How to Write a Pop Song in 4 Easy Steps

How to Write a Pop Song in 4 Easy Steps Sign up successful Take Some Music Lessons. It will be important to be able to create music to write songs, even if you arent the one fully producing the final track.   This is fundamental if you start writing songs for other artists as they must hear something good enough, even in development stages, to be liked.   A good combination is to take vocal lessons, guitar lessons and piano lessons to acquire a basic level of musical knowledge.   The more you learn the easier it will be to translate whats in your head into real music! Get Inspired. If you havent just had your heart broken or had some truly incredible event happen in your life, this step can be quite hard.   If you find yourself short on material, try pretending to be someone else and writing about their life!   Write letters to friends and family about your deepest feelings, then borrow bits and pieces as starting points.   Try watching compelling films or going to the theater.   Read a book that inspires you or try asking deep questions of the people in your life.   Most people find they have a wealth of material simply by scratching the surface of their own day-to-day experiences. Start Writing. It may take a while to find your true voice as an artist, so just start writing as much as possible.   Keep a journal and always carry a small notepad or even a tape recorder with you so you have a way to remember your brilliant and creative ideas when inspiration strikes.   If you are able to take a course in poetry or creative writing, do so to further develop the quality of your writing.   Remember that practice makes perfect, so practice your craft! Study the lyrics of songs you most like, and think about why you like them.   Just listening to music is excellent research! Put it All Together. Though this can be the hardest part for many people, it is the part that reaps the greatest rewards by getting you one step closer to the finished product of a song.   Some songwriters prefer to write the music first then add lyrics, or vice versa.   Others prefer to write at the piano or with their guitar.   Practice different methods to find out what works best for you.   Ask your music teacher and vocal coach for assistance, as they will be able to help you create pieces appropriate for your style, message, and ability.   Try some simple exercises when starting out like adding your lyrics to the melody of an established song, then slowly making changes to the tempo, key, and tune until it becomes your own. Author Bio: Jessica Josh is an Australian freelance writer and blogger.  Since 2007 she has been writing about wedding bands, wedding entertainment, corporate entertainment and articles about companies like http://entertainment88.com.au/ You might also like Songwriting Tips from a Grammy Award Winner Songwriting Tips: A Method to the Madness Is Writing Songs the Key to Finding Yourself? Photo by oouinouin

How to Give Spanish Lessons

How to Give Spanish Lessons Do You Want to Become a Private Spanish Tutor? ChaptersHow to Become a Spanish TeacherSpanish Lesson: How to Find Your First Students to Teach Spanish ToHow to Organize Your Spanish LessonsSetting the Price of Your Spanish LessonsYou want to become a foreign-language teacher, and you’re thinking of teaching Spanish?The most popular foreign language in the United States, that means there are a lot of Americans who want to improve their foreign language skills!According to research on the linguistic skill of students, American students fall behind those of other countries.Spanish is thriving in the United States. It is a language that is especially essential for working in the international marketplace.Becoming a Spanish teacher seems like a judicious idea given the demand from the parents of students or simply because of the number of people who would like to add a value to their CV. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Dis cover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow to Become a Spanish TeacherWhat is the right path to becoming a Spanish teacher?To become a Spanish professor, you have to follow a certain course in order to give yourself the best chance of succeeding!Begin with a Bachelor’s degree in applied foreign languages before embarking on a master’s in education.You will then have to obtain your teacher’s certification. For this, many schools will require you to have classroom experience, and possibly an examination, depending on the state you wish to work in.You will need to study hard in order to pass your exam!What might you be tested on during your exam?Written commentaryTranslationLesson plan and teaching abilitySpeaking abilityAs you can see, you will have to work very hard to be able to obtain a Spanish teaching position!But this will open the doors to teaching in middle school, high school, and beyond.If you would like to teach Spanish to students in higher education, you will need to have previous teaching experience, and in many cases, a PhD in Spanish language or culture.If you have no interest in doing specialized studies or passing additional exams, but you still want to give Spanish lessons, don’t worry: all is not lost!You can still become a private tutor, by giving finding online teaching jobs or offering tuition at home).It’s simple, you have two options:You can work for a private tutoring companyYou can freelance and advertise your services around town or onlineThere is no need for a diploma to do this, but your experience will contribute to your prospective clients’ confidence in your skill.Become a Spanish teacher online and give lessons remotely!In sum: if you want to become a private tutor, you can without attaining expert level!In fact, at the intermediary level you can help students on many levels:Help with homeworkSpanish grammar practiceMastery of important Spanish conceptsLearning the basics of SpanishHowever, even if no diploma is required, having a degree in applied foreign languages or in education would be a good way to attract more students.Are you bilingual?If Spanish is your mother tongue, if you are a native Spanish speaker and thus bilingual: your personal experience will be enough to make you a great Spanish teacher!The language of Cervantes holds no secrets for you if you are bilingual.Do you speak Spanish as well as you speak English?Then you have the skill and knowledge necessary to teach Spanish to your students.Are you passionate about traveling? Have you already taken a language-learning trip to a Hispanophone country? Have you thus reinforced your knowledge of Spanish thanks to that experience of total immersion abroad?Taking language lessons and learning Spanish in Spain, with an intensive intern ship, is the best way to become