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Daily Interactions That You Didn’t Know Are Disgusting

The majority of us try to maintain a clean lifestyle and avoid interactions that are, well, disgusting. No one likes to wake up Monday morning with a fever and flu because their neighbor on the metro was sneezing up a storm. However, there are several common daily interactions that we have that you would be shocked to know are bacteria cesspools.

man, grossed out, providing a tissue to a sneezing woman.

Your Rideshare Is Dirtier Than A Taxi

Many people prefer to use rideshare services like Uber and Lyft over Taxis due to the convenience, price, and comfort. When we enter, the car typically LOOKS clean, however a study estimated that the backseat of your rideshare has 219 times more bacteria than a taxi. This is due to the fact Taxis are required to regularly clean their car, whereas Uber rideshare cars only need to pass an initial inspection.

man touching a disgusting seatbelt in a rideshare.

The biggest hot spots for the bacteria are the window buttons and seatbelt. In order to stay safe and not break seatbelt laws, it is recommend to bring some antibacterial wipes to clean off any disgusting germs that were left behind by a previous passenger.

A Disgusting Beach Vacation Dilemma

When planning a beach vacation, most of us look forward to the refreshing feeling of a nice dip in the ocean. This study might make you think otherwise, which found that just ten minutes in the ocean can make bacteria stick to your skin for hours afterwards. As a result, your chances of infection increase, particularly respiratory and gastrointestinal issues. This is exacerbated by the fact that many beaches have poor water quality thanks to trash left behind by visitors.

two girls entering the ocean, full of disgusting bacteria.

Rather than sob as you write off the beach from all your future vacations, this simply means it is crucial you rinse off after swimming. It is also advisable to not enter the ocean if you have any open wounds, as these sites are more susceptible to infection.

Airport Security Bins Are Anything But Safe

Airport Security is designed to keep us safe, however the bacteria laden bins are a disgusting required interaction that could leave you very ill. One study found many bins contain the same bacteria that cause various respiratory infections. In fact, researchers detected more bacteria on airport security bins than on the toilets at the airports! This can be attributed to the fact that most airports do have measures to keep the bathrooms clean and sanitary, but the bins? Nothing.

Next time you pass through security, just remember to wash your hands ASAP afterwards.

Photos: Freepik, Pixabay

Products That Can Make You Productive

Working a typical 9-to-5 job can make it hard to maintain the motivation needed to stay focused throughout your shift. Hours on end sitting at a desk and are not recommended for your best quality work, however we often have little say on our work hours. That said, these amazing products are designed to help you be more productive in your day and produce your best results.

people at work celebrating their productive success.

Adjustable Standing Desk

Sitting on your behind for endless hours negatively impacts your blood circulation, making it harder to think clearly. An adjustable standing desk helps you easily get to your feet whenever you want and potentially help spur new ideas. This is especially ideal for active people who feel restless sitting at a desk all day.

Blue Light Glasses

Do you find you get reoccurring headaches from looking at the computer all day? The blue light from screens can have a major effect in causing digital eye strain, leaving you foggy and pained. A stylish solution (that doesn’t involve quitting your day job) is wearing blue light glasses, which block out the glare that causes you headaches. Now your great ideas can flow the whole work day sans problems!

woman wearing blue light glasses while working on a computer to be productive.

Portable Blender

Hunger pangs in the early afternoon are enough to distract anyone from the task at hand. Get out of your slump with a delicious smoothie made whenever and wherever thanks to this portable blender. No need to think serving sizes either, this blender is sized for a personal smoothie to fuel your most productive self!

Productivity Timer

No one can properly live by the mantra of “all work, no play.” That’s why this productivity timer is the perfect solution for keeping you motivated to work. It functions by setting up 30 minutes for your work and 5 minutes of “play,” in which you can use to free your mind and get up from the desk. You’ll be shocked by how productive you truly are with this method!

Productivity timer.

