Month: June 2024

Finding Purpose: The Empowered Pole Dance Project

Posted on by Ness Gale

Lauren Long (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Blog Writer 

As you read this, you’re probably asking yourself, “What is The Empowered Pole Dance Project?” “How is it empowering?” “How is pole dance empowering?” Well, I’m going to answer all of those questions. This is the story of The Empowered Pole Dance Project, and how it brought a purpose to my life I didn’t know I was looking for. 

I first had the idea for The Empowered Pole Dance Project in 2021 after watching Netflix’s documentary Strip Down, Rise Up, a visual masterpiece that demonstrates the many different ways pole dance can impact and change lives for the better. So many stories were told in 112 minutes, and this was where the idea for The Empowered Pole Dance Project was born. 

When the idea for this project was floating around in my head, I was thinking, “How many more people are out there who want to share their story?” This thought laid the groundwork for the mission and focus of the project, and once that was in place, it was time to start finding people who wanted to share their stories and be heard. 

A way that I look at it is that I became an investigative journalist for pole dancers. I would, and continue to, use Instagram to find and reach out to pole dancers to ask if they were interested in joining the project. 

On February 11, 2022, I had the first video call for The Empowered Pole Dance Project with three of the dancers I’d reached out to. They were all enthusiastic about the project and promised to reach out to other dancers in the community that they thought would be interested. 

A few months later, I published the first article on May 4th. In the days leading up to the first publication, my body and brain felt alive with energy. Fear and hope in equal measure warred in my mind. The whole time I was getting ready to publish, I was thinking, “This is going to go one of two ways: it’s going to blow up and be successful, or it’s going to have a few stories and then die out.” 

Well, I’m pleased to tell you, the first happened. Within 24 hours of publishing that first article, I received an email from someone who had read it and wanted to work with me to share their story. Two years later, I have collaborated with 20 dancers on their stories and reached out to more. 

I’ve never been a person to assume a leadership position, so this project has pushed me out of my comfort zone in that regard. I was terrified with the first couple of stories, but with every one I published, I was encouraged to keep going when I saw how people were responding to it. Because of this project, I’ve had the chance to meet and connect with (virtually) some of the biggest names in the pole dancing world, like Anastasia Sokolova, who became world-famous when she competed on Ukraine’s Got Talent, and Johanna Sapakie, who was Jennifer Lopez’s coach for the 2019 film Hustlers and took part in Jennifer and Shakira’s legendary 2020 Super Bowl Halftime Show. 

If I had to pick one word to describe The Empowered Pole Dance Project, it would be camaraderie. I’ve met so many great people doing this project that I wouldn’t have, had I not taken a leap of faith and typed out that first message. 

I’ve heard so many stories of how pole dance has changed people’s lives for the better physically, mentally and emotionally. How it’s transformed their relationships with their bodies, themselves and those around them. I’ve heard how it has saved people’s lives because it’s given them a safe space from whatever is happening outside the pole studio. How it’s set them free from shame and fear from past events. 

I started this project because I wanted to make a difference in how the world sees us. I want to break down the stigma and prejudice around pole dancing once and for all, and see all pole dancers, pole athletes and strippers alike be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. This project brought purpose to my life, because every story I tell, I receive gratitude from the dancers I’ve interviewed. So many of them have thanked me for giving them the chance to tell their stories in a space where they won’t be judged. 

If anyone out there has a project they want to pursue, do it. Take that leap of faith and see where it takes you. You might be surprised at what you discover along the way. 

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Born and raised in Quesnel, BC, Lauren Long is a strong advocate for mental health and well-being, as well as being a major Swiftie and a role model for positive body image. When she’s not writing, you can find her on the pole, on the training mats or curled up with a good book.

The Roaring 20s Aren’t So Roaring—Feeling Lost in Your 20s

Posted on by Ness Gale

Olivia Alberton (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Being in your twenties is hard. I thought it was supposed to be a time of thriving, fun and wonder—feeling like you’re making it in the world. Interestingly enough, these moments are not as prominent as I had expected. Rather, there are many “I got this” to “What am I doing with my life?” moments in your twenties. You feel as though you are stuck in this weird place where you’re not a child anymore, but don’t quite feel like an adult. The roaring twenties are not so roaring, so to speak. However, I think I should mention that this quarter-life crisis moment is not how everyone feels, and if you are having a great time in your twenties, I am happy for you. This is for those in their twenties who are feeling the most lost they have ever felt and are having a hard time. 

I think a large portion of people in their twenties start to feel lost when they graduate from post-secondary. School has encompassed so much of our lives and our identity that when you cross that stage to receive your diploma, it feels surreal. There are no more papers to write and no more exams to study for. Now is the time where you “enter the real world,” as some people say, as if you haven’t been in it yet. Your diploma almost manifests the pressure to find a full-time job in your field. You have your degree, and the next “step” in becoming an adult is to attain that career job. Figuring out what you want to do with your life is daunting, scary and unrealistic. However, when you are fresh out of school, that is all you can think about. It is what you worked so hard for, so it “needs” to happen. However, what if it is not coming to fruition? You graduated, and yet that career job isn’t around the corner, like you thought it would be. You feel that your degree is wasting away and that you are wasting your potential. Panic ensues, and moments of splendor are non-existent. You look on Indeed, LinkedIn and city job postings and try to apply, all to no avail. You start to feel discouraged and disappointed. If your job search continues for months with no success, that feeling of dread amplifies.  

It also makes you feel more lost and disappointed in yourself when you start to compare yourself to your peers. You see their posts on social media documenting their success in their careers, and this pit forms in your stomach. You start to think to yourself, “We’re the same age and they’re doing this, and I’m still here.” A downward spiral of negative thoughts ensues—“What’s wrong with me?”“Are things going to change?”“What do I even want to do?”—it becomes overwhelming. It is true that social media is a highlight reel where people only post the good and fun that people think your twenties are about. But we have no idea about the challenges, struggles or even luck that played a part in that person’s story. We don’t even know if that individual is truly happy, so why are we comparing? Rationally, we know we shouldn’t compare, but emotionally we can’t help it. And to be fair, humans are very emotional creatures, and sometimes the rational escapes us. 

In addition, in our society, “what we do” and how “well” we are doing in life somehow equates to our worth. You dread running into your peers, fearing they will ask, “What are you doing now?” because you feel behind. Your twenties can feel like a race in which you are constantly behind, out of breath trying to make it closer to the finish line, whatever that finish line may look like. 

