3 Dating Misconceptions You Need To Stop Believing

It’s so common to hear people complain about how modern dating is a nightmare and it’s impossible to find somebody that they are compatible with. But a lot of the time, people struggle to find success in their dating life because they believe some of the common misconceptions about dating. There are a lot of things that people get wrong, and it makes it impossible for them to find the right people to date and form successful relationships. These are the common dating misconceptions that you need to stop believing. 

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Online Dating Is Terrible For Real Relationships 

Online dating should, in theory, be great for everybody because you can meet so many new people. But people tend to associate it with casual relationships and they often think that it’s terrible for people that want a real relationship. But that isn’t the case at all and online dating can actually be great. There are so many different dating sites to suit specific types of people so it’s important that you find the right ones. You also need to put time into your bio and come up with something interesting that gives people a sense of your personality. Don’t just write basic things about your interests, write about what kind of person you are and what you are looking for in a relationship. As long as you use it in the right way, online dating can be great. 

Shared Interests Are Essential 

Shared interests and hobbies are good when you first start dating somebody because it gives you something to talk about, but a lot of won’t date somebody if they don’t have much in common. But it’s not shared interests that are important, it’s shared values. That’s why sites like arablounge which match people that share cultures and religions are so good. It doesn’t matter too much if you have different hobbies, but it matters a lot if you fundamentally disagree about important aspects of your lifestyle. Always look for somebody that shares your values, and don’t get too caught up in interests. 

Relationships Solve All Your Problems 

There are so many people that are unhappy in their lives and they think that a relationship will fix it. Then they get into a relationship and they realise that they’re still not happy. Often, they assume that their partner must be the problem and they break it off. But the truth is, relationships won’t fix your personal issues and they will still be there if you start a relationship with somebody, no matter how amazing they are. If you want to be successful with dating, you should spend some time learning how to be happy on your own and dealing with any issues that you have. It’s a bit of a cliche, but you can’t love somebody else unless you love yourself. 

These dating misconceptions are believed by so many people and it ruins their chances of ever forming good relationships. But when you let go of these ideas, you will be far more successful.

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Buying A Drone For Professional Reasons

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When you hear the word drone, you will probably be thinking that they are a big boys toy. Well, you may be right to some degree, but there are lots of great uses for drone technology from a business point of view. If you are someone who has a passion for gadgets, owning your own drone could turn into a lucrative business opportunity for you with a number of areas of business that have a need for this type of technology. 

Drones are exciting! They can fly to reasonable length away from their controllers, they can shoot high-quality pictures and videos which you can look at in a live view either from your controller or from your smartphone. Many come with GPS so you will get greater control over where they are, and some even have the ability to fly themselves to some degree. 

They differ from other remote control flying technologies in the fact that they are a lot more stable. Having four flat rotor blades all working independently of each other means that they are very accurate when it comes to manoeuvring them, and, they can stop still on one spot for any length of time. This makes them ideal for any job that requires aerial photography as you will be able to get a great shot without having to worry about moving the controller around and trying to trigger your camera. 

Drones And The Law

Of course, you will probably have heard a great deal about drones in the news. From many angles, drone technology can be quite controversial. There are a number of safety concerns that center around the use of drones. The most significant of these is using drones near the flight paths of planes. It is against the law to fly a drone near to an airport. There have been many instances now where drones have caused massive disruption, and on one occasion, a London airport was brought to a standstill for 33 hours at a cost of 50 million pounds. The risk to lives when a drone gets too close to a plane is unreal, and as such there are strict laws covering drones and property that everyone who owns one has to adhere too. Even away from airports, there are situations where drones could easily come into contact with planes. For example, many farmers use planes for crop dusting, and these will fly considerably lower than commercial jets do.

You will need to get a license to use your drone, this will ensure that you are registered and understand the restrictions that the aviation authority has set on the flying of drones. 

There is another concern that you should be aware of when getting a drone, and that is the use of them in built-up areas. If you have a camera mounted on your equipment, there are obvious security and privacy concerns and you will need to take these into consideration when using yours. 

