Meghan Markle and Prince Harry dropped a ton of royal bombshells during their chat with Oprah. Here are some of the best reactions from Twitter.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s much anticipated interview with Oprah aired last night. Viewers were shocked by the bombshells that were dropped during the sit-down, and the sincerity with which the Sussexes spoke candidly about their experiences in the monarchy.
Oprah gave the expectant couple (Harry revealed they’re expecting a baby girl this summer) the space to discuss some of their most pressing experiences, delving into topics such as Meghan’s racist treatment and her deteriorating mental health that left her contemplating suicide.
The interview held everyone’s attention, illustrating more of the story that royal followers already suspected. Social media was entranced throughout, showcasing reactions that ranged from creative jokes and outrage, to a mashup of Royals and WandaVision memes. Here are some of the best reactions that were posted online:
From Nixon to Reagan to Bush, the control of the Republican Party by the prohibitionist ideologues has left it continually vulnerable to the most ideological and least intelligent elements on the American right.
Disclaimer:The views expressed in this article solely belong to the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Fresh Toast.
The Republican Party is badly split, but it did not start with Donald Trump. However, when ideology trumps reality, the result is stupidity.
“It is the theory which decides what we can observe.” — Albert Einstein
In the elections Republicans considered marijuana prohibition to be a peripheral issue at best. It is not something that “serious” candidates want to spend any time discussing, or they will cease to be considered “serious.”
In fact, so long as a candidate supports prohibition, it is better that they appear as ignorant as possible on the subject. This protects them of any suspicion of having any latent “tendencies” or secret subversive ideas. In this regard, the prohibitionist ideology resembles the AIDS virus in that it shuts down the immune system by which the democratic process protects itself against anti-democratic nonsense.
Consider these items from very different sources.
Connecticut Congressman Rob Simmons (R-2nd District) explained his opposition to easing the Federal ban on medical cannabis, “The problem is the law enforcement community doesn’t support it. And I take my lead from the state and the police chiefs.”
Never mind that the overwhelming majority of his constituents support medical cannabis. Never mind that the law enforcement community and the police chiefs have no medical expertise. He knows who he really represents, and he is obviously unaware that the Constitution does not begin with “We the Police of the United States…
The Guardianreported, “Portuguese police officers will turn a blind eye to England supporters who openly smoke cannabis during an international soccer match, having decided that a stoned crowd is easier to control than a drunk one.
“Lisbon police confirmed that England fans will not be arrested for puffing on joints on the streets of the Portuguese capital, following a recommendation from the Dutch authorities responsible for policing the English during Euro 2000. Portugal decriminalized possession of all drugs in 2001.”
“[In 2000], England’s match in Eindhoven, ironically against Portugal, passed off peacefully as many supporters took advantage of the Netherlands’ liberal drugs laws. By contrast the game against Germany in the Belgian town of Charleroi was marred by violence, much of it fueled by alcohol.”
The Los Angeles Timesreported, “Some officers believe that alcohol may have been a factor in the behavior of guards (at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq) who have been charged with beating prisoners, stripping them naked, forcing them to masturbate and stacking them in pyramid-shaped piles on the prison floor. At least one prisoner has told investigators that he frequently smelled alcohol on the guards’ breath in the cellblock where most of the abuses occurred.”
In March, a Pentagon survey showed nearly one in five members of the U.S. armed forces is a heavy drinker, but of course they are all pee-tested for cannabis.
The journal Drug and Alcohol Dependencereports that that the number of American adults who abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent rose to 17.6 million or 8.46 percent of the population in 2001-2002 from 13.8 million or 7.41 percent of the population in 1991-1992.
Okay, but what does all this have to do with problems for the Republican Party?
Photo by DonkeyHotey via Flickr
Well, consider that Richard Nixon was brought down by the Watergate burglary that was led by G. Gordon Liddy, who had become (in)famous for prosecuting Timothy Leary and had led Operation Intercept, which closed the Mexican border to marijuana, and created demand for Columbian cannabis.
And Ronald Reagan was almost brought down by the guns for cocaine for cash for hostages business run through Mena, Arkansas. The crack cocaine boom began after Reagan/Bush shut off the supply of Columbian cannabis.
