What Is Precision in Chemistry?

What Is Precision in Chemistry?Let's find out what is precision in chemistry. Precision in chemistry is very essential in a lab environment, and the higher the level of precision, the better it is for the laboratory environment. Any lab or laboratory that can produce high quality results will have a small and precise amount of materials. High precision needs high quality will come with precision.So what is the precision and how does it help our labs that we work in? Firstly, precision means being exact about a lot of things, such as quantities, measurements, and the like. In chemistry, for example, many of the measurements that are required in laboratories are of very low precision. For instance, one might use a sheet of paper, put a drop of ink on it, and it will mark up a few tenths of an inch.Often, the only way to know what that tiny drop of ink marked up was is to have a source of precision and high quality information that tells you exactly how much the drop of ink cost. This i s where the use of an analyzer is so crucial. There are many different types of analyzers, from simple ones, such as a colorimeter, to more complex ones, such as gas chromatographs, mass spectrometers, and others.What is the best way to ensure high precision? For example, one might have a routine of inspecting all of the equipment that is being used. While there is nothing wrong with that, it is really not something that everyone does. Instead, there are other ways to ensure high precision that might be more effective for your lab or laboratory.One good way to ensure precision is to have a good company that will inspect everything before it is used. You might even choose to have their company replace any broken equipment that is still being used in your lab. The tools they use might cost a bit more, but they will keep all of the analyzers and other products working in the lab. They can also give you assurance that the materials that you need will be done properly made.The use of a g ood company that inspects all of the lab is also essential for people who want to go to the next level in their career, for example, to go to a PhD program or get a PhD. A lot of them will require samples that will be used by someone in a lab. The only problem is that the methods for making these samples are not high quality, they might not be entirely accurate, and they might be slightly inaccurate. With the aid of a high quality lab that will do a thorough examination of the samples that will be needed by your graduate student, you will not have any problems finding the samples, and your graduate student will be able to handle the samples without any errors.You might also find that the samples that you need will be used in more than one lab. For instance, the oil sample might be used in another lab. This means that you have two lab systems to run to ensure the samples are not being mishandled. You will also have the security to assure that the lab will be in good working order whe n you need it.

How to Make the Most of College Extracurriculars

How to Make the Most of College Extracurriculars College can be overwhelming. On an average day, you might need to balance your courses and extracurricular activities, a part-time job, and various social commitments. In the midst of all this stress, you might wonder if extracurricular involvement is truly so important. It is, but ensuring that you maximize your participation is just as critical. Heres how you can make the most of college extracurriculars: Choose activities carefully Its easy to overcommit when youre faced with a barrage of exciting choices. While extracurricular activitiesare a wonderful way to meet new people and to strengthen your resume, you can become too involved. Think about your interests and your other time commitments before you sign up for any activities. Try something new An important part of the college experience is expanding your horizons. Use your extracurricular involvement to find an activity that you have always been curious about, and then try it in a safe space. Challenge yourself personally and professionally while you are easily able to do so. Music is a great extracurricular actovitythat many people don't think of. Become a leader In order to make the most of your college extracurriculars, consider becoming involved in club leadership. However, avoid taking on too many leadership positions focus on leading just one or two groups to maximize your experience and minimize the risk of burnout. These are some great tips to develop your leadership skill sin college. Serving as a club leader is a great way to improve your leadership abilities, which employers increasingly value. As a leader, youll take ownership of certain aspects of your extracurricular activity. Youll be responsible for making important decisions, initiating change, and mentoring other club members and you can add the experience to your resume! Step outside campus Volunteering in the community is a fantastic way for college students to further connect to their home away from home. When choosing college extracurriculars, select activities that will allow you to experience your city or town in a number of different ways. Perhaps you become involved in the community by tutoring students at a local elementary school or working in a food pantry. No matter your form of involvement, you can experience life outside your school, which can be a refreshing change. Community involvement has other benefits too. For example, you might make connections that lead to internships or jobs, or you might meet people from diverse backgrounds. You'll likely find that this networking opportunity is difficult to replicate, as well as invaluable. Create your own opportunities When participating in college extracurriculars, try toopen yourself up to opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to you. In other words, dont be afraid to use these extracurricular activities to your advantage. For instance, ask the botanical garden where you volunteered if it is in need of a summer intern. Or ask the city council member who you worked with to write you a letter of recommendation. These tips may be able to help you choose the right extracurricular activities for you. In short, ensure that you are benefiting from the college extracurriculars that youre involved with. Extracurriculars can boost your college success!If you are assisting your community, finding personal fulfillment, and experiencing personal and professional development, keep doing what youre doing!

