Ecstatic Gathering

The impact of workaholism

Workaholism, like any other form of addiction or unhealthy coping strategy, has severe implications for a person's health and well-being and has a high risk of resulting in burnout. With mental health issues on the rise globally, this is a grave issue that needs to be addressed both by the individual and supported by the organizations.

When people reach burnout, the repercussions for the person and the organisation are significant, so it should not be left unmanaged. Burnout is a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion that affects a person's ability to function normally.

Physical symptoms can include headaches, stomachaches, intestinal issues, fatigue, frequent illness, changes in appetite and inability to sleep.

Emotional symptoms include helplessness, cynicism, a sense of failure or self-doubt, decreased satisfaction and unstable emotional reactions.

Behavioural symptoms include reduced performance in everyday tasks, low motivation, withdrawal or isolation, procrastination, outbursts, or using prescribed or non-prescribed substances to cope.

Some individuals have a natural tendency toward being vulnerable to burnout, which is exacerbated by the levels of pressure that organisations are under in the present volatile work context. With the fast-paced culture dominating organisations, busyness is seen as usual, and people feel pressured to work harder to keep up. If this is not managed, it can significantly impact the person's long- and short-term wellbeing.
Strategies to break away from unhealthy patterns

To deal with workaholic tendencies, it is essential to combine two critical strategies. The person must

A. Build their resilience

B. Adjust work practices and routines

A. Build Resilience

Research has consistently shown that individuals with high levels of resilience have an enhanced ability to cope with pressure, keep a balanced approach to external disruption, and continue to thrive even under highly challenging circumstances.

Research shows a strong positive correlation between high resilience levels and effective work-life balance. Individuals who build their resilience will be able to manage the balance between work and home more effectively. Because they understand the importance of caring for themselves, they do not become so focused on work that they cannot step away and effectively re-energize.

Building resilience requires the development of the three determinants of resilience. However, the two key aspects that play a part in avoiding burnout and counteracting workaholic tendencies are:
Self-concept wellbeing: Self-awareness and effective emotional management.

The four critical areas of focus for enhancing self-concept well-being are: Understanding who I am and what matters to me
Building a realistic and healthy evaluation of self
How is your self-concept structured?
Building emotional intelligence

Constructive thinking: Observe and manage your thinking and unpack destructive (unconscious and conscious) mental processing.

There are two critical aspects to developing constructive thinking: Clean up and continue to clean up our unconscious mental processing
When destructive thinking happens, we become conscious and change our thinking to constructive as quickly as possible

B. Adjust work practices and routines

It is critical that work practices are aligned to support the intra-personal changes that have been made. The following are some practical strategies that can be adapted to further support health and wellbeing in the workplace. Prioritise work and set clear boundaries around your workload. Become more discerning about the volume of work you take on and learn to evaluate and effectively what you can and cannot realistically handle.
Regularly unplug from technology. It is essential to put a deadline on when you will switch off your phone and computer at night and on the weekend. Research has shown that people who can unplug from technology at night are much more likely to look forward to going to work in the mornings and feel fulfilled at their jobs (Coleman & Coleman 2012).
Develop a personal mission. This should define the things in life that are personally and professionally important to you. Once this is described, block out time for important personal aspects and stop simply defaulting to working due to a lack of other interests or inability to focus on things outside of work.
Find a mentor or coach. Work with a professional who will support you in building new strategies and keep you accountable for taking action to reduce your workaholic tendencies.

The world we live in will not get any less uncertain or volatile, and it is, therefore, essential to embrace the strategies that will assist us in managing our well-being. Achieving this requires a disciplined approach to enhancing our resilience and practical action to set boundaries around work and workload.

Rise at 5 AM, conquer nature, master your mind, embrace fitness, find serenity in silence, sleep like a champion, and dominate the digital realm. Join the Gen Z revolution and rewrite your future today!

Introduction:

In today’s fast-paced world, where success and personal growth go hand in hand, adopting habits that can push us toward our goals is essential. Imagine waking up in 2024, looking back at your journey, and realizing how unrecognizable you’ve become. By incorporating these seven powerful habits into your daily routine, you’ll set yourself up for an incredible transformation. So, let’s dive in and explore these habits that can shape a brighter future for you.

1. Rise and Conquer:

The 5 AM Awakening Tired of feeling like you’re lagging behind? Seize the day by joining the exclusive club of early risers. Waking up at 5 AM puts you ahead of the game, giving you a head start in achieving your goals. Channel your energy into morning workouts, strategic planning, and nurturing your entrepreneurial spirit. This secret weapon will boost your productivity and set the stage for greatness.

2. Nature’s Reset Button:

The 30-Minute Stroll Urban Jungles got you feeling trapped? Escape to the lush embrace of nature! Take a 30-minute walk surrounded by majestic trees, babbling brooks, and fresh air. Science has shown that immersing yourself in nature can banish anxiety, amplify happiness, and elevate your mood. So, swap concrete for canopies and experience the rejuvenating power of Mother Earth.

