Lying of babies: parents duties

It may not seem like a big deal if your child says he made his bed when he barely pulled up the covers, or if he tells a friend that he's been to Walt Disney World when he's never even been on a plane, but it's important to confront any type of dishonesty head-on. 

Lying can become automatic if your child learns that it's an easy way to make himself look better, to avoid doing something that he doesn't want to do, or to prevent getting into trouble for something he's already done.

When your child fibs, sit down with him and set the record straight. Say, "It would be fun to go to Disney World, and maybe we can go some day, but you shouldn't tell Ben that you've been there when you really haven't." 

Let him know that if he doesn't always tell the truth, people won't believe what he says. Look at his motivation for lying, and make sure he doesn't achieve his goal. For example, if he said that he brushed his teeth when he didn't, have him go back and brush them. 

When 5-year-old Sophia Hohlbaum started stretching the truth, her mom, Christine, told her the story of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," in which a boy who'd been lying cries for help for real and people ignore him. Storytelling helps kids view the problem from the outside in.. Now Sophia's very straightforward with me? and she's very self-righteous if I don't believe her.

House rules for children

It's certainly convenient when your child can get his own snack or pop in a DVD, but letting him have control of activities that you should regulate doesn't teach him that he has to follow rules. 

It may be cute when your 2-year-old walks along the counter to get the cookies out of the cabinet, but just wait until he's 8 and goes to visit a friend who lives three blocks away without asking.

Establish a small number of house rules, and talk about them with your child often ("You have to ask whether you can have sweets because that's the rule"). 

If your child turns on the TV without permission, for instance, tell him to turn it off and say, "You need to ask me before you turn on the television." Stating the rule out loud will help him internalize it.

When 3-year-old Sloan Ibanez took some markers without asking and colored one of her arms completely yellow, her mom, Tanzy, told her that she couldn't help with painting a garage-sale sign later that afternoon. 

She cried, but I knew I had to nip this in the bud or else I'd pay the price later because she'd do it again and again.

Talk style with babies

Telling your child two, three, even four times to do something she doesn't want to do, such as get into the car or pick up her toys, sends the message that it's okay to disregard you and that she--not you--is running the show. Reminding your child again and again just trains her to wait for the next reminder rather than to pay attention to you the first time you tell her something.

Tuning you out is a power play, and if you allow the behavior to continue, your child is likely to become defiant and controlling.

Instead of talking to your child from across the room, walk over to her and tell her what she needs to do. Have her look at you when you're speaking and respond by saying, "Okay, Mommy." Touching her shoulder, saying her name, and turning off the TV can also help get her attention. If she doesn't get moving, impose a consequence.

When 6-year-old Jack Lepkowski, of Ossining, New York, started practicing "selective hearing," his parents decided to take action. They told him that if they had to ask him to do something more than once, such as come to dinner or take a bath, he would get to watch only one video that day (his usual allotment is two) or he'd miss a playdate that week. If they had to remind him twice, he would lose two videos or two playdates. "I try not to give in because otherwise his selective hearing will continue," says his mother, Lydia. "This tactic seems to be working!"

Shouldn't do aggressive behavior with babies

Your child may be incredibly excited to tell you something or ask a question, but allowing her to butt in to your conversations doesn't teach her how to be considerate of others or occupy herself when you're busy. As a result, she'll think that she's entitled to other people's attention and won't be able to tolerate frustration.

The next time you're about to make a call or visit with a friend, tell your child that she needs to be quiet and not interrupt you. Then settle her into an activity or let her play with a special toy that you keep tucked away. If she tugs on your arm while you're talking, point to a chair or stair and tell her quietly to sit there until you're finished. Afterward, let her know that she won't get what she's asking for when she interrupts you.

You know that you have to step in when your child punches a playmate, but you shouldn't disregard more subtle aggressive acts, like shoving his brother or pinching a friend. If you don't intervene, rough behavior can become an entrenched habit by age 8. Plus, it sends a message that hurting people is acceptable.

Confront aggressive behavior on the spot. Pull your child aside and tell him, That hurt Janey. How would it feel if she did that to you?

Let him know that any action that hurts another person is not allowed. Before his next play date, remind him that he shouldn't play rough, and help him practice what he can say if he gets angry or wants a turn. If he does it again, end the play date.

Fruits and vegetables can prevent cancer: food choice of babies

Berries are the best at providing antioxidants and vitamins. Berries contain micro-nutrients such as vitamin C and folic acid which are essential for health. Recent studies have even suggested that eating fruits and vegetables can prevent cancer. Berries are probably one of the few foods your child would willingly eat straight from the vine.

A popular way to consume fruits and vegetable in today’s society is through shakes and smoothies.  The trick to smoothies is you can slip all sorts of veggies in them and as long as they don’t vary the color too much your picky kids will never know the difference. Smoothies are a great way to mask the taste of vegetables and still consume all the important vitamins and minerals.

Kids don’t just love sweet things they also love salty treats. Nuts that are loaded with essential nutrients. Assorted nuts are full of vegetable protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. They contain all the healthy stuff necessary to grow a tree and they will help your kids grow up just as big and strong.

Cheese is a delicious and nutritious addition in a kids’ meal. You can serve it in chunks, melt it on chips or serve it in a sandwich and kids will gobble it up. It may come as a surprise that cheese is actually very healthy. Aside from being fairly high in protein cheese has a probiotic effect. That means that it helps you better digest food.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and eggs are full of protein and carbohydrates that will help you start your day off right. The great thing about eggs is they come in all shapes and sizes. So if your kid isn’t a fan of the runny yolk in a sunny side up or over-easy egg, they can try it scrambled or hard boiled. Eggs also contain omega-3’s an essential nutrient that reduces inflammation, blood thinning and the likelihood of growing tumors.

Muffins like smoothies are a great way to sneak your child fruits and vegetables. Baking the fruits or veggies into a muffin doesn’t diminish their nutritional value. In my own opinion the “healthy stuff’ doesn’t necessarily taste bad either. One of the best muffins I ever had was a zucchini muffin.

Potatoes are one of the most popular sources of fiber in our diet. And while you may not be able to convince your kid to eat an entire baked potato if you cut the potato up to look like fries and then bake it your kid is guaranteed not only to eat it but to beg you for seconds. Every kid on the planet loves french fries.

Peanut butter and jelly, a dish after my own heart. Don’t worry if thats one of the only things your kid will eat. Science suggests peanut butter appeared to be very high in antioxidants. I wouldn’t recommend peanut butter with added sugar and oil but any natural peanut butter has actually been proven to be good for your kid. Remember the less processed the better.

Speaking of spreads you and your family should try hummus. Pita chips with hummus is very tasty and filling. Hummus is made out of chickpeas. They contain fiber and essential vitamins and minerals to the diet, yet are low in fat and sodium and contain no cholesterol. Really its a win/win situation.