Learning To Fly

If you are buying a drone for professional use, then you will certainly want to ensure you know how to fly it first. Drones are obviously very expensive and the last thing that you would want to do is send you new expensive professional piece of equipment hurtling to the ground, to be smashed up. 

One thing that you might want to think about doing is buying a cheaper hobby model to practice on. This will get you used to the basics of flying without the risking a product that will cost a great many times more money. 

You may want to look into getting some flying classes from a drone school. This is a good way to get some expert help and learn all of the tips from the pros. You will learn in a safe environment and in a measured manner. 

What To Look For In A Drone

Shopping for your drone may be a bit of a minefield. You may have heard of some of the top makes and models such as the DGIs. But when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of the issue, you will need to get a good handle on the differences before you part with your cash. 

The distance that a drone can fly to is going to be very relevant to you. Some can only go up to a few hundred metres, which is fine if you only want to do photography and video work of the area that you are stood in, however, if you are needing to take your drone further away, for surveying for example, then you will want something with a range of a couple of kilometres. 

Battery life is going to be a concern, and many people are shocked at how drones don’t stay up in the sky for that long. They require a great deal of battery power to run all of the motors, cameras, and GPS systems, and as such you will generally be looking at the twenty to thirty-minute time span before you will need to bring your drone to the ground to change the battery. Many have an automatic return to base function so that when the battery is low, it doesn’t just drop from the sky. Buy plenty of spare batteries whichever model you go for. Having lots to swap between while you are out will mean that you won’t run out of power!

The next thing that you should check for is the availability of spare parts. There may be times when you do happen to have an accident. A bad wind could knock you off course, or you may misjudge your position. A cracked blade will be enough to ground your drone until it is replaced, so make sure that you can freely buy spares. 

Lastly, and maybe most importantly the camera is of huge significance if you are to use this professionally. Don’t just go by the amount on megapixels the camera has, find out about the lense and if it has features like a zoom. If the camera is not good enough, find out if it is possible to upgrade this.

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The Ultimate Winter DIY Checklist

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Winter is coming. 

Even months after, we still don’t want to let go of Game of Thrones. However today we aren’t talking about an invasion of Whitewalkers… we are talking about the season.

Winter is nearly here and soon we will all be sitting around the Christmas dinner table and celebrating the start of a new year. But in the meantime before the festive season starts, we want to think about jobs that need doing around the house. 

It is important for us to get ourselves ready for the winter and carry out much needed DIY jobs around the home, and that’s why today we are providing a checklist of winter DIYs you should do this week…

Get the heating ready

Before you do anything else you need to make sure that your heating is up and running. Hire a professional to come and check the boiler with Recovery Boiler Monitoring and ensure that it will work all the way through the season without an issue. The last thing you want is for your boiler to shut down in the middle of winter! You will also want to assess your heating and air to make sure you can stay nice and warm with top quality heating services and are able to change it as and when you need to, you can even look at remote thermostats.

Check the Fireplace and Chimney

If you have a fireplace in the home, it is important to do some maintenance on it before the winter season really begins. Make sure to have it cleaned by a chimney sweep and check for any cracks before you use it. 

Check Detector Batteries

It is incredibly important that now and again you check your smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries. At a time of year when you’ll be cooking big roasts and having lots of family in the home, safety is paramount and you should make sure that these are well prepared. 

Prevent Pipes from Freezing

If you are a new homeowner especially, one thing you may not consider when winter comes in your water pipes. Water comes in and out of the home in pipes, and if the temperature is low enough the water inside the pipes will freeze and block your supply. Use pipe coverings to warm up the pipes and keep the water flowing all winter long. 

Prepare for the weather

Winter is a time when the weather is often more unpredictable than in summer. When winter comes, it is a good idea for you to prepare the home for high winds, rain, and snow or ice. You can do this by blocking gaps under windows and doors, checking the brickwork around the foundations of the home and adding insulation. Also, think about a blackout occurring and make sure you have plenty of bottled water, torches and candles, and a phone charging case. 