Your twenties are also so hard because they are times where navigating friendships becomes complex. Sometimes, you start to grow apart from your closest friends. The realization is sad because you’ve been friends for ages, and yet somehow you both have nothing to talk about. You’re growing and changing in your twenties, and sometimes you have to let people go. With this, your circle can become smaller, and you might feel lonely. You understand that being alone and enjoying your own company is important, but sometimes you need a friend. You are reminded of how difficult it is to connect with true, genuine people in the world. In this process, you yourself start to really think about what you want out of life. 

Yes, you want a good job that pays the bills and allows you to take a vacation once in awhile—beyond that though, I think in navigating your twenties you come to realize that what you want most is to be happy. It sounds simplistic and cliché, but honestly, I think during this time, where everything is up in the air and you have so much doubt, fear, and confusion, all you want is to be happy—to know that you will be okay. So, to anyone in their twenties who is feeling lost and scared, you are not alone. I wish there was a magical solution or something to say to make one feel better. The best I can think of may sound simplistic and unsatisfactory, but it is to take it one day at a time and to try to find joy or wins in the small things. 

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Olivia is a McMaster University graduate with a combined honours in English & cultural studies and history. She loves to read, write and, of course, drink coffee.

On Drugs

Posted on by Ness Gale

Tomas McGrath, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Drugs. One of humanity’s greatest double-edged swords. Drugs have helped and harmed so many, from those found in nature to those produced by human industry, to those produced even within the human body. Drugs in medical use are some of the most versatile tools we as a species have, from simple painkillers like ibuprofen and aspirin, to antipathogenic medications such as penicillin or clarithromycin. But then again, humanity has found and produced drugs that can destroy the brain, body, families and possibly even society as a whole if left unchecked.

Take, for example, the city of Vancouver, British Columbia. In Vancouver, stimulant and narcotic drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin are not only present and rampant, but legal. While it has led to better medical help for those who use them as opposed to the hand of the judicial system taking its toll, the streets of Vancouver are riddled with those affected by today’s menace: substance abuse and addiction.

Some of the worst things can be caused by drug addiction. Bankruptcy, permanent alteration and/or damage to the brain and other organs, destruction of relationships, and among the most terrible things, a national economic dependency on commonly abused substances. Some may deny it, some may agree and some might not even realize it, but the most silent killers in substance abuse are the foundations of our nation’s gross domestic product. Alcohol, nicotine and cannabis. Some of these aren’t fully destructive on their own, but rather delivery methods for some of them may be. Namely, nicotine. On its own, it is just another part of the tobacco plant. But in pre-made cigarettes, there are a massive amount of harmful chemicals and carcinogens that make smoking them lethal. Among these is tar, a chemical used as a water-repellent for ships throughout history (600 years at least) and also used for flavouring not just cigarettes, but alcoholic beverages and candy. Tar contains most of the carcinogenic chemicals inside of cigarettes, and apart from being able to increase the chance of malignant tumors, it can also cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which are lung diseases such as bronchitis or emphysema.

Another terrible drug, and not overlooked like alcohol and nicotine, is opium. Opium is a comprehensive term for many drugs. Opium is the basis for a wide range of addictive and destructive drugs called “opioids” or “opiates” like morphine, oxycodone, heroin and fentanyl, among others. These are the worst of the worst, the most addictive and easiest to overdose on.

Enough about the direct medical details, however, as it’s time to talk about mental health effects. Substance abuse is harmful to the mind as well as the body. Unlike most motivation-draining conditions like being sick with the cold or flu, or perhaps exhaustion, substance abuse may reduce your motivation to work or socialize for longer than its direct effects, though for different reasons. This will lead to a downward spiral in which you slowly lose the ability to afford the drug as you spend more on it and use more, driving the user to more and more drastic acts to acquire money. Not working or socializing can lead to a sense of hopelessness or weakness and growing distance from family and friends, and could drive a wedge between the user and loved ones, thus making personally influential support much more difficult.

Apart from that, the physical changes in the brain’s structure caused by substance abuse may cause a variety of other mental health issues. This includes depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, ADHD, anxiety, OCD and PTSD among others. So not only is drug abuse a mental health issue itself, but it can also cause other mental health issues, scars on the mind that can bring down one’s life that won’t leave without time, treatment and trial.

However, there is hope for those affected by drug abuse, be it the user or someone affected by the user’s condition. The menace of drug abuse has multiple ways to be broken as if it were just another habit. Among these are stays at rehabilitation centers, slowly bringing down the usage until it is outright halted or halting usage in one steep drop (though these may cause the terrible symptoms of withdrawal), or hypnosis, which has lost credibility over time due to its use in entertainment, but is regaining ground among treatments to combat substance abuse.

To call substance abuse “just another habit,” though, is wrong of me. It’s not any habit, it’s one of the worst bad habits humanity has ever encountered. I think it’s well established that it can be destructive, and can be halted (though perhaps with some difficulty), but it’s about time to talk about how it can be caused. Substance abuse can spring up in a matter of days or slowly creep up on its victims over months or years. One of the massive causes of substance abuse is peer pressure at a social event like a party, where someone might feel obligated to drink alcohol or use drugs. Another cause could be other mental health disorders, which may result in a vicious cycle. Forbye, another cause could be a family history of drug abuse, as some genes may cause increased risks of addiction. Other causes might be things that require an escape from reality, like stress, past traumas in the form of abuse, or traumatic military experiences. Of course, to become addicted to a substance, you need to initially use it. Thus, the simple act of not trying a substance can reduce the likelihood of any addiction to absolute zero.

To conclude, substance abuse is among the worst mental health problems we face today. Not because of its effects on the body, no matter how terrible they are, but because they can cause an array of other problems to not just the user of the drug, but those around them. If there is one thing you take home with you from this article, I hope it is that the problem must be stopped before it starts. Avoid drugs like the plague, because they may just be the next one.

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Leave your thoughts for Tomas in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

Social Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics: Creating Order in a Constantly Changing World

Posted on by Ness Gale

 Lucas Suku, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer


The second law of thermodynamics whispers in our ear that disorder is the natural destiny of all things. This relentless and inevitable law speaks of entropy, that measure of chaos that always tends to increase. In a universe that expands and cools, where everything tends to be or become disorganized, it is easy to see the shadow of entropy in the flow of our daily lives. 

Ludwig Boltzmann and Rudolf Clausius, pioneers in the fields of thermodynamics and disorder, taught us that randomness is a universal constant. But what happens when this physical principle crosses the threshold into our social reality? In contemporary society, entropy is not just a formula in a physics book; it is a palpable force, a tide threatening to overflow our most cherished structures. 

We live in times where disorder seems to be the norm. Pandemics, climate crises, political conflicts, and economic inequalities are the faces of chaos in our lives. These challenges constantly remind us that disorder is an ever-present possibility, an underground current that can emerge at any moment. 

