One of the shocking and scary scenarios is to lose your job. Losing a job means you lose a recurring stream of income to pay your bills, rent, food, mobile and transportation. Being sudden out of job could be caused by mass lay off, firing, bankruptcy and downsizing. Losing a job means you lose the financial support that lets you live in dignity. But losing a job is not the end as you can still make ways to reduce the negative impact of unemployment while looking for a new job.  Get a side income Getting a side income such as part-time or freelance work can help you in three ways. First, you earn money while you are looking for a full-time job or while you’re learning to enhance/add your skills. Second, you’ll get the temporary experience that can fill up your time in order to avoid unemployment gaps. Third, you may be absorbed into the company as they may or might offer full-time positions. Freelance and part-time jobs can help you survive (buy food, pay utilities, pay rents) while you are actively pursuing a full-time job. Such incomes should let you have free time to look for a decent job. Freelance Freelance could be a computer-based job that you can start with a laptop, a stable internet connection and organized mini-space. Some freelance jobs require skills such as graphic design, copywriting, content writing, technical writing and others which will only need a little training to start. You can use the skills you used during your full-time tenure into your freelance jobs. Job name Knowledge/Skills needed Copywriter, Content Writer Grammar, Writing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Editing, Paraphrasing, Citation (MLA, APA) Graphic artist Graphical software (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator), Open source software (GIMP, Inkscape), Infographic maker software Online English teachers English grammar, teaching methods Moderator Content Management System (CMS), Internet browsing SEO Manager Copywriting, content writing, SEO techniques and practices Translator English, Japanese, Filipino, French, Spanish, Chinese Web development and design Front-end: HTML, CSS, Javascript, Library (bootstrap), CMS (Wordpress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento) Backend: PHP, SQL, Python, Javascript, Java Software development platform: Github   Part-time jobs Part-time jobs usually refer to outdoor jobs that are temporary and not bound by contract. Job Skills Cook Mise en place (preparation), recipes  Laptop repairman Laptop servicing, reading of multimeter, usage of tools Mail carrier Driving, geography, navigation Liaison officer Driving, geography, navigation, legal skills (for legal liaison officer jobs) Barista Knowledge of coffee, coffee machine operation, coffee making Expand and reach out to your network How large your network may affect your chances of landing a good job. In fact, a part of job landing success comes from the network or people you knew as working colleagues, friends and relatives. They may simply be those people you met in a convenience store. They could be a drinking buddy last night or a bystander asking for directions. Expanding your network means knowing more people - quality people whom you can trust. Expanding your network doesn’t mean you have to imitate a people pleaser dude. Here’s how to expand your network: Use alumni networks - They are your school buddies way back to your high school and college years. Get involved in social media - Promote your website or blogs and chat with people. These social networking sites are full of communities and groups sorted according to their niches.  Join an organization - You can join those groups, clubs or shared interest organizations. There could be a writer's guild, graphic artists’ organizations and aid for the unemployed organizations. Volunteer - Join an organization working for a cause or an interest you care about. From there, you’d meet different people who might be your future potential buddies, friends and even your future girlfriend/boyfriend.  Start a website and blog - By having your own website and blog you can make yourself known within or outside of your niche and expand your presence across the internet.  Nurture your network - While you don’t need to contact them daily, you do need to greet them either offline or online on a biweekly or weekly basis. You need to let them know that you care and that you exist in their minds.  Trim your expenses When you trim your expenses you remove those wants from needs. Such “wants” involve video streaming subscriptions and cable. Needs are those that you need to survive (food, water, medicines). Bulk cook - This means that you can cook various dishes which you can keep in the fridge and reheat. ​Share your internet - You can lower your internet bills by having others share with your internet. Cancel gym membership - Get free exercise by walking, jogging or buying your own free weights. Save energy - Use LED instead of fluorescent lamps.   