NOOR FATILAH BINTI YUSOP880321-49-5488PISMP SEJARAH JUN 2013
TIPS TO MANAGE STRESSFUL SITUATIONSIt might surprise you to
learn that the conception of biological stress is a fairly recent
discovery.It wasn't until the late 1950s that endocrinologist Hans
Selye first identified and documented stress. While symptoms of
stress existed long before Mr. Selye, his discoveries led to new
research that has helped millions combat stress. Weve made
overcoming stress easy by compiling a list of the top 10 ways to
relieve stress.
Listen To MusicIf you're feeling overwhelmed by a stressful
situation, try taking a break and listening to relaxing classical
music. Playing calm music has a positive effect on the brain and
body, can lower blood pressure, and reducecortisol, a hormone
linked to stress.We recommend cello master Yo-Yo Ma playing Bach,
but if classical really isnt your thing, try listening to ocean or
nature sounds. It may sound cheesy, but they display similar
relaxing effects to music.
Call A FriendIf you're feeling overwhelmed, take a break to call
a friend and talk about your problems. Good relationships with
friends and loved ones are important to any healthy lifestyle, and
there's no time that this is more evident than when you're under a
lot of stress. A reassuring voice, even for a minute, can put
everything in perspective.
Talk Yourself Through ItSometimes calling a friend is not an
option. If this is the case, talking calmly to yourself can be the
next best thing. Dont worry about seeming crazyjust tell yourself
why you're stressed out, what you have to do to complete the task
at hand, and most importantly, that everything will be OK (trust
us, it will be).
Eat RightStress levels and a proper diet are closely related.
Unfortunately, its when we have the most work that we forget to eat
well and resort to using sugary, fatty snack foods as a pick-me-up.
Try to avoid the vending machine and plan ahead. Fruits and
vegetables are always good, and fish with high levels of omega-3
fatty acids have been shown to reduce the symptoms of stress. A
tuna sandwich really is brain food.
Laugh It OffLaughter releases endorphins that improve mood and
decrease levels of the stress-causing
hormonescortisolandadrenaline. Laughing tricks your nervous system
into making you happy. However, bursting into a fit of giggles at
your desk may not be the most appropriate way to deal with stress.
Our suggestion: watch some classic Monty Python skits like "The
Ministry of Silly Walks." Those Brits are so hilarious, youll soon
be cracking up, rather thancracking up.
Try TeaA large dose of caffeine causes a short-term spike in
blood pressure and may cause your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal
axis to go into overdrive. Instead of coffee or energy drinks, try
green tea. It has less than half the caffeine of coffee and
contains healthy antioxidants, as well astheanine, an amino acid
that has a calming and soothing effect on the nervous system.
Be MindfulWhile most of the tips weve suggested provide
immediate relief, there are also many lifestyle changes that can be
more effective in the long run. The concept of mindfulness is a
large part of meditative and somatic approaches to mental health
and has become en vogue in psychotherapy. From yoga and tai chi to
meditation and Pilates, these systems of mindfulness incorporate
physical and mental exercises that prevent stress from becoming a
problem in the first place. Try joining a classmany are free to try
on the first day.
Exercise (Even For a Minute)Exercise doesn't necessarily mean
power lifting at the gym or training for a marathon. A short walk
around the office or simply standing up to stretch during a break
at work can offer immediate relief in a stressful situation.
Getting your blood moving releases endorphins and can improve your
mood almost instantaneously.
Sleep BetterEveryone knows stress can cause you to lose sleep.
Unfortunately, lack of sleep is also a key cause of stress. This
vicious cycle causes the brain and body to get out of whack and
only gets worse with time. Make it a point to get the
doctor-recommended seven to eight hours of sleep. Turn the TV off
earlier, manage your time, and do your best to get into bed. It may
be the most effective stress buster on our list.
Breathe EasyThe advice take a deep breath may seem like a clich,
but it holds true when it comes to stress. For centuries, Buddhist
monks have been conscious of deliberate breathing during
meditation. For an easy three- to five-minute exercise, sit up in
your chair with your feet flat on the floor and hands on top of
your knees. Breathe in and out slowly and deeply, concentrating on
your lungs as they expand fully in your chest. While shallow
breathing causes stress, deep breathing oxygenates your blood,
helps center your body, and clears your mind.
Accessed from
:http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/10-ways-to-relieve-stress#1
Accessed on : 3rd April 2015
Volunteering and its Surprising BenefitsHelping Yourself While
Helping Others
With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer.
