Tips to Boost Your Immune System
On the whole, your immune system does a remarkable job of defending you against the disease-causing microorganisms.
But sometimes it fails: A germ invades successfully, making you sick.
You see the idea of boosting immunity is very enticing but delusional.
It is impossible to make your immune system stronger than it is capable of but, however, you can follow certain steps to help keep you immunity at its very best.
1. Stay active
Working out is a powerful way to boost your immune system. It causes your body's antibodies and WBCs to circulate more rapidly, which means they may be able to detect and attack on bugs more quickly.
Being active this way also lowers stress hormones, which reduces your chances of getting sick.
Research also suggests that exercise's effects may be directly relevant to virus fighting, too. Research has also shown that simply raising your body temperature may help kill germs in their tracks.
The key to exercise, is to do it in moderation. Doing it too much can depress your immune system instead of activating it. 30 - 60 minutes of exercise in a day is more than enough for our immune to be active.
2. Watch your diet
Eighty percent of your immune system is in your gut so when it's healthy, you will be be able to fight off infections faster and better.
You should practice the Mediterranean style of eating, which means a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats, found in foods such as fatty fish, nuts and olive oil.
This eating pattern is high in nutrients such as vitamin C, zinc and other antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and fight infection.
It's also important to limit the amount of meat you eat, especially processed and fried foods, all of which are more inflammatory.
Also, it's smart to include fermented foods, such as yogurt, sauerkraut, miso and kefir, in your daily diet. These help in building up the good bacteria in your gut, which, in turn, supports a healthy gut and immune system.
3. Stay on top of stress
There's a very strong link between your immune health and your mental health.
Researches suggest that when you're under chronic stress or anxiety, your body produces stress hormones that suppress your immune system.
In addition, people who are stressed are less likely to pay attention to other healthy habits, like eating right and getting enough sleep, which can affect their immunity.
Although you can't avoid stress in your life, you can adopt strategies to help you manage it better such as maintaining a daily exercise routine or performing mindfulness meditation.
4. Get enough sleep
Z's are another natural immune system boosters.
Consider your immune system like your computer — it needs moments of rest so it doesn't become overheated.
When you're sleep-deprived, your body churns out stress hormones like cortisol to keep you awake and alert that suppresses your immune system.
Try to get at least seven hours of slumber a night as you will be four times less likely to come down with a cold than those who clocked less than six.
5. Be strategic about supplements
There's no magic herb or vitamin that you can pop to automatically prevent a cold, flu or other virus.
However, a moderate daily dose of vitamin D may offer protection if you're already low in the sunshine vitamin.
The best way to find out whether you're lacking in Vitamin D is to get your blood levels tested; you should be between 20-39 ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter).
If you're within that range, a daily supplement of about 600 to 800 IU will be fine.
If you're low, talk with your doctor about additional supplementation — up to 2,000 IU a day that you can take with meals containing fats or oils, to increase absorption.
Cooking with herbs such as garlic, ginger, rosemary, oregano and turmeric have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and can be protective against colds.
Remember: Food is Medicine.
Conclusion
The above suggested tips will help you in boosting you immune system to it’s fullest. However, if you wish to know further on the Facts About Boost Immune System
you can check it out here.
Life Hacks for Dog Owners
Being a dog owner myself I know it can be difficult to train and take care of your dog.
Always, remember they are a part of your family and if you treat them right, they will forever be by your side till their last breath.
A dog’s love can be sometimes even more than your own family members’. So make sure you love your dog.
Okay, now back to the topic, being a dog owner myself I am listing down a few hacks that you can follow for taking good care of your dog.
1. Keep Your Dog Off Dirt
To make bath time enjoyable and relaxing for both yourself and your pup find a way to make it fun and familiar. The most important thing is that you get your dog used to having a bath as early as you can.
You don’t want to make it a scary experience otherwise your dog is never going to want the dog hack, so allow him to play with his favorite toys first and then bring them into the bath with him.
The water should only be lukewarm and invest in a rubber mat so that your dog feels confident on his feet and prevents them from slipping in the bath.
The more often you bathe him, the more he’ll feel comfortable and if he feels comfortable then he will be more likely to behave.
2. Your Dog’s Common Habit
Try to always observe your dog’s normal behaviour so you can identify when there may be something wrong. Signs of unrest include open mouth panting, heavy breathing, excessive drooling and foaming at the mouth.
