Social Sites These Days

I have more than six hundred friends, yet I am lonely. 

I speak to all of them everyday, yet none of them really know me. 

The problem I have sits in the spaces between looking into their eyes 

or at a name on a screen. I took a step back and opened my eyes, 

I looked around to realize the media we call social is anything but. 

When we open our computers, and it's our doors we shut. 

All this technology we have it's just an illusion. 

Community companionship a sense of inclusion yet, 

when you step away from this device of delusion, you awaken to see a world of confusion. 

A world where we're slaves to the technology we mastered,

where information gets sold by some rich greedy bastard. 

A world of self interest, self image, self promotion. 

Where we all share our best bits, but, leave out the emotion. 

Were at 'almost happy' with an experience we share, 

but is it the same if no one is there? 

Be there for your friends and they'll be there too, 

but no one will be if a group message will do. 

We edit and exaggerate, crave adulation. 

We pretend not to notice the social isolation. 

We put our words into order and turn our lives a-glistening. 

We don't even know if anyone is listening! 

Being alone isn't a problem let me just emphasize; 

if you read a book, paint a picture, or do some exercise. 

You're being productive and present not reserved and recluse. 

You're being awake and attentive and putting your time to good use. 

So when you're in public, and you start to feel alone. 

Put your hands behind your head, step away from the phone! 

You don't need to stare at the menu, or a your contact list. 

Just talk to one another, learn to coexist. 

I can't stand to hear the silence of a busy commuter train 

when no one want's to talk for the fear of looking insane. 

We're becoming unsocial, it no longer satisfies...

to engage with one another, and look into someone's eyes.

We're surrounded by children, who since they were born, 

have watched us living like robots, who now think it's the norm. 

It's not very likely you'll make worlds greatest dad, 

if you can't entertain a child without using an iPad. 

When I was a child, i'd never be home. 

Be out with my friends on our bikes we'd roam. 

I'd wear holes on my trainers, and graze up my knees. 

We'd build our own clubhouse, high up in the trees. 

Now the parks so quiet, it gives me a chill. 

See no children outside and the swings hanging still. 

Theres no skipping, no hopscotch, no church and no steeple. 

We're a generation of idiots, smart phones and dumb people. 

So look up from your phone, shut down display. 

Take in your surroundings, make the most of today.

Just one real connection is all it can take, 

to show you the difference that being there can make. 

Be there in the moment, when she gives you the look, 

that you remember forever as 'when love overtook‘. 

The time she first held your hand, or first kissed your lips, 

the time you first disagreed and you still love her to bits. 

The time you don't have to tell hundreds of what you've just done. 

Because you want to share this moment with just this one. 

The time you sell you sell your computer, so you can buy a ring, 

for the girl of your dreams, who is now the real thing. 

The time you want to start a family, and the moment when, 

you first hold your little girl, and get to love again. 

The time she keeps you up at night, and all you want is rest. 

And the time you wipe away the tears as your baby flees the nest. 

The time your baby girl returns, with a boy for you to hold, 

and the time he calls you granddad and makes you feel real old. 

The time you've taken all you've made, just by giving life attention. 

And how you're glad you didn't waste it, by looking down at some invention. 

The time you hold your wife's hand, sit down beside her bed, 

you tell her that you love her and lay a kiss upon her head. 

She then whispers to you quietly as her heart gives a final beat, 

that she's lucky she got stopped by that lost boy in the street. 

But none of these times ever happened, you never had any of this. 

When you're too busy looking down, you don't see the chances you miss. 

So look up from your phone, shut down those displays, 

we have a final act existence a set number of days. 

Don't waste your life getting caught in the net, 

because when the end comes there's nothing worse than regret. 

I'm guilty too of being part of this machine, 

this digital world, we are hear but not seen. 

Where we type as we talk, and we read as we chat. 

Where we spend hours together without making eye-contact. 

So don't give into a life where you follow the hype. 

GIve people your love, don't give them your 'like‘. 

Disconnect from the need to be heard and defined, 

go out into the world leave instructions behind. 

Look up from your phone. Shut down that display. 

Stop reading this poem. Live life the real way.

Seven Habbits of a good medical Students

Habit 1: Learn how you learn. Then just do it.

Medical school can be a bit of a shock. We all know it will be hard, requiring long hours, but the sheer enormity of knowledge we need to master (or at least make a passing acquaintance with) can be overwhelming. You will need to figure out how you learn best, and most efficiently. Is it taking copious notes in class? Drawing pictures of dissections? Re-listening to lectures on your iPhone while out for a run? I was a solitary studier all through college, poring over all the required reading and taking notes. I tried to continue this pattern in medical school. This worked fine during the first term, which was largely a review of basic science principles I knew well already. However, after getting my results back on the first anatomy exam at the start of our second term, I realized something had to change. My response was to join a study group. While I might have avoided my areas of weakness when studying alone, in a group, we’d be sure to go over all those annoying branches of the brachial plexus. This is a habit that will help you beyond medical school. The field of medicine is one of life-long learning. We will constantly need to update our knowledge of our field by reading journals, attending conferences, and discussing interesting cases with our colleagues. 

Habit 2: Look beyond your books. 

