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5 People in History Who Truly Mastered Their Emotions

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Study after study has shown that the most emotionally intelligent people tend to be the greatest leaders and are the best at their jobs in general. 

So, what is emotional intelligence? To put it simply, being “master of your emotions” is being able to stand as a great and sturdy oak in the face of constant battering. No matter the extent of the wind, rain, or storms (setbacks, criticisms, or failures), you are able to hold your ground and press on. 

Great leaders are able to do this. It isn’t — as some may think — that these great individuals were “lucky” or fortunate in their upbringing. It isn’t even that they were especially talented (though many were). The true defining factor seems to be that these individuals were particularly emotionally intelligent. They kept their cool even when things went wrong. 

Let’s take a look at five great figures from history who truly mastered their emotions.

1. Julius Caesar 

“Crossing the Rubicon” is a colloquial phrase used today to define an action that one cannot turn back from after it has been completed. The phrase comes from Julius Caesar, a great Roman general who, upon bringing his army across the river Rubicon in Italy and marching them into the City of Rome took an action that was, at that time, against all Roman laws. He later became the de facto first emperor of Rome (or the first Caesar at least).

Roman historians tell us that he was able to take this action with a cool, calm, and reserved presence that denoted his entire duty as general and all of his reign.

2. Napoleon

Napoleon was hugely instrumental in changing the face of France and the entire continent of Europe throughout the 19th century. Europe as it is today is largely the way it is because of Napoleon. 

One of the ways in which he mastered his emotional intelligence was by actually coming back after ultimately losing his campaign and being exiled to the Island of Corsica. Not only was he cool and collected enough to master nearly the entire continent of Europe during his initial campaign, but he was not even put off enough by his exile and was actually able to return to Europe to attempt another turn as a great European leader.

3. George Washington

It was George Washington’s calm and steady resilience against the seemingly never-ending onslaught of the Redcoats during the American Revolutionary War that ultimately helped him persist at Valley Forge and win the war for the colonists. 

In fact, George Washington was so calm and resigned in his abilities that he was prepared to simply move to his country home and resume his agricultural endeavors after the war. That didn’t happen, however, as his troops rallied him to become the first president.

4. Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great was actually a German princess who was married off to a Russian nobleman and ultimately became the Empress of Russia. 

She was steady-headed and even-keeled in the face of even the most frightening political situations. In fact, she had the calm presence of mind to actually usurp her husband’s place as the Emperor of Russia by intervening at exactly the right time when the last monarch perished. She ultimately seized the throne and put her would-be emperor husband in prison.

5. Abraham Lincoln

The 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln was known for his stoic, calm demeanor. As a lawyer, he was highly successful at arguing his side of any case without becoming overly emotional or hysterical. This surely had some hand in helping him win the presidency and, ultimately, the American Civil War.

Are You Master of Your Emotions?

There’s much we can learn from the great leaders of history. Surely, one of the most important is emotional intelligence. 

If you would like to cultivate more emotional intelligence in your own life, consider the following.

In your life, you are actually in control of very little. At any given moment, a long list of terrible things could happen to you, to your home, to your country, and to the people you love. Likewise, even small, annoying things happen to you every day that you don’t control. You drop a glass and break it. You trip and fall. You hit a deer in your car. You notice mold in your bathroom.

But there is one thing that you can control, and this is true across the board — no matter what. You can always control your emotions. You — and only you — control the way you feel, think … and ultimately, act. But before actions and thoughts, you have to control the way you feel. These are your emotions.

Work at becoming emotionally intelligent. Notice when you get riled up. Learn to take cues from yourself, never from others. Ride your difficult emotions like waves and let them settle on their own. Doing these things and mastering your emotions can bring you a vast treasure of success and happiness in life.

Would Cockroaches Really Survive A Nuclear War? And 4 Other Weird Cockroach Facts

Posted on by scatty

If you’ve ever had cockroaches in your home, you know that the critters are pretty darn tough to shake. It’s as though they can survive anything–which is a little surprising, if you think about their position on the food chain. But… could they survive a nuclear war? We’ve got the answer, along with a few other weird facts you never knew you wanted to know about these quick-footed pests. 

