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Become a better reader by following these easy steps

As a reader, you’re always looking for ways to improve your skills.

Whether you want to read faster or retain more information, there are plenty of techniques you can use.

In this post, we will share some simple steps that will help you become a better reader. After reading this article, you will probably be able to start applying these strategies to your current reading habits.

Find your reason

So you want to become a better reader? That’s great! But before you can start improving your reading skills, it’s important to first ask yourself why you want to become a better reader. Knowing why you want to become a better reader is key because it will help you focus your efforts and stay motivated along the way.

Set a goal for yourself

Now that you understand your motivation behind reading, it’s time to set a goal for yourself. Do you want to read more books? Improve your comprehension skills? Be able to read faster? Whatever it is, make sure it’s something you want and that you’re willing to work for.

Then, come up with a plan of action. Maybe you will want to read one book every week, or perhaps you will need to set aside time each day to practice your reading skills. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as you stick to it.

Find books that interest you

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If you want to become a better reader, it’s important to find books that appeal to you. This will make it easier to concentrate and stay immersed in the story. It’s also a great way to improve your comprehension skills and vocabulary.

There are tons of different genres and styles to choose from, so take the time to find books that speak to you. If you’re not sure where to start, ask your friends or family for recommendations, or check out some of the bestseller lists online.

Get rid of unnecessary distractions

It can be tough to focus on reading when there are so many distractions around us. But if you want to become a better reader, it’s necessary to find ways to eliminate distractions and focus on the task at hand.

Here are a few tips for getting rid of distractions and improving your reading skills:

Remove any objects that might distract you
Close any doors that might allow outdoor noise in
Silent your phone, turn off your laptop, and other electronic devices
Make sure you’re seated in a comfortable position where you can focus
Prepare a glass of water and place it right beside you so you don’t have to get up while reading to take your sips

Be an active reader and take notes

When you’re reading, it’s important to take the time to actively process the information. This means asking yourself questions, making connections, and taking notes. Not only will this help you retain the information, but it will also make it easier to review later.

If you’re studying for an exam, try making a chart or diagram that outlines the main points of the text. This will help you see the big picture and understand how all of the individual pieces fit together. Alternatively, you can use sticky notes to mark important passages or underline keywords and phrases. This will allow you to revisit materials more quickly and effortlessly.

Taking time to read each day can be a challenge, but it’s worth it. So once you’ve put in the hard work, celebrate your progress. Reward yourself with something you enjoy, like a movie, a dinner out, or even just a few hours of guilt-free relaxation. The most essential thing is to keep moving forward and never give up. With a little dedication and perseverance, you will be on your way to becoming a better reader in no time!

How to see things from your kid’s point of view

As parents, there are a lot of things that we take for granted, and it’s often difficult to step back and see the world the way our kids do.

But it’s worth it – not just because we can gain a better understanding of our children, but also because it can help us become more patient with them.

In this post, we will give you some directions on how to see things from your kid’s point of view.

What is your kid’s point of view?

Kids have a unique understanding of the world that we may not be able to easily replicate as adults. So once you’ve started gaining a better look into how your children view their surroundings, let’s move on to the next step.

How to understand your kid’s point of view

Assuming that you’ve found out about your kid’s point of view, how do you go about understanding it? Well, put yourself in their shoes by asking them questions. Ask them how they’re feeling, what they desire, and what their thoughts are. Not only will this help you to better understand them, but it will also enable them to communicate better with you.

Bonus tips for seeing things from your kid’s point of view

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Here are a few bonus tips for seeing things from your kid’s point of view:

Respect their opinion. Even if you don’t agree with them, remember that they have the right to certain actions.
Ask them about their day. When you show any interest in what they did, they are more likely to share with you voluntarily next time.
Be patient. It takes time for kids to discover and understand the world around them. Just give them the span and space they need to figure things out.

The benefits of seeing things from your kid’s point of view

There are plenty of benefits to seeing things from your kid’s point of view. For starters, it can help you to better understand their world and how they comprehend tricky, seemingly “childish” situations. It can also help you to empathize with them and build a stronger relationship. But perhaps most significantly, trying to see things from your kid’s perspective can help you to become a more compassionate person. And that’s something we could all use more of in the parenting arena.