You may feel like you need to study 24/7, but if you never leave the library, you will miss out on a lot your medical school has to offer. Join clubs, get involved with student government, sign up for a committee. Not only will you contribute to the culture of your medical school and help make it a more enriching place for other medical students, you never know what connections you might make. One of my peers who joined the student government found herself rubbing shoulders with many faculty, including department chairs. When she decided she was interested in radiology, she was able to set up a time to have an informal chat with the department chairman, as she already knew him. By being involved, you will be learning how to network and establish connections that will serve you throughout your career.

 Habit 3: Give back. 

We all spent time in our pre-med years scurrying amongst volunteer experiences in an attempt to become a better applicant, er, and to give back to the community, of course. Don’t stop with that acceptance letter. Medical school provides lots of opportunities; you have a chance to contribute to the community, make connections, develop new skills and, yes, they can go on your residency application. I served as a co-director of our student-run free clinic. It not only gave me a chance to work on my leadership skills, but also helped me discover that I enjoy the administrative aspect of medicine as well, something that impacted my career decisions.

Habit 4: Be adventurous, both professionally and personally – you never know where it may lead you.

 What you may not realize at the beginning of medical school is how quickly the time goes by and how soon you will need to be making decisions about your specialty. Early exploration can be invaluable in helping you make your decision. The summer between first and second year, another of my colleagues had the opportunity to do a research project with the ophthalmology department. Although it wasn’t a specialty she was particularly familiar with, she liked the people she was working with and threw herself into the project. She found her passion and is now starting her ophthalmology residency. Many medical schools offer opportunities to go abroad. Even (especially!) if you’re not an international traveler, these can be great experiences, exposing you to other medical cultures. 

Habit 5: Recognize your own strengths (and weaknesses). 

To get into medical school, you’ve likely been at the top of your class most of your life. The thing about medical school is that all of your classmates have as well. And, when grades come out, not everyone can be at the top of the class. For me, this moment was rather sobering – and demoralizing. Allow yourself not to be really good at everything. Work on your weaknesses so they don’t become your Achilles’ heel, but don’t dwell on them. Instead, feed your strengths. Nowhere in my Dean’s letter does it say, “And she is not so great at anatomy.” 

Habit 6: Establish a circle of mentors. 

Some schools have formal mentoring programs, connecting students with faculty or senior medical students with junior medical students. Take advantage of these. If your school doesn’t have one (and even if it does), be on the lookout for others who may serve this role – you’ll meet many if you follow Habit 2. For me, my mentors come from various backgrounds and fields – a radiologist, a pediatrician, a psychiatrist, a bench scientist and a number of more senior medical students, to name a few. Other medical students can provide invaluable advice on issues they recently dealt with, ranging from how to study for boards (“Make a schedule!”) or how to survive surgery (“Always eat breakfast!”). Faculty mentors help to provide perspective; they’ve seen many students go through the ups and downs of medical school and can give a broader view, or at least assure you that how you’re feeling is not unique. That time back in first year when I did poorly on my first anatomy exam? It was one of my faculty mentors who encouraged me to join a study group. Now, sorting through residency programs, my mentors have helped me weigh my options and look at my priorities.

 Habit 7: Take time for you. 

You are more than medical school – you were before and you will be after. Take time to nurture your relationships, with friends, family and significant others. You may feel all that you are up for after a week of courses is studying in your pajamas interspersed with watching cat videos online, but take a real break and go grab coffee with friends. Take care of yourself. Go to the gym, cook a real meal on occasion, take a walk. Your life should not go completely on hold while you are in medical school. Finding that balance is critical for your career. A friend who graduated last year was weighing his options for residency, including going to his “dream” institution. In the end, though, he realized he would be happier going to another institution that would keep him close to his family and friends. Now, as he slogs through intern year, he is buoyed by his support system. Give yourself the chance to flourish and your career will as well.

जब म मरेँ

एक्कासी एकदम आनन्द आयो। फेरि मलाई निकै गाह्रो पनि त भएको थियो। मेरो कानले सुन्न त सक्थ्यो तर मुखले सुनेको कुरा फर्काउन सकिरहेको थिएन। मेरो अगाडि आउने मान्छे मलाई चिनिस् भनेर सोध्थ्यो तर खै को रहेछ ठम्याउनै सक्थिएन। 

एक त बुढो भएको शरीर, त्यसमाथि धेरै रोग। तर आज अचानक सबै दु:खाइ सकियो। अनि फेरि मैले आफू लडेर सुतेको आफैँले देखेको छु। न त मैले देखेको 'म' ले सास फेरेको थियो, न कुनै हलचल। एकछिनपछि छोरी आई र बाबा भनेर रुन लागी। श्रीमती चिच्चाएर डाँको छोड्दै कराउँदै "मलाई एक्लै छोडेर किन जानु भयो लैजानुस् सँगै .......... " भनेर रुन लागी। 

बिस्तारै रुवाबासीको तान्डव नै हुन लाग्यो। फेरि कोइ भन्थे, "बिचरा दु:ख पाएको थियो गएर ठिकै भयो।" । यस्तैबीचमा कोइले हरियो बाँस ल्याएछ अनि मलाई सेतो कपडाले बेर्न लागेका रहिछन् कोइ। रुवाबासीको पनि चर्कोचर्को आवाज आएको थियो। मैले हेर्दाहेर्दै मलाई कपडाले बेरेर बाँसमा राख्न लागे छरछिमेकीहरु र आफन्तहरु। 