1. Yes, Roaches Could Probably Survive a Nuclear War

…at least for a little bit longer than humans. Roaches are several times more resistant to radiation than human beings–6-15 times more resistant, depending on the type of roach. In case of a major nuclear disaster or event, like a “nuclear apocalypse,” though, roaches would either die from the blast or eventually succumb to the effects of radiation, just like other living creatures. Also, because roaches tend to live off the detritus that other creatures leave behind, they likely wouldn’t fare for long without the rest of the world to supply their needs. 

2. Roaches Can Live Without their Heads

Cockroaches have an open circulatory system, meaning they take in oxygen through micro-holes in their bodies–so they don’t need their head to allow them to breathe. They can live for about one week after they’ve lost their head, at which point they will succumb to dehydration. 

3. Roaches Can Go One Month Without Eating 

Most varieties of roaches can live for a month or longer without eating a morsel–but they do need water every week or so to stay alive. This is one reason pest control companies strongly recommend packing away every last crumb of food in the kitchen and throughout the home. Like beer? Make sure not to leave open bottles around the house or yard; like many humans, roaches are particularly fond of the hops/sugar combo. 

4.  The Biggest Cockroaches on Earth Have a Wingspan of 7 Inches

These roaches occupy tropical regions, and generally try to stay away from humans–they’re not the roaches you’ll find hiding under the furniture of the unwary homeowner (thankfully). The Australian rhinoceros cockroach, which is as strange-looking as it sounds, measures about 3 inches from head to behind and weighs as much as one ounce. Not a critter you’d want to encounter unawares. 

5. Cockroaches Can Be Trained

Unlike most insects, roaches have exhibited the ability to learn–and they learn quickly, after just one or two corrections. Of course, their capacity for learning is limited (scientists practiced training them to salivate when presented with certain smells). It’s also worth noting a roach’s quick ability to evolve resistance to pesticides (no wonder they’re so hard to evict once they’ve taken up residence in your domicile). 

Despite our general creeped-out reaction to roaches, they don’t generally pose a threat of any kind (though some do carry harmful germs and bacteria around human abodes). 

 

 

5 Cleaning Tricks To Make Life Simpler

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Love a clean house, but hate doing the work to get there? While there is no magic chant to get cleaning fairies to come to your home while you sleep, there are some cleaning hacks that make the job faster, easier, and a little less like a chore. Are you preparing for company? Need to clean up after a party? Or are you just sick of looking at the dirt around your home? Below are five cleaning tricks to help you get started. 

1. Put Your Dryer Sheets to Work

Whether you are looking to save money on cleaning supplies or want to get as much use out of your household items as possible, repurposing your dryer sheets is the perfect option. Dryer sheets have a refreshing smell and can attract and hold dust and dirt. If you want to freshen up your fabric, run your dryer sheet along the surface. 

Dryer sheets also make a great replacement for paper towels. They can be used to buff spots off mirrors, grab the dust off of baseboards, and even remove the ring around the inside of your toilet. 

2. Have Your Dishwasher Pull Extra Duty

Are you tired of cleaning glass and ceramic knickknacks around your home? You can save some time and elbow grease by popping them into the dishwasher to get clean. While you may want to avoid putting your china or delicate crystal glassware in the dishwasher, many ceramics, plastics, and glass are safe to run through a cycle. You can check your dishwasher manufacturer’s website to find what materials are safe to pop in for a quick clean. Your dishwasher is also a great option to sanitize some plastic toys, light fixtures, and even your toothbrush. 

3. Soak the Grime Off Your Faucets in a Plastic Bag

Work smarter, not harder. That’s the goal of efficient cleaning. You can remove that deep-down grime and buildup on your faucet and showerhead with a sandwich bag and a few minutes of work. Fill your sandwich bag with vinegar and baking soda and place it around the faucet or showerhead, securing it with a rubber band. Make sure the head is fully submerged and go on to your next chore while the bag does its magic. Wait for two hours and remove the bag. Run the faucet or shower for a little bit to remove any residue. 

