time to get your house in order.

Check out these resources to discover how to do it:

Give yourself a crash course in productivity systems with The Ultimate Guide to Personal Productivity Methods from popular app-maker Todoist.

Learn how productivity works with another handy infographic from the folks at Funders and Founders.

Watch Marie Forleo talk about prioritizing your tasks and learn her one tip that does it all.

Head over to Medium and read Product Hunt’s list of 32 of the Best Productivity Tools You’ll Ever Need.

Finally, find out what Quora users think are the ultimate productivity apps.

  Let’s Make This Your Best Writing Year Yet

Can you feel it yet?

The gentle pull of destiny.

It’s drawing you toward the work you were born to do — writing words that change people’s lives.

And the more time you spend on your craft, the stronger that pull becomes.

It knows you have something important to say.

It yearns for you to put your ideas out into the world.

It demands that you start taking action.

Just remember, 2017 is your year.

And you now have all the resources you need to succeed.

So, are you ready to make it happen?

About the Author: Glen Long is the managing editor of Smart Blogger. He lives in London with his wife and two young boys (one human, one canine). This year he’s resolved to eat less sugar and play more board games. Catch him on Twitter?

from Julia Garza Social Media Tips https://smartblogger.com/time-to-write/

[douchebagbrainwaves]

MARKETPLACES ARE SO HARD THAT WORKING ON IT

It was this, more than dentists or salesmen or landscapers? A more serious problem is the discrepancy between government receipts as a percentage of the company between them since the option pool be enlarged by an additional hundred shares. Then would-be app stores will be too busy to feel tired. Some startups do. But in a large organization is compelled by its structure to be one of the 10 worst spammers. But the margins are greater on products. I'm going to try something weird and artistic. Hacking predates computers.

Strange as this sounds, they seem both more worried and happier at the same time. But most startups that are likely to be something that flows from parents.1 And that's a lot of money.2 If you ultimately want to do something else—even something mindless. And yet there may be some things it's a net win to blow off everything you were supposed to use their office staff, lawyers, accountants, and so on. If it worked so well, and more tentative.3 But we'll figure out some hack that will at least force them to lie outright if they want to or not.

The application described here is one that clearly dominates in Mountain View to a lot of work creating course lists for each school, doing that made students feel the site was about bands. A large percentage fail, about a quarter in the first stage and handed the thing over to marketers.4 But I don't think there's any limit on the number of points increases, wisdom and intelligence are the average and peaks of the same sex, and partly because we fund so many that we have to have a very abstract language. But it seemed worth spoiling the atmosphere if I could give an example of this recipe in action. But a programming language is for thinking of programs, not for expressing programs you've already thought of. Founders seem to have fully grasped what I earlier called the central fact of philosophy: that words break if you push them too far.5 So if you want to avoid, not relative poverty. 10. Notes Even the desire to do, and in practice these tend not to be the best writer among Silicon Valley CEOs. Don't Worry about Competitors When you think you've got a toehold in making something people want? In most startups, ours began with a core of fanatically devoted users.6

And most biographies only exaggerate this illusion, partly due to the worshipful attitude biographers inevitably sink into, and partly because after a while I learned the trick of speaking fast. Probably more dangerous than a physical one. Should you add x feature?7 The Mythical Man-Month, and everything I've seen has tended to confirm what he said.8 Julian knew a lot about why startups are most productive at the very heart of hacking. The mistake is to be undisciplined.9 Especially if you have code for noticing errors built into your application. Some government agencies run venture funding groups, which make investments rather than giving grants.

You should lean more toward firing people if the source of the discrepancy is their sketchiness or your wishful thinking, the prospect of an actual job was on the line. Some may have been the first duty of the scholar.10 All startups are mostly schleps. One argument says that this would turn out to be an instance of a more general rule: don't learn things from teachers who are bad at deciding what to do with any external trend. The reason only 287 have valuations is that the old chestnut all languages are equivalent is that it's their profession to. Closely related to poverty is lack of social mobility. The original edition contained a few unPC ideas, but it's clearly now the established practice.

Let's think about what I called a huge, unexploited opportunity in startup investing. So I bet it would help to be rapacious is when growth depends on that. According to the National Association of Business Incubators, there are certainly a lot of money. This way of convincing investors is to seem formidable, and since you have to spend all your time working. I'm convinced, is just the effect of rapid development, because you have to replace the actual server in order to hack Unix, and so on. It's not the physical infrastructure of Silicon Valley. Have a Boss March 2008, rev May 2013 This essay grew out of things their founders built because there seemed a gap in the world. Trevor Blackwell, who probably knows more about this project, I can now look at a list of articles that are interesting. Why is it counterintuitive for founders? And that's not the sense of being watched in real time.11 When the ball comes near them their instinct is to avoid situations where inexperience may make you look foolish. The reason the US News list is meaningful is precisely because they can't afford to hire a lot of money—so does IBM, for that matter realized how much better it feels to be working on; there's usually a reason.

That's a known danger sign, like drinking alone. I think everyone knows now that good hackers are much better than enterprise software. Now they have none that stand out.12 So strangely enough the optimal thing to do. The stick-to-have.13 A lot of the questions we pay most attention to when judging applications. But it was also because our standards were higher. Why should any of your code legally belongs to anyone else, it will be easy to ignore; a few are still in school, though that counted for something, you should.

Notes

Without visual cues e. Delivered as if having good intentions were enough to become addictive. When I say in principle is that the probabilities of features i.

Download programs to encourage more startups to be spread out geographically. For a long thread are rarely seen, when we created pets. His critical invention was a bimodal economy consisting, in which his chief resident, Gary, talks about programmers, but I know of a long time by sufficiently large numbers of people are magnified by the government.

Alfred Lin points out that trying to meet people; I was just having lunch. Angels and super-angels will snap up stars that VCs may begin to conserve board seats by switching to what you build for them. After the war, federal tax receipts have stayed close to 18% of GDP were about the qualities of these groups, you produce in copious quantities.

I'd say the rate of improvement is more important than the type who would in 1950 have been fooled by grammar. The two 10 minuteses have 3 weeks between them. My guess is a huge, overcomplicated agreements, and one or two, because they've learned more, the whole. CEOs in 2002 was 35,560.

Ditto for case: I should add that none of them. Looking at the last batch before a fall. Eric Raymond says the best high school as a rule of thumb, the Nasdaq index was.

Maybe what you write has a title.

7 reports that in practice is that the elegance of proofs is quantifiable, in the sense that there may be enough, a growth graph is mostly evidence that the VCs I encountered when we created pets.

More precisely, the initial plan and what not to make it self-imposed. The nationalistic idea is the number of discrepancies currently blamed on various forbidden isms. And even more closely to the writing teachers were transformed in situ into English professors.

Now we don't have to disclose the threat to potential investors are also exempt.

According to the option of deferring to a VC. What you learn about programming in Lisp, though you tend to be secretive, because by definition if the founders don't have to give him 95% of the next round, you could beat the death-penalty in the most successful founders is that you were able to fool investors with such a valuable technique that any idea relating to the traditional peasant's diet: they hoped they were buying a phenomenon, or your job will consist of bad customs as well they do for a startup with debt is little different from money raised as convertible debt is usually slow growth or excessive spending rather than risk their community's disapproval. It's conceivable that a startup at a large company? At the time they're fifteen the kids are convinced the whole fund.

It would probably a mistake to believe this number could be made. Whereas when you're starting a startup. 99,—. On Bullshit, Princeton University Press, 2005.

Convertible debt, so I called to check and in b the valuation at the company's PR people worked hard to say yet how much would you have to watch out for a sufficiently long time. Especially if they don't want to help the company down. If I were doing more than serving as examples of how to argue: they had to. This doesn't mean easy, of course the source files of all tend to make it sound.

But if idea clashes got bad enough, the growth is valuable, because the broader your holdings, the best intentions. That will in many cases be an open source software. If your income tax rates don't tell their parents what happened that night they were. My guess is the only cause of poverty are only locally accurate, and unleashed a swarm of cheap component suppliers on Apple hardware.

[digitalmark18-blog]

How to Work From Home: 20 Tips From People Who Do It Successfully

New Post has been published on https://britishdigitalmarketingnews.com/how-to-work-from-home-20-tips-from-people-who-do-it-successfully/

How to Work From Home: 20 Tips From People Who Do It Successfully

Working from home is awesome … right up until the cat throws up on your computer. And your neighbor, who you can only assume is building a time machine, starts firing up all sorts of power tools and noisy machinery across the street.

For many modern professionals, working from home every once in a while is a luxury that our respective companies afford us. But which environment actually allows us to be more productive: the home office or the office office?

In the office office, your coworkers often pose the greatest threat to keeping you from getting some real, heads-down work done. They drop by your desk, engage you in conversation, and invite you to lunch. The social benefits of a workplace are definitely nice to have, but they can become a challenge if you’re easily distracted.

At the home office, however, I find that it’s easy for you to become your own worst enemy. Because when you’re not surrounded by coworkers, you’re free to drop those pesky inhibitions. At the home office, no one’s watching. You don’t necessarily feel that same peer pressure or communal obligation to get stuff done. (Also: You don’t have to wear pants.)

Below, I’ve compiled a bunch of great work-at-home tips and tricks from some of my awesome coworkers.

1. Get started early.

When working in an office, your morning commute can help you wake up and feel ready to work by the time you get to your desk. At home, however, the transition from your pillow to your computer can be much more jarring.

Believe it or not, one way to work from home productively is to dive into your to-do list as soon as you wake up. Simply getting a project started first thing in the morning can be the key to making progress on it gradually throughout the day. Otherwise, you’ll prolong breakfast and let the morning sluggishness wear away your motivation.

“When I work from home, I wake up, put on a pot of coffee, and start working immediately — much earlier normal working hours. I only start making breakfast once I’ve hit a wall or need a break. I’m a morning person and find I can get a ton done in the early morning hours, so this works really well for me.”

– Lindsay Kolowich

2. Pretend like you are going into the office.

The mental association you make between work and an office can make you more productive, and there’s no reason that feeling should be lost when telecommuting.

When working from home, do all the things you’d do to prepare for an office role: Set your alarm, make (or go get) coffee, and wear nice clothes. Internet browsers like Google Chrome even allow you to set up multiple accounts with different toolbars on the top — for example, a toolbar for home and a separate toolbar for work.

“Get fully ready for the day and pretend you’re actually going to work. Otherwise, you might find yourself back in bed.”

– Anna Faber-Hammond

3. Structure your day like you would in the office.

When working from home, you’re your own personal manager. Without things like an in-person meeting schedule to break up your day, you can be quick to lose focus or burn out.

To stay on schedule, segment what you’ll do and when over the course of the day. If you have an online calendar, create personal events and reminders that tell you when to shift gears and start on new tasks. Google Calendar makes this easy.

“Are mornings for writing while you’re in the office? Use the same schedule at home. While you probably will get tasks done faster at home than at work, this structure will help keep you focused and productive.”

– Ginny Mineo

4. Choose a dedicated work space.

Just because you’re not working at an office doesn’t mean you can’t, well, have an office. Rather than cooping yourself up in your room or on the couch — spaces that are associated with leisure time — dedicate a specific room or surface in your home to work.

“Have a place you go specifically to work. It could be a certain table, chair, local coffee shop — some place that’s consistently your ‘work space.’ It helps you get into the right frame of mind.”

– Sam Mallikarjunan

5. Don’t stay at home.

Is your home office just not getting it done for you? Take telecommuting a step further and get out of the house. Coffee shops, libraries, public lounges, and similar Wi-Fi-enabled spaces can help you simulate the energy of an office so you can stay productive even when you don’t sit in an official workplace.

“I get out of my home to work, and go to a Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, or other WiFi enabled establishment with actual tables, chairs, and people. It helps simulate the work environment for me — white noise, chatter, that kind of thing — that usually helps me work better than utter silence. It also removes the distractions I typically have at home like the urge to finally actually clean my room, do laundry, or watch TV.