"लासलाई छिटोछिटो सेलाउन पर्छ" भनेर एकजना बुढाले भन्दा पो म झसंग भ। हिजोसम्मको जीवित म आज लास पो भएको रहेछु भनेर।

फेरि पोको पारेको मलाई बाँसमा राखेर बाँध्न लागे सबै जना मिलेर, बिस्तारै आफन्तहरु आउँदै थिए। अनि कोइ चाहिँ बिचरा एकदम असल मान्छे थिए, गए भन्थे भने कोही चाहिँ के गर्नु चलिआको चलन भन्थे। कोइ चाहिँ मसँग अलि दिनअगाडि गरेको झगडा र कल सम्झेर पछुताउँदै थिए। सबै जम्मा भइसकेपछि मलाई राखेको बाँससँगै मलाई पनि बोकेर हिंड्ने तर्खर गरे। अगाडि एक जना लाभा फाल्दै राम राम भन्थ्यो र पछाडिकाहरु सत्य हो भन्दै शंख फुक्दै थिए।

एकछिनमा घाट पुगे तिनीहरु। म पनि पछि पछि थिएँ। यो घाटमा थाहा छैन म कतिको मलामी आएको थिएँ पहिला। तर आज मेरो आफ्नै मलामीसँग मेरै लास जलाउन आएको छु। तल खोलाको छेउमा कसैले पहिल्यै आएर दाउराको चाङ लगाएको थियो। अनि खोलामा मेरो खुट्टा छ्वाएर छेऊमा सानो आगो बाले। एक जना मेरै घर छेउका बुढाले "सबै सामान तयार छ?" भनेपछि सबे मलामी मिलेर पोकाहरु हेरे। "ठिक छ" भन्ने उत्तर आयो। 

"ल अब लासलाई चितामा राखौं" भन्ने कोहीको आवाज आयो। सबै मिलेर मेरो शरीरलाई चितामा राखे। पण्डित बाले छोरालाई "ल आउ बाबु आगो देऊ! के गर्छो त बा चलेको चलन!! यस्तै हो संसारको नियम जन्मेपछि मर्नै पर्ने" भनेर हातमा आगोको मसाल दिए। अनि फेरि भने "ल तीन फन्का गुमेर आगो देऊ।"

हुन त पहिला मैले आफै कति छोराहरुलाई यसरी नै संझाएको थिए मलामी आको बेला। तर आज मैरो आफ्नै चिता जल्दैछ। म आफैँ रमिते भएको छु मेरो समसानको। म आफैँ एउटा साक्षी बनेको छु मेरो मृत्युको। हिजोसम्म दुनियाँ हिँड्ने मेरा खुट्टा, बाँच्न‍लाई श्रम गर्ने हात, खाने मुख, दुनियाँ देख्ने आँखा, समग्रमा पुरै शरीर सबै तयारी अबस्थामा थिए। जल्नका लागि तयार थिए। 

त्यसको लगतै छोराले मसाल लिएर चितामा तीन फन्को मार्यो। अनि बिस्तारै मेरो मुख्मा राखिदियो बलिरहेको मसाल। हिजोसम्म तातो चियाले समेत पोल्ने मुख आज आगोले बाल्दा पनि केही भएन। चिताको आगो बल्दै गयो म रमिता हेर्दै गएँ। हेर्दाहेर्दै आगोको लफ्टा पुरै चितामा पुग्यो।

 म हेर्दै थिएँ मेरो हात पहिला खरानी भयो। अनि खुट्टा। वास्तवमा धैरै पीडा भएको थियो मलाई आफू जलेको हेर्न। त्यो आगोले मलाई जलाउँदै त थियो तर त्यसको जलनभन्दा पनि आफू जिवित हुँदाको कुराहरुले मलाई पोलिरहेको थियो। "छोरा -छोरी, स्वास्नी, दाइ, भाइ, परिवार, साथीसंगी, को नै रहेछ त आफ्नो भन्नु! जिन्दगी हुनेबेला सम्म सबै आफ्नै हो भन्ने लाग्थ्यो! तर आज आफू पनि ता आफ्नो रहिनछु। आज आएर आफू जलेको नाटकको दर्शकबाहेक म अरु के नै हुन सकेँ त?" 

 "बाँचुन्जेल पैसाको नाममा, सम्पत्तिको नाममा,  मान , पद,.... आदि इत्यादिको नाममा कतिसँग झगडा गरेँ होला। आखिरमा आफैँले जन्म दिएको छोराको हातले जल्नु बाहेक अरु के नै रहेछ त मान्छेको जुनी?"