4. Tackle Hard-to-Reach Appliances With Denture Tablets

Denture tablets quickly and effectively remove bacteria and debris from dentures so they are clean and look new. These tablets can have the same effect on some household products and appliances that may be more difficult to clean. They are great for cleaning tea and coffee pots as the effervescent properties work the same as a scrubbing motion, removing stains, and sanitizing the area. Drop a couple of tabs in your tea or coffee pot and fill with water. Once they have stopped fizzing, dump the water and rinse. 

5. Make Cleaning Screens a Breeze With Coffee Filters

Keeping your electronics clean is vital to protect the surface and give you the best visibility. Unfortunately, these delicate screens have to be handled with care, and using safe traditional paper products often leaves behind debris. Coffee filters are designed to reduce static and catch dust, leaving no lint or unwanted fibers in your coffee. This is exactly what you want for your television and computer screens. Use a clean coffee filter to wipe down your screens, and you will enjoy a streak and lint-free picture. 

While cleaning will always be a chore, these a few hacks will help simplify the process, freeing up your time to focus on the things you want to do. 

 

5 Ways to Raise Your Relaxation Game – Go Deeper, Quicker

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These days, everyone seems to be stressed. What’s more, stress has been continually linked to severe mental and physical illnesses and other plights. Heart disease, migraines, autoimmune diseases, and even cancer have all been linked to chronic stress.

Reducing stress, however, isn’t so easy. We cannot control everything. Things will happen that are stressful, and this is simply a part of life.

The only thing we can do is control our emotions and our reactions to life’s stressors. Therefore, it behooves us to learn how to relax on command — and to do it well.

If you would like your relaxation game to go deeper and if you would like to be able to relax more readily — basically, whenever you want — these tips are for you.

Make Relaxation Even Better with These 5 Tips

1. Keep all your devices out of the room.

There’s really no way to relax completely when you’re waiting to hear if your phone will ring or buzz, and the only way to get rid of this aural temptation is to simply not have any devices nearby.

2. Learn to visualize.

Visualization is a highly underrated form of relaxation. The main benefit of visualization is the fact that it allows you to focus on something instead of the dreaded “clear your mind” strategy, which doesn’t work for many people. 

You can start visualizing by trying to picture a scene or setting that makes you feel relaxed — perhaps the beach, your childhood bedroom, or a beautiful forest. Try to think of everything possible that would be in this space. Pretend you are there, and try to describe it to yourself. This diversion of focus can be immensely helpful at getting to a relaxed state.

3. Be consistent.

Like anything from playing basketball to learning the violin, relaxation is a skill that takes practice. For this reason, you’ll get better at it when you start to do it every day. The key to this is setting aside a particular time for relaxation. Don’t assume you’ll just get to it when you can because that won’t ever happen. Instead, put it into your daily agenda as you would a meeting or a doctor’s appointment.

4. Try a body scan.

A body scan is a physical and mental relaxation practice. To do a body scan, lay down on your back with your legs straight and your arms at your side. Start by clenching your toes and feet tightly. Hold this for several seconds, then release. Move to your calves. Clench them tightly, hold, and release. Finally, do this all the way up your body until you reach your face.

5. Consider guided meditation.

If you’re still having trouble relaxing, try a guided meditation. Get a CD or MP3 player to play a recording of someone performing a guided relaxation session (many are available online). It’s better not to use your computer or smartphone, if possible (see #1). Guided meditations can be helpful because they give you second-to-second “tasks” and topics to focus on, and that way, your mind doesn’t wander as much.

Learning to master relaxation is a life skill that will always be useful, for as long as you live. In this way, it’s worth working on. Use the tips above to improve your relaxation game and give yourself this wonderful, lifelong gift.

5 Books That Will Motivate You For Success

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If you like to dream big, chances are good you’ve experienced the motivational slump that makes progress feel like a slog through molasses in December.