bilingual, better express yourself, and guarantee your spot as a teacher without taking the tradition school path.Spanish Lesson: How to Find Your First Students to Teach Spanish ToWhere should you look for Spanish students?You have chosen to give Spanish language lessons in person or online, but you don’t know how to find your first clients?Try classified ads!If you’re wondering where to place them, here are a few ideas:Local businessesLocal newspapersInternetThese are all good ways to get people talking about you!If finding students seems difficult to you, why not join a private tutoring company?According to reports, the “supplemental education” sector is estimated at 5 billion dollars. The tutoring industry has grown more than 50% since 2008, with more than 50 franchised tutoring firms in the US. There is a veritable private tutoring boom in the United States!Indeed, the cost of private tutoring is more expensive with a company than with a freelance tutor: on average $45 to $60 per hour, without counting the registration costs which can be much more.You can also sign up for an online platform as a freelance tutor.By 2016, the freelance economy in the United States grew to 55 million people. The freelance boom has continued to grow from year to year in the US, now making up 35% of the workforce.And that's just in the US! Why not find out about tutoring jobs London or elsewhere in the UK?The advantage of freelancing? Freedom: you set your own hours, your own rates, and your own method.The drawback? High taxes! As a freelancer, you must pay self-employment taxes in addition to regular income taxes, ranging in total on average from 25% to 30% of your annual income.If you would like to create a beautiful professional storefront for yourself, call on a webmaster to create your own internet site.A professional website will give your future students, or their parents, more confidence in you!How to Organize Your Spanish Lesson sHow to devise a good Spanish course?To be a good Spanish professor is above all demonstrate your teaching skills.Giving a Spanish lesson is not the same as giving a math lesson or an English lesson.Indeed, language lessons require an optimal concentration on the part of your students to learn new words.To be a good Spanish professor, prepare a lesson plan and stay organized!So how to proceed?It is important to be very organized: lesson plans, goals…Prepare your lessons: employ online exercises, internet sites, make vocabulary review cards… Have a work methodology!You have to be unique and interesting: plan fun lessons, use technology…Why not read Don Quixote in the original version, or speak about the history of Spain to enrich the culture of your student?In short: inspire in your students the desire to study!Speak Spanish! Your student should feel like they are in a Spanish class in Spain.Adapt to the level and the needs of your student. Opt for conversations or for working on the basics: contemporary Spanish phrases, grammatical rules, pronunciation, tone accent…Academic lessons or conversation courses: vary your lessons!Manage your lessons: time your lessons, offer an intensive course to address certain difficulties, give homework to each student to gain time before each lesson…In each of these methods you will need to be creative, patient, and attentive to your students to become a good teacher.Your students will be able to recommend you on the Superprof platform by leaving a review.Setting the Price of Your Spanish LessonsHow much does a Spanish lesson cost?It all depends on several criteria! What is your level?Are you at the intermediary level, or an expert? Bilingual? Native Hispanophone?What is your professional experience?Are you a beginner or do you have a few years behind you?Experienced professors charge up to 40 dollars per hour while a beginner professor charges generally around 15 dollars an hour.What is the level of your student?Is t he student seeking your help to prepare for an exam, such as the SAT, TOEFL, or for a class in school? Or a simple refresher course? Are they in high school or university?What will be the rhythm of the course? A daily lesson, or only occasionally? A summer course or throughout the school year?Where do you live?Yes, the rate professors charge depends on the city! In cities like New York City or Los Angeles, tutors charge in the range of $35 to $45, while in smaller towns rates generally hover around $15.For in-home lessons: take into consideration the commute time, and the cost of transportation (including gas).With all that in mind, how do you come up with your rate?To calculate your hourly rate, take into account all the various expenses.Giving private lessons must be profitable.So your salary (hourly rate) must be calculated taking into account all the costs you have to pay.The freelance workforce in the United States earned an estimated $1 trillion in 2015.Clearly, freelancing is a real way to earn a living today!

The ACT Test Online ACT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace

The ACT Test Online ACT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace ACT is an abbreviation of American College testing and is an exam taken by high school students to study in the colleges and universities in the United States. Good ACT scores are recognized everywhere and it becomes easy for a student to learn college level courses. The ACT test examines the students knowledge in 4 subject areas, English, Mathematics, Reading and Science. Students taking ACT plus Writing have to also work on their writing skills. This test contains multiple choice questions except for writing section and students must pick an answer from the given options. It is recommended for students to answer easy questions first and little difficult questions later in order to finish on time. English section contains 75 questions and students have to answer them in 45 minutes time. This section measures the grammar and rhetoric skills of the student. Mathematics section consists of 60 questions and the time given for this section is 60 minutes. This means that the student must answer each question in no more than a minute to get a good score. The Reading and Science section each contain 40 questions and 35 minutes time is given to answer questions in each section. It measures the comprehension and reasoning skills of the student and the ability to evaluate and interpret the meaning of the given information. The optional Writing test consists of a topic or an issue where students have to present their point of view on the given subject. Try Free ACT Test Question Worksheet Here In this section find the worksheets on ACT Test Question. This Worksheet surely helps you to increase your ACT exam scores. This is the free of cost worksheet especially to our valuable students.