However, the benefits of volunteering are enormous to you, your
family, and your community. The right match can help you find
friends, reach out to the community, learn new skills, and even
advance your career. Volunteering can also help protect your mental
and physical health. Learn more about the many benefits of
volunteering and find tips on getting started as a volunteer.IN
THIS ARTICLE: Volunteering connects you to others Volunteering is
good for mind and body Volunteering can advance your career
Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment How to find the right
opportunity Getting the most out of volunteeringBenefits of
volunteering #1: Volunteering connects you to othersOne of the
better-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the
community. Unpaid volunteers are often the glue that holds a
community together. Volunteering allows you to connect to your
community and make it a better place. However, volunteering is a
two-way street, and it can benefit you and your family as much as
the cause you choose to help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer
helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your
social skills.
Volunteering helps you make new friends and contactsOne of the
best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships
is to commit to a shared activity together. Volunteering is a great
way to meet new people, especially if you are new to an area.
Volunteering also strengthens your ties to the community and
broadens your support network, exposing you to people with common
interests, neighborhood resources, and fun and fulfilling
activities.Volunteering increases your social and relationship
skillsWhile some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and
have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the
opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, since you
are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests.
Once you have momentum, its easier to branch out and make more
friends and contacts.Volunteering as a familyWhile it might be a
challenge to coordinate everyones schedules, volunteering as a
family has many worthwhile benefits. Children watch everything you
do. By giving back to the community, you show them firsthand how
volunteering makes a difference and how good it feels to help
others and enact change. Its also a valuable way for you to get to
know organizations in the community and find resources and
activities for your children and family.Benefits of volunteering
#2: Volunteering is good for your mind and bodyVolunteering
provides many benefits to both mental and physical health.
Volunteering increases self-confidence. Volunteering can provide a
healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life
satisfaction. You are doing good for others and the community,
which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a
volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the
better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a
positive view of your life and future goals. Volunteering combats
depression. Reducing the risk of depression is another important
benefit of volunteering. A key risk factor for depression is social
isolation. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others
and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn
protects you against stress and depression when youre going through
challenging times. Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy.
Volunteering is good for your health at any age, but its especially
beneficial in older adults. Studies have found that those who
volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not, even
when considering factors like the health of the participants.
Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain
or heart disease.I have limited mobilitycan I still
volunteer?Whether due to a lack of transportation, time
constraints, a disability or other reasons, many people prefer to
volunteer via phone or computer. There are many projects where you
can help. Writing and graphic design lends itself to working at
home, and in todays digital age many organizations might also need
help with email and websites. If you think home-based volunteering
might be right for you, contact organizations you like and ask what
some of the possibilities might be. Some volunteer organizations
may require you to attend an initial training or periodical
meetings. You also want to make sure that you are getting enough
social contact, and that the organization is available to support
you should you have questions.Volunteering: The happiness
effectHelping others kindles happiness, as many studies have
demonstrated. When researchers at the London School of Economics
examined the relationship between volunteering and measures of
happiness in a large group of American adults, they found the more
people volunteered, the happier they were, according to a study in
Social Science and Medicine. Compared with people who never
volunteered, the odds of being very happy rose 7% among those who
volunteer monthly and 12% for people who volunteer every two to
four weeks. Among weekly volunteers, 16% felt very happya hike in
happiness comparable to having an income of $75,000$100,000 versus
$20,000, say the researchers. Giving time to religious
organizations had the greatest impact.Adapted with permission from
Simple Changes, Big Rewards: A Practical, Easy Guide for Healthy,
Happy Living, a special health report published by Harvard Health
Publications.Benefits of volunteering #3: Volunteering can advance
your careerIf youre considering a new career, volunteering can help
you get experience in your area of interest and meet people in the
field. Even if youre not planning on changing careers, volunteering
gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the
workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving,
project planning, task management, and organization. You might feel
more comfortable stretching your wings at work once youve honed
these skills in a volunteer position first.Volunteering can provide
career experienceVolunteering offers you the chance to try out a
new career without making a long-term commitment. It is also a
great way to gain experience in a new field. In some fields, you
can volunteer directly at an organization that does the kind of
work youre interested in. For example, if youre interested in
nursing, you could volunteer at a hospital or a nursing home. Your
volunteer work might also expose you to professional organizations
or internships that could be of benefit to your career.Volunteering
can teach you valuable job skillsJust because volunteer work is
unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are basic. Many
volunteering opportunities provide extensive training. For example,
you could become an experienced crisis counselor while volunteering
for a womens shelter or a knowledgeable art historian while
donating your time as a museum docent.Volunteering can also help
you build upon skills you already have and use them to benefit the
greater community. For instance, if you hold a successful sales
position, you raise awareness for your favorite cause as a
volunteer advocate, while further developing and improving your
public speaking, communication, and marketing skills.When it comes
to volunteering, passion and positivity are the only
requirementsWhile learning new skills can be beneficial to many,
its not a requirement for a fulfilling volunteer experience. Bear
in mind that the most valuable skills you can bring to any
volunteer effort are compassion, an open mind, a willingness to do
whatever is needed, and a positive attitude.Benefits of
volunteering #4: Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment to your
lifeVolunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests
and passions. Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and
interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your
day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments.
Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation,
and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional
life.Many people volunteer in order to make time for hobbies
outside of work as well. For instance, if you have a desk job and
long to spend time outdoors, you might consider volunteering to
help plant a community garden, lead local hikes, or help at a
childrens camp.Consider your goals and interestsYou will have a
richer and more enjoyable volunteering experience if you first take
some time to identify your goals and interests. Start by thinking
about why you want to volunteer. Also think about what you would
enjoy doing. Volunteer opportunities that match both your goals and
your interests are most likely to be fun and fulfilling for
you.Tips for Getting Started VolunteeringFirst, ask yourself if
there is something specific you want to do. For example, do I want
to make it better around where I live to meet people who are
different from me to try something new to do something with my
spare time to see a different way of life and new places to have a
go at the type of work I might want to do as a full-time job to do
more with my interests and hobbies to do something Im good atThe
best way to volunteer is to match your personality and interests.
Having answers to these questions will help you narrow down your
search.Source: World Volunteer WebHow to find the right volunteer
opportunityThere are numerous volunteer opportunities available.
The key is to find a volunteer position that you would enjoy and
are capable of doing. Its also important to make sure that your
commitment matches the organizations needs. The following questions
can help you narrow your options: Would you like to work with
people or would you rather work in solitude? Do you prefer to work
alone or as part of a team? Are you better behind the scenes or do
you prefer to take a more visible role? How much time are you
willing to commit? How much responsibility are you ready to take
on? What skills can you bring a volunteer job? What causes are
important to you?Consider several possibilitiesIn your search for
the right volunteer opportunity, dont limit yourself to just one
organization or one specific type of job. Sometimes an opportunity
looks great on paper, but the reality is quite different. Try to
visit different organizations and get a feel for what they are like
and if you click with other staff and volunteers. The more
satisfaction you have as a volunteer, the better your contributions
and the more likely youll continue.Where do I find volunteer
opportunities? Community theaters, museums, and monuments Libraries
or senior centers Service organizations such as Lions club or
Rotary clubs Youth organizations, sports teams, and after-school
programs Historical restorations and national parks Places of
worship such as churches or synagogues Online databases such as
those contained in Resources section belowGetting the most out of
volunteeringYoure donating your valuable time, so its important
that you enjoy and benefit from your volunteering. Its important to
make sure that your volunteer position is a good fit and to
communicate with the people youre working with in the volunteer
organization. Ask questions. You want to make sure that the
experience is right for your skills, your goals, and the time you
want to spend. If you have any questions, be sure to speak up.
Sample questions to your volunteer coordinator might address your
time commitment, if theres any training involved, who you will be
working with, and what to do if you have questions during your
experience. Make sure you know whats expected. Before starting,
make sure you are comfortable with the organization, know what is
expected, and understand the time commitment. Consider starting
small so that you dont over commit yourself at first. Give yourself
some flexibility to change your focus if needed. Dont be afraid to
make a change. Speak up if your experience isnt what you expected.
Dont force yourself into a bad fit. Talk to the organization about
changing your focus or consider looking for another match. Enjoy
yourself. Most importantly, make sure youre having fun! The best
volunteer experiences benefit both the volunteer and the
organization. If youre not enjoying yourself, ask yourself why. Is
it the tasks youre performing? The people youre working with? Or
are you uncomfortable simply because the situation is new and
familiar? Pinpointing whats bothering you can help you decide how
to proceed.
Authors: Joanna Saisan, M.S.W., Melinda Smith, M.A., and Gina
Kemp, M.A. Last updated: September 2013.
Accessed from
:http://www.helpguide.org/life/volunteer_opportunities_benefits_volunteering.htm
Accessed on : 3rd April 2015
Accessed by : Nurul Fatin Naqiyah binti Yatim 950619-12-5990
PISMP SEJARAH JUN 2014
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY IIARTICLE
Name: Nurhizatul Adibah binti HasininUnit: PISMP Sejarah Ambilan
Jun 2014
The 5 Types Of Friends Everyone Should Have
It was like one of those "meet-cute" scenes in a Hollywood
movie, minus the romance. I met Susan, an author, through a mutual
friend a few months ago. She was from Dallas. I was from Dallas.