Block doors and windows 

The elements are harsh during winter and it is important to keep the hot air in and cold air out. To do this, block gaps in the doors with draught excluders and make sure there are no gaps around the windows. 

Once you have taken the time to carry out these tasks, your home should be ready for winter and you’ll be able to enjoy the festive season with peace of mind.

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Why Dating 2.0 Is Not All Bad

Online dating has a surprisingly bad reputation. Even though more and more married couples admit they’ve met online, the public mind refuses to believe that cyber technology and screen time can provide a healthy ground for a love story. 

In my time, say the seniors, people met at school or through friends. Sure, a lot of happily married couples today have tied the knot with their college sweetheart. But not everyone gets to cross paths with their significant other through their day-to-day activities. When you’re stuck in a closed social circle, online dating offers a new perspective on things. 

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It gives you more choice

First and foremost, dating sites are all about choice. Think of it as the romantic pendant of a networking platform such as LinkedIn. It gives you new insights into your surroundings, letting you meet new people who share your interests. While it’s no guarantee that you’re going to find your soulmate online, dedicated platforms such as Muslim dating sites or lawyer dating networks can help you to explore a micro-community. While it’s not to say you should only date people who share the same story and background, it can be a helpful approach to make friends when you’re new in town. 

You join the game with your eyes open

Your cyber dating journey begins with the creation of your profile. Your profile is, in many ways, similar to LinkedIn profiles. It’s a summary of who you are, except that you’re not trying to sell your professional skills and experience. Therefore, your dating profile lets you share what you expect from life and what makes you happy. For many online daters, it’s an exercise in defining their sense of purpose. Why does it matter? Typically, as you try to describe what you want to achieve in life through your profile, you get a better sense of who you are and what you need from a dating partner. The simple act of creating your profile and filling up the blanks gives you time for self-reflection. 

You don’t waste time

Dating apps have become a swiping exercise. Swipe right, swipe left, you choose whether you like the person or not. At first, it can appear a little too superficial. Most users describe their Tinder or other app interactions in terms of choosing whether the person in the photo is hot or not. It can feel pretty much like shopping for your next date. But in reality, the process happens naturally in real life too. You have a type, and therefore, you’re more likely to be attracted by people who share the same features. While the dating swipes might feel shallow, it’s an extension of your taste. You don’t waste time getting to know people who don’t fit your type. 

You communicate more

The advantage of online communication is that, for a lot of people, chatting comes easier than having a face-to-face conversation with a stranger. Therefore, the dating revolution gives busy introverts the ideal platform to get to know each other and share jokes and personal stories even before their first meeting. Why does it matter? Because you can be relaxed on your first actual date if you’ve already become cyber-friends. 

Is online dating as bad as the media make it to be? The debate is still open. However, depending on what you need and seek, it can be the perfect solution for you. After all, we’re all different, so it’s only fair to offer different dating paths. 

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DIY Jokes To Get You Through Your Project

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DIY is one of those skills we all have to learn when we become adults and own our first home. Home projects can often be fun and exciting, but others can also be arduous and stressful to complete. If you are looking to build the house of your dreams this year you’ll need to get to grips with how to do many simple DIY tasks such as changing light fittings and wallpapering. 

When it comes to installing Interstate Dry Wall, ripping up carpets, and drilling holes in the walls we could all use a little bit of motivation and encouragement. That’s why today we are going to share some fun DIY jokes to get you through the work…

God walks into a DIY store in Lancashire looking for an ornamental well for the garden of Eden. Not sure where to look, he seeks a cashier for directions…

Before God says a word, the cashier recognizes the big guy and says “well, I’ll be!”

God replies “I thought I was the only one with superpowers?! Thanks.” and off he goes to the second isle.

I’m not very good at DIY but I managed to attach a piece of wood to another piece of wood.

Nailed it.

Went to a DIY store and asked for a plank. Since I’m a cheapskate I asked for 20% off.

The salesman came back with a plan.

Why does Sean Connery suck at DIY?

A lack of shelf awareness.

I wrote a book on DIY.

It comes with a free pen.

