My Trouble with Transitions

I have a confession to make; I struggle with transitions.

The sort of large, seismic changes in the status quo of my life. Unfortunately, this has happened several times in the past few years, between graduate school in New Jersey, my first professional job in Maine, and now my current gig outside of Washington, DC. I've had to move all my belongings, get used to a new area, find my spots for the usual stuff (groceries, haircuts, doctors, etc.), try to make new friends, and get used to a new job all at once. It's really hard for me, and I only recently became aware that this is something that really affects my mental health.

The first step to any solution is awareness, so I'm grateful to have figured this out about myself. I can work to do better as time goes on. Nevertheless, it was hard for me at the time for all the reasons I mentioned before, and I also just felt like I should be able to handle it better. I was hard on myself and put pressure on myself to do better and not struggle with it since other people seemingly were able to do it.

There are fallacies interlaid all over the place here. We often only see people highlight reels and never see and hear the full stories. Also, what is hard for one person may not be for another, so we can't get into this pissing contest or comparison with others about what we were able to handle and what we weren't. If something is hard for you, that is your own journey and it is a fair and valid issue to be going through. Also, don't feel like you have to go through it alone. Tell your manager, tell your friends, tell your family even if some of them aren't nearby anymore. Call them, text them, email them, whatever you see fit to make sure you're able to just vent, or perhaps ask for advice.

Change is hard, especially when it is of the large, life altering variety. If we equip ourselves to know what support we need and try to mitigate the impact on our lives, that is as much as we can do. I know for me, it takes a few months to get to a sense of "normalcy". I've been here in the DC area just about a year and I'm still finding my way around and discovering new things. Give yourself a break, and do your best. It will get better (and if it doesn't figure out what you can to not subject yourself to whatever is making you unhappy).

Thanks for stopping by!

The Arguments Every Gamer Has Had

If you’re a gamer, there are some arguments that you will most likely have had at one time or another. It’s not uncommon for gaming sessions to get heated and disagreements to arise. And sometimes the arguments are had with non-gamers too. Read on and see if you’ve ever had these arguments yourself. If you haven't, it’s only a matter of time before you do!

Which Final Fantasy Game is the Best?

This is a classic argument, and there are many other franchises that gamers argue over endlessly too. You could just as easily replace this with ‘Which Legend of Zelda Game is the Best?’ Or ‘Which Mario Game is the Greatest?’ But Final Fantasy holds a special spot in many people’s hearts, and there have been so many of them released over the years. Many people have tried to rank the games over the years, and this task in itself often results in arguments. It seems like everyone loves a particular Final Fantasy for a very specific reason. Perhaps that’s why there will never be a consensus on this issue.

PC vs. Console Gaming

PC gamers are known for being a little snobbish when it comes to their attitudes toward console gaming. They are not particularly sympathetic towards that style of gaming because they see PCs as being the truest form of gaming. If you’re new to all this, you can learn more about PC gaming at Level Up Your Gear. But most console gamers who have a friend who sticks steadfastly to PC gaming will probably have ad the argument over which is better at some point. There are some very strong views on both sides! Sometimes, it’s best to duck out of these arguments before they get too heated.

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Isn’t Gaming Just for Kids?

This is one of those things that non-gamers say that really annoys people who love games. It’s an accusation that’s been around for as long as gaming has. And it hasn’t become any less stupid as the years have passed. Gaming is for people of all kinds of ages. So, when someone tries to claim that games are only for kids, it’s no surprise that people who are passionate gamers feel a need to argue back and defend themselves. Unfortunately, this attitude sums up the way in which many people who know nothing about gaming see gamers in general.

The Nintendo Argument

Some people love Nintendo, and other people seem to hate the company. These two factions have been arguing back and forth for a long time. And that argument doesn’t look like it’s about to end anytime soon. When the Wii U failed spectacularly a few years ago, it looked like some people had a point. And many Nintendo fans worried for the future of the company. However, the early success of the Switch has made some people question their previous assumptions about Nintendo. But you can be sure that the arguments between the people on each side won’t end because of this.

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Taking Your PC Gaming Visuals to the Next Level

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Gaming graphics are constantly getting sharper and more photo-realistic. Without the right software and hardware, you may be missing out on the visual capabilities that new games have to offer. Whether you simply want to see each game in stunning high resolution or simply want a smoother frame rate so that you can react more sharply, here are some of the modifications worth making to your PC.