3. Nightly Mind Mastery:

The Pre-Bedtime Journal Sleepless nights stealing your peace of mind? Unleash your thoughts onto paper before hitting the sack. Penning down tomorrow’s goals, expressing gratitude for the present moment, and releasing any lingering negative thoughts will work wonders for your mental health. Embrace this nightly ritual to achieve serenity, unlock profound sleep, and wake up with a refreshed spirit.

4. Sweat, Smile, Succeed:

Embrace the 1-Hour Fitness Feast You want to conquer the world, but is your body ready to back you up? Physical health forms the foundation for mental well-being. Devote a glorious hour each day to exercise and discover the euphoria of a vibrant body. Whether it’s pounding the pavement with a rejuvenating run, diving into the depths of a pool, or unleashing your strength in the weight room, you’ll sculpt a body that radiates power and confidence.

5. Silence Speaks Volumes:

The 10-Minute Zen Zone Amidst the digital cacophony, find solace in the symphony of silence. Dedicate a mere ten minutes each day to sit in peaceful meditation. Embrace the hush as your mind unravels its mysteries, enabling you to tune into your deepest desires, dreams, and fears. Through this practice, you’ll cultivate mindfulness, heighten self-awareness, and nurture a resilient mental fortress.

6. Sleep Like a Legend:

Crafting Your Dreamtime Haven Sleep is your secret weapon for peak performance, mental agility, and stress reduction. Forge an unbreakable alliance with the Sandman by creating a sleep routine fit for a champion. Bid farewell to screens two hours before bed, let your stomach rest for two hours as well, chill your room to optimal slumber temperature, and banish unwanted light with blackout curtains. By optimizing your sleep environment, you’ll awaken as a force of nature, ready to conquer the day.

7. Master of the Digital Realm:

The 30-Minute Online Skill Quest Prepares to conquer the evolving landscape of the digital era! Dedicate a mere half-hour daily to honing an online skill of your choice. With the ever-rising tides of inflation and taxes, acquiring digital expertise will empower you financially. Embrace the vast array of online resources, courses, and platforms at your fingertips. Become the architect of your digital destiny and pave the way to limitless opportunities.

Conclusion:

You’re on the verge of a seismic transformation! By embracing these seven extraordinary habits, you’ll chart a course toward a future that will awaken your younger self. Rise and conquer with the 5 AM awakening, commune with nature, unlock the power of journaling, unleash your physical prowess, find solace in silence, slumber like royalty, and master the digital realm. Remember, the journey to self-improvement is a marathon, not a sprint. Get ready to rewrite your story and become the superhero you were always destined to be. Onwards to 2024 and beyond!

I’ll be forever grateful for 2023. It’s the year I’ve come out of my comfort zone and tried different things. 🌻

Or I can say I finally started all the things that I had my eyes on for a long time.
Here’s how my 2023 went till now.

📅 In January, I started learning Notion and creating templates. I started giving away my template for free and building an audience.

💫 It helped me with building my email list. Right now, I have an email list of 4500 subscribers.

💗 In March, I started posting on Twitter. And it got me so many things. I find a very amazing community and people on Twitter. Right now, I'm close to hitting 2k followers on Twitter.

🧩 In April, I started writing on Medium; I wanted to have 100 followers on Medium. After trying for 1 month, I didn't get any results, but somehow in August, my one story went viral, and I got around 100 followers with that. Now, I’m close to hitting 200 followers here, and I also got my first sale from Medium.

🟡 In May, I did my first product hunt launch; the first time I came across PH was in Jan 2023. That time, just a thought came to my mind: Is it possible to launch my product there and come into the top 10? It was a dream at that time.

Now I've 5 budge of top products.

In June, I just enjoyed building my template and good revenue.

💡In July, I finally launched my Etsy shop. I thought I couldn’t get a sale on Etsy for at least 1 month. To my surprise, I got a sale in under 24 hours.

🌼 In August, I finally purchased a Hosting and started my blog. Making a website is a difficult task for me, but as the main point is to get out of my comfort zone, so I will do it.

But why I’m telling you this is because if you do not start, you’ll not get it. To succeed, you need to get out of your comfort zone. All the above things have been on my wishlist since I started freelancing in 2021.

But I thought I could never get 100 followers on Twitter; no one would buy my product, no one would read my Medium Blogs, and no one would buy from a new shop from Etsy.

But I was wrong. You just need to start and go with the flow. The world is big, and you always have a chance to make it big.

And I'm happier that I finally decided to come out of my cell and start doing it to just thinking.

Now it’s your turn.

Growing up on his family fjord farm on an unimaginably steep Norwegian mountainside, Magne Åkernes learned to live with risk at every turn, especially around a crack hidden in the rockface.

“When I was little, we used to break the peat moss growing over a crack so people and animals wouldn’t fall in,” Åkernes, now 90, tells me through a translator in his living room in Norway. “We took stones and dropped them in to listen for how far they fell.”