10 In-Demand Professions in The Near Future - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 10 In-Demand Professions in The Near Future - Introvert Whisperer 10 In-Demand Professions in The Near Future Job security can sometimes seem as though it belongs to the past, but if youre sensible enough to choose the right profession youll not only be in demand but in many cases will be able to enjoy a higher than average salary. So if youre considering a career change, or wondering what to study, youd be wise to look at this infographic from AssignmentMasters. It looks at some of the professions that will be in demand in the near future. Its perhaps no surprise that in todays high-tech world, the IT field is included on the list of desirable professions. As we become increasingly reliant on technology, there are also greater security risks, meaning that information security analysts will always be in demand. Systems analysts are also needed to ensure that computer systems run smoothly. So train in either of these professions and youll enjoy a healthy salary, especially if you work on the security side. Many aspects of the medical field will also be in demand. You could be a nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, or if youre more interested in psychology, an industrial psychologist, helping to alleviate stress in the workplace. And as medicine continues to advance, there will also be a need for biomedical engineers to help develop procedures, and medical equipment repairers to fix machines used to diagnose and treat patients. The infographic compares salaries for each profession in the US and the UK perhaps surprisingly, wages in the UK can be higher for some professions than in the US and also lists some of the attributes needed. If youre very analytical, you could do well in IT, but if you prefer contact with people then a job in medicine or translating could suit you better. Theres a brief summary of what each job entails and the average salary based on data from government sources.

The Volume of a Cube Tutors

The Volume of a Cube Tutors A cube is a 3-dimensional geometric figure which has length, width and a height. However the most important property of a cube is that all the sides are equal in measure. This implies that the length, width and the height are equal to each other, due to which it is enough to have only a single side measure. The volume of a cube is the amount of space contained inside the given cube and it can be calculated by the volume of the cube formula. Example 1: What is the volume of the cube whose side measures 10m? Given the side length of the cube, s = 10m Volume of a cube is the amount of space contained inside the cube and it is given by the formula: Volume of a cube, V = s3 Therefore volume of the given cube, V = (10m)3 This gives: Volume, V = 1000m3 Therefore the volume of a cube whose side measures 10m is 1000m3 Example 2: What is the volume of the cube whose side measures 6m? Given the side length of the cube, s = 6m Volume is the amount of space contained inside a cube and it is given by the formula: Volume of a cube, V = s3 Therefore volume of the given cube, V = (6m)3 This gives: Volume, V = 216m3 Therefore the volume of a cube whose side measures 6m is 216m3