Upgrade your monitor

A decent monitor can help you to see opponents more sharply and clearly as well as truly testing out the graphic capability of each game you play. HD monitors were once the pinnacle of technology, but these have since been replaced by Ultra HD monitors – some reaching a staggering 8K pixel resolution. These latter screens are obviously very expensive and most HD monitors can do the job just as well. Sites such as Armchair Empire offer some great reviews on gaming monitors. These may help you choose the best monitor for you.

On top of size and resolution, many gamers are exploring options using multiple screens. One monitor can be used for gaming, whilst another can be used for showing leaderboards or options. Alternative setups allow you to play with an almost panoramic view made up multiple monitors.

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Improve your graphics card

By replacing your ordinary PC graphics card with a more high-end specialized one, you can obtain a greater frame rate as well making your resolution sharper. Graphics cards can vary in price with some selling under a hundred dollars and others such as the GTX Titan Z reaching over three grand. Your more expensive and finely tuned versions are better suited to those using screens with a resolution of 4k and above, or multiple monitors.

A cheaper option to buying a new graphics card is ‘overclocking’ it. This involves taking off limiters set by the manufacturer, enabling the graphics card to deliver higher visual frame rates. The risk of this is that it can cause overheating or damage to your hardware if you keep pushing the card beyond its capability. Only those with the technical know-how should attempt to do this to prevent breaking anything.

Optimize your settings with software

Many background processes may be using up memory and CPU processing power that could be better used for boosting your graphics. You may be able to manually manage these processes, although it may be easier to download optimization software such as Razer Cortex that can automatically handle such background processes whilst you game. Regularly de-fragging your computer can also help improve visual performance as well as updating drivers on your graphics card. On top of this make sure that your in-game setting are tweaked in order to get the highest performance possible.

Making Some Money on the Side

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It’s no secret that most people are tight when it comes to money, nowadays. Things cost more than ever. And, jobs are paying less and less. So, it’s hard for people to be able to afford the items that they buy in the shop; even the essentials. It doesn’t have to be this way, though. If you have a little bit of spare time, you could turn it into some good income. And, you don’t have to get another job to do it. This post will be taking you through some of the ways that you can start to make more money on the side.

Freelancing

One of the best ways to make money is through simple work. But, getting a job that only fills a small amount of time can be hard. Thankfully, there’s an answer to this issues, though. And, it means you can work for yourself; instead of someone else. Websites like Freelancer.com offer a platform for people to share work that they have available. People who want the jobs can bid on them. And, then, they complete them in their free time. This sort of work is great for people who have a lot of spare time. Or, people who need to make a good amount of money very quickly.

Of course, work like this comes with some downsides. You risk not getting paid if you don’t have a good contract in place. And, you have to find the work for yourself. Working for other people like this can be a challenge. In most places, you won’t have any rights under these sorts of circumstances. Instead, you’ll have to solve issues by yourself. For some people, it can be well worth the risks. But, some people will find it far too risky. It’s a decision you have to make for yourself.

Investment

If you don’t need money so fast, you can look into making some investments. This way, you’ll still see exactly how much you’re making. But, you’ll have to wait some time before you can access it to spend. For some, this will be a great way to ensure that they don’t spend their new money before they have enough to bet what they want. Or, it can be a way to make sure that you’re money stays secure while it grows.

Different investment options present different levels of risk. Of course, you won’t find anything completely risk-free. But, you can get very close. In most cases, the riskier the investment; the more money you’ll make from it. And, if something isn’t risky at all; you won’t make much from it. You have to do this research when you choose a new investment, though. Sometimes, things will be much riskier than their made out to be. And, this can present some big problems. Investments can result in huge loss. So, it’s very important to make sure that you know exactly what you’re risking before you get involved.

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Have some fun

These methods might be too boring for some people. And, this is important; you’re much less likely to stick to something unless you enjoy it. So, it’s worth looking at options that might provide you with some entertainment. One of the best ways to do this is through competition. Of course, you might struggle to become a pro-athlete. But, you can still enter competitions with cash prizes to get some income. Or, you could even look down the gambling route. People are able to make loads of money with a simple click here and there. And, it can be very fun.

Making money this way isn’t very reliable, unfortunately. A lot of people will be able to predict their win rates in competitive games. But, they won’t be able to make it into an exact science. So, you have to make sure that you won’t be in trouble if you don’t have the money that you get from these avenues. It’s easy to get trapped with something like this as your main source of money. But, this can be a very bad position to be in; especially if you have other people relying on you. Something like gambling has to be done in moderation. And, can’t be done as a primary source of entertainment.

