How to Set OKRs to Keep Your Goals on Track

Goals typically fail for several reasons, the main one being they lack purpose or a tangible reason why they have been set in the first place. If you don’t honestly believe in a goal or have an emotional attachment to why it’s been created, you’ll either lose interest or only do the minimum to deliver it. There are several other reasons goals can fail, including:

• The goal is too ambitious and so far from being achievable that there is no point working on it as you feel you’ll never achieve it.
• The goal completion target is so far off into the future that you just put it off as there is no urgency.
• The goal isn't specific enough and so vague and hard to plan for as they may sound great, but you’re not sure how you’ll achieve them.

OKRs can provide the structure and direction you need to achieve your goals, whether you’re a company or an individual. They create the purpose and direction you need to achieve and work towards, as well as offer strategies for how you’ll measure your progress, success, and then ultimately the initiatives to get you there. Where OKRs work better than a single goal approach as they link everything together. At the highest level, you have your company vision; below the vision there is the annual OKRs (3-5); then below these come the quarterly OKRs. Each one is serving the next and is being achieved by all the initiatives (the work) being delivered by the teams and individuals day to day, week to week, and month to month.

What Is an OKR?

OKR stand for "Objectives and Key Results" and was initially created by Andy Grove in the 1970s while at Intel. Since then, OKRs have been taken on and used by companies like Google and Netflix((Medium: Objectives & Key Results)). OKRs are a collaborative way to create goals for a company and individuals as they are not only ambitious and inspiring but also achievable. OKRs were not only created to set objectives for companies but also to improve collaboration, engagement, and transparency between senior management and its employees. Having shared objectives throughout the company brings the whole workforce together to work towards common goals and then celebrate together when they've achieved them. The objective within an OKR is the outcome you're looking to achieve, and the key result is how you're going to measure whether the outcome has been achieved. Key results are what make OKRs measurable; they tell you if you've been successful with the objectives set up front as, without them, the success of an objective can be left open to opinion.

How to Create an OKR

An OKR consists of an Objective, which defines what you're trying to achieve, and up to five key results. The key results are how you measure if you've achieved the objective. Under the key results, you also have a set of initiatives, which are the activities or the work required to achieve the key results. You create OKRs to set the overall direction for a company and create the alignment needed, so every employee is working with the same shared purpose. While we will be discussing OKRs mostly at the company level, keep in mind that individuals can also use them for life planning. A company typically has a single vision or a mission for the company, and this direction you want to move towards could be set for the next decade or even longer. This is the ultimate purpose that aligns your company's employees and, in some cases, your customers on why you do what you do. This vision sets your direction, which then allows the creation of the company OKRs, which are set annually. These 3-5 OKRs are the objectives that will move your company closer to that overall vision and are specific to what outcomes you need to achieve in the next 12 months. Each company OKR has clear key results (up to five) that are measurable, so you can track progress and measure success. These company objectives encompass all parts of the business and can overlap over multiple departments. The departments within the company then set group OKRs, which are set quarterly using the company OCR's as the direction. Again, like the company OCR's, they all have key results defined and agreed on so the departments can measure progress.

What Makes a Good Objective?

Objectives tell you where you need to go and should inspire and set the direction. When defining the objective for your OCR, it has to be clear, well-written and free of doubt about what the outcome of the objective is. An objective should always be an outcome that you may not initially know how to achieve, but you understand what the outcome is you’re looking to aim for. It also needs to be balanced in how achievable it is. If the objective is to achieve 100% market share in your industry, that is not only too ambitious, but it’s very likely to be impossible. You could also make the opposite mistake and make the outcome of the objective too easy (for example, increase our market share by 1%). If the objective is too easy, too hard, or impossible, you’re wasting your time creating it as it offers no value, and ultimately the team will pay no attention to it and lose faith in the overall approach.

What Makes a Good Key Result?

If the objective sets the direction you want and defines the outcomes you need to achieve, you can think of the key results as the milestones to get you there. The key results are how you'll track progress so you can quantify and measure as you go to make sure you're on track to achieve your chosen outcome. If the objectives are well-defined and thought out, the key results are what keeps the team motivated and focused. This is because they're measurable. Once complete, it can be a tick in the box to show not only progress, but also celebrate the success you've achieved. These small, significant milestones keep the teams and individuals motivated, especially when working with quarterly objectives. The vital part of creating key results is that they're measurable. There should be no doubt if you've achieved a key result or not. For example, if you have an objective of "Increase revenue this quarter by 5%," one of your key results could be: "Sell 100 of our new training courses." If you've only sold 80 training courses, then you only achieved 80% of that key result.

How to Track OKRs

OKRs must be tracked and reviewed regularly. The direction of the company, although this is an ongoing activity, is typically reviewed annually, but the company OKRs need to be reviewed quarterly. A quarterly review would entail looking at the progress of the key results defined at the start of the quarter. These key results tell you if you're going in the right direction through measurement and progress tracking. A quarterly review also gives the teams a chance to review the OKRs when it comes to the value they'll provide the company, the staff, and its end users. What you created three months ago may not hold the same value today. Discuss the value of the OKR. Is it still pushing you towards the overall company vision, or do you need to change or potentially create a new one? To review OKRs at the team level and the initiatives in place to deliver them, you need to meet at least every two weeks or even weekly in some cases. Meeting regularly follows the same principle as the quarterly and yearly review as you look at how are you progressing. What is working and what isn't?

The Bottom Line

OKRs are a great way to adapt your goals into a more structured and trackable format that will keep your goals on track. The OKR approach gives you the ability to separate your long term and shorter momentum goals so you can stay focused and interested throughout the year. Making them measurable by creating key results allows you to track progress through to completion, which is a great way to stay motivated and push to complete more. Like standard goal-setting, if you don’t invest the time up front to create them correctly, you’ll either lose interest, or they wont deliver the value you had hoped for. To be successful when implementing the OKR approach within your company, don’t have too many, make them transparent, make sure your teams are aligned, and check progress regularly. If you do all of this, you’ll give yourself the best chance to reach your goals.

More Tips on Objectives and Key Results

• What Are Smart Objectives? (And How to Use Them)
• 10 Questions That Will Improve Results in Any Area
• 11 Reasons Why You Aren’t Getting Results

How to Organize Tasks With A Weekly To-Do List

It takes commitment to remain focused and make your week productive. A research conducted by the University of California revealed that you need 30 minutes to refocus after being distracted on a task ((UCI: The Cost of Interrupted Work: More Speed and Stress)). With so many distractions pulling at our attention, how can we complete our weekly to do lists? With the introduction of new technologies and the popularization of remote work, you can expect more and more distractions. Meanwhile, it is possible to relieve yourself of pressure and burden when you master how to organize your chores, tasks, and responsibilities with a weekly to-do list.

What Is a To Do List?

A to do list is a schedule that itemizes what you need to and when you have to do it. The essence of a to do list is to enable you to simplify your life and not make it burdensome.

How to Prepare Weekly To Do Lists

Follow these steps to get yourself ready for the week ahead with a comprehensive to do list.

1. Select a Channel

It is important to find a medium that works for you. You can utilize a pen and paper or leverage digital applications in managing your to-do lists. However, research suggests that you can remember information better when you write by hand((UCLA: The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard:Advantages of Longhand Over Laptop Note Taking)). Nevertheless, find what helps motivate you more and stick with that.

2. Develop Multiple Lists

Your multiple lists should contain:

• Master list
• Weekly project list
• HIT list

Your master list includes every task you want to achieve in the long-term. For instance, complete all Lifehack courses, clean out the bathtub, etc. Your project list contains all the tasks that demand your attention within the next seven days. And then, your high-impact list, or HIT list, includes tasks that you need to attend to within 24 hours. Every evening, identify the items you need to move from your weekly to-do list to your HIT list for the next day.

3. Make It Simple

Your weekly to-do list should not be intimidating. You only have 24 hours. Thus, you can simplify your HIT list by highlighting the chores and responsibilities you want to complete today and divide them into two. Ten items are perfect for your HIT list. Don't forget this! The accumulation of your HIT list makes up your weekly to do list. Begin your HIT list with 2 or 3 important tasks you need to carry out within 24 hours. That way, you don't waste time cleaning the bathtub instead of completing the presentation that is due tomorrow morning.

4. Break the Goals Down

Instead of having an item such as "work on a kindle book," you can be more specific by making your goals more manageable. That way, you will eliminate the fear factor. You could have something like: write the book outline on Monday, write the first chapter on Tuesday, and the next chapter the following day.

