Is Someone on Cash App Stealing Your Money?

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Worried about someone scamming you on Cash App? Your best defense is knowledge, so learn how scammers might try to trick you.

Digital payment platforms like Cash App make it very convenient to carry out financial transactions online. For this reason, millions of Cash App users enjoy seamless money transactions. Unfortunately, as with a lot of technology, convenience can come at a cost. Can someone scam you on Cash App? Unfortunately, yes.

Cash App scams have increased significantly over the years, leaving many unsuspecting victims out of pocket. One of the popular scams used to steal money from users is the Cash App Friday scam.

So what is the Cash App Friday scam? Does this mean that the app isn’t safe to use? Or can you be protected from such Cash App scams?

What Is Cash App Friday?

Cash App’s #CashAppFriday promotions give its users opportunities to win hundreds of dollars in cash prizes. To enter the giveaway, users share their unique Cash App identifiers (also known as cashtags) on the Twitter and Instagram posts of the money transfer company. Cash App randomly chooses the winners who respond to its posts with their cashtags.

Cash App Friday scammers use all sorts of tricks to convince real users that they are winners of a giveaway. One of the most common tricks involves a fake Cash App staff telling a user that they have won a cash prize. Once the scammer has the user hooked by their lies, they convince them to pay a “small” fee to get the cash prize.

Unfortunately, a lot of unsuspecting victims truly believe that they can get hundreds of dollars in return for a fee, even though the Cash App giveaway is free.

If you’re ever approached by a scammer pretending to be a Cash App employee, they will likely congratulate you in your private messages for winning the Cash App giveaway. If you respond to get the “prize”, they may ask for you to pay a fee of $20 or less, apparently in order to release the supposed cash reward.

How Can Someone Scam You on Cash App?

The release fees proposed by Cash App Friday scammers are intentionally made small in order to lure you into sending money to the scammers who may be able to make their profits from hundreds of people sending them money.

If you choose to transfer money to the Cash App scammer, they may block you so that you do not bother them about the non-existent cash prize that they will never send. This can leave you in a terrible situation as you won’t be able to reverse the transaction to get the money back.

In some cases, the scammer may choose not to block their victim. Instead, they may send links to fake websites to the victim for more “giveaways” so that they can steal their login details. These fraudulent sites can include malicious software that tracks your activities and sends private details to the cybercriminals.

Watch Out for Impersonators

In a time where even personal accounts get impersonated and used for scams, it is more important than ever to remain aware of the risks of interacting with people online, especially when your interaction with them relates to financial transactions.

Samsung S Pen Fold Edition vs. S Pen Pro: What’s the Difference?

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Samsung has introduced two new S Pens for the Galaxy Fold 3. But how are they different, and which should you choose?

Samsung finally introduced S Pen support for its foldable line with the Galaxy Z Fold 3. However, none of the S Pens that came before will work with it. You’ll need to get one of the two new S Pens that Samsung has released, namely the S Pen Fold Edition and the S Pen Pro.

These new S Pens have soft rubber tips to ensure the foldable display remains unscathed in the long run. If you’re not sure which one of these S Pens you should buy for your Galaxy Z Fold 3, here are all the differences you need to know.

1. Design

The S Pen Fold Edition is noticeably smaller and thinner than the S Pen Pro. They both have soft rubberized tips that are retractable to prevent damage to the screen.

The more expensive S Pen Pro has a physical switch that allows you to change between Z Fold mode and regular mode, depending on the device you are using.

The S Pen Fold Edition’s smaller form factor comes with a benefit. Samsung sells a separate case with an S Pen holder, making it easy to carry around with your Galaxy Z Fold 3. You don’t get this luxury with the S Pen Pro since it’s longer than the phone itself.

2. Price

Pricing may be a deciding factor for most people, and in this case, the cost difference is pretty significant. The S Pen Fold Edition costs $50, whereas the S Pen Pro will set you back $100. However, that’s not the whole story here.

Samsung is giving away the S Pen Fold Edition for free with every preorder of the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Also, keep in mind that if you intend to carry your S Pen Fold Edition with your phone, you have to spend nearly $80 on a flip cover which can house the S Pen.

All in all, the price comes down to how quickly you buy the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and how you plan on carrying the S Pen.

3. Compatibility

The S Pen Fold Edition works only with the Galaxy Z Fold 3. You cannot use it with any other smartphone like the Galaxy S21 Ultra or the Galaxy Note 20.

However, if you spend the extra money on the S Pen Pro, you get an accessory that works with all Samsung devices with S Pen support. This is fantastic if you don’t want to spend money on a new S Pen every time Samsung releases a new device.