And the civilian contractors running the Iraqi prisons were essentially rejected from the booming American Gulag that has exploded during the Drug War.
Thus, from Nixon to Reagan to Bush, the control of the Republican Party by the prohibitionist ideologues in “law enforcement community” — police, prosecutors, and the prison industry and rehab racketeers — has left it continually vulnerable to the most ideological and least intelligent elements on the American right.
“We are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue, and then, when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to show that we were right. Intellectually, it is possible to carry on this process for an indefinite time: the only check on it is that sooner or later a false belief bumps up against solid reality, usually on a battlefield.” — George Orwell, “In Front of Your Nose”
Photo by Elsa Olofsson via Unsplash
Nonetheless, most political analysts are not only unable to connect the dots; they cannot even see them. That is why I began with the quote from Einstein, although one need not be “an Einstein” to see the problems the Republicans have brought upon themselves and the world by their commitment to the prohibitionist ideology.
The Republicans will continue to be dragged down by the party of the stupid until they recognize the wisdom of P. J. O’Rourke’s observation:
“No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we’re looking for the sources of our troubles, we shouldn’t test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.”
There is more than just CBD involved in the formula. Some companies use preservatives to make them suitable for long-term use. Here’s what else you should know.
If you’ve grown wearisome of old-age methods of consuming CBD, you will absolutely love CBD gummies. They are like squishy candies that are sweet and flavorsome but are jam packed with cannabinoids. Compared to vapes and tinctures, it is a unique but more fun way to introduce this phytonutrient in your system.
You can also find gummies infused with other powerful nutrients such as apple cider vinegar, spirulina, turmeric, and so many more. Since they are a unique type of CBD and are available in many blends, it is overwhelmingly challenging to find the right match for you.
Photo by Pharma Hemp Complex via Unsplash
So, follow our guide to find out what you should look for in CBD gummies.
The Right Types
Not all CBD gummies are formulated the same, some are highly potent, whereas others come with better flavoring. Here are the three most common types currently available in the market:
High-Dosage Gummies
On average gummy usually contains 5 to 10 mg of CBD — a pretty decent dosage. CBDfx, on the other hand, harbors 50 mg/ serving, which is equivalent to a full-day requirement of CBD. If you are looking for a highly potent gummy, this is your product.
Gourmet Gummies
For candy-lovers who seek a burst of sweet flavors, gourmet gummies are worth giving a shot. However, they come in a huge flavor spectrum, which includes peach rings, sour gummies, fruity flavors, and so much more. They are formulated to obscure CBD’s flavor, giving you a more fun experience.
Photo by Jamie Grill/Getty Images
Nutrient-Enhanced Gummies
It is a great concept to blend flavorings, CBD, minerals, and vitamins to create a full package of nutrients. Such edibles are becoming increasingly popular for providing such a delightful way to fill nutrient gaps. So, you couldn’t be happier with this type of CBD, however, they are slightly more expensive than other types.
CBD Source
CBD is extracted differently, giving us three distinct types based on purity level — isolates, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum. If you are looking for the purest forms of CBD, then isolates are what we recommend. They are devoid of terpenes and volatile organic impurities, making the product perfect for medicinal purposes.
Broad-spectrum CBD lacks THC and contains a high concentration of cannabinoids. On the opposite, full-spectrum CD offers different cannabinoids as well as THC, which is why it is known for triggering psychoactive effects.
Ingredients
Since we are talking about edibles, there is more than just CBD involved in the formula. Some companies use preservatives to make them suitable for long-term use. Also, there are many artificial ingredients and sweeteners to enhance flavorsome hints in the servings.
Those who suffer from allergies, or are following a strict vegan diet, should stay away from ingredients like fructose corn syrup. Therefore, read the ingredient list thoroughly to watch out for unwanted compounds before getting a bottle of CBD gummies.
Not always artificial elements are involved in the formulation as 100% organic CBD gummies are also available. Everything from the natural flavoring to the color is extracted from organic sources in such ideal products.
Photo by BATCH by Wisconsin Hemp Scientific via Unsplash
Optimum Potency
As mentioned earlier, the potency of CBD gummies does not remain the same for all types. For instance, a 10 mg CBD isolate would not be as potent as a 10 mg full-spectrum CBD. Also, the amount a person should intake in a single day varies, depending on the type of health condition you are aiming to treat. For serious problems like chronic pain and stress, you may have to consume more than usual to enjoy optimal effects.
