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Does Chess Benefit Your Work Life

Chess is a popular game for rulers and high-profile people alike. Exuding royalty and wit, this game requires a lot of tact, level-headedness and shrewdness, which is not the norm in many forms of combat sports.

The popularity of this game is unfazed despite today’s video game and PlayStation culture, and this game can help you perform better at work too. Here are a few benefits of chess you should not ignore.

1. Improved brain function

Chess can stimulate your brain cells due to the extensive amount of exercise and brainstorming required in the game. The left hemisphere of the brain is responsible for object recognition, which helps identify the pawns and the horses and the elephant in the game, and the right hemisphere will help you differentiate further with patterns.

This game helps you utilize and exercise both hemispheres, helping your brain develop more. You can also improve your mental age by 14 years by playing chess.\\

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2. Enhanced memory

Chess has been known to prevent diseases like Alzheimer’s. The rules of the game help improve your memory and retention skills. From strategies to moves, memorizing every single aspect of the game can go a long way in increasing your memory for other life activities and work commitments too.

3. Cognitive skill development

From operational skills to motor abilities, this game helps achieve all. You need space orientation, visualization and linguistic abilities- all faculties of the brain get improved by playing chess which helps you perform better at work and aids in healthy mental exercise.

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4. Strategy building skills

Chess is a game based on strategies- how you move the pawn or the queen to demolish the opposite king or how to protect your king from an attack. This game can significantly help you navigate problems at the workplace and indulge in troubleshooting which can gain you brownie points at the office.

5. Improved attention span

With more and more people getting diagnosed with disorders like ADHD and decreased attention spans which deter progress at work- a few hours of chess can help center your focus on one thing and help you perform better at work without paying heed to distractions. Lack of focus will lead you to lose the game, and as you try to get rid of this problem, it will show in your work.

What Should You Do If You Dislike Your Job?

When Mondays become nightmares, and when the work deadlines consume your headspace, it’s time to accept that you don’t like your job.

Every weekend is about relief, but Sunday evenings turn melancholic as you have to visit that dreaded office again. Those faces, those files, that cubicle, every single aspect of your job seems to eat your happiness away.

You’re not alone. There are millions like you living helplessly trying to make sense of their jobs as they pay the bills. You can’t quit because there’s no Plan B at your disposal, so you just slog it off and try to make peace with your life, but all in vain.

So how do you make things easier for yourself? Quit and sit at home while living on welfare or facing the situation like the stoic hero you are? I guess the latter.

Here are some tips to help you tolerate that irritating job till you find something else.

1. Examine the scenario:

So what exactly bothers you at work? Is it the pay or the work environment? As soon as you’re able to analyze what truly is bothering you can easily address the problem and have a bearable stint at work.

You can work towards alleviating the cause of concern, so your life becomes much easier.

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2. Confrontations:

After analyzing the cause of your disinterest at work, you need to approach the problem head-on. Whether it’s an overwhelming workload or unfair wage, or an uncooperative co-worker, you need to communicate your struggles to a position of authority, so you no longer end up frustrated.

This is going to be difficult, but it is a necessary step. Nobody is going to automatically find out the cause of your frustration with the job. You have to go out there and communicate with your boss.

3. Switch Your Perspective:

Changing perspective about your job is something you must have heard like a thousand times now. But it is valuable advice and helps you in the long run.

Instead of being sour-hearted about your job all the time, just change your approach about that job and take it not as a tunnel of fire but a feat to accomplish.

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4. Express yourself:

It is important to vent about your job frustration else; you’ll just keep boiling with it all through your life. Share your concerns with your friends. This helps you get lighter.

But make sure you don’t rant on a social networking site or to a co-worker, as that can impact you negatively.

5. Give it your best shot:

Your frustration with your job will lead you to do the bare minimum, which will make your work suffer. So the better option to avail is to give your best efforts, and the resultant appreciation and incentive will motivate you to carry on with the job.

Mediocrity is a vice, and its presence will just dip your career graph. And any lackadaisical performance will just add to your hatred and frustration for the job. It might not change the work scenario but will make you a little happier and confident.

Top 5 Tips To Get Ahead In Your Career And Achieve Your Goals

Stagnation in anyone’s career is a horrible fate. Everything stays the same. Day after day, performing the same tasks over and over again until your mind goes numb. Want to get out and upwards? Here are some tips:

Taking risks

Risk is part and parcel of our life. It exists anywhere and everywhere at the same time. It’s a different issue that we choose to be oblivious to it.