In 1958 his family was the last to vacate the famous abandoned fjord farms in Norway’s Sunnmøre district along Sunnylvsfjorden and Geirangerfjord. He returned on a hunting trip years later to a shocking discovery: the crack, once small enough to skip over, had grown. Åkernes, named after the same mountain now splitting down the front, stretches his arms wide and his eyes get big. His family notified the authorities, who eventually realized what they were up against.

Today, reaching 230 feet deep, the Åkernes crack is growing by as much as three and a half inches a year. It is one of the most hazardous rock fractures in the world. Like nearby cliffs before, part of the mountain will eventually slide into one of Norway’s deepest fjords. But this rockslide will be much larger than anything the region has seen, possibly triggering one of the tallest tsunamis in history, according to one model. At 338 feet (higher than Thailand’s in 2004) it would swallow schools, hospitals, and homes in the lower ports of fjord villages that, along with Åkernes’ old farm, sit within a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It could be months or decades. But the towns at risk are prepared. An early warning system will give them enough advanced warning to safely evacuate, and new drainage technology may potentially stabilize the cliffside.

How a changing climate is destabilizing cliffsides

Rock cliffs all over the world are filling up with water as a result of more rain (and melting permafrost) from climate change, causing an increase in rockslide-induced tsunamis. Under the surface, these mountains look like mosaics. Without anything holding the slippery broken rock together, it will recede. And in western Norway’s narrow fjords, rock sliding down 2,600-foot cliff walls would compress the water, directing the energy upward, and drastically amplifying the height of a tsunami from rockfall.

Less-destructive early warning models show Åkernes giving way more slowly to a series of slides that, without a buffer between the mountain and ocean, would form smaller, but still dangerous tsunamis.

In either case, the moment the lasers remotely sensing the crack’s every move show even a slight acceleration, up to 10,000 residents living in the fjord villages, including those from Geiranger through Stranda, down to Tafjord, and even up to some waterfront areas in the city of Ålesund, will be evacuated and displaced from their homes. Since all rockslides break down prior to collapse, these early warnings should give people enough advanced warning to evacuate before final failure.

In this idyllic danger zone, a site chosen by UNESCO to represent Norway’s fjords as one of Earth’s most beautiful places, climate change will hasten this timeline.

“We will get more rain and we have increased [rock] movement in times of heavy precipitation, and as the mountain begins to move you get more rockfall. A very heavy month of rain could be enough to start acceleration,” says Gustav Pless, geologist for the Norwegian government’s rockslide center, built in 2004 to monitor Åkernes. Without this advanced monitoring, the tsunami caused by Åkernes falling into the ocean could be Norway’s deadliest disaster.

In addition to monitoring Åkernes, Norway is investigating ways to stop a deadly tsunami, namely a pricey but very promising stabilization system that would pipe rainwater out of the mountain, similar to one first used successfully in 1987 near Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada.

Thanks to these early warning systems, scientists say villagers—and droves of tourists visiting while they can—aren’t in immediate danger from Åkernes. Rockslides and avalanches (one once took 12 seconds to bury Åkernes’ farm) are part of their heritage. But this one could be the most destructive the region has seen, particularly at the tail end of the snaking fjord system. There, where the scarped cliffside reaches the clouds and the water plunges to the depths of the Grand Canyon, sits one of Norway’s most picturesque villages, Geiranger.
Inside Geiranger, a village with numbered days... or years

In an oversized rental car, I crawl down a steep maze of hairpin turns on Eagle Road where a tunnel will be built for safer tsunami evacuation in avalanche season. At the bottom is a tiny, beautiful place with an eerie landmark , a church built in 1842— coincidentally signaling where the crest of the big wave would surge up from the shoreline. Everything below it—most of the village—would be decimated.

Generations have lived among the fjord farms and majestic waterfalls since Geiranger was discovered by a cruise ship carrying the queen in 1869. The tight-knit town of 230 people exists because of and for tourism in the months of the midnight sun. That’s 3,050 visitors annually per villager.

Katrin Blomvik Bakken, UNESCO manager of the Norwegian Fjord Center, leads me through a permanent exhibit in the heart of town honoring 200 lost in area rockslides and avalanches over the past century. There’s a 2015 movie poster from the Oscar-nominated thriller “The Wave,” filmed in Geiranger and “screened by villagers before its release—to avoid panic,” Bakken explains.

“The law requires 72-hours notice,” says mayor Jan Ove Tryggestad, of some of the villages in his municipality, including Geiranger and neighboring Hellesylt, which would be hit hardest, leaving many with nowhere to go.

The magic of Geiranger fades as I walk into one of the world’s most advanced early rockslide warning centers in the nearby industrial fjord town of Stranda also on tsunami watch. Pless sits at screens with geotechnical graphs—measurements taken from instruments a ten-minute helicopter ride away above Åkernes’ old farm.

