Beating Procrastination

Examination is set tomorrow. But here I am, waiting for the last minute of my life. I sulk in the couch  and chat with my friends.

PROCRASTINATION. A word not new to hearing. I may not recognize it but I am doing it. It is putting off things that I should be focusing right now, usually in favour of doing the more enjoyable or comfortable things. In short, procrastination is killing time. It is good only if delaying small things is done to focus on big tasks, or prioritizing the most important. But when it is the flip side? Now that is a bad procrastination.

I wait for the last minute, the eleventh hour, before completing my tasks. I prepared a To-do list, but end up finishing just fifty percent of the things being listed. Perhaps, this is the reason why I make my homework as a “classwork”. I watch a movie in my laptop instead of making my report. I view my facebook before researching. I become unproductive for the rest of the day.

Why killing time? Because I do not feel like doing my tasks. I think that the tasks are difficult and I cannot make it. I am like most of the people who mistakenly believe that motivation precedes the action. But what is true is that action precedes motivation.

In psychology, there is a thing called present bias. It simply means that what you want now is not the same thing you will want later. It explains why you keep on delaying things due to your ever changing ideas and desires.

Everybody procrastinates. Even the perfectionists tend to procrastinate. It is something in life that I cannot delete. However, I may try to live around it, and defeat it.

Overcoming procrastination is absolutely something anyone could learn. There are ways that would help everyone fight procrastination and achieve success and that this is what I have been doing:

The 10-minute rule
I am sure you know that when a task involves too much hardwork, there is a greater chance of getting it postponed. The bottomline is to beat procrastination, you have to do the work. However, you could break the job down into small, manageable parts to make it easier to handle. Start at the basics, one thing at a time. Let us say your goal is to get slimmer. A 30-minute jog around the Visayas State University lower oval sounds tiring. How about doing a 10-minute warm up aerobics while listening to your favorite disco music? Sounds more appealing and realizable.

The three magical question
If you feel like becoming sloth, take a piece of paper and write these questions down. Where are you? What do you need to do? How will you feel after doing it? After answering these questions, visualize a picture of yourself doing it. You would feel fulfilled. This is simple yet it works like magic.s

Ultimate goal versus Immediate desire
Very often, our ultimate goal is in conflict with what we want to do right now. For example, your ultimate goal is to have a research of your assignment over the internet but your immediate desire is to log in and check your Facebook account. Procrastination is all about choosing what you want versus what you need.

Wants never go away. You never planned to be tempted. The trick there is exchanging your ultimate goal with you immediate desire. Make your research homework your immediate desire. Would you prefer to be pressured and to waste your precious time? Think about it.

Procrastination stopped me dead. It created a big impact in my self-esteem, personal life, and work performance. It lessens productivity, adds depression, and multiplies stress. It gave me a sense of guilt, of regret. And the same will happen to you. Think about it. Make the future you into a now you. Realize that there is the you, who sits there now, reading this. Beat procrastination, start today because tomorrow is another day.

For the Love of Science <3

What an amateur Science Journalist’s got to do

Science. Whenever I would think about it before, it makes my nose “bleed”. I remembered when I was in high school; our teacher would tell us to explain the complicated Nitrogen Cycle. And I would say… Oh here we go again. Gobbledygook, difficult to grasp, boring, and then my attention would divert to something else—sleeping perhaps. Then the cycle goes on and on.

But that was before. How did the cycle stop? I could not trace the history of how science gradually changed my views as a learner. But one thing’s for sure, Science Reporting has something to do with it. And now I realized, I definitely owed a lot from Science.

I never dreamt of being a Science journalist. It is not a part of my future plans after graduation, but it touched my heart and mind. It taught me not only to be a responsible journalist but also it taught me the essence of being guided and dominated by truth in my everyday living. As journalists, we would always face difficulties and challenges as we enter the field of producing science stories. I am a beginner and I only knew a little in the very first place. However, that did not stop me to achieve what it takes to be a successful and responsible journalist. But what does it really take to be the ideal science journalist you can be? Here are some learning experiences I want to share with you. To tell you, communicating science effectively is not an easy task. But it sure is worth striving for.