When it comes to understanding our kids, sometimes the most favorable way to do it is to see things from their standpoint. Kids have a dissimilar view of the world than we do, and it’s crucial to take the time to understand what that is. By trying to see things from their stance, we can learn more about them, and about “kiddy thoughts” in general. No doubt, it can be challenging to put ourselves in our kids’ shoes, but with a little effort, we can get there. And once we do, we will be able to ably comprehend and connect with our little ones.

Strategies to counter procrastination and get things done

We’ve all been there: staring at a daunting project, the deadline creeping closer, and all we want to do is put it off for another day.

Procrastination can be a real struggle, but it doesn’t have to control your life.

Allow us to share some strategies to help you counter procrastinate and get things done. So read on, and let’s put an end to procrastination once and for all!

Get rid of distractions

One of the best ways to counter procrastination is to get rid of distractions. If you can’t focus on your work because you’re constantly checking your phone or scrolling through social media, then it’s time to change your environment.

Try working in a quiet room where you won’t be disturbed, or put your phone on airplane mode so you can’t access it. If you’re struggling, you might even want to request working from home or somewhere you can tune in to “work mode” quickly.

Find an accountability partner

If you want to get things done, finding an accountability partner can be a terrific way to help you stay on track. This is someone who you can rely on to push you to reach your goals.

Ideally, your accountability partner should be more motivated than you are and who is willing to put in the extra work. They don’t have to be a friend or family member—in fact, it may be better if they’re not—but they do need to be someone that you trust and feel comfortable toiling with.

Set small and achievable goals

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Have you ever considered setting small and achievable goals? When you’re trying to do an immense task, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel like you can’t do it. But if you break the task down into smaller goals, it becomes a lot more manageable.

For example, if you have to write a report, don’t try to write the entire thing in one sitting. Instead, break it down into steps like writing the introduction, drafting the body, and penning the conclusion. And give yourself a specific deadline for each objective. This will help keep you accountable and make sure you don’t procrastinate on completing the task.

Understand your procrastination triggers

The first step in overcoming procrastination is understanding why you do it in the first place. What are the specific tasks, emotions, or situations that trigger your tendency to put things off? Once you know your catalysts, you can start to develop strategies to deal with them.

Some common triggers include boredom, perfectionism, and fear of failure. Once you’re aware of what sets you off, you can start to put into place some coping mechanisms to help you get past them. For example, if the fear of failure is your stimulus, try setting more miniature goals instead of aiming for perfection. Or if feeling a sudden load of pressure is your problem, break down large tasks into smaller chunks that are more manageable.

No one strategy will work for everyone when it comes to overcoming procrastination, but some general tips can help get you started. As mentioned earlier, you can try to identify the root of your procrastination. Is it perfectionism, a fear of defeat, or a lack of interest in the task at hand? Or you could set more undersized goals for yourself instead of trying to tackle the entire project all at once. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for assistance. Whether you reach out to a friend or colleague for advice or use a productivity app to keep yourself on track, there are plenty of resources available to help you get things done.

COVID-19 updates for those planning a trip to Taiwan, Japan, Canada, and South Korea

For those who have been keeping up with the news, it’s impossible not to know that COVID-19 is firing up again.

An even more recent mutant, BA.2.75, may be on the radar as Singapore battles its most recent round of COVID-19 infections brought on by the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants.

According to a virologist at Imperial College London, the subvariant BA.2.75 is worth monitoring because of its abundance in spike mutations, apparent quick development, and extensive geographic distribution.

But for those who are still hopeful that travel plans won’t be disrupted, keep reading for COVID-19 updates in Taiwan, Japan, Canada, and South Korea.

Taiwan

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Taiwan wants to end its two-year tourist ban, maybe by initially permitting both inbound and outbound group excursions at the same time. The director general of the tourism bureau stated that both incoming and outgoing tour preparations are in progress, involving the retraining of local guides and itinerary creators.