4. Features

The S Pen Fold Edition is pretty much a basic stylus that’s optimized for the Z Fold 3’s screen. It’s great if all you intend to do is sketch or take notes, and of course, you get access to Air commands.

However, if you buy the S Pen Pro, you’ll get access to Bluetooth commands and gestures on top of it. It has onboard memory too, which allows you to copy and paste content across different Samsung devices.

5. Charging

The S Pen Fold Edition may seem basic compared to the S Pen Pro, but it comes with a huge convenience in that you don’t ever have to charge it.

The S Pen Pro, by contrast, is an active stylus with a USB-C port for charging. You can use the S Pen Pro for up to 16 days with a 50-minute charge. In the end, it comes down to whether you prefer a passive stylus with simple functionality or an active stylus with advanced features.

The Galaxy Z Fold 3’s S Pen Support Is a Game-Changer

The addition of S Pen support could tempt Galaxy Note users into buying the Galaxy Z Fold 3, especially because Samsung is skipping the Note line for 2021. A phone that folds out to become a tablet can be the better note-taker due to its much larger form factor. We’ll see if Samsung eventually retires the Galaxy Note line and replace it with the Fold series instead.

Everything You Need to Know About the Playdate

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Want to know what the Playdate is all about? Here’s the features, games, tech specs, and more.

The Playdate is a handheld games console that’s designed to be pure fun. It’s pocket-sized, bright yellow, and has a crank on the side to control some games. Plenty of games have been developed exclusively for the Playdate, with its high-contrast screen and unique form factor.

Have you been eyeing up the Playdate and wondering whether to buy it? We’re going to tell you everything you need to know about this exciting handheld—who makes it, what games it offers, what the technical specifications are, and more.

What Is the Playdate?

The Playdate is a portable games console that fits in the palm of your hand. It’s unlike any other console on the market and it has lots of new and exclusive games.

Consider it a complementary device to the likes of the Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X. It’s not designed to compete with those, nor something high-end like Valve’s handheld Steam Deck. If you’re old enough to remember the Game & Watch, you might consider the Playdate akin to something like that.

The Playdate has a fun design. The device itself is bright yellow, while the screen is black and white and very reflective. When the console is in standby, the screen turns into a clock. On the front you’ll find a directional-pad and a couple of buttons.

But best of all? On the side of the Playdate is an actual, physical crank. The crank doesn’t charge the console. Instead, it flips out and is used to control some games.

For example, in one game called Crankin’s Time Travel Adventure, you use the crank to move the lead character back and forwards in time. Not all games use the crank, but it’ll certainly add something different to those that do.

Who Makes the Playdate?

The Playdate is made by Panic, a software company based in Portland, Oregon. It was founded in 1999 and for a long time was primarily known for macOS software like Audion, Transmit, and Nova.

More recently, Panic has published video games, including the highly regarded Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game.

For Panic, the Playdate is the next step; production of a physical games console. The company designed it in collaboration with Teenage Engineering, a Swedish electronics manufacturer.

What Games Does the Playdate Offer?

Every Playdate comes with 24 free games, which are delivered to the system two at a time every week from when you set up the console.

Veteran developers have written these games specifically for the Playdate. Titles include Casual Birder, Pick Pack Pup, Lost Your Marbles, Sasquatchers, and Whitewater Wipeout.

More games are in development (including a title from Lucas Pope, the man behind popular games like Papers, Please), though how Panic will distribute these is currently unannounced.

Can You Develop Games for the Playdate?

If you develop games, or want to start doing so, Panic makes it as easy as possible to develop for the Playdate.

Though currently unavailable to the public, you’ll be able to get the Playdate SDK for free. This is the full Playdate development environment, available for PC, Mac, and Linux. It includes Lua and C APIs, along with a simulator for local development.

If that’s too complicated for you, Panic also plans to release something called Pulp. This is a browser-based, no-code alternative to the SDK, which lets you build games using click-and-place functionality.

There’s also going to be full reference documentation, a developer forum, a bitmap font editor for Playdate fonts, and more.

To keep abreast of the latest information, check out the develop for Playdate site.

What Are the Playdate’s Technical Specifications?