 तर आज आएर यो सबै सोच्दा र पश्चाताप गर्दा म मरिसकेको छु। लास बनिसकेको छु। चिता बनेर जलिरहेको छु।

 म यता सोच्न थाले उता मेरो शरीर त सकिसकेको रहेछ। कोहिले ठूलो बाँसले मेरो बचेको शरीरलाई पिट्दै थियो। हुन न अब कहाँ त्यो शरिर थियो र मासुको डल्लो मात्र थियो। त्यहि पनि उल्टाइपल्टाइ पिट्दै थिए। कोही मलामी भने फर्कने तर्खरमा थिए। कोही भने "अब भोक लाग्यो केही खानु पर्छ" भन्दै थिए। 

"लौ ! अब बचेको सानो टुक्रो मलाई एउटा अङ्खरामा रखेर पानीमा बगाईदिए!" अनि मलाई लाग्यो  "म सकिएँ। मेरो अस्तित्वबाट नामनिशान सबै हरायो। बिस्तारै साथीले भुल्छन मलाई। अनि आफन्तले। समयसँगै छोराछोरीले। तर पनि एक जनाको मलाई मरेपछि पनि माया लाग्दै छ। हो मेरो पत्नीको सायद सेतो कपडा र खालि सिन्दुर अनि खालि हातले गर्दा ऊ मलाई आफू चितामा मजस्तै सकिने बेलासम्म पनि सम्झिरहन्छिन्। 

सबै मलामी त फर्किए मलाई बिदा गरेर तर म अब कता जाउँ! न यमदूत आयो मलाई लिन, न त म उडेर बैतरणी नदी पुगेको छु!! मैले जिन्दगीभर बनाएको स्वर्ग या नर्क , खै कहाँ छन्? आज थाहा भो मलाई।" स्वर्ग, नर्क, पाप,  धर्म, अनि भगवान र मन्दिर यो सब मान्छेको डरले बनेको कुरा रहेछ। तर अब थाहा पाएर के गर्नु म त मरिसकेको छु। 

I walked and my Life danced

This beauty and this complexion 
This walk and this tenderness, 
how's this apocalypse.
now who can say what...it's too good to say anything.

When I walked, the life danced, 
when I moved, light woke up, 
there is a new weather and new winds, 
I am new and my styles are new.

The clouds of your hair, 
your playful eyes, 
how are these troubles, 
what to say now ?? 

The world has changed, why shouldn't my style change. 
Everything has changed. 
When the new song has echoed, why shouldn't the (musical) instruments change.
Even my notes are new.
My paths are like all new, 
my journey is new. 
My wishes are new, 
my sight is new too.

Your eyes are unique, 
like cups of alcohol, 
even on trying the heart is not in control, 
what to say now ??

My heart wants me to make a garland of stars, 
and the moon be like a (little) lamp without me, 
all the waves of sea, I would decorate on my scarf 
don't know why this heart wishes so. 
Someone may think of me as mad, 
but I don't care.
I learnt only this much, 
what my heart has been looking for ?? 

What colors you have brought, 
what a wave you have brought, 
what a zeal you have brought.. 
what to say now ??

Get back to Track if you're losing Focus

1- I'm Losing Focus Because I'm Bored

The Problem: The junk you have to learn for school is horribly, exhaustingly boring. It's numbing your mind. Your brain is wallowing in a thick cloud of "Who cares?" and "Why bother?" so focusing on the subject is getting more and more impossible with every passing second. In fact, right now, you'd rather throw yourself from the second story instead of having to read one more tidbit about this boring, useless subject.

The Solution: Reward yourself with something you do like after a successful study session. First, define your success. Set a study goal like this: "I need to learn 25 different facts from this chapter/10 strategies for the ACT/15 new vocabulary words (etc.) during the next hour." Then, set your reward: "If I do it, I can download six new songs/listen to a podcast/watch a movie/shoot some hoops/go for a run/buy a new bag (etc.)." You may be the only person monitoring your progress, but if you give yourself a reward for good behavior, just like your elementary teacher used to do, you'll be more likely to offset the boredom by anticipating something fun.

2- I'm Losing Focus Because I'm Wired

The Problem: You want to run. You don't want to sit inside. Your legs are bouncing, your fingers are snapping, you can barely keep your behind in your seat. You're a kinesthetic learner: all you want to do is M.O.V.E, and you're losing focus because of all those ants in your pants.

The Solution: If you can think ahead, then get it all out of your system before you ever pick up a book. Go for a long run, hit the gym, or take a swim before your study session begins. If you didn't plan ahead – you're already studying and are getting antsy – then do pushups or crunches in between questions. Better yet, see if you can get someone to ask you questions while you shoot hoops. You'll get to activate your muscles, and your brain will get to work, too. Even better – record your notes and download the recording to your iPod. The next time you clip in for a bike ride, study while you're on the trails. No one said sitting down for a study session had to involve a desk!

3- I'm Losing Focus Because I'm Tired

The Problem: The only thing on your mind right now is sleep. You're imagining that cozy pillow underneath your head and the quilt tucked just right under your chin. You've worked all week; you want nothing more to do with studying. You need rest, and your drooping eyelids are keeping you from steady focus.

The Solution: You have a few options here, none of which revolve around No-Doze. First, you could go take a nap. Literally. Sometimes a 20-minute power nap can be all the motivation you need to zap a little life back into your system. If you're in the library and can't imagine putting your head on the table to snooze, then get up, peel off your sweatshirt, and go for a brisk, 10-minute walk somewhere cool. Exercising may tire your muscles a bit, but it will rev up your mind, which is why you're not supposed to exercise too close to bedtime. Finally, if you're still struggling to stay awake, then call it quits and hit the sack early that night. You're not doing yourself any favors by attempting to study when your body is telling you to rest. You won't remember half of what you study anyway, so it would be better to get up a few hours early the next day to study after you've slept a full night.