What is it Like to Attend The University of Texas at Austin

What is it Like to Attend The University of Texas at Austin The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Larrissa is a Houston tutor specializing in Psychology tutoring, Reading tutoring, ISEE prep tutoring, and more. She studied Communications at The University of Texas at Austin and graduated in 2009. See what she had to say about her alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Larrissa: There are plenty of ways to get around UT-Austin the bus system being the most useful. There are university buses that run around campus, the close surrounding areas, and the areas that are made of mostly student housing. In addition to that, every UT student can ride an Austin city bus for free with their student IDs. I didnt have a car in Austin until I started graduate school, and I did just fine. You can take buses to the grocery stores and everything! As for safety, I would say there are the same safety concerns as every big school, especially those in the middle of a growing city. It isnt recommended to walk across campus alone at night, and there are student groups that will walk to you and escort you anywhere on campus. The UTPD officers are also very helpful with these things, and there are emergency call boxes everywhere on campus ! VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Larrissa: The professors are typically pretty available, depending on their work-loads and class sizes. Sometimes you have to wait to see a professor but they all have office hours and are pretty good about being in their office during those hours. The TAs are almost always available and spend a great deal of energy meeting with students, in and outside of their office hours. Academic advisors go through busy seasons with registration being the biggest rush of students. As long as you have a little patience and plan ahead for those times, there is never a problem. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Larrissa: Dorm life at Texas is a great time. There are dorms to fit every lifestyle and need, but I would recommend joining a residential FIG. They are basically groups matched by dorm and major, so you are in som e of the same classes as people living in your dorm. It creates a small community within a huge campus and makes it feel like home FAST! There are cheap, yummy dining choices and delicious expensive dining choices and everything in between. UT does a great job of making sure they have pretty convenient things for students! VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Larrissa: The business school at UT is highly ranked nationally, and the engineering program is top as well. That being said, every major at Texas is backed up with the international credibility of The University of Texas. I studied Communications for my undergrad and masters degrees. I chose this because I had an intense fascination with how people interact with each other, but not on a clinical scale like Psychology majors. Being a Communication Studies major had a ton of benefits in school, and no w outside of school. It is so translatable to many different professions, and I got to study exactly what I was passionate about. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Larrissa: The residential FIG definitely encouraged friend-making, as do all of the social/spirit groups at UT. There are many Greek organizations, and organizations that have the structure of Greek ones without the Greek letters. The incredible part about UT is that anyone can start a club with 2 friends and $15. The more incredible part about UT is that someone else probably already started the club and you can just join! 50k students means a lot of people with similar fringe interests, and everyone wants to find a niche there. Its awesome! VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Larrissa: The Career Center is pretty he lpful, and many of the colleges have their own Career Centers. You can choose to go to the University-wide one, or one just for your college (like the College of Engineering). The career fairs that are hosted by individual colleges and the university as a whole are really neat! There are so many companies hiring so many different types of people that most people go to career fairs every year, on the job market and not! VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Larrissa: Of course, during finals time, the libraries can get pretty crowded. When that happens, there are plenty of other places around campus to go study. Empty classrooms, dorm lounges, outside, nearby coffee shops theyre all available. Once you go to school there for awhile, you develop your favorite spots to study. Mine was always the Life Sciences library, in the base of the UT tower. It is whats left of the original libra ry at UT (the stacks) and looks like a library that would be in Hogwarts. Its so beautiful and peaceful. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Larrissa: Luckily for students at UT, you dont have to choose between campus area and downtown campus is basically downtown! If you want to do it, there is probably a bus to take you close to where you want to go. Austin is a place for dreamers and doers, and its beautiful. You absolutely never run out of things to do there! Im originally from Austin and even when I return back there, there are new and old exciting things to do that are new to me! VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Larrissa: The student body is pretty huge. I think it was over 50,000 students when I attended, so I am sure it is higher than that now! Class sizes range from 25-600. It really depends on the class type and how many credit hours you need to take it. As you progress in your academic career at Texas, your classes get smaller. There are definitely times that the class size is overwhelming, but the workload is formatted differently in big classes to make up for it. Big classes use scantron tests while smaller classes write papers. Its just a matter of how you learn and work. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most.Larrissa: I definitely had some professors that were exceedingly challenging, but I will never forget the incredible team of Drs. Daly and Vangelisti. They both changed how I see myself, the world, and school in different ways but amazingly influential just the same. Dr. Daly is the reason I pursued Communication Studies for my undergrad, thanks to his Interpersonal Commu nication class (one of the classes that has 500+! Hes THAT good!) His beautiful wife, Dr. Vangelisti is the reason I pursued graduate school, thanks to her love of research and desire to shape young minds into what they want to be. I cannot speak highly enough of the CMS department, the College of Communication, and The University of Texas. The motto What starts here changes the world is truly fulfilled and I could not be happier to forever be a Texas Longhorn. Much love, and Hook Em Horns! Check out Larrissas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

How to Follow Up With Networking Contacts (Without Being Annoying) - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How to Follow Up With Networking Contacts (Without Being Annoying) - Introvert Whisperer How to Follow Up With Networking Contacts (Without Being Annoying) Career Attraction August 18, 2014 Communication, Networking No responses How to Follow Up With Networking Contacts (Without Being Annoying) You just made a great connection at a networking event. You feel that “burden to meet someone” lift from your shoulders and decide to relax with a drink at the bar. On your way over, you realize: I have no reason to contact this person again. How am I going to follow up? Don’t panic. You can still save the connection and build a solid relationship with a series of “light touches.” This helps you to stay in someone’s mind without (literally) being in their face. Here are a few touch points to try: They mentioned an upcoming work event, client meeting, training, conference, workshop or other events send an email asking how the event went. Their alma mater or favorite sports team won an important game congratulate them. They have an upcoming vacation or staycation or are in the process of choosing a vacation destination send a recommendation or a link to an article you found on the destination. They are battling an illness or aiding a sick parent, spouse, friend or child check-in and send wishes for a speedy recovery. They have a new baby or a baby on the way, or found out if they were having a boy or a girl congratulate them and offer some nice memories of your own if you’re a parent. Be careful with the advice here â€" they are getting a lot of it. It is their birthday or a child’s birthday, or they’re attending or throwing a birthday party ask how it went. What to Do When You Don’t Know That Much Forgot to jot down the details of your conversation? Here are some additional follow-ups to effectively (but not annoyingly) stay on someone’s radar: Create connections for the person by introducing them to a vendor who can help them or to a potential client. Invite them to or let them know about upcoming events they might enjoy or benefit from. Send your regards through a mutual friend. Congratulate them (on a job promotion, securing a new client, etc). By the way, an easy way to stay on top of news regarding your contacts is a service called Newsle. Newsle sends you a message whenever someone you have set up an alert for is mentioned in the press. Keeping Up With the Details Before we leave this topic, I want to quickly touch upon one final thing: how to keep track of your contacts’ details. One trick I use is that after I have had a conversation with someone, I quickly jot down a few key points from the conversation on the back of their business card (if I’m at an event) or in a notebook if I met the person for lunch or at a meeting. Then, I transfer these notes to their “contact” record on my computer when I get back to my office. How have you learned to keep in touch with your network? Share your tips in the comments! This post originally appeared on MichelleTillisLederman.com and was republished with permission on Career Attraction. Image: Flickr Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.  Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Even and Odd Trig Functions - Trigonometry Online Tutoring

Even and Odd Trig Functions - Trigonometry Online Tutoring To understand about even and odd trig functions, it is first important to understand the concept of even and odd trig functions. A function is said to even function if the following relation persists:- The relation for even function is f (-x) = f(x) And a function is said to be odd function if the following relation persists:- The relation for odd function is f (-x) = - f (x) In case of even and odd trig functions, the following are the main even as well as odd functions:- Sin (-x) = - Sin (x), hence by definition it is odd function Cos (-x) = Cos (x), hence by definition it is even function It is important to note that tan (x) and cot (x) are both odd functions. Question 1:- Evaluate the value of Sin (-30) and tell whether it is even or odd function. Solution 1:- Here in this question we need to evaluate the value of Sin (-45) We know that Sin (-30) = - Sin (30) And we know that the value of Sin (30) = Therefore, Sin (-30) = - Sin (30) = - Since in this case the relation f(-x) = - f(x) , therefore Sin (-30) is odd function. Question 2:- Evaluate the value of tan (-45) and tell whether it is even or odd function. Solution 2:- Here in this question we need to evaluate the value of Sin (-45) We know that tan (-45) = - tan (45) And we know that the value of tan (45) = 1 Therefore, tan (-45) = - tan (45)= -1 Since in this case the relation f(-x) = - f(x) , therefore tan (-45) is odd function.