However, we are not destined to be mere passive spectators of this social entropy. Just as nature requires energy to maintain order, society needs a collective effort to counteract chaos. Institutions, governments, businesses, and each of us as individuals have a crucial role in this battle against the tide of disorder. 

Institutions and governments are the architects of stability. Their policies can reduce inequalities, their programs can enlighten minds through education, and their laws can protect the fundamental rights of every citizen. These efforts are the pillars that support the roof of social order. For instance, policies that ensure universal access to education and healthcare not only benefit the directly affected individuals but also strengthen the social fabric as a whole. Businesses, with their vast resources and influence, also play an essential role. By operating ethically and sustainably, they can be beacons of responsibility in a sea of uncertainty. Their inclusive policies and green initiatives are vital energies that feed order in our communities. Companies that implement corporate social responsibility programs not only improve their reputation but also contribute to the stability and well-being of the communities in which they operate. 

But the true power resides in us, the individuals. Every small act of kindness, every moment of empathy, and every effort to care for our environment adds to the energy we need to counteract entropy. Volunteering, community participation, and a life lived with values of compassion and shared responsibility are the bricks with which we build walls against chaos. Imagine the impact if every person dedicated just one hour a week to community activities: the cumulative effect would be immense. 

Moreover, personal development and self-awareness are powerful tools in this struggle. By working on our own resilience and capacity to adapt, we can better handle the inevitable waves of disorder that life throws at us. Practices like meditation, regular exercise, and continuous learning not only improve our individual quality of life but also prepare us better to contribute positively to society. 

Despite the inexorability of the second law of thermodynamics, we are not doomed to a destiny of disorder. As a community, we can forge an order that defies the natural tendency toward chaos. This effort is not a challenge to the laws of physics, but a reaffirmation of our capacity to influence our environment positively. By uniting in a common purpose, we can manage disorder and build a more just, equitable, and sustainable society. 

In this constantly changing world, where entropy seems inevitable, each of us has the power to be an agent of order. Together, we can transform disorder into opportunities for growth and connection. Although entropy is a law of nature, our capacity to create order and harmony is infinite. Working side by side, we can show that, although chaos may be a universal constant, our response to it can be a beacon of hope and renewal. 

In conclusion, although entropy tells us that disorder will always increase, we must not surrender to this fate. Through individual and collective efforts, we can counteract chaos as well as build a more orderly and harmonious society. Every action counts, and together, we can defy the odds and create a better world for everyone.

 

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Lucas Sukutian, an economics professional from Toronto, blends his love for research with a passion for animals, books, and good food. Beyond academics, he values human connections and proclaims tennis as the ultimate sport.

Surviving the Outdoors and Appreciating it Too

Posted on by Ness Gale

Heidi Collie (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

When people speak about “the great outdoors,” what comes to mind? 

Perhaps it’s the lives and work of survival experts and outdoor aficionados such as Ben Fogle or the Special Air Service’s Bear Grylls. Maybe your mind wanders to dedicated researchers, such as primatologist Jane Goodall in the forests of Tanzania, or extreme athletes like world cyclist Mark Beaumont, or Russ Cook, who recently ran the length of Africa. Potentially, this topic transports you to the cinematic world of extraordinary survival biopics, such as Wild, Adrift, Soul Surfer or 127 Hours.

Whatever comes to mind, we can all agree that discussion of “the great outdoors” comes hand-in-hand with the narrative of survival. World media perhaps plays a part in this, exposing us to the aforementioned survival stories from the comfort of our sheltered, late-stage capitalist armchairs. However, the connection between nature and survival runs deeper than that. After all, every known religion teaches a flood story.

For many of us, surviving the outdoors relates to personal experience as well. I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel widely and recall without hesitation that the moments when I have been most afraid have been when face-to-face with nature—pulled under four-foot waves in South Africa, hiking Mt. Snowdon in horizontal hail, crouching under my seat in an exposed boat near Istanbul, sheltering from thunder and lightning in Mexico, battling dust and dehydration in Death Valley’s 100°F desert climate, and similarly sunburned out from an excavation near Jerusalem.

Unfortunately there’s no one survival hack for navigating the individual challenges of a planet and climate that are more varied than ever. Read, research, prepare, respect and—if you’re a religious person—pray that it respects you back.

With that said, the past two decades have certainly seen a shift in perception across Western culture. Spearheaded by the work of human biologists like Gary Brecka, modern research preaches the many health benefits of being outdoors. Brecka simplifies this to magnetism, oxygen and light—that we need to be exposed to the oxygen levels of fresh air, the vitamins of sunlight and the alkalinity from being barefoot directly on earth. There are also complex psychological benefits associated with all five senses in the outdoors, with the recent introduction of nature-based therapy programs as a way of managing PTSD. With a greater understanding of biophilia—our innate human instinct to connect with the outdoors— some say we have come full circle, seeking out an understanding of—and connection with— the natural world in a way that many Indigenous communities famously never lost.

Here we may consider another connection between survival and the outdoors: our survival depends on nature.

Finally, it would be wrong to talk about the connection of nature and survival without addressing the (critically endangered) elephant in the room. Since the dawn of the geological era we have come to refer to as “the anthropocene,” the question is not of us surviving nature, but of nature surviving us. 

With Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports exposing tangible threats from climate change like famine, drought, heat and pollution, among other things, we are beginning to understand that this planet will be completely unrecognizable by the year 2100. Only yesterday my elderly neighbor was chatting to me about how she loves to bring her grandchildren to the coastal spot that she grew up visiting. With sea level rises on track to cause complete submersion of all beaches, it struck me that—if granted the privilege of old age—I simply won’t be able to bring mine.

My hope is that, as a society, we may regard the outdoors with reverence and respect, with an appreciation of its necessity, but an acknowledgment of its fragility. Scientifically, we have all the tools we need to keep our planet liveable. At this point, the challenge is political.

It doesn’t matter whether you are reading this as an “outdoorsy” person or not, we all need to get behind this movement. Identifying as someone who has never hugely connected with nature or the outdoors, journalist David Wallace-Wells articulated the challenge aptly in the introduction of his 2019 book The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming:

“I may be in the minority in feeling that the world could lose much of what we think of as ‘nature,’ as far as I cared, so long as we could go on living as we have in the world left behind. The problem is, we can’t.”

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Leave your thoughts for Heidi in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

Nurturing Future Generations: Balancing Religious, Dietary and Political Values in Parenting

Posted on by Ness Gale

Moses Lookman Kargbo, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Parenting in today’s world is a multifaceted journey, filled with complexities and challenges. As caregivers, we are tasked with not only nurturing our children’s physical and emotional well-being, but also with instilling in them the values and beliefs that will shape their identities and guide their choices throughout their lives. At the intersection of religion, diets and politics lie some of the most deeply ingrained aspects of human identity and culture. In this article, we delve into the importance of passing down these values to our children and explore strategies for navigating the intricate terrain of parenting in a diverse and rapidly changing society.

