Most people are guilty of procrastinating at some point. It is quite common among teenagers as well as university students and the occasional university teacher. Procrastinating is the act of deferring action or to put things off until a later day. Why do things now when you can do them later? It isn’t a new thing, with some people tracing the existence of procrastination back more than two thousand years to Socrates’s investigations into Akrasia or deficient personal control. Modern psychology takes a different perspective on procrastination suggesting that it is often associated with a very different problem - perfectionism.

Perfectionists are people who have a psychological tendency to only set themselves and others extremely high expectations or goals. Viewed as a healthy form of behaviour, this can be highly motivating with some perfectionists achieving high levels of success. Such healthy perfectionists, known as adaptive perfectionists or positive perfectionists, can live highly successful and happy lives. The problem is that many perfectionists will not recognize that success when they achieve it. This is where it can become unhealthy as such maladaptive perfectionists drive themselves towards ever higher goals or put themselves firmly in reverse. One example of maladaptive perfectionism is procrastination.

Procrastination is a maladaptive behaviour because it prevents the perfectionist from ever achieving their goals. However, it serves a psychological need because it reduces the impact of failure. Maladaptive perfectionists are driven by a fear of failure and low self-esteem. By putting off the pursuit of a goal, ultimate failure to achieve the desired perfection can be assigned to a lack of effort or action on the part of the individual. The perfectionist has not invested their time and effort into the activity, so it is not their fault. They have chosen to delay action, so they have avoided feeling bad about themselves. The problem is that such procrastination becomes a regular feature of life and is associated with lack of success and increased anxiety. 

Procrastination does not really solve any problems because it diminishes the person’s sense of self-worth. They know they delayed taking action to avoid failing. Better to avoid comparison with others and revel in the little everyday successes. Do things today so you have more time to make corrections. Start the homework now, so you can spend more time on getting a better score rather than guaranteeing failure 5 minutes before the deadline. Getting into a routine and keeping to it will bring much more success and fewer failures.

Photo Credit: Brett Jordan @pexels.com

Blog Quiz

Q1. What word in the text means 'delaying action'?

Q2. In this context, if 'adaptive' means 'positive', what does 'maladaptive' mean?

Q3. According to the writer when should perfectionists not do homework?

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

Q1. Procrastinating

Q2. Negative

Q3. Five minutes before the deadline

For centuries human beings have noticed unusual phenomena in the skies such as comets and shooting stars. In ancient times people called them 'signs' which could predict the future. In modern times we call them ‘UFOs’ or 'Unidentified Flying Objects.' Many people believe they are spaceships piloted by aliens who are visiting our planet from distant galaxies. However, UFOs have a natural explanation: belief in alien visitors is caused by the influence of popular culture and mass psychology. In addition, there is no reliable evidence for alien visitation.

The study of popular culture shows that science fiction entertainment is a major cause of belief in UFOs. In the early 20th century, ‘aliens’ were originally thought to be from the Moon or Mars. But after those planets were visited by spacecraft and no ‘little green men’ were found, we started to look at more distant galaxies. As technology improved, the 1930s saw an explosion in science fiction writing and movies about space travel and alien visitations. As paranormal investigator Joe Nickell explains, when people reported seeing aliens, their descriptions were similar to those portrayed in the movies - small creatures with large heads and big eyes - the "official alien." For example, UFO reports increased dramatically after the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), especially reports of alien abductions. 

Are you a dog person, or a cat person? If you had asked me this question three years ago, my answer would have definitely been that I was a dog person. I believed that cats never felt attachment towards humans but rather their houses. Moreover, I was scared of cats and couldn’t even touch them, but now I’m a typical cat person living with three cats. 