Patience. I needed much of it especially during interviews with scientists. We could not always have all the time we want, we have to wait for the scientists to be free with all the business from work, especially when he/she has a lot of duties to take care of. We also need that when articles are rejected and need to be revised. One word may be enough for a wise man; but submitting your science article draft for only once without a single error? As a beginner, I doubt it. Just refuel patience. Because as they say, patience is a virtue.

Establish a rapport with scientists. Be friendly to your scientist. Take note that scientists and journalists always work hand-in-hand to achieve a common understanding. You should always know what kind of scientist he/she is. Remember that as science journalist, we are not only responsible in communicating to our audiences. We also have to approach scientists for more up-to-date science discoveries.

Seek the facts, not the fiction. That is one trouble I have observed. Whenever we were unable to interview a scientist, other students would just make up statement from them. How are we supposed to communicate honestly when we can’t be honest with ourselves? Just speak the truth, even if it hurts the readers. As the old proverb says it, the truth shall set you free.

Simplify jargons, keep it accurate. Remember that what you may consider as a simple word could be hard for a farmer to understand. Like the word Irrigation. Do you think an uneducated farmer would understand its concept? It might be easy for a college student like you. But to them, it is gobbledygook. Transform scientific terms into layman’s language. For me it was the most challenging part. A journalist needs to be equipped with skills in simplifying words, in using plain talk. And facts should not be compromised with plain talk. In simplifying, facts should also retain its accuracy.

Make stories, put the human touch. We like stories about people because we can relate to it, and stories bring you to your imagination as you read it. This is one thing I have learned. The human element spices up your article and surely, your readers would want for more. But always make sure that these are fats, not fiction.

Cite credible scholarly journals. The media is a source of almost every piece of information, may it be true or not. Be careful when choosing which sites are credible or not. It is important that when searching for the information you want, site is reviewed by professionals of that field.

Know thy subject. How would you be able to disseminate relevant science stories when you do not even understand what you are writing and talking about? Read, read, and read. This is the most important learning that would apply not only in science journalism, but also in every aspect of my college life. We cannot simplify jargons if we do not search and read. We cannot find facts if we do not read. We cannot determine credibility of articles if we do not read it. It pays.

Fascination for Science. Finally, I have a question for you. Do you love Science? Can you feel your heart tickling your brain to discover more science concepts and ideas? Then you might be in love—with science. One cannot show passion when there is no love. Start living intellectually curious. It is about time that you, me, should embrace science in our lives. Without it, everyone and everything would not come to existence.

When Your Pet becomes a Threat

The danger of Rabies and other Zoonotic diseases

Fallacy: Letting your pets lick your hands and sleep with you in bed is always sweet, comforting and healthy.

Fact: Kissing and hugging your pet and letting them lick your hands and faces, and sleeping with them could be dangerous to your health.

One day, you were sitting in your dining table, eating lunch. You are busy enjoying your favorite dish when suddenly; your dog approached near you. He was staring at you, asking for a little food; but you ignored him. A few minutes later, you heard him whining. You looked at him getting a little pissed off. But oh –look at this sad, little creature! He is so adorable that you cannot resist him. You can’t help yourself but offer him food while you are eating. He licks the food from your hands. You pat his head as he wags his tail in happiness. He has not taken his bath for ages, but you did not care at all. You happily finished your meal together with your pet, and so what? As long as you feel the love, that is all that matters.

Does this scene seem familiar to you? Are you one of those pet owners who are fond of showing affection to their pets through cuddling them or going to bed while they’re on your side? Then I’ll tell you what, whether you like it or not, you are prone to infectious diseases. Whether you like it or not, it is time to examine how you get up close with your pets.

Yes, I know you are worried with what I said earlier. But research reminds us that there are certain lines to draw when showing love and affection with animals. Pets are really irresistible. Touching, cuddling them raises the oxytocin –a stimulating hormone produced by the pituitary gland–levels in your body, providing you the feeling of contentment. They are like an emotional balm, a soothing remedy when you feel depressed, confused or anxious. They love you unconditionally.