I also refuse to play into the trope of being some jerk sitting at Starbucks not doing any real work, so I feel motivated not to mess around on Facebook all day to show there are still people who actually get stuff done at a coffee shop!”

– Corey Wainwright

6. Make it harder for yourself to mess around on social media.

Social media is designed to make it easy for you to open and browse quickly. At work, though, this convenience can be the detriment of your productivity.

To counteract your social networks’ ease of use during work hours, remove them from your browser shortcuts and, according to Fast Company, log out of every account. You might even consider working primarily in a private or, if you’re using Chrome, an “Incognito” browser window. This ensures you stay signed out of all your accounts and each web search you conduct doesn’t autocomplete the word you’re typing. It’s a guarantee that you won’t be tempted into taking too many social breaks during the day.

“I remove all social networks from my toolbar bookmarks. Even if I don’t mean to browse them, some uncontrollable impulse subconsciously clicks on them when I experience downtime. You can get sucked in without knowing it (or even intending to), so eliminating the gateway to those networks keeps me on track.”

– Alec Biedrzycki

7. Commit to doing more.

Projects always take longer than you initially think they will. For that reason, you’ll frequently get done less than you set out to do. So, just as you’re encouraged to overestimate how much time you’ll spent doing one thing, you should also overestimate how many things you’ll do during the day. Even if you come up short of your goal, you’ll still come out of that day with a solid list of tasks filed under ‘complete.’

“Our team has a daily standup meeting each morning where we share what we’re working on for the day. On days I’m working from home, I tend to slightly overcommit on what I’ll deliver that day. It helps keep me honest, so even if I get the urge to go do something else, I know I’ve already committed a certain amount of work to my team.”

– Corey Wainwright

8. Work when you’re at your most productive.

Nobody sprints through their work from morning to evening — your motivation will naturally ebb and flow throughout the day. When you’re working from home, however, it’s all the more important to know when those ebbs and flows will take place and plan your schedule around it.

To capitalize on your most productive periods, save your harder tasks for when you know you’ll be in the right headspace for them. Use slower points of the day to knock out the easier, logistical tasks that are also on your plate. Verily Magazine calls these tasks “small acts of success,” and they can help build your momentum for the heavier projects that are waiting for you later on.

“For me, the most productive times of the day are usually early in the morning or late at night. I recognize this and try to plan my day accordingly. Also, music that really pumps me up doesn’t hurt.”

– Brittany Leaning

9. Save calls for the afternoon.

Sometimes, I’m so tired in the morning, I don’t even want to hear my own voice — let alone talk to others with it. You shouldn’t have to give yourself too much time to become productive in the morning, but you can give yourself some extra time before working directly with others.

If you’re struggling to come up with a reasonable work schedule for yourself as a telecommuter, start with the solitary tasks in the morning. Save phone calls, meetings, and other collaborative work for when you’ve officially “woken up.”

“Take advantage of morning hours to crank through meaty projects without distractions, and save any calls or virtual meetings for the afternoon.”

– James Gilbert

10. Focus on one distraction … like a baby!

There’s an expression out there that says, “if you want something done, ask a busy person.”

The bizarre but true rule of productivity is that the busier you are, the more you’ll actually do. It’s like Newton’s law of inertia: If you’re in motion, you’ll stay in motion. If you’re at rest, you’ll stay at rest. And busy people are in fast-enough motion that they have the momentum to complete anything that comes across their desk.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to find things to help you reach that level of busyness when you’re at home — your motivation can just swing so easily. HubSpot’s principal marketing manager, Pam Vaughan, suggests focusing in on something that maintains your rhythm (in her case, it’s her daughter).

“When I work from home, my 20-month-old daughter is home with me, too. It seems counterintuitive, but because I have to manage taking care of her and keeping her happy and entertained while still getting my work done, the pressure helps to keep me focused. When she’s napping or entertaining herself, I go into super-productive work mode.

It’s the same idea for why some people work better when they have very busy schedules — you learn how to manage your time VERY efficiently. The ‘distraction’ of my daughter (I mean that in the most loving way possible) means I can’t possibly succumb to some of the other common distractions of home — putting in a load of laundry, turning on the TV, doing other household chores — or else I’d never get any actual work done.”

– Pamela Vaughan

11. Plan out what you’ll be working on ahead of time.

Spending time figuring out what you’ll do today can take away from actually doing those things. And, you’ll have planned your task list so recently that you can be tempted to change your schedule on the fly.

It’s important to let your agenda change if you need it to, but it’s equally as important to commit to an agenda that outlines every assignment before you begin. Try solidifying your schedule the day before, making it feel more official when you wake up the next day to get started on it.

“If I’m planning on working from home on a certain day, I’ll make sure to get any work done ahead of time that requires me to be in the office — for example, if I’m working on a task that would be infinitely easier to complete with access to my large monitor screen, or need to schedule meetings with coworkers that are best had in person. Plan out your week in advance to optimize for the environments you’ll be in.”

– Niti Shah

12. Use technology to stay connected.

Working from home might help you focus on your work in the short term, but it can also make you feel cut off the larger operation happening in the office. Instant messaging and videoconferencing tools can make it easy to check in with coworkers and remind you how your work is contributing to the big picture.

“Part of what enables us to work from home so much more often now is the array of apps and tools designed to help remove distance as a barrier between team members. Finding the right tools to keep you and your team connected is important for staying productive at home.

At HubSpot, we use Slack to keep conversations going remotely, Trello to keep us organized around priorities, and Google Hangouts plus Webex to make remote meetings more productive. Getting the right stack of support tools to fit your work style makes a big difference.”

– Meghan Keaney Anderson

13. Match your music to the task at hand.

During the week, music is the soundtrack to your career (cheesy, but admit it, it’s true). And at work, the best playlists are diverse playlists — you can listen to music that matches the energy of the project you’re working on. Video game soundtracks are excellent at this. In the game itself, this lyric-free music is designed to help you focus; it only makes sense that it would help you focus on your work as well.

Want some other genres? Take them from startup marketer, Ginny Mineo, who offers her own work music preferences below.

“When I’m powering through my inbox, I need some intense and catchy rap/R&B (like Nicki Minaj or Miley Cyrus) blasting through my headphones, but when I’m writing, Tom Petty is the trick. Finding what music motivates and focuses me for different tasks (and then sticking to those playlists for those tasks) has completely changed my WFH productivity.”

– Ginny Mineo

14. Use laundry as a work timer.

You might have heard listening to just two or three songs in the shower can help you save water. And it’s true; hearing a few of your favorite songs start and end, one after another, can remind you how long you’ve been in the bathroom and shorten your wash time.

Why bring this up? Because the same general principle can help you stay on task when working from home. But instead of three songs off your music playlist, run your laundry instead.

Doing your laundry is a built-in timer for your home. So, use the time to start and finish something from your to-do list before changing the load. Committing to one assignment during the wash cycle and another during the dry cycle can train you to work smarter on tasks that you might technically have all day to tinker with.

“It’s already been said, but waking up early and getting things done before other people get online works for me. I also usually do laundry when I work from home and I set mini deadlines for myself corresponding to when I have to go downstairs to switch loads. If I’m working on an article, I tell myself I’ll get to a certain point before the wash cycle ends. Then I set another goal for the dryer.”

– Emma Brudner

15. Communicate expectations with anyone who will be home with you.

Of course, you might be working from home but still have “company.” Make sure any roommates, siblings, parents, spouses, and dogs (well, maybe not dogs) respect your space during work hours. Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you’re home.

“If anyone else is going to be at home when you’re working, they just have to be clear that when you’re in your ‘office’ (in my case, my signal to the family is having headphones on), you’re working — even if it looks like and feels like you’re hanging out at home. It’s easy to get distracted by the many things that have to be done around the house during the day.”

– Sam Mallikarjunan

16. Take clear breaks.

It can be so easy to get distracted as a telecommuter that you avoid breaks altogether. Don’t let the guilt of working in the building you sleep in prevent you from taking five to relax. Rather than just opening YouTube and watching some comfort clips, however, use your breaks to get away from your desk. Go for a walk outside or spend time with others who might also be in the house.

“Breaks, like making and eating lunch, can recharge you to do better work. Don’t assume you need to be working 100% of the time while you’re home to be more productive.”

– Ginny Mineo

17. Interact with other humans.

Remember: You’re working from home, not the moon. Interacting with other people during the day is allowed, even if they’re not your coworkers. In fact, it’s a good idea to see another face during the day when most of your work day is solitary.

“Go outside and find a human to interact with — ordering your coffee, running an errand, whatever. It keeps you sane.”

– Corey Wainwright

18. Prepare your meals the night before.

When you’re in your own home, it can be tempting to spend time preparing a really nice breakfast and lunch for yourself, chopping and cooking included. Don’t use precious minutes making your food the day of work — cook it the night before.

Preparing food ahead of time ensures you can actually use your meal times to eat, and that you aren’t performing non-work tasks that spend energy better used at your desk.

“Cooking at home is time you wouldn’t have spent meal prepping if you’d been in the office that day, and I find the minutes can really add up in the end. To mitigate that, I try to cook and prep my meals the night before, just like I would for a day at the office.”

– Lindsay Kolowich

19. Pick a definitive finishing time each day.

You might be under the impression that working from home establishes more work-life balance, but be careful with that assumption. Working from home can also feel like being at a casino — you can get so caught up in your activity, in a relaxing environment, that you lose complete track of time.

In lieu of coworkers, whose packing up and leaving the office reminds you to do the same, set an alarm at the end of the day to indicate your normal work day is coming to an end. You don’t have to stop at exactly that time, but knowing the work day is technically over can help you start the process of saving your work and calling it quits for the evening.

“If you work from home full-time (or on a regular basis), it’s really easy to let your work life bleed into your personal life. Maintaining a boundary is important for both halves of the equation.”

– Tyler Littwin

20. Keep the TV on in the background.

“I spent my first two years out of college working from home as a freelance writer. Of all the tips, tricks, and secrets I’ve uncovered for being more productive at home, one stands out above the rest: Putting on the History Channel. No joke. Just keep the History Channel running in the background at a low volume, and I swear, you’ll get stuff done. (I’m not exactly sure why this trick works, but I can only assume it has something to do with ancient aliens.)”

– Me (Erik Devaney)

Source: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/productivity-tips-working-from-home

[lindyhunt]

How to Work From Home: 20 Tips From People Who Do It Successfully

Working from home is awesome ... right up until the cat throws up on your computer. And your neighbor, who you can only assume is building a time machine, starts firing up all sorts of power tools and noisy machinery across the street.

For many modern professionals, working from home every once in a while is a luxury that our respective companies afford us. But which environment actually allows us to be more productive: the home office or the office office?

In the office office, your coworkers often pose the greatest threat to keeping you from getting some real, heads-down work done. They drop by your desk, engage you in conversation, and invite you to lunch. The social benefits of a workplace are definitely nice to have, but they can become a challenge if you're easily distracted.

At the home office, however, I find that it's easy for you to become your own worst enemy. Because when you're not surrounded by coworkers, you're free to drop those pesky inhibitions. At the home office, no one's watching. You don't necessarily feel that same peer pressure or communal obligation to get stuff done. (Also: You don't have to wear pants.)

Below, I've compiled a bunch of great work-at-home tips and tricks from some of my awesome coworkers.

How to Work From Home: 20 Tips for Telecommuters

1. Get started early.

When working in an office, your morning commute can help you wake up and feel ready to work by the time you get to your desk. At home, however, the transition from your pillow to your computer can be much more jarring.

Believe it or not, one way to work from home productively is to dive into your to-do list as soon as you wake up. Simply getting a project started first thing in the morning can be the key to making progress on it gradually throughout the day. Otherwise, you'll prolong breakfast and let the morning sluggishness wear away your motivation.

