Help, I Cant Relax! 6 Tips to Beat Work Anxiety

Help, I Cant Relax! 6 Tips to Beat Work Anxiety A Survey proved that work is good for your health and well-being. It keeps you focused and driven towards achieving your life goals.You may be working to earn an income and be able to do what you love on the side.Maybe you are working because you want to use your skills in a meaningful way.Or probably you are just working so you can make lots of money and enjoy a comfortable and convenient life.Whichever the case, you are doing well to be working.Or is it that you are lucky to be working?The US unemployment rate has been going down, and so has that of other nations including the UK. As good as this is, it is vital to consider the state of those in unemployment.Unemployment is always a concern as many people find it difficult getting a job.This problem gets compounded when more graduates get into the job market.Elsewhere, children are being born and schooled and grow up knowing that their dream jobs await them once they graduate. It then comes as a shock when that doesn’t happen.If you have gone through the job searching process, you know that it is not an easy one. It is not the smoothest road to travel.All the same, it is the only road that the majority travel.For others, either by choice or forced by circumstances, they choose differently. They chart a unique path for themselves. Such people are commonly referred to as entrepreneurs.Regardless of whether you are an entrepreneur or an employee, the bottom line is that you have some work to do.Also, it is important to note that you don’t really get to determine the amount of work to be done.For you to achieve any goal, the amount of work to be done is already cut out. You just cannot control that. If you cut down on the amount of work, then the results reduce.What you can quite comfortably determine is the amount of work you personally get to do.For example, you have a goal you want to achieve. This goal will only come with a lot of hard work.Since you cannot do all the work alone, you get someone to handle certain parts of it while you handle others.This lessens the burden of work on you though the total amount of work remains the same.To reduce the workload, a company has to consistently make more money in order to hire more employees.For this to happen, those already hired have to work harder to bring in more money. After they have achieved the goal of making more money, then the work can reduce.For others, it is the fear of losing their jobs that keeps them working. They keep working even when the conditions deteriorate. This is how many experience work anxiety.Anxiety can easily bring you down if left unchecked. Depression can naturally follow and literally rob you of life.The below video shows how anxiety can progress into worse states of mind. It however also provides an encouragement that the situation can be changed. Whatever level of work anxiety you are at, you need not despair.All hope is not lost.There is something you can do to prevent its effects.Below we look at six ti ps for beating work anxiety.TIPS TO BEAT WORK ANXIETYThere are steps you can take to deal with the situation.Bad situations start when issues arise but don’t get resolved. If the issues got resolved but there is a bad situation, then the resolving was not done well.The tips you will learn from this article will help you deal with the situation and reverse it.Implementing them will rescue you from work anxiety. Sticking with them will keep you away from it.Prioritize your tasksIt is interesting to note that there will always be something that needs to be done.Whether at work or at home.In fact, even when you go on holiday, there are still things seeking to be done. Aren’t there places to visit? Aren’t there activities to engage in? Aren’t there special cuisines to be be enjoyed?Unfortunately, you will never have enough time to engage in all the things that desire your attention.Yet you cannot shrug them off in ignorance hoping they will go away. If you do, you will be surpris ed to see them set themselves as reminders all over your life.So, how do you deal with them? Which tasks do you work on and which ones do you ignore? Among those you choose to work on, how do you prioritize them?You do this by differentiating between the important and urgent tasks.By using a decision matrix called The Eisenhower Method, you can easily differentiate between these two.This method is simple in approach and delivers great results.It recognizes that there will always be tasks to be handled yet not enough time to handle them. It thus seeks to identify the important things to be done versus the urgent ones.Urgent tasksThese are the tasks which require immediate action or response. They have to be done now.If not, something unpleasant may happen.For example, replying to an email from your boss is urgent.Important tasksThese are tasks which can be done at a much slower pace but are necessary for the long-term good.They need time to be dedicated to them so they get done. Thei r accomplishment sets the foundation for the achievement of certain goals.An example is exercising. This is not urgent but helps you achieve the long-term goal of staying healthy.The Eisenhower Method was developed from a quote attributed to the 34th president of the USA, Dwight D. Eisenhower: “What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important.”Below is the decision matrix. Source: https://jamesclear.com/eisenhower-boxUsing this method makes it easy to see things in their true perspective.Some of the tasks in your hand are really out to waste your time. Unless you decide to eliminate them, you will end up not being productive at all.You need to decide what to do then start doing it at the appropriate time.Otherwise, you will strive to do everything but never succeed in achieving anything.You can number the four quadrants in a ‘Z’ shape. This makes important and urgent to be number 1 while important but not urgent will be number two. Not important but urgent will be number 3 then not important and not urgent will be number 4.Start at number 4 and eliminate what you don’t need to do. Secondly, go for the tasks you can delegate. Resist the feeling that you are bugging someone else. Delegating tasks helps you avoid biting more than you can chew.After dealing with the above two types of tasks, you now remain with only the important ones. The difference between them is that some are urgent while others are not. This is where your To-Do list comes in. Schedule time to do the things which are not urgent and stick to that time.Lastly, get to what you really need to do Now! This is where you should start your day. These will most likely be small to medium-sized tasks.Break down the medium-sized tasks so you can see the progress in working on them. This helps you get motivated towards finishing the tasks.An important aspect in using this method is training yourself on discipline. You will need to focus on the things which move you towards your goals.If you do this, you will find yourself having some time for rest. You can then use this time of rest to do the things you enjoy.Check your work cultureHow do you work? How do you do the things you do?Below are some of the things which define your work culture.You may not have given them much thought. As you will see, working on them