5. Include Detailed Information

You should support every item on your weekly to-do list with information to complete the task. For instance, if an item says "register for a course," you should include the website and course title. That way, you save yourself the time of scouring for information later.

6. Time Every Item

You have 10,080 minutes each week to complete all the tasks on your weekly to do lists. It is reasonable to allocate time for every item on your list. For instance: Write the introduction from 9 am-12 pm, clean the bathtub from 4-5 pm, pick up some groceries at the supermarket from 5-6 pm. Once your time expires, you move on to the next item.

7. Establish Breaks

You need to rest a bit after cleaning the bathtub before setting out. You can allocate 15 minutes to relax your mind or prepare for the next task.

8. Make It Visible and Public

You can share your to-do list with your accountability partner. Also, post it on your sticky notes, or set up a digital calendar accessible by anyone on your team.

9. Allocate Time for Scheduling

It takes time to prepare your weekly to do lists. And the best approach is to schedule a time for that task. Block out your Friday afternoon for organizing items on your weekly to do lists.

10. Start With a Fresh Slate

Don't allow old tasks to clog up your schedule. Ensure you have a new list each week. Complete your HIT list each day so you don't block your weekly project lists with old items. Now, it is not enough to prepare your weekly to do lists; you need to master how to prioritize with the list for maximum productivity.

How to Prioritize Weekly To Do Lists

Use the following techniques to maximize your productivity through prioritization.

1. Use the Getting Things Done (GTD) Method

David Allen, a productivity expert and author, affirmed that you can be productive despite having a long to-do list. How you plan is what counts. The Getting Things Done technique enables you to focus on your Most Impactful Tasks (MITs) instead of the number of tasks.((Youtube: Getting Things Done (GTD) by David Allen - Animated Book Summary And Review))

2. Focus on One Task at a Time

You are aware of which task needs urgent attention. All you need is to focus on that task before taking out the next. It's not a long list that kills, but multitasking. If you choose not to multitask, you will realize that you can make notable progress on difficult projects. Not only that, your stress level will go down, and you will find more joy in the tasks you're completing((HBR: How (and Why) to Stop Multitasking)).

3. Evaluate Your Weekly Progress

It is not easy selecting a few important plans for each week. That's why you need to reflect every weekend on what worked the previous week, and what did not. Also, anytime you complete a task, don't just tick it as "completed," but label it as "Progress." On Friday evening, assess your Progress list, and study every item. How could it be improved? Follow this process every week.

4. Ask for Help

Sometimes, things get out of hand. The best strategy is to request assistance from your teammates, managers, or accountability partner. Avoid procrastinating on activities that go beyond your capabilities.

5. Learn to Say No

Sometimes, you feel compelled to consent to every request, and you would rather sacrifice all items on your to do list to say yes. Say no((Psychcentral: Learning To Say No)) to things that your schedule and energy cannot accommodate. Do what counts towards your long-term objectives.

6. Use Friday Evening to Reflect

You should reflect on your week after work on Friday. That way, you can enjoy a worry-free weekend and kick-start the new week in the right direction. A lot of managers plan on Saturday evenings or Sunday evenings. Ensure you find the time that suits you.

7. Focus on Outcomes, Not the Method

Focusing on results helps you to determine how to assess your achievement. If you focus on the methods, you may find it difficult to say if an item has been achieved. A result-oriented approach will enable you to mark your goal as "Progress."

8. Share Your Productivity Strategy

When you share what you are working on with your teammates, it helps you enjoy a maximum level of support. Also, others will treat you as engaged. Furthermore, when you have actualized your goals, share the results with your team and inspire them to do the same.

9. Choose Themes for Your Week

If you have different tasks, you can divide your weekly to do list into five days of different work sections. Then, take out those tasks each week. Ensure you carry your teammates along on your day's focus. Jack Dorsey((Forbes: The Jack Dorsey Productivity Secret That Enables Him To Run Two Companies At Once)), Twitter's CEO, was highly focused when he was doing 80-hours of work per week in two companies. He was exceptionally focused on planning his day, so he developed a theme for his week:

• Monday: Attend to management issues
• Tuesday: Work on products
• Wednesday: Marketing, communications, and growth
• Thursday: Developers and partnerships
• Friday: Corporate culture

Steve Jobs was also productive due to his consistent plan. He held executive meetings on Monday, while he dedicated Wednesdays to advertising and marketing.

10. Respect Others' Time

No one likes to be interrupted, be it via meetings or emails. Respect others' time: no texts, email, or a call for unnecessary meetings. When you do this, others will be more likely to respect your time, helping you avoid unnecessary distractions.

Final Thoughts

Weekly to do lists can be a great tool to keep you accountable and on task. Use your to do lists to maximize your time by achieving a smaller set of important tasks and doing your best. Practice prioritization by completing your most important tasks first and feel productive immediately. This will motivate you to push through the rest of the week.

More Tips on Creating Weekly To Do Lists

• How to Create a To Do List and Actually Get Things Done
• 24 Best To-Do List Apps to Keep You on Track in 2020
• How to Actually Get Things Done with Your To-do List

What Is Unconscious Bias (And How to Reduce It for Good)

Many conversations are being held nowadays regarding unconscious bias, but what does it really mean and how can it affect your life and the people around you? With many types of biases, it can get quite confusing. In this article, we'll touch on cognitive bias, and then zero in on unconscious bias. Both types of biases have an immediate impact on your life because they relate to how you and others think about yourself and other people. If you want to protect your relationships and make good decisions about other people, you need to know what these biases mean((New Harbinger: The Blindspots Between Us: How to Overcome Unconscious Cognitive Bias and Build Better Relationships)). Once we have clarity about that, we can explore in more depth unconscious bias and how to address it((Disaster Avoidance Experts: How to Evaluate Unconscious Bias Caused by Cognitive Biases at Work)).

Cognitive Bias

Let's start with cognitive bias((Association for Psychological Science: Cognitive Bias)), a predictable pattern of mental errors that result in us misperceiving reality and, as a result, deviating away from the most likely way of reaching our goals((American Psychological Association: On the reality of cognitive illusions)). These mental blind spots impact all areas of our life, from health to relationships and even shopping, as a study recently revealed((Top10: New Survey Reveals What Really Drives You to Buy What You Buy)). In other words, from the perspective of what is best for us as individuals, falling for a cognitive bias always harms us by lowering our probability of getting what we want. Cognitive biases have to do with judgment, not mood. Ironically, cognitive biases — such as the optimism bias and overconfidence effect — more often lead to positive moods. Of course, the consequence of falling into cognitive biases, once discovered, usually leaves us in a bad mood due to the disastrous results of these dangerous judgment errors.

Unconscious Bias

Unconscious bias is different from cognitive bias. Also known as implicit bias, it refers to unconscious forms of discrimination and stereotyping based on race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, ability, age, and so on((Sage Journals: Understanding Unconscious Bias and Unintentional Racism)). Despite cognitive biases sometimes leading to discriminatory thinking and feeling patterns, these are two separate and distinct concepts. Cognitive biases are common across humankind and relate to the particular wiring of our brains, while unconscious bias relates to perceptions between different groups and are specific for the society in which we live. For example, I bet you don’t care or even think about whether someone is a noble or a commoner, yet that distinction was fundamentally important a few centuries ago across Europe. To take another example, most people in the US don’t have strong feelings about Sunni vs. Shiite Muslims, yet this distinction is incredibly meaningful in many parts of the world.

Unconscious Bias and Discriminatory Behavior

Organizations often bring me in as a speaker on diversity and inclusion to address potential unconscious discriminatory behavior. When I share in speeches that black Americans suffer from police harassment and violence at a much higher rate than white people, some participants (usually white) occasionally try to defend the police by claiming that black people are more violent and likely to break the law than whites. They thus attribute police harassment to the internal characteristics of black people (implying that it is deserved), and not to the external context of police behavior. In reality – as I point out in my response to these folks – research shows that black people are harassed and harmed by police at a much higher rate for the same kind of activity. A white person walking by a cop, for example, is statistically much less likely to be stopped and frisked than a black one((HeinOnline: Pulled Over: How Police Stops Define Race and Citizenship)). At the other end of things, a white person resisting arrest is much less likely to be violently beaten than a black one. In other words, statistics show that the higher rate of harassment and violence against black Americans by police is due to the prejudice of the police officers, at least to a large extent((Social Science Review: The Front End of the Carceral State: Police Stops, Court Fines, and the Racialization of Due Process)). However, I am careful to clarify that this discrimination is not necessarily intentional. Sometimes, it indeed is deliberate, with white police officers consciously believing that black Americans deserve much more scrutiny than whites. At other times, the discriminatory behavior results from unconscious, implicit thought processes that the police officer would not consciously endorse((Kirwan Institute: State of the science: Implicit bias review 2015)). After becoming aware that unconscious bias does exist, the next step would be learning how to recognize it in order to reduce it. I've outlined three crucial points to keep in mind below while further exploring the unconscious prejudice discussed above.