These symptoms are common in dogs that become anxious or stressed, usually caused by being left on their own for too long or feeling uncomfortable when travelling in the car.
These dog hack symptoms can also occur when the dog is feeling unwell, or when you introduce another pet to your home.
If you notice changes in behavior, or notice other physical ailments it is always best to take your dog to the vets.
3. Nap Time For Dog
There are sleep requirement differences among the various breeds, but generally, dogs like to sleep approximately 16 to 18 hours a day.
Dogs sleep more than people but wake much more frequently. How much and when they sleep depends on the level of activity in their environment.
A dog living as a pet in the home is likely to sleep more than a dog that works for a living, such as a search and a rescue dog or a dog working on a farm. Some dogs will sleep more due to boredom.
4. Own Space of Pup
Your dogs should have a space in the house to call their own. This dog hack can be a kennel or a bed, as long as it’s clean, and it’s a spot where your pet feels safe and sound. They need a comfortable space to do this where they can rest undisturbed.
5. Tutoring Dog Well
Both puppies and adult dogs must be house-trained. Even if they’ve been potty-trained, older pups could benefit from a refresher course, especially if they are in a new environment.
One of the most important dog hack about training is consistency, both in the commands you use and the reinforcements and rewards you offer.
6. Keep Ears Clean
Choose a mild ear cleaner specifically designed to be used on pets. Without regular cleaning, wax and oils build up inside the ear, increasing the risk of ear infection and hearing damage.
If you have a dog with long ears, use a hair scrunchie to gently hold them out of the way while he eats. You can also tuck the ears up beneath a plastic shower cap, or purchase or make a snood.
All these are life hacks for dogs which helps you to be a wonderful dog’s parent. Keep your dog happy, which leads to a happy house.
How to Become Creative in Graphic Design
Graphic design is a field, where things can change very fast both in a creative and in a technical way.
Although it is relatively easy to learn the technical skills, it is also very important to concentrate on expanding and improving your creativity.
If you wish to become a successful graphic designer, you should both master the technical part and creative part of it.
So, here are 10 things that will surely help you boost your creativity.
1. Collect everything
Each time you see a design work that inspires you, take a photo of it and put it in your collection, or when you see it online save it for later.
Believe me, one day you will definitely need them.
You can just get inspired from them, or take a little part from each of them and create an awesome design.
2. Read design blogs
Internet is just a huge source for design information and inspiration.
For example if you read other designers’ blogs or look some tutorials, your creativity will be boosted.
3. Join the design community
If you are a freelance designer, the first thing that you should do is to join an online designers’ community.
It will not only provide you with the latest news and trends of design world, but will also give you the chance to upload your works and get some feedback for it.
You should always be ready for critique, so as to improve yourself.
4. Create fake works
Try to create some fake projects in your free time.
For example you can create a logo, website or app for a company.
It’s good because later on, it might be possible that you will need them in one of your projects and also because it always keeps your creativity awake.
5. Copy others’ design
Sometimes its a good idea to redo other designer’s design.
It will not only help you get mastered in design, but also will give you the chance to understand what was done wrong in that design and how to improve it.
6. Copy your old designs
Sometimes, we might look at the works we have done before, and think that we should get rid of them immediately.
However, it is important to keep them in order to see your progress and to improve your skills.
So, instead of throwing them away, try to rework on them to make them better.
7. Interact with other designers
Another effective way of boosting creativity is to communicate with other designers.
You should always speak to the ones who are better than you, who are more experienced in that area so that you can learn some new skills from them.
Its hard to admit that there is someone better than you, but if you want to really move forward, you should accept it and get the best of them.
8. Take some classes
There are many colleges and universities that will let you attend classes without full-time enrollment.
During these classes, you will learn many new things and will work on your creativity.
9. Travel a lot
You will definitely agree with me, that every time we go to another country, we return back with excitement, a lot of energy and creativity.
When you discover other country and their culture, it opens your mind and boosts your creativity.
10. Keep a sketchbook
It is very important for every graphic designer to have a sketchbook with them all the time.
Its natural that sometimes ideas come to you when you don’t really expect them so, its better to have a sketchbook ready in order to work on ideas quickly instead of leaving them for later.
Conclusion
I hope these 10 tips will help you boost your creativity.
For any further information, feel to read Graphic Design Definition
Best Graphic Design Courses on Smartphones
According to the definition in Wikipedia, Graphic design is the process of visual communication and problem-solving using typography, photography, iconography, and illustration.