These are the technical specifications of the Playdate:

  • Battery: 14 days standby clock, 8 hours active
  • CPU: 180Mhz Cortex M7
  • Display: 400×240 1-bit high-contrast black and white
  • Size: 76x74x9mm
  • Storage: 16MB RAM, 32KB L1 cache, 4GB flash
  • Sound: Built-in mono speaker, stereo headphone jack, condenser microphone and TRRS microphone in
  • Wireless: 802.11bgn 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

In terms of buttons and controls, on the front of the console there’s a directional-pad, A and B buttons, and a sleep and menu button. Of course, there’s also the crank on the side, which pulls out when you need it. The Playdate also has a three-axis accelerometer.

Where Can You Buy the Playdate?

If you want to buy the Playdate, you must order directly through the Playdate Store.

The console costs $179, plus shipping, taxes, and duties. Because of the complications of global distribution, the Playdate only ships to certain countries, so check the store directly to see if it ships to you.

In the box you get the Playdate itself, a user guide, and a yellow USB-C to A cable (which you use to charge the console.)

You can also buy a magnetic, folding purple cover for $29. Buy this with the console and you save $9.

In the future, you’ll be able to buy a Playdate Stereo Dock. This will not only hold and charge your Playdate, but it also acts as a Bluetooth speaker and pen holder… and it even comes with a pen! That basically sums up the fun and wackiness of the Playdate.

Currently, 20,000 console units are ready to ship in 2021 (all of which have sold out), with an undisclosed amount designated for 2022. The sooner you order your Playdate, the sooner you will receive it—so don’t hesitate too long if you’re keen to get your hands on one. Panic has acknowledged there is a slight chance that some consoles will ship in 2023, and you don’t really want to be waiting that long.

There Are Plenty of Reasons to Love the Playdate

If you’re looking for a fun piece of kit that offers something unique, consider buying a Playdate. It might not revolutionize gaming, but it’s certain to bring you some joy.

Whether it’s the charming look of the console itself, the unique games, or the wacky crank, there are plenty of reasons to love the Playdate.

How Blush Lets Anybody Become an Illustrator

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Want to create a design, but don’t have the skills to do it? Blush’s library of customizable illustrations can help with that.

Doodling lets you tell a story easily and effectively, but perhaps you don’t have the talent to bring your ideas to life.

That’s where Blush steps in. By taking the difficulty out of creation, Blush lets you tell the stories you want without needing to rely on your unreliable hands to do so.

What Is Blush?

Blush is a free online design tool that allows you to create completely unique illustrations. There’s a wide range of design options available, all featuring insane amounts of customizability. No matter what you want to create, Blush allows you to do it.

The process is easy, powerful, and surprisingly fun. Best of all, Blush covers everything that you create under its license, meaning that you’re permitted to use every graphic that you create without the need for attribution—even if it’s for commercial purposes.

Blush is free for all, though it does come with several extra features available only to those who are willing to upgrade to its Pro plan, which costs $12/month.

Blush is even available as a plugin for Figma and Sketch. This means you can seamlessly test and expand on your illustrations, all without having to worry about working awkwardly between two programs.

How Does Blush Work?

Getting started with Blush is easy. If you can’t decide on a design, you can simply click on the Create Random button, and Blush will automatically do most of the work for you.

But let’s say that you want to start from scratch. First, you need to pick a style for your illustration. There’s a huge range of collections available, each featuring different styles and themes, so pick whatever catches your eye.

There’s the option to sort through the illustrations by category, as well. Say that you’re looking to create an illustration featuring a cat—you could look through the collections that feature animals.

In terms of illustrations, there’s a huge range here. People of all shapes and sizes, families, plants, animals, and even cities are present.

Once you’ve chosen a collection, you’ll notice that there are a variety of different characters and scenes to choose from. You don’t need any editors or fancy software; once you pick whichever scene or character that best captures your artistic vision, the left side of the screen will give you various customization options to choose from.

You can mix and match these freely. Most collections have an impressive number of different hairstyles, skin tones, and facial features that you can choose from to really capture your idea. Upper and lower body options are also common, so you can create something that is truly yours.

And if you can’t decide how you want the illustration to look, you can shuffle the design with a single button, creating a character completely at random. You can even lock certain aspects of the character, such as their clothing, perfect for quickly creating a crowd of people in uniform, for instance.

If you absolutely love the options a collection is giving you, you can even look into the artist who created it. Some artists have multiple collections that you just might be able to use.

Once you’re happy with your creation, you can save and share it. If you’ve created a Blush account, you can save up to five designs for free and come back to edit them later. Otherwise, you can share them with others by either grabbing a shareable link or downloading the image yourself.

When sharing your design via a shareable link, you can make it view-only, or can give others access to the editor in case you want to collaborate. When you download your design, you can choose from PNG and SVG file formats, though the latter is only available for Pro users.