Your little one is sure to love eating olives. They bring a whole new meaning to finger food. Do you remember putting one olive on each finger tip and eating them finger by finger? Aside from being fun to play with, they contain lots of healthy unsaturated fat that can help improve brain function and they are also chock full of antioxidants.

Melons are the perfect summer food. They are so sweet and juicy. Melons have no cholesterol, but contain lots of vitamins and minerals such as potassium and vitamin C. Instead of letting the little munchkins gorge themselves on popsicle try feeding them some melons.

sn’t it curious that orange juice is the only juice that comes with pulp in it. Of course most picky kids will insist on drinking it pulp-less. Even without the pulp orange juice is very healthy. It still contains probiotics, prebiotics, vitamins, and minerals.

Toasted granola with a little bit of cinnamon and sugar is an easy recipe that’s to die for. Not only are oats are a well known healthy food for the heart but they make a delicious snack. I would recommend switching out the sugar cereal with this healthy substitute. You can even eat it with or without milk.

Who doesn’t love a nice big glass of milk. Milk goes great with everything from pb&j to milk and cookies. Milk contains calcium which strengthens your teeth and improves your smile. It also is high in protein and carbohydrates.          

 

Fat can help you slim down

The body needs three macro-nutrients for energy: Carbohydrates, protein, and fat. A gram of fat packs more than twice the energy of a gram of the other two. “When you don’t have any fat in your diet its like you don’t have fuel to burn calories,” Glassman says. The body requires energy to keep its metabolism properly functioning, and a 2007 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that consuming fatty acids can boost metabolic health. 

What’s more, “old” fat stored in the body’s peripheral tissues—around the belly, thighs, or butt (also called subcutaneous fat)—can’t be burned efficiently without “new” fat to help the process, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. 

Think of mealtime like baseball spring training: young, hungry players (new fat) hit the field and show the general manger (the liver) that it’s time to send the old, worn-out players (subcutaneous fat) home. And away they go.

Fat isn’t the easiest nutrient to digest, so it sticks around in the digestive system for more time than many other nutrients. MUFAs may also help stabilize blood sugar levels, according to Mayo Clinic. That means you feel full longer, and you won’t feel the stomach-growling urge to raid the refrigerator after mealtime. 

In fact, diets with high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, a type of PUFA that the body can only acquire through food, create a greater sense of fullness both immediately following and two hours after dinner than do meals with low levels of the fatty acids, according to a 2008 study from University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. It’s no surprise that dieters who consume moderate levels of fat are more likely to stick with their eating plans than dieters who consume low levels of fat. 

Unsaturated Fatty Acids: Consisting of both monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), they are important for health. MUFAs are found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, olives, and avocadoes, while PUFAs are found in vegetable oils, fish, and seafood. 

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are two PUFAs that can only be obtained through diet and are called “essential fatty acids.” Adjust your diet accordingly.

*Saturated Fatty Acids: Found primarily in foods from animal sources such as meat and dairy products, like butter and cheese, they are usually solid at room temperature. Some vegetable oils such as coconut, palm kernel, and palm oil also contain saturated fat. 

Eat limited amounts as part of a healthy diet – and always try to consume healthier sources. For example, grass fed beef is a much better option than, say, popcorn popped in oil.

*Trans Fatty Acids: Chemically processed vegetable oils, they are semisolid at room temperature and are used in some margarines, fried foods, and processed foods to enhance flavor, texture, and shelf life. 

Also called “partially hydrogenated” oils, they should be avoided like the plague they are.

Weight loss advantages in nuts, avocados and olive

Some fat-and calorie-rich foods such as nuts, avocados and olive oil have weight loss advantages.

One study published in the Journal of Nutrition reported that women who ate nuts at least twice per week were one-third less likely to be obese, compared to women who ate nuts less frequently or not at all. Another study published in the peer-reviewed medical journal PLOS One evaluated risk for obesity and nut consumption among 803 adults. The results showed that adults who ate the most tree nuts and peanuts had lower BMI values and waist circumference measurements, compared to those eating the least amount of nuts and tree nuts.

Nuts may provide more satiety compared to carbohydrate-rich snack options, like pretzels or crackers. In addition, research shows that nuts help keep blood sugar levels stable, which calms cravings. More studies have found that not all of the calories present in nuts are actually absorbed by the body. Still, at 160-170 calories per ounce, it's best to be mindful of your portion sizes when it comes to nuts.

 Avocados are nutritional all-stars that provide nearly 20 different vitamins and minerals. In addition, new research suggests that they may also help you manage your waistline. A 2013 study published in Nutrition Journal found that those who reported eating avocados were leaner and had smaller waistlines compared to those who didn't eat avocados. In addition, another study published the same year in Nutrition Journal reported that moderately obese individuals who enjoyed half an avocado (an additional 112 calories) as part of their lunch meal, were 26 percent more satisfied and reduced their desire to eat by 40 percent, compared to those who ate an avocado-free lunch.

Avocados are rich in unsaturated fats that can help keep you feeling fuller longer and helps keep blood sugar levels in check. They're also rich in antioxidants that may play a role in maintaining blood sugar and insulin levels. A one-ounce serving (about one-fifth of a medium avocado) has 50 calories, making avocados an easy option to fit into a calorie-reduced diet.

A recent population-based study conducted in Spain and published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that those who ate olive oil — as opposed to sunflower oil — were 38 percent less likely to be obese. A recent study conducted at the University of Vienna, compared the effects of four different fats (olive oil, rapeseed oil, lard and butter) on satiety. The subjects in the study were given yogurt enriched with one of the four fats to eat every day, as part of their normal diet. When olive oil-infused yogurt was consumed, blood levels of the satiety hormone serotonin were highest and the subjects reported the yogurt filling.

Aromatic compounds in the olive oil contribute to feelings of fullness. When choosing an olive oil, look for an Italian olive oil as they've been reported to contain more of these beneficial aromatics, compared to olive oil from Spain, Greece or Australia. Stick with extra-virgin olive oil for the most health benefits.

Birth control pill for men !

US researchers have stumbled upon a compound that may finally lead to a birth control pill for men.

In lab experiments, male mice given the pill were rendered completely infertile during treatment as they produced fewer and less mobile sperm. The drug, originally tested as part of a broader cancer research project, does not affect the hormone system or sex drive, according to the researchers.

"There is no effect on the mouse's mojo. The animals exhibit the normal sexual behaviours and frequency of copulation," says Dr James Bradner of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, whose study appears in the journal Cell.

What's more, the effect is completely reversible. Once doctors stopped giving the drug to mice, they were able to sire healthy litters, with no apparent side effects, says Bradner.

