ToughJobs may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Enhance mental focus with a violin

By jjohnson Published February 23, 2022

When we are looking for an edge to enhance our mental focus, one great idea is to take up playing a violin. We may have had some training as a child or we may be taking up this as an adult, but this training is assured to exercise our focus and discipline, which will enhance these qualities for our job performance as well.

Before we pick a violin, we need to understand that they are available in 8 different sizes. The full size is 4/4 and they decrease to the smallest at 1/32. For the best fit, we can measure the length between our neck and the middle of our left hand palm, with our arm in the position like playing a violin. The full size (4/4) will measure 23 inches, 3/4 is 22 inches, and 1/2 is 20 inches, with the sizes continuing to reduce until the 1/32, which is 13 inches.

Whichever we choose, we will want also to commit to music lessons with a qualified instructor. It will take time for us to become proficient with playing, but the benefits to our mental focus will occur almost immediately, once we dedicate ourselves to practice.

Topics

Growth

5 helpful mattress protectors for uninterrupted sleep

Hands hold a mattress protector and pull it over a matress

Your bed is your special place. It should be peaceful, clean, and as comfortable as can be. You might think about updating your bedsheets, or giving your comforter a good clean, but it won’t matter if you’re dealing with something like dust mites or bed bugs.
Instead of waiting for the problem to happen before buying a mattress protector, invest in one now to prevent anything icky from happening in the first place. They guard against more than mites and bugs, too—neither allergens, bacteria, nor liquids will ever reach your mattress with one of these bad boys on. Talk about a peaceful sleep!

There are several helpful features of mattress protectors: it’s a barrier against liquid, can extend the life of your mattress, and even helps prevent allergies. It’s up to you to decide what’s most important for you, but you’ll be surprised to learn just how many mattress cases will check off all the boxes.
Remember not to be too concerned about how these products look on your bed, either; your normal sheets and decor can go right on top! Your sleeping space will be just as cute and comfy as ever, but you’ll know you're keeping everything clean and tidy, too.

Growth

Elevate your sleep with these pillowcases and protectors

A white bed with pillows and a duvet in front of a white wall

A comfy pillow can be the difference between getting a great night’s sleep or no sleep at all, so it’s important to take good care of high-quality pillows. Whether they’re filled with feathers or foam, they deserve a pillowcase (and maybe even a pillow protector) that’s just as effective as they are.
To save you from wasted time and choice anxiety, we’ve found five awesome pillow accessories that are equally stylish and comfortable. Each has its own look and feel to them though, so make sure you look through them all to find your match made in pillow heaven. You never know what small difference can totally transform how you sleep.

Whether you’re in need of something to make your pillow look nice or something to keep it safe from dirt and grime, Amazon will be the best place to look. You can compare a number of brands and products—including the five we offered here—to find the one that fits perfectly with your lifestyle and sleeping habits. You’ll have a few choices to make, like which material or color to choose, but you can’t go wrong with any of the industry’s top brands. Who knows, maybe your perfect pillowcase is somewhere on this list! There’s only one way to find out, so get to clicking.

Growth

Escape the rat race with smart and affordable outdoor gear

Coworkers high five outdoors after doing a team building exercise

The work week may be a pressure filled blur of meetings and deadlines, but weekends are surely meant for taking a much-needed breather from the rat race. Even die-hard city dwellers need an occasional escape from the clamor of city life, and a jaunt into the great outdoors offers more than a few possibilities for decompressing and recharging. The good news is that communing with nature is easier than ever, thanks to innovative outdoor gear that makes the prospect of ditching daily conveniences something to eagerly embrace—not dread.

Below, we've selected a few pieces of affordable outdoor gear that anyone from the weekend camper to the daily bicyclist will appreciate. Whether gearing up for an annual camping trip or weekly outdoor escapes, these outdoor tools and equipment illustrate that investing in a few well-made products can be the difference between a bad trip and a great escape.