Two years ago, when I got home after work, my daughter and her friend showed me one tiny kitten in a cardboard box. The kitten was under the wooden deck in my garden with my dog. I couldn’t hold the small monster, which was meowing and had a thin and dirty body. I had no idea what I should do, so my daughter and I left her in the bush of a temple in front of my house. Keeping cats was out of question to me at the time. In a couple of hours, we heard a cat meowing again; she had returned to my house. Fortunately, one of my coworkers wanted a female cat, so I took care of her fearfully for several days until my coworker adopted her. After she left, I was suddenly sad and realized the cat was something special to me. That was the beginning that opened the door to my new world of cats.

Cats are independent, clean, and soft, and they don’t bark like dogs. Whenever I go upstairs, my three cats follow me. We sleep in the same bed during winter. They are definitely affectionate toward their owners, which went against my expectations. In addition, their body parts, eyes, tails, ears, and paws etc., are extremely cute. Among all of them, I like their tails which are very different from dogs’. They move flexibly, slowly, and elegantly. Every cat has a different tail with a different color and shape. My third cat has an unusual tail called “a kinked tail” (see the photo). It is said that genetic mutation causes kinked tails. When I saw her for the first time, I thought she might be a defective cat with a meandering tail. Afterward, I learned that since the shape was similar to a hook, some people in Western countries believed that cats with kinked tails could hook you good luck. If you find cats with a kinked tail, the cat might bring you good luck and happiness.

Sometimes we judge people or animals based on our preconceived ideas or by their appearance. I had never thought something I disliked would have made me happy. You can easily understand how soothing three cats are under these tough coronavirus outbreak conditions. My everyday life is full of joy and smiles thanks to them. Now I’m waiting for more happiness and good luck, which might be brought about by the kinked tail. Setting aside and overcoming our preconceptions can lead to greater happiness.

Photo Credit: Author

Blog Quiz

Choose the best answer.

Q1. How did the author get to like cats?

A. She started keeping a stray cat.

B. She temporarily took care of a stray cat.

C. She was attracted by cats’ eyes.

Q2. Kinked tails are considered to bring happiness because…

A. they are caused by genetic mutation

B. they are popular in western countries.

C. they are said to hook good luck

Q3. What is the key to becoming happy?

A. Having a cat with a kinked tail as a pet 

B. Sticking to our ideas we already have.

C. Not being haunted by fixed ideas

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

Q1. B

Q2. C

Q3. C

Based on a true experience.

It was 10 AM on October 3.

His 13th birthday. 

Andy was alone in the house. His parents were at work. He was upstairs, lying in bed. He had just woken up and he was wondering what kind of birthday it would be.

Suddenly he heard the sound of footsteps coming down the driveway to the house. 

“Who could that be?” he thought. 

Then he was surprised to hear someone open the front door.

Andy called out, “Mum? Dad? Is that you?” His parents were at work and he wasn’t expecting anyone.

Then, “Is anyone there?”

There was no reply.

He then heard the sound of footsteps slowly coming up the stairs and began to feel afraid. Someone was approaching his bedroom. They stopped outside the door. 

Andy was breathing heavily. He pulled his blanket over his face, shaking with fear.

The door opened and someone walked into the bedroom. Andy pretended to be asleep, his eyes closed tight. Suddenly the mysterious visitor sat on the bed. Andy was terrified. He could feel their eyes peering down at him.

Then he was astonished to feel the blanket being pulled down from his face. He squeezed his eyes closed, trapped in absolute fear.

Moments passed, but it seemed an eternity. After a minute, the blanket was pulled back over his face. The visitor stood up and walked out of the bedroom. Andy heard them go down the stairs and out of the front door. He heard steps walking back up the driveway.

Andy immediately jumped out of bed and ran out of the house. Wearing only his pajamas, he found himself standing at the top of the driveway, looking up and down the street.

But there was nobody there.

He was sure someone had visited him. But who? 

Andy ran back into the house, picked up the telephone and hurriedly called his mother at her workplace. Still shaking with fear, he told her what had happened.

“Oh don’t worry,” his mother said, “You don’t need to be afraid.”