 Whether your goal is to run a marathon, optimize your career, or sell everything and pursue self-sufficiency in a forest, you’re probably going to need some help to get there. These books offer advice that can help anyone–and, unlike many “motivational” books published in the last few years, they go light on the cheese. 

Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins 

I thought I’d solved a problem when really I was creating new ones by taking the path of least resistance.

David Goggins started out as a 300-pound African American who got scoffed out of a Navy recruiter’s office as a young adult. He went on to lose the weight, become a Navy SEAL, unlock incredible levels of self-discipline, and inspire millions to become untouchable. Can’t Hurt Me is his autobiography, and it’s a fun read. Skip this one if you’re going to be turned off by f-bombs dropped on practically every page.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.

Few things are more motivational than having a concrete plan to become the person you want to be. Atomic Habits is all about building a habit system that supports the life you want. In it, James Clear combines decades of research on human behavior and habit development to offer step-by-step tips on building desirable habits and dropping the ones that aren’t serving you. 

Essentialism by Greg Mckeown 

The way of the Essentialist means living by design, not by default. Instead of making choices reactively, the Essentialist deliberately distinguishes the vital few from the trivial many.

Not happy with how cluttered your home and your calendar are these days? Essentialism might be the nudge of motivation you need to streamline. In Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, McKeown describes his journey to cut the clutter from his life, home, and career, and he offers practical steps to help you do the same. 

You are a Badass by Jenn Sincero 

We are all perfect in our own, magnificent, fucked-up ways. Laugh at yourself. Love yourself and others. Rejoice in the cosmic ridiculousness.

This book definitely isn’t for everyone; it’s a bit too new-agey for some, and the author comes off as a bit too privileged for others. But if you’re in the market for a book-length pep talk capable of making you feel ballsy enough to take on your biggest dreams, you might have hit the jackpot. 

Make Your Bed by William H. McRaven 

Without pushing your limits, without occasionally sliding down the rope headfirst, without daring greatly, you will never know what is truly possible in your life.

Written by a retired Admiral in the U.S. Navy, Make Your Bed has chapter-by-chapter advice on making changes that can revamp your attitude. Feel unmotivated and undisciplined? Make Your Bed is a cross between a pep-talk and a swift kick in the pants, so whichever you need most in the moment, you’re likely to find here–along with memorable anecdotes from McRaven’s time as a Navy SEAL. 

Grab one of these reads when your motivation is flagging, and you’ll be back on your feet in no time! 

 

5 Weird Food Science Principles You Need To Apply To Your Cooking

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Let’s have some fun with weird science that you can apply to your cooking and create tasty recipes.

Methylcellulose

Methylcellulose, derived from plants, is a hydrocolloid. A hydrocolloid is the weird science name for a substance that turns into a gel when heated and melts back to a liquid as it gets colder.

This property is thermoreversible, which means that you can cycle back and forth between hot temperatures causing the cellulose to become more solid, and colder temperatures, causing it to melt.

Chefs in fancy restaurants use this ingredient to make hot ice cream and some fancy meringues.

If you want to try this ingredient in your recipes, you can find it for sale online. Be sure to buy the premium-quality food-grade type.

Liquid Nitrogen

Liquid nitrogen is used for flash freezing. The advantage of freezing something very quickly is you avoid forming large ice crystals, which can degrade the taste and texture of the frozen food. Sushi restaurants use flash freezing to preserve fish in perfect condition until thawed, sliced, and served raw.

Use liquid nitrogen flash freezing if you want to make ice cream that is smoother and more creamy. Using liquid nitrogen will also avoid the grainy taste from unwanted large ice crystals in the ice cream milk mixture.

Vacuum-Packed Hot Water Bag

The French cooking technique used to heat food perfectly and evenly is called “sous vide.” Food packed in temperature-resistant plastic bags is placed in hot water.

You can cook food at the exact temperature you want by regulating the hot water temperature using a thermometer. This method is a fast and convenient way to heat or reheat food, and the results are also perfectly cooked and delicious.