Muay Thai Clubs in London

Muay Thai Clubs in London Finding the Best Muay Thai Clubs in London ChaptersA Brief Explanation of Muay ThaiThe London Fight FactoryDiesel GymUrban KingsOur capital city has a well-deserved reputation as a global city: one open to the world and a leader in finance and commerce, in the tech sector and in culture.If you were looking for a night at the theatre, you would have your pick of them. If you wanted a unique dining experience, you are spoilt for choice. For pomp, you can witness the changing of the guard or tour any number of historic sites.You might take in a court case or a debate at Parliament, for that matter.At the risk of sounding like a travel brochure, London does indeed have it all.What about sports? Need you ask?London is the only city to have hosted the Summer Olympics three times â€" granted, that is a statistic that doesn’t necessarily speak to Londoners’ love of sports but it is remarkable.Like the rest of the country, we are mad for football; five of our clubs are in the Premier League. Those are not the only football clubs t hat call London home, either. And we also have two rugby teams and two Test cricket teams.People come from all over the world to run the London Marathon and to watch history being made at Wimbledon. As a global city, London has something for everyone, even Muay Thai boxing Image by David Mark from PixabayPerhaps it is precisely because London is so very sporty that combat sports hardly get a mention.Boxing â€" from bare-knuckle fighting to Savate, the French style of boxing named after old shoes; Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu all get their turn to shine in London arenas, though perhaps not as brightly as the more popular sports.Maybe it’s because they are not as well-known. Or perhaps it could be because of the rigorous training involved; indeed, being a martial artist is a lifestyle, not something athletes do when called upon.With a new year about to dawn, maybe you would investigate a centuries-old fighting style that is rapidly gaining traction in combat sports circles.Perhaps you would like to become a Muay Thai fighter.To get you started, we toured Muay Thai clubs in and around London; now we bring you the best ones. AndreyBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st l esson free!Discover all our tutors KostiaBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LeeBoxing Teacher £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SajBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KaranBoxing Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThomasBoxing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HaileyBoxing Teacher 4.50 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidBoxing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsA Brief Explanation of Muay ThaiIf you are new to combat sports or have never heard of Muay Thai, or know only vaguely that it is some sort of martial arts fighting, you may need a bit more information about it before deciding it is something you may want to engage in.Today, Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand but, for centuries, it was how the Thai military fought wars.Muay Boran, an umbrella term that encompasses Muay Thai fighting, was a fighting tactic use d in warfare but it was also a form of entertainment. Fighters would face off in temples, generally for festivals and other celebrations.The Thai word ‘muay’ literally means boxer, making the translation of Muay Thai Thai boxing. As a Briton interested in becoming a Muay Thai fighter, you would be designated ‘nac muay farang’, literally ‘foreign boxer’.You cannot be ‘nac muay’ unless you are ethnically Thai. In Thailand, fighters learn Muay Thai techniques at an early age Image by Sasin Tipchai from PixabayMuay Thai is called the Art of Eight Limbs because, as opposed to western styles of boxing that only employ fists as strike points, it permits fists and feet, elbows and knees; eight strike points.Besides kicking, Muay Thai differs from other styles of boxing in other ways. Clinching, prohibited in other combat sports is a ‘legal’ tactic in Muay Thai bouts, as is grappling.Furthermore, the shin is generally used for kicking while the feet are used more as a defensive measure, to push your opponent away. Elbow and knee strikes are particularly dangerous moves both because they are made with hardier body parts and because they can be especially forceful when delivered with the body’s full momentum.A spinning elbow strike is an excellent case in point.To deliver such a blow, the fighter steps into his opponent, pivoting so that his side faces the other fighter. He then finishes the pivot, driving his elbow into the opponent’s ribcage, abdomen or nose.If you can imagine a roundhouse kick with a pointed elbow connecting rather than a foot or a shin, you have the right idea.Other strikes include:Mid-air elbow strike: the fighter