However, if you are not sure of the dosage, then it is best to experiment with a little amount first. Starting from point zero will give you a rough idea of how much CBD your body desires.
Third-Party Testing
At the moment, CBD gummies are not FDA approved, meaning they don’t guarantee the quality, effectiveness, and safety of these products. Still, if you have to reap maximum benefits without having to suffer from detrimental side effects, it is best to research the product’s quality.
You can check whether the ingredients have been inspected for impurities such as molds, pesticides, heavy metals, and other unwanted compounds. Also, you can compare the lab results from COA with the claimed amount of THC and CBD to verify the concentration.
A Delicious Flavor
Since they are candies, they are meant to be delicious — that’s why they are formulated in the first place. They come in a myriad of flavor options, including fruity, sour, chocolate, flowery hints, etc., depending on the ingredients.
The most popular range of flavors is the fruity spectrum — apple, strawberry, pineapple, pomegranate, and so on. However, manufacturers have discovered a unique blend of flavors as well to attract the crowd, giving them something different to try. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that you will be introducing a mouthful of happiness in your body, which is an experience worth having.
We’re at that point in the pandemic where we need help keeping our Zoom parties spicy. Here are some ways Alexa can help.
Keeping things fun and relaxing throughout Zoom parties isn’t always easy, with these types of gatherings lapsing into contemplative silences or opportunities to complain about the many issues that are plaguing us. If you clicked on this story, you’ve probably reached the point in the pandemic where Alexa games sound appealing. Good for you.
Games are a simple way of keeping things light and Zoom parties on track, providing everyone involved with an opportunity to drink, have fun and forget about their problems, at least for a little while.
Alexa games are relayed through the app through voice commands, adding a looseness to parties and drinking games. Alexa games can be added to your device by opening the app on your phone and tapping on Skills & Games in the menu and entering the name of the game you want in the search bar.
Here are 5 Alexa games to entertain your virtual parties:
This is one of those drinking games that can get you very drunk, very quickly, and if that’s something you’re craving look no further. Alexa will ask questions and players will point or name the person who’s most likely to commit those acts. That person has to drink. Quick and simple, as the best drinking games are.
Spelling Bee starts off as a reminiscing opportunity, a great time for you and your friends to discuss your experiences with Spelling Bee in middle school. A couple of minutes in, once the alcohol starts to seep in, it becomes increasingly more difficult and fun.
Trivia tends to elicit two responses from people; you either love it or you hate it. Trivia Battle is a fun game, trying it’s best to recreate Trivia night at your favorite bar. It might not be as fun and crazy, but with thousands of questions it will scratch the Trivia itch you’ve been missing in your life.
For the movie lovers in your life, there’s the Movie Challenge game, a movie quiz that provides you with audio snippets of the movies in question and then ask players to answer the film and iconic moment.
Never Have I Ever feels like a high school game and may trigger some teen trauma, but it’s a quick and easy way of getting people to drink and laugh. It also gets rid of the main problem with Never Have I Ever, which is the process of coming up with the question itself. Alexa provides you with a situation that lends itself for the game and has players drink when they have done whatever the device is discussing.
The full plant profile and all of its compounds are considered important in creating the experiences consumers seek.
Today, it isn’t uncommon to hear about the potency or strength of a cannabis product. Typically, the discussion centers on the percentage of THC or CBD found in a plant strain or its products. Advancements in cultivation and tech allowed potency to balloon over the decades, particularly in recent years as legalization spread across the globe.
However, experts in the space tend to agree that potency is far from the be-all-end-all indicator that far too many make it out to be. Instead, most suggest that the full plant profile and its numerous compounds each play an integral part in creating the plant’s true healing potency and quality.
Much More Than THC And CBD Content
Sources say that potency, while important, does not equate to the quality of the plant or its products. Instead, the full plant profile and all of its compounds are considered important in creating the experiences consumers seek.
