Why You Need To Limit Your Social Media Use

Why You Need To Limit Your Social Media Use Social media is everywhere- and a huge part of our day-to-day lives. It’s not going anywhere either. But do the benefits of all this connectivity and constant chatter actually outweigh the costs? Have you even considered what costs there might be in your life and career? Here are a handful of reasons why you should curb your constant phone use and start taking part in that old-fashioned thing we call the real world.1. You’re Down on YourselfStudies show that people who spend a significant amount of time on social media experience increased anxiety and decreased self-esteem. Watching everybody else’s milestones and achievements fly through your feed doesn’t make you happy for your pals, it makes you unhappy about your own (seeming) lack of accomplishment. Are these people even your friends? Are you spending more time thinking about their goal-slashing and not worrying enough about setting goals of your own?2. You’ve Distorted RealityAnd while we†™re at it, all that success and joy you see on your feed from your thousands of â€Å"friends† is also highly crafted and paints a pretty rosy picture of events. Nobody’s life is as glamorous or freewheeling as Instagram and Facebook make them out to be. Just think of how many times you took that selfie to make sure it looked effortless? You’re not alone by any means. Remember that image and reality don’t always match up- and that your happiness should not depend on anybody else’s.3. It’s Not Actually SocialYou may feel less lonely, or more like you are keeping in touch with all of your friends when you’re constantly all up on their social media, but it’s not actually getting you anywhere close to real, lasting and close relationships with any of your friends. It’s just empty interaction. Your real, close friends are the ones you have actual conversations with- even on the phone or Skype if not in person. If your frien ds were to deactivate their accounts, would you still speak to them?4. You’ve Become a JerkAre you that friend who can’t get through an entire dinner- or concert, or picnic, or party, or other hang-out situation- without spending most of the time checking their phone? And be honest- it’s not even for important work emails or personal calls or texts! This friend is scrolling through their Facebook and Instagram feeds while you’re trying to have a conversation. It’s incredibly rude and ruins the experience for everyone. So if you’re not that friend, make sure you don’t become that friend.5. Your Life is PublicIf you don’t set boundaries and post everything that happens to you willy nilly, you forget that your entire life is not only public, but also permanently recorded in visual images and text. Just remember that safety and reputation are both important. And dial it back a bit.6. You’re DistractedSocial media is incredib ly distracting. Maybe you find yourself doing something cool; instead of enjoying the moment and being present, you’re mostly thinking how to get the perfect photo and how to phrase the perfect post. You’re starting to see the world in virtual, filtered form, rather than experiencing it. Or worse- you’ve lost touch with your life because you feel most alive when online. Or the least bored. But every hour you spend on your phone is another hour of life you’re missing out on. Think what you could accomplish in all of that accumulated time!

Top 10 Confused Words in English [A-B]

Top 10 Confused Words in English [A-B] Top 10 Confused Words in English [A-B] Top 10 Confused Words in English [A-B] By Maeve Maddox In compiling a list of the top ten confused words, it’s difficult to choose between simple misspellings and words whose meanings are mixed up in the mind of the writer. For example, the word altar (raised structure for sacrifice) is frequently misspelled as alter. The writer probably knows the difference between the noun altar and the verb alter, but hasn’t learned the fact that they are spelled differently. Likewise, the pair its/it’s usually tops lists of â€Å"confused words,† but it seems to me that writers who commit errors with this pair have problems with the correct use of the apostrophe in general. The words in the following list represent misunderstanding of the words’ meanings and not simply an inability to spell them correctly. Notice that this post covers words starting with the letters a and b. 1. affect / effect These two words have specialized meanings in psychology, but in ordinary speech and writing, affect is most often used as a verb meaning â€Å"to act on or to cause a change† and effect as a noun meaning â€Å"a change that is the result of some action†: How will the move to New Orleans affect the family? (verb) What is the effect of this move on the children? (noun) Note: Effect can also be used as a verb meaning â€Å"to cause† or â€Å"to bring about†: The new mayor has effected positive change in the police department. 2. advice / advise The error with this pair results from mispronunciation and failure to distinguish between a noun and a verb. The c in advice is pronounced with the sound of /s/. The s in advise is pronounced with he sound of /z/. Advice is a noun meaning â€Å"recommendation regarding a decision.† Advise is a verb meaning â€Å"to recommend†: She always gives me good advice. (noun) What do you advise me to do? (verb) 3. aisle / isle Both words are nouns. An aisle is a passageway between rows of seats, shelves, or other fixtures or obstacles that people need to move between. An isle is an island: You’ll find the children in the toy aisle. Robinson Crusoe was stranded on a desert isle. I want a modern kitchen with a work isle in the middle. 4. adverse / averse Both words are adjectives that imply a form of opposition. Something that acts against one’s interests or well-being is adverse. The word averse describes feelings of repugnance towards something: The jury delivered an adverse verdict against the defendant. Ferris Bueller was averse to attending school that morning. 5. amoral / immoral Morals and morality relate to considerations of right or wrong. For anyone who has internalized a code of moral behavior, acting against it is immoral. For example, Macbeth acknowledges that it is wrong for a host to kill his guest, but he and his wife do it anyway. Their murder of Duncan is immoral. When the sharks in Jaws kill people, their behavior is amoral. They don’t feel that it’s wrong to kill a human being. Here are two examples of current uses of amoral: Nature is  amoral. Nature is neither good nor bad. It just is. Mr. David Coleman once said that no one really cares about what a student thinks and feels. What is important is writing and reading information text. Thus, the Common Core is an amoral curriculum. 6. appraise / apprise Appraise means â€Å"to set a value on something.† Apprise means â€Å"to inform†: A new Audemars-Piquet limited-edition womens pocket watch with Swiss movement  appraised at  $13,500. As stated in  Marby, only when it develops that the defendant was not fairly apprised of its consequences can his plea be challenged under the Due Process Clause.    7. aural / oral The adjective aural relates to the ear or to hearing. The adjective oral relates to the mouth or speaking. The study investigates  listening  and aural  experience in a New York City community devoted to avant-garde jazz. A good  oral presentation  is well structured; this makes it easier for the listener to follow. After the accident, Jones required extensive oral surgery. 8. bring / take Both of these verbs have multiple meanings, but as a pair, they form opposites in the context of conveying something from one place to another. Bring is â€Å"to carry along from one place to another.† The word implies motion towards the place where the speaker or auditor is. Take also means â€Å"to carry something to another place,† but the movement is away from a place. The Chicago Manual of Style explains the difference this way: The simple question is, where is the action directed? If it’s toward you, use bring (e. g., bring home the bacon). If it’s away from you, use take (e.g., take out the trash). You take (not bring) your car to the mechanic. 9. bated / baited The error with these words occurs in the idiom â€Å"with bated breath.† The error is to write baited for bated. In the context of the idiom, bated means â€Å"in great suspense.† In another context, baited means â€Å"with bait attached,† as in â€Å"The hook is baited with a worm.† 10. broach / brooch Both words are pronounced the same. Broach is a verb meaning â€Å"to open up.† Literally, one might broach a cask of wine. Figuratively, one might broach a subject in conversation: I sat and waited in the awkward silence, trying to decide if I wanted to  broach the  subject of  his  hesitation  in Belgrave Square. Brooch is a noun. Originally, a brooch was used like a safety pin to fasten clothing together. Those who could afford it wore decorative brooches fashioned of precious metals set with precious stones. No longer essential to secure clothing, a brooch is usually just an ornament pinned to something: Create a choker necklace using a narrow scarf and  flashy brooch. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Signs and Symbols You Should Know"Owing to" vs "Due to"7 Sound Techniques for Effective Writing