4-I'm Losing Focus Because I'm Busy

The Problem: You're balancing about eighty-nine different things in your life right now. There's work, family, friends, classes, bills, volunteering, clubs, meetings, laundry, exercise, groceries and the list keeps going until you feel ready to explode. You're not just busy; you're overwhelmed. You're drowning in everything that needs to be done, so studying is difficult because you keep thinking about the sixteen other things you should be doing right this second.

The Solution: It can be difficult to add yet another item to your pile, but the best way to manage studying in the midst of chaos is to take a half hour and set a study schedule for the week. When busy people have to choose between studying and let's say, grocery shopping or going to work, studying will always get pushed back unless you've made enough time for each during the week. Print a time management chart to get started!

5- I'm Losing Focus Because I'm Distracted

The Problem: You keep getting Facebook alerts on your phone. Your friends are laughing across the room. The guy at the next table is slurping his latte loudly. You hear every cough, every whisper, every laugh, every conversation. Or, maybe you are your OWN distraction. You can't stop thinking about problems, worrying about relationships and dwelling on unrelated ideas. You're sidetracked by everything, so studying is just too difficult.

The Solution: If you're the type of person who gets distracted by noise from the environment around you – external study distractors – then you have to isolate yourself during study time. Only study in a quiet place like the back corner of the library or your room if no one is home or plug into some white noise on your iPod.

Stay Organized in Medical School

Going well in medical school requires being organized but flexible, as well as having a strong support system. Staying organized is important in med school because you’ll be called upon to learn more information in a shorter time than you would’ve imagined is possible.

The learning curve for being a medical student is steep and often requires on-the-job training; however, you can do some things to help start off strong and lay a solid foundation for the rest of your education.

Students who got by with a fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants approach to academics as undergraduates may find themselves overwhelmed by the more intense demands of medical school. The number, difficulty, and pace of the courses you take as a med student are much greater than what you’ve likely encountered previously in your academic career.

Cramming simply doesn’t work when you’re juggling anatomy, biochemistry, introduction to clinical medicine, and a couple of other classes, for example, as well as possibly spending days with a physician preceptor in her practice and doing other required activities. Keeping up with the course load in med school requires that you prioritize and stay organized.

These tips can help you approach your academic responsibilities effectively:

• Make a study schedule. Having a plan helps you allocate your time realistically and feel less stressed about getting everything done. At first, your schedule creates a very general guideline to follow, but within a couple of weeks, you know which classes require a greater investment of time and can fine-tune your plan accordingly.
  
• Find out from second-year students which textbooks you really need. Frequently, the number of textbooks required and recommended for a course is greater than what you actually have time to read. Ask your peers who are farther along what materials are most important and then focus on those.
  
  This strategy also saves you money if you end up not buying every book listed in the syllabus. You can usually access textbooks in the library, so if you just need to use a particular one occasionally, you don’t necessarily have to purchase it.
  
• Don’t fall behind. The pace that classes move at is so rapid that catching up if you get even a few days behind can be difficult. You’re also likely to absorb the information better if you do some studying almost every day rather than taking multiple days off and then do a study marathon to catch up.
  
• Develop a system to keep track of class materials. Even in the age of electronics, you quickly accumulate papers of all types for your courses.
  
  For example, some students prefer to take handwritten notes because the act of writing helps them to retain information or because writing causes less eyestrain than using a laptop in class. Along with such notes, you may have printed handouts, copies of slides, and various other printed materials for your classes.
  
  File everything in binders or folders immediately so that you don’t have to waste time searching for something when you need it. Do the same for electronic information related to courses by creating (and using) a folder for each class on your computer. Even a few minutes saved each day adds up and may give you an extra hour of precious leisure time by the end of the week.

You may find that the study system you used in college doesn’t translate to medical school. Be prepared for some trial and error as you find the best way to approach your classes, and be open to adapting your approach instead of being stuck doing things a certain way because that worked for you as an undergraduate. Medical school is a whole new game!

You and Me :)

Roads, Cascade and River may change their Trail,
The Radiance of Lamps may change
May my Life initiate a new tune
Raindrops may hum a different Note
Seasons will change their Style
But, I will remain forever in your Embrace,
like I always have been...
Each moment each second.

10 Highly Effective Study Habits

Students grapple with many issues in their lives, and because of all of the competing things for your attention, it’s hard to concentrate on studying. And yet if you’re in school, you have to do at least a little studying in order to progress from year to year. The key to effective studying isn’t cramming or studying longer, but studying smarter. You can begin studying smarter with these ten proven and effective study habits.

1. How you approach studying matters

Too many people look at studying as a necessary task, not an enjoyment or opportunity to learn. That’s fine, but researchers have found that how you approach something matters almost as much as what you do. Being in the right mindset is important in order to study smarter.

Sometimes you can’t “force” yourself to be in the right mindset, and it is during such times you should simply avoid studying. If you’re distracted by a relationship issue, an upcoming game, or finishing an important project, then studying is just going to be an exercise in frustration. Come back to it when you’re not focused (or obsessed!) by something else going on in your life.