Today’s flower can reach up to or above 30% potency, a staggering leap from a few decades ago when the plant’s strength was often in the low- to mid-single digits. But many, like High Life Farms Co-Founder Ben Celani, notes that plants with a potency of around 18% can still provide a more effective, robust experience than a 30% plant if it has the right plant profile makeup, which includes its terpene content.
Terpenes, or the oily compounds found in cannabis and other plants, are critical in producing the unique aroma, flavor and effects in each cultivar. “There is also plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that switching strains to vary the terpene profile consumed can give a user the feeling of having “reset” their tolerance, requiring less consumption to achieve the same level of effect,” reported Celani.
Brighid Kelley, Chief Operating Officer at cannabis brand incann, agrees. Kelley said that potency reliance stems from a lack of identifiers consumers had at their disposal earlier on in the market. That has changed as plant information and consumer interest enhances.
“As we continue learning more about the therapeutic benefits of additional cannabinoids and terpenes, it’s become increasingly more common, due to consumer demand, for cannabis flower strains to come with a full cannabinoid and terpene profile,” stated Kelley.
Photo by mikroman6/Getty Images
What Should Consumers Look In Addition To Potency?
Consumers should still consider THC strength but go beyond the single metric, especially when concerning a medical patient.
Jonathan Wharton, CEO of cannabis nursing company Wayfare Nursing Inc., said that the entire cannabinoid profile, terpenes and flavonoids can all play their part–as can the consumption method.
“If you’re trying to treat a medical condition…[THC content] is only one factor, and it’s definitely not the most important one for many conditions,” Wharton stated.
Photo by Add Weed via Unsplash
Kelley offered similar advice, honing in on specific cannabinoids of interest, including CBN, CBG, THCV and CBD.
Hans Enriquez CEO of Dazed Inc, the parent company of the coffeshop franchise Lazydaze, noted that consumers like himself are seeking plant benefits without the possible side effects of THC intoxication, which can include anxiety, paranoia and an increased heart rate.
However, the shop owner and cannabis consumer doesn’t see THC potency going away either. Instead, he sees it sharing space with full spectrum products and more balanced cannabinoid profiles.
Enriquez predicted that, “The next evolution will be a version of a compound pharmacy, where products can be customized for the consumer in regards to cannabinoids and terpene profiles.”
It’s important to check your local and state laws before considering taking medical cannabis to ensure full legal compliance while benefiting from this amazing alternative treatment.
Medical cannabis is regulated cannabis prescribed to patients suffering from a wide range of medical conditions. Unlike recreational marijuana, medical cannabis plants are meticulously cultivated and controlled to comply with health and safety regulations. This is why many people are considering using marijuana as an adjunct or alternative treatment to traditional medications. Here are some things to know about medical cannabis.
But is it worth it? How can medical cannabis help patients manage the signs and symptoms of chronic and debilitating diseases? Healthcare is difficult, but science has been clear about what medical marijuana can do.
Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images
Legality of Medical Cannabis
Leaf Nation explains that cannabis is technically illegal under federal law. Still, most states have medical marijuana programs, allowing patients to legally use cannabis products from legal dispensaries for medical use.
Hence, it’s best to check your local and state laws before considering taking medical cannabis to ensure full legal compliance while benefiting from this amazing alternative treatment.
Medical Cannabis Qualifying Conditions
Licensed physicians can qualify patients with certain medical conditions to get a medical marijuana card (MMJ).
While every state has a set of qualifying conditions, some diseases are approved for medical cannabis treatment, including the following:
Chronic Pain: This symptom is usually due to a debilitating medical condition. Physicians can recommend medical cannabis to patients suffering from chronic pain but aren’t responding to conventional treatments, such as taking over-the-counter pain relievers, or experience side effects from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids.
Severe Nausea: Medical cannabis strains with low THC levels are recommended in treating nausea.
Epilepsy: Cannabidiol (CBD) is believed to possess anticonvulsant properties. Cannabinoid, which is one of the many cannabis compounds, may help reduce seizure attacks from epileptic patients.
Photo by Esther Kelleter/EyeEm/Getty Images
Neurodegenerative Diseases: The most common types include Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. A trained physician can decide if medical cannabis is suitable for the patient to slow down neurodegenerative disease progression.