Build better resume Preparing your resume requires updating your experiences and contacts, and upgrading some of your skills. A well-polished resume is crucial for your success as it shows your detailed career updates. Here’s how to update a resume: Make a format of your resume (chronological, functional and combined) Update Skills, Experiences and Education Create or update portfolios (sample of work for designers, editors, writers and web developers) Remove old or entry-level positions Refresh contact info if necessary Edit (checking for overall ideas, conciseness, tone) Proofread (checking for typing mistakes, spelling, grammar, formatting) Publish (make your resume public both offline and online) Outline of resume 3 resume formats Chronological Resume Format - best for all levels (Student-level, mid-level, senior) a. Contact information b. Summary c. Extra info d. Education e. Skills f. Work experience (covers most of the content) g. Job title   Functional Resume Format - best for Senior level a. Contact Info b. Summary c. Job title d. Skills e. Work experience f. Education   Combination Resume Format - Best for Mid-level and Senior level a. Contacts b. Summary of skills c. Other Skills d. Work Experience e. Education Expand your skills/knowledge You can expand or hone your existing skills by enrolling in online schools (some are free and some are paid) and training schools such as TESDA. Online schools offer the freedom of earning a short certificate or a degree in the comfort of your home. The pros of expanding your knowledge are that you’ll have the opportunity to add another skill and avoid employment gaps that could leave a bad impression in your resume and interview. Most online schools offer an online certificate that can serve as your credentials. Here are some online schools or Massive Open Online Courses - MOOCs School Business model Subjects Alison Free course content. Certificates are paid upon completion. Information Technology, Language, Science, Health, Business, Math, etc. Coursera Free to watch videos but the certificates and graded assignments are paid. Information Technology, Psychology, Business, Health, Data Science, etc. Edx Paid course content but the certificates are paid. Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Engineering, Law, Music, etc. Khan Academy Totally free Academic, IT, Sciences Udemy Paid training videos IT, Teaching, Business, Design, Marketing, Music, Business, Photography, Office Productivity, etc. Apply for an unemployment insurance Unemployment insurance refers to the benefits (money) granted to the unemployed while they are seeking a new job.  They are those who became involuntarily unemployed - people who lost their jobs due to bankruptcy of the employer, merger and reorganization. The Republic Act 11199 (Social Security Act of 2018) provides the legal basis for such benefit.  Eligibility Criteria/Requirements: Members of the Social Security System (SSS) of the Philippines.  Members must not be more than 60 years old during the time of involuntary separation (SSS Circular No.2019-11, July 8, 2019). Members must have made 36 months of contributions. Unemployed Members are those who have involuntarily resigned. Facts: The amount of cash given depends on the average monthly credit. Here’s the Monthly Salary Credit table from SSS  The SSS Unemployment insurance is not a loan and you do not need to pay the SSS for the cash assistance you received. The SSS Unemployment insurance does not cover those who resigned from work or people who lost their job due to neglect of duties and disobedience. The funding for the SSS unemployment insurance comes from the SSS Contribution hike. Do Some Volunteer Work Volunteering can do wonders for your career and social life. It can expand your network that could lead to a job opportunity and provide a learning opportunity. Having a volunteer experience in your resume looks great and appealing to interviewers. Some volunteer organizations provide allowances or some kind of perks for the members. Organization Activities CARA (Compassion and Responsibility for Animals) Promoting the safety and welfare of animals Feeding Sisters Making street feeding programs, delivering goods to the needy Greenpeace Philippines Promoting environmental care Habitat for Humanity Building homes for the homeless Hands On Manila  Promoting volunteerism for the community-driven programs Kanlungan ni Maria Helping the elderly My Superhero Friends Foundation Supporting kids and families affected by cancer. Does reach out activities and feeding programs PAWS (Philippine Animal Welfare Society) Promoting the safety and welfare of animals Project 200 Providing food and support to the marginalized people. Project Malasakit Giving scholarships to children and volunteering in repacking and distributing goods. Project Pearls Helping children in their environment, education, and nutrition. UNICEF Helping children Apply for a job (In the right way) You can search for a job via online (registering and using job search sites) or offline (office visits and networking). Here are tips to increase your chances of landing an interview and shorten your job hunt. Send applications specific to your skills using the rifle approach (applying to vacancies you are qualified) rather than the shotgun approach (applying to many jobs as much as possible even if you don’t fit the qualifications). Send your resume to both solicited and unsolicited applications. Keep a database or spreadsheet of job applications for tracking. Research the companies and the roles (the HR will surely ask these things). Dress up for the interview. Follow up your applications.