Japan

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On 21 July, Japan’s daily COVID-19 infections hit 180,000, breaking the previous day’s record. 31,878 coronavirus cases, a peak, were reported in Tokyo, surpassing 30,000 for the first time.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno stated during a news conference that movement restrictions should not be considered but that it is important to monitor the effects on the healthcare system carefully.

Some members of the COVID-19 advisory group for the health ministry have urged the government to take into consideration actions like declaring prefectures where an infection is spreading quickly as an emergency.

Canada

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For vaccinated visitors arriving in Canada by air, the four busiest Canadian airports—Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and Toronto—resumed obligatory random COVID-19 testing on 19 July.

Travelers will undergo COVID-19 tests outside of the airports, either through an in-person visit at a drugstore, testing vendor facility, or through an online appointment for a remote self-swab test.

Within 15 minutes of finishing their customs declaration, travelers will get an email notification if they have been chosen for required random testing. All necessary information needed to go through testing will be in that email too.

In addition, within 72 hours of their arrival in Canada, all visitors must utilize ArriveCAN to provide the necessary travel information, including their vaccination history.

South Korea

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Due to the emergence of a highly infectious Omicron subvariant, Korea’s new coronavirus cases remained above 70,000 for the third day in a row on 21 July. 71,170 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the nation, 320 of which were international.

All visitors entering South Korea as of 25 July must undergo a PCR test within 24 hours due to the government being obliged to strengthen its testing requirements due to rising caseloads around the country. Travelers currently have up to three days after arrival to complete the test.

On the Q-code website, travelers can record the results of their on-arrival PCR tests. A seven-day quarantine at a designated quarantine facility is necessary if the on-arrival test results are positive.

South Korea is increasing the number of test facilities at airports around the nation to simplify on-arrival testing. Incheon International Airport presently has three test facilities, while Gimhae International Airport has one. This month, a testing facility will open at Jeju International Airport.

Editor’s note: All information published at the time of writing is accurate.

Latest WFH internships posted from 18 to 22 July 2022

In the modern world, obtaining that crucial job opportunity no longer depends just on having a decent degree.

Nowadays, developing a successful career depends just as much on the relevant job experience as it does on your educational background and major examination scores. As a consequence, internships have emerged as a crucial tool for individuals looking to differentiate themselves.

If you’re searching for one, here are the latest WFH internships posted from 18 to 22 July 2022.

#1: Hill+Knowlton Strategies – People + Culture Intern

Website: https://www.hkstrategies.com/en/

Allowance / Remuneration: $1,000 – 1,650 monthly

Job Qualifications

Fresh graduates who have completed an education in Human Resources, Business Management, or equivalent.
Able to commit at least 4 to 6 months for an internship, with the possibility of conversion to Perm based on business requirements and individual performance.
Interest in the Marketing/ Advertising/ Communications industry.
Excellent written + verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
Solid computer literacy skills, including practical knowledge in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, Sharepoint, and PowerPoint.
A basic understanding and knowledge of Singapore’s employment regulations, industry trends, current practices, new developments, and employment law is a strong plus.
Meticulous and detail-oriented in handling sensitive employee information and administrative work.
Highly organized and able to work in an agile environment.
Great with problem-solving, creatively driven, and able to bring fresh perspectives to the table.
Most importantly, you are driven, and enthusiastic and thrive best in a highly collaborative and fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Operational HR admin support relating to the employee lifecycle – including recruitment, new hire onboarding/ offboarding, payroll administration support, employee welfare benefits, training and development, performance, and talent management.
Support talent acquisition efforts, including sourcing (direct, referrals, job boards, active search), screening, scheduling, and coordinating interviews with the hiring managers.
Support and execute new hire onboarding/induction and consistently deliver a positive candidate experience with timely follow-up and updates.
Support School Outreach programs by engaging with target polytechnics/ universities, student societies, and career centers.
Maintain internal employee database in an accurate and timely manner.
Partner with the Head of People + Culture to execute people initiatives that support the overall objectives of the Agency.
Organize internal training, meetings, and cultural events for the Agency.
Any other ad-hoc HR duties as assigned.