Scientists say the research is exciting because it applies a unique approach to the problem of male contraception, which is now largely comprised of less reliable methods like condom use, or more permanent procedures like vasectomies.

Bradner's lab focuses on developing new drugs to undermine the molecular memory of cancer cells that tell them to divide. Those memory markers are distributed throughout the genome, the DNA that makes up a person's genetic code, and Bradner likens them to post-it notes that give cells instructions.

The team was experimenting with a compound developed in Bradner's lab called JQ1, which was originally synthesised at Dana-Farber to block BRD4, a cancer-causing gene.

They discovered that it appears to target a protein specific to the testes called BRDT that instructs sperm to mature. Bradner says the compound does not appear to do damage to sperm-making cells, but they forget how to create mature sperm while under the influence of the drug.

Bradner reached out to reproductive health expert Martin Matzuk of Baylor College of Medicine, another author of the report, and his team tested the compound in mice.

What they found is that the animals began producing fewer sperm, and the ones they did produce were poor swimmers.

"When the drug is removed, these instructions return," says Bradner.

The finding was surprising because few drugs are able to cross a protective firewall known as the blood-testes barrier that protects the testicles from substances floating around in the blood stream.

William Bremner from the University of Washington in Seattle, who was not involved in the research, says finding is "a breakthrough new approach," noting that there has not been a new reversible contraceptive for men since the development of the condom centuries ago.

"It's exciting basic science that provides a new approach to think about how a contraceptive for men might be designed," says Bremner. "At the same time, it's a long ways from being in clinical trials in men, let alone being on pharmacy shelves."

Other teams have developed hormonal pills that are effective, but they disrupt hormone balance in men, and drug companies so far have not picked up on this approach, says Bremner.

Professor Moira O'Bryan, head of the Male Infertility and Germ Cell Biology Laboratory at Monash University in Australia, says the study was "an exciting report that could have major scientific and social impacts."

O'Bryan says the strong similarity between sperm production in mice and humans suggest that a variation of the drug may ultimately result in a human contraception for men.

Professor Robert McLachlan, Director of Clinical Research at Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne adds that it will be sometime before it is likely to be used in humans.

"The development of a potential contraceptive is a very long and arduous process leading up to the first human studies," says McLachlan.

"It will be fascinating to see how the drug evolves, but we know that such pipelines may require 15 years of evaluation and there are many potential pitfalls along the journey."

Bradner says his team is working to refine the drug so that it only acts on cells in the testes, and not on cancer cells.

And while there are many more tests ahead before it can be a drug, the researchers believe the new approach can be "completely translated to men, providing a novel and efficacious strategy for a male contraceptive."

Impact of junk food for human brain

The detrimental impact of junk food seems to be connected to inflammation in the brains of male mice, with the brains of females protected by oestrogen, according to research published today in Cell Reports.

Dr Deborah Clegg, who led the study while at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre, Dallas, USA, was building on existing research that links brain inflammation with obesity and heart disease in male mice. 

"We embarked on this research because [the link with inflammation] had been shown in male mice, so we asked ourselves, do the same processes occur in females?" explains Clegg.

Previous research has shown that one cause of inflammation in the hypothalamus - the part of the brain that controls energy balance - is palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid found in palm oil, dairy products and meat, and common in high fat food.

The team looked at male and female mice, fed either their normal diet or a 'high fat' diet. Besides containing 42 per cent fat, the high fat diet was also high in carbohydrates making it a good correlate of human junk food, says Clegg. 

"The high fat food was tasty - like cookie dough," says Clegg. "It would be like eating a burger and a coke."

After 16 weeks on the high fat- junk food diet the male mice showed markers of inflammation in their brains - but there was no inflammation in the female mice's hypothalamuses.

"It completely surprised us. It was shocking that we didn't see the inflammation," says Clegg.

They also found that male mice on the junk food diet were more likely than females to become glucose-intolerant and to have impaired heart function.

The team went on to demonstrate that a particular type of oestrogen receptor was protecting the female brain from inflammation. 

This fits nicely with the fact that postmenopausal women (who have high levels of estrogen) suffer far fewer harmful effects of obesity, such as diabetes and heart disease, than men. Once women reach menopause, though, they are no longer protected.

Another surprise finding was that male and female brains are different in terms of their fatty acid composition, even when comparing male and female mice on the normal diet.

"It was striking. The male brain more mirrors the composition of the fatty acids in the diet they consumed. The female brain doesn't. 

"We found there was more palmitic acid and that ceramide levels were higher in the male brain. And linoleic acid was absolutely missing in the male brain but was elevated in the female brain."

She says as far as she is aware this is the first time that differences in brain fat composition have been noted in the two sexes. 

"I've never seen data like this before," she says. 

Clegg is now working at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, Los Angeles, USA where she plans to see whether the results apply to humans.

"I think that's the number one question. The work was all done in mice and now it begs to be done in humans."

Commenting on the paper, Professor Margaret Morris of the University of New South Wales says: "I think it's a really amazing story. It's a very interesting and complete investigation."

"We think diet is partly affecting the brain through an inflammatory response, and their thesis is that this is different in males and females because of oestrogen acting at the oestrogen receptor in females."

Morris says that Clegg's study points the finger at palmitic acid as the component in the diet that is driving inflammation. 

However, Morris's team are doing similar research and they have found that sugar can cause hypothalamic inflammation in rats.

"It could be that there are multiple drivers [of inflammation]. It's a fascinating area," she concludes.

Peyronie’s Disease : a devastating disease which men hide

You’ve probably never heard of Peyronie’s Disease. It’s not in most people’s medical or health lexicon. But it’s a condition an estimated 5-7% of the male population suffer from and can have devastating consequences if left untreated.

So why haven’t you ever heard of this disease? Because Peyronie’s is an embarrassing condition - it affects the penis. Most men avoid the doctor at the best of times and are even less likely to go if the problem is an intimate one. Others wrongly believe there are no treatments available and try to cope alone.

Peyronie’s Disease is a condition which causes a curvature of the penis. Whilst many penises have some degree of natural bend, this disease causes a build-up of collagen which causes a more extreme curve which can make sex painful or even impossible.

Nobody knows exactly why collagen is deposited in the penis like this - it’s sometimes due to a genetic condition, or it could be caused by scar tissue formation brought about by a sex or masturbation injury. The lump - or “plaque” - of collagen cannot expand when the penis becomes erect and causes the bend, resulting in pain and varying degrees of sexual dysfunction.

Many people scoff in disbelief when I say just how many men across the UK and beyond are believed to suffer from Peyronie’s. And that’s because so many suffer in silence. In my years as a Consultant Uroandrologist, I’ve come across scores of men with the condition. Some have been recently diagnosed, whilst others have been living with the condition for years, often to the detriment of their relationships and sex life.