Graphic Design takes various kinds of elements such as graphical and textual, and then converts and implements them into media.
Everything that we want to communicate visually can be made to do so using graphic design.
From office flyers to business cards, and from billboards to road signs it all implements the graphic design.
Graphic designs aid the selling of products and in creating a brand identity for the brand, branding as well as in rebranding it.
I am listing some graphic designing courses online that you can easily access on your smartphone. Some of them are apps and some websites.
Online Graphic designing courses – Paid
1. Udemy
Udemy is an online learning platform that offers various courses provided by independent instructors.
The prices depend upon the length of the video, field, and the teacher.
Some online graphic designing courses on Udemy are free while some are paid.
They all have related certifications that might be helpful to you in the future.
Also, once you are enrolled in a course, you get lifetime access to it, i.e. you can access it at any time in the future and learn it at your own pace.
2. SkilledUp
This website provides quality materials to its subscribers at reasonable prices.
At the average rate of $20, the learners are provided with a diversified range of courses.
The website also includes some graphic designing courses that are free.
If you are a beginner, the course Visual & Graphic Design will a great starter pack for you.
Online Graphic designing courses – Free
1. MIT OpenCourseWare
MIT offers OpenCourseWare which is an open database containing video lecture series on various courses provided the MIT lecturers.
It is well organized and allows easy traversal.
The best thing about it is that the trainers and lecturers are certified professionals and so the course is a trusted source of information.
Since the platform is not-for-profit, so you don’t have to deal with ads or sales pitches.
2. Alison Online
Alison has created a world where the learning is free along with the certifications.
However, it is not a non-profit organization, so some features are accessible only after payment of a certain amount of fee.
The learning on Alison is free, however, for a certificate, you will have to pay a fee ranging in-between $20-$100.
The courses are presented as a slideshow so there is no need for scrolling. This helps in dividing the course into shorter blocks to provide an easy learning experience.
3. Canva Design School
One way or the other there is a chance that you might have used Canva for designing projects, blog banners, Instagram stories, presentations, etc.
But did you know, Canva also offers various graphic designing courses that you can easily learn and implement it in your next projects.
These courses contain in-depth information along with examples and links to their sources.
For more detailed information you can visit Graphic Design Definition
10 Mockups or Templates Needed by Designers
Mockups are the visual designs that are later transformed into physical products.
They are full-sized model of a design, of how it will look like in the real world.
Having mockups or templates at hand is very helpful for graphic designers as it allows them to give a better presentation in front of the clients.
Now, let’s see some mockups that are needed by the designers:
Billboard/Sign Mockups range from cinematic styles to professional, modern layouts. They're great for design studios and creative beginners.
2. Food Mockups
From Korean mukbangs to the Food Network, we all just love food. Food mockups are great for budding chefs and restaurateurs. They allow you to display tasty images of ingredients and more, with no photography equipment necessary.
3. Vehicle Mockups
Vehicle wraps make it easy to create custom designs on any vehicle. They're great for food trucks, contractors, and small business owners who are looking to pick up additional clients.
In this case, mockups are essential for trying out different variations. Avoid major hassles by finalizing your design before sending it out.
4. Brand/Stationery Mockups
Update your portfolio using the Brand/Stationaery Mockups.
All brand designers know the power of a great logo. So, they use mockup templates to help clients visualize logos as their official corporate identities.
Logos, letterheads, and envelopes are the few of the graphic elements you'll need for corporate branding.
5. Book/Magazine Mockups
If you or your clients are looking to write the next best seller, then explore different book covers with fully editable templates. Whether you're looking to publish a book or magazine, mockups make it easy to design a cover using the templates.
Alternatively, you can use mockups to show off your drawing skills as well.
Magazines are another type of publication that allow you to express yourself.
6. Poster and Art Mockups
Hang your beautiful work on a modern, elegant wall designed by you. Or update your portfolio with unique displays using art mockups. Poter Mockups are the perfect display solution for all designers alike.
7. Flag Mockups
Flags often represent symbols of patriotism, sports, or important directions. Boost your marketing campaigns using a fascinating flag mockup! These templates do require experience with layer masks and smart objects, so update your skills before you begin.
8. T-shirt Mockups
You can showcase your designs with a t-shirt mockup that will give your customers a hint of just how great your designs look like when being worn.
