Dans Blog

Sometimes it’s best to take your time…

// February 3rd, 2010 // 8 Comments » // Advice, Life

Remember the last time you rushed something and the outcome didn’t turn out the way you expected? Sometimes we need to give ourselves some extra time to ensure we are satisfied. Do you remember a homework assignment that you wish you would have spent more time on? I sure do, but now I take my time on the things I do. I like to live a cool, calm lifestyle, which is ironic in this fast-paced world we live in. Just try it out. Do things slow. What’s the need to rush things? Chances are you’ll regret it later and wish you would have thought things through or spent more quality time…

Stuff I learned in Psychology can help you get what you want!

// January 30th, 2010 // No Comments » // Advice

The Foot in the Door Phenomenon

The Concept: If you’re wondering how to convince superiors, employees or customers to do what you ask, try using the foot in the door phenomenon. This refers to the tendency of people to do something huge if they have already agreed to something much smaller. Your friend should be much more open to helping you decorate your entire house for a dinner party if, for example, he already helped you pick out decorations.

How You Can Use It: Let say you’re trying sell something. If you can get a person to talk to you for a couple of minutes and have the person try your product, you’ve got their “foot in the door”. They are much more likely to buy from you than if you had just screamed a sales pitch at them.

The Door in the Face Phenomenon

The Concept: First you ask for something, crazy. Like a huge favor. When they turn you down, you then ask for what you really want, which now looks trivial in light of what you asked for a moment earlier.

How You Can Use It: It’s an easy way to get what you want. Here’s a scenario I used just this past week. I needed to find someone to cover my shift at work for a weekend. I asked someone if they can work for me for next week, I told them I could trade hours and everything. One week!? She kindly declined my request, but when I asked her if she can simply work for the weekend, she said she could!

There will always be somebody who’s better than you…

// October 14th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Advice, Life

so get used to it! Seriously, competition is what makes people work harder. People need motivation to get their ass moving, I am one of them. I’m a swimmer and I’ve been swimming since I had a brain. I’m pretty sure I was swimming in my mom’s womb and I hope I had a brain then. I couldn’t do flip turns or anything, but I was still technically swimming.

No matter how hard I practiced, there would always be somebody who swam faster than me.  Those kids may have been faster than me, but I could probably own them in Halo or COD4 or even help them with diving. They suck at diving, so we would be able to help each other out.

Make me feel tiny, if it makes you feel tall.

Throughout my life I noticed that there will always be someone who gets some crazy ego-high when they realize that they are bigger, taller, or smarter than you. However, they usually don’t realize that you are probably better than them at something else that they suck at.  It only takes time for the idiot to realize that before they walk away or try to be friends with you. Hopefully they realize that you can trade skills so both of you can benefit.  This happened to me a couple of times.

Don’t feel sad that someone is better than you because you are better than someone at something else too =D. Be proud that you realized you’re better at something than someone, but don’t be a douche. Use you’re skills to help people because they can help you as well. Everyone has different skill sets. If you’re good at math, I’m sure someone with a physical education major might need your help.  In addition, that (probably) athletic person may teach you a few tips or tricks about sports. I’m not being stereotypical, but it’s true. Not everyone is good at everything, but there will always be someone better than you and worse than you so be willing to help out! Don’t be a douche.

If my point isn’t clear yet, I’ll try and spell it out. People will always be w-o-r-s-e  than you are. So, be willing to help them out because  (almost in every case) they can  help  you out with something else as well. This reminds me of the t.v. show “Beauty and the Geek”.  The girls are very outgoing and social, but aren’t too smart or well-rounded about other parts about life, such as computers.  However, the geeks know computers and technology as if all humans should be preprogrammed to know how to operate them. They trade their knowledge with the girls on how to use computers and other concepts and in return the girls help them get woman. I would teach a girl how to blog anyday =D. Luckily, I don’t need help getting dates, at least I think so.  =D Not everyone is so lucky though….

Think about people in poverish such as in Africa. Those of us in America are (by chance) more fortunate than others around the world. So, if you’re not a douche, you should take time and help those who are worse than you. Assume they will do the same if you were inverted in their world. There is this site called FreeRice.com that will help feed those less fortunate, those who live in worse standards than us. Sometimes I am a believer of Karma, so if you do a good deed for somebody, expect one back sooner or later. It’s bound to happen! Is it karma or chance or coincidence? It doesn’t matter, keep in mind that there will always be someone who’s better than you or worse than you. Trade skills and expand your horizons =D.

It is your social responsibility to be cool to those “under” you. You would expect the same if you were in their shoes, right?

Please comment, it motivates me to blog more.  It lets me know that somebody is actually reading this stuff.

ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

// October 11th, 2009 // 6 Comments » // Advice, Life

I”ve been so damn sleep lately that I feel like once I actualy get into bed I won’t ever get out. I just wanna stay rest forever! Sleep and college don’t understand each other very well :X I hate going out on a friday night and having to work at 8am on Saturday. One word: suicide. But thanks to the effects of energy drinks I can stay awake for a few hours before crashing. I’ve done some research and found out how to get more rest, something that everyone needs!