Odds are, someone you know will be living with Peyronie’s. They might not even know that it has a name, instead keeping the worrying change in their body to themselves. But support and treatments are out there for men diagnosed with the condition. From injections to surgery, there are options available to tackle the problem. There are also groups to help support those living with the condition.

But the most important thing is to seek help as soon as you notice the symptoms. Any changes down there; book an appointment with your GP immediately. The longer you leave it, the more lasting the damage.

Let’s start 2017 by taking care of ourselves and consulting our doctors when we suspect something is up. It could save you or your loved ones years of potential pain and discomfort and help us all lead healthier, happier lives.

To find out more information, please visit www.thisispeyronies.co.uk

Look boring at work ?

Standing out sartorially in the office is a finer line than a Pilot V5 roller ball. While naked self-advancement might be top of your action-item list, it’s not as simple as the cliché of dressing for the job you want: your clothing needs to fit your role and the organization you’re in. Stand out too much and you’ll tread on career snakes rather than ladders.

These kinds of articles will typically advise bedecking yourself in tie bars and pocket squares. But that’s a slippery slope towards peacock and besides, that whole Mad Men thing is as dated as, well, Mad Men. Below are nine ways to appear less dull at your place of employment that shouldn’t earn your colleagues’ ridicule, or your P45. (Legal, please check.)
Dress for the job you have. Just, you know, better.

There’s a scene in Revolutionary Road – the relentlessly downbeat film of Richard Yates’ devastatingly brilliant novel – where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character gets off the commuter train in New York and is lost in a sea of indistinguishable grey flannel suits.

Grey flannel used to be a symbol of soul-crushing conformity. Nowadays, with 99 per cent of salary men clad in suits made from shiny worsted wool (which only gets shinier the more you wear it, particularly around the seat) a fabric with some texture is a way to stand out from the crowd. Flannel will fly in formal workplaces, but even refined tweed or corduroy shouldn’t cause any friction.

Double-breasted suits were a fixture of offices in the eighties; today, they see about as much use as fax machines. Time to dial things back, and up.

A plain DB is less of a statement than a patterned suit but still a cut above your average two-piece. If sharply tailored, it will flatter your physique rather fatten it, simultaneously widening your torso and narrowing your waist faster than a Joe Wicks workout.

The DB can skew classic or contemporary, corporate or creative. Yes, it requires a bit of know-how and gumption to pull off, which is why most men swerve it. You’re telegraphing that you’re not most men.

There are some workplaces where only black shoes will cut it. In which case, you don’t have much scope beyond Oxfords. Maybe a monk-strap or a brogue, as long as the latter’s profile is suitably streamlined for sleek tailoring and the hole-punching is relatively minimal. (Chunkier styles need to be balanced out by beefy, country-ready tweeds.)


Generally, though, brown is acceptable in town, gives you more scope for variation and is way less boring. Navy, burgundy, oxblood and even dark green are also surprisingly versatile and will put you in higher standing than your less imaginative co-workers.
And depending on how soft the rules are, suede can be a nice touch.

Most men’s choice of work shirt is limited to white or blue. Maybe pink if they’re feeling brave.
You can expand your horizons with colors and patterns such as checks or stripes. But what you add in interest, you lose in versatility. Get a little too ‘interesting’ and you verge on game show host territory.

Instead of straying into party shirt ground, swap bog standard cotton poplin for chambray: denim’s more formal cousin. It’s your same go-to blue shirt, only more, well, interesting. And it won’t frighten most dress code horses. Just avoid any cowboy-style detailing, unless you’re a cattle rancher. Or a host at West-world.

The yoke of corporate oppression has been thrown off in recent years by men desperate to assert their tireless independence. Congratulations: you now have the freedom to look exactly the same as every other guy in a navy or grey suit and an open-necked white or blue shirt.

Rather, you should see a tie as an opportunity to express your individuality – especially if you stick your neck out slightly further than generic glossy silk. A knitted tie will instantly make you more noteworthy, as will seasonal materials: wool in winter, linen in summer. There’s also something understandingly classy about their matte finish.

Maybe you’re just not a tie guy. Or maybe fancy neck wear is too stiff for your workplace. Either way, your options are more open than an open-necked shirt.

A grandad or band collar shirt (also sometimes called ‘collarless’, confusingly) will make you look like you’ve got your finger on the pulse of style, and not like you forgot your tie.
In colder months – or over-zealously air-conditioned offices – you can sub in a fine-gauge roll-neck jumper. Just brace yourself for the inevitable ‘Milk Tray man’ jibes.

Slightly less formal, a polo shirt can still look fairly smart, especially if it’s long-sleeved (and so more shirt-like) or knitted from a more upmarket fabric than cotton like merino wool or cashmere.
And if your profession is forward-thinking, then there’s the ‘air tie’: a done-up top button. Done badly though, you really will look like you’ve forgotten your tie. (A slim lapel and shirt collar help.) You can always undo the button though.

Crappy, overfilled backpacks drag down many a work rig. Especially those that come free with gym memberships.

You could upgrade to a luxe backpack, but even that might be too kiddy for grown-up jobs; and hard briefcase can be a tad stuffy, not to mention impractical as well as hard to dress down. Document holders can look slick; they can also look affected and aren’t much use for carrying much else.

Get hold of a more modern, soft briefcase that’s just wide enough for your workout gear without giving the impression that you’re staying overnight (although you could). And upgrade to a gym that provides towels to save schlepping a wet one around.

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who settle for what’s in the office stationery cupboard, and those who set their sights a little higher.

You don’t have to drop a month’s wages at Montblanc. A few jotters and pens from somewhere like Muji will set you back less than a tenner, and pay for themselves every time you use them.
Yes, the Bic biro brigade may think you insufferably pretentious, and even call you out on it. But a few people will quietly take note. And even if they don’t, joy-sparking stationery will make that meeting at least slightly more bearable

Presentiment (a fancy word for staying at work longer than is required) is not a good look. Nobody is impressed by your readiness to live in the office 24/7; they think that you’re bad at your job, or that you don’t have a life. Besides, your productivity flat lines after a certain point, which defeats the object. Go hard for your contracted hours, then go home. Do stuff. You’ll have something to talk about when you come in the next day, fully recharged.

If you really have too much work to handle, that’s down to your manager to rectify. And if you feel pressure to stay late from your peers or superiors, then you might want to consider dedicating some of that unpaid overtime to brushing up your LinkedIn profile.

 

Ask yourself before quite your job

With statistics showing that January is one of the best times to make a move onwards and upwards on the career ladder, it can be tempting to pour all your motivation into rushing a desk switch without taking a step back to ensure it’s really the right thing to do.