Other people’s creations are also shared among the community. You can open these and edit them yourself, altering fine details or large swathes at your leisure.

What’s Included in Blush’s Pro Plan?

If you’ve already given Blush a go, you probably noticed that there are plenty of features that are unavailable to free users. While downloads remain unlimited no matter your plan, free users can only save up to five designs for later use, for instance.

This changes if you switch to the Pro plan. You gain access to unlimited saved designs no matter how complicated they may be, as well as a host of other features.

Some options within collections require a Pro plan, meaning that some characters, scenes, and spot illustrations are unavailable to free users. The Pro plan removes this limitation, giving you unfettered access to Blush’s growing library of over 10,000 illustrations.

Blush’s Pro plan also gives you access to more tools. Normally, the colors available for things like skin and hair are predetermined by a particular collection. But with Blush Pro, you can pick any color you want. Color filters are also available only to Blush Pro users and are a great way to add even more of your own personal touch to the illustrations.

Download options, as briefly mentioned before, are also expanded with Blush Pro. Normally, free users can only download a small PNG of their creation, at around 250 x 400px.

Blush Pro allows users to download much larger PNGs, and unlocks the option to download your work in the SVG file format. SVGs never pixelate and give absolute control over every layer of the illustration, so they’re definitely the way to go if you’re a power user.

Using Illustrations Really Lets You Stand Out

Using Blush is a phenomenal way to create a design, and fun to boot. It’s easy, quick, and has a big impact on your end results. The best part is, you don’t need to be an expert in illustration or graphic design to use it.

How to Prioritize Your Tasks Using the MoSCoW Method

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Do you often struggle to complete your tasks? Organizing and prioritizing them can be your solution, and the MoSCoW method can help with that.

Multitasking often seems to be the ideal solution to manage your time when you find yourself with a long list of tasks. But the problem with juggling multiple tasks is that you risk ending your workday with a pile of unfinished tasks and a feeling of frustration.

Prioritizing your tasks can help. In this article, we will explore how you can do that using the MoSCoW method.

What Is the MoSCoW Method?

There are a number of tasks you need to complete within a set time frame and budget. However, if those tasks are not organized according to importance, they often become up for grabs, usually not to the benefit of the entire project.

The MoSCoW matrix is a prioritization framework that can help you determine which tasks are essential at any given moment, and structure your to-do list in order of importance.

This way, organizing your tasks can help you and your team members allocate more time, money, and attention to the most important ones before moving down your to-do list.

Origin of the MoSCoW Technique

Dai Clegg, a software development specialist at Oracle UK, invented the MoSCoW method, or the MSCW method, as it was known in 1994 (the two Os were added later to help with pronunciation).

Although Clegg originally developed this prioritization technique for use in Rapid Application Development, it is quite versatile in application. You can use it for market/product launches, starting a new business, or something as mundane as planning a party.

MoSCoW Prioritization Categories

As we have hinted above, the two Os don’t have any significance in this acronym besides making it easier to pronounce and memorize. That said, the capital letters in the acronym represent four prioritization categories:

  • Must have
  • Should have
  • Could have
  • Won’t have

Let’s dive deeper:

1. Must Have

This category represents the requirements or tasks you must complete to ensure that the entire project is successful. There’s no going around them. It contains non-negotiable needs for the desired outcome. Failure to complete these tasks on time can lead to unfavorable consequences.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to know which tasks or requirements belong to this category:

  • Will the project work if you do not complete this task?
  • Can the project be successful without this requirement?
  • Is there a workaround that you can devise to avoid doing this task?

If your answer is no, then this task is the foundation that shapes the entire project. Therefore, it belongs to the must-have category. For example, if you are developing an app, you must ensure that its security is watertight to safeguard users’ personal and sensitive information.

2. Should Have

Should-have tasks immediately follow must-haves in terms of priority. They add a lot of value to the entire project and make it more successful when you complete them. But the project can still function if you leave out should-haves. In other words, the completion of these tasks is important but not vital to the project’s success.

You can create this category by asking yourself if there is a workaround, or if the project can still move ahead if you don’t meet the requirements. For example, you should integrate social media tools into your app, but you can certainly go ahead without them.

3. Could Have

Completing could-haves is important, but they don’t add as much value to the project when you compare them with should-haves, and they also cause less harm when you omit them. You can also call them nice-to-haves, provided you can fit them within your budget and time frame.

In order to create this category, take a look at the list of tasks you wish to complete to determine what will have a deep impact (should-haves) and what will add less value (could-haves). For example, you could add the dark mode feature to your app if you can.