Understanding the Role of Religion

Religion plays a significant role in many families, serving as a source of spiritual guidance, community and identity. Transmitting religious beliefs to children involves not only teaching them about rituals and practices, but also instilling in them a sense of reverence and respect for their faith. However, in today’s increasingly pluralistic world, parents often find themselves grappling with the challenge of navigating religious diversity within their families and communities. Balancing the preservation of one’s own religious traditions with fostering an inclusive and tolerant attitude towards others’ beliefs is essential in raising children who are empathetic and culturally aware.

Exploring Dietary Choices

Dietary choices are also aspects of family life that carry significant weight in shaping children’s health and well-being. Parents play a crucial role in educating their children about nutrition and instilling in them healthy eating habits from a young age. Moreover, food is deeply intertwined with culture and identity, and parents must navigate the delicate balance between honoring family traditions and embracing diverse culinary practices. Teaching children about the ethical and environmental implications of their food choices is also essential in fostering a sense of responsibility and mindfulness towards the planet and future generations.

Engaging with Political Values

Politics, though often viewed as a divisive topic, is an integral part of civic life that cannot be ignored in the process of raising informed and engaged citizens. Parents have a responsibility to instill in their children a sense of civic responsibility and empower them to participate actively in democratic processes. Teaching children about different political ideologies and encouraging them to think critically and engage in respectful dialogue with others who hold differing views is crucial in fostering a culture of tolerance and understanding within families and communities.

Finding Balance and Harmony

Finding balance and harmony in the transmission of values to children requires a holistic approach that integrates religious, dietary and political beliefs into the fabric of family life. Establishing open lines of communication, fostering trust, and understanding and empowering children to make informed choices are essential strategies for creating a nurturing and supportive environment in which children can flourish. Embracing individual agency and allowing children the freedom to explore and question their beliefs are also key in fostering independence and self-discovery.

Practical Tips and Recommendations

Throughout history, families have grappled with the challenge of passing down values to their children, each navigating the intersection of religion, diets and politics in their own unique way. From multicultural families who embrace diversity to families with deeply rooted religious traditions, there are countless examples of successful value transmission and intergenerational understanding. However, there are also common pitfalls and challenges that families encounter along the way, from generational divides to external influences. By sharing our stories and learning from one another, we can glean valuable insights and strategies for overcoming these challenges and nurturing resilient and compassionate individuals.

Establishing family rituals and traditions, seeking support from community resources, and remaining flexible and adaptable in our parenting approaches are practical steps that parents can take to navigate the complexities of passing down values to their children. By incorporating these strategies into our daily lives, we can create a nurturing and supportive environment in which our children can thrive and grow into compassionate and empowered individuals.

Parenting is a journey filled with ups and downs, challenges and triumphs. As caregivers, we hold the profound responsibility of shaping the future through our interactions with our children. By embracing the complexity of passing down values in a diverse and rapidly changing world, we can raise children who are resilient, empathetic and equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern world with grace and integrity. Let us embark on this journey with open hearts and minds, guided by the belief that our efforts today will pave the way for a brighter tomorrow.

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Leave your thoughts for Moses in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

Risk and Reward

Posted on by Ness Gale

Arsh Gill, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

With most things in life comes a combination of risk and reward. To determine what the risks and rewards are, one must understand what they could  gain or lose. In order to assess this, you want to identify your risk tolerance, which will look different for everyone. What one views as a high or low risk tolerance is going to be unique and tailored to their own situations. Hence, there usually isn’t a golden piece of advice that will produce a win-win situation. 

I assess risk and reward from a zoomed-out perspective. By this I mean it’s important to consider what aspects of your life matter the most to you in order to flourish and achieve goals. These areas can include your academic, career, social and financial aspects of life. Conducting an analysis of these variables assists me in determining how I want to proceed in choosing a particular decision. Personally, I truly believe that to reach my future goals, there are many small risks and sacrifices I have to make in order to be successful and live the life I desire. Reminding yourself of where you want to be in the future can be very beneficial to understanding the relationship between risk and reward. 

Personally, there are certain things I am willing to sacrifice and other areas where I know will not risk anything. For example, during a very stressful exam period, I am willing to risk skipping the gym, which will put me behind in my workout routine and potentially throw off my consistency. However, I will gain extra studying time. With that extra studying time, my grade is more likely to improve, which is a great reward for such a risk.

On the other hand, during the exam period, I am not willing to skip hanging out with friends and family because this is what makes me happy and motivated to continue studying. Therefore I take a conscious risk that will reduce my studying time and possibly lower my grade. However, there is a certain reward, as hanging out with friends and family reminds me of my passion for school and inspires me to continue fighting for my dream. This short period of spending quality time with the ones I love can actually be beneficial for my academic endeavors. 

Another example is related to investment,  such as investing money or time into a business or relationship. In these scenarios, I would ask myself if these opportunities are worth my energy, time, money and happiness. Asking yourself important questions is key to being aligned with who you are, because at the end of the day, everything simply becomes a lose-lose situation if you do not go after what you love in life. You can choose to invest energy into something with the hope of being rewarded in a greater, more positive change in your life, one that acts as a stepping stone to another level in your life. But it’s just as important to understand that you could potentially lose something, so you need to have a backup plan. 

Overall, understanding what you view as important and taking into consideration what your future goals are is what will help you determine the relationship between risk and reward in the different aspects of your life. Just because one thing worked for someone else does not mean it’ll work for you, nor does it have to. It’s easy to compare your situation to others, but that’s always a surface-level comparison. You may not truly know what somebody lost to get to where they are now. Following such a mindset and using thorough analysis is what helps me navigate complex situations and tough decisions with confidence and clarity to assess risk and reward relationships. 

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Leave your thoughts for Arsh in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

The Slow Burn: How I Came to Appreciate the Dangers of Being Unhealthy

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Erica Prosser (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Irish dramatist and author George Bernard Shaw allegedly said something to the effect of “Youth is wasted on the young.” I actually don’t agree with this sentiment for the most part (not many among us would make the same stupid, impulsive decisions now that previously led to arguably some of the most memorable times of our lives), but I do believe it fits when discussing the matter of health. 

As an elder millennial, I spend a lot of time complaining in our signature way (via dark-humored memes), that facts like “mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell” are forever branded on our brains, yet no one thought it might be a good idea to teach us how to manage our money, communicate effectively or regulate our emotions. Honestly though, as someone who spent my formative years in the era of “thinspiration” and “heroin chic,” I find the number one skill that I’m still lacking is how to effectively take care of my health. We were never taught how to nourish our bodies, choose movement that felt good, or identify the link between our mental and physical health, and now many of us are struggling with body dysmorphia and chronic burnout. 