My wife told me if I went on the lads holiday to Vegas leaving her and the kids behind I’ll come home to find the locks changed …Good. My key has been sticking for months, it’s about time she did some DIY.

I think my new idea for DIY orthodontics is going to take the world by storm.

brace yourself

A man was doing some DIY work on his gas stove

When it all of a sudden blew up and sent him flying through his roof and up into the sky.

On his way up he passed a man falling down from the sky and asked him: “Hey, you know anything about gas stoves?”

The guy falling responded, “Nope, you know anything about parachutes?”

My friend told me that his DIY liquid rocket made it to space…

I told him to quit being hypergolic.

I’m addicted to DIY repairs.

I can’t stop thinking about my next fix.

I’ve had a bad day…Not only would the toilet not flush but I’ve been banned from the DIY store.

A DIY kidney transplant…

…is a home renalvation.

The worst thing about living next door to MC Hammer is the constant DIY noise.

I shouted ‘Stop!’ but if anything that made it worse.

I went to the DIY shop and bought a curtain rail. The shop assistant asked if I was putting it up myself. I replied “no you dirty sod. I’m putting it up in the dining room”

I wanted to buy some literature on DIY shelving

Sounds easy, but try going into a book store and asking if they have “any books on shelves”

DIY Holy Water…You take ordinary tap water and boil the Hell out of it.

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What’s Wrong With My Car? Things To Look For When Your Car Just Isn’t Right

Having a car, especially at this time of the year is a blessing. You can travel quickly and efficiently without having to worry about relying on public transport or worse – getting cold from walking everywhere. So, when something goes wrong with your car, it can be rather distressing and again, at this time of the year the last thing anyone needs is another expense. If your car isn’t sounding or feeling right you should always take it to the mechanic before it escalates into something bigger. However, there are things that you can look for yourself and fix without the need of a mechanic at all. Check out these things to look for when your car just isn’t right.

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Your car is using more fuel than normal

It’s easy to drive further than normal and wonder why your fuel tank is emptying faster than normal. However, if this is a regular occurence and you’re not travelling any further than you normally would, there could be a number of causes:

  • Your tyres need pumping up. Flat tyres need to work harder to move your car across the roads, therefore using more fuel. Pump up your tyres for optimum fuel consumption.
  • Check for leaks when you’ve been parked for a considerable amount of time. Quite often owners don’t realise their car even has a leak until they’ve parked in one spot for a longer period of time!
  • Drive slower! We know how tempting it is to put the pedal to the floor on an open road. However, you’ll be using much more fuel than normal. Stick to moderate speeds as much as possible and you’ll notice your fuel consumption drop.

Your car is making an unusual noise

There’s nothing worse than hearing your car make an unusual noise but often there are simple fixes that you can try before taking your car to the garage:

  • Check your oil level. Too much or too little oil in your car can cause it to make strange ticking noises. Filling your oil is simple and cheap to do. This could also be affecting your performance transmissions, so be sure to keep on top of this.
  • Check for holes in your exhaust pipe as this can create loud sounds. If you find one, take your car to your mechanic as soon as possible.
  • If you hear a high pitched whining noise, it may be your wheel bearings or even flat tyres. 

Your car has lost power

Your car losing power is quite an alarming symptom to arise. However, if you’ve got a car that usually has a turbo it might be worth turning your inertia switch off, leaving it for ten minutes and then turning it back on again. This can often restart your turbo and bring your car back.

Remember that if you’re worried about your car it’s always best to let a mechanic take a look. Troubleshooting these ideas however, could save you a trip to the garage and a bill this side of Christmas.

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Here’s Why Ortigas Center is the New Buzz in Real Estate

Metro Manila, over the decades, has slowly but surely grown to be one of South East Asia’s bustling business hubs. The country’s unique location and diverse workforce have allowed it to birth and nurture both local companies and international corporations. So, it’s not surprising that Manila is steadily evolving to accommodate the new needs of a population composed of professionals, families, and even retirees.