Once you learn to cook food using this method, you will rarely use a microwave to reheat food. It is impossible to overcook food or dry it out using this method. Moreover, you avoid the taste-changing oxidation that may come from the exposure of the food to the air while cooking.

Bobo Tea Balls

Have you ever wondered how they make those wonderful gelatinous balls found in bobo tea and other similar drinks?

The process uses sodium alginate, a chemical found in seaweed that gives the plant its flexibility.

Use flavored liquid with the correct amount of sodium alginate. Drop it into a calcium salt bath, and voila! You have bobo tea balls through a process in weird science called spherification. A stable gel sphere forms around the flavored liquid to create a ball with a delicious taste and squishiness.

Flavored Foams

A foam is a liquid with bubbles of air trapped inside. To create a tasty culinary foam, you can use a water-based flavored liquid, a whisker to put air bubbles in it, and an emulsifier like soy lecithin to keep the bubbles from popping.

Soy lecithin added to the flavored liquid lowers the surface tension of the bubbles, so they will not pop as easily. This ingredient helps the foam stay foamy.

Let’s Get Cookin

You may think these techniques are only for fancy restaurants, but you can do them at home too. And what would a weird science topic be without a weird science name? When you learn these techniques, you will be an expert in molecular gastronomy.

5 Secrets for Astonishingly Good Pancakes

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When you think of the perfect pancake, what do you see? A big stack of ultra-fluffy, golden brown pancakes served with all your favorite toppings? Bingo! But, if you don’t take the right approach, your pancakes may come out flat, soggy and altogether disappointing batch after batch. Luckily for you, we’re here with the top five secrets you need to make the pancakes of your dreams every time. Check it out.

Buttermilk is Not Optional – Ever

Fluffy pancakes start with buttermilk. Period. Milk alone cannot achieve the thick and fluffy texture you crave.

Buttermilk can work its magic due to its high acid content. As its acids hit the baking soda in the dry mix, the chemical reaction bubbles up the batter to add height while breaking down the gluten. On top of that, the buttermilk adds a richness unmatched by its milky counterpart.

Don’t have buttermilk on hand? You can often get away with adding one tablespoon of white vinegar to a measuring cup and filling it whole milk to the one-cup mark. Then, stir and let it sit for about five minutes. You won’t get the richness, but your pancakes will rise to the occasion, for sure.

Whip Your Egg Whites into a Frenzy

If you’re not whipping your egg whites into a frenzy, then you’re missing out on cloud-level fluffiness in your pancakes. When whipped to the stiff peak stage, the egg whites bring tons of air into the equation to fluff up each delightfully delicious disc.

To do this, simply separate your egg whites and yolks for the total number of eggs needed for your recipe. Then, add the yolks to the batter like normal before turning your attention to the egg whites.

After that, you just have to use an electric mixer to beat the whites until they create stiff peaks when you pull the beaters out. Once that’s done, gently fold the egg whites into your otherwise complete batter.  

Mix to Combine, Not Beat into Submission

Pancake batter definitely benefits from a gentle touch. Otherwise, your batter will toughen up, creating chewy, dense pancakes that will leave you full of regret.  

To avoid that, you just have to mix all your dry ingredients first to combine them well. Then, add all your wet ingredients – minus the egg whites, of course – and mix just until everything looks well combined.

Lumps are perfectly fine and normal, in fact, so don’t try to get rid of them. After it’s combined, reduce your intensity even more to fold in your egg whites without taking the wind out of their sails.

Use a Dry Pan – But Be Ready for Sacrifice

Although it’s tempting to use oil for your pancakes, it’s ill-advised. The oil just soaks into the pancake, weighing it down and ruining its lightly sweet flavor.

Instead, you have to use a completely dry pan. While that might sound scary, it’ll only cost you one small sacrifice: the very first pancake. After that, the rest of the batch won’t dare stick to the pan, especially after seeing you gobble up that test pancake with glee.  