Way to help improve your study mindset:

• Aim to think positively when you study, and remind yourself of your skills and abilities.
• Avoid catastrophic thinking. Instead of thinking, “I’m a mess, I’ll never have enough time to study for this exam,” look at it like, “I may be a little late to study as much as I’d like, but since I’m doing it now, I’ll get most of it done.”
• Avoid absolute thinking. Instead of thinking “I always mess things up,” the more objective view is, “I didn’t do so well that time, what can I do to improve?”
• Avoid comparing yourself with others, because you usually just end up feeling bad about yourself.

2. Where you study is important

A lot of people make the mistake of studying in a place that really isn’t conducive to concentrating. A place with a lot of distractions makes for a poor study area. If you try and study in your dorm room, for instance, you may find the computer, TV, or a roommate more interesting than the reading material you’re trying to digest.

The library, a nook in a student lounge or study hall, or a quiet coffee house are good places to check out. Make sure to choose the quiet areas in these places, not the loud, central gathering areas. Investigate multiple places on-campus and off-campus, don’t just pick the first one your find as “good enough” for your needs and habits. Finding an ideal study place is important, because it’s one you can reliably count on for the next few years.

3. Bring everything you need, nothing you don’t

Unfortunately, when you find an ideal place to study, sometimes people bring things they don’t need. For instance, while it may seem ideal to type notes into a computer to refer back to later, computers are a powerful distraction for many people because they can do so many different things. Playing games, going online, IM’ing, surfing the Web, and answering emails are all wonderful distractions that have nothing to do with studying. So ask yourself whether you really need a computer to take notes, or whether you can make do with the old-fashioned paper and pen or pencil.

Don’t forget the things you need to study for the class, exam or paper you’re focusing on for the study session. Nothing is more time-consuming and wasteful than having to run back and forth regularly because you forget an important book, paper, or some other resource you need to be successful. If you study best with your favorite music playing, make sure your iPod is with you.

4. Outline and rewrite your notes

Most people find that keeping to a standard outline format helps them boil information down to its most basic components. People find that connecting similar concepts together makes it easier to remember when the exam comes around. The important thing to remember in writing outlines is that an outline only words as a learning tool when it is in your own words and structure. Every person is unique in how they put similar information together (called “chunking” by cognitive psychologists). So while you’re welcomed to copy other people’s notes or outlines, make sure you translate those notes and outlines into your own words and concepts. Failing to do this is what often causes many students to stumble in remembering important items.

It may also be helpful to use as many senses as possible when studying, because information is retained more readily in people when other senses are involved. That’s why writing notes works in the first place – it puts information into words and terms you understand. Mouthing the words out loud while you copy the notes before an important exam can be one method for involving yet another sense.

5. Use memory games (mnemonic devices)

Memory games are methods for remembering pieces of information using a simple association of common words. Most often people string together words to form a nonsense sentence that is easy to remember. The first letter of each word can then be used to stand for something else – the piece of information you’re trying to remember. The most common mnemonic device example is “Every Good Boy Deserves Fun.” Putting the first letters of every word together – EGBDF – gives a music student the five notes for treble clef.

The key to such memory devices is the new phrase or sentence you come up with has to be more memorable and easier to remember than the terms or information you’re trying to learn. These don’t work for everyone, so if they don’t work for you, don’t use them.

Mnemonic devices are helpful because you use more of your brain to remember visual and active images than you do to remember just a list of items. Using more of your brain means better memory.

6. Practice by yourself or with friends

The old age adage, practice makes perfect, is true. You can practice by yourself by testing yourself with either practice exams, past quizzes, or flash cards (depending what kind of course it is and what’s available). If a practice exam isn’t available, you can make one up for yourself and your classmates (or find someone who will). If a practice or old exam from a course is available, use it as a guide – do not study to the practice or old exam! (Too many students treat such exams as the real exams, only to be disappointed when the real exam has none of the same questions). Such exams help you understand the breadth of content and types of questions to expect, not the actual material to study for.

Some people enjoy reviewing their materials with a group of friends or classmates. Such groups work best when they’re kept small (4 or 5 others), with people of similar academic aptitude, and with people taking the same class. Different formats work for different groups. Some groups like to work through chapters together, quizzing one another as they go through it. Others like to compare class notes, and review materials that way, ensuring they haven’t missed any critical points. Such study groups can be helpful for many students, but not all.

7. Make a schedule you can stick to

Too many people treat studying as the thing to do when you get around to it or have some spare time. But if you schedule study time just as your class time is scheduled, you’ll find it becomes much less of a hassle in the long run. Instead of last-minute cramming sessions, you’ll be better prepared because you haven’t put off all the studying into one 12-hour marathon. Spending 30 or 60 minutes every day you have a class studying for that class before or after is a lot easier and will allow you to actually learn more of the material.

You should study regularly throughout the semester for as many classes as you can. Some people study every day, others put it off to once or twice a week. The frequency isn’t as important as actually studying on a regular basis. Even if you just crack open a book once a week for a class, it’s better than waiting until the first exam in a massive cram session.