leaps up, landing his elbow on the crown of his opponent’s head.Axe heel kick: the fighter kicks his leg up high; on the down-swing, his heel hits his opponent’s head or shoulder.Curving knee kick: same as a roundhouse kick but the knee connects with the ribs rather than the footFlying knee: imagine kneeing someone with force added by a leap upwards.This move can be intensified by holding your opponent in a bent-over position.Knee slap: a good move if your opponent is grappling you; hit him with the inside of your knee.Swan neck: one arm is draped over your opponent’s neck in preparation for a knee strikeYou might think, by these descriptions, that Muay Thai is a particularly brutal combat sport. To an extent, you are right; the d iscipline started as a series of hand to hand combat techniques.The trick is to avoid these strikes while landing blows yourself. That calls for a fair measure of strategy as well as being in peak physical form.Getting in shape is why most Thai boxers in Birmingham practise this martial art; something you too will do once you start your training.Now we will take you on a tour of London's best gyms and clubs for learning Muay Thai.The London Fight FactoryClose to the Old Street roundabout is one of the city’s most popular mixed martial arts gym.There, you will find a wide array of martial arts disciplines to choose from besides Muay Thai: MMA, wrestling, sambo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu among them.The trainers here are experienced martial artists; Muay Thai coach Nick Forrer is himself an experienced fighter.What we really like about this facility is that they expect you to be totally committed to your art, whether you are learning for self-defense or to compete.Of course, there is pl enty more to like, such as their facility with its matted floors, its full array of heavy bags to work on your kicks and punches; the Thai pads and focus mitts to work on your aim and their strength training area, complete with frames and weights.Finally, we love that they offer a free trial session; we couldn’t find a Muay Thai club in Cardiff that offered the same. A major part of your training as a Muay Thai fighter involves working the heavy bag Image by Khusen Rustamov from PixabayDiesel GymIf you have the impression that Muay Thai is a males-only discipline; this club should disabuse you of that notion: not only does Diesel Gym eagerly welcome female fighters, one of their Muay Thai coaches is two-time world champion Amanda Kelly.Diesel Gym recently relocated to a brand new venue in East London, on Dockside Road, in Royal Albert Docks; that means that everything is brand new and squeaky clean â€" or, at least, in good condition.There, you will find everything you need to train as a Muay Thai fighter, from pads and Muay Thai gloves to heavy bags and skipping ropes to get your heart rate up.You may join your coach or fellow martial artists in the ring for a vigorous bout of sparring or simply watch as others as they engage in fights.We really like that there are Ladies Only Muay Thai classes, as well as classes for every level from beginner t hrough professional fighters.Belfast Muay Thai clubs also have some pretty advanced fighters…Cliff Bura joins Amanda Kelly in coaching, adding his more-than 25 years of experience as an international fighter to her championship record, making them one of the most experienced coaching duos in the country.Add that to their exceedingly reasonable rate of £10 per lesson, and… I wish there were a Muay Thai club near me what had that combination!Urban KingsIf you want more than guts and glory out of your time at the gym, this is the club for you. They have a sauna and a juice bar, a massage suite and nutritional coaching on demand.Still, this is no glitzy franchise gym that wants your membership but delivers little in return. Urban Kings has much to offer once you get past that juice bar.Naturally, we are most interested in Muay Thai but here, you may touch of a variety of disciplines, from kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to yoga and strength training.The coaches at Urban Kings ar e all experienced Thai boxers â€" at least, those who train in Thai boxing, and they welcome every age and level of fighter.They offer a variety of membership packages including an unlimited joint membership for £126 per month, per person. If that seems a bit steep, you might consider their individual membership plan; £85 per month buys you unlimited access during off-peak hours.Try as we might, we couldn’t find such a generous membership plan at Muay Thai clubs in Manchester!Naturally, these are not the only gyms in London where you might practise Muay Thai but they are highly rated among fighters and trainees.If you know of a Muay Thai club that deserves mention, why not let us know in the comments below?Now discover Muay Thai clubs in Glasgow that could give London clubs a run for their money…