can drastically improve your work culture.A good work cult ure helps you prevent work anxiety.DiligenceA careful look at how you go about your duties will help you see where you have been going wrong.For example, if you have a certain task whose deadline is due in two days, how do you handle it? Do you postpone working on it till the deadline day because you can finish the work in four hours?You may see the task as small thus not a difficult thing to complete. You may be confident in your abilities and decide to take some rest now.If you are doing this, then you may be confusing resting with taking a break. You can take a break between tasks but resting is only after working.How does diligence help against work anxiety? Diligence helps you achieve your goals.When you practice diligence, you get to finish a lot of work. You take one task and work on it untill you finish it.If it is a big task, you break it into smaller portions and work on those portions. Finishing those portions or the whole work gives you much joy. You also get to celebrat e valid success.On the other hand, when you don’t work diligently, the tasks will pile up and you will soon run out of time to complete them.As they pile, you will have a hard time choosing what to work on. All their deadlines will be approaching in quick succession.Such a situation only aggravates work anxiety.PerfectionismIt is important and noble to pursue excellence, but not perfectionism.Perfectionism is an extreme and just like any other extreme, it is dangerous.Don’t fool yourself in pursuing perfectionism by thinking you will have quality work done.Perfectionism is not the definition of productivity.You are productive when you have something to show for your efforts. Consistently doing a good job develops excellence.On the contrary, seeking to do a perfect job guarantees that you will not be productive at all.“If your fidelity to perfectionism is too high, you never do anything.” David Foster WallaceThe problem with perfectionism is that it sounds too good not to be true.We want a perfect life partner. One who loves us unconditionally, even though we can’t love them back in a similar manner. One who will do everything we have always imagined. Understanding us when we are angry. Encouraging us when we feel like giving up.We want a perfect car. One that does not break down. One that does not need maintenance. In any case, don’t we already have maintenance-free car batteries? Is a maintenance-free car then too much to ask for?Perfect seems so attainable that you can be tempted to pursue it.It is however only a catalyst for stress. It is simply a mirage. A facade. There is just no truth in its existence.It nonetheless has very strong pulls and can render even the best to be the most unproductive.Not because it has any strength really, but because it is simply a principle in life. The wisest man who ever lived, king Solomon of the old Israel kingdom, had this to say about perfectionism.Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at t he clouds will not reap. Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NIV)This talks of a farmer who is waiting for the perfect conditions to do his work.Obviously, he never does it.Why?There will never be a perfect condition for work.When it comes to work anxiety, you could be in either of the below two situations.1. Seeking to do a perfect jobAre you looking to ensure that all the details are covered in your report? All? That cannot happen. There will always be something changing every second.What do you do then?Just indicate on the report or inform the relevant people that the report is as per a specific date and time.This will put things in the right perspective. You will not be asked to account for new data not captured.If you are to include all the data, you will live in a state of perpetual report-making. That kind of report will never be completed since there will always be new data to be added.2. Waiting for the perfect time to work on a certain taskAre you waiting for the right time to start a tas k? No problem.How do you define the right time? Consider someone seeking to start a business. He is currently unemployed, has enough money only to sustain him for three months. When is the right time to start the business?He needs to rent an office space and hire some people to handle sales and others to manufacture.He needs to get a factory space and relevant equipment for the manufacturing. With all these people, he needs a qualified HR manager and security personnel.He needs trucks to transport goods to customers. With trucks, he will need drivers and turn boys.But wait a minute, does he need all these?This potential entrepreneur is simply planning to start big.It won’t work because his resources are limited. You are in a similar position.Your most important resourceâ€"timeâ€"is limited.As you wait for all the ‘necessary’ input, you will realize rather late that you actually have no time.Learn to differentiate between excellence and perfectionism. Embrace excellence as you actively reject perfectionism. Note that it is the small every day’s good work that results in excellence.Your work environmentYou may have an office with a computer, printer, vast stationery and a secretary.If not, you may be having only a desk with a bunch of papers. Maybe you just have an in-tray and an out-tray. All the same, you have a work environment.How does it look like? Neat and organized? Cluttered?Your work environment has the ability of either describing or defining you.If you are normally disorganized and leave things all over the place, then a disorganized work environment will describe you.You may be adequately organized (not perfectly) but your work environment does not reflect it.Soon enough, you may start being disorganized at a personal level. Your work environment will thus end up defining you.None of these situations is ideal. So you need to do something about it and enjoy the benefits of being organized.Check the papers on your desk. Find out what needs to l eave and what needs to stay.You probably have some paperwork finished and just waiting to be passed on to the next person handling a task.But because your desk is disorganized, you may not find the paperwork when looking for it. You know you did your part but just can’t prove it.That opens the door wide for stress and anxiety. You may need to re-do the work yet some other tasks await your attention.When you have a clean and neat work space, your mind is able to take in the work in an easier way. It then processes the information well and you get to work with a clear sense of direction.If you have too much paperwork, it may help to have some open shelves or multiple trays labeled accordingly.The clear picture of the situation will help increase your peace of mind as you engage in the work.Wisely talk to your boss about itAlthough it is highly dependent on the workplace culture, many people generally fear their bosses.Your boss may look mean, sound harsh and even raise his voice whe n speaking.Still, he is human. He is able to listen to you and consider your thoughts and opinions.All you need to learn is how to speak with him. Watch the below video for a great tip on how to communicate a problem to your boss. All bosses have at least one thing in common. They all need results.This is what makes them willing to consider different