Tag Archives: advices

Tips for the School Year!

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Staying active, productive, and attentive in school can be a challenge. Whether you’re in high school, college, or middle school, there’s something that we all need to do to be successful in school: maintaining balanced lifestyle! Here are some tips that can help you survive your school year:

  • Set your priorities on a list. What’s important to you while you’re in school is your grades. Although it doesn’t define your intelligence or who you are as a person, it does reflect on your commitment to academic achievement. List everything that you will be busy this year/semester. Is it your homework that you need to focus on? Or being able to take better notes? Or is doing a sport/club activity also important to you? See if you can determine what will impact you the most and what you have to focus on first.
  • Balance your time on a calendar or using a reminder! Timing in school is very important; deadlines, due dates, & scheduled meetings. If you know you have a lot of things to do, make sure you set at least a week or a couple days to finish. The length of time will vary depending on how much work you need to do, whether it’s a solo or group project, and the type of project.
  • Need help on homework? Don’t fear because you aren’t alone in this. You may be struggling in math or writing or reading but there are many experts and resources out there to help you. You can rely on your family members to tutor you, if not, there are tutor programs, and you can always turn to your peers/teachers/friends for extra help. Don’t feel like you have to take everything on your own because there are resources and people around you who are willing to help.
  • Make a year end goal! What’s your goal by the end of the school year? What is it that you want to achieve or maintain? It doesn’t have to be a academic goal, it can be anything. Set a goal for yourself that you can achieve; joining a photography club, getting a internship, going to the gym/working out more during the school year, or volunteering for pet shelters. The main goal is to keep you motivated towards something positive throughout the year and to have something that you want to do.

Events in September ~ Health, Fitness, & Fun!

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September is a month of health promotion and health awarenesses! Look down below to participate in each or all of the events!

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  • Family Health and Fitness Day (September 24, 2016)
    • The goal of this event is to promote family involvement in physical activities and towards a healthier community.
    • “Local organizations throughout the country will host family-related health and fitness events at schools, park districts, hospitals, YMCAs/YWCAs, malls, health clubs and other community locations.” – http://www.fitnessday.com/family/
  • “September is Fruits & Veggies—More Matters® Month is celebrating Fruits & Veggies—More Matters® Month by promoting the many benefits of eating plenty of fruits and veggies. Fruits & Veggies—More Matters® Month highlights the importance of healthy eating in keeping our community strong and healthy.” – Rightful owner
    • Click on this link to find out why you should be eating more fruits!
  • “Every September, SAMHSA sponsors Recovery Month to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrate the people who recover.” – https://www.recoverymonth.gov/
    • Click here to find events!
  • MPLS Pizza Week!
    • “MPLS Pizza Club is a community for Pizza Enthusiasts with Minneapolis ties who eat, share, explore, create, & celebrate all things pizza. There is no official membership, the club is based on shared experiences, building community, and collaboration. MPLS Pizza Club was founded by Paige Guggemos in 2013.” – Rightful owner
    • For specific dates & info, click here!

National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

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September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and it’s all about promoting healthier lifestyle and spreading awareness of obesity among children. It’s important to become more educated about your health so that you can better understand the benefits of leading a healthier lifestyle and the risks of making poorer health decisions. Also, the goal is to not only educate yourself, but those around you; your family, friends, peers, and more! Positive influence can make a difference in people’s perspective on living whether it is being healthier, exercising or going out more, or simply having a more positive outlook.

There are many ways to be healthier and it doesn’t mean you have to be limited in your choices. Whatever your health goal is, try some of these tips:

  • Try to include more fruits & veggies into your diet! Having a healthy diet includes a mix of all kinds of food that can offer your body nutrients. Also, a bonus is that you can eat a variety of things without getting bored of the same diet routine.
  • Cook your own food! Cooking your own food can be time consuming but have no worries, there are tons of recipe out there that is quick, healthy, and easy to make. With this, you know what you are consuming and you can better control your portions.
  • Exercise is important, but don’t stress over it! If find that you don’t like a tpye of exercise, try something else. The great thing about it is that there are many things that you can do to stay active. Daily things such as cleaning your house, going on a stroll to deliver mail, or walking up and down the stairs rigorously. It’s up to you to determine which workout is best for your schedule and body.

Other social media links listed down below!

  • Learn how one grocer in West Virginia is helping improve the health of customers by stocking toys that promote physical activity and healthy snacks in the checkout lane. http://bit.ly/2aiwILe – #NCOAM
  • Learn how you can take part in the effort to encourage more children in your community to be physically active and eat a healthy diet. http://bit.ly/1pirD0j – #NCOAM
  • Addressing obesity requires the support of communities. This National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, learn how state and local organizations can create a supportive environment to promote healthy behaviors that prevent obesity. http://bit.ly/1JS8YIE – #NCOAM

Twitter Movements!

  • @letsmove – The First Lady’s initiative dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity.
  • @CDCObesity – CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity
  • @ACSMNews – The American College of Sports Medicine. Official sponsor of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.