So before you make any snap decisions (like telling your boss where to stick it), take a minute to ask yourself these the following questions.

In an ideal world we’d all be free to pursue our creative passions without being encumbered by details such as ‘how am I going to pay my rent if this doesn’t work out?’ However, that’s unfortunately not the case.

Before even considering leaving your current position, make careful financial calculations on what exactly you have (or don’t have) tucked away should this new career move not work out.

If you don’t make your three-month probation, do you have enough to pay your bills until you find another job? The Money Advice Service recommends that you have a cushion of at least three month’s salary in case of the worse.

Bradford Agry, founder of career management firm CareerTeam Partners, suggests that if you are going to quit, consider your timing carefully.

If in the midst of the busiest time for your team and you leaving is likely to send them up a creek without a paddle, bear in mind this could severely burn bridges that you may need in the future.

More pressingly, Agry recommends using your departure as a time to maximise the financial payoff. If you’re about to get your bonus, unless the job you’re going to is making up the difference, be smart and hold off. Firms often don’t have to honour the bonus if you’ve already handed in your notice, even if you’re still technically employed when they’re given.

In other words, keep your cool and don’t get caught out by resigning earlier than planned just because you’ve had a rough day.

We all have that mate who splits up with his partner only to get with an exact replica down the line for the cycle to begin again. The same can easily happen with a career.

To avoid getting into this pattern, career advisor, British Navy Commander and Schweppes senior executive Edward Whitehead suggests drawing up a personal balance sheet: “Only you know where your strengths and weaknesses lie,” he explains. On your positive balance sheet, list your skills, experience, qualifications and earnings, as well as any unused talents that your job doesn’t currently make use of.

On your list of work debits, make note of your limitations. Do you hate criticism? Paperwork? Be brutally honest, as this is the time to fully self-assess before jumping into a situation that could make your life difficult. “Unless you own up to what those limitations are, you won’t cope with them any better in the future than you have in the past,” adds Whitehead.

By doing this, you can start to actively look for jobs that will bring out the best in you, rather than jumping on the next thing that comes along.

Once you’ve settled on the concrete factors of security and timing, working out the reason behind your urge to leave is vital in nailing the right career move.

The first step should be identifying how your current role is failing you. What is it that you dislike – is it your job or your career? After you’re certain why it is that you want to leave, you’ll be able to remedy the specific problem.

“Network with people in similar positions at different firms,” says careers psychologist Dr Richard Orbe-Austin. “If you find out that what you’re experiencing is the nature of the industry, then you’ll need to make a bigger shift.”

If it’s the industry itself that’s getting you down and you’re planning to stay within it, chances are you’re not addressing the underlying issue of disliking your career rather than current role – you may well end up in the same situation next January.

So you’re confident that within your current role, you’re not going to get what you’re looking for. But what exactly is that for you? A flexible schedule? Something more fulfilling? Or is it about hitting a certain salary? Being truthful about what you really want both now and in the future (and how you plan to get there) will allow you to whittle down a list of jobs that would make quitting worthwhile.

Career blogger Kat Boogaard says that each career step is equally important, no matter how far up the ladder you currently are, so jumping into a role because it’s come along can add unnecessary obstacles on your way to the top. “Even if your career goals seem like pipe dreams that are far down the line, it’s still important to think about them. Not only does it keep you focused on your end game, but it also helps you ensure that every choice and move you make is pushing you closer to your objective.”

According to a recent study by the University of New Jersey, half of all people aged 40 and below when asked said they would take a pay cut to find a job that would help them reach their end goal and achieve job satisfaction. Yet the majority of those people never make the jump.

Former Microsoft senior executive Robbie Bach says he knew it was time for him to leave when he realised his ultimate goal would never be possible in the role he was in: “Changing jobs or leaving a company is not a decision to be made lightly, but if your work is not aligned with your purpose, change is necessary.”

The key here is to be sensible and not let emotions cloud judgement. If you’re leaving a bank to become a potter, for example, then consider all the necessary steps to get to where you ultimately want to be. Will you need to get extra qualifications? Will you need to take a pay cut to work up from the bottom again?

Then decide if the end goal is worth the sacrifice: “Ask yourself if you have the character, the willpower and the sheer grit to take on difficult challenges, climb over or around obstacles, and to strive to be better,” says Bach.

Tips to have a stronger erecton

There’s a saying that men have two emotions: hungry and horny – the advice being that if we’re seen without an erection, we probably want a sandwich. However, what about the millions of well-fed men for whom the issue isn’t a fully loaded fridge, but a fully loaded penis?

It’s estimated by the NHS that half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 suffer from some form of erectile dysfunction, with a range of causes, both physical and psychological.

It’s not just older men lacking in lead either. A study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine showed that impotence affects as many as one in four men under the age of 40.

Fortunately, there are a few things that can be done to give your penis the Popeye treatment (and none of them involve slathering it in spinach). So before you go in search of a little blue pill, try these six tool-boosting tips.

You might think we’re pulling your (third) leg, but hitting the gym is in fact a scientifically proven way of stopping your flag from flying at half-mast: “Exercise increases testosterone and therefore drive for sex, so will improve the possibility of a stronger and more confident erection,” explains Dr Benjamin Piper, who worked on Channel 5’s Sex Pod.

“Psychologically, being fit also confidence in body and attractiveness and so will lead to less anxiety and more drive.”

It can be hard to point north while thinking about mortgage payments, which explains why stress is one of the most common factors known to cause libido to lag. If you struggle to focus on the task at hand, Dr Piper suggests it might be time to realign your yin and wang: “Mindfulness practice allows a person to learn to be in the moment, and this has obvious advantages during sex,” he says.
“Focus on the sexual sensations, touch and heat, rather than thinking about problems outside of that moment.”

Most people (with ED or not) know that failing to get enough sleep can leave you in a flaccid mood. However, because of its role in maintaining testosterone levels, not enough shut eye could also be shutting down your sex life: “Sleep ties in with food’s role around general wellbeing and looking after your body,” says escort-turned-author Rebecca Dakin.

“If you’re tired, your libido and desire for sex can be affected, meaning weaker erections.” The lesson: If you want a money shot that packs a punch, spend more time between the sheets.

Dakin, known as The Great British Sexpert, also suggests learning which positions are guaranteed boner boosters: “Blood flow is stronger when standing or kneeling, so positions that let you do that as opposed to laying down will improve your erection,” she says.

“Positions like doggy or standing while your partner is bent over are good for increasing erection strength.”

What you put in your mouth affects your gonads just as much as it does your gut: “There are of course blood vessels in your penis, so any diet bad for your heart and blood vessels is also bad for your penis’ long term health,” explains sexual health specialist Dr Lauren Bull. “There is also some evidence for a link between a Mediterranean diet and good sexual function.”