How to Reduce Unconscious Bias

Remember these three important points if you want to work on reducing your unconscious bias.

1. Unconscious Bias is a Systemic Issue

When we understand that unconscious bias is ultimately a systemic issue, we understand that internal cultures need to be checked and addressed first. Interestingly, research shows that many black police officers have an unconscious prejudice against other black people, perceiving them in a more negative light than white people when evaluating potential suspects. This unconscious bias carried by many — not all — black police officers helps show that such prejudices come – at least to a significant extent – from internal cultures within police departments, rather than pre-existing racist attitudes present before someone joins a police department. Such cultures are perpetuated by internal norms, policies, and training procedures, and any police department wishing to address unconscious bias needs to address internal culture first and foremost, rather than attributing racism to individual officers. In other words, instead of saying it’s a few bad apples in a barrel of overall good ones, the key is recognizing that unconscious bias is a systemic issue, and the structure and joints of the barrel needs to be fixed((Harvard Business Review: Why Diversity Programs Fail And What Works Better)).

2. There Is No Shame in Unconscious Bias

Another crucial thing that needs to be highlighted is that there is no shame or blame in unconscious bias as it’s not stemming from any fault in the individual. This no-shame approach decreases the fight, freeze, or flight defensive response among reluctant audiences, helping them hear and accept the issue. Unconscious bias is prevalent and often doesn't match our conscious values. Everyone holds unconscious beliefs and prejudices stemming from our tendency to categorize people into social groups. This developed naturally as a way for our ancestors to quickly size up a possible threat. Unfortunately, it doesn't translate well in modern life.

3. It Takes a Sustained Effort to Prevent and Protect Against Unconscious Bias

After being presented with additional statistics and discussion of unconscious bias, the issue is generally settled. Still, from their subsequent behavior it’s clear that some of these audience members don’t immediately internalize this evidence. It’s much more comforting for their gut reactions to believe that police officers are right and anyone targeted by police deserves it; in turn, they are highly reluctant to accept the need to focus more efforts and energy on protecting black Americans from police violence due to the structural challenges facing these groups. The issue of unconscious bias doesn’t match their intuitions, so they reject this concept, despite extensive and strong evidence for its pervasive role in policing. It takes a series of subsequent follow-up conversations and interventions to move the needle. A single training is almost never sufficient, both in my experience and according to research((Journal of experimental social psychology: Long-term reduction in implicit race bias: A prejudice habit-breaking intervention)).

Conclusion

The examples and points raised illustrate broader patterns you need to follow to recognize unconscious bias. Only by doing so will you be able to determine if, and what type of, intervention is needed to address it. Unfortunately, our gut reactions lead us to make poor judgment choices when we simply follow our intuitions. Unconscious biases are systemic and need to be addressed in order to make the best decisions((Career Press: Never Go With Your Gut: How Pioneering Leaders Make the Best Decisions and Avoid Business Disasters)). We need to learn about the kind of problems that result from unconscious bias. Then, you need to develop the right mental habits to help you make the best choices((Disaster Avoidance Experts: Wise Decision Maker Movement Manifesto)). A one-time training is insufficient for doing so. It takes a long-term commitment and constant discipline and efforts to overcome unconscious bias, so get started now.

More Tips on Overcoming Unconscious Bias

• How Cognitive Bias Influences Our Decision Making
• Should We Trust Our Gut Feeling When Making Decisions?
• 3 Cognitive Biases That Affect Our Decisions Every Day

8 Best Air Purifiers for a Healthy Home

Whether you suffer from allergies, have pet friends, or live in a climate where bacteria thrive, the best air purifier will make sure that your home’s air is clean and fresh at all times. We all clean our houses regularly, but it is easy to look over the most important element in our homes, apart from the surfaces, and that’s air. Thanks to the best air purifier, the air in your home will be more breathable and cleaner.

Why You Should Trust Us

If you are looking for which best air purifier is for you, we here at Lifehack have put in the time and effort to find it. There are so many to pick and choose from, so we sifted through dozens to find purifiers suitable for many people. For these air purifier reviews, we will be suggesting home filters based on three criteria:

• CADR: The rating that’s used to determine an air purifier's effectiveness.
• Room Size: The area that an air purifier takes up in a room.
• Noise: How loud and distracting it can get.

With these in mind, here are the suggestions for the best air purifiers you can get.

1. Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier

If you’re looking for an ozone air purifier, this is a solid option. The HEPA filter is capable of capturing up to 99.97% of airborne pollutants, dust mites, and more. The filters provided are able to be washed, and the air purifier has a CADR of 360 square feet. It’s suitable for kitchens and medium to large bedrooms or living spaces. That said, the air purifier does have some issues with the sensor, particularly in the auto mode. You’re also stuck with the color of this air purifier as is: black. Buy this Air Purifier!

2. Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier

When considering an alternative, we suggest Blueair’s air purifier. It’s an air purifier that addresses allergies and is safe for pets. It’s able to capture 99% of airborne pollutants and is capable of filtering odors from smoking, pets, cooking, and wildfires. Even the sound it makes isn’t loud. The lowest setting is a sound equivalent to a whisper, and the highest is a sound equivalent to rainfall. One downside is the fact this filter is relatively small and is meant to be stationed on the floor. It’s about as tall as a small child, so it’s easy for children to stick their fingers or other objects into the air cleaner. Also, considering the size, it’s not built to handle larger rooms unless you get multiple. Even then, customers noted that the sound could be irritating when using multiple filters in a room. Buy this Air Purifier!

3. Hathaspace Smart True HEPA Air Purifier

For the best air purifier for your money, the Hathaspace air purifier is a good option. It allows you to adjust settings manually and works well as an air purification system capable of capturing 99.97% of air pollutants, gas, and more. It also comes with a 2-year warranty, so it’s not as risky as other brands that may only have a month or three-month warranty. That said, many customers noted that it’s not good at keeping back odors as much. The air purifier has a tendency to shut off when the air quality is good, regardless of if the room smells bad. Buy this Air Purifier!

4. GENIANI Home Air Purifier

The air purifier from Geniani is another solid option for those looking to fight off allergies and want efficiency in their air purifier. The air cleanser comes with a 2-year warranty and is known for its power while still remaining quiet. You can choose between three speeds, and it even has a nightlight option, too. All in all, it’s a great product, though people struggled a little bit with the nightlight option. The light is a little too bright when it’s in the dark, making it disruptive if you’re the type of person who prefers completely dark rooms when sleeping. Buy this Air Purifier!

5. Honeywell HFD-120-Q QuietClean Oscillating Air Purifier

Another consideration for air purifier home use is Honeywell’s air purifier. One of the big perks from this air cleanser is that the three filters are able to be washed and used permanently, saving you the struggle of buying additional filters. The company also provides replacement filters should the filters perform poorly or get worn down. Beyond that, it’s capable of capturing 99% of air pollutants and is energy efficient, too. The air purifier itself is quiet, however, and if you allow it to swivel, the parts themselves could make a loud squeaking sound after a while. It’s also not as strong as other air purifiers around, with customers noting that a ceiling fan may be better. Buy this Air Purifier!

6. PARTU Air Purifier

Another cheap option is the PARTU air purifier. Some of the main selling points is that it has an ultra-silent sleep mode, a 4-step filtration process, and serves as a night light thanks to the color ring on it. Similar to other small filters, this filter isn’t going to be very strong. Furthermore, many customers noted that the filter emitted a sweet scent from it after a while. Buy this Air Purifier!

7. LEVOIT Air Purifier

The LEVOIT air purifier is a compact air cleaner that actually is actually quite strong for its size. Its CADR is high enough it can cover a 219 square foot space. And although it’s strong, it’s designed to make minimal noise. Pair that up with it being ozone-free and energy-efficient, and you have a solid air cleaner. However, like most other air filters you’ll find, it is good at cleaning the air but isn't as strong when dealing with odors in particular. Furthermore, despite its strength, it struggles to handle larger rooms, making it more suitable for small rooms. Buy this Air Purifier!