It’s no surprise that most pet-owners are unconcerned of the risks. According to a survey conducted in the Netherlands, 50% percent of the pet-owners allow their pets to lick their faces. In the United States, a surprising 56% of dog owners sleep with their dog next to them. I’m not saying that keeping a pet as companion is not advisable. It is just that there are some risks and precautions you have to take when getting up close with your pets. But you ask, at what point do they become a threat to our health?

Zoonotic diseases, these are diseases that can be passed on from animals to humans. They are carried by animals like your pets. Among the Zoonoses carried are bacteria, virus, and parasites. According to Dr. Eugene Lañada, a Zoonoses specialist, almost 75 percent of the total emerging human diseases are Zoonotic. Even deadly diseases like Leptospirosis, Dengue, Tetanus and H1n1 flu are Zoonotic too. But the most common, as they say, are the most disregarded. Perhaps this is because most pet-owners are unaware that a single lick from your cat or even a single hug from your dog can already expose you to these Zoonoses. But where do I get these Zoonoses anyway? Let’s find out.

Saliva. A pet’s oral cavity is considered a breeding ground for most Zoonoses. The most common: Rabies. It is actually a virus attacking the Nervous system of the animals; and is at its most active when an animal is dehydrated. The World Health Organization reported that dogs are actually the main host and transmitter of rabies. According to Dr. Lañada, “Dogs have the highest Rabies, with a 90 percent rate. This is followed by cats.” Almost 55,000 people die annually worldwide because of Rabies. Aside from animals, Rabies can also be transmitted from human to human contact.

So you see, your dog’s saliva is powerful that it can kill you. “Rabies is 100 percent fatal, but also 100 percent preventable,” Dr. Lañada adds. That is why, it is important to vaccinate your dog regularly.And do not forget to feed them with water, especially during hot and humid seasons; for these are the days when your pet is most likely to be dehydrated.

Maybe now you feel a little bit confident that there is a little chance of getting infected with Zoonoses. Me and my dog are regularly vaccinated, you justify. I feel secured with my pet now, you say. But to tell you, it is not just the Rabies my friend. Although these Zoonoses are not that deadly compared to Rabies, they still impose risks to your health. Let’s take Pasteurella as the best example. Pasteruella multocida is a Zoonotic bacterium that is found out to be present in most dogs and cats. In a study conducted by Dr. Chomel and Dr. Sun in 2009, an infant has been reported to have meningitis after a family pet dog licked the baby’s face. In France, meningitis also developed in a 67-year-old patient. Pasteurella multocida cultures also grew from his right ear.

Then here comes Staphylococcus. It is another Zoonotic bacterium found in the oral cavities of the dogs. It might sound like a food-borne disease, but they can be carried through your pet’s saliva too. Patients infected with Staphyloccus intermedius have had physical contact with their dogs, including frequent licking with their faces.

But Zoonoses don’t only end to your pet’s mouth. Most of us love to hug, kiss and sleep with our pets. And having them bathe regularly is enough for most pet-owners to be confident about cuddling or sleeping with their dogs. But is it?

Actually, any part of your dog or cat’s body –fur, skin, paws, ear—could be a possible source of Zoonotic disease. Although it is uncommon to healthy pets, the risk of transmitting Zoonotic disease from close contact through bed sharing, kissing and hugging is real. According to Dr. Chomel and Dr. Sun, three different kinds of diseases were documented to pet-owners who frequently share their beds to pets. Your pets could even be hosts to vectors to some common diseases like Lice and scabies.

The lists of Zoonotic diseases are endless. But what’s dangerous is that most Zoonoses acquired through bed sharing, cuddling and licking are transmitted through your skin, which means the more close your contact is, the more vulnerable you are to these diseases. What’s worse is some common Zoonotic bacteria are starting to be anti-microbial resistant. Research proved that household pets such as dogs and cats are reservoirs of Staphylococcus, Salmonella and even E. coli anti-microbial resistant bacteria. Sadly, these resistant bacteria are given little attention in the field of medicine.

A dog a day is okay. Keeping a companion is not wrong, having a friend to stay with you is not wrong. But always remember that your best friend could also be the world’s best enemy. As for a friend like your dog and cat, this could be avoided. That is, if you used your common sense when showing affection to your “friend” animals. Start putting an edge over you and your pet now before it gets worse.