Hopefully, this will give you the help you need to start making ends meet in a creative way. It can be hard to make enough money to cover the essentials as well as the nicer things in life. So, putting this effort can make life a lot easier for you. And, it could even make you better off.

Gaming on the Go

Everyone loves to play video games at home. A nice big 4K television accompanied by the latest consoles and a spacious sofa to share with your friends is perhaps the perfect environment for gamers. However, you might be a PC gamer, so a triple-monitor setup with a powerful gaming PC might be your idea of a fun night in. However, despite all of the expensive setups we invest money into for gaming at home, what about portable gaming?

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Handheld Gaming Consoles

If you remember the days of the Game Boy, then you’ll be glad to know that video game developers are still innovating and creating handheld consoles. For instance, the latest Nintendo console, the Nintendo Switch, is a new flagship gaming console that can also act as a portable gaming device. The unit consists of a screen and two control pads that clip onto the sides of the console itself. This means it can be hooked up to a TV but also act as a portable gaming device to take with you wherever you go.

This versatility makes it an excellent candidate for your next gaming console purchase. Sadly, the lineup of launch games is a little disappointing. Hopefully, the future will bring many more games that are convenient and fun to play in a handheld form factor.

However, that doesn’t mean older handhelds aren’t being supported. The Nintendo 3DS is still as popular as ever and, although the 3D mechanic turned into a marketing gimmick that had limited functionality in games, the lineup of games is as strong as ever and the price of the 3DS is getting cheaper by the year. If you don’t mind your handheld console being a little bulkier, the 2DS is a cheaper alternative to the 3DS and plays all of the same games.

Mobile Gaming

The alternate option is something that you probably already use on a regular basis—a smartphone! Although far more expensive than a gaming console, they are also much more convenient because they are smaller and you can use them for things other than gaming. For instance, you could use it to browse the internet, make phone calls, send and receive messages and listen to music, making it an all-in-one portable entertainment device.

The choice of games is also very enticing. You can check here if you want a great list of gambling games to get those money-on-the-line thrills wherever you are, or you can check a gaming website such as IGN or GameSpot for reviews of the latest big-name mobile games. There are also a lot of freemium games on mobile devices, meaning you can get a lot of entertainment for free and chose to pay for additional items or levels if you enjoy the game.

Sadly, a mobile phone is far more expensive than a handheld gaming device. If you already have a phone, you can enjoy some great mobile games but you’ll probably need an updated model if you want to play the latest 3D games and action-oriented titles. There are also some exclusive games for the traditional handhelds such as the Playstation Vita and Nintendo 3DS that might convince you to spend the cash on a portable gaming console.

How Visualization Can Help You Achieve Your Goals

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Whether it is at work or everyday life, we all want to hit our goals. Hitting goals is an important feature of success both internally and externally. The problem comes with outing the words into practice. Saying we are going to achieve what we want to achieve in life isn’t as simple as having a positive mental attitude. There are a lot of factors involved in hitting your goals, and visualization is one. Here’s how visualizing can help you walk the walk.

It Gives You A Map

The reason that achieving success is so hard is the lack of a starting point. When we think of anything that is hard in life we often find that we don’t know where to start. Not only that, but we have no clue how we should start. The average person needs a map to success because a map is a directional tool. Visualization is that map, or at least it is the starting point that we all crave. When we visualize what we want, we think and plan in our mind’s eye. That plans morphs into something tangible that we can put into practice. It is only a small change yet it makes all the difference.

Humans Work Better With Imagery

It isn’t uncommon to hear someone say they work better when they can picture it in their head. The truth is that most people will agree with this statement because that’s the way our brains are wired. Sure, some people can do it without a picture, but they are in the minority. When we see something clearly in our mind, we instantly know what moves to make. That’s why marketing pitches include slide show presentations and models with 3D people. They are projecting their ideas onto the rest of the group by showing them the relevant images.

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It Seems Real

The pictures in our head not only seem real, but they are also real. At least, they are real to us or the closest thing we can get to reality. Humans don’t deal well with fake things because they are easy to see and disprove. It’s one of the reasons people with surgery get so much bad press. What we can’t disprove, or don’t want to, is what we see in our heads. And because it seems real we are happy to try our hardest to bring it into the real world. Anyway, who says it isn’t real? After all, our reality is what we decide in our heads.