The Best Sports Watches for Personal Training

The Best Sports Watches for Personal Training A Guide to The Best Running Watches to buy this Year ChaptersThe popularity of the Sports WatchTips for Choosing a Sports WatchTop 10 Sports Watches 2018Whether you're a professional sportsperson or an amateur who only just decided to take their fitness seriously, using the right tools can make a huge difference to the effectiveness of your exercise program. Fitness watches would quickly come into the picture, but do you really need them, and how do you select the one that's right for you? In this article, we will discuss your options.In 2016, 49.2 million connected watches were sold all over the world. Quite a small number, compared to over 1.5 billion smartphones sold worldwide in 2017.Nevertheless, smartwatches are all the rage right now, and more and more manufacturers are into a specific type of this digital device: sports watches.With more and more people desiring to stay healthy and fit, training watches are coming in very handy.In many ways, these watches complete the smartphone.You can install apps on them, they have GPS funct ion, as well as storage capacity - so you can listen to music while jogging - and have a whole suite of functions which both the newbie sportier and professional athletes will find very useful:PedometerGyrometerHeart rate monitorGPS receiver,Speed and distance indicatorAltimeter, compassBlood oxygen levels, etc.What sports watch will help you reach your fitness goals faster? (Photo Credit: visualhunt)There are so many watch brands out there, so how do you go about selecting the best training watch for your needs? This article has a mini guide on the top 10 sports watches out there.Tips for Choosing a Sports WatchRather than use  exercise machines, take advantage of technology...With the numerous features they come with, running watches serve as more than just connected wristbands, and are increasingly becoming an indispensable tool in sports.It can be a pretty tricky deciding which sports watch to use. Not to worry, Superprof is here to help (Photo Credit: visualhunt)A great fitness watch optimises your exercise training just like a personal trainer.It helps youLose weightBurn excess caloriesForge aheadCalculate the distance covered (using the GPS function),Measure your heart rateSome training watches designed for extreme sports have an altimeter, a compass, a barometer, as well as a thermometer.Most mobile phone manufacturers including Samsung, Sony, Huawei and Nokia - are in a race to become the most competitive in this market. Whether on iOS or Android, you should have in mind these three criteria when choosing a watch:Screen type: LCD screen? transflective screen? check. Pointers, Oled screens? Check.Compatibility with other smartphones: Apple Watch, Withings Activity and NévoWatch Névo for iPhone 5 and 6, Samsung Gear for Android,Activity tracking feature, synchronised with a smartphoneProcessing powerStorage capacityInbuilt sensors: oxygen level (VO2Max), pedometer, gyroscope, heart rate monitor, camera, GPS chipSports coach applicationsWireless connec tivityBattery charging: via micro USB port, by wireless contact,Autonomy: up to 3 days without charge? Check.Water resistance: some watches are waterproof up to 50 meters deep in waterLook and design: Just like jewellery, the design, thickness and colour are very important too.Does your training coach have to use exercise machines? Well, not if he has a smartwatch!Top 10 Sports Watches 2018There are just so many connected watch brands out there, we cannot mention them all. But here's a list of the ones we think are the best.Samsung Gear S3Probably the coolest thing about this watch is that when it's synced smartphone is too far away from the watch, the wi-fi comes on to maintain the connection.The built-in S Health app tracks the physical activity of the wearer and enables a complete activity tracking.Samsung Gear S3 is versatile and sleek. (Photo credit: Andri Koolme on Visual Hunt)The size of your stride and height of your step are automatically recorded, and you can start an exer cise session by choosing from fifteen different sports.Data is automatically calculated: from distance covered, to calories burned, to your heart rate during physical activity (the heart rate monitor functions nonstop anyways during training).This wristwatch is just right for high blood pressure patients, but costs quite a chunk, with its £399 price tag.The ProsGPSloudspeakeroptional LTE telephone servicepayment service anywhere in the world.Spotify for great music on the goWorks with most Android phones, and even iPhones to some extent.Attractive design and intuitive interface with a spinning bezel.The ConsThe iOS connection works but is not stable.Few applications use independent LTE services.The Tizen-based operating system supports fewer applications than Apple Watch or Android Wear.Bottom Line: the Samsung watch sits right on top of the pack, as one of the best options for Android users.Sony Smartwatch 3The Sony Smartwatch 3 comes with a GPS chip that records the physical acti vity of the wearer, even when it is not connected to its sister smartphone.The ProsSmooth performanceIn-built GPSGreat displayMicroUSB chargerThe ConsNot particularly sleekUnstable GPS performanceFiddly charging portNon-standard charging portThis watch has no application for monitoring the heart rateIt's ok, it's an entry-level product and you can get it for just £110.Sony wearable devices have some huge advantages compared to others. (Photo credit: pestoverde on Visualhunt.com)Withings Steel HRThis wearable device is compatible with iOS and Android and is urban, elegant, and sporty all in one go.At a price range of between £190 and £200, here are some of the features you get with this training watch:Heart rate monitor,  ideal for persons who have been living sedentary lifestyles for a long time,A sleep quality tracker, for persons with sleeping disorders (for example, persons suffering stress, anxiety, even depression),A chronometer  that enables you to measure the exact time an d distance covered during a running sessionThis watch has an impressive level of autonomy, being able to stay up to 25 days without charge at regular usage!Apple Watch Series 2The high points of this training watch are its pulse calculator as well as a stopwatch to measure your time in a race.The only difference between this and the first generation Apple Watch is an inbuilt GPS chip to enable you to measure the distance covered.Outdoor amateur sportspersons can calculate atmospheric pressure using the barometer pre-installed in this cardio GPS watch.It is perfect for swimming enthusiasts and even divers: the watch is water resistant even up to 50 feet underwater!The ProsExcellent follow-up on your fitnessThe GPS enables versatile usage of