Why do I need a learning plan and how do I create one? In the following, we will show you in steps why you should definitely create your personal online learning plan and which tips and tricks it will lead you to success in school and study.

Goal setting with a learning plan

Why do I need a study plan?

Today’s school system with an infinite number of exams, projects, exams, and high school diplomas makes everyday life for students extremely hectic. We’ve all been in a situation where you often feel like you don’t have enough time to prepare for the exam. How do you proceed in such a case?

Numerous feedbacks that we have received from students and teachers show: Creating a learning plan will make your stressful life more structured and therefore easier.

We recently researched on Twitter how pupils and students report about their daily learning experience and what makes them more successful at school. Not surprisingly, in many of the communications, we ended up with a learning plan that students create for their exam preparation. For example, below is a student’s study plan.

Your online learning plan is accessible from anywhere

The paper study plan above looks excellent and we wish you good luck with your learning! But the digital version of the learning plan will make your life even more beautiful.

Nowadays you don’t have to carry a thick notebook with you anymore. For your learning notes and all other learning materials such as index cards or mind maps can the network using various tools easily created, saved, and used later.

But not only school information, but also online learning plans prove to be very practical. Imagine you’re on the road right now and you know that there is still something to be learned today for your maths exam, which will take place very soon (oh no, next week, right?) Your paper study plan hangs comfortably at home next to your desk …

To-do list

Before you give up the idea of ​​learning for today and maybe skip the planned chapter of the math book, take a look at your online study plan! Then you can see if the chapter can be moved for later, but on the same day, and you can quickly make the necessary changes online.

If you are a big fan of the print, you can also print out the weekly or monthly schedule and hang it up in your favorite place in your room. In an online learning plan, you can also make notes on what has already been done or perhaps not yet done, and thus always keep an eye on your success and your duties.

How do I create an effective learning plan?

Again we heard on Twitter that some pupils and students would like to know how to create a good and realistic study plan.

First of all, what you have to consider in your stressful everyday life: You have very little time after school for a long study. Because if you have other obligations and, for example, attend a sports or language course in the evening, there may be time left for upcoming homework. Then of course you want to have fun with friends from time to time, watch films or play video games. Then when do you actually learn?

You should allow yourself at least half an hour for the exam every day, as soon as the exam date is known. And how do you stick to it? Preferably with a clear learning plan!

In your learning calendar, enter all the compulsory lessons that you have to be in school or other courses and then mark the times you want to dedicate to studying. Don’t forget to keep your plan up to date. For example, if you have a sudden doctor’s appointment or an important school project, you should record it right away. Your learning plan shouldn’t be overly cramped either, because it is important to set realistic goals. Be flexible if the already planned learning time has to be postponed forwards or backward in the day.

In case you need a home tuition teacher to help you in your schoolwork, or perhaps your leaning plan, you can engage one from a reliable tuition agency. The private tuition rates are normally quite affordable, do check the rate first before you make a decision to hire a private tutor.

It’s been a turbulent 10 years if you’ve been following the tabloid press talk about Rachael Ray’s weight control as a Chef, TV Show Host, and a celebrity who has been always in the limelight and living life to the full. Her weight and health journey is fascinating because it typifies the experience of so many men and women these days. Read on while we look back at events, as portrayed in the media.

Rachael Ray’s Weight Loss Secrets – How Did The Celeb Chef Lose 40 Pounds?

Rachael lost her body weight with the help of exercise and time spent in her gym. She used a proper diet and must have kept to it very well. Many people were and still are, inspired by her weight loss methods. But, even better she avoided putting that weight back-on for many years.

Rachael Ray’s Weight Gain – How It All Started

Her relatable, down-to-earth, girl-next-door personality is just part of what makes Ray so iconic. While some celebs became famous seemingly through sheer luck, Ray’s ascent to the top seemed almost inevitable when you look at how hard she worked to achieve her dreams.

After 2009 her body had become heavier or “plus-size” due to throat surgery, but she did an amazing job at losing weight while also keeping fit. Unlike so many, she successfully stabilized her weight for at least 5 years, and in 2014 she was again looking in her best form. Seeing this, many of her fans and followers started seeking the tips and tricks that had helped Rachael Ray reduce her body weight in such a perfect way.