4. Won’t Have

This category represents the lowest priority of the MoSCoW method, and it contains tasks you should not work on within a particular budget and deadline. The presence or absence of won’t-haves has no impact whatsoever on the completion and success of the entire project at this time, but it could in the future on this project, or another one.

Creating this category allows you to harness your focus, and resources on the first three. For example, you can add a new security feature to your app through an update to patch software vulnerabilities.

Why You Should Use the MoSCoW Method

The MoSCoW method is most effective when you want to include your team (or few representatives) and other stakeholders to capture a broader perspective and eliminate the risk of bias.

Additionally, this prioritization technique will help your team know how many resources and effort to dedicate to each category to ensure the whole project’s success.

Improve Your Productivity Using the MoSCoW Method

Arranging all your tasks according to their priorities is a sure way to improve your productivity. You can use the MoSCoW method to ensure that you use your resources on the most relevant tasks to your projects and to foster healthy teamwork in your organization.

Watch the portions: A superfood if taken too much can backfire on health; know the side effects

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Nutritionists and dieticians, for a long time, have been spreading awareness about the importance of following a healthy diet – one full of vegetables, fruits, lean meats, healthy fats, proteins and essential nutrients.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Brazil nuts help prevent any damage that be caused to cells and tissues
  • Brazil nuts are also a rich source of antioxidants which is great for cognitive health and brain function
  • A 29 grams serving of brazil nuts contains 737% of your daily recommended portion of selenium

New Delhi: Nutritionists and dieticians, for a long time, have been spreading awareness about the importance of following a healthy diet – one full of vegetables, fruits, lean meats, healthy fats, proteins and essential nutrients. Amidst this, there come foods that can work wonders for health if consumed correctly. Yes – the clause of eating right is always there. This includes knowing what to eat, when to eat and in what portions to eat because excess of healthy foods could also have an adverse impact on health. That being said, we’ll talk about one food item that classifies as super healthy, but upon overconsumption can backfire on health. Keep reading

The superfood that must be eaten wisely

When it comes to a healthy diet, nuts qualify as a staple. Almonds, cashews, walnuts are loaded with proteins, healthy fats and essentials vitamins for wellness – as is the case with brazil nuts. Rich in selenium, this nut is essential for proper functioning of the immune and reproductive system. It helps prevent any damage that be caused to cells and tissues. However, the struggle with brazil nuts is that it is too high in selenium content which, if the body gets in excess, can land you in the danger zone.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), selenium overloaded can cause the following side-effects.

  1. Nausea
  2. Diarrhoea
  3. Skin rashes
  4. Mood fluctuations
  5. Hair loss
  6. Brittle nails
  7. Discolouration of teeth
  8. Problems of the nervous system

In extreme cases, it can also result in heart attacks, heart failure, kidney failures, tremours and difficulty in breathing.

How much selenium is safe?

When eaten in moderation, brazil nuts have a plethora of health benefits to offer. According to the NHS, 75μg is safe to consume in a day for men aged 19 to 64.

Brazil nuts are also a rich source of antioxidants which is great for cognitive health and brain function. These compounds, as per studies, are helpful in preventing depression in the long run. Heart patients dealing with cholesterol woes can also enjoy a limited quantity of brazil nuts guilt-free as it is blessed with the ability of lowering bad cholesterol levels.

Also rich in phosphorus and magnesium, brazil nuts are beneficial for patients struggling with thyroid problems, anxiety and depression

A 29 grams serving of brazil nuts contains 737% of your daily recommended portion of selenium, 26% of recommended magnesium and 20% of phosphorus as well.

How to Balance Productivity and Wellbeing

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Finding balance between productivity and your wellbeing can make you more effective at your job.

People are always looking for ways to be more productive, but wellbeing is often overlooked. Interestingly, taking care of yourself is one of the best ways to stay effective at work, and you might be surprised by some of the benefits.

If you want to maximize your work output and want to stay healthy at the same time, this article will tell you how.

Constant Productivity Is Not Possible

We live in a time when overworking is viewed as a marker of success, and this is ingrained into culture. In most workplaces, you are expected to work hard and do this in a timely manner, but the simple fact is that being productive all the time isn’t possible.

As human beings, it is well known that we only have a limited capacity to concentrate at any given time. This is where the Pomodoro technique came from. The creator saw that having scheduled times to work and rest yielded maximum results in task completion.