the watchLong-lasting battery lifeQuick performanceBright and magnificent screenThe ConsOnly compatible with iOSQuite expensive...with price ranging from £410  to £465!Huawei Watch 2This Chinese-made watch is made waterproof according to IP68 st andards; you can immerse it in water up to a depth of 1.5 metres for half an hour.The wristwatch is  just perfect  for sports, and comes with:GPS  chip,Heart rate monitor,Digital CompassGyroscope,Accelerometer,VO2max  (tracks blood oxygen levels),NFC connection, Bluetooth and 4G Wifi  (with SIM card)Whether you are going for a jogging session, a brisk walk, or training in the gym, you can listen to music and get sports coaching right from this watch!Real-time activity monitoring also enables you to keep track of your performance and make progress.You can get it for a price of between 280 and 330 euros.Find the best online personal trainer on Superprof.Suunto Ambit 2S Graphite HRThis multisport cardio GPS watch is very useful for track races, swimming, biking and all other outdoor sports.It is both stylish and has a comprehensive range of features.AltimeterCompassSystematic detection of movement typeRecording of data in historyHeart rate beltGPS receiverWater resistance up to 50 metr es of waterPower cell (for cycling)Detector for the type of swimmingVirtual sports coach functionYou can get it from £299; it's one of the most talked about on the webGarmin VivoActive HRThis is a high-sensitivity watch with a bracelet to track physical activity.Its features includeHeart rate monitorTracking of calories burntDistance calculatorAltimeterCompassWeather and Temperature appTraining pace calculatorSleep quality analyserWith this watch you can do different sports types like running and swimming; it can measure distance covered as the duration of your sessions, whether you are biking, playing golf, canoeing, or doing indoor sports...Garmin Fitness Watch (Photo Credit: evanscycles.com)Garmin's latest strategy sacrifices quality and brightness of the display in favour of longer battery life, which largely explains the average display of VivoActive.You can see graphs on the screen to get an idea of the changes in your physical condition over time.If you miss your training or get complacent, the watch reminds its owner it is time to move!You can get it for just £240, and it is one of the best products on the market.Polar V800 GPSThis GPS sports watch is ideal for running, cycling and swimming, and is perfect for triathlons.Athletes who desire to progress and improve their performances can't resist this running watch, which combines the latest technology with simple design.It has all you would want in a running watch:GPS functionAltimeterInclinometerBarometerSleep quality analyser:  deep sleep, light sleepIn addition, you can plan a complete exercise programme thanks to its 13 hours of autonomy and a super memory of 99 hours!Prices start at £360. Not particularly cheap, but hey, it has the full range of functions.TomTom Runner 3This watch comes with an mp3 player and a real-time itinerary tracker, all at a price of £249.What beats listening to your favourite song while jogging, doing abdominal exercises, or during a cycling session outdoors? The advan tage is that you can listen using the Bluetooth connection, without having to connect a cord from your wrist to your headphones.The activity tracker on the display makes it perfect for running, hiking or walking. You can download an itinerary and do your mountaineering, without getting lost again. Ever!Go mountaineering anywhere without fearing you'll get lost. Your adventure awaits! (Photo Credit: adventures365.in)Outlined below are some of the features of this watch:Activity trackerGPS chipHeart rate wristbandTracking of calories burnedWater resistance up to 30 meters deep in waterTraining plans availableSpeed indicator (km/h)Personal assistantMP3 playerMoto 360 2nd GenerationThis seems to be the best sports watch in the Android Wear Suite.For just £300, this Motorola sports watch has everything to satisfy any athlete.Compatible with Android and iOs, this uncomplicated training watch also allows you to automatically update the apps.It's quite an extension of your smartphone; it's a veritable sporting coach and comes in handy for everyday usage. This fitness watch is well adapted for both light and intense sporting activities.Features:A customizable  news feedTraining pace calculatorDistance calculatorTracking of calories burntActivity reminders,  to help you stay motivated towards reaching your fitness goalsHeart rate monitor,  available upon downloading the appYou can use this watch without a synced smartphone during a running session.So what are you waiting for? Go grab one of those and make the most of your training! Let your watch be your personal trainer!Check out the home fitness equipment you can buy here.See what other fitness equipment is out there to use in gyms.Discover these other sports gadgets for the keen sportsperson.

How to Excel in College While Employed in 11 Easy Steps

How to Excel in College While Employed in 11 Easy Steps ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog Are you working and taking college classes at the same time? If so, you probably already know how challenging it can be. But don’t worry. Even with limited time, you can succeed at both school and work. In the next few minutes, you’re going to learn 11 easy steps to follow to help you draw the best out of yourself in both settings. Since you’re a busy student, I’m sure you don’t have any time to waste. So, let’s get started! Have a conversation with your boss. This first step might be the hardest for you depending on your relationship with your boss. Whatever the case may be, I can assure you that it’s important. Why? Picture this scenario. You’re at work watching the clock as the final minutes of your shift wind down. You have a test the next day. Your plan is to rush home, bang out a few hours of studying, then get a good night's sleep. Just as you’re about to leave, you run into your boss. He or she tells you that someone on the next shift called off and asks you to stay late to fill in. What do you do? It can be uncomfortable when you know you need to study, but don’t want to disappoint your boss. The best solution is to sit down and have a conversation about this as early as possible. Let your boss know that you’re taking classes. Tell him or her when you’re available to work, and when you’re not. Be polite, but assertive. Having a successful talk with your boss will ensure that you’re both on the same page about when you can reasonably work. The trick is to pick a time when your boss isn’t too busy to sit down with you for a few minutes. Set goals. Success always starts in one placeâ€"goal setting. Time management is no exception. Clarifying what you want to achieve will help