For example, Everyone loves a simple white tee. So add this essential design to your toolkit.
9. Bottle and Mug Mockups
You think you or client’s favorite drink recipe needs a new design. Use bottle mockup to rock your next presentation!
Remember, No champagne bottle is complete without an official label.
10. Logo Mockups
Logo Mockups are essential for branding and to create your brand identity. Keep Logo Mockups ready at hand for the next clients you see.
Conclusion
This list features exciting resources for the avid designer who is familiar with Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.
Best Web Designers Under 25
Age is naught but a number!
A plethora of fresh and young graphic design talent has sprung up over the last few years, and have carved a strong niche in the design industry.
These millennial graphic designers have grown up in the digital era and their invigorating perspective and creative problem solving disposition has been welcomed with arms open wide.
1. Alice Lee
Alice Lee is a young and passionate San Francisco based designer and illustrator who is enamored with telling and drawing clever stories.
The Former Dropbox designer had a massive role in establishing the Dropbox, Mailbox, and Carousel brand experiences, and worked independently for the likes of Google, Macy’s, The New York Times, Microsoft, and Slack.
Her playful and unique aesthetics cover multiple facets of typography, illustration, and design. Alice has a knack for transforming words from an unimpressive cluster of letters into design pieces that leap right off the page. Alice puts a unique spin on Parisian art deco and hand-crafted typography that is sure to leave you in awe.
2. Fredy Santiago
Born in Huntington Beach California, Fredy Santiago is best known for his art in its vibrant hand-drawn letters, unique clash of saturated colors, and illustrative worlds inhabited by surreal, hybrid characters.
Influences of vintage paraphernalia, Post- Pop culture, and cartoons of the late ’90s and early 2000s with their bold, thick styles are apparent in his vivacious designs.
His penchant for street art has also led him to venture a foot in designing murals and wall-size pieces.
From crisp magazine editorials to intricate illustrations, and corporate branding, this imaginative designer knows it all!
Boasting a kaleidoscope of colors, a striking level of detail, and hypnotic typographical treatments, it’s hard not to be enamored with this young artist’s designs.
3. Katie Kovalcin
Product designer at Vox Media, Katie Kovalcin is a design enthusiast, letterer, branding expert, and a writer for various publications at such a young age.
Known for crafting beautiful responsive web identities, logo sketches, posters, and typographical treatments, Katie has carved a niche in the world of designers.
From beautiful letter-pressed cards inspired by the vintage Cincinnati typography and promotional wooden engraved tangram puzzles, her passion for layouts and typography transcended her to finally shift to web design from print.
4. Aidan Doyle
The 20 year old aspiring designer has caught our eye with the versatility of his work and his proclivity for detail.
Aidan’s work spans beautiful posters, meaningful logos, mesmerizing isometric creations, social media graphics and headers, and gorgeous apparel designs.
His bold and aesthetic color palettes, knack for capturing detail, and ultimate precision makes his work unique and appealing.
5. Lauren Hom
Inventive. Classic. And Super Whacky. A young California-born, formerly Brooklyn-based letterer and designer, Laura Hom is loved for her playful and flowing letterforms and vibrant, exotic color palettes.
Her Punchy and clean graphics have caught the eye of mammoth clients such as YouTube, Starbucks, AT&T, and Google.
Precision and personality drip from each of her designs, mostly inspired by her daily encounters and inspirations, and incorporating motivating messages and cheesy puns.
Her expertise lies in molding words to her will, expressing the deepest feelings and evoking emotions with her exceptional typography.
The project that gave her a head start on lettering, “Will Letter for Lunch”, focused on garnering free meals at restaurants throughout New York in exchange for drawing whimsical menu boards for them.
6. Not Kenze Wee
The proactive attitude of this young and talented graphic designer, Not Kenze Wee, can serve as a great source of inspiration for all budding designers.
The 16 year old graphic designer’s first steps into the industry look highly promising and worthy to look at.
The surreal sense of beauty in his depictions, combined with handsomely blended profusion of colors and imagery, has won us over for sure.
7. Anna Kuts
Based in New York, Anna Kuts is a splendid young graphic designer specializing in packaging, poster, logos, visual identity, editorial, and exhibition design.
Having just received a bachelor’s degree in graphic designing, her work seems to be exhibiting the exploratory trait of designers who are discovering their penchant and voice, in that some pieces appear refined and smooth, some retro, some rather playful, while some more symbolic and artistic.