“What do you mean?” he said.

“It was only your grandmother’s ghost. She came to wish you a happy birthday.”

Photo Credit: Ryan Miguel Capili @pexels.com

Blog Quiz

1. Which of the following came first?

A. Andy got out of bed.

B. Andy pulled his blanket over his face.

C. Andy called his mother.

2. In the sentence, "he could feel their eyes peering down at him", the word peering is closest in meaning to:

A. To look intently

B. To look briefly

C. To look with only one eye

3. Who visited Andy that morning?

A. His mother

B. His father

C. His deceased grandmother

 Scroll down for the answers to the quiz.

 Quiz Answers

Q1. B

Q2. A

Q3. C

Do you have a good sleeping habit? How many hours do you sleep every night?

A lot of people may think academic studies, jobs, and relationships are often more important than sleep. However, you shouldn’t take sleep lightly. Sleep actually has a very important role for both human bodies and minds, and even for learning. Let’s have a closer look.

First, as for bodies, lack of sleep can cause daytime drowsiness and low energy. It hurts the body’s ability to stay healthy because the immune system can be impaired by poor sleep quality. The immune system goes to work recharging itself and fighting infection while you’re in the deepest levels of sleep. If sleep time is cut short, the immune system doesn’t get the time it needs to stay healthy.

Second, lack of sleep can also affect your mood significantly. It causes irritability and anger, and you may find it difficult to cope with stress. Chronic sleepiness can put you at greater risk for depression. Depression is closely linked to sleep deprivation.

Third, sleep also plays a significant role for memory and learning. Let’s see some effects of sleep on memory and learning. Sleep has been considered very important for memory and learning, but until recently, there was no proof. A research team at Rutgers University recently discovered a type of brain activity that happens during sleep. The activity is important for memory and learning as it transfers new information from the hippocampus to the neocortex. The hippocampus is a part of the brain which plays a key role in memory and how knowledge is obtained. The neocortex stores long-term memories. As for long-term memories, it’s a type of memory which relates to memory and learning. The biggest categories of memory are “short-term memory (or working memory)” and “long-term memory,” based on the amount of time the memory is stored. As you would imagine, long-term memories are much more complex than short-term ones. We store different types of information such as procedures, life experiences and language, with separate memory systems.

Back to the study at Rutgers University, the team showed how we create long-term memories. The wave activity transfers short-term memories from the hippocampus to the neocortex. Then the neocortex turns the sharp wave ripples into long-term memories. Sleep encourages this brain activity. Therefore, the new information doesn’t have a chance to leave the hippocampus and go to the neocortex if sleep is deprived. In other words, short sleep has negative effects on memory and learning. According to current research, most undergraduates need 8.5 to 9.25 hours of sleep, and most adults, 7 to 9 hours. So, university students need to sleep for at least 8 hours if they want a healthier body and mind, and greater chances for academic success!

Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio @pexels.com

Blog Quiz

Read the following sentences. Choose T(true) or F(false).

1. Sleep has an import role in learning.

2. A type of brain activity that is important for memory and learning happens during sleep.

3. Most university students need 6 to 7 hours of sleep.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. T

2. T

3. F

As for me, one of my favorite activities is coordinating colors.

At first, due to my interest in fashion, I used to learn “color analysis,” selecting the most suitable colors based on a person’s skin tone. At that time, I was surprised to know that a person looks more cheerful and confident when wearing appropriate types of colors. This experience increased my interest in colors and escalated my motivation to learn more about the world of colors. Not only coordinating colors for clothes, but also thinking about creating color coordination for everyday things, such as interior design, is a big part of who I am.

To be a successful learner in any field, knowing the colors that influence us to learn positively and help us to make the most use of them can be worth taking into consideration!

I would like to share some tips for you to create an environment which fosters your learning.

