Tag Archives: pasttime

Culture

Eight Ways To Make Time For Important Things

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Dr. Alok Trividi

One of the most common lines that people love to use: “I wish I had more time.” Maybe it’s more time to spend with family or friends; more time to exercise and eat healthy; or more time to go back to school. Whatever it is, how do you make more time for those truly important things in your life?

Dr. Alok Trivedi, author of Chasing Success, says the reality is we all have the same 24 hours. The difference is some people know how to better manage it than others.  When it comes to making time for the important things, Dr. Trivedi recommends:

1. Minimize, minimize and minimize some more. There was a reason Marie Kondo’s novel about tidying up your space to become happy was so successful. There is truth in her message of eliminating the unnecessary and finding what you love in the process. Get rid of what does not bring you joy. This can be old items or even toxic relationships that no longer serve you. Less is really more.

2. Being busy does not bring you value. In North American culture, it can be all too easy to be running around completing task after task. Many people view this form of productivity as determining their worth in society. It’s wise to assess what in your life is bringing you value and maximize that rather than trying to do things that just don’t feel right and make you feel unworthy on the inside. Business is an excuse and distraction to overlook the things in which you may be afraid to focus your energy on.

3. Differentiate between efficiency and effectiveness. Your time is precious and needs to be allocated to the most important things. Utilize your time to be both effective and efficient. Being only effective can be a time-consuming action. While complementary, being only efficient can lead to sloppy results. When you are doing any task, approach it within a concept of both maximum efficiency and total effectiveness to reap the best results. In your personal life, this is achieved through being present and genuine in your interactions.

4. Single task and hold your focus. Many people find themselves casually checking a single email, and before long they snap into full-fledged work mode. Develop a schedule and follow it religiously. It may be hard to find your groove initially, but if you stick to it, little by little it will become a habit.

gif by- cami5x5 deviantart.com

5. Know what you hold important. It is a challenge to know how to dedicate your free time if you haven’t discovered what you love. Find the activities where your creativity flows and your heart sings. Only in these states are you going to find yourself in the states of joy that make you feel life is worth living.

6. Address problems at the root. When you have the time to dedicate to the important things, you don’t want work problems to keep popping up. If there is a problem at work, address it from the start. Don’t keep putting it off, because it will fester at inopportune times. This goes both ways. If you have a personal dilemma with a family member, don’t run from it by adopting workaholic ways. Confront your problems head on to solve them with best results. Shying away will only allow the problem to become worse in the shadows.

7. Getting and staying organized. When it is time to be with friends and family the last thing you want to do is housework. Dedicate an initial cleaning and mass organization of your space. After this initial step, take a little time each day to clear your space and organize everything into its given area. The clarity of your physical space lends to clarity of mind. Then, there is mental space to focus on what matters, and not be distracted by the mess around you.

8. Block out time just for you. You must become your top priority. Declare certain times of the day and week that are just for you. This time can be for you to indulge in your favorite pastimes, meditate, or even to do nothing. This time is yours to center yourself and think about what you are presently encountering in life.

Live in every moment, and focus on the present. For the Silo, Alex Smith.

Gaming

Canadians Playing Way More Video Games During COVID

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Toronto, Nov. 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on the lives of Canadians. In its most recent study – conducted by The NPD Group – the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC), found that Canadians are increasing their levels of video gameplay as a way to stay connected and entertained during these difficult times.

Every two years ESAC, the national trade association for Canada’s video game industry, conducts a study on video game consumers to identify how, what, where and why Canadians are playing video games.

Today, ESAC released its latest study entitled Real Canadian Gamer – Essential Facts 2020. This study provides an in-depth look at the video game player community and consumers in Canada; which is already one of the world’s largest video game hubs with 61% of our population reporting regularly playing video games. 

Key Findings
Although the pandemic has not resulted in substantial new video game consumers – with less than 2% of Adult Canadians (18 to 64) deciding to take up a controller for the first time during the pandemic – it has significantly boosted the amount that existing video game consumers played in Canada.

With his controller in hand and a hockey game already in progress on the screen
Flashback 2011. Nick Bodemer from Red Deer, Alberta captured the Virgin Gaming Sony PlayStation EA SPORTS NHL 11 Championship.

58% of Adult Gamers and 80% of Teen Gamers reported playing more video games during the pandemic.

Not only are Canadians playing more video games, but a majority of them say it is helping them feel better emotionally and mentally while following stay-at-home measures. Games are also helping parents find common ground with their kids while helping them spend time connecting.

65% of Adult Gamers and 78% of Teen Gamers find that gaming while supporting stay-at-home health measures makes them feel better.