Over the years, companies, employers, managers and employees see employment akin to marriage. The company is there to protect and provide the needs of its people while expecting loyalty and commitment. But time has changed. The Internet brought everyone closer, created more competition, and provided learning resources. Such a vast amount of info changed the mindset of the employed, unemployed and recent graduates of rethinking job-hopping. But the question is - is job-hopping okay? Let’s find out. What is job-hopping? Job hopping refers to the job changes in a short span of time. For example, you’re a job hopper if you switch into 5 different jobs within 10 years - working for a company for less than two years. Another, if you only spend 6 months in the job and find another one.   Pros Learn new skills​ Job hopping may lead you to new opportunities such as a chance to apply in a job different from what you have been used to. For example, If you’re working as a data encoder and studying web development, you can find another job in web development which offers more chances of career advancement and good salary. From this new job, you can hone your skills to learn programming languages such as Javascript, PHP and Python. Change careers Switching careers is the process of changing your field of work. For example, you decided to quit your job as a cook to study as a medical professional to pursue your goal of becoming a medical technologist or nurse (or vice versa). Changing careers could be the answer to your inner calling. Find a better pay​ If you have been stuck in your current position and salary, changing jobs after 6 months or 1 year can be your chance to look for a position that pays more than your current work. The pay scale depends on the company size and responsibilities. Meet new people and grow your network​ If you like to increase your network, job-hopping could help you meet new people and thus a network. A new job could be a venue for new friends, business partners and even opportunities. Opportunities abound. Avoid layoffs and bankruptcy​ Your company might have you for layoffs or fall into bankruptcy for a number of reasons such as economic depression, natural disasters, slow business, cost-cutting etc. Job hopping can save you time and emotional depression caused by the unpleasant surprise factor of being suddenly out of a job that is beyond your control.   Cons Employers might view job-hopping negatively Most, if not all, employers regard job-hopping negatively. Their human resource personnel are wary of applicants who treat their jobs and company as if they are just hitching a ride. Employers regard job-hoppers as applicants who are directionless and uncommitted. You can be regarded as having work value issues. Moreover, employers value employees who are loyal and dedicated. You’ll face the risk of job insecurity  Getting unemployed is one of the worst events that could happen in your life. If you’re not ready - no savings and without the next job that you can rely on, then you’ll be going to be broke. You’ll get limited experiences ​ Skills that need more concentration, persistence and brainpower will require a large amount of time and experience. If you’re trying to be good at web development, then a short stint won’t help you earn experiences and competence. Scattered experience Job-hopping for a different skill set can make you unattractive before the eyes of the recruitment personnel and the employer. Scattered experiences refer to different jobs within a span of a year or a couple of years. And having such colourful experiences in your resume will appear as shallow in the eyes of the interviewer and employee. Directionless career path Job hopping can lead to a directionless career path or without the goal of improving a skill or expertise. Because you have short stints, you could end up going to square one and repeating the same job. In this case, you can’t go close to mastering one or two skills.   When job-hopping is Ok. The pros and cons of job-hopping vary depending on your situation, career history and educational background. If you choose to switch job, ensure to plan it carefully and avoid haphazard decisions which you can regret later. Here are the instances, which you can regard job-hopping as a better alternative rather than staying in your job/work/company for long. You hit the ceiling - no career improvement, you don’t get rewarded for your hard work and you’re unrecognized. Bad working conditions such as an unhealthy working environment. You’re compelled to work for unpaid overtime. Bad management Your salary isn’t enough to cover your daily expenses (unless you absolutely don’t have an immediate choice). You’re certain of impending company bankruptcy and layoffs. You are working in a short-term (project-based) job. When job-hopping is not Ok? You just like to job hop for adventure. When you’re a new graduate - unless you got a meagre income or a job with bad working conditions. What should you do before your job hop? Before you decide to change jobs, make sure of these things: You have enough savings to cover your job hunting if you don’t have a next job to rely on. You’ll need money to cover your food, bills, mobile load, paperwork and rent. Even if you got a new job, you’ll still need buffer funds to cover expenses or bills before you get the next payout. You’re 100 % sure of the next job that could be in waiting for you to sign a new contract. So, is it Ok to job hop? Generally, it’s best to stay in a company to work on your experience of 1 year or two. There you can test if your goals fit in the company work and culture. Take note of your career progress (income and skills set). If nothing happens despite your efforts and you hit a stumbling block (which is out of your control), considering to switch a job is the best decision because you may miss opportunities (better pay and working conditions). The pros and cons of job-hopping depend on your situation such as - educational background, work history, skillset, the economic strength of your family and the overall status of the company