Scheduling is even more important if you’re going to be a part of a study group. If only half of your members are committed to a study group for every meeting, then you need to find other study group members who are as committed as you are.

8. Take breaks (and rewards!)

Because so many people view studying as a chore or task, it’s human nature to avoid it. If, however, you find rewards to help reinforce what you’re doing, you may be pleasantly surprised by the change you may find in your attitude over time.

Rewards start by chunking study time into manageable components. Studying for 4 hours at a time with no breaks is not realistic or fun for most people. Studying for 1 hour, and then taking a 5 minute break and grabbing a snack is usually more sustainable and enjoyable. Divide study time into segments that make sense and work for you. If you have to digest a whole textbook chapter, find sections in the chapter and commit to reading and taking notes on one section at a time. Maybe you only do one section in a sitting, maybe you do two. Find the limits that seem to work for you.

If you succeed in your goals (such as doing two sections of a chapter in one sitting), give yourself a real reward. Perhaps it’s saying, “I’ll treat myself to some good dessert tonight at dinner,” or “I can buy a new tune online,” or “I can spend an extra 30 minutes gaming for every 2 sections of a book chapter I read.” The point is to find a reward that is small but real, and to stick to it. Some may view this as absurd, since you’re setting limits you can easily ignore. But by setting these limits on your behavior, you’re actually teaching yourself discipline, which will be a handy skill to have throughout life.

9. Keep healthy and balanced

It’s hard to live a balanced life while in school, I know. But the more balance you seek out in your life, the easier every component in your life becomes. If you spend all of your time focusing on a relationship or a game, you can see how easy it is to be out of balance. When you’re out of balance, the things you’re not focusing on – such as studying – become that much harder. Don’t spend all of your time studying – have friends, keep in touch with your family, and find interests outside of school that you can pursue and enjoy.

Finding balance isn’t really something that can be taught, it’s something that comes with experience and simply living. But you can work to try and keep your health and body balanced, by doing what you already know – exercise regularly and eat right. There are no shortcuts to health. Vitamins and herbs might help you in the short-term, but they’re not substitute for real, regular meals and a dose of exercise every now and again (walking to class is a start, but only if you’re spending an hour or two a day doing it).

Look at vitamins and herbs as they are intended – as supplements to your regular, healthy diet. Common herbs – such as ginkgo, ginseng, and gotu kola – may help you enhance mental abilities, including concentration, aptitude, behavior, alertness and even intelligence. But they may not, either, and you shouldn’t rely on them instead of studying regularly.

10. Know what the expectations are for the class

Different professors and teachers have different expectations from their students. While taking good notes and listening in class (and attending as many of the classes as you can) are good starts, you can do one better by spending some time with the instructor or professor’s assistant. Talking to the instructor early on – especially if you foresee a difficult course ahead – will help you understand the course requirements and the professor’s expectations. Maybe most students in the class are expected to get a “C” because the material is so difficult; knowing that ahead of time helps set your expectations, too.

Pay attention in class. If the instructor writes something on the whiteboard or displays it on the screen, it’s important. But if they say something, that’s important too. Copy these things down as they’re presented, but don’t zone out completely from what the instructor is also saying. Some students focus on the written materials without regard for what the instructor is saying. If you write down only one aspect of the professor’s instructions (e.g., just what they write down), you’re probably missing about half the class.

If you get a particularly bad grade on a paper or exam, talk to the instructor. Try and understand where things went wrong, and what you can do in the future to help reduce it from happening again.

Five Reasons to study Medicene

Medicine has long been a popular choice of study for bright and ambitious students, but why? There is a nearly limitless array of major choices in college education, but medicine continues to be a top choice all over the world. If you’re undecided about what to study in college, it is important to take time to think about what you want from your education. These 5 great reasons to study medicine may help you decide whether or not this is the field for you.

Promising Career Prospects

Careers in medicine can be both lucrative and exciting. Medical professionals are highly specialized individuals, and they are paid well for their skills and experience. In a time when college tuition rates are rising and financial aid is becoming scarcer, many students are looking for study options that will offer a return on their investments. Medicine is a constantly growing industry in which qualified individuals will always have a place. Of course, there are many lines of work that offer great career prospects, so why choose medicine?

Make a Difference in the World

Studying medicine in college offers you the chance to make a difference in the world after graduation. This is becoming an increasingly important part of the decision to study medicine for many young people. The world is full of pain and turmoil, but by studying medicine you can learn to help people all over the world live happier, healthier lives. You could easily make more money as a CEO or investor, but if you have the desire to help people directly, medicine will help you realize your dreams.

A Life of Endless Learning

When asked what they would do for the rest of their lives if money was no object, many young people say that they’d be lifelong students. The desire to learn is inherent in people like this, and if you want to spend your life continually learning, there is no better field than medicine. New treatments and advances in technology are constantly changing the face of modern medicine. Hundreds of years of progress in medicine offer a near endless library of lessons from the past. When you graduate and move into the medical industry, there will always be new things to learn.

Become a Respected Professional

Medical professionals garner a kind of respect in the world that others will never know. When you can meet new acquaintances and introduce yourself as a doctor, the confidence you feel in yourself and the respect you command from others combine to give one of the greatest feelings in the world. Medical professionals are some of the only people in the world who are universally admired and respected, and that could be you.