In 1963, a rock broke off Italy’s Monte Toc, slamming into one the world’s tallest dams and killing 2,000. The tragedy led to the first successful landslide water drainage system in Canada, followed by others in New Zealand and the Swiss Alps. Ongoing, constant drainage of rainfall in the mountain can create enough friction between rock fractures to temporarily stabilize the rockface—at one Canadian site now for 35 years, while others needed additional drain holes to maintain stabilization.

“Eventually, Åkernes will start moving faster. We can't say how fast before it fails,” says Pless, who will visit Canada this fall to evaluate drainage. “It could be when it moves 50 centimeters [19 inches] per day or 50 centimeters per year. That's the difficult part. Predicting exactly when.”
Why villagers remain

My first attempt to hitch a boat to a steep fjord wall hike ended with helping rescue tourists from a capsized canoe after wind and a heavy rain snap (these "floings,” locals say, are increasing with climate change). On my second try with a warning about poisonous snakes—I stood alone on a dock waving goodbye to a boat of tourists, wondering what I’d gotten myself into. Up the shabby trailhead, I thought about how one loose baseball-sized rock could kill. But it was on that solo hike birds chirping, waterfalls rushing that I discovered why villagers stay.

After hiking 886 feet, I was eyeing one historic abandoned fjord farm, Skageflå, where, before it was partially destroyed in an 1873 rockslide, parents tied ropes around children so they wouldn’t fall into the fjord. I stood next to another, Knivsflå, being rebuilt as a summer home by the original owner's descendants.

“It’s part of our lives to live with the danger in nature,” says Monja Mjelva, whose brother-in-law is rebuilding Knivsflå and their husband’s family has owned Geiranger’s Hotel Union for 125 years.

Down the fjord at historian Astor Furseth’s home, I see a chunk carved out of the rock face from the famous 56-foot Tafjord tsunami that killed 41 in 1934. The many survivors Furseth interviewed never once talked about what happened until he asked them 50 years later.

“A man who lost his sister barely escaped and tried to talk to me about what happened and began crying,” says Furseth. “He rang me to ask, ‘Can we try again?’ The same thing happened.”

I think back to Åkernes as a child, rowing his boat to school in the fjord, barely escaping a different boulder rumbling down the mountain onto his mooring buoy. Through all the famous rockslides—Loen in 1905 and 1936—his family stayed.

Despite knowing their homes could be flattened, few have left Geiranger. They’ve dug out canyons to protect themselves from rockslides and built their homes around the paths of avalanches. Because, in Geiranger, as quickly as nature can compromise, it delivers unending natural beauty.

Why is it hard for people today to read?

We sometimes found ourselves reading rules in public places just by scanning them.

From rule number one to rule number five quickly. It’s still hard for us to read, even if it’s just a little bit of text. We can see that a lot of articles and guidance to become better in life have been made on the internet, but still, there aren’t many people reading them at my university.

Reading news on websites is now a hard task. It’s not even up to 5000 words, but it’s still hard for us to read just a little bit.

Then, I try to find out why people, especially me, find it hard to read effectively.

I found that social media scrolling is affecting our focus. We are getting used to 1 minute of content every day, and it is hard to focus on 5 minutes of reading an article. Every piece of content that we scroll through resets our focus.

Scrolling through social media not only affects our mood because of the content it gives us, but it also gives us a lack of focus.

That’s why we find it hard to not hold our phone or wait for someone without playing our phone (dopamine plays a major role too). I experience that a lot too.

Especially when waiting for someone, though.

Scrolling on social media helps us kill time.

When we are waiting for our food or maybe for someone else. We can avoid “looking stupid” rather than just wandering around and not doing anything (well, that’s how my friend sometimes sees someone who’s waiting without their phone).

We have our phone, which could help us become much more “normal” by looking at it while waiting in the corner.
You can see that society affects our use of our phones

So, getting back to reading, we need to decrease our phone usage and increase our focus.

Effective reading could happen if we start practicing our focus and implementing it. If we have problems obtaining the information, for example, if we get distracted a lot, then we might not read the materials or subject effectively.

The problem if we don’t read effectively is that we can’t obtain materials with maximum benefits.

We might get false information from the book, or we might start to hate reading because it seems “hard” and start using our phones more often to avoid that struggle.
Goals are important

I love to do practical applications so that we can implement them right away.

Reading effectively means we read with focus and implement it. How can we increase our focus then? Before we increase our focus, we might need to know what we are reading.

What our goals are.

Defining our goals in our reading could help us stay on track. We know what we are doing. Not just read things randomly. We start to find the book that correlates with our wants.

Then we can find enjoyment in reading.

Finding the book or certain topics that you want to read is important. If you are interested in fiction, go ahead and read that. You don’t have to bother the society that you need to read “Think and Grow Rich” all the time.

Start reading what you want.

By choosing what you really want to read, you gain control over your life.

You chose what you wanted. That’s an important thing that you need to have in your life. So, keep on doing that!