I was a relatively athletic kid/teen, I played club soccer along with two or three school sports, and I had a parent who always kept us active. What I was putting in my body just never really crossed my mind. So imagine my surprise when I moved out, started working two jobs while going to school full-time, and suddenly I was packing on the pounds at a rapid rate. Add a couple of pregnancies into the mix and suddenly I’m 10 years older with lower back pain, constant exhaustion, pelvic floor issues and bursitis in my hip, wondering what the hell happened. Somehow, despite it having happened over the span of several years, it still felt like a shock to the system. It really did sneak up on me. 

Even with the mounting evidence that I needed to make a change, I was still putting my health on the back burner. I was still relatively active, chasing my two kids around, working out somewhat regularly and sticking to what I liked to call a “medium” diet—relatively healthy with lots of fruit and veggies, but with a pretty substantial amount of picky-eater-approved “beige” food mixed in. I told myself I needed to focus more on my mental health and that I still “had time” to figure out my physical health. Then in the same year, two of my family members had heart attacks. They were both in their early 60s at the time and one would have been fatal had he been on his boat fishing, like he often was, instead of home with his wife. 

This truly blew my mind. I found it almost unfathomable that not one, but two seemingly healthy individuals who lived an “average” lifestyle very similar to mine could be unknowingly putting so much stress on their bodies that they almost lost their lives. I realized then that all of these items on my to-do list—learn more about nutrition, find exercise that you enjoy, practice yoga, add in mobility, meditate, get enough sleep, work on your mental health etc . . .—were not individual tasks to be taken on, but instead all pieces of a puzzle that together, made up my overall health. They were all interconnected, and when I started neglecting one, the others were sure to follow. 

Now the irony here is not lost on me that to avoid burnout you must initially add more things to your to-do list. But the great thing is that when you get into a rhythm, they actually make every other aspect of your life substantially easier and more enjoyable! And while I believe everything in life ebbs and flows (i.e. I don’t ALWAYS practice what I preach), I’m still hoping to spend my later years embracing adventure and vitality, traveling the world and chasing my grandkids around in the pool, all fuelled by a foundation of good health.

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Leave your thoughts for Erica in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

The Thin Line Between Self-Preservation and a Boring, Sheltered Life

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Sasna Nawran (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer


Life is a balancing act. We all want to stay safe and secure, but we also crave excitement, adventure and a sense of fulfilment. 

The tricky part is figuring out where to draw the line between self-preservation and living a boring, sheltered life. It’s a dilemma that many of us face, whether we realize it or not. 

Let’s dive into this topic and see if we can find that sweet spot where safety meets satisfaction.

What is Self-Preservation?

Self-preservation is our natural instinct to protect ourselves from harm. It’s what keeps us from doing reckless things like jumping off cliffs or driving at breakneck speeds. 

This instinct is crucial for our survival. It tells us to wear seatbelts, to avoid dark alleys at night and to look both ways before crossing the street. In short, self-preservation is about making choices that keep us safe and healthy.

But sometimes, this instinct can go overboard. If we’re too focused on avoiding risks, we might end up avoiding life itself. We might skip out on new experiences, shy away from challenges and miss opportunities for growth and happiness. That’s where the concept of a boring, sheltered life comes in.

The Sheltered Life

Living a sheltered life means sticking to what’s familiar and comfortable. It means avoiding risks, steering clear of the unknown and staying within our comfort zones. 

On the surface, this might seem like a good strategy. After all, if we never take risks, we never get hurt, right?

Well, not quite. While avoiding risks can keep us physically safe, it can also lead to a life that feels monotonous and unfulfilling. 

Imagine a life where every day is the same: same routine, same faces, same places. There’s no excitement, no surprises, no growth. Over time, this kind of life can leave us feeling stuck, unsatisfied and even regretful.

Finding the Balance

So, how do we find the balance between self-preservation and living a full, exciting life? It starts with recognizing that not all risks are created equal. 

Some risks are worth taking, while others are best avoided. The key is to differentiate between the two and make informed decisions.

How would you do that? Below are some simple tips.

Evaluate the Risk: Before jumping into something new, take a moment to assess the risk. Is it a calculated risk or is it something that could cause serious harm? 

For example, trying a new hobby or traveling to a new place can be rewarding and relatively low-risk. On the other hand, engaging in dangerous activities without proper preparation can be harmful.

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone: Growth happens outside of our comfort zones. Challenge yourself to try new things, even if they seem a bit intimidating at first. 

This could be as simple as taking a different route to work, trying a new cuisine or signing up for a class. The more you step out of your comfort zone, the more confident and resilient you’ll become.

Set Realistic Goals: Setting goals can help you push yourself without going too far. Start with small, achievable goals and gradually work your way up to bigger challenges. 

This way, you can build your confidence and skills incrementally, reducing the risk of feeling overwhelmed or discouraged.

Learn from Failure: Failure is a natural part of life. Instead of letting it deter you, use it as a learning opportunity. 

Each failure teaches us something valuable and helps us grow stronger. Embrace failure as part of the journey rather than a reason to stop trying.

Seek Balance: Balance is the key to a fulfilling life. It’s okay to have days when you play it safe and days when you take a leap of faith. 

Listen to your intuition and find a rhythm that works for you. Some days you might feel like pushing your limits, while other days you might need to recharge and take it easy.

Embrace your Life 

Ultimately, the goal is to live a life that feels rich and meaningful. This means embracing both safety and adventure, knowing when to hold back and when to push forward. It’s about making choices that protect us without confining us.

Remember, life is short. We don’t want to look back and realize we missed out on amazing experiences because we were too afraid to take a chance. At the same time, we don’t want to endanger ourselves unnecessarily. It’s a delicate balance, but it’s one that’s worth striving for.

So, go ahead and take that trip, start that project or have that conversation you’ve been avoiding. Live fully, but wisely. Protect yourself, but don’t hold yourself back. Find that thin line, walk it with confidence and make the most of every moment. 

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Leave your thoughts for Sasna in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

This is What Terrifies Me

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Cassandra Di Lalla (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

It’s always been very interesting to me to learn about what people fear and why they’re fearful, because a person’s vulnerability is an integral part of their personality.

Everybody’s different, yes, we know that already—but are we aware of all the fears existing among us? Highly unlikely.

There are also different levels of fear. For example: “Ew, there’s a spider—someone do something!” versus a deep-seeded fear in which the person might feel as though they can’t escape what they just saw or can’t enter a place ever again because they’re so distraught.