Add a Not-So-Secret Banana to the Equation  

Bananas in your pancakes? The horror! Well, not really, not if you like bananas, that is. So, if you’re a fan of these tasty fruits, slice one up and toss it in your batter before folding in the egg whites. The fun additions can add interest to every bite, letting you come up with all new recipes to share with the world.

If you’d like savory pancakes, bacon, shredded cheese, and chives can get you there. Prefer to keep it fruitylicious? Strawberries, mangos, pineapple and coconut, and the list goes on. The sky is the limit in what you can make if you put your mind to it.

Now that you know how to create pancakes to remember, it’s time to get cooking! Just be sure to make a trial batch to nail down your newfound techniques before inviting the whole crew over for your soon-to-be award-winning pancakes.

The Simple Genius Of Perfect Sandwiches: 5 Indispensible Tips

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Fun fact: About half of people in the U.S. eat a sandwich of some sort daily. This versatile meal was probably one of the first foods you ever learned to make on your own as a kid. And, chances are, you can spout off your favorite sandwich layers in nothing flat. But, there’s a sandwich and then there’s a perfect sandwich. What can you do to such a simple concoction to lead it to culinary perfection? Here are five simple and genius tips for the top-of-the-line sandwich. 

1. It all starts with the best bread … 

The perfect bread can be a matter of preference, no doubt. However, if there is one thing any chef will tell you when it comes to building a good sandwich, it’s that the bread you use means everything. Some would even say that if you’ve got the perfect bread, you’re already halfway to the perfect sandwich. Bread should taste good enough to eat all on its own with very little intervention. If not, find another type. 

2. Condiment placement means everything 

From mayo and mustard to olive oil and butter, condiments are a must with any perfect sandwich, but they should also be used the right way. The goal is to get a bit of that flavor with every bite. This means every bite will be just as flavorful and moist as the next. Remember this goal as you construct your sandwich—the usual method requires adding a thin layer to each slice of bread. If you’re using more than one condiment, don’t be afraid to slather a thin layer on the cheese or protein pick either. 

3. Treat your veggies right 

Whether it’s a basic leaf of iceberg lettuce or thin cucumber slices and tomatoes, the veggies on a sandwich should be handled just so. Wash cold veggies first with cool water. This adds that bit of crispness you crave in a sandwich bite. Make sure to handle them gently when layering them in place. Don’t be afraid of adding seasoned, warmed veggies either—this can make a sandwich much more dynamic. For example, shredded carrots sautéed in a bit of garlic and olive oil give a sandwich a new layer of flavor and texture. 

4. Always opt for thinly sliced meats 

Whatever type of protein you choose—turkey breast, pork tenderloin, ham, tofu—make sure the protein is sliced thinly. A sandwich should be easy to eat. No one wants to take a bite and pull away with all the protein in their mouth because it didn’t fall apart easily. 

5. Layer sandwiches with intention 

When it comes to sandwich perfection, never go at it haphazardly like you’re just throwing a bunch of stuff in the mix. How you layer matters. The general rule is to place your protein first and then build from there. Next comes the cheese, then comes the veggies and added garnishes. If you’re working with hot protein, such as warmed roast beef, consider adding cheese under and over the meat with the rest of the ingredients on top. 

The Magic of Edinburgh – 5 Unique Attractions in This Amazing City

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You might have dreamed of visiting Edinburgh, imagining what it would be like to walk through castles or take a day trip to Loch Ness, but there is so much more to see and experience in Scotland’s hilly capital city. 

Let’s explore five unique attractions to find the magic of Edinburgh in time for your visit. 

1. Royal Mile

Touted as a “Scot’s mile long,” the Royal Mile connects two royal residences, the Castle and the Palace of Holyrood House. It is also a main thoroughfare throughout the city and is the home to old and new parliaments, a cathedral and churches, law courts, and several tourist attractions, such as restaurants, pubs, cafes, and shops. 

2. Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat 

The 640-acre Holyrood Park lies in the heart of Edinburgh, just off the path from the city’s Royal Mile, next to Holyrood Palace. The main attraction of Holryood Park is Arthur’s Seat, an ancient volcano and the highest point in the park. It sits 823 feet above sea level, offering premier views of Edinburgh. The trip up and down the hill is lovely, too, filled with diverse flora. 

