Lifestyle

Exercise, good hygiene, and healthy eating are proven ways to enjoy good health. But following such a path requires work, commitment, and sacrifice. What if there was a way to improve your health without having to work at it? That’s exactly what you will find here – 5 simple hacks to make your home contribute positively to your mental and physical health!

Let’s get started

1.       Choose Colours Carefully

After a hard day’s work, you should return to a home that makes you feel at peace. This is an important part of managing your work-life balance and can be achieved with something as simple as using the right paint colour in your home.

Different colours have different effects on behaviour. For a home that reduces your anxiety and eases stress, aim for a colour palette that promotes a feeling of relaxation and serenity. Bright and warm colours such as bright yellow, orange, or red are not good for this.

Muted and neutral shades such as blue, green, grey, and whites evoke a sense of calm. The release of stress hormones is harmful to your health, so it’s best to avoid anything that can lead to such in your home.

You can use bright colours as accents and mix your muted paint shades with softer shades of bright colours.

2.       Less harsh lighting

Natural light and artificial light affect the sleep cycle of individuals. For the sake of your health, use muted energy saving lights indoors, especially in the bedroom. Also, avoid using bright lights before you sleep. Dimmer switches give you more control over the level of lighting in your home.

Depending on natural light when it is available will help your circadian rhythms, boost your overall sense of wellbeing, and minimise the symptoms of depression.

3.       Nontoxic furniture

The foam used in furniture is most times treated with toxic substances which can prove injurious to your health. To protect yourself, switch out your furniture, especially your mattress for furniture that uses more natural materials. Natural latex mattresses and memory foam are highly recommended.

4.       Potted plants

Potted plants, especially leafy ones, add vibrancy to your interior and improve your quality of life. This is because green plants extract carbon dioxide and other elements from the air and replace them with clean oxygen. This is great for your body and mind.

5.       Minimise clutter

A cluttered apartment reflects your mind, and a cluttered mind is a stressed mind. So, de-clutter. Asides the psychological aspect, a cluttered apartment provides hiding places for pests that carry disease. It’s also impossible to keep a cluttered home clean.

Apply these hacks and you can look forward to a stress-free home that contributes to your mental and physical wellbeing.

Coming into 2018, there was a theory being spouted by big names in the gaming industry, such as Electronic Arts, that the single-player format was on its way out, with gaming transitioning to entirely multiplayer formats with future titles coming in the form of gaming as a service. The rise of the multiplayer titles based on the Battle Royale book helped their case.

But, as though they hadn’t seen the release schedule, 2018 fought back with an avalanche of almighty single-player titles, many of which came without a fleck of multiplayer but still sold incredibly well and earned bucket loads of critical acclaim. The likes of Monster Hunter World, God of War, Spider-Man, Red Dead Redemption on release, Forza Horizon 4, Octopath Traveler, Pokemon Let’s Go, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate are all very deep in, and focused on, single-player aspects and did incredibly well.

Last year was the year that the gaming industry proved that single-player games, story, and the art of making a top-class video game is still very popular in the current market, regardless of what trends and predictions may try to dictate. This year, the release schedule is filled with great games set to further cement this stance among gamers, with the following titles being among the very best.

Metro Exodus

Based on the novels by Dmitry Glukhovsky, the Metro series continues to go from strength to strength with the third part of the series, Metro Exodus, set to be the biggest and best of them all. The Metro games have always placed a strong emphasis on story and atmosphere, taking the form of linear shooters up until now. In Metro Exodus, players will give players more room to operate within the storyline, giving them open worlds to explore and complete tasks within in each mission.

Despite moving appearing to have moved away from its classic form of a claustrophobic horror-shooter type of game, the THQ Nordic release is still packed with all of the immersive elements that made it such a unique game in the somewhat overused post-apocalyptic genre, but giving the player more choice and customisable options along the way.

If you can’t wait for Metro Exodus’ 15^th of February or fancy the single-player classics that came before it, it’s well worth getting the remastered version of the first two games in the double-feature Metro Redux.

Ghost of Tsushima

Following in the footsteps of God of War and Spider-Man, Ghost of Tsushima is another massive open-world, story-driven game that’s going to be exclusive to PlayStation. Rumour has it that this incredible-looking game will be out in 2019, but an official release date is yet to be announced.

In Ghost of Tsushima, you take on the role of the very last samurai on the island of Tsushima. The developers, Sucker Punch, claim that they’ve created gameplay mechanics that fully let you explore what it’s like to be a samurai, using swords, grappling hooks, and stealth to navigate your way through the challenges ahead.

It looks like a fantastic game that’s rich with impeccable graphics, fun gameplay, and a deep story which is all set within the very interesting theme of 13^th Century Japan while playing as a samurai. Being among the most recognisable warriors in human history, it should come as no surprise that many games have been made with them at their centre. One of the most enjoyable and recent games of this genre is Playtech’s Pixel Samurai, which always makes for good use of a welcome bonus. But, given what we’ve seen so far, Ghost of Tsushima is set to be the very best samurai game yet.

Yoshi’s Crafted World

Nintendo always does well to release unique, exciting, and challenging games to their consoles. Now that the Nintendo Switch has proven to be so popular and so powerful, even more Nintendo-exclusive triple-A games are en route, with the hotly-anticipated Yoshi’s Crafted World set to be one of the very best.

The single-player puzzles game sees you take on the role of a Yoshi to collect items, solve puzzles, and push with the storyline of recovering the lost gemstones. The game’s unique pull comes from the specialised gameplay as a Yoshi, which includes gobbling up enemies and throwing eggs, as well as flipping the stage to progress and find hidden treasures. Best of all, like with many other top Switch games, it can be played as a couch co-op.