In the Heart of the Metro

Among the many thriving cities in the metro, one of the most multifaceted locations is in the boundaries of Pasig, Quezon City, and Mandaluyong. With major tech companies, marketing startups, commercial districts filled with restaurants and shopping centers, and a variety of both recreational and business establishments, one of the most prevalent developments have been sought-after condominiums in Ortigas Center. This complements the recent trend in which an increasing number of homeowners are opting to invest in a condominium unit. Ortigas continues to be a popular choice for these investors, whether they are buying or renting.

Aside from being populated by a wide variety of businesses, Ortigas is also nestled between Makati City and Quezon City, two other thriving districts. It has the advantage of having a large array of options for transport, with the metro railways and EDSA being a stone’s throw away. The urban planning also ensures that most of the area is walkable with wide sidewalks, accessibility, and clear signages, making it easy for practically anyone to maneuver and find their way around.

Families and Opportunities

Considering that it is close to prominent highways and large-scale establishments, the city is still able to maintain a peaceful atmosphere, especially in the residential areas where families with even young children opt to live.

Although the busy streets of Ortigas Center are perfectly fit for the lifestyle of the working millennial market, the district has shown to be family-friendly with its schools, medical facilities, and areas that are either specifically geared towards families or simply open and enjoyable for citizens of all ages.

This active growth in community has led to staggering numbers, with demand for residential space growing. Statistics have shown that the development of new office spaces in the district will create even more movement in the workforce and create more demand for housing, with residential condos exceeding 50,000 units in presale and more unit owners putting their properties up for rent.

Land dedicated to office spaces has been shown to take upwards of 1.5 million square meters. This demand is up to par with other avenues such as hotel and leisure, showing that even tourists and visitors from other cities are making numbers for the city. Locally, data shows that “staycationers” take up a lot of demand for three and four-star hotels. With traveling millennials taking up more than half of the count for local travelers, budget hotels and hostels are also sustained. Even luxury spots remain at capacity because of the influx of travelers from consistent foreign markets such as South Korea, Japan, and the United States.

With that, it seems clear that Ortigas Center has truly solidified its place as one of the modern powerhouses in the region. This not only benefits the local economy and the government, but simply gives people more options for whatever they want – a new place to work, a different scene they’d like to try, or a place to call home.

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Reasons Your Mental Health Isn’t Improving

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Mental health is currently an epidemic that is causing a generation of teens and adults a lot of trouble. Thankfully, the stigma surrounding it has eased recently, and now people are more willing to discuss their issues without the fear of their friends and family avoiding them. 

However, coping with mental health is not done when you acknowledge you are struggling; it is only the beginning. It might be that you are currently undergoing treatment for depression, anxiety, or stress but are not seeing the results you hoped. It could be the treatment is not right for you, but there are other reasons your mental health is not improving. 

You Aren’t Taking Advice On Board

You can attend all the therapy sessions you like and talk to professionals until you run out of things to talk about, but if you neglect to take on their advice for improving your mental health, then you will not see the improvements you hope for. 

Taking this advice on board is crucial to helping you recover, even if it doesn’t work. Regardless of its success, you’ll be able to find a treatment that does work, which could allow you to feel better sooner. 

You Are Holding Onto Existing Crutches

Part of recognizing mental health issues is discovering what crutches and habits are causing the problem. These issues could be a variety of things, including pornography addiction, smoking, or a harmful social media habit. 

It’s difficult to remove these habits from your everyday routine, but if they are proven to have a negative impact, then distancing yourself from them is one of the first steps towards improvement. There might be times where you falter, but this is just part of the process, so keep on trying until it sticks. 

You Aren’t Treating Your Body Well Enough

Whether it’s diet, exercise, or sleep, a healthy mind is made better by a healthy body. It’s understandable not to have the motivation to go to the gym, cook healthy meals, or get to sleep at a reasonable time when your mental health is affecting you, but you need to try. 

To overcome this, try setting up routines that ease you into better habits instead of throwing yourself into unsustainable expectations. Start small and allow your routine to grow from there, and soon you will manage to take better care of your body. 

You Aren’t Getting Out There

Isolating yourself from friends and family often seems like the best way to cope with issues, especially if you feel you don’t want to burden them with your problems. However, keeping yourself away from others who care about you means you are often trapped with your own thoughts, which can have adverse effects on how you feel. 