Write a Paper Help

Write a Paper Help Writing a good paper is a tough task for many students. There are many kinds of papers to write in English. For example thesis paper, research paper, journals and many more. Depending on the type of the Paper the writing is should be developed. For example in a Research paper of a given topic it is expected to gather enough reliable information and describe the topic accordingly. Data, articles used in the research paper should be recited. Having a rough draft for any paper helps to construct a good writing. For a presentable writing the content is very important. The students should use their ideas and creativity to present an impressive writing. Here are the steps to write any writing assignment. These steps should provide an idea and guideline to present a good writing. Introduction is very crucial for any writing. The student can use relevant quotes sometimes to start the paper. The introduction of the paper discusses about the outline of the assignment. The introduction should be presented very carefully as the whole writing is constructed on its basis. Then the main body of the assignment. There can be required number of paragraphs depending on the content. The paragraphs can contain different thoughts and ideas to elaborate the paper. The paragraphs can also contain some relevant examples and some good research content. The last step is the conclusion of the paper. Its very important to conclude meaningfully. The conclusion of the writing gives the summary of the topic. A well written paper shows the students skill in English.

How to Use a Chinrest and Shoulder Rest

How to Use a Chinrest and Shoulder Rest Two Tools for Avoiding Aches when Playing Violin ChaptersWhy Use a Chinrest or a Shoulder Rest?Choosing a Violin ChinrestChoosing Your Violin Shoulder RestAdjusting Chinrests and Shoulder Rests“A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?” - Albert EinsteinThe violin is one of the smallest stringed instruments. This means that you need to adopt a position that isn’t very natural in order to play it and since playing it is quite an intense activity, especially if you’re playing in an orchestra, you’re likely to end up with aches and pains.To avoid these pains and enjoy playing the instrument, we recommend two really useful accessories: the chinrest and the shoulder rest.There are tonnes of schools around the UK offering violin lessons to children and adults alike, not to mention all the private tutors there are.Nowadays, learning the violin is for everyone. While this string instrument was once reserved for the upper classes (because you needed a dedicated luthier to make you one), thanks to modern manufacturing techniques that have rendered making parts like the fingerboard, tailpiece, and scroll easier, there are violins available for every budget.In fact, the same is true for the violin family of instruments and other string instruments such as the viola, cello, mandolin, double bass, and guitar.In this article, we’re going to focus on the two accessories we mentioned earlier: the chinrest and the shoulder rest. TomViolin Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StacyViolin Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtieViolin Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BenedictViolin Teacher 5.00 (8) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaisiiaViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AmyViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuísViolin Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoViolin Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Use a Chinrest or a Shoulder Rest?A violin rests on the musician’s collarbone.  While the wood used in making violins is often of a high quality, the constant rubbing against your bones and the vibrations from the instrument can leave you uncomfortable or sore.Like a violin, we all sometimes need a good rest. (Source: cuncon)After all, wood is generally quite a hard material and it can make your playing less enjoyable. This is why some violinists opt for a shoulder rest to place between their collarbone and their instrument.A good shoulder rest will sit on the musician’s collarbone and still mean that the instrument can be easily bowed.A shoulder rest is a curved and rigid quilted bar which spans the back of the violin and rests against the violinist’s collarbone.You should know that a shoulder rest can make playing your violin more difficult as it makes accessing the strings more difficult and playing in pitch even harder.Violins without should er rests have a deeper, richer, and more natural tone and better playability.Some beginners will be faced with a difficult choice: deal with the pain for a better sound or alleviate the aches to the detriment of their playing.When you attach a shoulder rest to a violin, you add extra tension which makes it harder to vibrate and reach the strings.What’s a chinrest?The chinrest sits at the bottom of the instrument.Its job is also to alleviate the aches and pains inherent in playing the violin. However, it also protects the wood from sweat and rubbing.That said, it’s pretty much part of the violin and has been since the 19th century. However, for the 300 years previous to that, most violinists avoided using one at all cost.Choosing a Violin ChinrestThe chinrest has become such a common accessory for a violin that almost every violin nowadays is now sold with one.You should avoid plastic when you can. (Source: Hans)It’s there to make playing a violin more comfortable by alleviatin g the pain from rubbing against the wood of the violin’s body.It also protects the instrument itself from dirt, sweat, and constant rubbing.  