Blog Quiz

1. According to the blog, what is color analysis?

A.    Using color to predict your future.

B.    Choosing colors that best match your skin color.

C.    Coordinating your clothes with the seasons.

2. According to the blog, what is the benefit of the colors yellow and orange?

A.    They help to cheer you up.

B.    They make you feel more relaxed.

C.    They encourage you to work harder.

3. According to the blog, what color should you use if you want to concentrate on a difficult task?

A.    Blue.

B.    Orange or yellow.

C.    Green.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. B

2. A

3. C

The Internet wasn’t always so popular as it is now. In the early years of the Internet, it was really a very exclusive platform for people to use. Even after it moved from research and academics into the public, it was still only for those curious enough to try. My older brother and I had connected to a local bulletin board system (BBS) using a dial-up modem that was annoying for the family because it used our one telephone line (we eventually got a second phone number for the computer). 

Those times were much more experimental and friendly than what I’ve seen in recent years. You knew that the other person you were talking to was a human being, and the owner of the BBS even hosted some get-togethers in the real world for people who used it. There weren’t people trying to attack and insult others because of tiny differences, but most often things were just talked about. Part of that is because the software wasn’t ready for the general public, but I also think it attracted a smaller group of people whom genuinely cared about what the Internet could be used for.

This slowly began to change as software improved. Chat rooms became a common feature with easier interfaces, and people who couldn’t handle the technical requirements earlier now had access. The Internet became more of a tool to connect people, but it also challenged what was comfortable for most people. That’s when I began hearing more about people who would eventually become what we know now as trolls. While this wasn’t new to me since I had already developed an understanding of the Internet, it began to turn me off a little bit to what the Internet was becoming.

During college, even though the university had cable Internet access (a revolution at the time), I was less attracted to it. Computers also became an expensive business, so the friendliness of building computers was complicated by convenience. After graduating, I worked in developing countries, and getting the newest, most expensive computers seemed silly. I continued to have technology as a part of my life, but I found the changes made to the Internet less interesting than how they were in the beginning.

Now, the Internet is tightly woven in the fabric of society, especially because of more recent events. In the past it was more of an optional, leisure time outlet for people, recently the Internet’s role as a tool seems to have been made more important. The idea of technology just for the sake of more technology seems less interesting when people just need it to work. In a way, things have returned a little bit to the way things were in the beginning because the Internet is taking a more fundamental role in society. It isn’t easy, but, to some extent, the life side of it makes the “tech” side of everything less obvious. Tech is being replaced by living.

Photo Credit: Burst@pexels.com

Blog Quiz

1. According to the blog what is a ‘troll’?

a) An ugly mythical creature who lives under a bridge

b) A person who intentionally upsets people on the internet by posting inflammatory messages

c) A small spade used for gardening

2. How did the author’s experiences in a third world country change his view of technology?

a) He realized there were more important things in life than having the latest technologies.

b) He decided to donate all his money to charity

c) He became more interested in travel than technology

3. According to the author why is technology becoming less obvious?

a) People can’t understand technology

b) People who build computers aren’t friendly

c) Technology is taking a more fundamental role in society

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. B

2. A

3. C

Because of the recent pandemic, many people choose to stay inside. If they do go out, it is only to stock up on food or other necessities. We need to remember to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Parks and bike-ways can be places to enjoy nature and still respect social distancing rules. Some people say “But what is there to do outside? There’s nothing to see…” A hobby I started long ago in childhood has stayed with me all these years. It is a way to enjoy the outdoors and see and learn about some fascinating things. What is it? Bird watching! Yes, observing birds in your local area is a great way to connect to the environment and become aware of the amazing diversity of birds and their behaviors. It will also give you motivation for getting outdoors.

How do you ‘bird watch”?