Hopefully, you can keep on track with the life you really want and make your life much happier.
Tips to increase your focus and reading

It is not easy to increase our focus right away, but I want you guys to claim that you all have focus in your life.

You have the capability to focus and practice it for a certain amount of time. You might hate to read 5-minute articles, but it’s okay. You can start by reading something for 3 minutes every day.

If it’s still hard, try to read for one minute.

If you still find it hard, try to just open your book every day.

There’s nothing wrong with that. Just keep on doing that consistently, because you are building the foundation now. You are building the habit of opening your book and reading it.

You can’t become an overnight success. Give yourself some time and enjoy your progress.

Staring at the wall

This is another way to increase your focus.

Staring at your wall for a certain amount of time can lead you to focus. Give yourself some time to focus on a black dot on your wall, and you might increase your focus by doing so. You are practicing your ability to focus by staring at the wall.

It might seem boring, but by doing that, you are practicing your ability to focus and urge surfing (no craving lasts forever).

We are experiencing boredom and distraction while doing something because we are not focused. If you are focused, you don’t have time to think about that.

You just keep on focusing and doing your activities.
Online Application

If you don’t like to read books, I could suggest you use an application on your smartphone.

You can use “Readera” or maybe Kindle. I haven’t tried the Kindle, but Readera is a great application, and it’s free to use. You maybe can’t read everywhere with your book because sometimes you just bring your phone all the time, but you can read your e-book anytime from your phone.

Start reading wherever you are.

Become a reader. Read while you wait for someone. Read while you are bored. Read while you wait for your food in a restaurant.

The more you read, the more likely you are to increase your focus.

In the end, you find yourself reading more and more effectively than most people.

Reading effectively is hard nowadays.

We found ourselves struggling to focus on a subject or a book that we read. Social media scrolling has made us lack focus. We are not losing our focus; we are just not practicing our focus.
To sum it up: Find a topic that you really want, and start small.
Read it consistently.
Practice your focus by staring at a wall or a black dot on a wall.

Doing something as simple as reading five minutes per day can help us gain focus and read more effectively.

In the end, you will find yourself increasingly focused, not just on reading but on every activity that you do.

Brooding and melodic with a fiery modern energy, “We Bring Calamity” kicks in the gates with the first single “Calamity.” Playful rhythms and soaring leads that will get buried in your head for days followed by powerful vocals tearing the sonic landscape to shreds make this track stand out as a powerful starting place for this release. “Of The Abyss” picks up where Calamity finishes, setting an engaging groove to headbang along with. Again the use of rhythm stands out, with an ebb and flow to the lyrics and percussion that crashes like the thunder of waves. Just when the mist clears, a powerful and familiar force gathers momentum, “Endless Lifetime of Hate” has begun. A familiar song for long-time followers of the band, finally manifested in its true form. A mighty, frantic expression of love for fantasy explodes as the final track on this crushing EP.

The ep recently premiered via Metal-Rules.com and the feature can be found here:
https://www.metal-rules.com/2023/08/03/calamity-unleashed-balrogaths-ep-of-power-death-metal/
Bio:

Balrogath formed in 2017 and quickly gained a following in Southern Alberta with their powerful stage presence and intricate composition. Burning the gap between death and power metal, the group takes influence from all corners of the genre, and alchemically blends those components into a sound wholly their own. With years of shows under their belt, Balrogath has only just begun their quest.

The group has been playing relentlessly since 2018 covering many venues and festivals throughout Alberta, and has shared the stage with some of Alberta’s biggest heavy indie bands, such as Mares of Thrace, No More Moments, and Black Pestilence. Balrogath’s live show is one to be remembered.

After the overwhelmingly positive reception of their debut album “Arcane Sacrifice” in 2022 Balrogath has dug deep to bring a more modern sound to their classic composition with the 2023 EP “We Bring Calamity.” The upcoming single “Calamity” is sure to impress, showing off their familiar dark melody with a striking new video to accompany.

Balrogath is:

Chris Saunders/ Warchanter – Guitar, Vocals

Gray Panchuck/ Bladesinger - Vocals

Jesse McCrank/Rhythm Warden – Drums

T.J. Riggins/Loremaster – Bass

Connect with Balrogath:

Bandcamp:

https://balrogath.bandcamp.com/

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4TCkukIAY3fnehGIbdtWEg?si=VVxZIuSER0i-56-EFHdzvA

Website:

www.balrogath.ca

Nestled at the crossroads of Scandinavia and Russia, Helsinki stands as a remarkably unique gem within the Nordic region. While its siblings Oslo and Stockholm boast their own charm, the sea-facing city of Helsinki exudes a distinct character that effortlessly marries tradition with innovation.

With a population that holds the world record for the most saunas, it’s clear that the Finns have perfected the art of relaxation. But beneath this calm exterior lies a dynamic city brimming with captivating design, culinary delights, and an enchanting blend of architectural marvels.

