Published on: 09 October 2018
Last Updated on: 06 June 2021
Digital addiction is not a bona fide medical term – yet – but we are getting closer. The 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), released this June by the World Health Organization has introduced “Gaming disorder” as a true mental health condition. It has three categories – predominantly online, predominantly offline, and “unspecified” that covers pretty much every other disorder related to video games. Thus, video game addiction has officially become a mental health condition that can be diagnosed and treated by medical professionals.
What will be next? Well, one of the things that might make it into the next edition of the IDC is social media addiction, a phenomenon increasingly discussed by medical professionals all over the world.
What is social media addiction?
Today, communication is done mainly through digital channels – especially social networks like Facebook and its Messenger app, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, Snapchat, and many others. Aside from allowing people to keep in contact and up-to-date with the things their friends and acquaintances do, these digital channels also create a sense of belonging among their users. But just like with any other product out there, moderation is key. Excessive use of social media is known to have a negative impact on the health and well-being of users. And the young – usually, they are the most enthusiastic about new services and technologies – are the most exposed to these negative effects.
A number of studies have been conducted to assess how excessive social media use affects the health of users. Many of them have reached the same conclusion – excessive social media use is associated with several psychological problems, ranging from depression and anxiety to ADHD and even addiction. This affects a minority of individuals but the effects are undeniable.
Smartphone rehab and digital detox:
The problem is big enough to prompt some in-depth studies and even treatment programs on the matter. A study conducted last year in the United Kingdom shows that kids as young as 12 have an issue maintaining a good balance between their “real” life and their digital one. At the same time, kids as young as 13 are reportedly being treated for “digital technology addiction” in the United States. There are “smartphone rehab” centers in many cities, offering recovery programs for teens unable to keep their use of digital devices under control. Sooner rather than later, excessive digital technology and social media use will be defined as a genuine mental disorder and be treated as such.
Until then, be sure to be a good example for your kids, reduce your phone use, and schedule “tech-free” activities to keep phone use at bay.
Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.
If you work in a nice, cool, and modern office, you spend most of your day sitting at your desk and walking on a carpeted floor. Indeed, carpeted floors feel so much better to walk on; they are pretty to look at, absorb sound and reduce noise, help insulate the room, provide a non-slip and safer surface, and are just a lot more comfortable. However, there is also a good chance that the very carpet you love could be hiding some serious dangers.
As we all know, carpets are excellent dirt magnets. Foreign particles ranging from allergens, and bacteria to toxic chemicals could get trapped in between the fibres of the carpet; these things can pose potential health hazards. This is what commercial cleaning, particularly office cleaning and carpet deep cleaning, is about.
Allergens
One of the most common, and probably the biggest, danger hiding in between the fibres of your office carpets are allergens.
Allergens come in various forms, from dirt, dust, pet dander, dust mites, pollen, etc., which are all practically invisible to the naked eye. These particles get trapped on the carpet but can become airborne when someone walks on the carpet. People with hypersensitivity to these allergens can easily feel allergic reactions from these particles, such as sneezing, coughing, stuffy or runny nose, red, watery and itchy eyes, headaches, etc. Those with asthma, allergic rhinitis, or similar respiratory conditions will feel the worst of the symptoms.
If you often suffer from allergies, you may notice that your symptoms are usually worse t work. And if you work in a carpeted environment, there is a good chance it is caused by dirty office carpet.
To reduce your exposure to harmful allergens, make sure to invest in a vacuum cleaner that comes with a HEPA filter. HEPA is a special type of filter that traps extremely small particles. The good thing about hiring good commercial cleaning companies is that they use HEPA vacuums for their office cleaning.
Bacteria
Another common danger that could be lurking in your office caret is bacteria.
As said earlier, carpets are practically dirt traps. It traps anything and everything, including moisture. Beverage spills, wet food, or various liquids dropped on the carpet turn the carpet into a breeding ground for bacteria.
Bacteria, as we all know, can cause a long list of serious illnesses, such as pneumonia, meningitis, etc. To reduce your risk of these health problems, it is important to have your office carpet professionally cleaned.
Commercial office cleaners use HEPA filter vacuums, special cleaning equipment and commercial-grade cleaning agents to effectively clean and disinfect carpets. They can safely clean bacteria lurking between the fibres and deep into the carpet without damaging the fabric.
Toxic Chemicals
Another danger that is often overlooked in the office setting is toxic chemicals.
Often, office chemicals are treated with special chemicals to make them flame-retardant and stain-resistant. You will often see this in carpets placed in high-traffic areas, as they are incredibly convenient in terms of care and safety. However, over time, as the carpet ages, these special chemicals can off-gas, releasing toxic fumes into the air.