3. Edinburgh Castle 

Edinburgh Castle is probably number one on everyone’s list of places to visit, for a good reason. It stands on Castle Rock, a volcanic plug humans have inhabited since the Iron Age. The castle has served as a military fortress, prison of war, and royal residence over the centuries.

During visits to Edinburgh Castle, you might get the chance to hear the famous One O’Clock Salute from Half Moon Battery, which is the firing of a cannon to remember the tradition of assisting ships to synchronize their clocks. Additional highlights include seeing the Scottish National War Memorial, the Crown Jewels, and the National Work Museum. 

4. Mary King’s Close

Mary King’s Close is Edinburgh’s underground street, buried beneath and running under the famous Royal Mile. This underground street features a series of abandoned homes and alleyways, lying below the bustling city streets since the 17th century. Mary King’s Close is a place frozen in time, and tours reflect that, since there are no actors, placards, or recreations. You see it as it was when it was last inhabited. With all the humidity and organic eeriness, it’s a haunted tour based on ambiance alone. Be careful if you have claustrophobia or fear of dark and unfamiliar spaces. 

5. Camera Obscura

Camera Obscura is an unusual visual arts gallery and Edinburgh’s oldest tourist attraction, established in 1835. Focusing on optical illusions, you can also experience several hands-on activities, such as going through a mirror maze and an Ames room filled with distorting images. Another popular activity is the vortex tunnel, which provokes a sense of imbalance while completely safe and stable. Finally, you can climb to the roof to get a bird’s eye view of the city using free telescopes. 

These are only a few unique and magical things you can see and do in Edinburgh. 

5 Hacks to Cut Down Your Overheads

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Overhead costs are ongoing business costs that businesses must pay in order to stay operational. Rent, salaries, utilities – all of these costs fall into the category of overhead. While it’s true that you have to spend money to make money, some overhead costs don’t need to be quite so high or such a burden for your business. Below are five ways that you can cut overhead costs to increase your company’s profits. 

1. Shop Around for Office Space

Your office space makes up a huge part of your overhead costs, but there are many ways that you can trim those costs.

  • Boost your work from home workforce. Sending staff to work from home allows you to cut back on the office space that you currently occupy. Think of it: if you could send a percentage of your workforce to home offices, you could easily move into a smaller and cheaper office space.
  • Declutter. If you’ve been in your office space for a long time, you may have accumulated a lot of things you don’t need and could easily get rid of. Once you’ve decluttered, you could discover that you don’t need the large office you currently lease.
  • Move to an “open office layout.” An open office layout allows you to flex how many people work in your office without seeking out new office space every time you make a hire. 

2. Lease Equipment, Don’t Buy

While buying equipment can seem cheaper than leasing, leasing has many advantages. Low up front costs allow you to get the office equipment you need without making a huge investment. And, best of all, maintenance and replacement costs are taken care of for you. This saves you money in ways that are hard to calculate but very real. 

3. Use Eco-Friendly Equipment and Business Practices

Utilities are a drain on your business, but you can reduce your overhead by finding eco-friendly ways to reduce your dependence on energy. Whenever possible, use natural lighting and day lighting instead of (or to supplement) electrical lighting.

Buy ENERGY STAR rated appliances and seek out the most energy-efficient equipment available. Buy energy-saving power strips, use LED light bulbs and switch to a digital record keeping system to cut back on your use of paper. 

4. Outsource Services

If your company is small enough, you may not need to hire specialized positions like an HR manager or a payroll person. Fill these functions by working with companies that provide these services at a low cost. You’ll save on salaries and may also get more value for your money.    

5. Hire Wisely

Structure your company in the most efficient way possible, with team members filling multiple roles whenever possible. This keeps your team small and lean, which also helps you save on salaries that could increase your overhead dramatically.

If you’re still looking for ways to cut back your overhead costs, work with an accountant or an efficiency expert to keep your costs low.