Irritable Bowel Diseases (IBD): Medical cannabis is thought to manage the signs and symptoms of this autoimmune disease, preventing flare-ups.
Glaucoma: Due to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is one of the active ingredients, cannabis provides relief by reducing eye pressure.
Muscle Spasms: Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes muscle spasms. Patients who don’t respond to conventional medication can take medical marijuana to relieve muscle spasms. Medical cannabis may also help treat insomnia and abdominal discomfort associated with MS.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): This anxiety disorder causes sleep problems and hypervigilance. This is because medical cannabis is thought to help improve sleep and regulate anxiety.
Medical Cannabis Overdose Isn’t Fatal
When a country has two or more dispensaries, there’s a 17% decline in opioid-related deaths; two to three cannabis dispensaries increase correspond to a 25% decrease in opioid-related deaths.
Unlike opioid overdose, cannabis is non-lethal. The effects of excessive cannabinoids in the body may bring unpleasant experiences but incomparable to conventional pain relievers’ adverse effects that cause potential respiratory shut-off.
Here are the good-to-know things about medical cannabis that explains why overdose isn’t fatal:
Photo by FangXiaNuo/Getty Images
Low THC Levels: Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the compound responsible for making marijuana users high. However, most medical cannabis strains used by patients are low in THC, causing minimal side effects, such as dryness of the skin, eyes, and oral mucosa, when consumed in excessive amounts.
Naturally Found In The Body: Cannabis compounds are naturally found in the body–endocannabinoids. This means that even if you don’t take cannabis, your body already has cannabinoids, implying that medical cannabis is a generally safe and natural alternative to conventional medicines. Hence, adding external cannabinoids may help regulate sleep, pain perception, appetite, memory, and other body functions better.
Cannabis-Derived Drugs
Medical cannabis-derived drugs are available for prescription use. These drugs have been approved by the Food And Drug Administration (FDA) for certain signs and symptoms:
Dronabinol: It’s a form of synthetically manufactured THC, which is available in pill (Marinol) and oral solution (Syndros). Marinol and Syndros help treat nausea and vomiting among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and improve the appetite of AIDS patients.
Nabilone: It’s a synthetic cannabinoid that resembles THC’s molecular structure, which is available in pill form as Cesamet. This drug is used to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Cannabidiol: Epidiolex is an FDA-approved drug extracted from medical cannabis, which is used in treating seizure disorders, such as Dravet syndrome. It contains cannabidiol (CBD), which is a non-psychoactive cannabis compound.
Photo by Esther Kelleter/EyeEm/Getty Images
Medical Cannabis Consumption
Patients can consume medical cannabis in different ways, including the following:
Oral Ingestion: Patients can take pills, CBD oil, and cannabis edibles, such as cannabis-infused cookies, brownies, and smoothies.
Vaping: It involves the inhalation of cannabis vapor using vaporizers or vape devices, such as dry herb vaporizer to consume cannabis flowers or buds.
Sublingual: Patients can also take medical cannabis, like CBD oil, under the tongue. The sublingual route is a fast way to feel the effects of cannabis.
Topical Administration: Cannabis topical products, such as cannabis creams, moisturizers, lotions, balms, and salve, are applied to the skin to absorb cannabinoids.
Medical Cannabis Recommended Dosage
The standard dose of consuming cannabis varies from one state to another. For instance, one edible dose is equivalent to 10 milligrams of THC in Colorado. In Oregon, cannabis edibles should be divided into 5-milligram servings.
It’s important to consult a doctor to find the best medical cannabis dosage applicable to you. For seniors, 5-milligram THC can be too high. Microdosing can help patients benefit from THC without intoxicating side effects. A good edible dose, to begin with, is 2.5-milligram THC.
Also, take note that the onset of effects of cannabis edibles takes longer (up to two hours) than smoking or vaping cannabis.
Conclusion
Now, you’ve learned the important things you need to know about medical cannabis. While medical cannabis is still illegal under federal law, many states have medical cannabis programs so patients can legally use the compound to treat their ailments.
The cannabis-induced fatal dose is virtually impossible. Research and development led to more discoveries of the potential therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis, resulting in the approval of cannabis-derived drugs.
Lastly, aside from oral ingestion of pills and edibles, medical cannabis also comes in topical, sublingual, and vaping consumption methods.