It’s therefore imperative that the accessory is perfectly fitted and angled to fit your chin into comfortably.How should you choose a violin chinrest?Whether you play jazz violin, chamber music, or classical music, you’ll use a chinrest.In fact, you need to choose one that is the same size as your chin.Chinrests are generally made from plastic, ebony, or rosewood.The material you choose will affect how your violin plays. If you don’t feel comfortable with plastic, you’ll not feel as comfortable playing your violin.The choice of material is almost as important as choosing the instrument itself.How can you achieve a good vibrato or pizzicato if you don’t like the feel of the violin against your chin?You also need to consider how your chinrest attaches to your violin.Here are some of the criteria to consider when choosing a chinrest:T he shape: side or centre mountThe material: synthetic materials and plasticsThe finish for wooden chinrests: ebony, rosewood, or boxwoodHow it attaches to your violinYou’ll find tonnes of online retailers and brick-and-mortar music stores selling violin chinrests. You can also visit a violin shop to pick up stuff for your fiddle.They can range from £10 to £150 according to the model you opt for. Generally-speaking, the higher the price, the better the model. However, if you're just playing for fun, it's probably not worth spending a fortune on them.Choosing Your Violin Shoulder RestWhen buying a violin you also need to think carefully about the extras and accessories.You don't want the wood on your violin do split. (Source: PublicDomainPictures)In addition to a metronome, tuner, rosin, the bow, and replacement strings, you might also consider getting a shoulder rest if you find your violin too uncomfortable to play without one.In order to alleviate pressure on your collarbone, a shoulder rest is the answer.  Keep in mind that if the shoulder strap is too tightly attached to your violin, it will negatively affect its sound.You need a shoulder rest that’s comfortable and sits comfortably on your collarbone as well as not hurting the sound of your violin too much.We recommend trying your instrument with and without a shoulder rest in a music shop so that you can judge for yourself whether or not it’s worth it.There are tonnes of different brands, materials, and colours. There are metal ones, wooden ones, and carbon ones and you get them from Kun, Wolf, Wittner, Playonair, etc.You have to consider the size of your violin, too.This is arguably the most important criteria to consider as you don’t want to put a shoulder rest for a 1/4 violin on a 1/2 violin or a 4/4 violin.  You need to choose a shoulder rest that fits your instrument.In terms of price, they can range from £10 to over £100 for top-of-the-range shoulder rests.  Keep in mind that there are also compact and foldable shoulder rests that’ll fit in your violin case.Perhaps you could ask your violin teacher to guide your choice for the right chin rest...Adjusting Chinrests and Shoulder RestsIt’s important that you get the right chinrests and shoulder rests. However, a lot of violinists overlook them.Make sure you have some screwdrivers in order to adjust your violin. (Source: blickpixel)What’s the point in playing really well if you always come away in agony?Here’s some advice for adjusting your violin accessories.Firstly, set the height of your shoulder rest. This needs to ensure that the violin comes up to your lower jaw.Put simply, the violin needs to sit comfortably in place. If it doesn’t, either your chinrest or shoulder rest need to be adjusted.Your shoulder rest needs to also be adjusted to fit the violin itself. It needs to be adjustable and fit where you want to put it on your violin.Finally, you need to adjust the angle.When you put your chin on the ch inrest, your violin needs to be able to sit horizontally and stay in place. The shoulder rest can be used to adjust how the instrument sits and ensure that it’s almost perpendicular to your head.Do you practise in a flat or have neighbours who aren’t that keen on your music?You should consider investing in either a practise mute or an electronic violin and get lessons from some of the great tutors on Superprof!If you're not sold on the idea, you should keep in mind that many of the tutors offer the first hour of tuition for free. This is a good opportunity to work out what they can do for you, how they teach, how much they charge, and when they can schedule tutorials for you. Try a few different tutors before making your decision!Don't forget that if you need replacement d'addario violin strings, tuners, horsehair for your violin bow, violin bows, violin cases, violin parts like tuning pegs, or any other accessories for your acoustic or electric violin, there are plenty of onlin e retailers and physical music stores for your musical instrument. These places will also probably sell cello strings and viola strings for the other members of your string quartet!Soon you’ll be able to tune your violin by ear, a master of music theory, and a violin virtuoso!If you are a right-handed musician, of course, you can learn to play the typical way, but if you are a left-handed musician playing the violin will be different. You can learn more about that in our other blogs about the violin.