8. Coway White HEPA Air Purifier

The final filter that we have found is this one from Coway. It’s designed to handle room sizes of up to 361 square feet, offers a 4-stage filtration system, and also has an eco-mode to conserve energy when it’s done filtering. One of the largest criticisms for this air purifier is that the fan settings range widely from the noise pollution. Some customers compared the settings between 2 and 3 to a weaker version of the 1st setting (barely making a sound) to a jet engine starting up. Some people also noted that the air purifier tends to wobble and shake, too. Buy this Air Purifier!

FAQ

Q: Do air purifiers really work? A: In short, yes. An air purifier consists of one filter (or more) and a fan that pulls in and circulates the air. Exactly like water filters, the idea is that the home air purifiers will capture all of the pollutants and particles before pushing out the rest of the air. As for the filters, depending on the brand, you’ll have different kinds of filters. Filters can be made of paper, fiberglass, or mesh. So long as you are taking care of the air purifier by replacing the filters on occasion, an air purifier should work smoothly and without any major issues. Q: Can HEPA Air Purifiers prevent Covid-19? A: Unfortunately, there is no air purifier that can do anything to prevent or kill the coronavirus. As mentioned above, air purifiers focus on collecting particles and pollutants.  As such, an air purifier, HEPA or any air cleaner, can capture the virus, but the virus will be able to live within the filter for a period of time.

Final Thoughts

The market is filled with all kinds of air purifiers, and overall, many of them are capable of handling air quality. That said, there may be slight issues depending on what you’re looking for. No matter the case, you are taking the risk of potentially getting a purifier that may run into issues with smells or making too much noise. It’s part of the territory it seems. However, any one of the above air purifiers will help clean up the air and leave your house at least a little fresher. 

More Tips on Improving Air Quality

• 7 Reasons Why You Should Put Plants In Your Working Area
• How To Improve The Air Quality In Your Home
• 8 Ways to Improve the Air Quality at Home for Better Health

5 Things to Remember When You Don’t Believe in Yourself

When I picture life, I picture us all walking down our own winding path, pulling a wagon behind us. Each person's wagon is filled with their self-belief and self-worth. Walking down the path of life, carrying our inner beliefs, we happily trundle along the path toward whatever our own goal is, but sometimes life isn't so breezy. It feels like it is so easy to get your wagon knocked over. You are there, trundling along with your wagon filled with nuggets of self-worth and self-esteem, walking purposefully towards your goals, and it can just take:

• One person with one perfectly timed comment to knock your self-esteem
• Someone you trust and respect to say something critical
• A negative thought you have about yourself not being good enough
• A comparative thought about yourself to other more successful people

...and your wagon gets tipped over. You stand there looking at your self-esteem dumped all over the place, and you think, my god, how do I clean this all up? The wagon is too heavy to tip back up! I am not enough to do it all by myself. What if they are right? Doubt and self-loathing creep in, and instead of trying, you just sit down and look into the dark behind you, reliving all of your failures. There can be many reasons that we don't believe in ourselves:

• We don't believe in ourselves because someone told us we shouldn't.
• We fear failure, and we focus on all the times we have failed.
• We focus on the lack in our life instead of the abundance.
• We have never had the support to build up our self esteem in the first place.

It's hard when you don't believe in yourself. It's hard to do anything when you don't believe you can do it. However, there have been so many times in your life where you didn't believe in yourself and you had to prove yourself wrong. You had to get back up and flip the wagon over and prove to yourself that you could. You overcome obstacles before that were just a big as this one right now, so don't be afraid of it. When you're having a hard time seeing the good in yourself, remember these 5 important things.

1. Opinions Aren't Facts

At some point in your life, you believed in yourself, and you were feeling great. Then, someone came along and made you doubt yourself. They gave their opinion of you, and it hurt. You believed in yourself less and carried the hurt with you. You need to understand that the comment was someone's opinion, not a fact. Just because someone doesn't see your worth doesn't mean no one will. You can't please everyone, so don't even try. Someone had an opinion, and that's okay. We are all entitled to opinions. But it wasn't a fact. Don't let that person's negativity get absorbed into your estimation of yourself. Let it wash over you and float away. Learn to take feedback critically and consider where there something you can use in the comment to change and grow as a person. If the answer is yes, apply it and show gratitude that someone had the coconuts to tell you, and appreciate the fact that you have grown as a person. If the answer is no, then let it go and ignore it. People perceive you from their level of perception. If they can't handle you, that's okay. Here is an example: Person 1: *Puts on a unique outfit with a bright floral pattern and walks out feeling confident.* Person 2: "That outfit is really ugly; you must have no fashion taste." A critical comment appears and person 1's self esteem is tested because something they care about and put love into has been received negatively. Person 1: *internally thinks* Does this comment help me grow as a person? Is my outfit really ugly? Or is it just not to their taste? Do I stand by my outfit? Does it make me feel happy and cute? It does, I like this outfit. Person 1: "Thank you for your opinion, but I love my outfit and it's my unique style. See you in Vogue!" They are just opinions, not facts. It's your life, so live your truth. If people don't like it, let it flow past you. By taking every negative comment and opinion personally, you won't ever believe in yourself. If you are someone who is sensitive and takes comments on board easily, take a look at this article to help you understand and deal with your sensitivity: Why Am I So Sensitive.

2. Growth Takes Time

Give yourself a break. This is so important if you don't believe in yourself. You are still growing, and you are learning, failing, and learning again. No one has all the answers, and there is no right way to do something. You are just growing, and you are going to make mistakes, and that doesn't make you a bad person or a failure. It makes you a human who is growing. Let go of perfectionism and the idea that you have to have it all together and be right all the time. That pressure is slowing you down and causing you to doubt yourself. Just breathe. You are where you are on your journey, and that is beautiful and it is enough. Don't let the pressure of expectation take away from your self-belief. You are not a list of all your successes and failures; you are so much more than that. Failure is an event, not a personal characteristic. Learn, grow, and let yourself fail. Don't beat yourself up for not being perfect as that has never done anyone any good. Embrace your failure and know that you learned something and are moving forward.  There is comfort in having faith that everything will be all right in the future. Your self-belief will thrive when you release these unrealistic expectations.

3. Fear Can't Stop You

Let's chat about your fear. When you don't believe in yourself, it is most likely that you are afraid to. To be yourself and put yourself out there, you risk being criticized for who you are. That is scary, and as we learned from opinions, it can really damage your self-belief. Believing in yourself takes bravery; you have to be the one who pushes you forward and believes in you. If you don't, you just stand still. You have to believe in yourself to move forward, and fear holds you back.

• Fear holds you back from trying in case you fail.
• Fear stops you letting go of opinions in case they are right and you will have to go through this again.
• Fear stops you moving forward.

Let go of fear. Adventure forward with careless abandon. Face your fears one by one and say "I see you fear, and I know everything I want is on the other side of you. I see you, and I am afraid, but I am going to face you and move past you anyway and face the consequences of my actions because I believe in myself, and I can handle anything.". Never fear failure; failure is just another opportunity to try again, except this time more wisely. It is the best teacher and the fastest way to succeed. Have a healthy relationship with failure and you will have a better relationship with your inner courage.

4. You Are Unique

You are unique, and I say this with all the passion in the world. You are different; you walk down your own unique and wonderful path. Not everyone is going to understand it, but that is how history is made. It is made by people who no one believed in, who stood up, defied fear and doubt and said what they believed. You don't have to have support to believe in yourself. You can connect with what you believe in, and if you believe it strongly enough, you can achieve anything. When you don't believe in yourself, just remember, you are still important and unique, and you still matter. Don't give up on your journey because not everyone understands it. Keep connected to the knowledge that you are important and you matter.

5. You Are Capable of Restarting

Your self-esteem has been knocked, and you are at a place full of self-doubt. It's time to let go of these doubts, fears, and self-loathing thoughts so you can move forward. It is time to reset your mindset and life. Draw a line in the sand and refuse to let self-doubt cross it.

Step 1: Acknowledge How You Feel

Acknowledge all of your fears, doubts, and negative thoughts or feelings about yourself. Write them down and face them, all of them.