methods of achieving a goal.When you are overwhelmed by your work, you are definitely not productive. This reduces the possibility that your boss will get results from you.Your boss may be under pressure due to responsibilities you may never understand or get to know about.Therefore, as you plan to speak with him, ensure you handle the whole process with wisdom.Remember that you can only get limited time with your boss so seek to utilize it well. Below is a good way of going about it.1. Take stock of the work you haveYou definitely have a lot of work. But just how much work do you have?You should be able to quantify it.Some only need a little input before being passed on to someone else. Others probably just need you to go through them and give an approval. Others may be requiring the whole of your day and all your efforts because it is your primary duty.Separate all these and have a short, clear summary of them.This way, it is easy to see just how much work you have. It also makes it easy for your boss to delegate any of the duties if that seems the best solution.2. Come up with a plan for finishing itAll the overwhelming work may squarely fall within your job description. In such a case, you have to first take responsibility for it.This means you should be ready to work on it as much as you are hoping to get some assistance.Since you have separated the various tasks, come up with a plan.Planning is key if you are to handle the situation.Consider the possibility of getting some free time to deal with the overload. Your plan has to be investment material. You will be seeking to have your boss invest some time in y ou to allow you deal with the situation.3. Get an appointmentShow respect to your boss by booking an appointment.This will tell him that you respect time; the company’s time and his time.If you need to go through a secretary, ensure the need and importance of the meeting is clear.Do not however make known to the secretary the details of your planned meeting. It is your boss who needs the details.If you have direct access to your boss, look for an appropriate time to ask for an appointment. First thing in the morning will be great unless you notice that he got to work already stressed.4.Talk about itOnce the meeting is secured, go straight to the point.Describe the situation briefly pointing out specific tasks and your plan for finishing the work. If you need some of it to be delegated, request for that.Be careful however not to imply that the overall work is too much for you. You may lose your position or maintain it but have some duties taken away.Unless things favor you, the red uction of duties will normally come with a reduced pay.Take a breakWork will always be available and waiting to be done. It is therefore important to plan for breaks. Breaks don’t just happen. You have to plan for them.This is especially true if you are already experiencing work anxiety.Things can get worse when your proposed dates for taking leave approach yet you still have pending work. You may be forced to postpone your leave, pushing you into deeper anxiety.“Taking time to do nothing often brings everything into perspective.” Doe ZantamataTaking a break calms down your mind and helps you think more clearly. You will be able to see things from a different angle.The first thing you do is make a decision that you need to take a break. This decision may seem counter-productive considering that you have work to be done. But did you know that a tired mind is an unproductive mind?If you push yourself to work harder when you are tired, you will most likely make many mistakes. If you deliver work that is full of mistakes, you affect the quality of the overall work. If this happens often enough, you will be setting yourself up for disciplinary action. You definitely do not want to go down that path.How many hours are you supposed to work? Eight? Ten?Stick to that.Do not give in to the temptation of working late.Your mind is already tired for the day and so pushing it harder will only make things worse.What your mind needs at this point is a break. Taking a break results in more productivity. The mind itself is designed to shutdown after working so that repairs can be done in the body.Failing to take a break is taking your mind into overdrive. You can safely do this once in a while but this should never be a routine.When you take a break, your mind switches to a different task. It thus breaks the monotony of struggling with one issue.This way, the next time it encounters the same issue, it is likely to come up with a solution.Deal with the causeThe best solut ion to any problem is to deal with its source.Some of the suggested ways of dealing with problems may actually be ways of running away from them.These are normally the easy solutions which require little effort. Just as they are easy, so are they temporary. Issues not dealt with are sure to recur.The more they recur, the stronger they will be and you become unable to handle them.A good way of solving problems is using the method called Root Cause Analysis. This method seeks to get to the bottom of the problem instead of dealing with symptoms.To get to the bottom of the problem, you will need to ask hard questions. Watch the below video to get some insight into this method. When you seek to deal with the issue from the core, you will essentially be eradicating it completely. It is more like uprooting a tree as opposed to cutting it and leaving the stump.For your work anxiety, it is important to be prepared psychologically to deal with the issue. You will be required to do some thinki ng so as to uncover the real cause of your anxiety.The joy and peace of being free from anxiety should drive you to want to take this journey.Get comfortable and clear your mind â€" this is the first step to take. You cannot deal with the cause of work anxiety if your mind is clogged with thoughts. Ensure you are relaxed though ready to do some serious thinking.Find out when the anxiety began â€" this is where you take a journey into history. Have you received a promotion recently? Did the anxiety start after that promotion? Did it start immediately or after some time? If immediately, then you know that the amount and kind of work you have is the norm in that position. If it started later, then you need to know what caused it. Is it a new project that is too demanding? Is it extra work coming to your desk though not due to some new project? Was the extra work officially communicated? Is it in line with your job description? If it was not communicated or is not part of your job descr iption, then you should officially complain about it. This is an opportunity to get that extra work out of your desk.Come up with a permanent solution â€" you already know how the anxiety began. It is now time to get the solution. There are two things which will comprise the permanent solution.Deal with the situation at hand â€" your first priority is to get out of your current situation. Depending on how you answered the questions above, plan on how to delegate the extra duties or finding time to finish it yourself. The option of getting it done by someone else is the best because you really need the burden to be lifted.Set up mechanisms to ensure the situation never recurs â€" this needs some strategic thinking and implementation. Here, you are simply trying to