Freedom to Enter a Variety of Fields

When you study medicine in college, you are not simply training to be a doctor. There are numerous different fields to consider for your future, from research to general practice and everything in between. You may even looking into the best online degree programs in alternative medicine to pursue a less conventional path. You’ll never have to feel limited in your options, or pigeon-holed into one career choice. A solid background in medicine gives you the freedom to choose from many different paths through life.

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit!

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure has turned about,
When they might have won had they stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow!
Often the goal is nearer than It seems to a faint and faltering one,
Often the struggler has given up
When they might have captured the victor's cup.
And they learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close they were to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint to the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far.
So stick to the task when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem the worst, that you must not quit!

मरिसकेका सपनाहरु

मन भित्र मरिसकेका सपनाहरु
आज फेरी खोलेर हेरे
अस्ताइसकेकी घाम उनी फेरी उदाउछिनकी भनी
आज फेरी बोलेर हेरे।।

बुझाउन खोज्छु, मन बुझ्दैन किन?
भन्छु, भैंसी हरु अघाउदैनन कहिल्यै
तर, सम्झना बनेपछी मातहरु
ज्ञानीग्न्द्रिय हरु छैनन खुशी सधैं
के बिर्सन्थे र सँगै बिताएका रातहरु।।

थाहा छ, सपनाहरु यि हुँदै हैनन,
जहाँ मात्र छन झुटा साथहरु
नभए सत्य, किन आउथ्योर सम्झनाहरु?
जहाँ मनको गाठो खोल्ने छन तिनै सुनौला रातहरु।।

त्यही मन, सुरुमा भन्थ्यो
यस्तो साथ पाइदैन
त्यही मन बिचमा बिच्कियो
भन्यो, यस्तो साथ चहिदैन
अब फेरी यही मन भनिरहेछ
झुटा कसमहरु कथमकदाचित फेरी फेरी खाईदैन।।
मन एउटै हो मात्र उमेर बदलियो
मनलाई त बुझाउदै छु म,
तर ज्ञानीन्द्रियहरु मातिएका छन
यि झुटै भए पनि साथ चाहिएको छ
आखिर रमाईलैको लागि यो नाटकहरु भए
ठिकै छ यस्ता नौटन्कीहरु बजारभरी पाइेएकै छ।।

यसै भनी सारा सपनाहरु एक्-एक गरी फाल्दै छु म
फाटेको मन फाटोस, फाट्नु जती फाटिसक्यो,
यही पैसामा बिक्ने रङहरुले टाल्दैछु म,

त्यसैले,
मन भित्र मरिसकेका सपनाहरु
आज फेरी खोलेर हेरे
अस्ताइसकेकी घाम उनी फेरी उदाउछिनकी भनी
आज फेरी बोलेर हेरे।।

How to be Happy

Only true measure of personal success is happiness. It’s almost impossible to make others happy if you’re not happy yourself and making other people happy is the highest expression of success.
Keeping above mentioned facts in view, here are ten small changes that you can make to your daily routine that, if you’re like most people, will immediately increase the amount of happiness in your life:

1. Hope

Life, more often than not lives up to (or down to) your expectations. Therefore, when you get up from bed every morning, think about something positive first up and tell yourself: “something wonderful is going to happen today.” Guess what? You’re probably right.

2. Plan and Prioritize:

The most common cause of stress is a busy schedule filled with too much work to do.  Instead of being obsess about it, just pick one thing that, if you get it done today, will move you closer to your highest goal and purpose in life. Do that first and then pick the next one.

3. Give away gifts:

By giving away gifts I do not mean a formal, wrapped-up present. Your gift can be anything ranging from your smile, a word of thanks or encouragement, a gesture of politeness, even a friendly nod. And never pass beggars without leaving them something. Peace of mind is worth the spare change.

4. Avoid Conversations About Disputed Topics:

Debates about politics and religion never have a happy ending because they get people all riled up over things they can’t control. When such topics surface, bow out of discussion by saying something like: “Talking about that stuff makes my head hurt.”

5. Always Think Positive About People:

Because you can’t read minds, hence don’t assume about the “why” behind the “what” that people do. Attributing evil motives to other people’s weird behaviors adds extra misery to life, while assuming good intentions leaves you open to reconciliation.

6. Forgive:

Try to forgive all those who have offended you. It will cool down your mind and make your life easier.

7. Don’t Remain Preoccupied With The Thought Of Results:

Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but gets you no where, it originates from focusing on events that are outside our control and is the biggest enemy of happiness. Once you have executed your plan, there is nothing more that you can do. Focus on the job at hand rather than some weird fantasy of what might happen.

8. Eat Good Quality Food Slowly:

In our daily routine we are always running late by 5 minutes and we can’t avoid scarfing something quick to keep us up and running. But still, at least once a day try to eat something really delicious, like a small chunk of fine cheese or an imported chocolate. Focus on it; taste it; savor it.

9. Be Grateful:

Write down at least one wonderful thing that happened during the course of the day, before going to bed. It might be something as small as a making a child laugh or something as huge as a million dollar deal. Whatever it is, be grateful for that day because it will never come again.

In every Life we have Troubles but if you worry then we make it double. So don't Worry, be happy. :)