Weight Loss Advice: Rachael Ray Weight Control

She truly works the machines to apply her weight control routine. She sees them as being similar to the playground equipment in almost all play areas. Then, she does what she calls her “bendy-stretchy” and goes home. That hour at the gym is her break from being Rachael Ray, she says. 

I have tons of meal ideas include those which are a result of Rachael Ray’s weight control and “what I eat videos” that all contain healthy recipes that are most importantly very tasty as well. Your diet is one of the most crucial parts of shedding. Focus most of your meals on high-quality, lean protein such as fish, chicken, turkey, eggs, or Greek yogurt. You’ll still be drinking plenty of water, getting lots of rest, and eating clean. Bulking is a common method of adding muscle mass in bodybuilding. To get shredded, gradually limit the number of carbohydrates from your diet. I get a shredded workout and diet plan. The bare-minimum-diet-to-lose-weight what is the daily shred diet and why does it work so fast? The daily shred diet is a rapid fat burning program that combines macronutrient manipulation, cycle sequencing, and other “advanced methods” of eating that run in 4-day cycles.

Most of us would agree that it always feels good being out in nature. But what does the research say? Is it really healthier? This article discusses what researchers in The Netherlands have found out about the health benefits of “going green”.

A short walk or just hours wandering through nature, growing vegetables together in a community vegetable garden or working in an office full of plants: green feels good. And: green is good. Contact with nature increases happiness and reduces stress.

It promotes vitality, creativity and stimulates encounters between people. Researchers from Wageningen University & Research are therefore working on various Green for Health projects.

For example, ‘We discovered that the greener the living environment in poor neighborhoods, the fewer children aged five to twelve use ADHD medication’.

When in the 1980s the effect between green space and health was investigated, the results were so remarkable that the top science magazine (1984) made room for them. The American Roger Ulrich showed that patients who had a view of green trees after gallbladder surgery recovered faster than those who looked out on a stone wall.

This study was the starting shot for many studies into the healing powers of nature. Dutch research also shows that people who live in green areas feel healthier more often and are sick less often. Green reduces stress, for example because seeing nature alone has a calming effect.

Green encourages encounters between people and provides more varied play for children

says researcher Sjerp de Vries. For example, children in green neighbourhoods are fifteen percent less likely to be overweight.

Green and use of ADHD medication among children

The greener the living environment, the fewer children aged five to twelve use ADHD medication. Together with two research institutes in the field of health, the NIVEL and the Julius Centre (UMC), Wageningen University & Research studied the relationship between how green the living environment is and the use of ADHD medication such as Ritalin. Data from the Achmea Health Database on almost 250,000 children were used. The living environment is defined as a circle with a radius of 250 meters around the house.

The greener the living environment, the lower the incidence of ADHD medication use within this age group. The relationship turned out to be strongest in the poorest neighbourhoods and absent in the richest neighbourhoods (based on the REV (Real Estate Value) value of the homes).

The results are therefore consistent with those of other research in which the relationship between the presence of green space and health was also found to be stronger with a lower socio-economic status.

Green in the living environment

But not everyone has easy access to a garden, park or street green. Researcher Jan Hassink: ‘For vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and people with a low socio-economic status, the use of greenery is important. It improves their health and well-being. Access to green space can contribute to reducing socio-economic health differences.

These are differences in health and mortality between people with a high and people with a lower (socio-economic) position in society. But the latter group often has less access to green space. And the quality and maintenance level of green space in their living environment is often lower, so the effect of green space is probably also lower’.

In Arnhem and Nijmegen the researchers are therefore looking at how, together with residents, they can make vulnerable neighbourhoods greener in such a way that all residents come into contact with greenery and actively use it.

Researcher Lenneke Vaandrager is project leader of the PARTIGAN consortium: ‘We are investigating how residents use and value parks. We are following redevelopment projects in which streets are made greener. And we want to know how residents experience green civic initiatives: we measure the effect on health and well-being.

Think, for example, of a neighbourhood vegetable garden, set up by the residents themselves, where they roll up their sleeves together and prepare meals using vegetables and herbs from their own garden.

What do we expect? That when people work in the vegetable garden, they get more social contacts, experience less stress and feel healthier. They will also live healthier lives because they are more active and eat healthier food’.