Sometimes, stress becomes a key player too. For some people, the fears they have may be trauma-based—stemming from a negative or uncomfortable experience that made them turn away every time thereafter in order to prevent having to relive the experience. To be honest though . . . sometimes we just don’t know why we’re so afraid of certain things, but we just are, and our bodies automatically go into fight or flight mode.

I’ll admit that I’m a bit of a fearful person, and I mainly blame that on two things: my deep-rooted trauma and my astronomical levels of anxiety. Some of my fears are more common, in the sense that many others have the same fears that I do. I’d like to list off some of my fears so you can have an idea or better understanding:

Spiders – Because, well, I just am. There’s just something about them that makes me feel so uneasy. Even the tiniest one sets me off and I have no idea why. It’s more of an “Ew oh my God, ew” kind of icky feeling that makes my skin crawl, but I’m fearful nonetheless. Tarantulas? No. Absolutely not. Goodbye.

Vomit – If I see, hear or smell someone getting sick, then I’m definitely outta there faster than the speed of light. I’m so fearful, you have no idea. I am mortified and “panic’ doesn’t even begin to describe it. By the time it happens, it’s already too late . . . but because it terrifies me so badly, I block my ears, I keep my eyes and mouth closed, and I pinch my nose shut after fleeing the scene. Oh, and I start crying. Yes, it’s that bad. I absolutely cannot handle it. The worst is when I’m not able to escape it, like when I’m on a plane, for example.

Deep waters – I will not go in the deep end of a pool because I downright refuse. In fact, if the water passes my shoulder, then I’ve already screwed myself over. It’s weird because I can swim—not great—but I can swim nonetheless. This one time in Costa Rica, I almost drowned. True story. How? Let me tell you. The area I was in was only knee-deep, so I was fine, right? Wrong! Because if you take one step forward to the left or to the right, all of a sudden it gets incredibly deep, and you’re not expecting that! So, I stumbled and I ended up underwater. Then, this baby wave (truly a tiny wave, but remember, the ocean had consumed my entire body at this point) pushed me even further, so I had to try and get myself back up, all while I was panicking. But wait, there’s more! So, when I was finally able to get my head above water, the ocean’s current decided to go against me, and this time I noticed my mom suddenly became a lifeguard and pulled me from under the wave to help me reach the shoreline. I was petrified to say the least.

Death – I know that we’re not immortal and that we’re all going to die eventually. I’m a firm believer in death being premeditated from birth. We’re never really prepared for death, but what if we were able to be? What if we were able to know what God’s plan was and how exactly we’re “meant to die”? What if we were able to change our lives for the better, and what if our “best before” date was extended because we were more health-conscious? Nobody should feel as though their life was cut short because of their expiration date. Non-perishable items such as canned goods are all shelf-stable, so why can’t us humans be non-perishable, or at least perish on our own terms? After we turn to ash, our remains are just biodegradable and disintegrated matter that nobody will ever know about.

Although I have a laundry list of other fears, it’s safe to say that all humans are afraid of at least a small handful of things in life. 

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Cassandra Di Lalla lives life purposefully. She enjoys reading, writing and mental health initiatives. She’s an animal lover for life and an innovative individual always finding new ways to create.

The Most Terrifying Thing Of All

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Cristina Crescenzo (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Many things in this world scare me: clowns, birds, public speaking, parties and even something as non-threatening as butterflies. However, none of these things would be my honest answer to the question: “What terrifies me the most?” It is something that makes me feel far more vulnerable than any other phobia could. It’s the fear of being alone.

I don’t mean being alone in the traditional sense, like being left alone in my house overnight; it is the fear that everyone I ever loved might abandon me. I never want to be left alone on my own personal solitary island. That is why I try so hard to be liked: I over-talk, over-smile and over-laugh because I assume perpetual happiness equals everlasting relationships with others. 

I write this now knowing full well that there is no such thing as perpetual happiness. Eventually, you will get tired, and that’s when the feeling of enduring sadness commences. Unfortunately, I have never been one to feel in half measures, so instead of excessive joy, I cry too much, I overindulge in every melancholy feeling and every half-thought-out impulse that pops into my head, and worst of all, I knick people with the knife I put into my own back. Therefore, maybe I should amend my previous response to something along these lines: What terrifies me the most is that I feel too much. It is because of my emotional dysregulation that I dread being left alone with only my contradicting thoughts as company. 

The funny part about all this is that I can honestly say I am in the best place, mentally, that I have ever been in my life. It’s just that I still live with that internal fear of not knowing what emotions I will get that day and if I might burst like a balloon because there are just too many for me to hold at once. I also say this fully aware that each new day a person receives in the morning comes with the unknown of the events and the feelings they will bring, but I am also one of the people who believe that they feel too much for one body to bear. Yet, it’s not like I don’t want to feel anything at all, so where can I find a proper balance? There is only so much a prescription and bi-monthly conversations with a therapist can do. That is why, I suppose, I am always a little bit afraid. I am proud of my growth, but sadly, I can’t say that I fully trust my mind or heart. I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of anything more terrifying than that. 

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My name is Cristina Crescenzo and there are many days when I have no idea what I am doing, but writing for this blog makes me happy as I try to figure things out.

Safety Without Fear

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Diny Davis (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

“Safety should never be a priority. It should be a precondition” – Paul O’Neill

Safety is a universal concern, something that affects everyone regardless of age, gender or background. Safety, in its essence, is about protection from harm. Whether it’s physical security or emotional stability, the need for safety is inborn into our beings. However, the way we perceive and react to potential dangers can vary dramatically. The lines between cautious precautions and excessive fears often blur, raising a significant question: when does common sense end and being overly cautious begin? In this post, we discuss this balance and explore how to navigate safety concerns smartly, without letting fear take control.

Understanding Common Sense Safety

Common sense safety refers to the basic, practical actions that are widely accepted as necessary to protect ourselves and others. Let’s break down what this typically involves:

Everyday Precautions

*Observing Traffic Rules: Whether as a pedestrian or driver, adhering to traffic signals and signs is one of the most important acts when you are out of your home.

*Home Security: Locking doors and making sure that your windows are properly closed at night or when away from home to prevent unauthorized entry are important. 

*Health Measures: Regular handwashing, especially before meals or after visiting public places, is one of the important health measures to prevent illness.

These actions don’t just protect us; they create a safer environment for everyone.

Workplace Safety

*Following Protocols: Whether it’s wearing protective gear in a factory or following all the safety measures in an office setting, workplace safety is non-negotiable.

*Emergency Preparedness: Regular drills and training should be given to employees to handle potential workplace emergencies like fires or earthquakes.

Engaging in these practices shows a level of responsibility and awareness without crossing into excessive caution.