So start knocking back meals packed with plenty of fruit, veg, whole grains, nuts and olive oil.

Booze might give you the confidence to chat to someone at the bar, but it’s not going to help the situation when it comes down to it: “In the long term alcohol can affect erections due to nerve damage. In the short term it can reduce blood flow and thus result in ‘brewers droop’,” says Dr Bull.
“It can also decrease sensitivity and concentration levels thus making you last longer but not necessarily enjoyably so.”

Things that you are doing in interviews

On the formality scale, etiquette coach and founder of Speak-Well Myles Usher suggests that job interviews are “on the same level as meeting the parents of a new partner for the first time.” We all know that wearing joggers is probably a bad idea, but over-dressing can be just as much of an issue. By wearing something completely off-kilter with the rest of the office, you’re making it tricky for the person doing the hiring to see you fitting in.

Catherine Conlon of recruitment website Monster agrees that “you should be the focus of the interview, not your clothing.” So stick to smart basics and don’t over-egg it. If a suit doesn’t feel right, then a pair of well-tailored trousers, a white shirt and a crisp navy jumper will work in any situation.

Being polite and interested in the person who is interviewing you may seem obvious, but even public speaker pros can get wrapped up in trying to sell themselves too hard. Coming across as cocky rather than confident is a nightmare scenario that is hard to come back from, so Usher suggests asking about their career path and how they like the company.

“This is a technique that is most useful in the ‘do you have any questions for us’ section, as it gives you something to say that suggests a genuine interest in the culture as well as the work.” The person who’s interviewing you will likely be working alongside you for 40 hours a week, so put yourself in their shoes – do you want to sit next to a self-absorbed bore for the best part of your Monday to Friday?

While you’re trying to get in the zone in your own head, don’t forget that the interview starts the moment you step inside the building. Jana Eggers, CEO of Nara Logics, says that regardless of how the formal chat went, she always gets feedback from the receptionist: “I want to know if someone comes in and isn’t polite, if they didn’t say hello or ask them how they were. It’s really important to me.”

So swap cramming last-minute company policy facts on your phone for water-cooler chat and it may just clinch you the job.

Of course the universal guarantee in all job interviews regardless of industry is the handshake. Wherever you stand on the firm scale of ‘shakes, there’s one thing you can do that will make it universally more reassuring: “Dry, warm hands inspire confidence while cold, clammy hands are a big, unconscious turn-off” says Emmie Martin of Business Insider.

Applying deodorant to your palms and warming them under the hand-dryer might seem like an odd pre-interview ritual, but psychological studies have shown that even holding a warm coffee makes someone feel more positive about the person we’re talking to, so it’s not all pseudoscience.

According to recruitment platform Jobvite, 93 per cent of those looking to hire will stalk research an applicant’s social media accounts before meeting them face to face.
It’s not just the sloshed-on-a-stag-do posts that put off employers – two-thirds said they would also be put off by bad spelling and grammar, regardless of how spotless the CV was. Time to update those privacy settings and un-tag your Magaluf 2013 album for good.

Tips to be attentive your child: Kids today face new problems and have new needs

Suggestions that can help your child be attentive:



1. Practice what you preach. 

As Palladino said, “Children do as we do, not as we say.” In other words, if your idea of winding down is watching TV for hours while your head is buried in your smart phone, your child will probably adopt the same habits. So Palladino encouraged parents to be good role models.


2. Reward attention. 

When your child interrupts your work, it’s natural to shift your focus to them. But this rewards inattentive behavior.

Instead, when they’re quietly concentrating on an activity, “especially if it’s working on a school subject [they] don’t like or find difficult,” let your child know that you recognize and appreciate their efforts, Palladino said.


3. Give them the details about dragging their feet. 

Educate your kids on “what it means to procrastinate, how we all do it and what a strong force it exerts on us,” Palladino said. Teach them the difference between avoiding a task and taking a much-needed break — and how to spot their own procrastinating tactics, she said.

Also important is helping them uncover the roots of their procrastination, such as “unacknowledged fear of failure, disappointment and embarrassment.”


4. Teach them how to get organized. 

Teach your kids “how to set reasonable goals, break them into manageable steps and keep [themselves] motivated to the end.”

Also, help them learn to “use calendars, agenda books, to-do lists, clocks and alarms,” and keep a tidy and organized workspace.



5. Help them lead a healthy lifestyle. 

Anxiety, lack of nutrient-rich foods and little sleep can quickly squash attention. “For good attention, children need adequate sleep, good nutrition [and] aerobic exercise,” Palladino said.


6. Establish limits. 

Avoid encouraging a technology free-for-all. Instead, monitor your child’s use of technology, “especially TV, the Internet, video games, smart phones and other handheld devices,” Palladino said.


7. Believe in them. 
 
“It takes courage to sustain attention in a world where distraction is the popular choice,” Palladino said. “Your child’s belief in himself begins with your belief in your child.”


8. Find out if there’s an underlying reason. 

Sometimes inattention is a sign of a bigger problem. Take the example of bullying, which “has moved away from the playground where it’s visible, and into texting, on-line chatting, and social networking, hidden from the eyes and ears of supervising adults,” Palladino said. Even something as seemingly small as getting de-friended on Facebook can be utterly humiliating to your child — and they might struggle to focus on their schoolwork, she said.

Tips for men to make their outfit look more appealing

It is no longer considered as old school, dull or uninteresting. If styled properly, formals can look very elegant and classy, says an expert.

Tips for men to make their outfit look more appealing:

• The most basic rule of formal dressing is to match your belt colour with your shoes. Similarly your tie and shirt should complement each other. Opt for a light coloured shirt when wearing a bright hued tie.

• A white shirt is the keystone of any tailored look. Find your perfect fit and invest in few to look smart yet stylish. You can also give a shot to funky shirts like the ones with floral prints, polka dots or the ones with checks and stripes. Team them with a black jacket and off-white pants to make a bold style statement at your workplace.

• Play with different styles of pocket squares to stand out. Adding a patterned pocket square will give a very interesting touch to your simple plain suit.

• It also gives you an opportunity to add a pop of colour to your suit which can help in breaking the monotony. Besides this, it will draw away people's attention from your chest or waist if you are slightly on a heavier side.

• Try different hues of ties to create a statement look. The same suit can be transformed with different tie colours. Colours give off very specific signs. For instance, red tie signifies power. Similarly blue is considered to be a self-confidence tie.

• Ties are a statement but sometimes going tie-less can make a bigger style statement. Replace your tie with a pair of nice cufflinks and give a twist to your same old boardroom look.

• Pair pattern with solid as it not only looks fashionable but also very office-appropriate. So, if you are reaching out for a solid shirt, a little textured or patterned trouser will look interesting. Or if you want to play it safe, go for solid pants and a modest patterned shirt.