70% of Teen gamers reported using online video games to stay connected while isolating at home.

65% of Adult Gamers with children ages 6 to 17 reported playing video games with their children and 44% reported playing more often during COVID-19.

Many also identified video games as a means of helping family and friends stay bonded and connected throughout the pandemic.

“COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon. Canadians are finding ways to stay connected and engage their minds in positive ways; they are looking for joy and entertainment in what can only be characterized as one of the most difficult times in modern human history.
We have found that Canadian gamers recognize the power of play and they are engaging more and more in the immersive and connected experiences that our industry creates. We will get through this period together and video games will continue to be both an outlet for people but also an important way to keep them connected to their families and friends.”Jayson Hilchie - Entertainment Software Association of Canada
Jayson Hilchie, President & CEO, Entertainment Software Association of Canada

Quick facts
61% of Canadians reported playing video games in the past four weeks.
-The gender split between Adult Gamers in Canada was 50/50 male to female, which is the same as 2018.
-The average age of Adult Gamers in Canada is 38.
-Mobile devices continue to be the primary way Adult Gamers access and play video games, with consoles overtaking mobile devices as the most popular among Kids and Teens.
-Saskatchewan has the most video game players per capita in Canada with 68% reporting regular gameplay with an average of 10 hours per week spent among those who play. 
-Digital downloads of full games continue to grow with retail purchases continuing to decline in both Adults and Teens.
-The most popular genres of video games in Canada are puzzle and word games.
-More Canadians are participating in esports as viewers (spectators) than ever before.
-40% of Canadian gamers view game streaming content; specifically, 41% of Adults and 46% of kids and Teens.
-40% of Canadian Adult Gamers play games online solo, 40% play with others online, 20% play online with other players in the room, and 30% of Canadian Adult Gamers play online with players.

Featured image- Red Deer’s Keynes Ng, emerged as champion of Canada’s first multiplayer national eSports tournament, Toronto 2016.  
Art

Audiobooks Are A Quickly Growing Industry In Canada

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Canada is in the midst of an audiobook boom. Though sales numbers aren’t available yet, they’ve been growing rapidly in the United States, and north of the border, there’s been a substantial influx of publishers entering the audiobook market.

Why Do Canadians Listen to Audiobooks?

What’s behind their growing popularity? It all comes down to the pleasure of listening. Canadians are busy, stressed out, and looking for a way to slow down. Carving time out of the day to sit back and listen to a book is a chance to clear out the cobwebs, recharge, and rebalance. You can listen to audiobooks at the end of a long day, on your commute, on a lazy Saturday morning, or while you’re cleaning up and doing the dishes.

There’s also the appeal of the narrator. Talented voice actors bring great stories from the page to the speaker. They can bring a different personality to a book and new life to a story you already love.

While not every author has a voice made for narration, some of the best audiobooks available are narrated by the authors themselves. Neil Gaiman is a standout in this category. A natural-born storyteller, Gaiman has narrated a number of his own audiobooks and graced other works with his signature voice, though he’s not alone. Writers like Jenny Lawson, Christopher Hitchens, and Seamus Heaney have all made names for themselves narrating their own books. 

Indie Canadian Publishers Getting into Audiobooks

It’s not just international publishers that are producing audiobooks in Canada. Independent publishers like House of Anansi and ECW Press have entered the audiobook market, producing some of their own award-winning titles and making them available on various audiobook platforms.

Titles like Tanya Talaga’s Seven Fallen Feathers, Eden Robinson’s Song of a Trickster, and Cherie Dimaline’s bestselling Empire of Wild are just some of the titles available as audiobooks thanks to the recent uptick in the Canadian market.

Great Canadian Talent

Canada has been relatively slow to enter this market, but it’s uncovered a hidden talent pool. As independent publishers have looked toward local actors, they’re discovering Canadians have a knack for narrating. Some audiobook producers are hoping more Canadians will make it easier to find great voice actors for their titles.

How Audiobooks Are Changing Book Clubs

Audiobooks have also opened up new opportunities for book clubs, moving from solitary reading to listening as a social activity. Clubs can now appreciate titles together and talk about what they think chapter by chapter. Club meetings can even be hosted online.

How Do Canadians Get Their Audiobooks?

Subscriptions have become the preferred way for Canadians to get their audiobooks. They work like a “book of the month club.” For example, a subscription with Audible gets you credits to pick one audiobook each month. You can buy more if you’re a voracious listener, and there are usually other membership benefits, such as access to podcasts.

With fast-growing sales and increased production, Canadian book-lovers can look forward to lots of new Canadian titles making the transition to audiobook format.