HEALTH BENEFITS OF READING: WHY YOU SHOULD READ BOOKS

We live in a time where reading books are viewed as old school. And it isn’t just the kids, either. Even the adults don’t read as much as the older generations did. They are either too busy with work or opt for movies, games or playing with their mobile phone. The following are just five reasons why reading is beneficial to us all.

1. IT MAKES YOU SMART: No denying that people who read are way smarter than those who don’t. I mean, you now have the knowledge to talk about things with others. You have the information to carry out a conversation, unlike people who cower away due to lack of knowledge. You can fit in any situation because you have read up on certain things and are updated with current events.
2. ENRICHES THE VOCABULARY: There are no doubts about the fact that reading will enrich your vocabulary. You will not be sticking to the usage of everyday words but rather learn newer and more synonyms of certain words And this helps you in life as well as it enables you to describe your feelings in a more picturesque manner. I myself have seen how comfortable I am having a conversation with people where I can use various words instead of repeating the same thing. And it all happened because I read a lot during my teenage days.
3. ENHANCES YOUR CREATIVITY :This point is my personal favourite and something that I can relate to and give solid evidence on. When you are reading on a constant basis, your overall creativity levels will increase by leaps and bounds. Why? Because you are now acquiring a lot of new knowledge and new data that you can use in your daily life. Not just that, if you are reading the work of different writers, then you get a full insight as to how they think and how they perceive things. This broadens your mind and you can use titbits of one writer and a few more and enhance your own creativity.
4. INSOMNIA CURE : This may be the best selling point for reading books. So many people are suffering from insomnia that they would do anything to get a good night’s sleep. Reading has this effect on your whole body and mind. It calms you down and signals your brain that it’s time to relax and shut down. We are always on our smartphones and laptops and the lights coming out of those devices signals our brain to stay awake. So when you are reading quietly in a dimly lit room, your brain gets the idea that it can fall asleep now. If that doesn’t convince you to start reading then I do envy your ability to sleep on time.
5. STRESS RELIEVER :You may not believe this but reading can actually help you to relieve your stress. How may you ask? Well, when you are stressed it obviously means that something is in your mind that’s making your overthink. In such situations, if you take out a book and start reading it, you will be diverting your mind away from that stressful topic and be taken to a world of fiction and literature. This helps you to calm down and as we all know, a calm mind is more adept at finding solutions than a stressed out one.

7 WAYS TO ELIMINATE DEPRESSION FROM YOUR LIFE

Eliminating the state of depression from your everyday life, is something that requires time, patience, and practice. Symptoms may include you sleeping too much or perhaps, not enough at all. Lacking energy or decreased noticeability in your energy/stamina will also be a sign. These are just a few warning signals. With this list, we present you with seven ways to help eliminate depression from your life.
1. SEEKING HELP FROM A COUNSELOR.

Talking things through with your friends or family may or may not help but speaking with a licensed counselor is beneficial to your mental health. Being open to having a counselor help you through can make the process easier, avoiding the feeling of shame for seeking help.
2. HAVING FUN

Although the thought of having fun sounds like an unbearable task, it’ll help eliminate depression from your life. Going out with a group of friends to different places can be a cool way to break through. It doesn’t have to be activities with your friends — as long as you’re doing something considerably fun, it can be family who join you through the day’s venture.
3. HAVING A ROUTINE

Perhaps you don’t have a set way of going through your day. Having a new routine can be the start to eliminating depression from your life. After work you could start going to the gym and then having family dinner afterwards. It doesn’t have to be that exactly, but consistency along with being organised can do wonders for your mood – putting yourself in full control.
4. CHANGE YOUR DIET
You are what you eat? The foods you digest could be the difference between a positive mood or a negative one. It can also add pressure to your state of depression. Dark “leafy” vegetables, walnuts, soybean oil, flaxseed and salmon are just some foods and ingredients you can add to your meals or snacks, in order to help eleviate depression from your life.
5. EXERCISE
Exercise can not only be a good decision for your body, but your mind will find benefits on the treadmill or track, as well. Exercise can serve as an accomplishment and pushes your body to new limits. Almost like escapism, exercise can take you away from reality and stresses that press against your brain. Killing two birds with one stone, exercising will provide a healthier life both physically and mentally. This is definitely recommended!
6. TRYING NEW THINGS

Adding new elements to your life can add a significant boost to the quality of your life, knocking off the depression that weighs you down. Some new elements include new friends, food, and places. When you allow newness into your life, you can feel the difference and possibly adding just the right kick your life needed.
7. SEEK A HIGHER POWER FOR STRENGTH
Believing and having faith in something or someone much higher than you, can help eliminate the negative thought patterns that travel through your mind. The higher power can serve as a guide of strength that won’t allow you to fall, even on the darkest of days.

Spiritually, you’ll feel more alive and find various purposes for why your life matters and why there are brighter days that lie ahead. The higher power serves as the strength that you weren’t able to gain on your own. We all can use a little help, this is just another way of getting some assistance for your state of mind.

Uber to cut 3,700 jobs, CEO Khosrowshahi to waive base salary

Uber Technologies Inc (UBER.N) will cut about 3,700 full-time jobs and Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi will forgo his base salary for the remainder of the year, the company said on Wednesday, as the COVID-19 pandemic decimates its ride-hailing business.

The company said the layoffs included its customer support and recruiting teams, and expects to incur about $20 million in costs for severance and related charges.

Uber and rival Lyft (LYFT.O) have already withdrawn their full-year financial outlooks as demand for app-based rides dropped sharply across the world after governments imposed stay-at-home orders to curb the transmission of the coronavirus.
But Uber, which operates in more markets around the world than Lyft, could recover some lost revenue with its food delivery business.

On Monday, Uber's Middle East business Careem said it was cutting 536 jobs this week, representing 31% of the Dubai-headquartered company's workforce.

Lyft will report its quarterly results on Wednesday after market hours and Uber is expected to report earnings on Thursday.

Uber shares opened 3% lower on Wednesday.

BREAKING: Zamfara Emir dies in isolation

Emir of Kaura-Namoda in Zamfara State, Alhaji Mohammed Asha, is dead.
He was believed to have died of complications from COVID-19.

Zamfara Publicity Secretary for the Control and Prevention of COVID-19, Alhaji Mustafa Jafaru Kaura, sai the deceased had been in isolation at the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau for three days.
Though his blood sample had been sent to Abuja, Mustafa said he died while the result was still being awaited.

He said the remains of the late Emir were still in the hospital waiting for burial by officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

Details shortly…