Step 2: Redefine

Look at these fears and write counter statements. For example: Fear: I am afraid that if I try to build this new business, I will fail. I don't think I have what it takes. Counter Statement: I may fail, but the pain of not trying will be harder than the pain of failing. I would rather try and fail then never try. It is what I want, and it is worth the risk. I can do this. I have come back from failure before, stronger and wiser. I let go of this fear. Make sure your counter statement is empowering. Make it personal so when you read it, you feel passionate and energized. This will give you the energy to overpower the self-doubt.

Step 3: Let It Go

Let each fear, doubt, and negative thought go. Let go of the heavy weights that are holding you down so that you can move forward with excitement rather than dread. Now that you feel 100% times lighter, you can pick yourself up and keep moving along your path. Step by step, focus on the next right thing to do to work towards your goal. Don't look up the mountain and become overwhelmed. If you want some tips on how to improve your self esteem, here's is an article that can help: How You Can Improve Your Self-Esteem Instantly

Final Thoughts

Don't be afraid to ask for help. When your self esteem is low, it can be really hard to nurture it all by yourself. Sometimes you need a confidence boost from someone who does believe in you. Don't be afraid to reach out and talk to someone you trust about how you are feeling and ask for support. Something to always remember is that your self-belief comes from you, and no one can take it away without your consent. You have the power to validate yourself and your self-esteem and the power to ignore the negativity in the pursuit of your own goals.

More Tips on Believing in Yourself

• 10 Ways To Believe In Yourself Again When Life Gets Rough
• 7 Powerful Reasons Why You Should Believe in Yourself
• 30 Motivational Quotes To Remind You To Believe In Yourself

What is Cognitive Dissonance (And How to Dodge it)

You might have heard the term cognitive dissonance being thrown around in a conversation that was related to life stress and tension. Cognitive dissonance simply means that your mind is not harmonious. The term is indeed being used rather commonly and broadly these days. But its true roots lie in psychology. Being confused with opposing points of view is one thing, but in the case of cognitive dissonance, you are unable to distinguish a clear line between right and wrong, you jump from one perspective to its opposite constantly, and it’s hard for you to stick with one opinion. This is the point where things get unhealthy. Today you’ll learn the basic idea of what cognitive dissonance is and simple tips to help you fight against it.

What is Cognitive Dissonance?

In theory, cognitive dissonance is a mental state in which the person experiences contradictory thoughts.((Simply Psychology: Cognitive Dissonance)) When these opposing thoughts co-exist, the person experiences mental and physical discomfort, and rightly so. What happens is that since the thoughts inside the brain aren’t on the same page, the person is unable to side with one opinion. This inconsistency in thoughts, emotions, and beliefs affects all parts of a person’s life. This is what happens in the mind. But in real life, cognitive dissonance is way worse and harder to deal with. A common example associated with this state of mind is smoking. Most smokers are well-aware of the harms of tobacco. Every pack of cigarettes has a note stating the harms of smoking. Yet, smokers continue to act against this knowledge. In such a case, the person fails to see a clear truth. Even if the reality is clearly visible, the person chooses to ignore it. However, the guilt keeps affecting them deep down. Such individuals fail to reason with themselves, which is what then affects their work, personal health, and relationships adversely as well.

What Encourages the Resolution of Cognitive Dissonance?

As problematic as cognitive dissonance is, it is a natural mechanism. Every human is exposed to all sorts of information, and more often than not, it takes time to get the actions aligned with the beliefs in your mind. During this time, the mind is in a constant state of dissonance. Let’s say you’ve been eating dairy products all your life. You absolutely love eggs and cheese. But then in your 20s, you start hearing about the concept of veganism. Every time you eat an egg or consume cheese, you’re mentally conscious of the vegan belief and it makes you feel guilty. This feeling of discomfort and uneasiness can sometimes cause physical distress too. The person who is experiencing this dissonance will naturally want to adjust their lifestyle and actions to get rid of this restlessness. Basically, cognitive dissonance naturally pushes a person to start acting per the new information that they have learned. If this doesn’t happen, the new knowledge is rejected and pushed out of the mind. It is an on-going cycle in which the person learns something new, feels uncomfortable if the cognition contradicts this information, makes an unconscious effort to fix the contradiction, and the cycle continues. The dissonance most adversely affects a person who feels in control of the opposing emotions versus actions. If there is a control of choice yet the person still chooses to act against the emotions and thoughts, the negative consequences are stronger. It’s practically impossible to get rid of dissonance altogether. However, if you learn to master your emotions, you can keep the dissonance from overpowering your lifestyle.

Conscious Efforts to Resolve the Issue

While your mind is constantly trying to balance out the cycle of dissonance unconsciously, there are some conscious efforts you can make to encourage the resolution.

1. Get Rid of the Weaker Thought

Generally, the dissonance is a result of emotions or beliefs that aren’t aligned with your actions or other thoughts. These two thoughts aren’t on the same level. What this means is that one of your beliefs may be more deeply rooted in your mind than the other. You may feel stronger towards one of the two. Similarly, you may be more easily convinced by one than the other. One of these contradictory thoughts is always slightly weaker. Hence, it is easier to get rid of. You are naturally more inclined towards the other belief and so, you can stick to it. Another scenario is if your emotions go against your actions, but your actions are deep-rooted that you cannot even think about changing them. In this case, you have to convince yourself to change your perspective so that your thoughts coincide with your actions.

2. Alter Your Actions

Let’s say the dissonance you’re experiencing is due to the difference in your actions versus what’s in your mind. If your feelings are way too strong to get rid of, you will have to change your actions to get in line with the cognition. In the case of a smoker, if their conscience fails to allow them to continue smoking due to the long list of harmful effects, the only way the dissonance can be tackled is by giving up smoking. Similarly, let’s assume that you drive a diesel car but you learned that it's harmful to the environment. Your love for the environment is big, so it makes it harder for you to continue to drive a vehicle that isn’t eco-friendly. You’ll have to shift to an e-vehicle or minimize the use of your diesel car to get to a peaceful state.

3. Rationalize

Sometimes, you can neither give up your actions nor change your emotions. One solution in such a scenario is to rationalize with the help of additional thoughts. You can use the support of supplementary beliefs to connect your opposing actions and thoughts. This connection will satisfy your conscience and get rid of the sense of guilt. A lot of people use this technique in their daily life to justify what they’re doing. For example, most people know that carbonated drinks are harmful. The high sugar content can put them at risk of several diseases. However, instead of giving them up, these people validate their consumption by balancing out the unhealthy components with healthy foods that they may be eating. You may convince yourself to drink one fizzy drink every day along with 100g of fresh vegetables to combat the negative effects. This rationalization may not actually work in real life, but it does the job to soothe the cognitive dissonance that keeps the person worried.

4. Accept It

There is always a possibility that none of the aforementioned methods are applicable in your scenario. You might not be able to change your emotions or actions. It can be hard to justify either, too. For example, you love desserts. You also know that overconsumption of desserts will have adverse health effects. But you cannot give up desserts, you cannot convince yourself that they are healthy, and you also know that no matter how much you exercise, the risk of diabetes will remain. So how do you ease your mind in a case like this? The last resort is to simply accept it. Just admit that you’ll always eat desserts despite the long list of negative effects. Once your mind comes to terms with your actions despite knowing the opposite, the discomfort and uneasiness will eradicate even if the real-life issues remain.

5. Utilize the Theory of Constructed Emotions

The theory of constructed emotions thoroughly explains how humans build emotions.((Forte Labs: How Emotions Are Made: The Theory of Constructed Emotions)) You can learn all about it to gain control over your emotions. You can use the basic concept of this theory to alter your thoughts. Once you can control how your brain perceives feelings, the chances of cognitive dissonance will minimize. As per this theory, your brain understands emotions and feelings based on a fair few factors. One of these is physical health, which includes heartbeat, breathing, etc. The natural environment, which includes the air pressure, temperature, humidity, etc. also plays a role. This information is connected to your past emotions and experiences to help the brain decipher what you’re experiencing. So, if you understand this theory in-depth, you can learn to control your cognition with the help of your surroundings.

Bottom Line

Cognitive dissonance isn’t necessarily bad. It encourages you to improve your actions or alter your beliefs. Hence, it plays a major role in helping you grow as a person. It becomes unhealthy when this state of mind takes over. As long as you’re trying to keep things even, you don’t have to worry about it. Try to maintain control over your emotions and actions that lead from them. Your mental and physical health will not suffer from long-term consequences as long as you continue to combat the inconsistency. Let your mind go with the flow while you simultaneously use the aforementioned tips in your everyday life!