outsmart everyone elseâ€"for a good reason. If you don’t do this, you will get into a situation of anxiety leading to depression.Cover the loopholes which allowed extra work to come your way.Be on the lookout for recurrin g habits of colleagues who seek to ‘dump’ work on your desk.Gently but firmly reject such moves and you will maintain your sanity.Get a lifeDealing with work anxiety is not something you will finish in a single day. It is a journey that will take several strategic actions. You however don’t need to wait till you finish the journey so as to enjoy life.Do you eat at your desk? Do you hurriedly have your lunch and finish it in fifteen minutes in order to get back to work? Do you carry your work home? If this is how you are currently living your life, then you need to put an abrupt stop.Don’t even think about it. Just stop doing things this way.You are actually doing yourself a big disservice.For example, eating quickly so as to avoid ‘wasting time’ can cause problems for your digestive system.Food digestion starts in the mouth and with hurried eating, you are likely not chewing it well enough. The main purpose of chewing is to break down food so as to enable digestion by yo ur digestive enzymes.Without proper chewing, much of the food will not be well digested. This makes you malnourished due to lack of nutrients. You will then lack the energy to carry out your duties.Another problem with this habit is that you will slowly but surely lose friends. Not because they start disliking you but because you have no time for them.The lunch break is a time to relax and catch up while eating. Since your mind is purely on your work, only work-related conversations will interest you.Whenever you speak, all you will talk about is your work. It will be very difficult for you to maintain contact with your friends as long as this situation remains.To avoid facing the difficulty in relating with your friends, you will opt to isolate yourself. “At least I understand myself,” you will say.This is however very far from the truth. You will just be denying yourself the opportunity to enjoy life. As you deal with work anxiety, keep the end result in mind. You can start li ving out the results now.You should also stop carrying your work home. You should not take your mind through work struggles both during the day and night. It may seem reasonable to finish a part of the work at home.But you are creating a dangerous pattern.For example, carrying work home means not having time for your family.This creates a disconnect between you and your spouse and kids. Is it a wonder then that your children will not be able to relate with you? That they will not open up to you when they have a problem?Yet you want to guide and advice them on matters to do with life. They will just not be open to your advice.“If you want to have the time of your life, change how you use the time in your life.” Tim FargoFor a better connection with friends and family, incorporate these tips into your life.Spend your full lunch break outside the office with friends and colleagues.Carry no work home. Let your time at home rejuvenate you after working during the day.Do not check yo ur mail the first thing you wake up. Doing so starts your day with increased stress levels.Do not take work-related calls after working hours. You can switch off your mobile phone or have a separate phone for work. You can then switch it off or leave it at work.Leave work on time and get there on time.Plan for your day the previous evening.CONCLUSIONYou should never take work anxiety as a normal part of your work life.It is too unhealthy to embrace. You are better off living life with a clear mind.This is the only way you will be productive. Whenever you get tired, take time to rest your body. This will enable you to continue with the tasks at hand with a fresh mind.Some people seem to enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes with stressful situations. Adrenaline is important when your body needs to deal with an urgent situation.If your adrenaline is always flowing, then your body will get worn out quickly.Consider the brevity of life and seek to make the most of it. Do not allow your l ife to be defined by work anxiety. That will only make you lose out on both your work life and personal life.As a quick summary, here are the tips for dealing with work anxiety.Prioritize your tasksCheck your work cultureWisely talk to your boss about itTake a breakDeal with the causeGet a life

4 Ways to Train Both Reading and Writing at the Same Time

Since reading and writing are two interconnected skills that everyone needs, they must constantly be worked on. Of course, you can just do things to help your reading, or just do things to help your writing, but why not shorten some time and make efforts to do something that helps both of these skills at the same time? Here we will give you some tips to do just that. Make notes and remember them in order to receive maximum value! 1. Read If you think reading only helps to develop reading skills, you are wrong. Reading not only helps you with the obvious skill of reading itself but also with the skill of writing. It is widely acknowledged that reading many and various types of text also helps improve your writing because it exposes you to different styles, correct grammar, and text organization. And, of course, reading constantly will improve your fluency and reading comprehension. Plus, it’s fun! There are so many books to explore different subjects. 2. Brainstorm Brainstorming is the first stage of writing. It’s also a form of a â€Å"think-aloud†, which is a tool used to think about what you are reading while you are reading the particular text. You can use brainstorming in many different ways, and for many different reasons. Here we mean using brainstorming in terms of writing a paper or a story. There shouldn’t be any structure of your thoughts, but it is a necessary step that will increase your writing ability. You can use brainstorming while reading to increase your comprehension. Think about what you are reading about at the particular moment. Question things, for example- â€Å"why did that happen?† â€Å"I think ___ will happen next†, etc. You can also write notes in the margins to read actively. 3. Write, Read, Write, Repeat Write something. Read it. Rewrite. Repeat. This exercise will help you improve both reading and writing because it encompasses both and because they will build upon each other. Doing one will lead to the other, from which you can learn how to improve the first step. It’s a win-win! 4. Fully Understand the Language Whether your target language is English, German, or Japanese, the best way to improve and train writing and reading together is by studying the language itself. It doesn’t matter if you are a native speaker or an ESL student. You will learn things and how they work that you never knew before. It will help you make sense of reading as well as become a better writer. It can be hard to find activities that greatly train reading and writing together, but when you do (like the ones above) they will help you a lot. To be quite honest though, if you just practice reading or just practice writing it will still help you improve the other skill indirectly. The research shows that since these two skills are so connected, doing one will help the other for sure.