Photos: Freepik, Amazon Play/Work

Stressed Out? Relax With These Simple Solutions

If you have been feeling uptight and stressed the last month, you’re not alone. The American Psychological Association reported that 75% of Americans have symptoms of stress monthly, and we can only imagine what the global average must be. That said, there are ways of controlling and reducing stress that are both simple and affordable to fit into your daily life. 

Chewing Gum

girl blowing a bubble gum to reduce stress.

Beyond giving your mouth a fresh flavor, chewing gum can actually help to improve your mood and reduce cortisol levels. Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone,” so when this is lowered you will feel all around less stress in your life. 

Filling Your Room With Plants

an office room with plants.

Spending time in the outdoors can make you feel instantly refreshed and calmer. To achieve these same benefits while inside of your home or office space, you can fill your room with plants, which has been proven to lower blood pressure associated with high stress environments. It also has been shown to help with your productivity and breathing. Plus, your room will be a sight for sore eyes with beautiful plants as decorations!

Biting Down On Some Chocolate

several bars of chocolate surrounded by cocoa powder.

Chocolate doesn’t just taste amazing– it actually makes us FEEL better too! Dark chocolate in particular has been proven to reduce stress levels when eaten daily, even in small amounts. Time to give yourself the sweet treat you deserve!

Mowing The Lawn

a man the mowing lawn, which is a unique way to feel less stressed.

This is probably the most shocking on the list… But a chemical that is released from the grass after it is freshly cut has the ability to make people feel happier and calmer. Some research found it even helps to reduce mental deterioration! You will also feel less stressed thanks to completing another chore. Another check off the to-do list!

Sipping On Some Tea

a glass of tea for when you are feeling stressed.

The British may be on to something with their love of tea. Scientists found that drinking just one cup of tea can help to lower one’s stress by up to 25 percent! The best tea for the job is green tea, which has the stress-reducing ingredient L-theanine. Wind down right before bed with a cup and you are sure to sleep soundly.

Photos: Freepik, Pixabay

Area 51 Facts To Fuel Your Extraterrestrial Fantasies

Recently Area 51 came to the spotlight once again as people on Facebook decided to create events to “storm” the Nevada-based flight testing facility (with over 2 million people accepting the event, too). This area has been linked to alien sightings and other-world conspiracy theories, yet there seems to be very little truthfully known about this location. Here to share some facts that will fuel your extraterrestrial fantasies.

Facebook event to Storm Area 51

No One Knows Why It’s Called Area 51

While there are plenty of theories about the name, there are no true origins to trace. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, it is not known how Area 51 got its name nor what it stands for! Some have theorized that the name comes from the fact the location is very close to nuclear testing sites, which typically each have their own number.

photo of the desert with an alien sign.

The Fake Moon Landing Conspiracies Were Believed To Be Filmed Here

One of the biggest cultural events during the Cold War and ingrained into US history is the 1969 moon landing. However, despite the video footage and moon rocks as evidence, many people don’t believe that the moon landing actually happened. This lunar conspiracy theory began by Bill Kaysing, who thinks that NASA officials faked the landing by filming it at Area 51, and took rocks from Antarctica as moon rocks.

American moon landing.

Area 51 Workers Commute By Flight

Although most aspects of working at Area 51 are kept top secret, there is news that employees commute to work via an unmarked government aircraft. The airline for these secret aircrafts is called “Janet,” which some believe stands for Just Another Non-Existent Terminal. However, no one truly knows where they land. Nor is it verified where these flights specifically take off from.

"self parking" sign for aliens at Area 51.

The Best UFO Spotting Is By A Mailbox

Although workers are sworn to secrecy, some former employees have opened up about their prior work at the location. One man named Bob Lazar became famous for claiming to work at Area 51 and spotting UFOs. He said the best place to see aliens there was by the Black Mailbox. In reality it is two mailboxes, one for owner Steve Medlin and the second one for aliens. Medlin added the second mailbox to prevent all visitors from tampering with his own mail. Whether it’s your dream (or nightmare) to get in contact with aliens, this spot 12 miles away from the extraterrestrial hub is where to go!