We’re Told It Works

We have been told for the past few years that visualizing is the key to success. The more it is drilled into the brain, the more we believe it to be true. An accredited psychologist could tell you that everything you have heard about visualization is false and it doesn’t work. Even then you wouldn’t be one hundred percent convinced they were right.

And maybe they wouldn’t be right because what works for us isn’t false.

Bits and Bytes: Why You Should Build a Gaming Rig

If you want to build a gaming PC, there's never been a better time. In fact, if you want to game - it's never better to do it than right now!

So it begs the question - why should you build your own gaming rig if there are plenty of options to purchase in the form of a pre-made PC or console? You can get into your gaming right away!

Well - prebuilt gaming rigs are subject to huge markups. Usually double, in fact. Check the components of the best gaming rigs you can buy right now and there's a stone cold guarantee that you could put the parts for cheaper and put the thing together yourself. In no uncertain terms - you'll pay less and get the same - especially if you were looking to buy a PC from a brand name.

Prebuilt PC's do have their benefits though, as not everyone has the time to build a computer from scratch. It can be quite scary on paper - but it is very similar to playing with building blocks. All the components slot into the motherboard and just need to be hooked up. Of course you'll need a screwdriver here and there but it sounds a lot scarier than it is. Just make sure you know what components work on your system.

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Building a PC is also good as the PC is far more transparent than consoles. If a console breaks down, it needs to be sent off in order to be fixed. If your PC fails, you can simply fix the issue with a new component or work around. It's good to get your hands dirty. Shopping for parts that you need will ensure that you do your research. You'll be the expert and know the PSU that has the best lifespan or the graphics card unit that can run your favorite games. This knowledge is valuable and will allow you to solve your own issues with the computer instead of the quick fix presented by buying a computer that can't be opened up easily. Research from the ultimate guide to choosing the best and perfect monitor for gaming right through to finding out what RAM setup is best for your specification is a great way to learn more. There are plenty of issues that come with fixing your own PC, but because you have handled each part, you'll be the master of it and know exactly how it works.

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Of course, building your own computer allows you to build to your exact specifications. Maybe you don't want the brand name computer thats costs one thousand extra because of some lights or a unique case? Building your own PC allows you to spend on what you want and pay more for the components that you value more. You aren't restricted in scope.

Building your own gaming PC is also incredibly satisfying. Once you pile all your components into the case, start it up and play your games - just know that you, and you only, made it all possible.

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Turn Your Experise Into Cash

People tend to get trapped into believing that the only way to make money is by getting up, going to work, and bringing home the bacon. Well we’re here to tell you: that is complete nonsense. Being told “follow your dream” or “turn your passion into your job” might sound like cliched, unhelpful advice, it isn’t a million miles away from the truth. Because the truth is that anybody, absolutely anybody can take what they love and make money from it. We’re not saying you’ll become a millionaire (though dream big!), but if you’ve got a passion that you know others also enjoy, you could build a sizable side income that could one day become a full time gig. Sound good? Of course it does! Here’s how it’s done.

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Helping out the Newbies

Most people go to a tutor to help with their English or Science or whatever else, but they also need help getting better at whatever their passion is. No, forget that - they want help. It can be anything from language to guitar to helping a would-be Hemingway improve his or her creative writing skills. If you live in a busy urban area, post an ad around town and in the shops related to your activity. Charging by the hour for a few hours a week can bring in a healthy monthly top up to your income.

On the Web

If your passion is travelling, then why on earth have you not started a travel blog? In all likelihood, you have a ton of knowledge about how to get to A from B cheaply, the best hotels to stay in during a trip to Prague, the absolutely most amazing ship trips you can take in South America, and so on. People who want to travel want to read that stuff, and before they’re on their own adventures, they’re reading it a lot - online! Make yours the site they get the info from.

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Make it to Print

You don’t have to sit around waiting for a book publisher to give you a deal: do it yourself! By releasing a book to the world, you can make a passive income that most people would take as their full time wage. If you’re an expert on, say, World of Warcraft, then put down all your knowledge into a few chapters, get an online book printing quote, and get it out there for all the other World of Warcraft obsessives to buy.