Some of the most common chemicals used in treating carpets are benzene, formaldehyde, and toluene. These chemicals have been linked to a variety of health problems, such as respiratory issues, dizziness, and headaches.
To reduce your chances of exposure to these chemicals, make sure to choose office carpets that are certified as low-emitting or free from harmful chemicals. If your office has already installed carpets with these chemical treatments, consider testing them for chemical emissions.
Mould
Mould is another common danger that is often overlooked in work settings like offices. Since carpets can trap moisture, they become damp. Hence, they become an ideal environment for mould growth. Mould can release spores into the air, and like allergens, they can cause respiratory and health problems.
To reduce your risk of exposure to mould, it is crucial to have your pipes checked for possible leaks, improve office ventilation, and use a dehumidifier to reduce humidity levels. Also, make sure to have your carpets cleaned by professional commercial cleaners.
Tips For Keeping Your Office's Carpet Clean And Safe
Now that you know the dangers that could be lurking in your office carpet, it is important to take the necessary steps to keep your carpets clean and safe. Here are some tips for that:
Vacuum Regularly
Office carpets must be thoroughly vacuumed at least once a week to remove dust, dirt, and another allergen buildup.
Use HEPA Filter
Make sure to invest in a HEPA filter to effectively remove all small particles that have settled deep into the carpet.
Clean Up Spills As Soon As Possible
Prevent moisture from seeping deep into the carpet fibres by cleaning up spills promptly.
Invest In Safe Cleaning Products
Not all cleaning products are the same. Many may be effective in cleaning and killing bacteria, but they can be made from harmful chemicals. People hypersensitive to these strong cleaning solutions may be at risk of experiencing health problems such as allergic reactions and respiratory symptoms.
Have Your Office Carpets Professionally Cleaned
You can save yourself from all the hassles of cleaning and buying special cleaning equipment and cleaning solutions or hiring and training office cleaners by simply getting the services of professional office cleaners.
Professional commercial cleaning services include deep cleaning, which is exactly what office carpets need. Health experts recommend that office carpets must be deep cleaned at least once a year (twice for offices with heavy foot traffic) to remove deep-seater allergens and dirt and keep them clean and safe for everyone.
Takeaway
Your office's carpet may seem innocuous, but it could be hiding some serious dangers. Save yourself from the stress of guesswork and hire professional commercial cleaning services to take care of your carpet cleaning needs.
Commercial cleaning services provide customized cleaning plans to give you the exact, comprehensive, and quality service you need. Also, these office cleaning services companies hire professional cleaners, train them, and equip them with advanced cleaning techniques and equipment to ensure safe and thorough cleaning of your office. Their experienced cleaners are fully trained and well-versed in handling various cleaning and building maintenance tasks, including deep cleaning.
Lastly, hiring professional cleaning services from legit professional commercial cleaning companies can help you save precious time and money in the long run. Not only that they have the manpower and special equipment to provide the highest quality cleaning, but they are also extremely efficient. They can work around your schedule, reduce downtime, and improve the productivity of your workplace.
Read Also:
Why Is A Janitorial Service For Commercial Establishments?
10 Pro Tips To Minimize Commercial Door Repair & Maintenance Cost
The Hidden Damages In Workspaces: 5 Steps To Reduce The Risk Of Workplace Injuries!
Recent years have seen a rapid decline in church attendance. One of the harsh facts of the current climate is that the institution has become all but irrelevant to many Americans, especially the younger generations, and so congregations have shrank.
There are many reasons that church membership is down, and not all of them even relate directly to the clergy or to the church. One contributing factor is that Millennials and Gen-Zers are more averse to a commitment to any institution, including marriage and religion. However, another major factor is that America is becoming less religious as fewer people claim to have any religious affiliation. Ignoring these facts will do nothing to change the trends, but turning your church around isn't impossible. Read on to get some tips to help you revive your church and make it more durable.
Here are 5 Tips for Turning Your Church Around:
1. Acknowledge that your church has a problem.
As a church leader, you're probably accustomed to helping people through life's hardships. As a counselor and minister, you know that the first and most important step of solving a problem is admitting that there is one. You have to apply that same principle inwards, especially when it comes to turning your church around. It's equally important to be able to recognize the signs that your church is in trouble.