6 Ways to Boost Creativity

6 Ways to Boost Creativity Are you looking for ways to improve your creative writing, drawing, musical composition,  or even analytical problem solving skills? Creativity is often seen as an innate talent, an ability reserved for artists. But  like most things, we believe creativity is  a skill that can be learned, practiced and nurtured. Imaginative thinking, original ideas and innovation are all incredibly useful skills for any of us to posses. How to boost creativity? How to  boost creative thought? We explore 6 different techniques that can help you or your child boost creativity. We hope you take away some practical tips and try applying some of these techniques to your own creative projects. 1. Reconceptualise The Problem Einstein once said, “If I had an hour to solve a problem I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.” Researchers have found that creative people exhibit this discovery-orientated behaviour, and reconceptualise the problem before starting a creative task. When starting an art project for example, instead of thinking “I need to create a beautiful art piece to impress the class”, try re-visualising the problem from other angles first. Who are my audience? What inspires them? What feelings do I want to evoke? Try it yourself; you may end up with a more creative idea. This exercise is useful for a variety of different creative tasks, from statistical analysis, web design, musical composition to sculpture or creative writing. 2. Counterfactual Thinking Counterfactual thinking is when we think, “What might have been?” and practicing this has been shown to increase short-term creativity. I find this technique particularly useful as a creative writing exercise, or even as a reflective exercise - as it really helps to get your creative juices flowing! A funny example of this was seen on the TV show, The Big Bang Theory, where one character asks the other “In a world where Rhinoceroses are domesticated pets, who wins the Second World War?” Experiment with this technique yourself by thinking of a past event and re-imagining the outcome. You can employ an “additive mindset” by adding details to the event, or use a “subtractive mindset” by taking away details and thinking about how that changes the outcome. This technique is also useful for creative problem solving, adding or subtracting “what if?” scenarios and thinking about how this might affect the outcome. 3. Positive Thinking First of all, a negative mood can of course spur on creativity, for example think about the countless break-up songs that dominate our music charts. But for cognitive tasks such as decision-making, hypothesis testing etc. research  has found that a positive mood can improve creativity, as well as affect the approach we take when problem solving. Thinking happy thoughts/memories, smiling, laughing or exercise (although sounds clichéd), can boost activity in your prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex - the areas of the brain associated with complex cognition and emotion. 4. Create Psychological Distance Do you find that it always seems easier to solve someone else’s problem, than it is to tackle your own? It turns out that there’s an explanation for that. Research shows physiological distance occurs when you experience something as not happening here, now, to yourself. In other words, the further away a problem seems, the easier it is to solve. This psychological distance makes the problem less concrete, and more abstract to you. This distance makes it easier for you to form “unusual connections” and free yourself from assumed limitations. You can create psychological distance by changing your perspective, and look at the problem from another person’s perspective. I also came across another interesting study, which found that participants, who thought someone else would later use their work, came up with more creative ideas. In one experiment they told participants that their drawings would later be used by someone else to create a story. Consequently, the participants came up with much more “creative” drawings versus those who weren’t told this. When approaching a creative project, try thinking about how someone else might enjoy using or repurposing your creation! 5. Try Something New Approaching tasks out of habit can stunt our creative thought; the idiom, “creature of habit” comes to mind. But, I came across a really great article in the New York Times (I highly recommend the read!), which details the benefits of possessing “novelty seeking” traits, and how it is closely associated with creativity and overall well-being. These findings can be applied in many ways (as well as be considered with a pinch of salt.) I personally think if you are looking for an injection of creative thought, step out of your comfort zone and stretch yourself by trying something new. It could be anything from trying life drawing for the first time, exploring a new cycle route or experimenting with a recipe. Our life experiences contribute to our creative thinking and exposure to new things helps us to unlock a different side to ourselves. 6. Use Restrictions Creatively Did you know that Dr. Seuss wrote Green Eggs and Ham after betting that he couldn’t write a story using less than 50 words? Research shows that most of us take the path of “least resistance”. We tend to build off of existing concepts when brainstorming ideas, which could lead to less creativity as we rely on our past successes. Avoid becoming a “one trick pony” by restricting yourself, and send your brain into overdrive! For expert essay writers set yourself the challenge and try to write a short story in just 300 words? For artists try restricting yourself to two colours? For musicians why not write a melody using only a few chords? This limiting task could help you to discover a new approach or technique - which brings out your creative side. There are countless tips and studies out there, these are just a few that we found useful. Please share your own practical tips to boost creativity, in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you.