Facts can refer to current and past events, things, objects that are proved or known to be true. Here we discuss some of the facts about the workplace that involve productivity, statistics, work language, environment and working practices. Multitasking can diminish your productivity. A lack of sleep, high caffeine intake and lack of exercise can contribute to the failure of multitasking. Working doesn’t guarantee an escape from poverty. More than 40% of workers don’t earn enough to get out of the poverty situation. Employees who have some sort of control over their work are happier and healthier while working. Photo by wallpaperflare A workplace with live plants can help in increasing productivity. Plants make the workplace more inviting. Plants serve as natural air conditioners that increase the oxygen level in the air. Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol can boost creativity. The key term here is moderate alcohol. Office workers who are near windows have a lower rate of absenteeism. Drinking enough water can increase up to 14% of productivity. Unhealthy food and lack of exercise can decrease productivity by 60%. Image by Pexels An organized desk can improve productivity. The term “boss” originated from the Dutch word “baas” which means master. Manual sewer cleaner is ranked as the world’s worst job. Procrastinating a work or project can increase efficiency and focus. This means redoing the work later so that you can have a fresh eye and mind. Sources: France, Netherlands, Japan, Philippines, South Korea Globally, the working hours range from 40 to 44 hours every week. Although, there are some countries that don’t follow these working hours. In France, it’s 35 hours per week. The Netherlands has 39, Philippines - 43.2 and Japan - 50. The Netherlands has the shortest workweek - about 29 hours per week. Fun working environments can reduce employee turnover and burnouts. Humour has been proven to benefit the mind and the body. The term “work” came from the Proto-Indo-European “werg” that means to do. Working 40 hours each week from the age of 20 to 65 is equivalent to 90,000 of working hours in your lifetime. Some worry that joking around while working can be distracting. On the other hand, studies show that encouraging workplace humour can help people complete their task or increase their productivity. According to this study, 61% of employees become more productive when they have relaxed dress codes.  The term “employ” comes from the Latin word “implicare” which means to associate, involve or enfold. People who work at night shifts are more prone to the following health and psychological  problems:  Photo by Pxfuel Accidents Memory issues High blood pressure Type 2 diabetes Low sex drive Irritability 24% of commuters who get stuck in traffic told that they are thinking about “deep thoughts”. According to this article, workers are willing to leave their jobs if they aren’t praised enough for their work.  Millennials, adults aged from 22 to 38 years, will make 35% of the global workforce.  Bonding in the work team can increase oxytocin - a chemical released during orgasm. Conflicts are necessary for the working teaching and learning opportunity at the workplace. It teaches people how to behave and forgive in order to become a good person. Photo by Miguelangel Miquelena The efficacy of music to a worker depends on the many factors. In other words, there are no “one-size fits for all”.  Working for more than 40 hours a week can decrease your productivity. Working adults who get 7.5 up to 9 sleeping hours of night sleep are more productive by 20%.

Deciding what course to take in college is one of the critical periods of one’s career. Herein you’ll need personal reckoning. The course you choose can ultimately affect your long-term career prospects. The importance of career preparedness can’t be ignored because of high perceived examples of new graduates who aren’t prepared in the Job world. According to a Strada-Gallup survey, a third of students out of 32,000 believe that they have strong knowledge and skills to survive in the job market. Knowing what is the best course to choose will save you tons of time and money. Research the industry Researching the industry means finding facts, lists and statistics about the specific job sector. This task can help you find your niche when you select the course. You can also ask a resource person or an expert in their field. For example, an education industry makes up the following jobs: Academic writer Librarian Online English teacher Professor Teacher Teacher aide Tutor The Information technology industry has these specific jobs: Back-end web developer Front-end web developer Database Administrator Network administrator Content Writer Graphic designer SEO Specialist Technical writer Video editor Research the job market Researching the job market can help you decide whether to switch college courses or stick with it. Should I continue accountancy or shift to nursing? Job markets can be affected by these factors: Technology advances Certain jobs that are menial can be easily automated by programs and robots. An example is a cashier who could be replaced by automated payment gates connected to a smartphone. In countries with higher technological penetration - that could be a reality in the near future. An increase in the use of robots in factories could send workers into the