"When I work from home, I wake up, put on a pot of coffee, and start working immediately -- much earlier normal working hours. I only start making breakfast once I've hit a wall or need a break. I'm a morning person and find I can get a ton done in the early morning hours, so this works really well for me."

- Lindsay Kolowich

2. Pretend like you are going into the office.

The mental association you make between work and an office can make you more productive, and there's no reason that feeling should be lost when telecommuting.

When working from home, do all the things you'd do to prepare for an office role: Set your alarm, make (or go get) coffee, and wear nice clothes. Internet browsers like Google Chrome even allow you to set up multiple accounts with different toolbars on the top -- for example, a toolbar for home and a separate toolbar for work.

"Get fully ready for the day and pretend you're actually going to work. Otherwise, you might find yourself back in bed."

- Anna Faber-Hammond

3. Structure your day like you would in the office.

When working from home, you're your own personal manager. Without things like an in-person meeting schedule to break up your day, you can be quick to lose focus or burn out.

To stay on schedule, segment what you'll do and when over the course of the day. If you have an online calendar, create personal events and reminders that tell you when to shift gears and start on new tasks. Google Calendar makes this easy.

"Are mornings for writing while you're in the office? Use the same schedule at home. While you probably will get tasks done faster at home than at work, this structure will help keep you focused and productive."

- Ginny Mineo

4. Choose a dedicated work space.

Just because you're not working at an office doesn't mean you can't, well, have an office. Rather than cooping yourself up in your room or on the couch -- spaces that are associated with leisure time -- dedicate a specific room or surface in your home to work.

"Have a place you go specifically to work. It could be a certain table, chair, local coffee shop -- some place that's consistently your 'work space.' It helps you get into the right frame of mind."

- Sam Mallikarjunan

5. Don't stay at home.

Is your home office just not getting it done for you? Take telecommuting a step further and get out of the house. Coffee shops, libraries, public lounges, and similar Wi-Fi-enabled spaces can help you simulate the energy of an office so you can stay productive even when you don't sit in an official workplace.

"I get out of my home to work, and go to a Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, or other WiFi enabled establishment with actual tables, chairs, and people. It helps simulate the work environment for me -- white noise, chatter, that kind of thing -- that usually helps me work better than utter silence. It also removes the distractions I typically have at home like the urge to finally actually clean my room, do laundry, or watch TV.

I also refuse to play into the trope of being some jerk sitting at Starbucks not doing any real work, so I feel motivated not to mess around on Facebook all day to show there are still people who actually get stuff done at a coffee shop!"

- Corey Wainwright

6. Make it harder for yourself to mess around on social media.

Social media is designed to make it easy for you to open and browse quickly. At work, though, this convenience can be the detriment of your productivity.

To counteract your social networks' ease of use during work hours, remove them from your browser shortcuts and, according to Fast Company, log out of every account. You might even consider working primarily in a private or, if you're using Chrome, an "Incognito" browser window. This ensures you stay signed out of all your accounts and each web search you conduct doesn't autocomplete the word you're typing. It's a guarantee that you won't be tempted into taking too many social breaks during the day.

"I remove all social networks from my toolbar bookmarks. Even if I don't mean to browse them, some uncontrollable impulse subconsciously clicks on them when I experience downtime. You can get sucked in without knowing it (or even intending to), so eliminating the gateway to those networks keeps me on track."

- Alec Biedrzycki

7. Commit to doing more.

Projects always take longer than you initially think they will. For that reason, you'll frequently get done less than you set out to do. So, just as you're encouraged to overestimate how much time you'll spent doing one thing, you should also overestimate how many things you'll do during the day. Even if you come up short of your goal, you'll still come out of that day with a solid list of tasks filed under 'complete.'

"Our team has a daily standup meeting each morning where we share what we're working on for the day. On days I'm working from home, I tend to slightly overcommit on what I'll deliver that day. It helps keep me honest, so even if I get the urge to go do something else, I know I've already committed a certain amount of work to my team."

- Corey Wainwright

8. Work when you're at your most productive.

Nobody sprints through their work from morning to evening -- your motivation will naturally ebb and flow throughout the day. When you're working from home, however, it's all the more important to know when those ebbs and flows will take place and plan your schedule around it.

To capitalize on your most productive periods, save your harder tasks for when you know you'll be in the right headspace for them. Use slower points of the day to knock out the easier, logistical tasks that are also on your plate. Verily Magazine calls these tasks "small acts of success," and they can help build your momentum for the heavier projects that are waiting for you later on.

"For me, the most productive times of the day are usually early in the morning or late at night. I recognize this and try to plan my day accordingly. Also, music that really pumps me up doesn't hurt."

- Brittany Leaning

9. Save calls for the afternoon.

Sometimes, I'm so tired in the morning, I don't even want to hear my own voice -- let alone talk to others with it. You shouldn't have to give yourself too much time to become productive in the morning, but you can give yourself some extra time before working directly with others.

If you're struggling to come up with a reasonable work schedule for yourself as a telecommuter, start with the solitary tasks in the morning. Save phone calls, meetings, and other collaborative work for when you've officially "woken up."

"Take advantage of morning hours to crank through meaty projects without distractions, and save any calls or virtual meetings for the afternoon."

- James Gilbert

10. Focus on one distraction ... like a baby!

There's an expression out there that says, "if you want something done, ask a busy person."

The bizarre but true rule of productivity is that the busier you are, the more you'll actually do. It's like Newton's law of inertia: If you're in motion, you'll stay in motion. If you're at rest, you'll stay at rest. And busy people are in fast-enough motion that they have the momentum to complete anything that comes across their desk.

Unfortunately, it's hard to find things to help you reach that level of busyness when you're at home -- your motivation can just swing so easily. HubSpot's principal marketing manager, Pam Vaughan, suggests focusing in on something that maintains your rhythm (in her case, it's her daughter).

"When I work from home, my 20-month-old daughter is home with me, too. It seems counterintuitive, but because I have to manage taking care of her and keeping her happy and entertained while still getting my work done, the pressure helps to keep me focused. When she's napping or entertaining herself, I go into super-productive work mode.

It's the same idea for why some people work better when they have very busy schedules -- you learn how to manage your time VERY efficiently. The 'distraction' of my daughter (I mean that in the most loving way possible) means I can't possibly succumb to some of the other common distractions of home -- putting in a load of laundry, turning on the TV, doing other household chores -- or else I'd never get any actual work done."

- Pamela Vaughan

11. Plan out what you'll be working on ahead of time.

Spending time figuring out what you'll do today can take away from actually doing those things. And, you'll have planned your task list so recently that you can be tempted to change your schedule on the fly.

It's important to let your agenda change if you need it to, but it's equally as important to commit to an agenda that outlines every assignment before you begin. Try solidifying your schedule the day before, making it feel more official when you wake up the next day to get started on it.

"If I'm planning on working from home on a certain day, I'll make sure to get any work done ahead of time that requires me to be in the office -- for example, if I'm working on a task that would be infinitely easier to complete with access to my large monitor screen, or need to schedule meetings with coworkers that are best had in person. Plan out your week in advance to optimize for the environments you'll be in."

- Niti Shah

12. Use technology to stay connected.

Working from home might help you focus on your work in the short term, but it can also make you feel cut off the larger operation happening in the office. Instant messaging and videoconferencing tools can make it easy to check in with coworkers and remind you how your work is contributing to the big picture.

"Part of what enables us to work from home so much more often now is the array of apps and tools designed to help remove distance as a barrier between team members. Finding the right tools to keep you and your team connected is important for staying productive at home.

At HubSpot, we use Slack to keep conversations going remotely, Trello to keep us organized around priorities, and Google Hangouts plus Webex to make remote meetings more productive. Getting the right stack of support tools to fit your work style makes a big difference."

- Meghan Keaney Anderson

13. Match your music to the task at hand.

During the week, music is the soundtrack to your career (cheesy, but admit it, it's true). And at work, the best playlists are diverse playlists -- you can listen to music that matches the energy of the project you're working on. Video game soundtracks are excellent at this. In the game itself, this lyric-free music is designed to help you focus; it only makes sense that it would help you focus on your work as well.

Want some other genres? Take them from startup marketer, Ginny Mineo, who offers her own work music preferences below.

"When I'm powering through my inbox, I need some intense and catchy rap/R&B (like Nicki Minaj or Miley Cyrus) blasting through my headphones, but when I'm writing, Tom Petty is the trick. Finding what music motivates and focuses me for different tasks (and then sticking to those playlists for those tasks) has completely changed my WFH productivity."

- Ginny Mineo

14. Use laundry as a work timer.

You might have heard listening to just two or three songs in the shower can help you save water. And it's true; hearing a few of your favorite songs start and end, one after another, can remind you how long you've been in the bathroom and shorten your wash time.

Why bring this up? Because the same general principle can help you stay on task when working from home. But instead of three songs off your music playlist, run your laundry instead.

Doing your laundry is a built-in timer for your home. So, use the time to start and finish something from your to-do list before changing the load. Committing to one assignment during the wash cycle and another during the dry cycle can train you to work smarter on tasks that you might technically have all day to tinker with.

"It's already been said, but waking up early and getting things done before other people get online works for me. I also usually do laundry when I work from home and I set mini deadlines for myself corresponding to when I have to go downstairs to switch loads. If I'm working on an article, I tell myself I'll get to a certain point before the wash cycle ends. Then I set another goal for the dryer."

- Emma Brudner

15. Communicate expectations with anyone who will be home with you.

Of course, you might be working from home but still have "company." Make sure any roommates, siblings, parents, spouses, and dogs (well, maybe not dogs) respect your space during work hours. Just because you're working from home doesn't mean you're home.

"If anyone else is going to be at home when you're working, they just have to be clear that when you're in your 'office' (in my case, my signal to the family is having headphones on), you're working -- even if it looks like and feels like you're hanging out at home. It's easy to get distracted by the many things that have to be done around the house during the day."

- Sam Mallikarjunan

16. Take clear breaks.

It can be so easy to get distracted as a telecommuter that you avoid breaks altogether. Don't let the guilt of working in the building you sleep in prevent you from taking five to relax. Rather than just opening YouTube and watching some comfort clips, however, use your breaks to get away from your desk. Go for a walk outside or spend time with others who might also be in the house.

"Breaks, like making and eating lunch, can recharge you to do better work. Don't assume you need to be working 100% of the time while you're home to be more productive."

- Ginny Mineo

17. Interact with other humans.

Remember: You're working from home, not the moon. Interacting with other people during the day is allowed, even if they're not your coworkers. In fact, it's a good idea to see another face during the day when most of your work day is solitary.

"Go outside and find a human to interact with -- ordering your coffee, running an errand, whatever. It keeps you sane."

- Corey Wainwright

18. Prepare your meals the night before.

When you're in your own home, it can be tempting to spend time preparing a really nice breakfast and lunch for yourself, chopping and cooking included. Don't use precious minutes making your food the day of work -- cook it the night before.

Preparing food ahead of time ensures you can actually use your meal times to eat, and that you aren't performing non-work tasks that spend energy better used at your desk.

"Cooking at home is time you wouldn't have spent meal prepping if you'd been in the office that day, and I find the minutes can really add up in the end. To mitigate that, I try to cook and prep my meals the night before, just like I would for a day at the office."

- Lindsay Kolowich

19. Pick a definitive finishing time each day.

You might be under the impression that working from home establishes more work-life balance, but be careful with that assumption. Working from home can also feel like being at a casino -- you can get so caught up in your activity, in a relaxing environment, that you lose complete track of time.

In lieu of coworkers, whose packing up and leaving the office reminds you to do the same, set an alarm at the end of the day to indicate your normal work day is coming to an end. You don't have to stop at exactly that time, but knowing the work day is technically over can help you start the process of saving your work and calling it quits for the evening.

"If you work from home full-time (or on a regular basis), it’s really easy to let your work life bleed into your personal life. Maintaining a boundary is important for both halves of the equation."