Identifying Over-Cautious Behaviors

Sometimes, what starts as a simple precaution can spiral into fear-driven actions. Here are some scenarios where caution might overshadow common sense:

Unreasonable Avoidance

*Fear of Driving: Avoiding driving altogether despite safe conditions and one’s own driving competence because of getting hurt or hurting someone.

*Avoiding Public Spaces: Deliberately avoiding social interactions or public places due to an exaggerated fear of accidents or illness.

Excessive Measures

*Over-sanitizing: Compulsively using hand sanitizer to the point where it might cause skin issues.

*Overloading on Security: Installing multiple security systems at home where a simpler system would suffice.

*Misunderstanding Risk: Risk is an inherent part of life. To make informed decisions about safety, we need to understand the actual risks involved in our daily activities. For instance, driving a car poses a certain risk that we can easily overcome by wearing seatbelts and obeying traffic laws.

These actions might not only cause inconvenience, but can also lead to heightened anxiety and unnecessary expenses.

Finding the Right Balance

Striking the right balance between sensible precautions and irrational fear is crucial. Here’s how you can maintain this balance:

Assessing Risk Accurately

*Educate Yourself: Understanding real vs. exaggerated risks is a stepping stone in managing fear. For instance, knowing the actual statistics about car accidents or crime rates in your area can provide a realistic perspective that guides your precautions.

*Understand Fear and Anxiety’s Role: Fear is a natural emotion that helps us recognize danger. However, when fear is based not on real, immediate threats but on false manifestations, it can become unreasonable. It’s essential to recognize when fear stops being a helpful alert system and starts being an obstacle.

*Emotional Resilience: Building emotional stability helps in managing fears and anxieties related to safety. Techniques like mindfulness, counseling and open conversations about fears can help in mental and emotional defenses.

Rational Risk Assessment

*Feasibility: Assess if the precaution is reasonable. Is it adding any real value in enhancing safety?

*Necessity: Distinguish between what is necessary and what is an excessive safeguard.

Listening to Others

Sometimes, getting a second opinion helps. Discuss your safety measures with friends or experts. If everyone thinks you’re going overboard, maybe it’s time to reassess.

Embrace Safety, Avoid Fear

Maintaining the balance between safety and freedom involves several strategies that encompass awareness, education and emotional intelligence. Incorporating common sense into our daily routines is essential for personal and community safety. Safety is about making informed choices, not about living in constant fear. It’s about empowering ourselves with knowledge, staying informed and developing the emotional power to face the world confidently without being restricted by fear.

Let’s adopt measures that protect us and build confidence. Remember, the goal of safety isn’t just to survive, but to thrive.

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Diny Davis is an aspiring author who is passionate about fitness and a strong believer in the close connection between physical and mental health. She is a journalism, psychology and literature graduate, a loving wife and a caring mother who maintains a balance in her work and personal life while giving emphasis to self-care.

Who is Your Brother? The Nearest Neighbor

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Nasly Roa Noriega (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

I begin this story with a very common phrase in my city. If I am not mistaken, I have heard it since I was a child, and the older ladies repeated it constantly to their neighbors, their children, their grandchildren and anyone else they knew.

When I was a child, I would always see the matronas (elderly ladies) of the neighborhood sitting in front of their houses, well-dressed, perfumed and swinging a piece of cardboard that served as a fan, with a porcelain cup perfuming the atmosphere with that pleasant aroma of freshly brewed coffee. I heard them repeat in every dialogue: “Do you know who your brother is? The closest neighbor.”

At the time, I did not understand that beautiful expression that always echoed in my thoughts, generating questions that I could never answer at that time, but I always thought, in my innocence, that my family was very large, because in the neighborhood where I lived there were many neighbors, and according to that phrase, all of them were my brothers.

As time went by and maturity increased my capacity to reason, I began to realize the meaning of those phrases, and they validated themselves every time a mishap occurred in my family, because there they were, my neighbors, always doing their best to help us with whatever we needed, always there for us. 

How is it that a person with whom you do not share any blood ties can become so close and so fraternal? How does the hand of someone other than a family member come first to offer support? How does someone you meet for the first time treat you like a mother, father or brother?

The neighborhood where I enjoyed my childhood and adolescence has always been very fraternal. According to my grandparents’ stories, it was very common to see families and neighbors helping each other. My great-grandmother often gave food to the neighbor’s children when they had nothing to eat, and vice versa. 

The stories we were told as children always emphasized helping each other and how to support each other when problems arise. Even when there were differences or they got upset, neighbors never stopped helping each other, even if they didn’t talk to each other.

Brotherhood is a fundamental principle of life. Knowing that you will always have a helping hand that is there to help you is something valuable. That is why it is often said that friendship is a valuable treasure. It is invaluable, it is giving without expecting anything in return.

In life, we will never be alone. I believe that just around the corner there will always be a brother waiting for us to give us that unfailing support.

At this stage of my life, the moments of my childhood and the beautiful memories of my adolescence and youth have been stored in my trunk of memories, but the only thing that remains constantly echoing in my soul and my heart are the booming words of those wise women in their afternoon chat: “Who is your brother?” My closest neighbor! And you know why I have not forgotten it? Because it is what I say today to my children, to my husband, to my friends and, why not, to my new neighbors. We are social beings. We have always lived in community. We have differences and that makes us different, but we should never be inhuman. Life is uphill, and with each step we will always find a hand that gives us the strength to continue, or encouragement that feeds our life.

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Writing is the best medicine for the soul. To vent your thoughts drawing with letters the story of your life only requires that you want to do it, you only need the silence of your soul and to let your heart write for you, because we are all a book with endless pages and a story to tell.

Overcoming Procrastination: Powerful Strategies To Get Things Done

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Sasna Nawran (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer


Ever find yourself saying, “I’ll do it later,” only to find “later” never quite arrives? You’re not alone. 

How many times have you pushed aside tasks, only to feel the weight of unfinished business hanging over you like a dark cloud? Ever wondered why it’s so hard to just get started? 

Procrastination—the arch-nemesis of productivity—has a sneaky way of creeping into our lives and holding us back, but not anymore.

In this article, I’ll give you some effective strategies and tips to overcome procrastination. 

If you’re ready, let’s get started! 

What Exactly is Procrastination?

Many people confuse procrastination with laziness, but they are not the same. Laziness is wasting your time by doing nothing or doing something purely for pleasure.

Procrastination involves doing something with time but putting off the most important task. This means you wait until the last minute and work long periods to complete certain tasks.

Why Do People Procrastinate?

According to research, the main reasons for procrastination are negative emotions and moods such as stress, anxiety, social pressure, self-doubt, insecurity, boredom, frustration, etc . . .

Strategies to Overcome Procrastination

Procrastination increases the chances of making mistakes. When you leave tasks until the last minute, you work under immense pressure which increases the chances of making mistakes and things going wrong: for instance, you might become ill or face technical problems. 