As you step into the Finnish capital, prepare for a whirlwind 24-hour adventure that will unveil Helsinki’s unparalleled allure.
Must Eat: Finnish Culinary Delights

Embark on a delectable journey by savouring a hearty breakfast of Karjalanpiirakka (Karelian pasty) and a steaming cup of rich Finnish coffee.

Lunch at Ravintola Sea Horse promises a rendezvous with tradition; indulge in their famous herring dishes and other authentic Finnish flavors.

End your culinary escapade with a dinner at the trendsetting Michelin-starred Olo restaurant, where innovative Nordic cuisine takes centre stage in a minimalist setting.

Get there in early October for the Herring Festival where Baltic fishermen sell their herring. It’s been going since 1743 and takes place in the Market Square and you get to taste herring with the sounds of accordion music playing with your ears.
Must Do: Sauna Serenity

Embrace the Finnish way of life with a must-do visit to the Löyly Sauna.

Nestled by the serene waterfront, it is something of a local institution. First bask in the serene warmth, then gaze out at the Baltic Sea long enough to gather the courage to dive into it! The hot/cold therapy lies at the heart of Finnish wellness and will leave you refreshed for all your ongoing adventures.

The Sauna also offers treatments like the age-old ritual of a gentle birch twig massage, as well as serving drinks straight to the decks, and a beautiful waterfront restaurant to re-fuel after a long morning’s relaxation.
Must Hunt Down: Design District Treasures

Wander through Helsinki’s vibrant Design District, a creative haven offering a treasure trove of boutiques, galleries, and studios.

We started off at the Design Museum, the spiritual center of the area where you can learn about all the things you didn’t realise Finnish design has contributed to the world – including the mobile game Angry Birds, and the classic design of tailor’s scissors. After absorbing yourself in the theory, hit the shops for design in practice.

The Costo x Pure Waste Concept Store’s ecologically sustainable clothing and accessories are stylish and forward-thinking, while the two-story Artek lets you unearth unique Finnish design pieces, from sleek furniture to quirky textiles.

You can even get a customised Alvar Aalto’s Stool 60. Finally, don’t miss the iconic Marimekko store, a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns.

Must Explore: Captivating Districts

Helsinki is full of diverse neighborhoods that reward those exploring on foot.

Alongside Brussels, Paris, and Vienna, Helsinki is home to an important record of the Art Nouveau architectural movement. You can embrace this history in the charming harbourside area of Katajanokka, home to stunning Jugendstil buildings that capture the spirit of the early 1900s. For real architecture fans, why not check out a dedicated tour?

Next, take a walk or hop on a tram up to Kallio to fast-forward into the here and now. This densely packed, hilly hipster hub is full of vintage shops and local bars where the city’s young and free come to let go. Best saved for a weekend if you’re in the mood for a big one, but great throughout the week for cafes, shops, and if it’s Summer the beautiful elevated parks.

Round off your exploration in the sleek and modern Kamppi district. This downtown hub is full of Finland’s best museums and public buildings, including the Museum of Finland, as well the Parliament building and the stunning, utopian Helsinki Library. A walk round its multiple floors re-imagines what a library can be in a digital age, with gaming rooms, music studios, cafes and even 3D printing stations alongside the more traditional workspaces and books.
Must Admire: Marvellous Modernism

Gawk at the awe-inspiring Temppeliaukio Church, carved directly into solid rock, creating an ethereal space that blends nature and design.

Continue your architectural journey at the captivating Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, an avant-garde masterpiece nestled in the heart of the city, and the striking Kamppi Chapel, a dome-like womb that is a unique space of reflection amidst the bustle of life elsewhere.
Must Unwind: Tranquil Escapes

Ok – let’s be real. If we’re talking about Helsinki, nature is where it’s at. Luckily, in Helsinki, it’s easy to escape the urban bustle and feel at one with the earth and all its elements. Esplanade Park is perfect for a sere stroll in the city centre. Alternatively, find solace in the Nuuksio National Park, a short train ride away. Immerse yourself in the Finnish wilderness, surrounded by pristine lakes and dense forests.

We visited the Helsinki Biennale on Vallisaari Island. Accessible by ferry, the Biennale brings artworks from Finnish and global artists/collectives together on a walking tour through nature. Although not returning to Finland until Summer 2025, the Biennale has plans to expand and diversify even further – so perhaps put a pin in your Google cal for then!

Must Capture: Iconic Landmarks

Of course, sometimes you just want to take in a destination just how you imagined it – postcard-perfect. The image you’re seeking is the iconic Helsinki Cathedral, an elegant white masterpiece overlooking Senate Square, best viewed from a boat on the water. Back on land stroll along the picturesque Market Square, for souvenir snapshots of its vibrant market stalls, with authentic fishermen selling Nordic delicacies like fresh herring bites, alongside stands full of souvenirs, sweets, and all manner of treats. Just watch out for the sharp-eyed seagulls also on the lookout for lunch!
Must Remember: Midnight Sun Magic

If your visit falls during the summer months, relish in the enchanting phenomenon of the midnight sun. Experience the city bathed in surreal, perpetual daylight, casting a golden glow over the enchanting landscapes.