Info provided above belong to rightful owner.

Why You Should Be Eating More Fruits!

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There are definetly easy ways in which you can improve your eating habits. Whether there’s a certain goal that you want to reach, the best mindset is to start out small. Don’t focus on the end result because it’s more about what you can do now than worrying about the future!

Eating fruits is an easy way to consume healthier food and can you in providing your daily vitamins. The best part is that you can choose fruits to your liking and incorporate them into your meals. Fruits can be eaten by itself, as a side dish/desert, or in a mixed salad. The benefits of fruits varies from each fruit. Also, if you’re craving something sweet, eating fruits is a great and healthier option!

A healthy lifestyle with a good eating habits will help maintain and keep your body healthy. Of course, it is okay to indulge yourself into your cravings every now and then. Some things to keep in mind:

  • Try to drink water on a daily basis/as much as possible. Going on a couple hours without drinking water can leave your body dehydrated and possibly affecting other parts of your body. Your skin, lips, and hair will show signs of dehydration more than any other parts of your body.
  • Daily exercise is necessary to being/becoming healthy. Whether it’s short/long and doing a easy/mediocre/intense workout is up to you. Also, try to leave time (30 min-1 hour) to work out (possibly 2-3x a week).
  • Sleep is very important for your body to rest and reenergize! So try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night! Consistent sleepless nights can do more damage to your body than you know.

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Summer Physical Activities!

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Summer is a time for outdoor activities! So put on your work out gear and get your equipments ready if necessary. Make sure to the take opportunity of the warm weather to enjoy being outdoors and engaging in summer activities. Not sure of what you should do? Listed down below are some recommendations:

  • Walking around your community and neighborhood is a great way for you to discover new restaurants, local stores, and sites you have not seen before.
  • Go running/biking/walking around local trails! It keeps you active while sightseeing and you can control your own pacing.
  • Play a sport! Popular sports in the summer is volleyball, baseball, & swimming! Of course, feel free to participate in any sport activity. Form your own team or play for a local team!
  • Rent a paddle boat, canoe, kayak, and even rent a bike. They are commonly found in areas of Minnesota lakes.

The most important thing is to have fun and be safe! Any physical activities can be harmful when done extensively so remember to let your body rest. But no physical activity is also bad for your body. It’s all about living a balanced lifestyle in different kinds of ways.

Trauma Resources

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With recent violent events, it can impact people in different ways. If you know someone experiencing trauma, try your best to support them and let them know about their available resources. If you or a friend is in need, remember that you can always reach out to or depend on these things:

  • Close family members and friends
  • Professionals – local clinics, hotline, therapist, etc.
  • Online support communities
  • Click here for facts/info about trauma in the state of Minnesota
  • For local helplines in Minnesota click here!

“Anyone can help someone who struggles with trauma—whether they work in the medical or mental health community, or are just a caring individual.

The National Council for Behavioral Health would like to share a few resources about trauma:

  • INFOGRAPHIC: 10 Signs A Person May Be Experiencing Trauma
  • INFOGRAPHIC: 10 Tips to Help Someone Experiencing Trauma
  • TIP SHEET: Trauma in the LGBTQ Community: What Practitioners Should Know in the Wake of the Orlando Shootings.
  • FACT SHEET: LGBTQ Mental Health: How the Orlando Shootings Can Broadly Impact This Community.” – Rightful owner

 

National Park and Recreation Month!

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“National Park and Recreation Month is a time to promote the benefits of healthy, vibrant communities.” – http://www.nrpa.org/

National Park & Recreation Month encourages people to go outdoors, connect with local parks/reservations/recreations, and enjoy their time outside. It promotes people to reconnect with nature and to become more aware and supportive of our environment. “Today, the average American spends 93% of their life indoors – 87% in buildings and 6% in vehicles” (NRPA). Fun fact: Americans have celebrated National Park and Recreation Month during July since 1985 (NRPA).

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Here are some ways in which you can participant in this month’s event:

  • Go outside to your local parks!
  • Visit/volunteer a reservation site!
  • Go walking/biking at your local trails!
  • Share the message on your social media and with people around you!
  • Remember to ask other people to join you outdoors!

Are Instant Noodles Bad For Your Health?

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“According to the World Instant Noodles Association (WINA), 52 countries consumed 97.7 billion servings last year alone. Among its highest consumers are China and Hong Kong, which together consumed 40.43 billion servings, followed by Indonesia, with 13.20 billion servings consumed. Unsurprisingly, the U.S. is not too far behind with 4 billion instant noodles consumed in 2015.” – http://nextshark.com/

So what are instant noodles? They are noodles that have been deep fried and packaged along with other seasoning packets. With just boiling water, you make a quick meal. It’s delicious of course and very cheap.

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www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/

Instant noodles have the reputation of being convenient, affordable, delicious, and unhealthy. Although it is loved by people throughout the world, it can be bad for your health if consume daily. Here are some reasons why:

  • The amount of sodium in a instant noodle pack is a lot more than what you should consume in a meal. Ingesting too much salt can lead one to experience dehydration, damaging the kidneys, and other parts of your body.
  • Instant noodles does not offer nutritional value to your body. Most of it is carbs, sodium, and saturated fat.