More on Cognitive Dissonance

• What Happen When We Are Torn Between Beliefs and Reality
• What Is The Secret To Convincing Someone To Change Their Minds?
• 7 Mistakes Your Brain Makes Every Day – And How To Fix Them

The Lifehack Show: Standing Out in Today’s Job Market with Dr. Julia Ivy

In this episode of The Lifehack Show, we talk with Dr. Julia Ivy, author of the Be-Edge Method, and strategy and international business executive professor and faculty director at Northeastern University. The job market of today can be a confusing place for those who are both looking to enter into it, or make a career change. She shares with us her professional wisdom on how to really stand out in the job market, especially in this day and age.

10 Best Laptop Stands To Work From Home Like a Pro

Whether you are a full-time freelancer or a corporate professional working from home temporarily due to COVID-19, a good laptop stand can change the way you work both physically and mentally. The best laptop stands will help you keep your posture in the right place so that you don’t suffer any physical discomfort in the long run, such as neck pain, headache, or carpal tunnel((OrthoInfo: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)), thus allowing you to be more productive.

Why You Should Trust Us

These are products that we research and verify out of the many available options. We make a point of finding quality products for you to pick from so you don’t have to go and hunt for the right one.

Buying Guide

Before getting to the products, we considered the choices based on three specific criteria. They are as follows:

• Material
• Installation
• Cooling

These three elements are important from a laptop perspective, but also what makes them the best laptop stands, too. You need a strong material to support a laptop and endure various environments. You also have to consider how easy it is to place your laptop on the stand. Lastly, a stand will also keep a laptop’s air circulation going and prevent overheating. You want to make sure the stand is able to do that for a laptop, too.

1. Rain Design mStand Laptop Stand

Our top suggestion is the Rain Design mStand Laptop Stand. Out of the options we have on this list, this is one of the best stands around. It’s made entirely out of aluminum and is designed to lift laptops. Considering there is no need for attachments, it’s easy to install the stand with a laptop. It’s all a matter of sliding your laptop down onto the stand. There is even a cable hole in the back to allow wires to pass through. It also works well with cooling since the aluminum serves as a heat sink for the laptop.  The only significant drawback to this brand of this stand is the fact it’s designed for Macbook products specifically. Buy this laptop stand here!

2. Pyle Laptop Stand

Our runner-up is a stand designed for PC laptops as well as other equipment in mind. The Pyle Laptop Stand is capable of easy height adjustment and is able to hold up laptops, DJ equipment, turntables, and more. The legs are also designed ergonomically and are anti-slip. You can also pack the stand for easy portability. This got put as the runner up as, while this piece of computer furniture is sturdy, you do have to assemble it yourself, and the product doesn’t come with instructions on building it. Also, while you can adjust the height of the stand, you can’t adjust the width, which can cause problems depending on the size of your equipment. Buy this laptop stand here!

3. Steklo Laptop Stand

For those looking for a more budget-friendly option for computer furniture, the Stekle laptop stand is a solid option. It requires a little bit of assembly to attach it to your laptop, but it provides the same perks as the Rain Design laptop stand. The only difference is this stand is lower to the ground, and you’re not able to adjust the height by too much. If you’re particularly tall, or your desk is too short for you, you may still have to stack it up on some boxes or books for your laptop to be at eye level. This stand is also designed for Mac laptops. Buy this laptop stand here!

4. Nexstand Laptop Stand

A stand that PCs and Macs can use is the Nexstand laptop stand. This stand will work for any laptop 11.6 inches or larger. You can even adjust the height. The stand is made of nylon and premium metal fitting that can hold up to 20 pounds. While this stand can handle a lot of weight on it, it does have to remain stationary or else it could get damaged easily. If you’re more accident-prone than others, this stand may not last if you accidentally drop it on the ground, so be careful! Buy this laptop stand here!

5. AmazonBasics Ventilated Laptop Stand

If you’re looking for a simple stand, AmazonBasics has you covered. Similar to other office supplies from this brand, the stand is a wire-frame metal mesh. It’s compact, making it highly portable, and has adjustable height as well. It is also one of the cheapest stands on our list. That said, you do get what you pay for. The stoppers on the front are higher than usual, and if you don’t have an external keyboard, you can risk your wrists resting on those stoppers constantly. Also, since the height is adjusted through locks, you can risk your fingers getting hurt when adjusting the height. Buy this laptop stand here!

6. Neetto Laptop Bed Desk

If you’re the type of person who needs a really tall stand or works in bed, the Neetto laptop bed desk is another option. It also comes with another desk that you can use as a separate shelving unit. The stand is adjustable, light, portable, and sturdy, and you can use the portable laptop stand for various purposes. The extra shelf can be used as a stand for your tablet, or a table to enjoy a meal. That being said, the size of these laptop desk stands are fairly large. While that means you don’t have to worry about space on this desk, you have to worry about how much space this desk takes on any surface you put it on. Buy this laptop stand here!

7. Nulaxy Laptop Stand

Another cheap alternative is the Nulazy laptop stand. Think of it as a budget-friendly Rain Design laptop stand. It lifts a laptop 6 inches, allowing it to be at eye level. The material is strong as it’s able to hold up to four kilograms, which is more than plenty. You can even disassemble it into three parts for easy transportation. The catch with this stand is that it seems to wear out more as you use it. The overall design and how everything locks in place seems to be the biggest concern from customers. Buy this laptop stand here!

8. 1home Wood Monitor Stand Riser

Considering the success of the Rain Design laptop stand, a massive block of material seems to be the way to go. Enter 1home’s Wood monitor stand riser. This stand is made of sturdy wood, making it easy to assemble and also sleek in design. Naturally, since this is a stand for monitors, it may not work perfectly for laptops. A major downside is that customers have reported that parts didn’t fit during the installation of the stand. Buy this laptop stand here!

9. Soundance Laptop Stand

A similar design to Nulaxy, this stand is designed with PCs and Macs in mind. It comes with a 30-day warranty, which is nice in case you run into issues within the first few weeks of purchase. The material of choice is aluminum, making it sturdy and able to cool laptops with ease. The only drawback to this stand is that it’s built for laptops of specific dimensions. This stand is able to hold laptops that are between 10 and 15.6 inches. Anything beyond that and the stand may struggle to provide stability. Buy this laptop stand here!

10. SimpleHouseware Metal Desk Monitor Stand Riser

The final option is SimpleHouseware’s metal desk monitor stand riser. This is a decent alternative to the previous monitor stand since assembly isn’t as much of a hassle. The inclusion of a tray and other storage pockets makes it convenient for you to store other items you need close by. That said, you do get what you pay for, and this is a cheap solution to the problem. People reported their monitor wobbles on the stand, along with other parts not portioned properly. Installing it could be brute-forced at worst, but it’s a temporary fix. Buy this laptop stand here!

Final Thoughts

There are all kinds of laptop desk stands out there for you to pick from, and it all depends on what you are looking for. From the research though, the cheaper you go, the more you are sacrificing the three qualities that make a stand one of the best laptop stands to buy. If you need to get a stand right now, keep this in mind and consider putting in some good money for a stand. It can very well last you for years to come.

More Tips on Working From Home

• 5 Critical Elements of Successful Work-At-Home Productivity
• How To Work From Home Without Getting Distracted
• The Ultimate Guide To Working From Home And Still GTD

Why You Are Never Too Old for College (And How To Make It Work)

Today’s jobs require continuous learning. Consider how the current pandemic forced the whole world to switch to remote office work overnight. Suddenly, all in-person meetings went to an online format. Now, many employers are telling their workers to stay home and work remotely After there is a vaccine, perhaps life at the office will return to the way it was. But it is more likely that there will be more flex time, more staggered schedules, and less travel to see clients. All of this requires learning new skills, and college is a fantastic place to learn these skills. If you are old enough to work, you are young enough to go to college. The only thing required is curiosity, an active mind, and the desire to learn. As the world reshapes its ways of working together and industries prepare to adapt, now is a promising time to enter into higher education and become immersed in the incubation of innovative new ideas. Here are some reasons why you are never too old for college.