- Tyler Littwin

20. Keep the TV on in the background.

"I spent my first two years out of college working from home as a freelance writer. Of all the tips, tricks, and secrets I've uncovered for being more productive at home, one stands out above the rest: Putting on the History Channel. No joke. Just keep the History Channel running in the background at a low volume, and I swear, you'll get stuff done. (I'm not exactly sure why this trick works, but I can only assume it has something to do with ancient aliens.)"

- Me (Erik Devaney)

[succeedly]

How to Finish The School Year Strong

Linda Kardamis on episode 309 of the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter

Finish well. Today, Linda Kardamis shares common mistakes to avoid and positive things to do that will help you have a successful finish to your school year.

Listen Now

Listen to the show on iTunes or Stitcher

Stream by clicking here.

***

Enhanced Transcript

How to Finish The School Year Strong

Link to show: www.coolcatteacher.com/e309 Date: May 10, 2018

Vicki: One of the most popular shows of last year was Linda Kardamis from Teach 4 the Heart (https://ift.tt/1B5AEVi). We’ll link to that show because she had so many great ideas there.

Now, Linda,we’re going to talk about how to finish the school year strong. How can we finish strong? So many people get so tired and they just want to put their feet up on their desk!

Linda: Yes, and that’s actually my first tip.

Don’t coast!

As much as you want to coast, don’t coast. Instead, be intentional with your time and choose. Make a mental decision, “I’m going to make these last days count.” It all starts there.

Vicki: Oh, it does.

But how do we decide what to do? We can either say, “Oh, there are all these things I haven’t taught,” or “You know what? I’m just done.”

Linda: (laughs)

I think it’s important to keep first things first because there are always a million things to do, so you really have to prioritize. Ask yourself, “What really needs to get done?” “What should I let go, and you know, wait until next week or next month or the summer?”

Vicki: That is so hard to do.

Linda: (laughs)

Vicki: What’s another tip for us?

Linda: I think at the end of the year, you’ve spent time developing all these relationships with your students. You’re about to be done with them, but this last month or two is your opportunity to draw on those relationships that you’ve built. You’re closest to them that you’ve been all year, and so use that.

Draw on the relationships that you have built all year

This is your chance to inspire them, to guide them, to counsel them, and to speak truth into their lives.

So be looking for those opportunities and take advantage of them.

Vicki: Oh, and kids remember what we do first and what we do last. I was sitting at a mama’s desk today talking about some great things that her son can do. She just teared up and said, “School is about getting grades, but sometimes we forget to talk about, ‘You do this well, but I can’t put it on the report card. But this is you, huh.’”

Linda: Yes, it’s a great way to encourage them as they’re heading into their summer and finishing up the year. For sure.

Vicki: What’s next?

Linda: Next I would say, this just goes to really practical tip.

As you are looking at your material you are hoping to cover between now and the end of the year, and saying “Oh my goodness, I don’t have enough time to do all of this,” this is a good time to stop and take inventory of that and be strategic.

Take inventory of what’s left to cover and be strategic

The last thing you want to do is keep plodding along and miss whatever was last in your curriculum math, or your book, or whatever you have.

This is a good time to sit down and be intentional and ask yourself, “What is most important?” and make sure you get that in, even if it’s not the next thing sequentially.

Vicki: OK, I’m going to be honest. In one of my classes, I’m actually tracking to finish a little early. What do we do if somebody is actually a little ahead?

Linda: This is actually my next tip.

I ran into this problem, because I’m a leader. I was always either right there, sometimes I finish early.

My word of caution is don’t finish too early or if you do, have a really good project based learning activity or something that you’re doing at the end.

Don’t finish too early — or have a great end project if you do

If you’ve finished too early — I did this my first year — I was like “We’re done a week early! We’re just going to do fun review activities!”

But as soon as the students saw that we were done, they checked out. All of my review activities were a disaster.

Maybe add a project at the end or do something just stay on your schedule so you’re not done-done too early.

Vicki: I hate to say it, but I actually love it when students come in by choice to work on stuff on the last day of school – they’re like, “I want to put an extra touch on that movie!” “Oh I really want to add this or that!”

I think we just have to capture every moment, don’t we?

Linda: Yes, and that’s such a great idea.

Like I said, if you’re having a project like that, that they are really passionate about,that they’re finishing up, and trying to put the last finishing touches on, I think that’s a great way to end the year for sure.

Vicki: What’s next?

Linda: I think, as you’re leaving the year, it’s really good to communicate with your parents, especially the ones of the kids that struggled.

Communicate with ALL parents, especially the ones of kids who struggled

The temptation is to just be like “Drop your report card, and just get out of there,” but it’s really good to go back and get one final touchpoint with those parents. I like to recommend things if they can do over the summer, even if I know that the voice in the back of my head is going, “They aren’t going to care.”

You don’t know that. Just take a few minutes. t can be the same email that you copy and paste and then adjust, but send out something to those parents, with some recommendations for the summer, things they can do, and maybe a last word of encouragement for their students.

Vicki: That is so important, because we really are partners with helping the kids, in some ways that’s like passing the baton to the parents over the summer, isn’t it?

Linda: Yes, absolutely. Sure.

Vicki: Okay, what else?

Linda: My next tip is to try to leave things as organized as possible. Now, I did say “try,” because I know it’s pretty crazy, but just keep in mind the more organized you leave things now, the easier it will be if you are staying at the same place when you come in next fall.

Try to leave things as organized as possible for yourself for the fall

Even if you aren’t teaching in the same place, though, taking a few minutes to jot down some notes for yourself — like this lesson worked, or this lesson didn’t, or I want to try this again.

Even little things like that can be helpful. And like I said, maybe even tackling those desk drawers, the closet. If you have any time to do any of that, it will make things way easier for you come fall.

Vicki: I love that. I actually right now have started my “Simplify Journal.” Every single day I try to simplify my room in one or two ways and it just makes me feel free!

Linda: Oh, that’s great!

Vicki: Ok, yeah! What’s our last one?

Simply commit to enjoying the last few days

Linda: The last one is just simply decide to enjoy these last few days. This is really simple, but it can make such a difference. We’re so often tempted to just count down the days, and there’s nothing wrong with the countdown, but it’s mental. Are we really on mental countdown “I just have to do this many more days!”

We can do that, or we can choose to say, “These are the last few days I have with this group of students. I’m going to try the best I can just to enjoy them, be in the moment, and to take advantage of opportunities that I do. I think that mental decision really does impact everything else.

Vicki: Why I left the business world, and what teaching pays me that I don’t get from anything else is — it’s so much fun!

I feel just like I’m not laughing every day with the kids and if we’re not finding something funny, if we’re not working hard at work worth doing, then why are we there?

Nobody wants be bored! They don’t want to be bored, and I don’t want to be bored! We just aren’t phoning it in, we just want to finish and finish well, you know?

Linda: Absolutely, for sure.

Vicki: So, Linda, as we finish up, could you give teachers a 30-second pep talk of encouragement for finishing well and what it means to them in their professional career to be known as a finisher?

Are you a quitter, or are you a finisher?

Linda: You yourself will know how you finish. Just looking back when you’re sitting, relaxing by the pool, or just taking a nap, you will know if you phoned it in or if you really finished strong.

And your students will know too. How will they remember you? Will they remember you as “Thank goodness we’re done with that?” Or will they know that you really put in the effort and that you care for them? Because, really, it’s for them.

Vicki: Teachers, I can’t stress this enough.

I do feel that sometimes, I think we are raising a generation of quitters. “If I don’t get to play enough in baseball, I’m going to quit.” Or, “I don’t get to run in that even, or I can’t place in that event, so I’ll quit.”

And the thing is, we teach with our lives — whether we’re finishers or whether we’re quitters.

My philosophy is, something I do when I’m running, when my knees aren’t acting up, I always sprint at the end.

Linda: Me too!

Vicki: Yeah! I read that that’s the only way you build more muscle and build more strength is to sprint at the end.

I think that at the end, I know that it’s counterintuitive, but when you sprint at the end, you earn the respect of your colleagues, you earn the respect of your kids, and you can look at yourself in the mirror, and kind of blow on your knuckles, and go, “You know what? I’ve got this. And I’m doing it right, you know?”

Linda: Absolutely.

Vicki: Okay, teachers, so let’s do this. Let’s finish well!

Linda: Finish strong!

Contact us about the show: http://www.coolcatteacher.com/contact/

Transcribed by Kymberli Mulford kymberlimulford@gmail.com

Bio as submitted

Linda Kardamis provides practical advice and Biblical encouragement for Christian teachers on her website Teach 4 the Heart (http://teach4theheart.com/). She is also the author of Create Your Dream Classroom (http://teach4theheart.com/dreamclassroom) and the creator of Classroom Management 101 (http://teach4theheart.com/cm101) and Teach Uplifted (http://teachuplifted.com).

Blog:http://teach4theheart.com/

Twitter: @LindaKardamis

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” This company has no impact on the editorial content of the show.

The post How to Finish The School Year Strong appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!

How to Finish The School Year Strong published first on https://getnewcourse.tumblr.com/

[athena29stone]

How to Finish The School Year Strong

Linda Kardamis on episode 309 of the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter

Finish well. Today, Linda Kardamis shares common mistakes to avoid and positive things to do that will help you have a successful finish to your school year.

Listen Now

Listen to the show on iTunes or Stitcher

Stream by clicking here.

***

Enhanced Transcript

How to Finish The School Year Strong

Link to show: www.coolcatteacher.com/e309 Date: May 10, 2018

Vicki: One of the most popular shows of last year was Linda Kardamis from Teach 4 the Heart (http://teach4theheart.com/). We’ll link to that show because she had so many great ideas there.

Now, Linda,we’re going to talk about how to finish the school year strong. How can we finish strong? So many people get so tired and they just want to put their feet up on their desk!

Linda: Yes, and that’s actually my first tip.

Don’t coast!

As much as you want to coast, don’t coast. Instead, be intentional with your time and choose. Make a mental decision, “I’m going to make these last days count.” It all starts there.

Vicki: Oh, it does.

But how do we decide what to do? We can either say, “Oh, there are all these things I haven’t taught,” or “You know what? I’m just done.”

Linda: (laughs)

I think it’s important to keep first things first because there are always a million things to do, so you really have to prioritize. Ask yourself, “What really needs to get done?” “What should I let go, and you know, wait until next week or next month or the summer?”

Vicki: That is so hard to do.

Linda: (laughs)

Vicki: What’s another tip for us?

Linda: I think at the end of the year, you’ve spent time developing all these relationships with your students. You’re about to be done with them, but this last month or two is your opportunity to draw on those relationships that you’ve built. You’re closest to them that you’ve been all year, and so use that.

Draw on the relationships that you have built all year

This is your chance to inspire them, to guide them, to counsel them, and to speak truth into their lives.

So be looking for those opportunities and take advantage of them.

Vicki: Oh, and kids remember what we do first and what we do last. I was sitting at a mama’s desk today talking about some great things that her son can do. She just teared up and said, “School is about getting grades, but sometimes we forget to talk about, ‘You do this well, but I can’t put it on the report card. But this is you, huh.’”

Linda: Yes, it’s a great way to encourage them as they’re heading into their summer and finishing up the year. For sure.

Vicki: What’s next?

Linda: Next I would say, this just goes to really practical tip.

As you are looking at your material you are hoping to cover between now and the end of the year, and saying “Oh my goodness, I don’t have enough time to do all of this,” this is a good time to stop and take inventory of that and be strategic.

Take inventory of what’s left to cover and be strategic

The last thing you want to do is keep plodding along and miss whatever was last in your curriculum math, or your book, or whatever you have.

This is a good time to sit down and be intentional and ask yourself, “What is most important?” and make sure you get that in, even if it’s not the next thing sequentially.

Vicki: OK, I’m going to be honest. In one of my classes, I’m actually tracking to finish a little early. What do we do if somebody is actually a little ahead?

Linda: This is actually my next tip.

I ran into this problem, because I’m a leader. I was always either right there, sometimes I finish early.