And...No Imposter Syndrome, Please

There are plenty of people out there who think “but I can’t write a book/start a blog/sell my expertise, there are others out there better than me…”. Maybe there are, but they’re not the ones taking a proactive approach: you are. In the process of getting your expertise out there, you’ll learn that you really do have a lot to offer on the subject, especially if it's been your passion for years and years. In any case, you shouldn’t care if you’re suffering from imposter syndrome - so long as the money keeps rolling in and people love what you’re doing!

3 RTS Games You Need to Try

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For most people, it’s easy enough to start playing an FPS (first person shooter) and hit the ground running. Any old brute can get used to a certain gun, or the trajectory of a grenade, then rush into the chaos of battle and do a fairly good job of it. However, RTS (real time strategy) games take a lot more brainpower, and a careful application of foresight and tact. If you’re more of a general than cannon fodder, here are three amazing strategy games to try.

Civilization VI

Often referred to simply as “Civ Six” this is the latest title in one of the most successful RTS series in history. This 25th anniversary installment of the series carries on the legacy from the previous titles, bringing us a potent, epic soundtrack and beautiful (albeit cartoonish) graphics which will turn your humble gaming desk into an ancient general’s observation post. If you’ve played any of the previous civ titles, you certainly won’t be disappointed by how attentive they’ve been with the gameplay. Having said that, there’s still a few offbeat new innovations, like builders that will expire after three turns, and cities that can be spread over multiple tiles.

Offworld Trading Company

If you’re very experienced with the RTS niche, and you want something that challenges you in a different way, then Offworld Trading Company could be the perfect title for you. While the Civ games are focussed mainly on our history here on earth, Offworld, as you’ve probably guessed, is a sci-fi title, and takes place on our red neighbor: Mars. If you need some action in your strategy games to stay engaged, you may want to give this game a miss. Offworld isn’t focussed so much on sending hordes of monstrous tanks into battle and demolishing bases. Instead, you achieve victory by managing your stocks of weapons, resources and cash in order to manipulate the market and decimate your competitors. You can make alliances and set up benevolent trade agreements, sure. However, if you want your company to survive in this cold and ruthless future where capitalism is everything, you’re going to have to do a little back-stabbing sooner or later!

XCOM 2

XCOM 2 is one of the all-time greats of the strategy genre, and if you enjoyed the previous installments of the series, you’ll have even more fun with this. XCOM 2 manages to combine all the best features from the previous games – the sense of a desperate upheaval, the ragtag band of heroes, the ruthless alien hordes – and improves every last one of them massively! Once again, you play as the commander of six soldiers who you send in to breach a given target. This time, however, it has much more of a guerrilla feel to it, as you play as survivors under the boot of a tyrannical alien dictatorship. The game has a bigger focus on dissidence and sabotage this time around, and even if you’ve never been all that into stealth tactics, I urge you to give this title a try. The whole XCOM fan base has been raving about it!

Book Review: "Give and Take"

"... when concern for others is coupled with a healthy dose of concern for the self, givers are less prone to burning out and getting burned—and they’re better positioned to flourish."

As a part of my professional development plan for 2017, I decided to finally read Give and Take by Adam Grant. I've been recommended this book several times by several different people so I figured it'd be good to get around to actually reading it. I'm so glad I did. I really enjoyed this book. I felt like it was speaking to me at just the right moment as I work to move up and grow in a very different work environment. There is so much good stuff in this book so the short version of this review is me telling you to go out there and get this book now. Here's the long version:

Through a series of interview, stories, and studies, Grant explores the idea that being a "giver" is the best way for someone to get ahead versus the popular notion that we all need to be ruthless "takers". Across all different industries, this theory holds to be true, and Grant gives objective evidence to back it up, much from his own experience as well as that of others. He also gives helpful advice on how to overcome common hurdles for givers, like negotiating, being assertive, and avoiding burnout.

"This is what I find most magnetic about successful givers: they get to the top without cutting others down, finding ways of expanding the pie that benefit themselves and the people around them. Whereas success is zero-sum in a group of takers, in groups of givers, it may be true that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts."

In a world where we're experiencing vast complex hardships, fear, and our social capital is at an all time low, I feel like this book is something we all need to read now more than ever. We can make a better world for all if we work together, trust one another, and build bridges, not walls.

"When people assume that others aren’t givers, they act and speak in ways that discourage others from giving, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy."

"Givers reject the notion that interdependence is weak. Givers are more likely to see interdependence as a source of strength, a way to harness the skills of multiple people for a greater good."

I hope you read this book and integrate more giving into your life in however you see fit.

Thanks for stopping by!