Set for release on the 29^th of March this year, Yoshi’s Crafted World doesn’t really have an equivalent. But, if you want to get accustomed to the way of the Yoshi, you could always battle a huge roster of games stars with Yoshi as your hero in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as he’s a rather fun and powerful character to use.

These are just a few of the highlights set to come out in 2019 or perhaps early 2020, with the likes of Death Stranding, Cyberpunk 2077, Crackdown 3, Gears of War 5, Luigi’s Mansion, and Biomutant also on the way to hold single-player games in very high standing.

Business can be very competitive and so getting a head start is often challenging. Preparation and relevant qualifications are vital to help you to stand out from other candidates when applying for a job. They will also allow you to have a greater chance of success if you are setting up your own business.

Take steps to help you succeed in business

If you need any more reasons to get the best head start possible in business, consider the stats around forming your own company. The US Bureau of Labor reported that 7 out of 10 businesses fail within 10 years – this is a stat that you need to work hard to not be part of. Even as an employee, the number of people you will be up against when going for jobs demands that you do all you can to stand out from the crowd.

Here are some suggestions as to how to get that head start you need in business.

• Use your network – one way to get a good head start in business is to use your professional network to help. It may be family friends, people who you have stayed in touch with after college or people you have connected with on LinkedIn. How you have built up your network does not really matter – what is important is using it to help find that dream role or to market your own business. Very often, you will find that you get many opportunities through your professional network which is why it is so important.
• Develop your personal skills – another way to get a head start in business is to be continually developing your personal skills. Communication skills is a great example as this is valued by employers and can help you to forge a successful career. Other common soft skills that can help you be attractive to employers or run your own business are leadership and integrity. Try to develop these sorts of traits within yourself to make you a cut above other business people. Using windows maximizer can help with your technical skills.
• Get some work experience – if you are just entering the world of business then it can be tricky to get the edge you need. One way to go about it is by gaining some work experience in the sector you plan to work in. This will be appealing to employers as it will show you know what is involved and can actually do the job well. The other advantage is that a successful work experience period may lead to the offer of a job. As an entrepreneur running your own business, work experience will allow you to understand what is needed to run a successful company in your chosen industry.
• Go global – to get a head start in the modern business world, you need to think globally. Business is now a truly international affair as e-commerce and social media become more important with each year that passes. Take the time to understand global business and research how you can develop your skills. This will be a valuable asset that many others who are moving into the business world may not have.
• Qualifications – of course, the main way to get a leg up in business is to have the right qualifications. Having them will open a lot of doors career wise that otherwise may have been closed. Many professions will require specific qualifications before candidates would be considered for interview.

Bryant & Stratton College – education for life

If you are thinking of where in the US you can gain those all-important qualifications, then Bryant & Stratton College is a great choice. With campuses in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, they offer a great flexibility in where to study. Even better, they offer online courses if you prefer to not attend college in person. Getting the right college is key to getting the correct education – make sure to find the one that you like best and that provides the qualifications you need.

As the above shows, there are some basic ways to get the head start you require to succeed in business. From going to college to gain those vital qualifications to developing your own personal skills, a little hard work will go a long way. By the time you have finished, you will be a much more attractive candidate for employers or a much more switched on entrepreneur to create and run your own business.

For more business advice from the Street Talk Live blog, click here.

It is undoubtedly the age of superhero films: more and more new titles are released each year, as rival studios Marvel and DC battle it out on the big screen. After this year’s box office triumph Avengers: Infinity War by Marvel, it was time for DC to regain control with Aquaman, which was filmed all over Australia.

Aquaman Filmed Across Australia

It is not rare for a film or TV series to be used as a vehicle to showcase the natural beauty of a particular country – and give tourism a boost. After the immense success of HBO’s Game of Thrones, tourists flocked to Croatia to admire King’s Landing and are touring Ireland to explore Winterfell. Unwittingly, Aquaman serves as a great advertisement for Australia, which was chosen as its primary filming location – and according to director James Wan it was not a light-hearted decision. Most of the film takes place along Queensland’s Golden Coast, with Amnesty Bay serving as the setting for the title character’s hometown.

The lighthouse where he grew up with his father overlooks the stunning Hastings Point Cape, while some of the underwater scenes were filmed near Main Beach and Amity Point. The film’s strong connection with water plays nicely into Australia’s longstanding seafaring and sea sports tradition. One of the reasons why it is a top tourist destination is its proximity to water and everything it brings with it – but its magnificent landscape and long shores also make it ideal as a shooting setting for Hollywood blockbusters. From the Matrix trilogy to the Mad Max saga and critically-acclaimed films like Where the Wild Things Are, Australia has served as the setting for some of the most memorable big-screen moments.

An Unexpected Hit at the Box Office

Aquaman seems to have struck gold not only with its awe-inspiring background, but also with its storyline and acting, as audiences worldwide seem to love it. DC has been struggling to keep up with Marvel in the past few years, with the exception of Wonder Woman, so they really needed a hit. Many believed that Arthur Curry, a.k.a. Aquaman, was not the hero to achieve that; although he is a founding member of the Justice League, he was not as popular as a comic book hero as several of his counterparts. Yet casting Jason Momoa in the lead role seems to have paid off.

Although the film had received mixed reviews from critics, it seems that audiences loved it – and it has already inspired spin-off merchandise, from Funko Pop figurines and replicas of his signature trident to the Aquaman online slot game at Buzz Bingo and a wide range of clothing items like t-shirts and hoodies. The movie, which sees Aquaman rise as the rightful heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis to fight against his evil half-brother who wants to destroy humanity, has already surpassed the $1 billion benchmark. It managed to make almost $68 million just in its opening weekend, and has grossed over $290 million in the US and over $730 million in the foreign markets.

With such an unexpected success, could it be that Aquaman is not the hero that DC deserves, but the one they so desperately need?