Exercise! Studies show that exercising at least 2 hours before sleep will help you fall asleep easier. I think of it as “recharging your batteries”.  How can you recharge your body if you have not exhausted yourself or worn yourself out? It’s like…your cell phone. Would you charge your phone when it has 3 bars still? Probably not. So, exercise so you can fall asleep easier.  Also, don’t eat before bed. When you sleep your body metabolisms slows down and once again it will be hard to sleep on a full stomach.

A bed is is a bed and not your couch. It’s only meant for sleeping (and other stuff ;P). I know it may be hard in college due to the lack of space, but there are other places to do your homework than on top of your bed. Take that laptop somewhere else. It’s like…a dog (maybe bad example).  A dog would never go to the bathroom where he sleeps. His sleeping area is meant for just that. You shouldn’t do your homework, eat, read or do much of anything else on your bed besides sleeping (and other stuff, if you know what I mean :>). If you condition your body that bed is equal to sleep, then you shall be fine.

Don’t think just sleep. If you find yourself worrying before bed or while you’re trying to fall asleep then you need another alternative. Write things down and tell yourself you will get to it tomorrow.  Timing is important as well. You fall asleep if you have a final exam the next day that you didn’t study for. You will find yourself thinking and stressing out like it’s the end of the world.

When it’s time, it’s time to go to bed. From my personal experience I fall asleep the best when it’s at the same time after doing the same routine.  Just like animals, who are classically conditioned, humans need a set pattern as well. Do you walk your dog about the same time everyday?  I bet your dog expects. Do you feed your dog in the morning? I bet if you put an empty bowl at the same time you feed your dog, it will salivate.  It can’t help it. It’s body is conditioned. People should have a set pattern in their life as well. Do what you do before bed and then when it’s that time of the day, go to bed. I mentioned timing before, it’s important you make your deadline or else your body will be off wack.

Woah! Lol, After summer I was constantly tired and being in college didn’t help at all. It made things so much worse.  Going to bed whenever I wanted, staying out however long I wanted isn’t how life is during school. However, luckily, we can recondition our bodies to know what’s up.  I’m writing about this because it helped me so much. I no longer feel as tired as I used to.  My body knows when I sleep and I feel good when I wake up.

Know Your Rights!

// October 4th, 2009 // 4 Comments » // Advice

This is stuff you don’t learn in school so I would say this is pretty important to read.  As a citizen you have more rights than you think, even after the Patriot Act. Sometimes we get pulled over for by accident or simply because we were at the wrong spot at the wrong time.

1. Don’t speak more than you need to. You are only required to tell the officer your name only (and that’s not in all states)  if you are being arrested, ticketed, or driving. And you still don’t have to talk, you just show the cop your I.D. and that plastic card does all the talking for you! You are also not required to answer any of the police’s questions. Simply decline to answer. Grow a pair and say “I don’t want to answer this question.” The police will look at you suspiciously and might start to get a little upset. This is the most important part: don’t be rude and don’t start to get physical. This is where you can get charges against you. You cannot be punished for refusing to answer a questions. It’s as simple as that. It’s your constitutional right to remain silent.  Stay cool, calm, and collected. =D

2. Deny any searches or house entries! The cops have no right to do this. But  if this happens, simply say, in a voice loud enough for witnesses to hear, something like, “With all due respect, officer, I don’t consent to your entering my house/searching my car.” But, do not become belligerent or physically confrontational. Again this is where they can put charges against you. Now, from personal experience I’ve been asked by a cop to search my car, I said “No, I am running late. I need to be going soon.” He then asked “Why, do you have something to hide?” haha this is a trick pulled by cops all the time. It’s about psychology! They are trying to make you feel guilty to try and make you surrender to prove yourself. Don’t let this effect your concept of thinking! Say no, not without a warrant. I’ll make it clear, I did the research and the only way a cop can get into a house is a) they have a search or arrest warrant b) they have probable cause such as if a person is screaming inside the house or if there is a fire and c) if you let them in!  So don’t do it! Usually cops will approach the front door of a house they think might be having a party, a person will answer the door and the cops will say something along the lines of “Is everything ok? We want to come to make sure everything is safe. Is that alright?” Just say no! I do not give consent for you to enter. Or simply say “no thank you.” Close the door, make sure it is not open. They are allowed to come in if the door is open too.  Another thing I might add here is if you are caught by a cop on the sidewalk or outside your house. Another trick they like to use before they arrest you or even after, they ask if you are cold (if you need a sweater) or if you need anything inside your house. They will follow you and pause briefly outside and if you make no notice of them or do not stop them, they will assume they are invited to your house and then they are allowed to search it!

3. Don’t Run, Touch, Or Resist Last but not least, do not run away from the cops. Be smart. Running from the cops will just make things soooooo much worse. Resisting arrest is an automatic felony! Which means at least one year in a state jail minimum. =X Don’t touch the cop, they will say it’s assault instantly.

That’s all for now, but I may be updating this post. Please comment!