My word of caution is don’t finish too early or if you do, have a really good project based learning activity or something that you’re doing at the end.

Don’t finish too early — or have a great end project if you do

If you’ve finished too early — I did this my first year — I was like “We’re done a week early! We’re just going to do fun review activities!”

But as soon as the students saw that we were done, they checked out. All of my review activities were a disaster.

Maybe add a project at the end or do something just stay on your schedule so you’re not done-done too early.

Vicki: I hate to say it, but I actually love it when students come in by choice to work on stuff on the last day of school – they’re like, “I want to put an extra touch on that movie!” “Oh I really want to add this or that!”

I think we just have to capture every moment, don’t we?

Linda: Yes, and that’s such a great idea.

Like I said, if you’re having a project like that, that they are really passionate about,that they’re finishing up, and trying to put the last finishing touches on, I think that’s a great way to end the year for sure.

Vicki: What’s next?

Linda: I think, as you’re leaving the year, it’s really good to communicate with your parents, especially the ones of the kids that struggled.

Communicate with ALL parents, especially the ones of kids who struggled

The temptation is to just be like “Drop your report card, and just get out of there,” but it’s really good to go back and get one final touchpoint with those parents. I like to recommend things if they can do over the summer, even if I know that the voice in the back of my head is going, “They aren’t going to care.”

You don’t know that. Just take a few minutes. t can be the same email that you copy and paste and then adjust, but send out something to those parents, with some recommendations for the summer, things they can do, and maybe a last word of encouragement for their students.

Vicki: That is so important, because we really are partners with helping the kids, in some ways that’s like passing the baton to the parents over the summer, isn’t it?

Linda: Yes, absolutely. Sure.

Vicki: Okay, what else?

Linda: My next tip is to try to leave things as organized as possible. Now, I did say “try,” because I know it’s pretty crazy, but just keep in mind the more organized you leave things now, the easier it will be if you are staying at the same place when you come in next fall.

Try to leave things as organized as possible for yourself for the fall

Even if you aren’t teaching in the same place, though, taking a few minutes to jot down some notes for yourself — like this lesson worked, or this lesson didn’t, or I want to try this again.

Even little things like that can be helpful. And like I said, maybe even tackling those desk drawers, the closet. If you have any time to do any of that, it will make things way easier for you come fall.

Vicki: I love that. I actually right now have started my “Simplify Journal.” Every single day I try to simplify my room in one or two ways and it just makes me feel free!

Linda: Oh, that’s great!

Vicki: Ok, yeah! What’s our last one?

Simply commit to enjoying the last few days

Linda: The last one is just simply decide to enjoy these last few days. This is really simple, but it can make such a difference. We’re so often tempted to just count down the days, and there’s nothing wrong with the countdown, but it’s mental. Are we really on mental countdown “I just have to do this many more days!”

We can do that, or we can choose to say, “These are the last few days I have with this group of students. I’m going to try the best I can just to enjoy them, be in the moment, and to take advantage of opportunities that I do. I think that mental decision really does impact everything else.

Vicki: Why I left the business world, and what teaching pays me that I don’t get from anything else is — it’s so much fun!

I feel just like I’m not laughing every day with the kids and if we’re not finding something funny, if we’re not working hard at work worth doing, then why are we there?

Nobody wants be bored! They don’t want to be bored, and I don’t want to be bored! We just aren’t phoning it in, we just want to finish and finish well, you know?

Linda: Absolutely, for sure.

Vicki: So, Linda, as we finish up, could you give teachers a 30-second pep talk of encouragement for finishing well and what it means to them in their professional career to be known as a finisher?

Are you a quitter, or are you a finisher?

Linda: You yourself will know how you finish. Just looking back when you’re sitting, relaxing by the pool, or just taking a nap, you will know if you phoned it in or if you really finished strong.

And your students will know too. How will they remember you? Will they remember you as “Thank goodness we’re done with that?” Or will they know that you really put in the effort and that you care for them? Because, really, it’s for them.

Vicki: Teachers, I can’t stress this enough.

I do feel that sometimes, I think we are raising a generation of quitters. “If I don’t get to play enough in baseball, I’m going to quit.” Or, “I don’t get to run in that even, or I can’t place in that event, so I’ll quit.”

And the thing is, we teach with our lives — whether we’re finishers or whether we’re quitters.

My philosophy is, something I do when I’m running, when my knees aren’t acting up, I always sprint at the end.

Linda: Me too!

Vicki: Yeah! I read that that’s the only way you build more muscle and build more strength is to sprint at the end.

I think that at the end, I know that it’s counterintuitive, but when you sprint at the end, you earn the respect of your colleagues, you earn the respect of your kids, and you can look at yourself in the mirror, and kind of blow on your knuckles, and go, “You know what? I’ve got this. And I’m doing it right, you know?”

Linda: Absolutely.

Vicki: Okay, teachers, so let’s do this. Let’s finish well!

Linda: Finish strong!

Contact us about the show: http://www.coolcatteacher.com/contact/

Transcribed by Kymberli Mulford kymberlimulford@gmail.com

Bio as submitted

Linda Kardamis provides practical advice and Biblical encouragement for Christian teachers on her website Teach 4 the Heart (http://teach4theheart.com/). She is also the author of Create Your Dream Classroom (http://teach4theheart.com/dreamclassroom) and the creator of Classroom Management 101 (http://teach4theheart.com/cm101) and Teach Uplifted (http://teachuplifted.com).

Blog:http://teach4theheart.com/

Twitter: @LindaKardamis

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” This company has no impact on the editorial content of the show.

The post How to Finish The School Year Strong appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!

from Cool Cat Teacher BlogCool Cat Teacher Blog http://www.coolcatteacher.com/e309/

[ralph31ortiz]

How to Finish The School Year Strong

Linda Kardamis on episode 309 of the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter

Finish well. Today, Linda Kardamis shares common mistakes to avoid and positive things to do that will help you have a successful finish to your school year.

Listen Now

Listen to the show on iTunes or Stitcher

Stream by clicking here.

***

Enhanced Transcript

How to Finish The School Year Strong

Link to show: www.coolcatteacher.com/e309 Date: May 10, 2018

Vicki: One of the most popular shows of last year was Linda Kardamis from Teach 4 the Heart (http://teach4theheart.com/). We’ll link to that show because she had so many great ideas there.

Now, Linda,we’re going to talk about how to finish the school year strong. How can we finish strong? So many people get so tired and they just want to put their feet up on their desk!

Linda: Yes, and that’s actually my first tip.

Don’t coast!

As much as you want to coast, don’t coast. Instead, be intentional with your time and choose. Make a mental decision, “I’m going to make these last days count.” It all starts there.

Vicki: Oh, it does.

But how do we decide what to do? We can either say, “Oh, there are all these things I haven’t taught,” or “You know what? I’m just done.”

Linda: (laughs)

I think it’s important to keep first things first because there are always a million things to do, so you really have to prioritize. Ask yourself, “What really needs to get done?” “What should I let go, and you know, wait until next week or next month or the summer?”

Vicki: That is so hard to do.

Linda: (laughs)

Vicki: What’s another tip for us?

Linda: I think at the end of the year, you’ve spent time developing all these relationships with your students. You’re about to be done with them, but this last month or two is your opportunity to draw on those relationships that you’ve built. You’re closest to them that you’ve been all year, and so use that.

Draw on the relationships that you have built all year

This is your chance to inspire them, to guide them, to counsel them, and to speak truth into their lives.

So be looking for those opportunities and take advantage of them.

Vicki: Oh, and kids remember what we do first and what we do last. I was sitting at a mama’s desk today talking about some great things that her son can do. She just teared up and said, “School is about getting grades, but sometimes we forget to talk about, ‘You do this well, but I can’t put it on the report card. But this is you, huh.’”

Linda: Yes, it’s a great way to encourage them as they’re heading into their summer and finishing up the year. For sure.

Vicki: What’s next?

Linda: Next I would say, this just goes to really practical tip.

As you are looking at your material you are hoping to cover between now and the end of the year, and saying “Oh my goodness, I don’t have enough time to do all of this,” this is a good time to stop and take inventory of that and be strategic.

Take inventory of what’s left to cover and be strategic

The last thing you want to do is keep plodding along and miss whatever was last in your curriculum math, or your book, or whatever you have.

This is a good time to sit down and be intentional and ask yourself, “What is most important?” and make sure you get that in, even if it’s not the next thing sequentially.

Vicki: OK, I’m going to be honest. In one of my classes, I’m actually tracking to finish a little early. What do we do if somebody is actually a little ahead?

Linda: This is actually my next tip.

I ran into this problem, because I’m a leader. I was always either right there, sometimes I finish early.

My word of caution is don’t finish too early or if you do, have a really good project based learning activity or something that you’re doing at the end.

Don’t finish too early — or have a great end project if you do

If you’ve finished too early — I did this my first year — I was like “We’re done a week early! We’re just going to do fun review activities!”

But as soon as the students saw that we were done, they checked out. All of my review activities were a disaster.

Maybe add a project at the end or do something just stay on your schedule so you’re not done-done too early.

Vicki: I hate to say it, but I actually love it when students come in by choice to work on stuff on the last day of school – they’re like, “I want to put an extra touch on that movie!” “Oh I really want to add this or that!”

I think we just have to capture every moment, don’t we?

Linda: Yes, and that’s such a great idea.

Like I said, if you’re having a project like that, that they are really passionate about,that they’re finishing up, and trying to put the last finishing touches on, I think that’s a great way to end the year for sure.

Vicki: What’s next?

Linda: I think, as you’re leaving the year, it’s really good to communicate with your parents, especially the ones of the kids that struggled.

Communicate with ALL parents, especially the ones of kids who struggled

The temptation is to just be like “Drop your report card, and just get out of there,” but it’s really good to go back and get one final touchpoint with those parents. I like to recommend things if they can do over the summer, even if I know that the voice in the back of my head is going, “They aren’t going to care.”

You don’t know that. Just take a few minutes. t can be the same email that you copy and paste and then adjust, but send out something to those parents, with some recommendations for the summer, things they can do, and maybe a last word of encouragement for their students.

Vicki: That is so important, because we really are partners with helping the kids, in some ways that’s like passing the baton to the parents over the summer, isn’t it?

Linda: Yes, absolutely. Sure.

Vicki: Okay, what else?

Linda: My next tip is to try to leave things as organized as possible. Now, I did say “try,” because I know it’s pretty crazy, but just keep in mind the more organized you leave things now, the easier it will be if you are staying at the same place when you come in next fall.

Try to leave things as organized as possible for yourself for the fall

Even if you aren’t teaching in the same place, though, taking a few minutes to jot down some notes for yourself — like this lesson worked, or this lesson didn’t, or I want to try this again.

Even little things like that can be helpful. And like I said, maybe even tackling those desk drawers, the closet. If you have any time to do any of that, it will make things way easier for you come fall.

Vicki: I love that. I actually right now have started my “Simplify Journal.” Every single day I try to simplify my room in one or two ways and it just makes me feel free!

Linda: Oh, that’s great!

Vicki: Ok, yeah! What’s our last one?

Simply commit to enjoying the last few days

Linda: The last one is just simply decide to enjoy these last few days. This is really simple, but it can make such a difference. We’re so often tempted to just count down the days, and there’s nothing wrong with the countdown, but it’s mental. Are we really on mental countdown “I just have to do this many more days!”

We can do that, or we can choose to say, “These are the last few days I have with this group of students. I’m going to try the best I can just to enjoy them, be in the moment, and to take advantage of opportunities that I do. I think that mental decision really does impact everything else.

Vicki: Why I left the business world, and what teaching pays me that I don’t get from anything else is — it’s so much fun!

I feel just like I’m not laughing every day with the kids and if we’re not finding something funny, if we’re not working hard at work worth doing, then why are we there?

Nobody wants be bored! They don’t want to be bored, and I don’t want to be bored! We just aren’t phoning it in, we just want to finish and finish well, you know?