Community Relations Efforts Of Nike Inc. Essay - 2154 Words

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The only active campaign they have running globally is the â€Å"Active Schools† Campaign. There are many strategies and tactics that Nike could use to build back their reputation and regain the consumer base they lost when this issue started. With the large social media platforms Nike has, They are able to show the campaigns that they do and the causes that they believe in. Toms being a smaller company compared to Nike, do so much more for the community- they have many corporate social responsibility programs. Nike stillShow MoreRelatedNike Business Analysis Essay1378 Words   |  6 Pagesleading athletic brand in the world, much of Nike’s success can be attributed to its shrewd marketing strategy. As reported in its 2009-2010 Annual report, because NIKE is a consumer products company, â€Å"the relative popularity of various sports and fitness activities and changing design trends affect the demand for our products†. 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The team’s coach was determined to give his athletes a competitive advantage by always finding the newest and most efficient gear, and began designing and producing sneakers with very limited resources. After twenty-one years of creative turmoil and a superficialRead MoreThe Nature Of Modern Corporations1351 Words   |  6 PagesNorth American corporations such as Nike Inc., Coca-Cola Co. and Sears Co and the increasing awareness of the harm many of these corporations are causing both locally and nationally. The Corporation pleads it’s viewers to recognize lack of social responsibility, and hold modern corporation’s accountable for their actions (Bansal). Noam Chomsky describes the corporation as designed by law to be only concerned for their stock holder as opposed to the community it serves (The Corporation). As corporationsRead MoreNike Strategy Analysis12215 Words   |  49 Pagesp.30 Strategic Plan†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..p.33 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...p.38 LIST OF EXHIBITS 1. Sales Trends Graph†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦p.5 2. Net Income Trends Graph†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.p.5 3. Nike Board of Directors Table†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...p.11 4. Table of Key Financial Ratios†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...p.22 5. Net Income Trend Graph†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦..p.24 6. Primary Strategic Match Position Chart†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Read MoreStrategic Analysis of Nike8813 Words   |  36 Pages------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS 1. Introduction 4 2.1. Vision amp; Mission 4 2.2. Company Portfolio 4 2.3. Nike Value Chain 6 2. Environment Analysis 3.4. Remote Environment Scan 7 3.5. Industry Environment Scan 10 3.6. Business Environment Analysis 11 Read MoreStrategic Analysis of Nike Inc12147 Words   |  49 PagesPositionÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â….p.30 Strategic PlanÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…..p.33 ConclusionÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…...p.38 LIST OF EXHIBITS Sales Trends GraphÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…p.5 Net Income Trends GraphÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â….p.5 Nike Board of Directors TableÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…...p.11 Table of Key Financial RatiosÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…...p.22 Net Income Trend GraphÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â….Â…..p.24 Primary Strategic Match Position ChartÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…..p.30 IndustryRead MoreWhat Is Csr? to What Extent Is There a Business Case for Csr?2114 Words   |  9 Pagesmeaning of what is CSR. As McWilliams, Siegel and Wright (2006) believed, CSR refers to the enterprise bears legal responsibility to the shareholders and make profits at the same time. Furthermore, it has to be responsible for employees, consumers, community and environment. With the economic and social progress, the enterprise is not only responsible for profit, but also to the environment, and bearing corresponding social responsibility. For these reasons, it is argued that first of all, the enterprisesRead MoreBusiness Ethics of Nike Inc.5528 Words   |  23 Pageshas various responsibilities to look upon to, such as to shareholders, employees and the community. Therefore, by embracing this positive concept of ethics as part of the business operation, it will ensure the business is in conducive to success, develop and profitability for the long term wise. In this report, based on the requirement given, I have chosen Nike Inc. as the topic of the discussion. Nike Inc. is the world leading company merchant of athletic shoes, sportswear and sports gear based

Article Reflection 50 Cats by Angelo and Cross Free Essays

Article Reflection: 50 CATS by Angelo and Cross The article I read is â€Å"50 CATS by Angelo and Cross†. After I read the title of this article, two questions jumps out in my mind—-â€Å"what is CATS? † and â€Å"who are Angelo and Cross? †. With my strong curiosity, I choose to read this article. We will write a custom essay sample on Article Reflection: 50 Cats by Angelo and Cross or any similar topic only for you Order Now Before I read it, I decided to find the answer of these two questions first. CATS is the abbreviation of Classroom Assessment Techniques. Angelo and Cross are authors of a book named â€Å"Classroom Assessment Techniques: A Handbook for College Teachers†. After read the description of this book, I learned that the book is aims to offer advises on classroom assessment for teachers at all levels. The book include what classroom assessment entails and how it works; how to plan, implement, and analyze assessment projects; twelve case studies that detail the real-life classroom experiences of teachers carrying out successful classroom assessment projects; step-by-step procedures for administering the techniques; practical advice on how to analyze your data; the fifth classroom assessment techniques is also a part of this book. Classroom assessment is the process of collecting