She'd lost her mother. I'd lost my mother. She'd written books. I'd
written books. A few coffees led to dinner with our husbands and
the friendship chemistry was apparent. If I'd have met her in my
20s, we might have been godmothers of each other's children. But
now that we're older, the friendship thing doesn't work quite as
well as it used to. Kids, jobs and, well, just life get in the way
of forging a real connection. Yes, we've gotten together, but not
nearly as often as I would have liked.
And that's just how it goes as you grow older. The urgency you
felt in your 20s, when every overture from a new beau required a
30-minute analysis with a friend over the phone, is gone. Or
there's just not time for it. Perhaps it's that people simply grow
more discerning as time becomes more scarce. Spending hours in a
bar drinking margaritas with an egomaniac or with someone who can't
let go of something I may have done wrong five years ago? Who has
the time?
Thanks to Facebook, the idea of "de-friending" someone is not a
foreign one. With a few simple clicks, you can wipe someone from
your "friends" list and never again be faced with a seemingly
endless stream of birthday party photos from someone you're no
longer close to. But in the real world it's a lot harder to
"de-friend" someone, but it can be even more important to do
so.
It's an interesting process, reaching such a level of
self-awareness that you finally realize which friendships deserve
tending -- and which are a drag, wearing you down. As someone who
considers her friendships as life-sustaining as water, it's been
difficult to take a hard look at the relationships I've cultivated
through the decades and realize, with a heavy heart, that they're
not all going to last.
Precious time must be spent taking stock of the like-minded
people in your life. Just because I attended elementary school with
someone, do I really need to keep reaching out to them? As I juggle
work with kids, the answer often is "no" if we no longer have
anything in common. So what kinds of friends do I want to hang
onto? After giving it some thought, I came up with the following
list. Have your own ideas about friendship in midlife? Let us know
in comments.
There is five types of friends worth keeping forever. First,
friends who make the effort. I have one friend who although she is
swamped with career and childcare duties never fails to reach out
via text, email or phone every few days, no matter what else is
going on. Even if it's simply something succinct, like "just wanted
to touch base and say hi" I truly appreciate these signals that I'm
being thought about and that our friendship is important to her. I
also appreciate my friends who are forgiving. I'm not saying that
someone should forgive an offense quickly or superficially. It
takes time to forgive. But if too much time is taken, bad feelings
fester, and the friendship may never get back on track. No one is
perfect and a true friend will understand that.
Friends who are genuinely happy for me when something good
happens. I'm fortunate enough to have at least a few friends who
are sincerely and openly happy for me when something nice occurs.
(You're probably wondering, shouldn't every kind of friend be happy
for others? You'd think so, but that's not always the case.)
Friends who are genuinely happy exhibit not a smidgeon of
jealously, but seem truly thrilled about the sale of my book and
the various accomplishments of my three children. They watch and
revel in my glory without any inkling of bitterness and I do the
same for them. (After all, friendship is a two-way street.)
Friends who are upbeat. You know the opposite of this type. They
are those folks who ruminate over every little problem in their
life again and again and yet never make one move to change their
situation. They are Debbie Downers. And they bring me down. Misery
loves company and downbeat friends generally are more interested in
your bad news than your good news. People who are positive and
motivated and optimistic and who lift up those around them are
worth hanging on to. I have one friend who never fails to
compliment me on something even if it's just "wow, are you parting
your hair on a different side? Nice!" when she sees me.
Friends who are up for anything. Earlier this month, I went with
five girlfriends to a Korean spa in New Jersey called King Spa. The
facility is like a mall, with three floors composed of all types of
hot and cold spas. The night before our "spa day," we checked the
website and realized we'd be naked and so would everyone else. But
rather than cop out, we decided to go for it. And it was one of the
best times I've ever had. There is something completely liberating
about sitting with friends, chatting about our lives, while totally
naked. Talk about shedding one's inhibitions! I left there loving
the fact that my friends were willing to try something completely
outside their comfort zone.
Friends who are authentic. This is the steadfast friend who is
anything but pretentious the one who's not afraid to see you
without makeup or after she's been crying or when her house is a
mess. She's not averse to showing you her trueself or seeing yours.
She's "real" and honest and will tell you the truth when asked her
opinion. When your behavior is questionable, there is a fine line
between expressing concern and expressing judgement. A true friend
will tell you the truth and will let you know they'll always be on
your side no matter what decision you make even if, in their
opinion, it's the wrong one.
Shelley Emling (2014). The 5 Types Of Friends Everyone Should
Have. Access on 1 March.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shelley-emling/friendships-after-50_b_4733554.html.