Healthy greenery in and around schools

It is not only in Arnhem and Nijmegen that residents may be more actively involved with nature and eat healthier food. Children in Amsterdam see apples and pears growing in the orchard on a daily basis and are allowed to help maintain the trees and harvest the fruit themselves.

Here, Wageningen University & Research is involved in Fruit4Schools, an initiative that brings social institutions, parents and children into contact with healthy food in a playful and above all natural way. Primary and secondary schools, local businesses, municipalities and other interested parties work together so that fruit can be produced on schoolyards.

Project leader Marc Ravesloot: ‘This is linked to environmental education: the children eat the cultivated fruit in the classrooms, if necessary supplemented by the local greengrocer. In this way, children and their parents become more aware of how our daily food is produced and what the influence of healthy food is on a healthy lifestyle’.

A healthy lifestyle also includes plenty of exercise. Several schools are therefore undergoing a metamorphosis into “Healthy Schoolyard”. A square where you can hide in the bushes, where you can climb over tree trunks or stomp into puddles with your boots. In short: where children have the space to play in a challenging and green environment.

Together with TNO, Wageningen University & Research has conducted research into the effect of this redesign at four primary schools. The researchers looked at the degree of physical activity, cognitive functioning, the social climate on the square and in the classroom and, more generally, the socio-emotional well-being of the children.

The outcome: according to the children there is less bullying on the square and fewer children are on the side during the break. This is probably mainly due to the greater variety that the new squares offer.

Green healthy care

Several schools exchange the grey tiles for plants and trees. This also happens in health care. Jan Hassink: ‘For example, clients work at care farms, 1200 of which are already in the Netherlands. They feed the animals or work in the vegetable garden. The farmers and farmers’ wives provide the care. The peace and quiet and the space of the countryside contribute to the well-being of these people: they experience less stress, fear or pain.

These activities are popular with different groups of clients such as people with mental disabilities or psychological problems, vulnerable elderly and young people with behavioural and emotional problems. In this way they can take part in society in a meaningful way’.

The researchers want to know how participants and their informal carers experience this form of care. Where participants used to be cared for in care institutions, nowadays care mainly takes place at home. This is only possible if informal carers are relieved, for example by the availability of appropriate day care. Together with stakeholders, we look at the effective principles and points for attention and improvement, which we jointly translate into a quality framework for care agriculture,’ says Hassink.

A meaningful daytime activity is also important for people living at home with dementia and their carers. According to Vaandrager, it is still a problem to find something suitable. When looking for day care, you quickly end up with games and coffee.

Many people with dementia actually benefit from something else. They become happier when they are active, spend a large part of the day outside and choose for themselves what to do. We see that in the city recently several green initiatives are popping up: from gardening to caring for animals.

Because this is a relatively new way of spending the day, little is known about the diversity and value of these green initiatives. The aim of our research is to investigate the characteristics of green initiatives in urban areas and to find out what the significance of these green initiatives is for people with dementia and their carers’.

Green and city heat

Green also makes us feel comfortable on a hot summer day in the city. A good and dispersed amount of city green combats city heat. PhD student Wiebke Klemm studied the contribution of city green to so-called thermal comfort: how (un)pleasant the interplay of temperature, wind, humidity and radiation feels. Her conclusion is clear: ‘Urban green ensures that we feel ‘thermally’ pleasant.

In our experience, water or the shade of buildings does not match the cooling effect of trees. The measurement data we have gathered from cycling around with two cargo bikes full of measuring equipment also show that green spaces are the cooling islands in a city.

Ten percent more tree cover, for example, results in a radiation temperature that is more than three degrees lower. Climate change will increase the heat in cities and thermal comfort will become increasingly important in the design of outdoor spaces’.

Green and indoor environment

The air we breathe outdoors on such a sunny day is often of better quality than the air indoors. It is often downright bad. This is due to poor ventilation, high CO2 concentrations and volatile substances emitted by, for example, floor coverings, wall panels or electronic equipment. Sick building syndrome was first mentioned in the 1980s.