Linda: Absolutely, for sure.

Vicki: So, Linda, as we finish up, could you give teachers a 30-second pep talk of encouragement for finishing well and what it means to them in their professional career to be known as a finisher?

Are you a quitter, or are you a finisher?

Linda: You yourself will know how you finish. Just looking back when you’re sitting, relaxing by the pool, or just taking a nap, you will know if you phoned it in or if you really finished strong.

And your students will know too. How will they remember you? Will they remember you as “Thank goodness we’re done with that?” Or will they know that you really put in the effort and that you care for them? Because, really, it’s for them.

Vicki: Teachers, I can’t stress this enough.

I do feel that sometimes, I think we are raising a generation of quitters. “If I don’t get to play enough in baseball, I’m going to quit.” Or, “I don’t get to run in that even, or I can’t place in that event, so I’ll quit.”

And the thing is, we teach with our lives — whether we’re finishers or whether we’re quitters.

My philosophy is, something I do when I’m running, when my knees aren’t acting up, I always sprint at the end.

Linda: Me too!

Vicki: Yeah! I read that that’s the only way you build more muscle and build more strength is to sprint at the end.

I think that at the end, I know that it’s counterintuitive, but when you sprint at the end, you earn the respect of your colleagues, you earn the respect of your kids, and you can look at yourself in the mirror, and kind of blow on your knuckles, and go, “You know what? I’ve got this. And I’m doing it right, you know?”

Linda: Absolutely.

Vicki: Okay, teachers, so let’s do this. Let’s finish well!

Linda: Finish strong!

Contact us about the show: http://www.coolcatteacher.com/contact/

Transcribed by Kymberli Mulford kymberlimulford@gmail.com

Bio as submitted

Linda Kardamis provides practical advice and Biblical encouragement for Christian teachers on her website Teach 4 the Heart (http://teach4theheart.com/). She is also the author of Create Your Dream Classroom (http://teach4theheart.com/dreamclassroom) and the creator of Classroom Management 101 (http://teach4theheart.com/cm101) and Teach Uplifted (http://teachuplifted.com).

Blog:http://teach4theheart.com/

Twitter: @LindaKardamis

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” This company has no impact on the editorial content of the show.

The post How to Finish The School Year Strong appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!

from Cool Cat Teacher BlogCool Cat Teacher Blog http://www.coolcatteacher.com/e309/

[danmarkreid]

Discovering Stability in Chaos

“Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.” (Philippians 3:1)

“I feel like nothing in my life is stable right now, that is except for my faith, marriage and key friendships.”

These words escaped from my lips recently on a Sunday evening. A group had collected, huddled around pieces of paper with the words “The Gospel According to Mark” etched across the top. We were engaging our minds and our hearts. Individuals were sharing their reflections and what it would mean if they truly acknowledge Jesus as king of their lives.

In a moment of confession, I bumbled out the above words. A weight began to lift off my shoulders but there was still fear and doubt lingering underneath. How do I find meaning in this crazy journey that I am on? Would the God who I had given my life and trust to be faithful? Would I end up alone? Would I end up as a failure? My mind said no, but my heart was not so sure.

As those following along know, it has been a crazy two years. I am only four weeks away from my two year anniversary of my cancer diagnosis. In the course of this time I’ve had a son, had surgery, gone through radiation, gone back to work, seen my community implode and left my job. Now I am trying to figure out what to do with my life while in the background, preparing for a second child, and needing to make some major decisions around where we will live. I would never encourage someone to undergo so much transition at once, and yet, a lot of the change is out of my control. In many ways, it has been a prolonged season of loss and stress. Things are constantly being stripped away, bringing pain and grief.

During my sickness I read through Philippians. I desired to get an opportunity to study it in community to help reinforce the themes that I had learned. That opportunity came at the beginning of January of this new year. It is amazing how scripture can speak to you right where you are at in such profound ways. The words leapt off the page again.

In the book, Paul describes his spiritual resume and why, for many reasons, he should be one of the most righteous people. He has done everything right and been placed in the right place at the right time. What is shocking for the audience is when he says, “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8).

Paul has learned the example from his saviour who “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” (Phil 2:6-8)

It is a season where things are being stripped away: facing my mortality, leaving an unhealthy workplace, and facing uncertainty about the future. In light of these things, there has been a lot of loss and a refining of who I am and my identity.

Paul writes with great certainty that nothing he could aspire to or achieve is greater than the privilege of knowing his God and suffering for him. As I reflect, I realize how far I still am from that point. I want to be perceived as successful in my career and known as a great pastor, teacher and leader. To lose everything to gain Christ, and only Christ, sounds attractive in a Bible study as an ideal but it gets contested the moment it ends. There is a battle for my soul and many days I am tempted to believe that I will end up alone or overlooked or with nothing to my name (as if the point were to build the kingdom of Dan in the first place). You can see how it unravels and underneath there is a vulnerable, scared, selfish and somewhat conceited man that I have to face in the mirror.

Could it be that the greatest call is to truly be content to lose it all and in the end only have Christ? That someone is actually searching for Christ all along when he or she pursues other narratives or things, unaware that He fulfills whatever need we are struggling to appease?

And yet, in my moment of weakness and confession, feeling like I am losing it all with nothing stable, a close friend offered wisdom. He remarked, “Isn’t odd that the only things you state that you feel you have that are stable (faith, marriage, close friends) are the very things that so many in society are actually deeply longing for?”

A strong, unwavering faith and worldview that grounds me and carries me through suffering and pain, providing meaning, purpose and hope at every step of the way. Steady relationships that provide support, nourishment, encouragement and loving truth. People that know my heart deeply and reflect back to me what they see, the good and the nasty. People that have not abandoned me or coiled back, even when I was at my lowest.

His words struck me and challenged me. In many ways I was gaining the very things I had always longed for, prayed for and strived for. Still, in the face of adversity there are still so many cracks in this broken down vessel that is me. More refining to be done, more purification needed, way more humility and selflessness to be birthed.

Two years of pain and suffering have been a great gift to me in so many ways. I think because it continually drives me to my knees. I am still amazed by how insecure I am in my gifts, in my passions, in my own beauty as a person. I am learning how much I need God and others. I am thankful that through the difficulties I am learning how to submit to Christ and die to my own desires. Hopefully Christ can teach me to empty myself like He embodied when He came to earth. One thing is certain, I am far from the point of being exalted, and that is undeniably best for everyone.

These revelations bring joy and gratitude. I am thankful for my marriage, for my health, for my friends, for those I get to walk with. It is crazy to think about how well I have recovered from my cancer journey physically. In addition, I am grateful for a chance to rethink church, career, where we will live and how we will approach it, even it it keeps me up at night and reveals how little I trust God. I am thankful for an opportunity to expand our family and learn to love another child, because Marcus has been such a gift and I treasure my time with him.

I think I’m learning how letting go and loss can actually create a gateway for joy and celebration. It’s still counterintuitive but so are most things in the Christian faith! Hopefully if I can let go of my own needs for affirmation and glory, I will understand more deeply Christ’s costly love for me and continue to be changed by it.

Here’s to 2018. A year of uncertainty, endings in some places and beginnings in others. May I have a better sense of how Jesus gives us his peace by the end of it. Hopefully I can continue to let go of some things and centre my life around the things that really matter. Thanks for reading and hopefully a new year brings you a sense of meaning and hope as well. Here’s to health, friendships, new life and learning through hard times.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

[jeffreyrwelch]

Why Do Dogs Bark? Reasons Dogs Bark and How to Stop Excessive Dog Barking

Vocalization is a key way that dogs communicate. Moans, growls and howls are among the noises that dogs make, but the first sound that comes to mind when most people think of dogs is barking. So, why do dogs bark? Barking is how dogs vocally communicate to each other and to us about everything from a squirrel on the back fence to wanting their dinner.

Because dog barking is about communication, dogs also bark to try to impact the behavior of something or someone, like when they want you to throw the ball. Dogs may also bark when they are in pain or afraid in an attempt to keep something scary away. Did you know that dogs around the world bark differently? Psychology Today has a great list of the way dogs bark in 60 different languages! Dogs “hau-hau” in Arabic, “blaf-blaf” in Dutch and “gau-gau” in Vietnamese.

Why do dogs bark? Different barks for different scenarios

Dogs have different barks for different scenarios. Photography ©violet-blue | Thinkstock.

Dogs bark if they are anxious, excited, bored and seeking attention, or in response to other dogs. Researchers at Eotvos Lorand University, and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest, Hungary, studied the way that people interpret and understand dog vocalizations. They found that low-pitched vocalizations tend to indicate that a dog feels threatened or upset, whereas high-pitched sounds tend to mean a dog wants to engage with someone or something. However, long, high-pitched sounds might mean a dog is anxious or fearful.

The researchers also discovered that people understand the tone of a dog’s bark — similar to the way we notice different tones in a person’s voice. The study states, “people use the same rules to work out how their dog is feeling as they do to determine the emotional state of other humans.”

Another study by Csaba Molnar, ethologist at Hungary’s Eotvos Lorand University explored dogs and barking from the angle that the behavior is very common in domesticated dogs, but infrequent or nonexistent in wild canines. This research shows that not only are humans skilled at understanding the meaning or context behind different dog barks, but dogs who are playing exhibit the most varied types of barks.

Dog barking varies by individual dog and by dog breed

I share my home with three dogs and I can recognize each of their individual barks. If you have multiple dogs, it’s likely that you can do the same, or that you can tell your dog’s bark apart from the barks of other dogs playing together in the park. Different breeds of dogs have different tones to their barks from high pitched to deep, often related to their overall size. For example, my Chihuahua mix has a higher-pitched bark than my Newfoundland. Charlie, a Golden Retriever in Australia, holds the Guinness World Record for loudest bark.

Some dog breeds were actually bred to bark. From herding, to flushing out game for hunters, to alerting people to danger or the presence of intruders, many dogs like Beagles, German Shepherd Dogs and Shetland Sheepdogs were all bred in part for their barks, which doesn’t necessarily make them great apartment dogs. My first dog was a Lhasa Apso, which is one of the world’s most ancient breeds. Lhasa Apso means “bark lion sentinel dog.” Don’t let their small size fool you, these feisty little dogs were bred to alert humans to any intruders in the Tibetan monasteries. The Basenji, another ancient breed, is known as the barkless dog. However, Basenjis do make a variety of vocalizations, including a very unique yodel.

Think you’re pretty good at identifying different dog barks? Check out this fun game created by The New York Times, which recorded the barks of different show dogs. Try to match the bark the dog that made it!

How to stop inappropriate dog barking

Exercise may help curb inappropriate dog barking. Photography ©alexei_tm | Thinkstock.

Excessive barking can be an aggravating behavioral issue for canine parents. A dog who barks a lot is also challenging to navigate with neighbors, roommates or landlords who don’t appreciate incessant dog barking. Have a dog that barks a lot or inappropriately? Here are a few ways to combat inappropriate dog barking:

Exercise: Inappropriate dog barking often signals that a dog is bored, or lacking enough stimulation. If your dog is barking a lot, aim for more exercise — both physically and mentally. Trick training is a great way to bond with your dog and burn off some of his mental and physical energy. A tired dog is not only a happy dog — a tired dog is often a quiet dog.

Stay calm: If you start yelling “quiet” or try matching your volume to your dog’s loud barks, you are only adding to the arousal of the situation. In that moment, you are in a yelling match with your dog — and it’s not very fun or effective.

Don’t reward: Dogs bark to communicate their needs and wants to us. If your dog is barking, wait until he is quiet to let him out of his crate, or throw his ball. Otherwise, you may inadvertently reinforce that barking is a great way to get what he wants.

On cue: It sounds counterintuitive, but a great way to teach your dog to stop barking is to teach him to bark on command by pairing his barking with the verbal cue you want, like “speak” or “talk” and rewarding him with a tasty treat. Once your pup is consistently barking when you give the “speak” command, you can start adding an “enough” or “quiet” cue.