Our bodies have an ultradian rhythm, which controls your energy levels throughout the day, and includes heart rate, brain-wave activity and alertness. After an hour of working, these start to decline, and your body craves rest. Just like we need to sleep, eat, hydrate, we are hard-wired this way.

So what happens if you decide to power through? Over the course of the day, you might see a reduced ability to concentrate, and you will start making simple mistakes. However, if you do this regularly, it can set you down the road to burnout, which causes exhaustion, a lack of enthusiasm, and leaves you unable to do your job.

Prioritizing Wellbeing for Future Productivity

As the saying goes: Rome wasn’t built in a day, and having this perspective can really help you when it comes to overworking. You will always have tasks to do, and they will get done, so taking your time and removing the pressure to cram everything in can help you in the long-run.

Dedicating time to prioritizing your wellbeing will bring you a number of benefits, one of which is enhanced productivity. You will notice improved memory and information retention, a greater capability to be creative and think outside the box, a calmer mind, and you might feel more job satisfaction.

You may believe that more work now equals greater outcomes, but the future effects of taking care of yourself now provide balanced output over time. This means that rather than routinely hitting brick walls and needing time off to recover, your performance will be more consistent, and this is where you get your payoff.

Productivity is important and necessary for job completion, but keeping yourself well is part of the package.

How You Can Start Prioritizing Wellbeing

Practicing good wellbeing just means taking simple steps to ensure you stay healthy. You can do this by making small changes to your day, and it doesn’t require much time at all.

First, you should draw a line between work and home. Doing overtime might be needed sometimes, but this shouldn’t be done often. Train your brain to switch off from the day’s events by doing an activity that signals it is time for you to relax. This could be something small like putting your computer out of sight, changing your clothes, or taking the dog for a walk.

We are creatures of habit, and having a good post-work routine can help to keep your thoughts in the present moment, rather than getting wrapped up in what you need to do tomorrow. The same goes for making sure you take your lunch break, which helps to split your day up and give you a rest.

If you struggle to wind-down, or want to get more moments of relaxation into your day, you can try using applications such as Headspace, which has a variety of guided meditations and relaxing audio clips for stress, sleep, and self-esteem. The clips can be as short as one minute, if time is an issue, and they provide a healthy interruption from any worries lingering in your mind.

When mindfulness meditation is done regularly, it can significantly lower stress levels and worry, and bring benefits such as better mental health, focus, and efficiency. It is an easy way to look after your mind, and builds a productive routine, simultaneously.

Alternatively, if meditation isn’t your thing, journaling is another way to add wellness into the mix, by allowing time to pause and reflect on your day. The issue with an overly productive mindset is having too much focus on what you need to do next; journaling halts that and forces you to look back and consider how you are feeling right now.

If you aren’t sure where to start with this, you can use Daylio, which is a digital journaling application that has a simple layout for you to write anything you’d like. It asks you about your mood, activities you’ve done today, and any goals you’d like to set. You can use it as many times as you like, but utilizing it during the periods that you are most prone to overthinking or overworking is suggested.

What Is Microsoft Lists and What Is It Used For?

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Looking for an easy-to-use, fast, and convenient to-do list app that can manage and organize your data and work? Give Microsoft Lists a try.

Lists is the next-generation Microsoft 365 app that evolved from SharePoint Lists in May 2020. It’s a front-end platform to manage your data or work like ideas, to-do lists, tasks, inventory, manage FAQs, etc. In this article, you will learn about Lists, its features, and its most important use cases.

What Is Microsoft Lists?

You’ll see the Microsoft Lists app in the All apps section of your Microsoft 365 subscription. You can use this app to create lists and collaborate with your team members or clients.

Microsoft Lists offer many advantages over any other to-do list apps. For example, you can track issues, routines, assets, inventory, contacts, and many more using Microsoft Lists.

The tool merges your lists with all Microsoft 365 apps so that you can start creating or working on your data from Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, or Lists home. It also comes with click-to-edit templates that save your time on organizing your tasks or notes.

Novel Features of Microsoft Lists

Lists has all the standard features that you can expect from a to-do list app. For example, timeline view, calendar view, create lists from spreadsheets, add attachments to lists, track activities, etc. However, the followings are the most significant features that distinguish Lists from other similar tools:

1. Manage Rules

You can automate your to-do lists in many ways on this tool. However, such extensive automation only becomes possible because of if/then-style rules in the Lists app.