information from students about their growth as learners. It also gives a feedback of the effectiveness as teachers. The purpose of classroom assessment is to improve the quality of students’ learning. The result may help teachers to adjust their teaching strategies. The fifty classroom assessment techniques are divided into three main parts: techniques for assessing course-related knowledge and skills; techniques for assessing learner attitudes, values, and self-awareness; techniques for assessing learner reactions to instruction. Each of them has been subdivided depend on different situations. In a word, they are in detail and everyone of them are very speedy and flexible. They often consume only a few minutes to assess students and get easy and quickly feedback. As future teachers, I think it is necessary for us to learn these fifty classroom assessment techniques. In these fifty classroom assessment techniques I think we should master the techniques for assessing course-related knowledge and skills for basic level. In this section, the assessment has been divided into five subsections. I pick up five of them which are easy to use and quick in response to analyze. 1. Background Knowledge Probe This technique is designed for assess students’ prior knowledge. They are suppose to be short, simple questionnaires which is used at the beginning of a class and serve as pretest. It also can be used as posttest after they finish a chapter. For instance, the instructor may ask students to list courses they have already taken in the relevant field as a pretest. Or, after the instructor teach a certain unit he or she may ask students to write relevant knowledge they have learned which is recalled by this course. That is serve as posttest. Such probe may require students to write short answers or give them multiple-choices to do just in no more than ten minutes. This technique will bring the background knowledge of students and help teachers to determine the appropriate level to begin a lesson. It’s a feedback on the range of how the students prepared for particular class. I believe this technique can be used any time to assess changes in students’ knowledge. The same question can be used in different situation as well. Minute Paper Maybe minute paper is the most frequently used technique. Under this technique, it provides us two questions: What was the most important thing you learned during this class? And What important question remains unanswered? Students are required to write a brief respond in two or three minutes. Personally I think this two questions can show teachers whether their instructional goals get by the students, meanwhile, this is also a way for students to remind themselves to have a general evaluation of what they have learned. Give them an opportunity to think what they want to know and what they still confused about. In this way students get awareness of self-assessment unconsciously. One-Sentence Summary This technique is aims to assessing students’ skill in synthesis and creative thinking. Students should answer the questions â€Å"Who does what to whom, when, where, how and why? about a given topic and write a long summary grammatical sentence include all of these points. In this assessment teachers can get the information about how’s the students’ ability of logical thinking and their ability of summarize. Directed Paraphrasing Instructor will ask students to paraphrase part of a lesson for a specific audience and purpose, using their owe words. This is especially useful for pre-professional students who will be asked in their careers to translate specialized information into language that clients or customers can understand. This technique allow teachers to examine students ability of transforming information into form that can be understand by certain audiences. It can be work in the classroom put students into groups and ask them to paraphrase a lesson and transforming to each others. Student-Generated Test Questions Students are asked to write two or three questions and accompanying correct responses. This assessment will give teachers information about what kind of questions are meaningful to students and how they answer the question is also shows how well the students learned, its a feedback of their study as well. I will continue read this article and analyze all of the fifty classroom assessment techniques. It’s a good modal for teachers to learn and give students appropriate assessment in different situations. They are valuable assessments not only for assessing knowledge of students, but also provide teachers quick feedback and serve as an evidence to adjust their lesson plan or rubric. We can incorporate these classroom assessment techniques into every class session. How to cite Article Reflection: 50 Cats by Angelo and Cross, Essay examples

Night of the Iguana free essay sample

Night of the Iguana by Tennessee Williams is a melodramatic tale of an ex-reverend’s struggle between his faith and sexual desires. Shannon, the ex-reverend, finds him-self fighting between the two conflicting sides of his personality. Shannon’s inner conflict consisted of his desire for young women, as a result of a childhood trauma, and his lust for a lifestyle of purity influenced by god. Shannon’s two conflicting sides are represented by the puritanical and judgmental Ms. Fellowes and the openly lustful Maxine. Hannah, accepting and serene, represents Shannon’s salvation to his internal conflict. With these three women, Williams represents the different aspects of Shannon’s personality which leads to the ultimate resolution of his inner conflict. Ms. Fellows, a woman depicted as a butch lesbian, shows great loathing for Shannon. Ms. Fellowes’s is the play’s physical representation of Shannon’s struggles with his faith. The distain stems from the desire for a young girl, Charlotte, with whom Ms. We will write a custom essay sample on Night of the Iguana or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Fellowes is responsible for. Charlotte’s romantic approaches toward Shannon, along with his seduction only fuel the hatred that was already brewing inside Ms. Fellowes. The jealousy toward the man who stole Charlotte heart and the resentment toward her fragile relationship with Charlotte severely increases Ms. Fellowes’s detestation for the ex-reverend. She