FACT FILE:

Stay: St George, Helsinki

Fly: Helsinki is easy to access by air. Skyscanner has deals

Why do we feel sleepy after a big Thanksgiving meal

Serotonin is one of the “feel-good” hormones, which can calm and relax the body. However, we don’t consume nearly enough turkey during a holiday smorgasbord even if we go back for seconds to create the amount of serotonin needed to make us sleepy, said Steven Malin, an associate professor in the department of kinesiology and Health at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

To get the amount of tryptophan required to cause a food coma, he said, we’d have to eat about 8 pounds of turkey meat — about half of a typical bird meant to serve a crowd. The US Department of Agriculture recommends planning for 1 pound of turkey meat per person when preparing a holiday meal.

“Tryptophan from turkey is unlikely to enter the brain and make enough serotonin to make us sleepy,” Malin said.

So you can’t blame the gobbler on your table alone for your sudden sleepiness, said sleep specialist Kristen Knutson, an associate professor of neurology and preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.

“Turkey doesn’t really make us sleepy,” Knutson said. “If we feel sleepy after a big meal, it is likely due to not getting enough sleep in the days leading up to the big event and finally being able to relax after the dinner is over.”

Overeating in general is also a major culprit for the fatigue one feels after eating, Dasgupta said.

“Remember all the delicious side dishes surrounding the centerpiece of turkey, such as sweet potato pie, casseroles, and yummy desserts,” he said. “These tasty dishes contain a high amount of carbohydrates, which also contribute to post-meal sleepiness.”

Another reason you feel sleepy after a meal is a change in blood flow from the head to the digestive system.

“Eating a big holiday dinner causes increased blood flow to the stomach to help digest the meal, which results in less blood flow to the brain, making you tired and ready for bed,” Dasgupta said.

And don’t forget the impact of holiday drinking either. Many meals served at this time of year are washed down with wine, cocktails and champagne. Then there’s the omnipresent beer (or two or three) that often accompany the afternoon ball games.

“Let’s be honest. It’s the holidays, and there might be some family stress or travel fatigue, so maybe you drank more than your usual amount,” Dasgupta said. “Alcohol slows down your brain and relaxes your muscles, so after a few drinks you’ll likely feel sleepy.”

Like a stab between the eyes, Polish Warsaw trio WEIRD TALES will deliver their outrageous new full length album on September 1st via Interstellar Smoke Records.

"Second Coming, Second Crucifixion" consists of six new tracks - 40 minute riff based dance music for psychopaths.

On their most extraverted work to date, WEIRD TALES are manifesting disappointment in humanity, friendship and love. Hatred from the deepest abyss of the heart is mixed up with the creepshow stories about schizos, drug addicts and slaughter.

Starting as a stoner doom band, they incorporated proto-punk, psychedelic and noise to their music and amplified it with narcotic psychosis. Now they put it to your face straight from hell!

Harsh guitars, rapid, vigorous drums and dirty bass will fall on your head like a storm. Filled with dark psychedelic vocals and filthy lyrics it brings sardonic fun to all fans of heavy music, who are disappointed with life.

WEIRD TALES bio:
Doom power trio from Warsaw, formed in 2015.
The Band consists of Dima (guitar, lead vocal), Kriss (bass, back vocal) and Smoku (drums, back vocals).

WEIRD TALES is riff worship driven by narcotic psychosis. Sick compositions and grooves stitching together riff stabs, tectonic-shifting rhythms, hypnotic melodic verses, hazy, acid-soaked interludes and psychoactive guitar soloing that eventually congeal into a Sabbath-worshiping hoe-down.

The band have released 1 Full-Length album and 3 EP’s, with the most recent -
“Y'all Motherfuckers Forgot 'Bout Good Ol' Son of a Bitchin' Blues“
and live-in-studio record “Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die“ having been released in 2021.

WEIRD TALES is known for varied music presented on each release and raw,
energetic live performances. If anyone could capture a bad trip, that would be it.

New full length album “Second Coming, Second Crucifixion” will be released 01.09.20223 via Interstellar Smoke Records.

WEIRD TALES shared stages with such well known acts like Church of Misery, Bongzilla, Belzebong, Dopelord and Spaceslug and performed at festivals Electric Meadow, Gruzilla and Low Gravity.