• Shoes can make or break a smart look. Invest in the right pair to finish off your formal outfit. Brogues or Oxfords are a safe bet or reach out for a monk-strap for a modernised formalwear look. Great socks are a must for a formal outfit; choose a colour that complements your shoes.

Make an impression through some simple tips

 Along with growing your beard, also comes the task of maintaining it for you to look well-groomed and sharp so keep in mind a few things to make an impression through some simple tips.

Experts at Gillette shared a few tips on how one should flaunt their bearded look in style.

•  Use the right tools: First and foremost, make sure you use the right grooming tools. Invest in a multi-blade razor to get the precision you want while styling or maintaining your beard. You'll get a smooth and incredibly close shave.

•  Keep a check on the length: Don't let your beard cover your face. Shape it well, shave under the chin and on the sides to give it precision. If you like the sculpted look, nothing better than using a razor, that will give you a cleaner look.

• Moisturise, Moisturise, Moisturise: During winter, keep facial and beard dryness away with a heavier moisturiser than you would use in the summer. It helps protect skin from chapping, itchiness and red patches.

•  Maintain a clean and soft beard: Use a beard wash because soap can dry it out. Plus, comb it and keep it neat, then apply beard oil to keep everything moisturised and soft.

• Get Ready. Get Set. Shave: Make a special effort to ready your face each time you shave. An extra degree of moisturising before you shave, either through a warm shower or gentle face wash, will make your facial hair softer and easier to shave.

•  Match your facial hair style with your face: Growing facial hair without considering the way it complements your face? You may be looking like another bearded guy sitting next to you at a bar. Embrace your whiskers if you so choose but do it strategically. Experiment with different styles and see what suits you the best and defines your unique personality.

Boys Eye Problems: causes and remedy

Most of the young people are seen to use glasses now a days. At first it may seem that they use glasses as style. But it is not the real fact. There are a lot of problems in their eyes. Using glasses is less to the middle ages people.

Mr. Shafayet Ullah, Senior Officer of a private Bank has been using glass for 5 years. He jointed in that Bank for 3 years. I asked him about the reason of using glass. He said that by using Mobile Phone and Computer a problem is seen in his eyes.

Then I asked him about his lifestyle.

From his answers I known that he eats fry beef, big fishes and burns fry foods. He goes to bed at about 3.00 AM and rise at 8.00 AM. He dislikes vegetables, milk and eggs.

There are many people who have been using computer for long time. But there is no problems in their eyes.

It seems that their lifestyles are different from those of glass using young peoples.

The main causes of problems in eyes are as follows:

Eating a lot of burns fry foods.
Eating over fat contained foods.
Eating over protein contained foods.
Short time sleep.
Drinking less water.
Smoking.
Eating a lot of Fast Foods.
Taking unhealthy foods.


Remedies:

Need 7 hours sound sleep.
Drink 3.5 Liters water everyday.
Avoid smoking.
Eat 1.5 KG vegetables everyday.
Eat 0.5 KG fruits.
Eat 1 KG small fish in a week.
Eat various vegetables.
Avoid eating more proteins.
Avoid eating more fat contained foods.
Avoid eating burn fry foods.
Eat home made foods.
Eat enough carbohydrate.

উঠতি বয়সী ছেলেদের শরীর ও মন

বয়সের সঙ্গে সঙ্গে ছোটদের শরীর ও মনের পরিবর্তন ঘটে। সেই পরিবর্তনের মাত্রাটা বৃদ্ধি পায় বয়ঃসন্ধির সময়ে। এই সময়ে ছেলেমেয়েদের শারীরিক, মানসিক, সামাজিক ও চিন্তাশক্তির বিকাশ মোটামুটি পরিণতি লাভ করে। ছেলেদের ক্ষেত্রে দেহ দ্রুত গতিতে বড় হয়; গলার স্বর ভারি হয়, মুখে দাড়ি-গোঁফ ওঠে, শরীরের নানা জায়গায় বিশেষকরে বগলে ও যৌন অঞ্চলে লোম গজায়। এগুলি সাধারণতঃ ঘটে ১০ থেকে ১৫ বছরের মধ্যে। তবে ঠিক কখন এই পরিবর্তন শুরু হবে, সেটা নির্ভর করে শরীর যখন এর জন্য প্রস্তুত হয়েছে তার ওপর। সেই প্রস্তুতিটা এক জনের ক্ষেত্রে এক এক সময় হয়। বয়ঃসন্ধির এই অংশটিকে ইংরেজিতে পিউবার্টি (puberty) বলা হয়। এর পরের অংশটি অর্থাত্ সাবালকত্ব পোঁছনোর আগে পর্যন্ত সময়টিকে বলা হয় অzাডোলেসেন্স (adolescenceএ)। এই সময়টাতে মানসিক, সামাজিক ও চিন্তাশক্তির পূর্ণ বিকাশ ঘটে। 

ছেলেরা বয়ঃসন্ধিকালে দ্রুত গতিতে লম্বা হয়। 'growth spurt' বা 'ঝটিতি বৃদ্ধি'র সময়ে বছরে ৪ ইঞ্চির বেশি লম্বাও কেউ কেউ হয়। বয়সন্ধি শেষ হতে হতেই ছেলেরা মোটামুটি তাদের পরিণত উচ্চতায় পৌঁছে যায়। সাধারণভাবে পুরুষরা নারীদের থেকে লম্বা হলেও বয়ঃসন্ধির প্রথম দিকে মেয়েরা অনেক সময়ে ছেলেদের থেকে বেশি লম্বা থাকে। এর জন্যে ঐ বয়সে কারো কারো দুশ্চিন্তা হতে পারে যে সে বোধহয় চিরদিনই বেঁটে থেকে যাবে। এই সময়টাতে ছেলেদের চেয়ে মেয়েদের লম্বা হবার কারণ মেয়েদের বয়ঃসন্ধি আসে ছেলেদের আগে - ৮ থেকে ১৩ বছর বয়সের মধ্যে। ফলে মেয়েরা আগে থেকে দ্রুত লম্বা হতে শুরু করে। 