Seek support: If your dog’s excessive barking persists, consult with a professional trainer. Your dog may be exhibiting symptoms of separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is a long-term and challenging condition that benefits from a consultation with your vet, professional trainer and/or a behaviorist.

Thumbnail: Photography ©Page Light Studios | Thinkstock. 

Sassafras Lowrey is an award-winning author. Her novels have been honored by organizations ranging from the Lambda Literary Foundation to the American Library Association. Sassafras is a Certified Trick Dog Trainer, and assists with dog agility classes. Sassafras lives and writes in Brooklyn with her partner, a senior Chihuahua mix, a rescued Shepherd mix and a Newfoundland puppy, along with two bossy cats and a semi-feral kitten. Learn more at sassafraslowrey.com.

Read more about training your dog on Dogster.com:

Have a Bored Dog? Know the Signs and Keep Your Dog Happy and Active

How to Pet a Dog Properly

Do You Have a Stranger-Danger Dog? 4 Ways to Teach Him to Deal

The post Why Do Dogs Bark? Reasons Dogs Bark and How to Stop Excessive Dog Barking appeared first on Dogster.

[buynewsoul]

Why Do Dogs Bark? Reasons Dogs Bark and How to Stop Excessive Dog Barking

Vocalization is a key way that dogs communicate. Moans, growls and howls are among the noises that dogs make, but the first sound that comes to mind when most people think of dogs is barking. So, why do dogs bark? Barking is how dogs vocally communicate to each other and to us about everything from a squirrel on the back fence to wanting their dinner.

Because dog barking is about communication, dogs also bark to try to impact the behavior of something or someone, like when they want you to throw the ball. Dogs may also bark when they are in pain or afraid in an attempt to keep something scary away. Did you know that dogs around the world bark differently? Psychology Today has a great list of the way dogs bark in 60 different languages! Dogs “hau-hau” in Arabic, “blaf-blaf” in Dutch and “gau-gau” in Vietnamese.

Why do dogs bark? Different barks for different scenarios

Dogs have different barks for different scenarios. Photography ©violet-blue | Thinkstock.

Dogs bark if they are anxious, excited, bored and seeking attention, or in response to other dogs. Researchers at Eotvos Lorand University, and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest, Hungary, studied the way that people interpret and understand dog vocalizations. They found that low-pitched vocalizations tend to indicate that a dog feels threatened or upset, whereas high-pitched sounds tend to mean a dog wants to engage with someone or something. However, long, high-pitched sounds might mean a dog is anxious or fearful.

The researchers also discovered that people understand the tone of a dog’s bark — similar to the way we notice different tones in a person’s voice. The study states, “people use the same rules to work out how their dog is feeling as they do to determine the emotional state of other humans.”

Another study by Csaba Molnar, ethologist at Hungary’s Eotvos Lorand University explored dogs and barking from the angle that the behavior is very common in domesticated dogs, but infrequent or nonexistent in wild canines. This research shows that not only are humans skilled at understanding the meaning or context behind different dog barks, but dogs who are playing exhibit the most varied types of barks.

Dog barking varies by individual dog and by dog breed

I share my home with three dogs and I can recognize each of their individual barks. If you have multiple dogs, it’s likely that you can do the same, or that you can tell your dog’s bark apart from the barks of other dogs playing together in the park. Different breeds of dogs have different tones to their barks from high pitched to deep, often related to their overall size. For example, my Chihuahua mix has a higher-pitched bark than my Newfoundland. Charlie, a Golden Retriever in Australia, holds the Guinness World Record for loudest bark.

Some dog breeds were actually bred to bark. From herding, to flushing out game for hunters, to alerting people to danger or the presence of intruders, many dogs like Beagles, German Shepherd Dogs and Shetland Sheepdogs were all bred in part for their barks, which doesn’t necessarily make them great apartment dogs. My first dog was a Lhasa Apso, which is one of the world’s most ancient breeds. Lhasa Apso means “bark lion sentinel dog.” Don’t let their small size fool you, these feisty little dogs were bred to alert humans to any intruders in the Tibetan monasteries. The Basenji, another ancient breed, is known as the barkless dog. However, Basenjis do make a variety of vocalizations, including a very unique yodel.

Think you’re pretty good at identifying different dog barks? Check out this fun game created by The New York Times, which recorded the barks of different show dogs. Try to match the bark the dog that made it!

How to stop inappropriate dog barking

Exercise may help curb inappropriate dog barking. Photography ©alexei_tm | Thinkstock.

Excessive barking can be an aggravating behavioral issue for canine parents. A dog who barks a lot is also challenging to navigate with neighbors, roommates or landlords who don’t appreciate incessant dog barking. Have a dog that barks a lot or inappropriately? Here are a few ways to combat inappropriate dog barking:

Exercise: Inappropriate dog barking often signals that a dog is bored, or lacking enough stimulation. If your dog is barking a lot, aim for more exercise — both physically and mentally. Trick training is a great way to bond with your dog and burn off some of his mental and physical energy. A tired dog is not only a happy dog — a tired dog is often a quiet dog.

Stay calm: If you start yelling “quiet” or try matching your volume to your dog’s loud barks, you are only adding to the arousal of the situation. In that moment, you are in a yelling match with your dog — and it’s not very fun or effective.

Don’t reward: Dogs bark to communicate their needs and wants to us. If your dog is barking, wait until he is quiet to let him out of his crate, or throw his ball. Otherwise, you may inadvertently reinforce that barking is a great way to get what he wants.

On cue: It sounds counterintuitive, but a great way to teach your dog to stop barking is to teach him to bark on command by pairing his barking with the verbal cue you want, like “speak” or “talk” and rewarding him with a tasty treat. Once your pup is consistently barking when you give the “speak” command, you can start adding an “enough” or “quiet” cue.

Seek support: If your dog’s excessive barking persists, consult with a professional trainer. Your dog may be exhibiting symptoms of separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is a long-term and challenging condition that benefits from a consultation with your vet, professional trainer and/or a behaviorist.

Thumbnail: Photography ©Page Light Studios | Thinkstock. 

Sassafras Lowrey is an award-winning author. Her novels have been honored by organizations ranging from the Lambda Literary Foundation to the American Library Association. Sassafras is a Certified Trick Dog Trainer, and assists with dog agility classes. Sassafras lives and writes in Brooklyn with her partner, a senior Chihuahua mix, a rescued Shepherd mix and a Newfoundland puppy, along with two bossy cats and a semi-feral kitten. Learn more at sassafraslowrey.com.

Read more about training your dog on Dogster.com:

Have a Bored Dog? Know the Signs and Keep Your Dog Happy and Active

How to Pet a Dog Properly

Do You Have a Stranger-Danger Dog? 4 Ways to Teach Him to Deal

The post Why Do Dogs Bark? Reasons Dogs Bark and How to Stop Excessive Dog Barking appeared first on Dogster.

[daddyslittlejuliet]

Why Do Dogs Bark? Reasons Dogs Bark and How to Stop Excessive Dog Barking

Vocalization is a key way that dogs communicate. Moans, growls and howls are among the noises that dogs make, but the first sound that comes to mind when most people think of dogs is barking. So, why do dogs bark? Barking is how dogs vocally communicate to each other and to us about everything from a squirrel on the back fence to wanting their dinner.

Because dog barking is about communication, dogs also bark to try to impact the behavior of something or someone, like when they want you to throw the ball. Dogs may also bark when they are in pain or afraid in an attempt to keep something scary away. Did you know that dogs around the world bark differently? Psychology Today has a great list of the way dogs bark in 60 different languages! Dogs “hau-hau” in Arabic, “blaf-blaf” in Dutch and “gau-gau” in Vietnamese.

Why do dogs bark? Different barks for different scenarios

Dogs have different barks for different scenarios. Photography ©violet-blue | Thinkstock.

Dogs bark if they are anxious, excited, bored and seeking attention, or in response to other dogs. Researchers at Eotvos Lorand University, and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest, Hungary, studied the way that people interpret and understand dog vocalizations. They found that low-pitched vocalizations tend to indicate that a dog feels threatened or upset, whereas high-pitched sounds tend to mean a dog wants to engage with someone or something. However, long, high-pitched sounds might mean a dog is anxious or fearful.

The researchers also discovered that people understand the tone of a dog’s bark — similar to the way we notice different tones in a person’s voice. The study states, “people use the same rules to work out how their dog is feeling as they do to determine the emotional state of other humans.”

Another study by Csaba Molnar, ethologist at Hungary’s Eotvos Lorand University explored dogs and barking from the angle that the behavior is very common in domesticated dogs, but infrequent or nonexistent in wild canines. This research shows that not only are humans skilled at understanding the meaning or context behind different dog barks, but dogs who are playing exhibit the most varied types of barks.

Dog barking varies by individual dog and by dog breed

I share my home with three dogs and I can recognize each of their individual barks. If you have multiple dogs, it’s likely that you can do the same, or that you can tell your dog’s bark apart from the barks of other dogs playing together in the park. Different breeds of dogs have different tones to their barks from high pitched to deep, often related to their overall size. For example, my Chihuahua mix has a higher-pitched bark than my Newfoundland. Charlie, a Golden Retriever in Australia, holds the Guinness World Record for loudest bark.

Some dog breeds were actually bred to bark. From herding, to flushing out game for hunters, to alerting people to danger or the presence of intruders, many dogs like Beagles, German Shepherd Dogs and Shetland Sheepdogs were all bred in part for their barks, which doesn’t necessarily make them great apartment dogs. My first dog was a Lhasa Apso, which is one of the world’s most ancient breeds. Lhasa Apso means “bark lion sentinel dog.” Don’t let their small size fool you, these feisty little dogs were bred to alert humans to any intruders in the Tibetan monasteries. The Basenji, another ancient breed, is known as the barkless dog. However, Basenjis do make a variety of vocalizations, including a very unique yodel.

Think you’re pretty good at identifying different dog barks? Check out this fun game created by The New York Times, which recorded the barks of different show dogs. Try to match the bark the dog that made it!

How to stop inappropriate dog barking

Exercise may help curb inappropriate dog barking. Photography ©alexei_tm | Thinkstock.

Excessive barking can be an aggravating behavioral issue for canine parents. A dog who barks a lot is also challenging to navigate with neighbors, roommates or landlords who don’t appreciate incessant dog barking. Have a dog that barks a lot or inappropriately? Here are a few ways to combat inappropriate dog barking:

Exercise: Inappropriate dog barking often signals that a dog is bored, or lacking enough stimulation. If your dog is barking a lot, aim for more exercise — both physically and mentally. Trick training is a great way to bond with your dog and burn off some of his mental and physical energy. A tired dog is not only a happy dog — a tired dog is often a quiet dog.

Stay calm: If you start yelling “quiet” or try matching your volume to your dog’s loud barks, you are only adding to the arousal of the situation. In that moment, you are in a yelling match with your dog — and it’s not very fun or effective.

Don’t reward: Dogs bark to communicate their needs and wants to us. If your dog is barking, wait until he is quiet to let him out of his crate, or throw his ball. Otherwise, you may inadvertently reinforce that barking is a great way to get what he wants.

On cue: It sounds counterintuitive, but a great way to teach your dog to stop barking is to teach him to bark on command by pairing his barking with the verbal cue you want, like “speak” or “talk” and rewarding him with a tasty treat. Once your pup is consistently barking when you give the “speak” command, you can start adding an “enough” or “quiet” cue.

Seek support: If your dog’s excessive barking persists, consult with a professional trainer. Your dog may be exhibiting symptoms of separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is a long-term and challenging condition that benefits from a consultation with your vet, professional trainer and/or a behaviorist.

Thumbnail: Photography ©Page Light Studios | Thinkstock. 