constantly criticized and mocked his unique situation and past actions by calling him â€Å"Reverend Defrocked† and rubbing his mistakes in his face, â€Å"Because you what couldn’t keep your hands off innocent under-aged girls in your-†. The malicious taunting and critiquing continues throughout the play. Maxine is the physical representation of Shannon’s sexual desires. Maxine is a free spirit who expresses her sexuality openly and understands sex to be a simple act. Despite her beliefs of sex, she does not confuse sex and love. She even goes as far as directly stating her views on the topic of sex. Maxine’s straightforwardness and open behavior to sex is displayed when she says â€Å"Even I know the difference between sex and love. † An obvious example of Maxine’s love for Shannon is when she says, â€Å"I’ll get you back up honey. † The line, while suggestive towards a deeper emotional meaning, can be interpreted in two ways. However, in both meanings, it is implied that Maxine will stay by Shannon’s side. Her desire for Shannon’s heart and affections were constantly rejected due to Shannon’s childhood trauma, which made Maxine an unlikely candidate for Shannon’s affections. Maxine’s dedication to express her fondness toward Shannon is shown whenever his mental lapses occur. She takes care of Shannon and nurses him back to stability. Hannah is the median between Maxine and Ms. Fellows. She is a kind and welcoming woman, who accepts Shannon for who he really is. Displayed as a saint in the play, Hanna is literally Shannon’s savior. She appears when his life once again cracked up on him, and guides him to salvation. Afterwards, she leaves him, as if serving her purpose and leaving to find another. Hanna saves Shannon by telling him the story of her past love experiences. After listening to his trauma causing childhood story, Hannah tells Shannon that his experience as a child was not disgusting, and implying the he was not disgusting. Stated in the quote, â€Å"Nothing human disgusts me, unless it’s unkind,† Hannah comforts Shannon, allowing him to be released from the chains of his past and giving him the ability to walk towards a brighter future. Hannah, as a result, moves on and fades out of Shannon’s life, as if her only purpose was to save Shannon with a spiritual role. Through Ms. Fellowes, Maxine, and Hannah, Williams expresses the three aspects of Shannon. Williams takes the statement, â€Å"Behind every great man there is a woman. † and extends it far beyond its accepted meaning, connecting Shannon to the three women who changed his life.

Famous Quotes from Woodrow Wilson

Famous Quotes from Woodrow Wilson Woodrow Wilson (1856-1927), the 28th president of the United States, while not considered a terrific orator- he was more comfortable debating than orating- gave many speeches around the country and in Congress during his tenure. Many of them contained memorable quotations. Wilson's Career and Accomplishments Serving two consecutive terms as president, Wilson distinguished himself by leading the country into and out of the World War I and presiding over landmark progressive social and economic reforms, including the passage of the Federal Reserve Act and the Child Labor Reform Act. The 19th Amendment to the Constitution ensuring all women the right to vote was also passed during his administration. A Virginia-born lawyer, Wilson began his career as an academic, eventually landing at his alma mater, Princeton, where he rose to become president of the university. In 1910 Wilson ran as the Democratic Party’s candidate for New Jersey governor and won. Two years later he was elected president of the nation.   During his first term Wilson grappled with the war in Europe, insisting on U.S. neutrality, however by 1917 it was impossible to ignore German aggression, and Wilson asked Congress to declare war, asserting that â€Å"The world must be made safe for democracy. When the war ended, Wilson was a strong proponent of the League of Nations, a forerunner of the United Nations that Congress refused to join.   Notable Quotations Here are some  of Wilson’s most notable quotes:   The Constitution was not made to fit us like a straitjacket.†- A  speech about â€Å"Americanism† at the Cooper Union, in New York, NY, November 20, 1904.Life does not consist in thinking, it consists in acting.- Announcing his presidential campaign in Buffalo, NY, September 28th, 1912.I am not one of those who believes that a great standing army is the means of maintaining peace, because if you build up a great profession those who form parts of it want to exercise their profession.- from a speech in Pittsburgh, quoted in The Nation, February 3, 1916.I believe in democracy because it releases the energies of every human being.- At the Workingman’s Dinner, New York, September 4, 1912.If you think too much about being re-elected, it is very difficult to be worth reelecting.- Address at the celebration of the rededication of Congress Hall in Philadelphia, October 25, 1913.One cool judgment is worth a thousand hasty counsels. The thing to do is to supply light and not heat.- Address at Soldiers Memorial Hall, Pittsburgh, January 29, 1916. There is a price which is too great to pay for peace, and that price can be put in one word. One cannot pay the price of self-respect.- Speech at Des Moines, Iowa, February 1, 1916.The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make.- on the State of War with Germany during an Address to Congress. April 2, 1917.The Americans who went to Europe to die are a unique breed.... (They) crossed the seas to a foreign land to fight for a cause which they did not pretend was peculiarly their own, which they knew was the cause of humanity and mankind. These Americans gave the greatest of all gifts, the gift of life and the gift of spirit.- speech at the American Memorial Day while visiting American graves at Suresnes Cemetery, May 30, 1919. Sources: Craig H. 1952. Woodrow Wilson as an orator. Quarterly Journal of Speech 38(2):145-148.Wilson W, and Pestritto RJ. 2005 Woodrow Wilson: The Essential Political Writings. Lanham, Massachusetts: Rowman Littlefield.Wilson W, and Hart AB. 1918 [2002]. Selected Addresses and Public Papers of Woodrow Wilson. Honolulu, Hawaii: University Press of the Pacific.Wilson, W, and Link, AS. 1993. The Papers of Woodrow Wilson. Princeton University Press.