you make vital decisions about how to spend your limited time. There are many ways to set goals. The method I most recommend to students is the SMART method. Researchers at the University of Western Florida did a studyon student achievement outcomes with and without using SMART goals. In 2010, they gave students in their business classes a team project and didn’t require them to use SMART goals. A year later they assigned their classes the same project. This time they required students to set SMART goals. They found that the students who used SMART goals completed the project faster, did a better job, and reported feeling more satisfied with their work. Goals should be SMARTâ€"specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. When you’re done reading this, set aside at least a few minutes to think about your goals. Whenever you must pick between multiple ways to spend your time, ask which choice will bring you closer to achieving your goals, then get started! It is usually a good idea to get into the habit of settingbudget goals while you're in college as well. OneClass has created a free and uncomplicated step-by-step college budget template to help you create and meet goals for every month, semester, and year. Be strategic with your vacation/personal days. If possible, request days off from work during midterms, finals, and other busy points in your semester. Yesâ€"kitesurfing in Maui (if that’s what you’re into) would be more fun than studying on your vacation days. But you’ll never have to worry about running out of time, pulling an all-nighter, and going into your test feeling (and looking) like a zombie. By giving yourself more time to study, you can expect to score higher and have less stress. Plan and anticipate setbacks. Napoleon Bonaparteâ€"the infamous 19th century Emperor of the Frenchâ€"once said “A leader has the right to be beaten, but never the right to be surprised.” Now, even if you don’t serve in a leadership position (club president, etc.), I would argue you’re a leader anywayâ€"every day you must lead yourself closer to your goals. Therefore, you can’t let yourself get blindsided by your workload. Planning is one of the best habits you can form for success. Brian Tracyâ€"New York Times Best-Selling author of the time management classic Eat That Frogâ€"says that “every minute spent in planning saves as many as ten minutes in execution (source).” This rule predicts that just 6 minutes of planning at the start of your day can save you an hour. To take it to the next level, you must also learn to anticipate challenges before they occur. A great start is to mark when all exams, quizzes, and major assignments are due on your calendar. Do you see any cases in which you have multiple deadlines in the same week? Not spotting busy weeks like these in advance so you can plan accordingly can result in massive pile-ups. The trick is to first spot these weeks ahead of time and start your work early. Anticipating challenges is also valuable to do nightly. A simple and effective method you can start using right away is calledmental rehearsal. Mental rehearsal is a form of visualization in which you imagine yourself performing well at any undertaking you choose. How do we know this is effective? Dr. Biasiotto led a studyon visualization at the University of Chicago. The researchers divided basketball players into three groups: a group that practiced shooting free throws, a group that visualized themselves making free throws, and a group that neither practiced or visualized themselves making free throws. After 30 days, the group who only visualized themselves making free throws showed almost the same amount of improvement as the group who had practiced them! Every night, a great habit to form is to take 5 minutes to stop and review your goals for the next day. Plan, then sit back and ask what could go wrong. Visualize yourself going through the day accomplishing everything you need to. See yourself overcoming any obstacles that arise. Noâ€"this doesn’t guarantee everything will run smoothly. But the potential returns far exceed the minimal time investment. Determine how much time you need. Figuring out how much time you need to study per week is crucial, so you can plan your study schedule around your work schedule. This can seem a little daunting at first if you’ve never done it before. Here’s a great rule of thumb: for every 1 hour of class time, plan to study for at least 2 hours outside of class. In other words, determine how many hours of class you have each week, and multiply this number by 2. This gives you an approximation of how many hours per week to block off for studying. Now, keep in mindâ€"this is only a rule of thumb. As your semester progresses, you might find that you don’t need this much time to study, or that you need more time. While it’s tough to get your estimate exactly right, establishing a baseline is still beneficial. Use it as a starting point, then adjust from there. Make a to-do list and prioritize. If you don’t already make a daily to-do list, you owe it to yourself to start now. Keeping track of your objectives somewhere outside of your head frees up brain power for more important tasks. After all, I’m sure as a college student you have enough stuff to cram into your head already. Why try to juggle more than you have to? If you go down your list and think carefully about each item, I’m sure you’ll find that not everything is equally important. On an ideal day, you’ll finish everything on your list. But most swamped students know that ideal days rarely happen. So, if you can’t finish everything on a given day, at least make sure to finish the most important tasks. A great way to prioritize is to review your to-do list and ask yourself these 3 questions: What’s due next? What’s worth the most points? What do I least want to do today? Answering the first two questions will help you focus on what will impact your grades the most. The third question is crucial because the tasks we procrastinate on the most are often also the most beneficial. Utilize time windows. What if I told you there was a time management strategy you could use to gain back more than a full day’s worth of time over the next 3 months? What if I told you that this is true, and that it barely requires any extra work on your part? If you’re at least somewhat skeptical, I can’t say I blame you. Let me explain. Right now, ask yourself if you could make just an extra 20 minutes a day to study. If you were to do this 6 days a week for the next 3 months, all the extra 20-minute sessions would add up to over 24 hours of study time. I encourage you to do the math for yourself if you’re still not convinced. These short time periods that open throughout the day are time windows.While you probably won’t get much done in any single 15 - 30-minute time