1. Going to College Keeps You Competitive

Especially in today’s rocky economy, you could find yourself competing with someone 10 or even 20 years younger. Armed with fresh bachelor degrees, your competitors have an edge unless you get your degree, too, or pursue an advanced degree. If you find you are at a dead-end in your career, going back to college can help you acquire the skills you need to switch careers. And, just as you are never too old for college, you are never too old to take up an exciting new career. Advancements in technology, for example, are making some careers obsolete. If you are in a declining industry—which these days spans the gamut from travel agents to postal workers to mortgage brokers—and foresee an inevitable move to automation, you will be better off retraining for a career better aligned for the future.((Work and Money: 25 Dying Professions You Should Avoid)) Now, it is not just people in their late teens and 20s going to college. Today’s college students are in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. Some 40 percent of people obtaining a college degree these days are adults.((Best Degree Programs: 30 Great Degree Programs for Working Adults)) Class cohorts of mixed ages can benefit both young and older students alike. Generational attitudes toward life and opportunities can be shared and perspectives of other generations’ viewpoints will broaden your own. Additionally, when you go on a job interview, you can make the point that you are comfortable working across all generations.

2. Going Back to School as a Bucket List Item

Maybe you got a great job after high school or couldn’t afford to go to college directly after high school. Now, you have decided it is time to earn the degree you have always wanted to pursue. You may be at a crossroads in your current career, ready to take on a new challenge, or looking for more financial stability. Earning a college degree can be a way to fulfill all of these dreams. When you feel that the time has come to take the leap into higher education, be sure to look into degree options and their return on investment .((Salary.com: 8 College Degrees That Will Earn Your Money Back)) Getting a college education can be a time-intensive and pricey proposition, and you will want to make sure the cost and the effort will pay you dividends in the future. Or, if you simply want to augment your knowledge with a few skill-based courses, you are never too old to go to college to hone your expertise. Given how many of today’s careers are rapidly evolving, it is to your credit—and your company’s benefit—that you take initiative in improving your skills to keep up with the economy of the future. Additionally, you are never too old for college classes to expand your interest and your knowledge in an avocation. Several colleges and universities offer not-for-credit courses on an array of topics—from current events to genres of literature to music appreciation and more.

3. Do the Legwork to Make It Work

Know in advance what skills you are after, and research the type of certification you need. Make sure the schools that you are investigating are accredited.((US News: The Best Accredited Online Colleges)) Often, a community college can provide a certificate program that will be all that you need to put your new career goals into motion. Look into the requirements for admission. If it has been decades since you took a college admission test—as in an ACT or SAT—you may need to take one again. Be sure to make use of the online practice tests to help you prepare. But you may also be able to skip this step (some colleges are waving these requirements in light of the current pandemic). You may also need to call up your high school and request that they send a transcript to the colleges to which you are applying. Higher education institutions have several options for pursuing degrees with scheduling flexibility—through online or evening courses, accelerated-track programs, or self-paced programs. And while you are never too old for college, you are too for dorm living. Adult students—often labeled “nontraditional students”—in some cases, may never need to set foot on campus. Depending on the nature of your degree, you could feasibly complete it entirely online. However, if you are interested in the sciences, for example, chances are you will need to complete lab work on campus. Make full use of the institution’s resources and particularly of those serving in the roles of admissions counselors, academic advisors, and financial aid advisors. They offer a well of resources and are there to make your transition into college easier. If the college offers you the option of having a peer mentor, accept the offer. A peer mentor has already navigated the complexities of adjusting to college and can provide you with insider tips. As an adult learner, career advancement may well be your key motivator in going back to school. Be on the lookout for any opportunities that can bolster your resume or expand your business network as you immerse yourself in your program. For example, it may mean that you team with a professor on a research project—and hopefully, add your name among the authors. Or, it could mean presenting a paper at a conference related to your prospective industry. Take on the added work to stand out or make a positive impression. All these stretch projects can help when you ultimately begin looking for employment with your newly minted degree.

How to Hold Down Your Job While Attending College?

If you intend to straddle the demands of both work and school—which is the usual scenario for adults earning a college degree—you will need to do some careful planning. Recognize that as an adult learner it may take you longer to complete some of the assignments. You will have to organize your schedule to find the time to study. First, determine whether you can cut back to part-time work and go to school full-time. If you can make happen, you will be able to finish your degree more quickly. But if you need to maintain a full-time job, find out in advance the minimum course load for enrollment. While part-time enrollment can make your work life more manageable, it may not allow you to be eligible for financial aid. It is best to tell your coworkers and boss that you are going back to school—unless it is your intention to switch careers. This will show them that you have the drive to better yourself. When they know what you are juggling, they may be more understanding when you have to leave work early to take an exam. Some employers have tuition-reimbursement programs to help with paying for the cost. Check with Human Resources to find out if your company offers any reimbursement for attending college.

It Is Never Too Late to Pursue More Education

The attitude that someone could be too old for college is outdated. Fortunately, students attending college in their later years are dispelling these old assertions. Unlike some students in their early 20s, older students know what they are after, and are better focused on attaining it. If you are an older student, it is more likely than not that you are on a mission and no one can dissuade you. You are never too old to create a life you love.

More Tips to Help You Go Back to School

• 17 Best Careers Worth Going Back to School for at 40
• How to Make Going Back to School at 30 Possible
• Going Back to School at 40 Helps Create a New Golden Age: Here’s How

What Is a Good Credit Score (And How to Get One)

A good credit score can make it a lot easier to borrow money to purchase a home or car, get a credit card, take out a personal or business loan, secure a student loan, and more. There isn’t necessarily a single credit score that’s considered “good,” however. Instead, what constitutes a good credit score depends on the credit scoring model that’s used. We will analyze some of these and discuss how to improve your credit score no matter the model.

Types of Credit Score Models

A few different scoring models are used to calculate your credit score, with the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) score being a popular standard. Understanding the differences and factors used to calculate your score can help you improve your credit score over time.

FICO Credit Score

The FICO score is considered the most reliable credit scoring model because of its long-standing reputation. The model has been around since 1989 and has undergone numerous revisions during that time. Currently, FICO credit scores range from 300 to 850. A good credit score is typically between 670 to 739((Experian: What Is a Good Credit Score?)), according to FICO; however, the required credit score to get approved on a loan or line of credit depends on the lender. One lender might offer its lowest interest rate to borrowers with a score above 730, while another lender might require a score of 760 to get approved.

VantageScore

The VantageScore was created in 2006 and is another widely used scoring model, after FICO. VantageScore is used on credit reports across all three credit bureaus. This algorithm uses traditional data, like number of on-time payments, credit card balances, assets, and other factors to calculate your credit score. The VantageScore 4.0 scale is between 300 to 850, with 700 considered to indicate good credit. This scoring model includes many of the same factors as the FICO score, like past payments and credit utilization, but it weighs each category differently. It also leaves out paid collections and reduces the weight of medical collections, so your score isn’t as dramatically harmed by these marks.

Other Credit Scoring Models

Depending on the purpose of your credit inquiry, other credit scoring models might be used to determine your creditworthiness. For example, insurance companies use their own credit score to assess your plan premiums. Insurance credit scores range from 0-999, using similar scoring factors that are used for FICO, like your outstanding debt, age of credit, types of credit you have, and payment inquiries. These factors may be weighted differently, however, and the scoring model includes other factors that aren’t included in your FICO score, like homeownership.

How to Get a Good FICO Credit Score

There isn't a magic solution to raising your credit score to “good” standing. Even maintaining it at that level or improving your credit to “very good” or “exceptional” takes work. Instead, there are a number of financially responsible steps you can take to ensure your credit score is strong enough to get you the credit that you need. Using the familiar FICO score((myFICO: What's in my FICO Scores?)) to determine what a good credit score is, here are a few tips to improve your credit score.

1. Always Pay Your Loans on Time

Your payment history accounts for 35% of your FICO credit score. Showing that you pay your bills on time instills confidence in lenders that you’re a good credit risk. Set up automatic payments or schedule reminders to ensure you do not miss any of your bill payments.

2. Avoid Getting Too Close to Your Credit Card Limits

“Amounts owed” is one of the five categories FICO looks at when it determines your credit score. This factor accounts for 30% of your credit score. Try to keep your credit card balances low compared to your total credit limit. In fact, it’s best to not carry a credit card balance at all by paying off your credit card statements in full every month. If you must keep a balance on your card, it’s advised to keep your utilization rate (your total credit card balance divided by your total credit limit) below 30%.

