No boring white

Monday, November 24, 2014

MOOC The Science of Happiness - Enroll the self-paced version!

Self-paced version of "The Science of Happiness" launching on December 1!

You can register now for a completely self-paced version of this course! You'll just need to complete the graded assignments by May 31, 2015, to earn a certificate of completion. I enjoyed the course! It was the second MOOC I enrolled so far. I did midterm and final exam this November and I will get my certificate soon. Look! I am really proud of this.

I found this course very interesting. I have to say I knew nothing about Positive Psychology before I made these readings nor Psychology was an interest of mine. I enrolled out of pure curiosity. I found many of the subjects fascinating. So I have no problems to challenge you to enroll. It's free quality knowledge and unlike myself you will not suffer from the pressure of time.

"A free eight-week Science of Happiness course that will offer practical, research-backed tips on living a happy and meaningful life." - Huffington Post

Have a look at the contents:

Week 1: Introduction to the Science of Happiness

Week 2: Happiness & Human Connection

Week 3: Kindness & Compassion

Week 4: Cooperation & Forgiveness

Week 5: Midterm Exam (and time to catch up on course material)

Week 6: Mindfulness, Attention, and Focus

Week 7: Mental Habits of Happiness: Self-Compassion, Flow, and Optimism

Week 8: Gratitude

Week 9: Finding Your Happiness Fit and the New Frontiers

Final Exam

"We all want to be happy, and there are countless ideas about what happiness is and how we can get some. But not many of those ideas are based on science. That’s where this course comes in.

“The Science of Happiness” is the first MOOC to teach the ground-breaking science of positive psychology, which explores the roots of a happy and meaningful life. Students will engage with some of the most provocative and practical lessons from this science, discovering how cutting-edge research can be applied to their own lives. Created by UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, the course will zero in on a fundamental finding from positive psychology: that happiness is inextricably linked to having strong social connections and contributing to something bigger than yourself—the greater good. Students will learn about the cross-disciplinary research supporting this view, spanning the fields of psychology, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and beyond.

What’s more, “The Science of Happiness” will offer students practical strategies for nurturing their own happiness. Research suggests that up to 40 percent of happiness depends on our habits and activities. So students will learn many different research-tested practices that foster social and emotional well-being—and the course will help them track their happiness along the way.

Are you a Google Plus user?

Today I met this guy on the train. He was marketing on his smartphone. I hate people who are glued to smartphones all the time. After a while we were talking about Google+ and Facebook. He said he has some sucessful business pages on Facebook. I tried to convince him that G+ is the place to be. I don’t know if Facebook still works for you but for me it’s not. My Facebook pages are almost dead! Maybe I wasn't active like I once was or active enough to get my voice out.But now, with the same attention investment I get zero results. Well, he said his customers are not on G+, they are all on Facebook! But what about potential customers, I asked. Maybe they are already active on Google Plus, no? Considering FB has all but eliminated organic reach I think this guy should pack and move. The only good result I get from Facebook is on my actual profile page and that’s not the ideal place for branding. Then he said Google Plus isn't that good and that I should get informed. After that I let him be and plunged my eyes into my book...

I've been doing some readings about G+ just now because, true, I lacked strong arguments. Just a few lines here and there. Not everyone is writing wonders about Google Plus. But there are some positive implications of being present on G+ like fast indexation of content by Google or easy interaction with other services. Also it's pretty easy to use, not so different from from other services. Most of all what's really important is how you use it and not if you use it or not... I think that the best practices at Google Plus are the same I knew already from my blogging experience.

I think that rule number one to be successful in these services is to be present. There must be a routine. It's just like blogging. You are ther to interact with others. You don't need to post a lot, you need to meet what your readers expect from you.
Then you must provide some kind of value to your readers. It can be a lot of different things. You must know the audience a little or you will fail. It can be funny and amusement stuff. I like people that create a good mood online with their posts. Or it can be informative stuff - I do apreciate people that can give me good advice or post something that adds to my knowledge. I sometimes don't know what to do. And I ask for help. Someone provides a good link to some good content or explains perfectly what I want to know. I thank the gods for the internet! My problem just got solved! Isn't that great?
To make good and constructive comments and to provide honest feedback is of major importance also. You don't have to agree to everything. But we have to keep the good sense on. Sometimes people are rude just because they are online and faraway. It's common not to respect the validity of others opinion. I usually don't like to get envolved in "live or die" discussions. I try to be polite. I behave online as I behave in real life. I sometimes forget that I should always stay focused on the original topic. I get carried away and write a hundred words about cats when the post is all about dogs! I must not forget to +mention! This is the same as I did when in Twitter @mention or @name in Facebook.
It's pretty bad to pass something off as your own work. Anything. Text, photos, illustrations. Give credit where credit is due. I never understood why people re-posted my posts on Facebook instead of just clicking the button Share. It looks like everyone is trying to be the first there! It's a bit silly. I never felt like I was on a competition. But for some it looked like something important. Usually I thank the person who shared something if I liked it and am re-sharing it. I think I can do the same on Google Plus...
Then there's the spam. I'm always a bit afraid of doing too much promotion!I know the rule is to create good content that can attract people to me and what I do. Sometime's it's not easy to escape to tentation! But in the long run it will compensate to build a solid reputation online. If you get a good reputation you can sell anything! You can make a page on Google+. It’s similar to making a business Page on Facebook. Use your profile to market your business. Describe your products or service in it. Use natural descriptions and don't try to put a lot of keywords there.

I still find Google terminology a bit awkward - in Facebook I Friend someone, in Twitter I Follow a person. In Google Plus we say to Circle/Uncircle someone! LOL! If I enjoy something I see on Facebook I Like it but on Google I just +1-ed or plus it! Doesn't it sound weird?! But, again, Likes were also a bit strange before they were turned into ordinary. I have no doubts: +1 is the new Like!

Here's a list of my readings about Google Plus:

How to Optimize Google Plus Business Page

Twelve Things You Should Do on Your Personal Google+ Account Right Now

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Watches from Zazzle designers for women, men and kids

Monogram pink eiffel tower pattern wristwatches by Brothergravydesigns

View Monogram Watches online at zazzle

Hi! Do you wear a watch everyday? I do! Well, most of the time, I do. Not at weekends, if I stay home, of course! I have a watch my grandmother gave me when I was in university. It's a beautiful watch. And then I have this very cheap watch I wear when I go for my long walkings and to the beach.

For many people watches are old technology that we don't need because every mobile phone and digital screen available will show you what time is it! But for some to wear a watch is still a cherished tradition, they love the beautiful piece of craftsmanship that a watch is. There are watch collectors, there are those who believe they bring a kind of sophistication to the user. For girls and women it's a fashion acessory to the wrist like a bracelet. And for man a way to make a statement of design and fashion as they are so limited on fashion acessories they can wear. And for those who do international business it's very helpful to have one of those with dual time zones so they know when make phone calls!

I find it much easier to glance at my wrist, rather then to pull out my phone of the pouch, unlocking it and hitting a button! Sometimes it can be on top of my desk but there are lots of moments when my phone is out of sight. It's still a lot more effort than turning my wrist. Imagine when you're driving or shopping, or even walking the dog,I think it's pratical.

And here's a collection of Zazzle watches for women, men and kids! They're a piece of design, with variations on lots of themes. Some of it you can personalize with your name. You have serious watches here, funny watches, you can match it with the color of your clothes, your hobby, there's plenty ideas to choose from.