You can use these rules to automate reminders and notifications to your lists. The owner of the list will also keep control over the rules. If you give list edit access to your collaborators, then they can edit the list rules. Follow these steps to create rules from the Lists home:

  1. Click on Automate drop-down menu and then select Create a rule.
  2. On the screen where you see Notify someone when option, you need to set a condition. For example, you could select A new item is created.
  3. You can edit the rule conditions by clicking each of the underlined words of the sentence.
  4. You can select options like whom to notify, column, column value, etc.
  5. Once done, click on Create to confirm the rule.

2. Lists Collaboration Through Microsoft Teams

Lists adds value to the functionalities of the Microsoft Teams app. You can access, share, or create lists from the Teams app without leaving any ongoing meetings or brainstorming sessions.

In the Teams app, you can change the view of a list in various ways like cards, grids, calendar-view, etc. In addition to adding new columns, creating custom views with filters, and defining choices, you can also modify your plan in order to make data more meaningful for your team.

3. Sharing Lists and Items

Lists offer various modes of data sharing with your teams or clients. Unlike many other to-do list apps, you don’t need to share the entire list with your collaborators.

If you want, you can share the whole list, or give access to selected list items. Moreover, you can customize data protection by enabling read-only, edit-access, password protection, and expiration date to access the list.

4. Integrations

Your lists integrate instantly with other Microsoft 365 apps like Teams, Power Automate, Power Apps, and SharePoint.

You can automate project tasks or workflows using Lists and Power Automate integration. On Lists home, click on Automate drop-down menu and then select Power Automate. If you click on Create a flow, you can access templates for automation of processes and tasks.

5. Mobile App

Lists app is also available on iOS devices like iPhones and iPads. The mobile app offers a smooth experience with a user-friendly UI for creating, editing, and sharing your lists on the go.

Microsoft has also disclosed a plan for the Android version of the Lists app. Android users will soon get to create, share, and edit lists from their mobile devices.

Using Microsoft Lists as Information Tracker and Organizer

There are many uses of the Lists app for professional and personal data management. Some of the best use case scenarios are:

1. Assets Management

You can efficiently manage devices, software, and other assets using the asset manager template of the Lists app. You don’t have to invest much time on it, as the template needs a few clicks for customization.

You can get asset status updates like who’s currently using the device, check-in dates, check-out dates, which device is in repair, etc.

2. Manage Projects and Tasks

You can transform your Lists app into a project management tool without shelling out extra money. Add tasks in one list and name the list as per the project name.

You can add if/then-style rules into individual items or tasks on your list. The rules could be words like completed, pending, blocked, to-do task, issue, priority, etc. If there are any edits in the list from your team members, you’ll instantly know the status of tasks.

3. Content Scheduling

Lists app is perfect for social media, website, or blog content posting strategy. You can add the content requirements to one list. Now, set specific rules to enable notifications or reminders.

There is also a content scheduling template in the Lists app. Customize the template by adding images or contents that you want to publish with draft date, due date, post date, etc.

Efficiently Organize Your Data and Work

The above features and use cases of Microsoft Lists will enable you to utilize your Microsoft 365 subscription in the best possible way. The tool brings a brand new yet flexible way to arrange and track significant tasks or data. Furthermore, task planning is just a walk in the park when you get all ideas, to-do lists, and meeting agendas in one place.

World Mental Health Day 2021: Let’s talk about eating disorders

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World Mental Health Day aims at spreading awareness about the importance of mental health and address the various mental health issues that people face worldwide.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10 across the world
  • The theme for World Mental Health Day 2021 is “Mental health in an unequal world”
  • WHO’s slogan for World Mental Health Day 2021 is “Mental health care for all: let’s make it a reality”

Nw Delhi: October 10 is observed as the World Mental Health Day across the world. This day aims at spreading awareness about the importance of mental health and address the various mental health issues that people face worldwide. This day also calls for a unified effort to mobilize means to help and support those who are suffering. There is a lot of stigmas associated with mental health which prevents people from opening up and talking about their mental health issues. This may cause both mental and physical health to deteriorate further. Furthermore, due to factors such as lack of availability of mental health care, inadequate resources, and financial complications, it may not be easy for everyone to avail of the health care facilities when it comes to mental health.

The theme for World Mental Health Day is “Mental health in an unequal world”. The slogan put forward by the World Health Organization (WHO) is “Mental health care for all: let’s make it a reality”.