The band tours frequently over Poland and Europe and played in Germany, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia

Check Out Singles from the upcoming album:
"Swampire" official video: https://youtu.be/n9pIQWs6drI
"Undertaker" lyrics video: https://youtu.be/WGEcWSoPrcw
"Disgusting & Mean" tour video: https://youtu.be/s8QiyQpcQNM

"ZZ" live studio video: https://youtu.be/uaK_Yk4GxCQ

Releases:
2017 - two EP’s “WEIRD TALES” and “SHINY VOID”
2019 - debut full length album “Hell Services Cost a Lot”
2021 - concept EP “Y'all Motherfuckers Forgot 'Bout Good Ol' Son of a Bitchin' Blues“
2021 - live studio recording “ZZ”
2023 – full length “Second Coming, Second Crucifixion”

Connect with Weird Tales:

https://weird.bandcamp.com/music

https://www.facebook.com/weirdtalesband/

https://instagram.com/weirdtalesband?igshid=wtwhwxlxhl69

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-38mViA1wQrP2QLPBaZLg

Connect with Interstellar Smoke Records:

https://interstellarsmokerecords1.bandcamp.com/

https://interstellarsmokerecords.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Interstellar-Smoke-Records-101687381255396/

https://instagram.com/interstellar.smoke.label?igshid=n7qwce5lvevs

1. Precise priorities

The objectives and priorities of the meeting need to be precise. For example, are you working something out or sharing information? Ask those in attendance to be truly present and make it clear you require participation from all otherwise there is no need for their attendance. Use digital tools to communicate what can be said outside of a meeting. Keep cameras on!

2. Group participation

Avoid any one person monopolizing the meeting, including those with a personal agenda.

Encourage laptops to be kept closed. Decisions made must be communicated and adhered to unless formally changed afterward.

3. Facilitation for improved participation

Outcomes from facilitated meetings are almost invariably greater and more positive with less time wasted, fewer diversions, more clarity of communication, and increased participation.

4. Keep it respectful

It is a waste of time if individuals feel they are not being listened to or don’t feel involved or it is not clear what the function of their attendance is. Encourage innovative and collaborative discussions.

5. Stay relevant

Invite people who are genuinely pertinent to the meeting and permit them to decline if they believe their time would be better utilised elsewhere.

Employees need to be able to say this isn’t for me but equally leaders need to explain why they should be there if required.

Frequently, leaders arrange meetings based on their own convenience, often without taking their teams' requirements or schedules into account.

6. The importance of accessibility

Opt for virtual meetings if it allows for better accessibility and turnout of the right people, but book face-to-face every so often.

7. Get the day right

Ensure meetings are being held on days when crucial participants are available to avoid them needing to be rescheduled or repeated later on in the week. Check if a meeting is absolutely necessary and have fewer recurring meetings. Consider different alternatives such as introducing one day each week for meetings, and also ‘no meeting’ days.

8. Let’s get together

We are social beings. Everyone is different and for some their needs may not be fully accommodated by online meetings, especially those who live alone or in difficult circumstances. Balance is key, as is flexibility. Know your people, have their needs in mind, and accommodate them as much as you can.

A monthly Apple TV+ subscription will now cost $9.99, up from $6.99, which equates to an overall $36 bump for the year. A year ago, in October 2022, Apple hiked the price of an Apple TV+ subscription from $4.99 to $6.99. The service will still be ad-free, the company said.

The change is effective immediately for new customers and 30 days later for existing subscribers on their next renewal date, according to Apple.

Apple’s streaming platform is home to popular shows including “Ted Lasso,” “The Morning Show” and “Shrinking.”

But it’s not the only Apple service seeing a price increase. Its gaming platform Apple Arcade jumped from $4.99 to $6.99 monthly, and an Apple News subscription is now up $3 to $12.99. Meanwhile, an Apple One subscription, which incorporates all of Apple’s subscription services into one plan, is also up $19.95 from $16.95 monthly for individuals, and $25.95 per month for a family plan, up $3 from the previous plan.

There are no price changes to Apple Music, Apple Fitness+, or iCloud+, the company said. In a statement to CNN, Apple said the change reflects its continued focus on adding more high quality content and features.

The news comes just a week after Netflix raised the prices to its one-stream basic plan to $11.99 in the US. (All other plans, including its entry-level, $6.99-a-month ad-supported tier, will remain at the same monthly cost).

Eric Abbruzzese, director at ABI Research, said it’s not unusual for companies to raise prices, with many citing inflation as a primary reason for the change.

The $10 monthly cost is less than the average for similar services that include 4K video without ads, especially compared to the larger competitors in Netflix, Hulu and Disney+.

“It seems the Apple service favors quality over quantity,” he said. “A number of its TV exclusive programming is multi-award winning. … Subscriber growth estimates point to it growing quicker than most competition as well.”

Apple’s subscription revenue was $21 billion in the second quarter, growing 8% from a year earlier. The company doesn’t publish subscriber numbers for its products such as Apple TV.

Mike Proulx, research director at market research firm Forrester, said most other streaming services have yet to reach profitability, outside of Netflix. That’s because the first battle in the streaming war was all about amassing users, thanks to licensing and developing quality content.

“The challenge that lies ahead for streaming services is all about how to retain and grow their user base amid increasing prices and content cost cutting measures,” Proulx said. “Consumers expect great content at a fair price. It’s about value — and no streaming service has yet to solve the value equation.”

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