Sassafras Lowrey is an award-winning author. Her novels have been honored by organizations ranging from the Lambda Literary Foundation to the American Library Association. Sassafras is a Certified Trick Dog Trainer, and assists with dog agility classes. Sassafras lives and writes in Brooklyn with her partner, a senior Chihuahua mix, a rescued Shepherd mix and a Newfoundland puppy, along with two bossy cats and a semi-feral kitten. Learn more at sassafraslowrey.com.

Read more about training your dog on Dogster.com:

Have a Bored Dog? Know the Signs and Keep Your Dog Happy and Active

How to Pet a Dog Properly

Do You Have a Stranger-Danger Dog? 4 Ways to Teach Him to Deal

The post Why Do Dogs Bark? Reasons Dogs Bark and How to Stop Excessive Dog Barking appeared first on Dogster.

[stiles-wtf]

Why Do Dogs Bark? Reasons Dogs Bark and How to Stop Excessive Dog Barking

Vocalization is a key way that dogs communicate. Moans, growls and howls are among the noises that dogs make, but the first sound that comes to mind when most people think of dogs is barking. So, why do dogs bark? Barking is how dogs vocally communicate to each other and to us about everything from a squirrel on the back fence to wanting their dinner.

Because dog barking is about communication, dogs also bark to try to impact the behavior of something or someone, like when they want you to throw the ball. Dogs may also bark when they are in pain or afraid in an attempt to keep something scary away. Did you know that dogs around the world bark differently? Psychology Today has a great list of the way dogs bark in 60 different languages! Dogs “hau-hau” in Arabic, “blaf-blaf” in Dutch and “gau-gau” in Vietnamese.

Why do dogs bark? Different barks for different scenarios

Dogs have different barks for different scenarios. Photography ©violet-blue | Thinkstock.

Dogs bark if they are anxious, excited, bored and seeking attention, or in response to other dogs. Researchers at Eotvos Lorand University, and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest, Hungary, studied the way that people interpret and understand dog vocalizations. They found that low-pitched vocalizations tend to indicate that a dog feels threatened or upset, whereas high-pitched sounds tend to mean a dog wants to engage with someone or something. However, long, high-pitched sounds might mean a dog is anxious or fearful.

The researchers also discovered that people understand the tone of a dog’s bark — similar to the way we notice different tones in a person’s voice. The study states, “people use the same rules to work out how their dog is feeling as they do to determine the emotional state of other humans.”

Another study by Csaba Molnar, ethologist at Hungary’s Eotvos Lorand University explored dogs and barking from the angle that the behavior is very common in domesticated dogs, but infrequent or nonexistent in wild canines. This research shows that not only are humans skilled at understanding the meaning or context behind different dog barks, but dogs who are playing exhibit the most varied types of barks.

Dog barking varies by individual dog and by dog breed

I share my home with three dogs and I can recognize each of their individual barks. If you have multiple dogs, it’s likely that you can do the same, or that you can tell your dog’s bark apart from the barks of other dogs playing together in the park. Different breeds of dogs have different tones to their barks from high pitched to deep, often related to their overall size. For example, my Chihuahua mix has a higher-pitched bark than my Newfoundland. Charlie, a Golden Retriever in Australia, holds the Guinness World Record for loudest bark.

Some dog breeds were actually bred to bark. From herding, to flushing out game for hunters, to alerting people to danger or the presence of intruders, many dogs like Beagles, German Shepherd Dogs and Shetland Sheepdogs were all bred in part for their barks, which doesn’t necessarily make them great apartment dogs. My first dog was a Lhasa Apso, which is one of the world’s most ancient breeds. Lhasa Apso means “bark lion sentinel dog.” Don’t let their small size fool you, these feisty little dogs were bred to alert humans to any intruders in the Tibetan monasteries. The Basenji, another ancient breed, is known as the barkless dog. However, Basenjis do make a variety of vocalizations, including a very unique yodel.

Think you’re pretty good at identifying different dog barks? Check out this fun game created by The New York Times, which recorded the barks of different show dogs. Try to match the bark the dog that made it!

How to stop inappropriate dog barking

Exercise may help curb inappropriate dog barking. Photography ©alexei_tm | Thinkstock.

Excessive barking can be an aggravating behavioral issue for canine parents. A dog who barks a lot is also challenging to navigate with neighbors, roommates or landlords who don’t appreciate incessant dog barking. Have a dog that barks a lot or inappropriately? Here are a few ways to combat inappropriate dog barking:

Exercise: Inappropriate dog barking often signals that a dog is bored, or lacking enough stimulation. If your dog is barking a lot, aim for more exercise — both physically and mentally. Trick training is a great way to bond with your dog and burn off some of his mental and physical energy. A tired dog is not only a happy dog — a tired dog is often a quiet dog.

Stay calm: If you start yelling “quiet” or try matching your volume to your dog’s loud barks, you are only adding to the arousal of the situation. In that moment, you are in a yelling match with your dog — and it’s not very fun or effective.

Don’t reward: Dogs bark to communicate their needs and wants to us. If your dog is barking, wait until he is quiet to let him out of his crate, or throw his ball. Otherwise, you may inadvertently reinforce that barking is a great way to get what he wants.

On cue: It sounds counterintuitive, but a great way to teach your dog to stop barking is to teach him to bark on command by pairing his barking with the verbal cue you want, like “speak” or “talk” and rewarding him with a tasty treat. Once your pup is consistently barking when you give the “speak” command, you can start adding an “enough” or “quiet” cue.

Seek support: If your dog’s excessive barking persists, consult with a professional trainer. Your dog may be exhibiting symptoms of separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is a long-term and challenging condition that benefits from a consultation with your vet, professional trainer and/or a behaviorist.

Thumbnail: Photography ©Page Light Studios | Thinkstock. 

Sassafras Lowrey is an award-winning author. Her novels have been honored by organizations ranging from the Lambda Literary Foundation to the American Library Association. Sassafras is a Certified Trick Dog Trainer, and assists with dog agility classes. Sassafras lives and writes in Brooklyn with her partner, a senior Chihuahua mix, a rescued Shepherd mix and a Newfoundland puppy, along with two bossy cats and a semi-feral kitten. Learn more at sassafraslowrey.com.

Read more about training your dog on Dogster.com:

Have a Bored Dog? Know the Signs and Keep Your Dog Happy and Active

How to Pet a Dog Properly

Do You Have a Stranger-Danger Dog? 4 Ways to Teach Him to Deal

The post Why Do Dogs Bark? Reasons Dogs Bark and How to Stop Excessive Dog Barking appeared first on Dogster.

[grublypetcare]

Why Do Dogs Bark? Reasons Dogs Bark and How to Stop Excessive Dog Barking

Vocalization is a key way that dogs communicate. Moans, growls and howls are among the noises that dogs make, but the first sound that comes to mind when most people think of dogs is barking. So, why do dogs bark? Barking is how dogs vocally communicate to each other and to us about everything from a squirrel on the back fence to wanting their dinner.

Because dog barking is about communication, dogs also bark to try to impact the behavior of something or someone, like when they want you to throw the ball. Dogs may also bark when they are in pain or afraid in an attempt to keep something scary away. Did you know that dogs around the world bark differently? Psychology Today has a great list of the way dogs bark in 60 different languages! Dogs “hau-hau” in Arabic, “blaf-blaf” in Dutch and “gau-gau” in Vietnamese.

Why do dogs bark? Different barks for different scenarios

Dogs have different barks for different scenarios. Photography ©violet-blue | Thinkstock.

Dogs bark if they are anxious, excited, bored and seeking attention, or in response to other dogs. Researchers at Eotvos Lorand University, and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest, Hungary, studied the way that people interpret and understand dog vocalizations. They found that low-pitched vocalizations tend to indicate that a dog feels threatened or upset, whereas high-pitched sounds tend to mean a dog wants to engage with someone or something. However, long, high-pitched sounds might mean a dog is anxious or fearful.

The researchers also discovered that people understand the tone of a dog’s bark — similar to the way we notice different tones in a person’s voice. The study states, “people use the same rules to work out how their dog is feeling as they do to determine the emotional state of other humans.”

Another study by Csaba Molnar, ethologist at Hungary’s Eotvos Lorand University explored dogs and barking from the angle that the behavior is very common in domesticated dogs, but infrequent or nonexistent in wild canines. This research shows that not only are humans skilled at understanding the meaning or context behind different dog barks, but dogs who are playing exhibit the most varied types of barks.

Dog barking varies by individual dog and by dog breed

I share my home with three dogs and I can recognize each of their individual barks. If you have multiple dogs, it’s likely that you can do the same, or that you can tell your dog’s bark apart from the barks of other dogs playing together in the park. Different breeds of dogs have different tones to their barks from high pitched to deep, often related to their overall size. For example, my Chihuahua mix has a higher-pitched bark than my Newfoundland. Charlie, a Golden Retriever in Australia, holds the Guinness World Record for loudest bark.

Some dog breeds were actually bred to bark. From herding, to flushing out game for hunters, to alerting people to danger or the presence of intruders, many dogs like Beagles, German Shepherd Dogs and Shetland Sheepdogs were all bred in part for their barks, which doesn’t necessarily make them great apartment dogs. My first dog was a Lhasa Apso, which is one of the world’s most ancient breeds. Lhasa Apso means “bark lion sentinel dog.” Don’t let their small size fool you, these feisty little dogs were bred to alert humans to any intruders in the Tibetan monasteries. The Basenji, another ancient breed, is known as the barkless dog. However, Basenjis do make a variety of vocalizations, including a very unique yodel.

Think you’re pretty good at identifying different dog barks? Check out this fun game created by The New York Times, which recorded the barks of different show dogs. Try to match the bark the dog that made it!

How to stop inappropriate dog barking

Exercise may help curb inappropriate dog barking. Photography ©alexei_tm | Thinkstock.

Excessive barking can be an aggravating behavioral issue for canine parents. A dog who barks a lot is also challenging to navigate with neighbors, roommates or landlords who don’t appreciate incessant dog barking. Have a dog that barks a lot or inappropriately? Here are a few ways to combat inappropriate dog barking:

Exercise: Inappropriate dog barking often signals that a dog is bored, or lacking enough stimulation. If your dog is barking a lot, aim for more exercise — both physically and mentally. Trick training is a great way to bond with your dog and burn off some of his mental and physical energy. A tired dog is not only a happy dog — a tired dog is often a quiet dog.

Stay calm: If you start yelling “quiet” or try matching your volume to your dog’s loud barks, you are only adding to the arousal of the situation. In that moment, you are in a yelling match with your dog — and it’s not very fun or effective.

Don’t reward: Dogs bark to communicate their needs and wants to us. If your dog is barking, wait until he is quiet to let him out of his crate, or throw his ball. Otherwise, you may inadvertently reinforce that barking is a great way to get what he wants.

On cue: It sounds counterintuitive, but a great way to teach your dog to stop barking is to teach him to bark on command by pairing his barking with the verbal cue you want, like “speak” or “talk” and rewarding him with a tasty treat. Once your pup is consistently barking when you give the “speak” command, you can start adding an “enough” or “quiet” cue.

Seek support: If your dog’s excessive barking persists, consult with a professional trainer. Your dog may be exhibiting symptoms of separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is a long-term and challenging condition that benefits from a consultation with your vet, professional trainer and/or a behaviorist.

Thumbnail: Photography ©Page Light Studios | Thinkstock. 

Sassafras Lowrey is an award-winning author. Her novels have been honored by organizations ranging from the Lambda Literary Foundation to the American Library Association. Sassafras is a Certified Trick Dog Trainer, and assists with dog agility classes. Sassafras lives and writes in Brooklyn with her partner, a senior Chihuahua mix, a rescued Shepherd mix and a Newfoundland puppy, along with two bossy cats and a semi-feral kitten. Learn more at sassafraslowrey.com.

Read more about training your dog on Dogster.com:

Have a Bored Dog? Know the Signs and Keep Your Dog Happy and Active

How to Pet a Dog Properly

Do You Have a Stranger-Danger Dog? 4 Ways to Teach Him to Deal

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