The best way is to have a pair of decent binoculars and a bird book for your local area. It is possible to bird without binocs, but you really miss a lot of details as birds tend to be small and quick. You can also find many pictures of birds with descriptions on the Internet. Don’t forget birds make a variety of calls and songs as well. It’s one more way of identifying a species. You will begin to notice that bird species can occupy different habitats. I like to visit forests, lakes, riversides, and open parks. You can start right around your home. How many different species can you observe just there? After you get a few species names under your belt, you might want to try a different area away from your home. You can find birds in places crowded with people as well as in unpopulated areas.

Here’s a few kinds of birds I have seen just from bird watching around my apartment in the city: Sparrows, Doves, Pigeons, Ravens, Thrushes, Cormorants, Herons, Egrets, Bulbuls, Lapwings, Woodpeckers, White-Eyes, Redstarts, Swallows, Hawks…The list goes on.

The next time you walk to the store, try to catch sight of a few birds. Are they all the same? Different? Do they make the same noises? Are they the same shape, color, or size? When you start learning species names, try keeping a list and you can add to it as you learn more about birds and bird watching. And finally, if it’s possible, birding can be more fun with a partner or two along to enjoy the time outdoors.

Photo Credit: Pixabay@pexels.com

Blog Quiz

1. Why does the author recommend bird watching?

A.    It helps people connect with nature.

B.    It is a safe activity during the pandemic.

C.    Both A and B.

2. Which is NOT mentioned as a way birds can be identified?

A.    By listening to their sounds.

B.    By watching television.

C.    By using a book.

3. In the last sentence, what does ‘birding’ mean?

A.    Catching birds.

B.    Looking for birds.

C.    Studying about birds.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. C

2. B

3. B

Housing issues are always annoying. One visits many real estate agencies before finding a property. When one finds a good property, it still takes time to settle in. While it is exciting to begin a new life in a new place, all the processes involved can be irritating. Some students may have started their lives in new apartments this Spring, while others still need to find rooms for the Fall semester.

Having had several experiences of looking for accommodation and moving, I have two tips that I would like to share with you.

My priority is that my apartment has sufficient sunlight because I had the unpleasant experience of living in a very dark room previously. The rent was affordable, the room was quite large, and I found the new kitchen appliances to be attractive. However, the lack of sunlight was simply awful. Although the room had a balcony on the south side, the room was dark because there was a factory just in front of it. Therefore, I had to keep the lights on all the time, even during the day; my bedding grew mould even in summer, and the room was icy cold in winter, even when the heater was on. I now believe that the power of sunlight gives me the energy to wake up and tells me when it is time to relax as it moves from east to west.

The second point is that after moving several times, I realised that it was easier to live with limited furnishings. When I embarked on my life in Tokyo as an undergraduate student, it was fun to buy ornaments and put them on shelves. At the same time, I had a part-time job at a clothing store, which increased the amount of ‘stuff’ in my cupboards. When I graduated from university, I moved to a new apartment. At that time, when the staff at the moving company saw my room, they said, “Wow, this is a big job…” They were right. I had too many things that I did not use often, or never used at all. Since then, I have attempted to decrease my possessions. I am not a minimalist, but I feel good when I keep my closet and kitchen shelves tidy.

By the time I moved into a student dormitory in London, I was surprised to find that I could pack everything I needed into two suitcases that I had brought from Japan. When I arrived in London, I purchased some pans and blankets to live a comfortable life as a student there. I began to wonder why I felt that I needed so many things when I was an undergraduate. Our society is materialistic, and the economy is based on consumption; however, the number of possessions someone has does not indicate whether the person is happy or wealthy.

Photo Credit: cottonbro@pexels.com

Blog Quiz

1. Why did the author dislike the dark room he lived in?

A.    It was cold.

B.    Mold grew easily.

C.    Both A and B.

2. In paragraph 4, what does the author mean by ‘minimalist’?

A.   A small room.

B.   A person with few possessions.

C.   A person who hates moving.

3. How does the author currently feel about possessions?

A.   He thinks they are not that important for happiness.

B.    He needs more pans and blankets.

C.    He wants to be more materialistic.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. C

2. B

3. A