Fixing to Change

You cannot expect to get better unless you dedicate yourself to making changes to your life that will benefit you. It is not enough to seek therapy or take medication; there needs to be a conscious effort from you to tackle your problems. Consider these reasons why your mental health isn’t improving, and see if making changes related to these has a positive effect on how you feel.

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Social Enablers: Builders of Happiness and Health

Originally posted by Margaret-Ann Burness on silvernest.com on Nov 27, 2017

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A few years ago, I went cellphone shopping with my seventy-year-old mom. Much to my surprise, she wasn’t shopping for a basic phone. No, she wanted an iPhone. I was shocked. I knew she could handle the upgraded technology, but I just assumed she wanted the path of least resistance and stay with what she knew. Leave it to my mom, once again, to prove that I don’t know it all.  

Like many of my peers in their 40s and early 50s, I was too quick to put her and her generation into a box. I made unfounded assumptions, and lumped my mom into the stereotypical “older generation” of yesteryear, and I was astounded by her new fearless, “all in” approach to technology.  

But then why should I be surprised? Fearlessness is what Mom’s generation was built on. Just think back to the 1950s. Their approach to so many different things—innovation, manufacturing, and social evolution—is their hallmark. And the 65.2 million boomers retiring look nothing like their predecessors, and their digital adoption is the greatest example of that.  

And they’re not dabblers either. That’s right, boomers today not only use, but also engage in technology daily and even hourly.  

What’s the Attraction?  

It’s all rooted in Generation Z. It’s “grandchild factor.” Let’s be honest, it’s a big motivator – I mean, my mom barely acknowledges me when my daughter is around. But beyond those cute smiles and first-day-of-school pictures, the digital realm of possibility triggered their “take charge” attitudes as it did for my mom. Just like it did for Rebecca on the NBC’s mega hit “This is Us.” Her character joined Facebook to see pictures of her son’s newborn baby and it eventually opened up a new world of possibilities for her like connecting with old friends and even leading to a second marriage. 

Keeping up with family and friends is the number one reason most all us go online, regardless of age. Think about it. While we all love our alone time, my introverted self especially, in the end we’re pack animals. We crave social connection. And today, with so many families and friends spread across the country, social platforms like Facebook and new technology such as smart phones have become our connectors. With that in mind, it only makes sense that all generations, especially boomers, would want to engage. For my mom, it was her innate yearning to be closer to me and my family who live over 2000 miles away. For me, it’s about staying close to friends whether down the street or across the country, and reconnecting with family, around the world, who I wouldn’t otherwise see.  

So, it’s no wonder that technology adoption is exploding among all generations including boomers. It just makes us happier and when we’re happier, we’re healthier. Seriously. AARP reports that living alone over 50 is the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day on our health and studies have shown that loneliness can increase the likelihood of morality by as much as 30%.   

Craving socialization also opens to a window as to why boomers and seniors are looking into alternative aging options like co-housing and house sharing. Not only are they the generation of invention, but they are also demanding more from their lives and retirement than their parents.   

So, this holiday season, when your mom or dad asks for an iPad or a smart phone – don’t laugh. In fact, encourage it and encourage them to build their social connections both on and offline. Not only can it improve their happiness but their health, too. And it may even bring everyone in your family closer. And to that point, while technology is fantastic way to build social connections, nothing replaces genuine one-on-one contact – for them or for you.  So, encourage their technology whimsy, but also take the opportunity to reconnect and inspire them to be more social overall. 

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4 Reasons The Young Have It Tougher Than People Think

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As an adult, it can sometimes be difficult to resist the temptation to look at younger generations with a mix of envy and cynicism. One only has to spend a few moments on social media or watching rolling news to hear a story about how, supposedly, modern teenagers are the “snowflake” generation – while the list of industries that have supposedly been “killed” by millennials grows by the day. If an alien were to land on Earth tomorrow and get their information from the average cable news channel, they’d be forgiven for wondering what modern youngsters were up to, given the way they are portrayed in the media.