পুরুষ মাত্রই নারীর থেকে বেশি লম্বা হয় না। খেয়াল করলে অনেক লম্বা মেয়েই চোখে পড়বে। কে কতটা লম্বা হবে সেটার পেছনে পুষ্টিকর খাওয়াদাওয়া, শরীরের সক্রিয়তা এবং তাদের বাবা-মা বা পূর্বপুরুষরা কতটা লম্বা তার ওপরে। ফিনল্যাণ্ডের লোকেরা অনেক বেশি লম্বা হয় বাঙালীদের থেকে। বাঙালীদের মধ্যেও লম্বার অনেক তারতম্য দেখা যায়। সাধারণভাবে বাবা মা লম্বা হলে ছেলেমেয়েদের লম্বা হবার সম্ভাবনা বেশি হয়। তবে লম্বা বা বেঁটে হওয়ার মধ্যে ভবিষ্যত্ জীবনে সাফল্যের বিশেষ কোনও যোগ নেই। প্রতিভা, প্রচেষ্টা, যোগাযোগ, ইত্যাদি অনেক কিছুর উপর নির্ভর করে ভবিষ্যতে কে কি হবে। নেপোলিয়ান বেঁটে ছিলেন, কিন্তু তারজন্য তাঁর অন্যতম শ্রেষ্ঠ সেনাধ্যক্ষ হওয়াতে আটকায় নি। 

বয়সন্ধির সময়ে ছেলেদের দেহ বলিষ্ঠ ও দেহের পেশী সুগঠিত হয়। কেউ কেউ আবার ক্ষিণদেহই রয়ে যায়। এই তফাত্গুলোও স্বাভাবিক। এ নিয়ে দুশ্চিন্তা না করে যেটা করা উচিত, সেটা হল সক্রিয় জীবন যাপন, নিয়মিত ব্যযাম, পুষ্টিকর খাবার খাওয়া।

 
এই সময়ে মনেরও একটা প্রচণ্ড পরিবর্তন আসে। এক একটি মেয়েকে দেখে হঠাত্ ভীষণ ভালো লেগে যেতে পারে। তার কথা সব সময়ে মনের মধ্যে ঘুরতে থাকে, রাত্রে ঘুমোতে গেলে তার মুখটাই বার বার চোখে আসে, তার চিন্তাতেই মন আচ্ছন্ন থাকে। একে বলা হয় ক্রাশ (crush)। লজ্জা ও ভয় অতিক্রম করে তার সঙ্গে সহজ ভাবে মেশার ক্ষমতা না থাকলে মানসিক কষ্টও খুব হতে পারে। যেসব ছেলেদের সহজে মেয়েদের সঙ্গে মেশার ক্ষমতা আছে, তাদের দেখে মনে হয়, আমি কেন পারি না, আমার সমস্যাটা কি?

প্রত্যেক ছেলেদের পছন্দ অপছন্দ আলাদা। কারোর আবার ছেলেদেরই বেশি ভালো লাগে মেয়েদের থেকে। এক সময়ে সেটাকে অস্বাভাবিক বলে মনে করা হত। এখনও সমাজে অনেকে সেটা মনে করেন। তবে ধীরে ধীরে সেই মনোভাবের পরিবর্তন ঘটছে। প্রত্যেকের পছন্দ অপছন্দকে - যদি সেটা অন্যের ক্ষতিকারক না হয় - তাকে মর্যাদা দিতে আপত্তি কোথায় সে নিয়ে অনেকে প্রশ্ন তুলছেন।

ছেলেদের শরীরে হর্মোন বয়ঃসন্ধির সময়ে বেশি সক্রিয় হয়ে ওঠে; ফলে মনের অনুভূতিগুলো তীব্রতর হয়। এই সময়ে মুড সুইং অনেকেরই হয় - একদিন আনন্দে উচ্ছ্বল, আরেকদিন একদিন মনমরা ভাব। সেটা সামাল দিতে অনেকের অসুবিধা হয়। এই সময়ে নিজেকে না চেপে রেখে বড়দের সঙ্গে কথা বললে, বা তাঁদের পরামর্শ নিলে, নিজেকে ঠিকপথে রাখতে সুবিধা হয়। 

বয়ঃসন্ধি কালে দাড়ি আর গোঁফ গজাতে শুরু করে। বুকে ও বগলেও লোম গজায়; যৌনাঙ্গের চারিদিকে বস্তি প্রদেশে ঘন লোম দেখা দেয়। এটা স্বাভাবিক। এগুলো সব ঘটে টেস্টোস্টেরোন বলে একটি হর্মোনের প্রভাবে। পিটিউটারি গ্ল্যাণ্ডে প্রস্তুত এই হর্মোন শরীরের বিভিন্ন স্থানকে প্রভাবিত করে এই পরিবর্তন ঘটায়।
এই সময়ে ছেলেরা একটু বেশি ঘামে - হর্মোনের সক্রিয়তা তার একটা কারণ। ঘামের মধ্যে অতটা গন্ধ নেই - কারণ সেটা মূলতঃ জল, সেইসঙ্গে কিছুটা অ্যামোনিয়া, ইউরিয়া, লবন ও শর্করা। কিন্তু ঘামের জল দেহের চামড়ায় অবস্থিত ব্যাক্টিরিয়ার সংস্পর্শে এসে অপ্রীতিকর গন্ধ সৃষ্টি করে। কারো কারো ক্ষেত্রে এই গন্ধ বেশি হয়। তার জন্য লজ্জা বা অস্বোয়াস্তিতে অনেকে ভোগে। এটি কমাতে হলে নিয়মিত ভালো করে সাবান মেখে স্নান করা দরকার। গ্রীäমকালে গরমে বগলের গন্ধ কমানোর জন্য অনেকে ডিওডোরেণ্ট ব্যবহার করে। এগুলি খুব সস্তা নয়। সুতরাং নিয়মিত ভালোভাবে স্নানকরে নিজেকে যথাসম্ভাব পরিচ্ছন্ন রাখাই বুদ্ধিমানের কাজ। 

আরেকটি পরিবর্তন ঘটে সেটি যৌন সংক্রান্ত। এই সময়ে যৌনাঙ্গ বড় হয় এবং রক্ত চলাচল বৃদ্ধি পেয়ে মাঝে মাঝে ছেলেদের যৌনাঙ্গ শক্ত হয়ে উত্থিত হয়। এটা স্বাভাবিক এবং নানা কারণে দিনে বা রাতে এটা ঘটতে পারে। অনেক সময়ে ঘুম থেকে কেউ খেয়াল করে যে বিছানাটা ভিজে ভিজে। একে স্বপ্নদোষ আখ্যা দেওয়া হলেও এতে দোষের কিছু নেই। ঘুমন্ত অবস্থায় এই রেতঃপাত বা বীর্যস্খলন কোনও অস্বাভাবিক ব্যাপার নয়, এটা সবার ক্ষেত্রেই ঘটে এবং বয়ঃসন্ধির একটি লক্ষণ। তবে যদি যৌনাঙ্গে কোনও ব্যথা বা যৌনাঙ্গের নিচে অণ্ডকোষে ব্যথা হয়, তাহলে ডাক্তারকে সেটা জানানো দরকার। লজ্জাবশতঃ এই ব্যাপারটা ঢেকে রাখা বা উপেক্ষা করা উচিত নয়।