Unhealthy indoor air causes health complaints such as headaches, irritation of mucous membranes or allergies. Project leader Tia Hermans: ‘Healthy air is important for a good learning climate for children and a good working climate for employees. The more CO2 there is in the air, the harder it is to concentrate. With green plants, you can purify the indoor air and increase work pleasure’.

Green rehabilitation for young workers with burnout

Burnout is becoming more and more common among young people between 18 and 35 years of age. Costs due to work-related stress-related absenteeism in the Netherlands amount to around €1.8 billion. Recent research shows that green rehabilitation programmes, such as hiking coaching, can reduce burnout complaints and promote reintegration.

At the same time, there are still many questions about the effectiveness of the programmes and working mechanisms, as a result of which health insurers do not recognise this form of care. The goal of Roald Pijpker’s PhD research is therefore to identify mechanisms that can explain the rehabilitation of young workers with burn-out.

In addition, it will be investigated whether programmes built on these mechanisms are actually effective. If the results are positive, the evaluated programme will be submitted to the Healthy Life Window in order to make green rehabilitation a recognized (effective) intervention available to professionals and policy makers.

Working in a green oasis therefore has its advantages: it brings moisture into the air, plants can clean the air and create a fine environment. Wageningen University & Research carried out research at three locations, where a control and intervention space were compared.

This gave striking results: after planting and hanging plants, the relative humidity improved by an average of five percentage points, in winter even by seventeen percentage points. People rated the workplace as more attractive.

The mood of employees is more positive after planting and they are more positive about their own functioning. Employees report sick less often – the drop is twenty percentage points – and people’s recovery needs are unexpectedly higher after planting.

Hermans: ‘These results are promising. That’s why research is currently being done at ten locations into the introduction of plants’ business case. After all, less artificial climate control (energy savings) or improved employee performance (labour productivity) or lower absenteeism due to sickness can result in economic savings.

A green office environment can also create an image advantage for a company and make it easier to recruit customers or staff, or to retain staff. The results of this project will be delivered in 2021′.

Health Risks

In addition to all the benefits, making the living environment greener can entail health risks. Think of the explosive increase of the oak processionary caterpillar or the fact that 1 in 5 tick bites are already contracted in the city.

The city is also experiencing increasing problems with water quality due to longer warm periods, causing the blue-green algae problem to increase. Researcher Bertram De Rooij: ‘Not to forget, more green also means more pollen. In urban areas there is a strong interaction between air quality and pollen, which makes hay fever problems worse’.

There are also indirect health risks in and around the urban environment related to greenery in public spaces or on and around buildings, such as fire safety.

Together with, among others, the Institute for Physical Safety and the Netherlands Fire Brigade, Wageningen is working on an integrated approach to natural fire (prevention), which now also focuses on the relationship with the urban area.

De Rooij: ‘Despite the risks, we have to be especially positive about green. In the coming years, we are going to take up the challenge of reversing the potential risks and combining them with the major positive effects of green space in order to arrive at clear, integral management and design principles. We want to interest more people in green space. After all, green space can be used in many fantastic ways’.

Research:

https://www.wur.nl/nl/show-longread/Groen-goed-voor-de-gezondheid.htm

In this article you can read about the effect of linseed on your digestion, bowel movements, cholesterol, blood sugar, skin, hair and nails. You’ll also discover whether linseed accelerates (or counteracts) weight loss.

Nowadays linseed can be found in almost all nature shops and large supermarkets. Read this article and decide for yourself if you want to add linseed to your diet. At the end of this article you will find 6 ways to eat more flaxseed, and you will get a tip to improve your skin and hair with flaxseed.

What is flaxseed? (linseed)

The nutritional value of linseed

1. 55 calories
2. 0.2 grams of carbohydrates, of which
3. – 0.2 grams of sugars
4. 2 grams of protein
5. 4 grams fat
6. 2.8 grams of fibre

Vitamins and Minerals:

1. Vitamins and minerals:
2. Vitamin B1: 11% RDA
3. Vitamin B2: 1% RDA
4. Vitamin B3: 2% RDA
5. Vitamin B6: 2% RDA
6. Vitamin B11 (folic acid): 2% RDA
7. Calcium: 3% RDA
8. Magnesium: 10% RDA
9. Potassium: 2% RDA
10. Zinc: 3% RDA
11. Manganese: 13% RDA
12. Iron: 3% RDA

The health benefits of linseed:

Promotes digestion and bowel movements:

Reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease:

Due to the high content of omega 3 fatty acids, linseed promotes the ratio of omega 6 to omega 3. This reduces the risk of various chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Lowers cholesterol:

Prevents hot flashes:

Improves blood sugar balance:

Linseed is good for skin, hair and nails:

Supports weight loss:

Flaxseed is rich in antioxidants:

How and for what can you use linseed?