Test anxiety, peer pressure, stress, and just plain fun! These are some of the most common reasons college students use marijuana both on and off campus.
The use of marijuana is rising among students, especially those at the college level. According to a recent study by the University of Michigan, marijuana use among American college students is now the highest it’s been in 35 years. Here are just some of the reasons why students partake in cannabis.
Curiosity
Many high school and college students who try weed for the first time are just curious. It is not entirely unexpected, given that curiosity is a normal part of growing up. As students interact, they will want to try out what they see their friends do, including weed, and it’s only natural.
Peer Pressure
Peer pressure is one of the common reasons why students start using cannabis. As a new student with no history of using the substance adjusts to a new school setting, they create new friends and social circles. At the same time, the student is cultivating their identity.
This phase of life can be quite impressionable, leaving a student vulnerable to several things. In this case, if their social environment comes with weed smoking, such a person is likely to start experimenting with the substance.
An important thing to note here is that a student is not necessarily pressured to use marijuana. Rather, since the student’s social environment normalizes it, they are more likely to start partaking to fit in.
Peer groups extend way beyond schoolmates. Family members can also be a source of peer pressure, so can pop culture. The display of marijuana use in the media has played a huge part in normalizing the substance’s use among young people.
Boredom
Several studies have concluded that a significant fraction of students uses cannabis to cope with boredom. For these students, marijuana is the best way to pass the time between classes or over the weekends and holidays.
The Perception That Marijuana Is Safe
Very few studies have explored the negative impact of extensive cannabis use. Given this development, many students consider cannabis to be safer, especially in comparison to cigarettes and other hard drugs. Nonetheless, this does not mean that cannabis has no effects; like any other substance, abusing it is sure to come with various issues, including substance abuse disorder and addiction.
An Escape from Various Issues
Students face a myriad of problems, and each of them has to deal with theirs in their own way. Some students will turn to cannabis to manage stressful emotions and cope with various challenges. Often, marijuana is considered the best option, given the high sensation it delivers to the user. This feeling appears to numb the pain one is experiencing, making it an excellent way of overcoming stress.
Photo by rawpixel.com
To Manage Mental Issues
Many students have a diagnosable mental health issue, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. To manage such conditions, students turn to cannabis to lead normal lives in the face of their peers. Many students say that cannabis offers relief for various issues, including stress, troubled sleep, trouble concentrating, and physical discomfort.
If you struggle with a mental health issue, self-medicating with marijuana is not the ideal approach. Consider talking to a psychotherapist if you have an underlying psychological condition that’s undermining your studies.
Also, do not allow the pressure of academic life to push you to the edge. Get the right assistance from the right expert. For example, a professional essay helper will help you manage a composition assignment, sparing you from the stress and pressure of doing it independently.
To Get High
Sometimes people use weed simply to get high, loosen up and ease social anxiety. This easiness makes socializing easier and gatherings more enjoyable, which is an essential part of college.
Availability & Opportunity
Unlike many other drugs, marijuana is easily accessible. Besides, the legalization of cannabis means that obtaining it is even easier than before. These developments have made it possible for students to acquire cannabis and use it whenever they feel like it.
For college students, being away from the supervision of parents offers an opportunity to partake in cannabis. This situation contributes to the increased use of the substance among students.
Mornings are important for productivity. Here are 5 things that can mess with your flow.
Productivity is a fickle thing, coming and going depending on our moods, habits and how successful we’ve been in keeping up with our routines. With the pandemic, the majority of us have been experiencing a serious ebb and flow in our levels of productivity, with some days being much better than others.
Perhaps the most important time of day to boost productivity and set the tone for the rest of the afternoon is morning. A glitch first thing in the morning in can quickly derail us, making us grumpy and, perhaps worst of all, not giving us a chance to have a leisurely cup of coffee. In terms of productivity, it can throw a wrench in our plans.
Here are 5 things that can ruin your morning productivity:
Forcing yourself to wake up early
Photo via rawpixel.com
While waking up early is generally associated with increased productivity, there has to be a balance. There’s no need to wake up at the crack of dawn if that’s not who you are, especially if you have trouble sleeping or weren’t able to get your seven to eight hours of sleep. In order to wake yourself up earlier than usual, you have to start off with your bedtime routine, trying your best to go to bed a bit earlier while avoiding distractions and anything that might stand in the way of a restful night of sleep.