The Black Mailbox near Area 51 for alien sightings.

Photos: Facebook Event: Storm Area 51 , Pixabay

5 Reasons You Should Be Reading Daily

Reading traditional print books seems to be the form of entertainment that is dying off with the social media age. Nevertheless, enjoying a good book every day can actually provide many benefits on an intellectual, emotional and social level. By adding even just a few minutes of reading each day, you will reap some of these results!

Reading Increases Your Intelligence

a child reading while wearing adult work clothes.

A study published in 2014 found that people who learned strong reading skills from a young age were more likely to grow up to be intelligent as adults. The study investigated 1,890 sets of identical twins, and reading was the factor that appeared to most influence which twin would score better in verbal and reasoning tests. This concludes that children should be exposed to and taught how to read at a young age in order to reap the benefits for the rest of their adult life.

Reading Reduces Stress

a woman reading, relaxed holding a cup of coffee.

After a long day at work, you might be feeling very pressed and negative. A good way to unwind is by reading for half an hour. One study found this helped individuals reduce stress as well as completing 30 minutes of meditation or yoga.

Improve Your Sleep At Night

a woman reading in bed.

How many of us are guilty of scrolling through our phones and social media feeds right before bed? (Answer: almost all of us). That said, the light from our phone screens can keep our brains wired into the night, preventing us from being able to fall asleep. Picking up a physical book (not electronic) before bed allows us to both avoid the blue light and helps us relax into a better sleep.

Literary Fiction Enhances Your Empathy

students and friends all with books and smiling together.

Reading fiction literature has been shown to enhance readers’ ability to empathize with others. The thinking behind the results of a 2013 study was that fiction is written to make readers be able to step outside of their own world to relating to fictitious characters. These skills then transfer into the real world, where fiction readers can better understand how others are thinking and feeling.

Reading Strengthens Family Bonds

a dad reading to his kids.

Although we typically think of reading as a solitary activity, it can also be a perfect bonding experience for parents with their children. Specifically, reading print books (not e-books) with children creates more meaningful conversations and connections among family members. It also has the advantage of encouraging children to read from a young age to gain a love for books to last a lifetime.

Photos: Freepik

Sassy Bark: Spanish brand creates anti-rape jewelry

Over the years we have become more and more aware of the massive problem that is sexual assault. Statistics show that one out of five women will be sexual assaulted at some point in their lives. It has become increasingly normalized. Rape culture is a big issue we have to stand against.

Anti-rape jewelry

A Spanish company called Sassy Bark

In Spain, a company called Sassy Bark has started developing jewelry that can help women feel safe when outside. Women all over the world have this lingering feeling of unsafeness when walking down the street on their own. Sassy Bark’s jewelry can put an end to this.

A necklace to defend yourself

They have developed a “defense necklace” that acts as a pepper spray. Pepper sprays are illegal in many places, but this particular spray has been approved by the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Interior of Spain. With this necklace, the element of surprise will be on your side. It’s discrete, as they actual spray is contained inside the necklace.

Self-defense anti assault

What the spray does

You will be able to act fast, as you won’t have to wait until you’ve found it in your purse. You can easily pull it off from your necklace and spray it, as the jewel is held by magnets. Besides blinding the aggressor for around 15 to 20 minutes, it will “stain” them with ultraviolet ink, which will allow the police to easily track down said person for up to 48 hours after the aggression.

It’s safe and easy to use

The spray is reusable, and once it’s empty you can refill it. Plus, the jewel is completely adapted to the spray, which means that it’s easy to use, and fail-proof. However, it is safe enough that you won’t press it by accident.

Walking home alone

If you’re unsure of how to use it, you can practice with the jewel without filling the spray, just to make sure you know how it works when the time comes (but we pray it doesn’t). It’s better to be safe than sorry.

There are even different designs you can choose from, as well as different types of spray. You won’t ever have to worry about getting home safely again.

Images: Sassy Bark and Unsplash