Linseed is for sale in various forms: as whole seeds, ground seeds or as oil. You can use the different forms of linseed in various ways and in various dishes. For example, you can add it to your diet by incorporating it in soups, salads, sandwiches, casseroles or bread.

1. Eat linseed with your breakfast: Get your metabolism going by adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of linseed to your breakfast. Mix it with your oatmeal or yoghurt, for example. Flaxseed contains a lot of fibre and also provides you with the energy you need. Because the energy is released slowly, you can benefit from it for a long time.

Some tips:

If your washing machine won’t drain or spin, either something is stuck in the washing machine drain hose or pump, the pump is broken, or it sensed an imbalance when it started spinning.

If a washer won’t drain or spin, most of the time the fix is simple. We describe here the methods you can use to troubleshoot this problem. The solutions given here are the common cures for a domestic front-loading washing machine. Always switch off the appliance first, and unplug it before doing any work.

What to Do When Your Washing Machine Won’t Drain

If your washing machine has stopped with visibly a lot of water still in it, you will need to drain it before you can remove the washing.

The first action is to unplug the machine and empty the water. With a front-loading machine, you won’t be able to simply bail the water out of the tub, as you would for a top-loading machine.

You will need to drain the tub using gravity. Do this by placing the washer drain hose on the floor near a floor drain, or in a bucket/ washing-up bowl. Remove the stopper and progressively fill the bucket or bowl and emptying the contents, until no water is visible in the tub.

Clamp or stopper the hose to prevent any remaining water from running out while you empty the receptacle each time. Once the washer’s empty, open the door and remove the wet washing wring-out and dry your garments in any way possible. Finally, clamp or stopper the hose as it was before you started before plugging the appliance in again.

The Most Common Causes of a Washing Machine Won’t Drain or Spin

1. The load is unbalanced

Most of the time the tub stops spinning because the load is unbalanced. Sometimes you will have noticed the sound of the machine starting a spin cycle, only to make a clonking noise and then stop. If it stops very quickly there may be water still in the tub. Another tell-tale is that the machine may even have moved slightly from its normal position.

If so, and there is no standing water above the door cill, wait until the machine has been idle for a minute or two and the safety mechanism releases the door.

Open the spinner door and remove any especially heavy item which may have been causing the imbalance. You may need to dry that item by hanging it out to dry. If the imbalance was due to there being only one heavy item in the spinner at the time, you may also need to dry it in the air.

Sometimes adding another item, or several more items will balance the spin. If you have more washing to do, you might consider adding the item which caused the imbalance to a subsequent spin load with other garments.

2. There is an excess of foamy suds

Excessive foam could be caused by soft water or too much detergent. It usually happens when you add the wrong amount of washing powder, so refer to the instructions on the detergent bottle. The reason that a washing machine with excess foam may fail to pump out can be that the bubbles of foam get inside the pump, and the pump isn’t designed to pump bubbles.

You may be able to continue the wash by rinsing out the tub with clean water while draining it out via the pump hose, as described above. But, as this can be a long-winded process it’s probably better to just empty the tub, remove the wash-load, rinse out excess detergent by hand, replace the load and start the wash cycle again.

3. The drain hose is clogged, kinked or frozen

This problem is self-explanatory, and is something to look out for and put right:

• when opening the pump access panel from the front below the tub door where the hose is visible, and
• by inspection of the drain hose behind the washing machine.

4. The pump itself is clogged 

Washing machine pumps can get clogged with grit from a very dirty wash, very old decayed fabric may sometimes disintegrate, or plastic particles may build-up in the pump mechanism.

If this occurs it will become apparent when trying to drain the tub, as described above. In this situation, the gravity flow out through the drain hose below the pump is slow or non-existent. If so, the remedy is to consult the washing machine manufacturer’s manual to see how to remove the pump case.