It’s natural to check your phone first thing in the morning; we all do it. But we should make an effort to avoid this, giving ourselves a few minutes of alone time, whether that’s meditating, brushing our teeth and face, taking a shower, having our coffee or reading something we enjoy. This small change in your routine can make a big difference in your day to day routines and the start of your day.
Multitasking
Photo by Christian Erfurt via Unsplash
It’s easy to start the day doing a little bit of everything, but multitasking is a time consuming activity where you don’t pay much attention to all you’re doing. Focusing on one activity for a period of time will help you get it done faster while also helping your brain absorb more information more efficiently.
Big days tend to be anxiety inducing, supported by sleepless nights and an inability to think about other things aside from what it is you’re supposed to do. This impulse is terrible for productivity, rendering you useless for most activities through your day. Even when nervous or when coping with a bunch of different things, try to find one moment of calm, whether that’s when you read some pages of a book for a half hour or you’re taking a few minutes of peace while you have your coffee.
Waking up right before an important task
Photo by Vlada Karpovich via Pexels
While it’s important to prioritize sleep, if you have an important task to do in the morning, the least advisable thing is to wake up right before you do it. It depends on the person, but the majority of people find success when they feel prepared. Wake up ahead of time and get ready in any way that works for you, whether that’s by taking a thoughtful shower, putting on make up or working out early in order to clear your head.
Netflix recently released Fast Laughs, which provides viewers with a TikTok like stream of funny clips. Here’s how it differs.
In a move that suggests a more interactive approach to streaming, Netflix is launching Fast Laughs on iOS. Fast Laughs is a TikTok like feature that provides a loop of funny clips to iPhone users of Netflix’s mobile app.
Per Netflix: “Fast Laughs offers a full-screen feed of funny clips from our big comedy catalog including films (Murder Mystery), series (Big Mouth), sitcoms (The Crew) and stand-up from comedians like Kevin Hart and Ali Wong. You access the feed through your bottom navigation menu by clicking on the Fast Laughs tab. Clips will start playing – when one ends another begins, to keep the laughs coming. ”
While the influence of TikTok looms large, there are some key differences between the two. Here are three ways in which Fast Laughs differs:
It’s a feature, not an app
Photo by Maxim Ilyahov via Unsplash
It’s important to note that while Fast Laughs works very much like TikTok, it’s a feature exclusive to Netflix mobile apps, which means you don’t have to download an additional app to experience it. If you have an iPhone, you should be able to find and launch the feature in the bottom navigation menu of your Netflix app.
There’s no social media aspect
Photo by Teddy Rawpixel/rawpixel.com
TikTok is a social media app, providing plenty of opportunities for interactions, likes, and more. While Fast Laughs allows for some reactions and emoji responses, it’s a feature primarily designed to promote comedy content and to encourage people to spend more time browsing the app and adding programs to their Netflix queue.
It’s exclusive to comedy content
Photo by bongkarn thanyakij via Pexels
Unlike TikTok, which provides users all sorts of content, with Fast Laughs, Netflix is all you get. The feature only provides funny clips of Netflix’s original programs, but soon it’ll include a wider range of comedy stand-up sets, shows, and films that are available on the app.
Netflix has toyed around with interactive experiences before, but Fast Laughs takes this further. It suggests that Netflix is interested in blending streaming with features of social media apps in order to find new ways of connecting users to new content.
“We wanted to give members a fun, fast, and intuitive way to discover our catalog by letting these comedic moments across genres speak for themselves in a mobile-native, full screen experience,” Netflix Product Designer Kim Ho told TechCrunch.
Streaming services have long battled with browsing and the ease in which people encounter and look for content. While Netflix is not great at this, they’re definitely not the worst when compared to competitors. Features like Fast Laughs blur the lines of streaming and social media, encouraging more viewership, the discovery of new content and facilitating the viewer experience. If successful, it’d be interesting to see where Netflix takes these ideas.
Here’s a realistic list of signs that may indicate that your teen has at least some interest in marijuana.