However, all her works convey a heightened sense of aesthetics and are communicative.
She is especially devoted to logo designing in particular.
Often, she blends in clear vector elements with unique textures, and the results are downright mesmerizing.
Her early success is a testament to more great works we can expect from Anna.
8. Isaiah Hunter
This 20 year old has just ventured a foot into graphic design and we are already seeing a lot of promise in him.
Isaiah Hunter’s works run the gamut from wild prints, tarot card designs, vintage art, abstract and pieces, to pop art.
While his work leverages unpretentious geometric shapes organized in strategic placement, his strong predilection for colors transforms the minimal geometry into cohesive, vibrant pieces.
The refreshing color palettes, complex alignments, and strong graphic elements set his work apart.
Isaiah has portrayed a knack for weaving seemingly distinct elements into a total composition that catches the eye. In addition, his use of lettering and type is highly intriguing.
9. Erin Zingré
Currently working as an illustrator at Amazon, Seattle based designer Erin Zingré kicked off her illustration career at a tender age of 4 in style, with a preschool drawing of a Guillotine, the Headless Horseman, and Death Himself.
As quoted by Erin herself, that first drawing still captures to perfection the essence of her work: “kinda creepy”, “kinda cute”, and “altogether not-quite-right”.
She often focuses on eye-popping texture, vibrant colors, and a fun and playful approach to high-concept design. With such talents, it’s not hard to wonder why she has been snatched up.
10. Sawyer Hollenshead
This design machine from New York City is solely focused on front-end development and design.
Currently a partner at Oaks Studio, Sawyer Hollenshead has worked on big shot projects for ‘Listen and Watch’, Siteleaf, Organized Wonder, and Dropmark.
His neat layouts, mesmerizing play of shapes and colors, and commendable typographical treatments render his web designs highly memorable and effective.
Importance of Branding
Branding, by definition, is a marketing practice in which a company creates a name, symbol or design that is easily identifiable as belonging to the company.
This helps to identify a product and distinguish it from other products and services. Branding is important because not only is it what makes a memorable impression on consumers but it allows your customers and clients to know what to expect from your company.
It is a way of distinguishing yourself from the competitors and clarifying what it is you offer that makes you the better choice.
Why Is Branding Important?
Branding is absolutely critical to a business because of the overall impact it makes on your company. Branding can change how people perceive your brand, it can drive new business and increase brand awareness.
1. Branding Gets Recognition
The most important reason branding is important to a business is because it is how a company gets recognition and becomes known to the consumers.
The logo is the most important element of branding, especially where this factor is concerned, as it is essentially the face of the company.
This is why a professional logo design should be powerful and easily memorable, making an impression on a person at first glance.
Printed promotional products are a way of getting this across.
2. Branding Increases Business Value
Branding is important when trying to generate future business, and a strongly established brand can increase a business’ value by giving the company more leverage in the industry.
This makes it a more appealing investment opportunity because of its firmly established place in the marketplace.
3. Branding Generates New Customers
A good brand will have no trouble drumming up referral business.
Strong branding generally means there is a positive impression of the company among consumers, and they are likely to do business with you because of the familiarity and assumed dependability of using a name they can trust.
Once a brand has been well-established, word of mouth will be the company’s best and most effective advertising technique.
4. Improves Employee Pride And Satisfaction
When an employee works for a strongly branded company and truly stands behind the brand, they will be more satisfied with their job and have a higher degree of pride in the work that they do.
Working for a brand that is reputable and help in high regard amongst the public makes working for that company more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Having a branded office, which can often help employees feel more satisfied and have a sense of belonging to the company, can be achieved through using promotional merchandise for your desktop.
5. Creates Trust Within The Marketplace
A professional appearance and well-strategised branding will help the company build trust with consumers, potential clients and customers.
People are more likely to do business with a company that has a polished and professional portrayal.
Being properly branded gives the impression of being industry experts and makes the public feel as though they can trust your company, the products and services it offers and the way it handles its business.
6. Branding Supports Advertising
Advertising is another component to branding, and advertising strategies will directly reflect the brand and its desired portrayal.
Advertising techniques such as the use of promotional products from trusted companies such as Outstanding Branding make it easy to create a cohesive and appealing advertising strategy that plays well into your branding goals.
To learn more about how to do branding you can check out Successful Branding Definition guide.