Therefore, you must learn to overcome procrastination. I’ll give you some practical strategies to overcome procrastination with ease. 

Accept that You Are Procrastinating

The first step to overcoming any problem is awareness and self-knowledge. So, accept that you are procrastinating and find out why you are doing so.

Knowing the true reason for procrastination makes it easier to overcome it. Sit and think for a minute or two. Why do you put off certain tasks until the last minute? 

 

Manage Your Tasks Efficiently

Every day write a to-do list and arrange the tasks in the order of priority. This will prevent you from putting off difficult or unpleasant tasks. 

Eat the bigger frog first. This means completing the most difficult task first. If you don’t feel like starting a particular task, follow the five-minute rule. 

What’s the five-minute rule? You set a time of five minutes to do the particular task you’re avoiding. If after five minutes you feel bored or horrible, you are free to stop. 

Most people find that after five minutes they feel like working until the task is complete. It’s because setting the intention and starting is sometimes the hardest part. 

Split large projects into small chunks and give yourself deadlines. It’ll help you to keep track of your activities. 

Many apps are out there, where you can organize and manage your tasks effectively. Don’t forget to make use of them. 

Find Motivation to Engage in Tasks

Stay motivated by finding productive reasons to engage in tasks. 

Some people engage in tasks out of fear of failure, to show off to other people, or sometimes to avoid angering parents. These kinds of reasons invoke negative feelings. Hence, they are not productive.

Instead, find reasons that evoke positive feelings in yourself. Having a clear goal, a plan, and a method to track your progress toward your goal are positive ways to stay motivated. 

Set specific and realistic goals. Assess what exactly you procrastinate and why you do it.  For example, putting off studying a particular lesson as you feel it’s difficult. 

Figure out a technique to overcome the cause of the procrastination. Instead of trying to get through the task, find something interesting in it. 

Next, create an action plan to achieve your goal. Keep a goal tracker to track your progress. With time find out which techniques work well for you and which don’t and refine your action plan accordingly. 

Summary Tips for Overcoming Procrastination

  • Break tasks into smaller steps: Big tasks can seem overwhelming, but breaking them down makes them easier to tackle.
  • Set specific goals: Be clear about what you want to accomplish and set deadlines for yourself.
  • Prioritize tasks: Focus on what’s most important and tackle those tasks first.
  • Use timers: Set a timer for short bursts of work, like 25 minutes, followed by a short break. It helps maintain focus.
  • Minimize distractions: Identify and eliminate things that pull you away from your work, like social media or TV.
  • Reward yourself: Celebrate your progress with small rewards to keep yourself motivated.
  • Practice self-compassion: Don’t be too hard on yourself if you slip up. Learn from it and move forward.

Procrastination is putting off tasks until the last moment. It’s not the same as laziness. Procrastination causes you immense stress and increases the chance of making mistakes. Luckily, you can overcome procrastination with proper strategies. 

Remember that overcoming procrastination takes time and effort. Practice with patience and ultimately you’ll be able to develop better habits and get the tasks done on time. 

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Leave your thoughts for Sasna in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

 

A Career Break Can Ignite Your Personal Development

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Diny Davis (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

“Starting over is the opportunity to come back better than before.” – Ryan Kahn

Taking a career break can often feel like a journey to nowhere. Yet, the concept isn’t as modern as we might think. The idea of stepping back from one’s career for personal growth or for personal reasons has been around for many years. Today, we’re going to get a clear picture on some common misconceptions about career breaks, and dive into why this could be just what you need for a fulfilling life and career comeback.

Firstly, a career break isn’t simply an extended vacation. It’s a deliberate pause in your professional life to focus on personal development, well-being, or to pursue passions and interests that you’re normally too busy to explore. Yes, there are misconceptions surrounding it—that it’s career suicide, a sign of professional indecision, or a luxury only the financially sound can afford. However, when planned and executed well, a career break can be a powerful tool for personal and professional growth.

In an age of constant connectivity, more people are recognizing the value of getting disconnected to find a meaning to their life’s direction. There are reasons why someone takes a break from their career.

 Self-Discovery and Reflection:

  • Unplugging from Routine: Taking a step back from the daily chores gives you the space to breathe, think, and see the bigger picture. It’s about taking a break from the normal routine to gain new perspectives.
  • Rediscovering Passions and Interests: With time on your hands, you can pursue interests and passions you’ve left untouched. Whether it’s travelling, writing, painting or walking trials, reliving these passions can be incredibly fulfilling.
  • Evaluating Personal and Career Goals: A career break allows you to assess your professional journey. Are you on the path you want to be? What truly matters to you? This period can be transformative in setting a new beginning.

Health and Well-Being:

  • Reducing Stress and Burnout: Continuous work without adequate breaks can lead to burnout. Time off helps you recharge, contributing to better mental and physical health.
  • Adopting Healthier Lifestyle Choices: Without the restrictions of an 8-5 schedule, you have the opportunity to focus on your health, be it through regular exercise, better eating habits, or sufficient sleep.

 

  • The Impact of Rest on Mental Health: Rest isn’t just physical. A career break can provide the mental rest needed to lessen stress, leading to improved overall well-being.

Setting Clear Objectives:

  • Identifying What You Want to Achieve: Reflect on what you wish to gain from this break. Clear objectives will guide your activities and ensure you make the most of this time.
  • Setting Realistic Goals and Timelines: Be realistic about what you can achieve within your break. Setting timelines will help you to use this break productively. 
  • Preparing a Personal Development Plan: A structured plan can keep you on track. Include milestones to achieve, skills to learn, and experiences you wish to gain.

Navigating the Return to Work:

  • Assessing Your Career Path: Upon return, it’s essential to evaluate the current career path and how your break supports your goals. This may mean a career shift or a reaffirmation of your chosen path.
  • Marketing Your Career Break: Showcasing your narrative about your break is really important. Emphasize the skills acquired, experiences gained, and how these enhance your professional profile.
  • Restore into the Workforce: Flexibility and patience are the keys. It might take time to readapt or find the right opportunity. Seek support, whether through mentors or professional networks, and embrace the changes with an open mind.

CONCLUSION

A career break, far from being a professional setback, can mark the beginning of a more fulfilling personal and professional journey. It’s an investment in yourself that can lead to enhanced creativity, renewed passion, and a clearer sense of direction. A career break is not a time-out, but a time for personal and professional growth, exploration, and setting the stage for future successes.

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Diny Davis is an aspiring author who is passionate about fitness and a strong believer in the close connection between physical and mental health. She is a journalism, psychology and literature graduate, a loving wife and a caring mother who maintains a balance in her work and personal life while giving emphasis to self-care.