With the case removed you will be able to gain access to the inner workings of the pump and rinse or pull the material causing the clog out. Before any machine repair always be sure to unplug the machine first though.

5. The pump is damaged or broken

If the impeller inside the pump is damaged you can usually tell by reaching your fingers inside and feeling for broken impeller blades. Or, if the pump leaks or makes an unusual noise, you’ll have to replace it.

In this case, it is possible for competent DIY’ers to remove the pump screws that hold the pump to the washer, purchase a new washing machine water pump, and install it. But, if in doubt engage a qualified plumber.

Keeping Washing Machine Problems to a Minimum

To keep any home washing machine working the longest with the least problems, always operate your washing machine in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. What many people don’t appreciate though is that you should also clean your washing machine once in a while. 

If all else fails, or you simply don’t wish to troubleshoot in the manner described above, don’t punish yourself any further. Get an appliance repair done by an expert. Schedule a repair with a skilled plumber such as the plumbers in Glasgow Southside or a washing machine repair and servicing specialist.

Keeping fit is an essential part of our lives every single day. Fitness keeps you healthy, keeps your heart performing and helps you lose weight to look your best. There are many ways that you can incorporate fitness into your everyday life. The article below is filled with tips that you can use as a fitness starting point.

Finding your target heart rate can make your workouts more effective. The target heart rate is the heart rate at which your body is using the most oxygen, and therefore burning the most calories. Ideally your target rate is approximately 60 percent of your maximum rate. You can get a rough calculation of your maximum heart rate by subtracting your age from the number 220.

A great way to get fit is to start eating more vegetables. Vegetables are packed with essential vitamins and nutrients and if you aren’t eating enough, you aren’t doing your body any favors. An easy way to make sure you’re eating enough vegetables is to just toss a handful of them into a salad.

Every time you do abdominal exercises, make sure to do back exercises as well. If you do so, you won’t have back pain–too many abdominal exercises can cause back pain and poor posture. Don’t focus on one body area and neglect other areas, make sure to have a balanced workout.

One very important tip for living healthy is to get an adequate amount of exercise. You should aim to do both aerobic training and strength training at least three times per week. Doing both of these can help reduce cardiovascular risk, obesity, and diabetes. Exercise has also been proven to reduce stress and depression.

Just because you may have hurt one arm doesn’t mean you need to stop exercising your other arm. Research shows that people who worked out only one arm for two weeks were able to make their hurt arm stronger by up to ten percent. When you work one arm, you are actually sending a message to the muscle nerve fibers of the opposite arm.

If you’re using a personal trainer, pay them in advance. If you pay them now you’re more likely to stick with the work since you won’t want to have wasted that money. If you only pay the trainer at the session, you’ll be more likely to give up since you won’t have spent anything.

Sprinters can easily and quickly increase their speed by adding targeted workouts for their hamstring muscles. To begin, start with a traditional leg curl. When you begin to pull the weight lower, however, concentrate on flexing your feet and toes away from your body. This simple step increases the workload on your hamstrings.

You can easily improve the quality and effectiveness of shoulder presses by concentrating on only one arm at a time. Perform two or three sets of ten reps with your left arm, then switch and do the same with your right arm. Even when you are using only one arm, your body is sending messages to stimulate the muscle fibers in the other arm.

When pursuing your fitness goals it is essential that you cut out the excuses. Excuses will cause you to fail. You should schedule a time to work out and follow through on it. Even if you only exercise for a few minutes, this is better than not working out at all.

Avoid trying to hack a basketball down when trying to take it from an opponent to avoid a foul. Instead try flipping the ball upward from underneath. This is more of a subtle, yet surprising technique that your opponent will most likely not see coming. It’s also much easier to grab it from a height than from the ground.

Walk to lunch. If you work in an office environment, try walking to lunch at a place at least five minutes away. That way, after you’ve eaten and returned to work, you will have also done a nice 10 minute walk which can be healthy for your state of mind and body as well.

Keep fitness integrated into your life by following some simple tips and tricks. The article above mentioned some great ideas that you can choose to use as your own. You can switch up the ways you keep fit and there is no right or wrong way when it comes to fitness.