11 Taboos in Chinese Culture

11 Taboos in Chinese Culture Every culture has its own taboos, and it is important to remain aware of them when traveling or encountering another culture to ensure you dont commit a social faux-pas. In Chinese culture, some of the most common taboos involve gift-giving, birthdays, and weddings. Numbers According to Chinese tradition, good things come in pairs. Therefore odd numbers are avoided for birthday celebrations and weddings. To avoid bad things happening in pairs, activities such as burials and gift-giving are not performed on even-numbered days. In Chinese, the  number four (å››, sà ¬) sounds like the word for death (æ ­ », sÇ ). For this reason, the number four is avoided- particularly on phone numbers, license plates, and addresses. For addresses that do contain fours, the rent is usually less and apartments on the fourth floor are typically rented by foreigners. Work Shopkeepers may opt not to read a book at work because book (æ› ¸, shÃ… «) sounds like lose (è ¼ ¸, shÃ… «). Shopkeepers who read may be afraid their businesses will suffer losses. When it comes to sweeping, shopkeepers are careful not to sweep toward the door, especially during the Chinese New Year, in case good fortune is swept out into the street. When eating a meal, never turn over fish when you are with a fisherman as the motion symbolizes a boat capsizing. Also, never offer a friend an umbrella because the word umbrella (傘, sÇŽn) sounds similar to æ• £ (sn, to break up) and the act is a sign that you will never see each other again. Food Young children should not eat chicken feet as it is believed that doing so will prevent them from writing well when they start school. They may also become prone to fighting like roosters. Leaving food on one’s plate- particularly grains of rice- is believed to result in marriage to a spouse with many pockmarks on his or her face. Not finishing a meal is also believed to incur the wrath of the thunder god. Another Chinese taboo relating to food is that chopsticks should not be left standing straight up in a bowl of rice. This act is said to bring bad luck to restaurant owners as chopsticks stuck in rice look similar to incense placed in urns. Gift-Giving Since good things are believed to come in pairs, gifts given in pairs (except sets of four) are best. When preparing the gift, do not wrap it in white as that color represents sorrow and poverty. Certain gifts are also seen as inauspicious. For example, never give a clock, watch, or pocket watch as a gift because to send a clock (é€ Ã© Ëœ,  sà ²ng zhÃ… ng) sounds like the funeral ritual (é€ Ã§ µâ€š,  sà ²ng zhÃ… ng). According to Chinese taboo, clocks symbolize that time is running out. There are many other such ominous  Chinese gifts to avoid. If you give an unlucky gift by accident, the receiver can make it right by giving you a coin which changes the gift to an item they have symbolically purchased. Holidays It is a Chinese taboo to share stories about death and dying and ghost stories during special occasions and holidays. Doing so is considered extremely unlucky. Chinese New Year There are many Chinese New Year taboos  to be wary of. On the first day of the Chinese New Year, inauspicious words cannot be spoken. For example, words such as break, spoil, die, gone, and poor should not be uttered. During the Chinese New Year, nothing should be broken. When eating fish, diners must be careful to not break any of the bones, and be extra careful not to break any plates. Also, nothing should be cut during Chinese New Year as that signifies one’s life could be cut short. Noodles should not be cut and haircuts should be avoided. In general, sharp objects like scissors and knives are avoided during Chinese New Year. All windows and doors in the home should be open on New Year’s Eve to send out the old year and welcome the New Year. All debts should be paid by Chinese New Year and nothing should be lent on New Year’s Day. When preparing paper dragons for the Chinese New Year, it is taboo for women who are menstruating, people in mourning, and babies to be near the dragons when the cloth is being pasted to the dragon’s body. Birthdays One long noodle is typically slurped on one’s birthday. But revelers beware- the noodle should not be bitten or cut as this is believed to shorten one’s life. Weddings In the three months leading up to a couple’s wedding, they should avoid going to a funeral or wake or visiting a woman who has just had a baby. If one of the couple’s parents passes away before the wedding, the wedding must be postponed for 100 days, as attending happy celebrations during mourning is considered disrespectful to the dead. If a roasted pig is given as part of the bride’s gift to the groom’s family, the tail and ears should not be broken. Doing so would mean the bride is not a virgin. Fifth Lunar Month The fifth lunar month is considered an unlucky month. It is a Chinese taboo to dry blankets in the sun and build houses during this time. Hungry Ghost Festival The Hungry Ghost Festival is held during the seventh lunar month. In order to avoid seeing ghosts, people should not go outside at night. Celebrations such as weddings are not held, fishermen do not launch new boats, and many people opt to postpone their trips during the Hungry Ghost Month. The souls of those who die by drowning are considered to be in the greatest turmoil, so some people refuse to go swimming during this time to lessen the chance of a run-in with wayward ghosts.