Like any other junk and fast food, you should consume instant noodles in moderation. You can always add more water to the broth and other veggies to make it a more balance meal. But don’t try to replace your diet with instant noodles and remember to cook your own meals as much as possible.

This Month in Japan | June

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June is the start of the rainy season for most parts of Japan. The summer weather is often divided between the rainy season following by the high levels of humidity. Despite the weather conditions, people can still enjoy their time in Japan. It is a good month for travelers to visit Japan because travel prices and the amount of tourists are low. Of course, be prepared for the rainy and humid weather; bring an umbrella and maybe some rain boots.

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Looking for activities to do during the month of June? Here are some events that are occurring in June around Japan!

  1. Sanno Festival is held in central Tokyo from June 7, 2017 to June 17, 2016. Located in Chiyoda-ku and hosted by Hie Jinja, it includes parades, people in dressed in traditional clothes, festival foods, and more! It one of the three major festivals along with Kanda Matsuri and Fukagawa Matsuri. “The Sanno Matsuri is famous as a festival permitted by the Shogun to enter the grounds of Edo Castle during the Edo Period (1603-1867), along with the Kanda Matsuri.” – http://www.jnto.go.jp/
  2. Hokkaido Shrine Festival is located at Maruyama Park in Hokkaido, Japan. It occurs from June 14 to June 16 and about 1 million people attend the summer festival each year. A highlight would be people wearing the summer kimono, yukata, and the endless amount of festival foods.
  3. Other tips for travelers in Japan during June are:
    1. If you want to visit beaches, resorts, or/and amusements, book your tickets and go before July when school children are done with school!
    2. Make sure to check out tours that can give you special deals! Here is a quick link!
    3. For any hot countries: Bring clothes that you could layer with! Also, having a good pair of shoes to walk in all day would help you best when discovering Japan on foot.

Study Abroad Opportunities! | For High School & College

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Study abroad is a great opportunity for students to learn while living in a different society and experiencing a whole new culture. It allows students to gain important knowledge and become more confident through the struggles of adjusting to a different environment and lifestyle. Of course it is expensive and requires you to work harder, but in the end it will be worth it! It is not impossible to study abroad if you know how to use your resources and is able to utilize your skills! Here are some tips on how to afford study abroad:

  1. Choose where you want to study abroad! (The earlier you can decide, the better!) You can study abroad almost anywhere in the world with different programs. It is usually divided into academic and employment programs. As a high school student, your options are more limited but remember to research about your options. As a college student, you will have lots of option to where you can study abroad.
    • Note that some locations are more expensive than others.
  2. It’s important to plan early! You want to measure out the length of your program and the time before you are going there. It will give you a timeline of how much you can save up for your total trip and how much you pay spend over there. So get ready to work & save like a pro!
    • Always transfer the amount you need to save when you are paid!
    • Exclude miscellaneous spending if possible; like on small things such as buying a cup of coffee, limiting the amount of money you spend when you go out, etc.
  3. Work on your essay writing skills! If you want scholarships, most of them will require you to write some sort of essay whether it is a personal, academic, or question essay. The point is to answer the prompt while letting them know you more personally and your goals for study abroad. Never forget to check the basics:
    • Is there a word count limit or required minimum of words?
    • Have you check your grammar?
    • Do you understand the words you are using? It’s better to use words that you know than to use big words that you don’t understand.
    • Did you answer the question(s)?
    • Ask someone else to proofread your essay if you are unsure
  4. Does it require references/recommendation letters? You may need references or recommend letters from teachers/co-workers depending on the type of program/scholarship you are applying for. So make sure you double check the deadline and try to obtain them ahead of time.
  5. Research for local & national scholarships! There are tons of scholarships available out there, but they won’t come to you unless you find them and apply for it! Some will require more or less work depending on the amount of aid it offers. Expect that there will be competition for scholarships since you are not the only student who wants to study abroad. Try to apply to as many scholarships that you qualify for. Overall, it is better to apply than not apply at all!
    • Check scholarships that are offered through your school, state, and within the U.S.
    • Use online scholarship database to  help you find scholarships!
  6. Look out for your deadlines! This applies to your scholarships and program dates. It is important to turn in things on time, especially if you want to secure your place! If you are unable to meet deadlines, than you would lessen your chance of obtaining a place in a study abroad program or possibly getting a scholarship.
  7. Here are some linked web & resources you can use:
    • The two most well known study abroad company are, CIEE & IES; they offer a variety of study abroad programs for high school and college students. It is not limited to these two as there are other options as well and it depends on what you are looking for (internship, volunteer, & employment). Others include AIFS, CEA, & more!
    • Go to “goabroad” to search their database on study abroad for high school & college!
    • You can always try to find reviews on the program that you’re interested in to help determine which program may work with you.