However, for those of us who have enough years under our belts to be able to look back on adolescence with some detachment, it’s wise to be a bit more forgiving. For one thing, every generation that has passed has, at one stage, been subject to the same cynicism from older generations. Everyone who has ever been a teenager has heard similar criticisms ringing in their ears and lamented that grown-ups “just don’t understand”. There is more than a grain of truth in that complaint. While adults may be envious of the opportunities and freedoms available to younger generations, we can never really understand the pressures that are placed on them.

If you doubt this for a moment, read on below to see why there are plenty of reasons why being a teenager or young adult in the present day is harder than it’s ever been.

1. Growing up in the digital age is scary

Anyone who grew up in the 20th century, or even the earlier years of the 21st, will have faced mostly the same pressures during their school days. Peer pressure, bullying and puberty all made adolescence a minefield – whether you were a teen in the 1950s or the 1990s. However, at no time have the stakes been quite as high as they are for someone who is at school in the present day. Thanks to the development of technology, we’ve moved quickly from being the internet age to the smartphone age.

While there is no denying that technology has offered us no end of opportunities, it has also brought with it an equally large number of headaches, and there is no doubt that it has brought a new dimension to bullying. Malicious rumours, unflattering photos and cruel videos are all much easier to share and can spread much more widely now than even a decade ago. Think back to how tough your school days were. Now imagine how much harder they would have been if everybody in your school had a multimedia editing suite in their pocket.

2. The world is in a period of flux

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There has long been an unspoken contract between generations that dictates that the younger one will inherit the world from its seniors in a better condition than when the latter received it. Through advances in the fields of medicine, technology and more besides, this has generally been the case, particularly financially. However, as we stand on the cusp of a new decade, it’s impossible for this generation to say that they will be able to keep the aforementioned contract.

The millennial and post-millennial generations are set to be the first in centuries to receive a world in worse shape than the generation before. Today’s young people are likely to be poorer than the previous cohorts. The average wage in the US has risen by 67% since 1970, which is great. Over the same period, however, the majority of basic living expenses have increased by more than that – in some cases multiplying many times over. That’s the world our young people are getting ready for.

Not only this, the young are inheriting a planet which is, by the agreement of a majority of scientists, entering a period of climate emergency. All of this, and they’re constantly being told that all of this is somehow their fault. It’s no wonder that the need for teen anxiety treatment is growing, when you look at it that way. It’s on older generations to better understand the pressures teenagers face.

3. More is expected of teens nowadays

Much is made of the increased opportunities on offer for today’s children, and with good reason. A teenager in 2019 will have access to information, initiatives and organisations that would have been beyond the wildest dreams of their parents or grandparents at the same age. There’s no doubt that this is something that goes in the “advantage” column for a modern teenager.

There is, of course, a “but” attached to this point, which is that with this greater level of opportunity comes more responsibility. By the time a modern teenager graduates from college, they are likely to be saddled with debt that could take them decades to pay back – and facing a cost of living that far exceeds what their grandparents experienced. In addition, to compete for the college places they want, teenagers may have to do unpaid voluntary work and add more extracurricular activities to stay ahead of the pack. 

4. They’re expected to enjoy all of this

Amid the need to look out for cyberbullying, save more money and live a greener lifestyle, one thing that hasn’t changed about being a teenager is the general attitude of adults towards their younger counterparts. Now, this may sound like a criticism of adults, but it really isn’t. The way we look at the world changes as we get older, and it makes sense that when you are a gainfully-employed adult paying taxes in the “real” world, the concerns of teenagers will seem quite minor by comparison. 

The thing is, it’s only through experience that we can make that comparison – so it’s a little unfair to expect teenagers to have that same perspective when they’ve had so much less time to get that experience. There are so many demands on them to grow up faster than we ever had to, and we’re expecting them to be grateful for a world that is more expensive, more intrusive and facing more pronounced changes than any other recent generation faced. 

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So if you find yourself any time soon looking at younger people with that mix of envy and cynicism, it’s worth remembering the above and giving them the leeway you wanted when you were their age.

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