jobless zone and advances in accounting software may modify the daily tasks of auditors and bookkeepers. Economic factors that affect employment Job growth depends on the temporary projects available and the economic performance of a city, region, province and country. For example, a developed tourist site (beaches, waterfall, mountainous treks) will increase tourist arrivals and so too the number of restaurants, hotels, and handicraft production. A surge in tourists arrivals will also positively affect the number of airline and vehicle operations. On the other hand, a failing economy by changing demand for products and services can make it harder for companies to retain employees. Take note that job markets change and what is true for the present time may not be true in the future. Take personality tests Personality test refers to the method that assesses human personality. Such tests may differ in length and type of questions. Using tests may help you find your dislike, likes, passion and personality type.  How personality tests can help you choose a career Personality tests can help you narrow down your choices on a career path or job that is compatible with your personality, interests, values and skills. Keep in mind that some of these tests aren’t scientifically validated.  Here are some free personality tests online such as: 123test.com 16personalities.com PersonalityPerfect.com The most well-known personality test is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and covers these four categories: Extroversion and introversion Judging and perceiving Sense and intuition Thinking and feeling Build a career capital instead of following your passion You might have already asked your teacher, a friend, parent, sibling or a mentor, and they may all have told you “follow your passion”. Sounds like ultimate advice, but the problem with this mantra is that it assumes that your passion and interests are fixed instead of changing or fluid. Here are the reasons not to follow your passion but instead develop it and build a career capital.  Following your passion will likely make you give up soon once you hit a consistent and hard obstacle.  Hobbies and passions don’t always translate to successful careers It ignores the job market. It’s like putting all eggs in one basket. Develop your career capital by: Identify your values or beliefs Identify market needs Consistently improve your skills  Deliberately practice Pursue a craftsman mindset (a combo of learning and consistent hard work) Persist through hard times Re-evaluate your progress Invest in another time and energy Developing your passion by identifying strengths and weaknesses Unlike the common perception that strengths are something that you’re good at, an accurate definition of strength is something which makes you feel strong.  You can be good at one skill but at the same time, you don’t like doing it. A strength energizes you and a weakness weakens your feelings. Here’s how to find your strength and weaknesses Try a free test online or from your school - richardstep.com and 123test.com Use a professional test from career assessment centres in your locality. Find your weakness by finding your hard vs soft skills. Hard refers to technical skills such as programming, auto repair, cooking, etc. Soft skills pertain to emotional intelligence such as negotiation and anger management. Once you find your weaknesses on each of these types of skills, you can work on them to enhance hard and soft skills. Find tasks that let you forget your sense of time. Weigh the pros and cons of each course/job Each course or job could have pros and cons depending on its demand and availability in nearby schools. A specific course such as civil engineering and political science has this profile:     Civil Engineering    Pros Good pay More job opportunities when there are infrastructure projects (Middle East).    Cons Possible hazards at the construction site Deployment to remote sites Risks of liability and pressure Long working hours           Doctor of Medicine      Pros High Salary (depends on the hospital or company) Prestigious career (along with lawyers, doctors are among the jobs that are highly respected) Job security    Cons Can be stressful (being in the operating room) Exposure to biohazards Risks of lawsuits or loss of license due to medical malpractice Stress due to loss of patients under your care Long time to finish (8 years) Expensive education (most doctors came from affluent families although there are individuals who become physicians through scholarships)       Philosophy    Pros Improves your logical thinking Improves your problem solving Prepares you for a teaching career Prepares you for graduate school or another post-graduate course/career such as law, a catholic priest    Cons It may have few job opportunities so you may end up working underemployed or pursuing another course.   Ask a mentor or veteran A mentor or veteran refers to a person who is already in such a profession. So if you’re thinking of enrolling in a nursing course, you could ask for advice from nurses who are already working in clinics and hospitals. If you’re into graphic design or coding, you may set up some time with an experienced web developer or graphic designer to see how they are doing their job. To get most the advantage of a mentor’s advice, follow these: Set up a regular meeting Watch how your mentor is doing Keep your relationship and contact open Try to be like them but not exactly identical The pros of having a mentor are: You’ll get good advice from a professional. You’ll know the job trends. You may get a job right after graduation if that mentor decides or is willing to help you. You’ll get a second opinion. You’ll grow your network.