One of the crucial signs that your church is trending downward is that you have a lack of young people in your congregation. Growth is important for the survival of any organization, and you can't grow without an infusion of youth. Also, if there is no talk of the church's direction and goals for the future, then it is going in the wrong direction. The goal shouldn't be to simply exist and maintain the status quo--you need to always have a vision for how to make it something greater.
2. Hire people with skills that can help your mission to grow.
Even though the goal of your church isn't to make money, you need to approach turning it around with a business mindset. In business, you need to have the right personnel in place to facilitate growth, and you need to take the same business-like approach to revive your ministry.
Growing your church should be a project with many steps and initiatives that you put forth with the goal of revitalizing the ministry. You should consider hiring a project manager who has successfully completed PMP certification training. A project management professional undergoes years of schooling to get their project management certification, or PMP certificate, and they specialize in planning, and in managing the funding of projects.
You may even want to consider sponsoring one of your members for the PMP certification process as a way to facilitate growth from within your flock. By helping them get the credentials needed, through on-site project experience, they can quickly gain their own project management certification, and help you in return. The more qualified hands you have on deck, then the more ready your church will be to undertake the task of turning the ministry around.
3. Get the youth involved.
One of the major issues facing churches around the United States is that young people are losing interest in church. If this trend continues, then from where will the clergy and church leaders of the future come?
One way you can attract youth to your ministry is to give them responsibilities. Adolescents are on the cusp of adulthood, and the desire to have a role in shaping the institutions of which they're apart. Create programs specifically for the younger people in your church, and also empower them to give suggestions and spearhead small projects.
4. Encourage members to become leaders.
One of the most important prerequisites for ministers to remember is that you can't build a ministry alone. If you want your members to become more engaged in church, then you need to get them active.
One way to get members to become more interested in growing the ministry is to facilitate their personal spiritual growth. Creating a school of ministry for members who dream of someday wearing priest shirts is an excellent way to help your members grow, as well as attracting potential new members to step into the church for the first time. Put your credentials and years of experience in ministry to work by becoming a trainer for future ministers and leaders.
5. Get active in the community.
One of the unfortunate trends in the U.S. is that people are beginning to feel like the church is irrelevant in modern society. One of the main reasons for that sentiment is that many churches are inactive in their community.
If you want to revitalize your church, then community service is one of the best ways. Programs like neighborhood cleanups and food drives are excellent ways to ingratiate your church to the community through service.
Read Also:
Uses and History of Prayer Beads in Various Traditions
Nonprofit organizations deserve your support. If you have enough time and resources, you should support them. Look for organizations that take steps to save the environment. These are the reasons why your support will go a long way.
They have clear goals:
Not all groups that protect the environment have the same goals. Some of them focus on animal conservation. Others are about preventing water pollution.
You can even find organizations that help train future leaders who will challenge people in authority. Choose whatever is closest to your heart and help in whatever way you can. Look at the mission of these organizations and see how you can be of help.
You can start from home:
If you don't see yourself helping these organizations yet, you should start from home. Some practices will make you understand the value of environmental protection even more.
For instance, you can partner with reputable recycling companies like langleyrecyclingkc.com to dispose of used materials. The items you let go of will be recycled. Considering the many benefits of recycling, you're doing the right thing.
Eventually, if you see the value of environmental protection, you will consider supporting these organizations. If you don't want to go alone, convince your friends to be with you. You might know people who share the same concern.
There are results:
If you believe the steps you take at home bear no results, it's understandable. You can help environmental groups in addition to what you do at home. If you join these organizations, you will see drastic changes. It motivates you to do more since you know that your actions have positive results.
It’s a wise use of your time:
When you have free time, and you wish to relax, it's good for you. Everyone deserves time to be alone and not worry about anything.
However, if you have more time in your hands, use it properly. Taking steps to protect the environment is one of them. It feels satisfying since you're doing something not just for yourself. Environmental protection helps create a better world for the future generation. If you have children, you will understand its value even more.
These people volunteer their time and resources:
Most people running these nonprofit organizations don't get paid well. They're doing the right thing out of their love for the cause. They're also passionate about protecting the environment.
If some of them can devote their entire time and resources to keep the organization going, you can do the same. You don't have to be there full-time, but there are ways to support.
Nonprofit organizations succeed because of people who are willing to lend a hand. Besides, there are different ways to lend a hand. If you have enough financial resources, you can donate.
If you have skills in promoting the organization, you can use them. Ask these organizations how you can be of help and volunteer whenever you're free. The people running them will appreciate whatever you can offer.
Read Also:
Why Environmental Air and Noise Monitoring Is Really Worth Families Health
Dangers Of Chemical Spills On Humans, Buildings, And Environment