A nervous parent is probably going to scour the internet in search of articles about “ways to know if my kid is using marijuana,” only to find a bunch of pieces that sound as if they were written by a very out of touch high school guidance counselor.
Although some of the information out there on how to determine whether a teenager is smoking dope is legitimate, a lot of it is much too “after school special” for this day and age. Some of these articles indicate that kids are willing to disassemble parts of their parent’s houses to build marijuana smoking devices, while others suggest that teens are filling their rooms with air fresheners to mask the smell of weed.
What, what, what, what?
So, naturally, to combat the dated nature of this information, we felt the need to assemble a more realistic list of signs that may indicate that your teen has at least some interest in marijuana.
Look At Your Teen’s Eyes/Face
People who have been smoking marijuana often have a difficult time hiding the fact that they are stoned. Their eyes get all red and squinty and, depending on the magnitude of their buzz, their faces can sometimes more closely resemble a cartoon character than anything quite human. Experienced tokers learn over time how to hide their highness. They use eye drops to eliminate the redness, and they’ve learned how much weed they can smoke without getting so blasted that they fall apart at the seams. But teenagers still have a lot to learn about getting high before getting to this level.
So, if you find eye drops in their room or vehicle, that is a good sign that they are trying to hide something. Changes in their laughter (they are easily amused while alone in their room) could also be an indication.
But we’d like to point out that this is only part of the puzzle. Eye drops and increased laughter do not mean 100 percent that your kid is smoking marijuana. Maybe they have allergies or they’re just happy to be alive. So, bursting into their room and reading them the riot act over their marijuana use at this juncture is probably not the best approach. But maybe now is the time to pay closer attention to other behaviors.
Check Teen’s Laundry For Odors
Although there are all kinds of marijuana products on the market, smoking is still the most common consumption method. If you notice that your teen’s clothing smells like weed, this might also be a sign that they are using. But remember, this alone is not any reason to give them the third degree and start dishing out punishment.
Photo by Dương Nhân via Pexels
They could have been exposed to the herb while hanging out with friends but opted not to partake. Hey, it’s possible. Not every kid succumbs to peer pressure. But also, just because you don’t smell anything different on your teenager’s clothing doesn’t mean they aren’t getting high.
They could be using vapes or edibles, none of which have a pungent odor, making them difficult to detect. Look for vaping equipment and other smoking devices. It also never hurts to see what’s in their trash. In the mind of a teen, you’d never dig through their garbage to see what sort of miscreants they are becoming. But parents are like the CIA.
Watch How Your Teen Raids The Fridge
All teens eat like animals. They are growing, and their metabolisms are going buck wild. It is for this reason that kids always seem to be in the refrigerator looking for something to eat. They may have had dinner an hour ago, yet they are somehow hungry again. Still, one of the main side effects of marijuana is the munchies, so paying attention to their eating habits can sometimes be a tell. If they are making an extra sandwich from time to time, that’s probably nothing to worry about.
Photo by rawpixel.com
Remember, metabolisms gone wild! But if they start coming out of the kitchen with bizarre culinary creations (we always mixed peanut butter and marshmallow fluff), that may be a clue that they are ripped. The best way to find out for sure is to just call them out on it. When they sit down with a bowl of ice cream topped with Fruity Pebbles, just say, “What, are you high?” What happens next, the squirming, the paranoid shrieking might be all the evidence you need.
Just Have An Open Conversation About Marijuana
The most effective method for determining whether your teen is smoking marijuana (or is even thinking about it) is to have an open, honest and calm conversation about it. If you’ve established any kind of relationship with them over the years, chances are they will provide you with more information about their exposure to the herb than you could ever find trying to be the household detective. Teens are smart (although they don’t always act like it), so explaining to them how their actions could have repercussions is not beyond their comprehension. We believe showing teens that we are “on their side” is a better approach to parenting than flipping out.
Everyone makes mistakes, and none of us are perfect when it comes to following the rules. Help them understand that your aversion to their marijuana use is really just about ensuring that they have the best opportunities in life. Let’s get you through high school and then if you want to make marijuana a part of your world, so be it. But let’s at least make sure that you can get a decent enough job to afford it. Because mom and dad aren’t supporting anybody else’s weed habit except their own!