window, they add up. This is especially important to understand when you’re working and taking classes, because blocking off a few hours of uninterrupted study time can be a challenge. Here are some great times to try to squeeze in an extra 15 - 30 minutes of studying: First thing in the morning Before bed After a meal Between classes During a break at work When you get to class early While riding public transportation Never underestimate the power of how studying in short intervals adds up over time! Study incrementally. Trying to cram in all your studying right before a test is like leaving your house for an appointment at the last minute. If you hit all the green lights, find a parking spot right away, then sprint in, you just might make it on time. But just because this works every now and then doesn’t mean it’s a strategy to rely on. When you cram, you’re gambling with your grades and causing unnecessary stress. As a working college student, you can’t count on having a whole afternoon or evening free to cram. You’re going to have to break your studying up into smaller pieces. Try to review daily whether you have a test coming up or notâ€"at least a little bit. Best-selling author, blogger, and Georgetown professor Cal Newport wrote an article on how to conquer crammingin which he talks about what he calls the Same Day Rule. The Same Day Rule is simply this: “For every medium to large size assignment, do some work toward its completion the same day that it’s assigned.” This is an excellent rule to adopt for college students with jobs. Maximize your focus. When you’re working, your study time is already limited. You can’t afford to blow the time you do have by getting distracted. One major source of distraction is technology. Don’t get me wrongâ€" I love social media and web surfing as much as the next person. But when the pedal hits the floor and your to-do gets insane, it’s time to unplug from everything unrelated to what’s at hand. Author, programmer, and entrepreneur Scott H. Young said this in his article 20 Tips to Survive When You’ve Overloaded Your Schedule: “In an overload, connectivity becomes less important than productivity, so turn off anything that distracts you from work.” Fortunately, there are several free tools that can help you out. There’s an extension for the Chrome web browser called StayFocusedthat lets you temporarily block access to distracting websites. For Firefox users, Leechblockdoes virtually the same thing. Another awesome tool is the OFFTIMEapp for iPhone and Android. OFFTIME lets you block calls, texts, notifications, and other apps so you can focus on your school work. Another trick for improving your focus fast is what I call tally tracking. Here’s how it works. First, bring an index card or sticky note with you to your next study session. Set a timer for however long you plan to study before you take a break. Then while you study, mark a tally down on the sticky note/index card every time your mind wanders, or you get distracted. After the timer goes off, count your tallies and mark down the total. That’s your score for the session. Don’t worry about what your score is. You just want to figure out where you’re at so that you can track your improvement over time. In future study sessions, your goal is to get a lower score, meaning you got distracted fewer times. It’s not an exact science, but it’s effective. By continually challenging yourself to do better, you’ll get a lot more done. Limit your social life as needed. Let me start by saying thisâ€"my best memories from undergrad come from times I spent with close friends. I highly encourage you to spend as much time as you can with friends in college. However, it’s wise to temporarilylimit your social life when you have a test or major assignment coming up. This is a great rule of thumb for all college studentsâ€"but it’s especially vital for those with jobs. Unfortunately, when you’re working and taking classes, you’re going to have less free time than many of your peers. It’s inevitable that sometimes you’ll be studying while they’re doing something fun. I experienced this a lot myself, so believe me when I say I know how frustrating it is. No one wants to miss out on a good time or feel like they’re out of the loop. But if you want to achieve your goals badly enough, you’ll see that sometimes you must make the short-term sacrifice. Track your progress. Working and taking classes can be exhausting. Some days after a demanding shift, the last thing in the world you’ll feel like doing is hitting the books. How do you stay motivated when you don’t feel like doing anything or find yourself in a slump? One of the best things you can do is to keep track of your accomplishments day-to-day. Often, we get so busy in the shuffle of life that we fail to give ourselves enough credit for our achievements. By tracking your progress towards your goals, you’ll feel more motivated to keep going when the going gets tough. Comedian and actor Jerry Seinfeld told Gina Trapaniâ€"founder of Lifehacker.comâ€"in a conversation on productivitythat he tracks his work using a big wall calendar with every day on one page. Seinfeld marks a red X on his calendar for each day that he works on his craft. After a few days in a row, a streak starts to form. Seinfeld says, “Your only job next is to not break the chain.” Whether you try this method out or not, the takeaway here that finding your own way to track your accomplishments has big rewards. By doing this, you’ll keep yourself focused and motivated, and will never lose your momentum. What’s Next? Congratulations for taking a step towards getting better at time management by reading this article! Keep pushing yourself at everything you do. Give both your studies and your work 100% even when you don’t feel like it. Before long, you’ll adapt. Now that you’ve read these 11 steps, what did you learn that you can put into action? About the Author Parker Smith is the founder of Test Prep Champions--a website that provides test taking, study skills, and time management advice to students at all levels to help them reach their academic goals. This is done through an online archive of research-based articles, videos, books, courses, and more. Smith is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and is now a student at the University of Pennsylvania. Test Prep Champions is currently offering a freeone week-long email course on time management. Each day for 7 days, you’ll receive a quick but high-impact lesson on a key time management success skill. You’ll have the option to check in with the founder of Test Prep Champions, Parker, after every lesson to ensure you’re making progress. If you're interested in learning more, here’s the link to register for the free email course: https://www.testprepchampions.com/time-management-email-course. Thank you!