Eating disorders

Eating disorders are mental health conditions that are characterized by unhealthy eating habits that can harm the body directly and indirectly. Most eating disorders are often fueled by body dysmorphia, a mental health condition that causes an obsession with fixing the perceived flaws and shortcomings in appearance. Here are some common types of eating disorders:

Anorexia nervosa: This is one of the most common eating disorders and is defined by unhealthy eating habits that are very restrictive. People with anorexia nervosa practice calorie control, avoid food, are dangerously underweight, and follow a rigorous exercise routine to lose weight. Some common symptoms of this disorder are:

  • An unhealthy pursuit of becoming skinny or thin
  • A distorted image of the body
  • Correlating body weight with self-esteem
  • Restricted and unhealthy eating patterns
  • Being underweight
  • Fearing weight gain

Bulimia nervosa: This condition is marked by the unhealthy consumption of food in a short period followed by purging to compensate for the calories consumed. The purging is often carried out by laxatives, excessive exercise, enemas, and vomiting. Some common symptoms of this disorder are:

  • Unhealthy binge eating episodes
  • Fearing weight gain
  • Using purging as a method to lose weight
  • A distorted image of the body
  • Being underweight

Binge eating disorder: This condition is characterized by unhealthy eating patterns that involve binging, that is, eating unhealthy portions of food in a short time and stressing over the behaviour. Some common symptoms of this disorder are:

  • Consuming unhealthy amounts of food regardless of being hungry or not
  • Feeling guilty because of binging behaviour
  • Uncontrollable binging patterns
  • Unhealthy weight gain 

Don’t bottle up pandemic-induced stress, start socialising: Experts

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A study, published in the science journal Lancet in the same year, revealed that 14 per cent of India’s population suffered from mental health ailments, including 45.7 million suffering from depressive disorders and 49 million from anxiety disorders.

New Delhi: It’s nearly two years since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world. Yet the fear and anxiety it brought, especially in those who suffered from the infectious disease, forced to remain in isolation at home, lost their near and dear ones and were left jobless for months, is hard to let go. However, with COVID easing and India reopening, it is time to open up and start mingling with people with proper precaution, bring happiness back in your life and shun depression and anxiety, health experts said on Saturday ahead of the World Mental Health Day on October 10. While we are not yet out of the pandemic and must adhere to COVID-appropriate behaviour, one also needs to “be cognizant of physical and mental health, do exercise/ yoga and spend good time with family”, said Dr Vipul Rastogi, Consultant neuropsychiatrist Medanta hospital, Gurugram, told IANS.

“Do not bottle up your concerns and emotions. Share your feelings with family and friends and if it doesn’t help seek professional help at the earliest,” Rastogi added.

Mental health in India has been a concern, much before the pandemic. Due to societal pressures and social stigma revolving around it, the condition has not received much attention. In 2017, President Ram Nath Kovind asserted that India was “facing a possible mental health epidemic”. A study, published in the science journal Lancet in the same year, revealed that 14 per cent of India’s population suffered from mental health ailments, including 45.7 million suffering from depressive disorders and 49 million from anxiety disorders. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accentuated this mental health crisis. A recent LinkedIn report showed that more than one in two Indian professionals are currently feeling stressed at work as well-being measures have become a luxury for many in the last 18 months, adversely affecting the mental health of working professionals in the country.

“COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the mental health of all irrespective of age and class status and education,” Dr Arti Anand, Senior clinical psychologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi, told IANS.

“The social isolation due to lockdown, social distancing norms and mandatory wearing of masks and fear of death and experiencing near and dear ones dying has increased stress and fear. This, in turn, increased various anxiety disorders and depressive symptoms,” she added.

Besides adults, the COVID-19 pandemic also weighed heavily on children and young people’s mental health. Through the pandemic, children have had limited access to support from social services due to lockdown measures. The disruption to routines, education, recreation, as well as concern for family income and health, has left many young people feeling afraid, angry, and concerned for their future. The recent, ‘The States of the World’s Children 2021’ Unicef report shows that 1 in 7 of 15 to 24-year-olds in India, often feel depressed. Senior citizens have also seen their mental health deteriorate significantly due to loneliness and social isolation. Even the frontline workers who are tirelessly working under stressful conditions without any break facing an impact on their mental health.

“The best way to cope with the stress is to start socialising, take psychotherapy/ counselling sessions, invest time in hobbies or creativity. Meditation and yoga can also relieve stress. Regular exercise, sleep and a balanced diet help in stabilising mood,” Anand said.

According to Dr Priyanka Srivastava, Consultant, Department of Behavioural Sciences, Jaypee Hospital (Noida), it is important to “raise awareness about mental health issues, educate people who are exposed to trauma about the effects of cumulative stress”.

It is also important to not follow fake news on the social media channels about COVID-19 while taking a healthy diet and doing physical activity based on your health risks and connecting with loved ones and sharing your concerns, she told IANS.