But those of us who acknowledge it and still take the plunge have at least a chance to get ahead. So do ask for a promotion or search and apply for new jobs. It’s worth a shot to try for any chance of success instead of no chance at all.

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Perseverance

You know you want to get ahead and achieve that coveted promotion or job. If you do not keep at it, it is never going to let itself reach you.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not the blind donkey’s carrot. You can get that job or promotion eventually if you are persistent in your efforts.

Networking

Shying away from social life is going to isolate you. If you want to get noticed, be sure to know the people that should notice you.

Connect with them, establish contacts. Use social media like Facebook and LinkedIn to grow your professional network. Someone will surely notice you.

Be likable

Kindness never goes unnoticed. People will automatically migrate towards you when you develop a positive attitude and outlook towards things.

Refrain from gossips and whining. Do something extra without expecting acknowledgment. You’ll be surprised at the initiative you receive from the people you have helped.

Link your passion and job

There is nothing more satisfactory in your career than finding a job that you actually love doing. Direct your talent and skills towards that job, and you’ll move up the ranks in no time.

If you do what you like and like what you do, you’ll have achieved job nirvana.

So, these are some of the tips and tricks to get ahead in your career and achieve your goals. Apply them in your life and start stepping the ladders of success.

How To Make A Career Change At 40 in 3 Steps

Career changes are challenging at any age. But they end up being even more challenging when you’re 40.

Why, you ask? Children, increased responsibilities, lack of time to pick up more qualifications, and an advanced age just increase the difficulty level, but if you hold yourself together and navigate this sea proactively, the resultant opportunities and possibilities will be immense.

Here’s how to make that career switch at 40.

Step 1. Be sure that it’s your career you want to change, and not just the job

At a lot of spots, people are merely frustrated with their current job, work environment, and more, which just makes them feel that they are not made or suited for this career, maybe it’s your work-life balance not working out, or a cocky boss.

So just take your time, and explore other workplaces before you just decide to switch your field altogether.

Step 2. Choose the right career option

Now here’s the tricky part. You need to be sure that the alternative career path you choose is worth the bargain. You’re 40, and if you end up at the wrong place, it will just be too much to handle.

And choosing a career is like choosing your soulmate. You need to be sure if you make the cut. Whether it’s the skill set, work ethic, or the work-life balance, every factor needs to be duly considered.

Step 3. Finances need to be considered

You first follow steps one and two and then come to this because if you look at your finances first, you will just shut down most of the possibilities in advance.

Take the help of financial advisors, try navigating through the situation if you feel you can manage the crunch. Just give everything a careful thought before you decide on something.

5 Things to Consider Before Changing Your Career Track

Career change is not something that happens overnight. And a moment of impulse shouldn’t really govern your decision to change your career.

Many people wish to get out of their dead-end jobs to make a transition. But to make a smooth transition, a lot of brainstorming is required. Here are the factors you need to consider before making that choice to change your career.

1. Is your career the problem?

Dissatisfaction with your current life doesn’t necessarily have to do with your career particularly. Sometimes it’s the work environment or the organization, or maybe the colleagues. Maybe there’s a problem maintaining a work-life balance considering the current job. You probably need a change of workplace rather than a change of career.

2. Interests

You need to sit peacefully in a corner and brainstorm. Think about your likes and dislikes, your passions, and whether you want your passion to be a full-time career. Things like these need to be considered and well thought over before making that final decision.

3. Do you need an upgrade?

If you’re going to opt for a drastic career change, you need to be sure that you have the skill set necessary to make the cut. And if you need to catch up, find out what needs to be worked on.

Even if your career choice is not that drastic, you need to give yourself a heads-up on the prospective employers, current market trends, and other details required for the transition. You have to research well before coming to any conclusions.

4. How to create networks?

Your career transition needs a strong backing of networks to be successful. If you have to change your field of work, you need to be able to find someone who can help you connect with your future employers.

Moreover, you will be able to grasp the nuances and be able to know what needs to be done to excel on the job.

5. Consider your entire life centering around this

Your career change might shift your place and field of work, but if what you want is more than just that, you need to consider factors like freedom, a flexible work environment, and a better work-life balance.

So, these are the things you should consider before having a career change at any age.