3. Establish a Long Credit History

Having a long credit history is a positive mark for your credit score — as long as it’s a good, long history. Credit scores are partially based on your experience with credit cards and other loans — “length of history” makes up 15% of your FICO credit score. One way you might inadvertently harm your length of credit is by closing out a credit card that you’re not using anymore. Remember, the age of your accounts is a big part of your overall credit score. Fight the urge to close your active accounts, if they’re in good standing.

4. Only Apply for Credit When It's Necessary

Yes, having an established credit history is beneficial, but you can negate that goodwill with too much credit access to your name — especially if you’ve opened multiple accounts in a short time. Having a lot of new credit in a short amount of time might suggest that you’re in a bad spot financially, and a high default risk. Plus, every time you apply for a loan or credit card, an inquiry will show up on your credit report, whether you’re approved or not. The inquiry can drop your credit score five points, although this decrease is temporary. Try to keep your credit applications to a minimum and look for prequalification tools that perform a soft credit inquiry so your credit score isn’t adversely impacted.

5. Diversify Your Credit Accounts

Your “credit mix” comprises 10% of your FICO credit score. The more varied your credit mix — such as credit cards, a mortgage, and a car loan — the better your credit score will be, assuming, of course, that you are making all of your loan payments on time. Student loans are another financial obligation that might be included in your credit mix. Even if your credit isn’t at the “good” level yet, you can still apply. For example, federal student loans do not require a credit check. If you’ve maxed out your federal student loans, scholarship and grant options, private student loans can help make up the difference. Bad credit can make it harder to secure a loan, but getting a student loan with bad credit isn’t impossible((Credit Knocks: How To Get Student Loans with Bad Credit)).

6. Review Your Credit Report

Your credit report might have items on it that are pulling your score down. Credit score mistakes can happen because of an error on your credit report. It’s smart to regularly check your credit report for any errors, like a misspelled name, incorrect or old addresses, accounts that don’t belong to you, or adverse events that should have been removed. If you spot anything wrong or suspicious, contact the credit bureaus to dispute the errors. You’re allowed to request a free credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) once every 12 months through AnnualCreditReport.com. You can request all three reports at once or spread them out throughout the year.

The Bottom Line

Having a “good” (or better) credit score can open a lot of financial doors for you when you need to borrow money. Not only will your chances of approval increase with a stronger score, but you’ll have access to more competitive interest rates. If you continue to make timely payments, keep the amount of money you owe low, and minimize your loan and credit card applications, your credit score will have nowhere to go but up.

More Tips on Getting a Good Credit Score

• 10 Easy Ways to Improve Your Credit Score
• The Best Ways to Build Credit Fast
• 6 Ways To Defeat Bad Credit Score

Intentions Vs Goals: What’s The Difference?

If this is your first time jumping into learning about goal setting, one important thing to take note of is intentions vs goals. It's an aspect that many people struggle with, especially if you are the type of person who sets New Year resolutions every year and ends up giving up on them in the coming months. Knowing the relationship and differences between these aspects will allow you to better identify what is an intention and what is a goal for you. Furthermore, understanding these can allow you to better leverage them on your path to greater success.

What Are the Differences Between Intentions vs Goals?

Before jumping into the key differences, you need to understand that both intentions and goals are good for you. Both have clear advantages and disadvantages to one another. That said, only one of these two is going to help you see real change in your life, and that being your goals. I'll get into detail why that's the case further down this post, but for now, knowing the differences between these two will save you a lot of struggle in the future.

Their Descriptions

The first thing to note is how you can describe each one since there are some notable differences between intentions vs goals. Goals can be best described as the results that you are looking for. It's the result of something that you've put together based on your thought process. On the other hand, intentions are more or less the energy that you put in at the very start of something. It's not quite like motivation, but it is your overall willingness to do something. To see this in action, an intention can be along the lines of telling yourself "I want to lose weight," or "I will be a better partner for my spouse." Goals are the specific actions that you'll be taking to lose weight and build a better relationship with your partner.

Their Timing

Another key difference between these two is their timing - as in what times they are referring to. From the example mentioned above, you can already piece together where goals and intentions lie. Intentions are concerned about the present moment in your life. It's relying on how you feel right now. Goals are future projections. These are things that you want to achieve at some point. You can achieve that when you put enough energy into taking action to achieve your goals.

What They Prioritize

The third difference is what each one cares about and allows you to prioritize. When you are setting a goal, the emphasis is placed on the result and the journey along the way. You'll focus on the milestones that you placed out and assess the results that you've received thus far and the final results, too. Another way to look at it is that goals prioritize external achievements. Intentions prioritize the emotions that you are feeling. Yes, that's part of the journey as well, but intentions dig deeper. They prioritize the relationship that you have with yourself and the task at hand.

Difference in Scope

The fourth and final difference to bring up is the scope of these two aspects. The scope shapes how you set them in the first place. When it comes to intentions, there are broad aspects and how you form them varies from person to person. Generally speaking though, intentions are designed to be vague. They're phrases that mention a general result or maybe it's a single word. Examples are ones mentioned earlier or using keywords like "growth", "love", or "patience". Goals are the actions, the expectations, and the results you want to achieve. As such, these are narrow. If you want to have more patience, a goal would be something like meditating for a period of time or trying not to interrupt people.

Which One Is Better for Success?

If we are to look at these two by themselves, there is a clear winner between which one will lead you to success, and that is setting goals. Another way to see goals is the manifestation of your intentions into a more concrete plan. With goals, you want to achieve things, and you'll be putting more thought into them. You'll be talking about how you'll get there and how you'll measure your results. Intentions are vague and focus on the immediate short-term. It's easy to have intentions in your life, but these don't lead to action. Or if they do, people lose motivation. Don't get me wrong, intentions are strong on an emotional front as they can bring more satisfaction to completing goals. ((Yogi: The Difference Between Intention vs. Goals)) This can be used as extra motivation at the beginning as you are determining your impulses and drives to complete your goal.((The Psychologists: Motivation Cycle)) But with this in mind, it stands to reason that instead of focusing on one over the other, it might be worth considering striking a balance between the two of them.

Why Combine Them?

Another angle to look at intentions vs goals is that goals are what you want to be doing in your life. Intentions are the aspects that you want to be. These are both very strong desires in ourselves as both goals and intentions impact us on an emotional level. By itself, a goal could manage well on its own. But time and again, people run into problems after achieving goals. There are so many cases where people feel empty, even after finishing a big goal.((Inc: Why You Might Feel Empty After Reaching a Huge Goal (and How to Move On))) There is also the dreaded question of "what's next?" A question that many people struggle to answer. That changes entirely when you already have an intention in place. It's not something that directly drives you forward, but it can serve as training wheels so you don't fall off the path. After you complete a goal, it makes sense that you go back to your intentions and begin to deepen your relationship with what has transpired and with yourself. By doing this, you are also figuring out where you want to go next. This is the case since your intentions aren't going to be shifting a whole lot. If your intention is to grow, then what does growth look like? There are many ways that a person can grow beyond mindset development - growth in wealth, physical capabilities, communication, and more.

How to Best Leverage This

The best way to leverage this relationship is by first starting with an intention. To get the most out of it, it pays to start with a broad intention and sticking to a single word to manifest that intention. I used examples like love, growth, and patience, and these are great starts. After all, there are many approaches that you can take with these, so having many options that resonate with you will help. After that, you will want to go through the goal-setting process. When it comes to goal-setting, there is no wrong method as authors have written hundreds of books on the subject. Go for a method that suits you best. From there, you want to be striving to achieve your goal and remind yourself of your intention. You can use it in a sense as an affirmation by this point. For example, if your goal is to grow on social media, your intention can be something like "I will post moving content that engages my audience." The intention can help you as you can look at your efforts and match that with how you are feeling. Look at the post you made or the work you've done, and ask yourself whether this is something that makes you happy or you could do better for next time. In a sense, you can use your intentions to be setting SMARTER goals and relying on it during the ER steps, which are "evaluate" and "reassess your goal".

Final Thoughts

All by themselves, goals are the superior way to achieve success. There are many possibilities and systems in place that can replace intentions entirely That being said, if you are setting intentions in the first place, you can put further emotions into your work and establish deeper connections. These deeper connections can allow you to keep building your habit further and further until it becomes your second nature. As such, intentions are worth considering as a compliment to your goal setting system for success.

More on Goals and Intentions

• Goals vs Objectives: What Are Their Differences?
• 15 Daily Intentions to Set for a More Driven Life
• How to Write SMART Goals (With SMART Goals Templates)