Mental health refers to the psychological and emotional side of a person. It’s called an absence of mental illness. A sound mind is important for your social relationship and the way you feel, act and think. It drives how you handle stress, makes choices, finishes your work’s tasks. Most of all you’re acquainted with how to eat the right foods and all sorts of tangible things. But there are things that can affect your mental health negatively. Here are ways to reduce your exposure to them. Why mental health? It helps you to cope with stress Work efficiently Discover your hidden potential Find a purpose in life Build good relationships Improve physical health Connect with Your Family Your family - parents, siblings, children - are always there during the time of loneliness and stressful situations. Your parents will always lend you a helping hand no matter what happens. Keeping in touch with your family, seeing them through video call or in-person or hearing their voices can help you reduce boredom and loneliness. Do Hobbies  Doing hobbies could be creative activities that can boost your creativity, habits and fight boredom. Indoor hobbies: Candle making Cooking Painting via tablet or the physical canvas Making art by arranging beans, seeds and grains. Watching online videos Learning new things Doing cross stitch Practising digital painting through tablet Gardening Listen to podcast Playing board games: Chess, Game of the Generals, Snakes and Ladders, etc. Eat Healthy Foods You can never be mentally sound without eating healthy food. The best foods are those that are closer to nature. Such foods should be rich in vitamins and minerals and less in preservatives.  Healthy foods include leafy greens, fruits, nuts and seeds.  Specific foods for brain health include avocado, turmeric and oily fishes (sardines and tuna).  Some foods are considered bad for the brain Foods high in trans-fat Sugary drinks such as soft drinks with High-Fructose Syrup Alcohol Highly-processed foods Refined carbohydrates such as white flour, highly processed grains and sugar. Commercial muffins Cured meats  Processed fruit juice Donuts You can include healthy foods in your breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner.   Get the Right Exercise You have probably noticed that staying in your house for the whole day or not having a sweat can make you feel fatigued or lethargic. Without daily exercise, your muscles and joints grow weaker; your body accumulates fat as not all calories are burnt. Too much exercise is also not good for your body and mental health. Indoor exercises: Curl-up Jump rope Dancing Lunges Cleaning Push-ups Jumping jacks Following youtube exercises Outdoor exercises: Saunter (30 mins to burn calories) Cycling Jogging Suspension training Get the Right Sleep Your body needs the right amount of sleep to repair damaged cells and tissues from daily errands and workout. Undersleeping or depriving yourself with sleep can lead to weight gain, headaches, erratic mood and possible type 2 diabetes. Oversleeping can result in high risks of obesity, heart disease, headache and impaired infertility. How much you sleep depends on your age.     Babies (0 to 2 months old)     -     12 - 18 hours     Infants (3 to 11 months old)   -     14 - 15 hours     Children (3 to 5 years)          -     11 to 14 hours per day     Children (6 to 12 years)        -     9 to 12 hours per day     Teens (13 to 18 years)          -        8 to 10 hours per day     Adults (18 years above)        -     7 to 8 hours per day Limit News Exposure News is a great source of knowledge - from science to current affairs. But what if most of what you see in news app or TV are all about tragedies - explosions, shootings and the ongoing COVID    -19 pandemic?  According to the American Psychological Association, constant watching of negative news may be bad for your health. Similarly, being bombarded by upsetting news and natural disasters may increase the loop of distress and personal worries. How to minimize exposure to negativities Move news and social media apps off the home screen. Set a timer to limit your time spent on news and apps. Read and watch uplifting news such as cute pets, humour and uplifting stories. A landlord offers his/her apartment for free for the entire duration of COVID-19 lockdown. Millionaires spend part of their income to open a soup kitchen for the displaced workers. Pet cat/dog rescues his/her owner from a heart attack. Actors and actresses sent truckloads of rice, coffee, noodles and canned goods to suffering jeepney drivers. A man who is broke and subsisting on grated coconut got relief goods and employment from PESO. Man feeds dogs and cats. Avoid Smoking While it seems smoking is relaxing, research shows that smoking can increase anxiety, depression and addiction. Smoking is an addictive habit that can lead to heart disease, cancers, regular flu, and shortness of breath that can impact your concentration and eventually your mental health. Limit or Avoid Drinking Alcohol Drinks Alcohol is known to slow down brain response and affect nerve signals in the brain. According to this resource, extreme drinking can lead to psychosis, delusions and hallucinations - mental conditions that can impact your mental health.  Play Video Games Video games, whether it’s a strategy, shooting or puzzle, can make you forget the passage of time and fight boredom. Various articles described the benefits of playing video games. One is from the apa.org that published a 13-page study. Gamedesigning.org listed 10 reasons why video games are good for you. Anything in excess is harmful and this is true in video gaming. Another benefit is you can enhance your skills in problem-solving. Games such as puzzles, arcade, RPG, strategy and first-person shooter games use puzzles as a test for the player before he/she progresses into another stage.  Spend Time with Pets Dogs, cats, parrots and goldfishes are some of the popular pets in the Philippines. Going home with your cat or dog waiting at your door can be stress relieving. Look at numerous Youtube videos when feline friends wake up their human friends, a raven mimics a human voice and a dog acts like a human. Another idea is to buy a fishbowl aquarium, goldfish and gourami. Add filtered water, aquatic plants, sand and corals. Install a water filter to prevent dirt buildup. You can keep this on the sturdy table. Owning a pet is beneficial to your health, according to a study made at SUNY Buffalo. Owning pets can improve heart health. Aside from that, your pet can be your lifesaver during times of solitary life