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    • Mikhail Agapov

      Answer on How to Travel Spontaneously?

      Some of the best Travel Memories are formed when we travel spontaneously. Traveling becomes pleasant when you are carefree, but the large amounts of preparation and planning can sometimes make the whole process look more troublesome. Traveling...
        Mikhail Agapov
        Some of the best Travel Memories are formed when we travel spontaneously. Traveling becomes pleasant when you are carefree, but the large amounts of preparation and planning can sometimes make the whole process look more troublesome. Traveling...

        Some of the best Travel Memories are formed when we travel spontaneously. Traveling becomes pleasant when you are carefree, but the large amounts of preparation and planning can sometimes make the whole process look more troublesome. Traveling spontaneously can make these efforts less and you also are able to enjoy everything in the present without thinking about the future.

        Below are some of the ways by which you can travel spontaneously and also keep everything on track;

        1. Spontaneous Travel Plans Become in a Day or Two:
        When you travel spontaneously, it usually happens when you are sitting with your family and friends. This is one of the best ways to make travel plans, as you get less time to prepare, and you just get all the things that are required and leave for the travel. Doing some research on your spontaneous travel is one of the great ways to ensure that you don't miss out on anything important about the place that you are going to.

        Doing some quick online search doesn't takes time and is a good way to plan ahead for any contingency in the trip. You may also want to check if there are hotels available or not because I remember one day we planned spontaneous travel to a part of India, where it was marriage season, so we didn't get any hotel to live and we have to stay in the car for that night.

        2. Always have a travel bag ready with you:
        I always keep a travel bag ready with my travel essentials. Also, I have a habit of making a list of things that are necessary for me to travel anywhere. Below are some of the things that I never leave without:

        • Shaving Kit
        • Wallet
        • Card Holder
        • House Keys
        • Government ID Cards / Passport
        • Watch
        • Laptop (for work)
        • Mobile
        • Chargers
        • Power Bank
        • Brush
        • Toothpaste
        • Soap Bar
        • Towel
        • Deodorant

        Away from these, I also keep a note of all the things that I have in my main luggage. 

        3. Make a list of things that you have:
        This is one of the most important things to do while leaving home on a spontaneous trip and this is because while we are preparing for our trip, there are things that we may forget and we need to be ready for the same. I usually do it on my notepad or my mobile phone.

        Making notes of things in my bags and wallet, helps me tick-mark everything I keep with myself and I am also able to pack my things fast when leaving for trips or some sudden change in plans.

        4. Check if you are traveling alone or with friends or family:
        When you are traveling alone, then spontaneous trips can also be more fun, because you don't have to keep track of the safety of others with you. While traveling alone, ensure to book a good 5-star hotel that has 24-hour help or a reception desk, so that you can even check in at night or else they can help you with your luggage while your room gets ready.

        5. Book a 5-star hotel with at least 2 meals:
        Usually when we are traveling spontaneously, we are not sure if we will be eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the hotel itself. But when we book a 5-star hotel with at least 2 meals (breakfast and dinner) we get an option to have lunch outside, and our overall price is also less. It seems a bit on the higher side, but a 5-star hotel's facilities are one of the best and you get to enjoy your trip.

        You need to understand that when you are traveling to an unknown destination, then you should have a good hotel where you can rest without any tension, and when you have a good hotel booking, then you are always enjoying your trip. Personally, I always prefer good hotels to have hygienic washrooms and clean rooms for good sleep. This is added advantage and I never regret paying a bit more to enjoy my trip, and once you have stayed in a 5-star hotel, then there is no going back from it. You start thinking of ways to make more money so that you can enjoy your stay in 5-star hotels only.

        6. Travel Light:
        While traveling spontaneously or even otherwise, always try to travel with as less luggage as possible. Nothing will slow a spontaneous trip like copious amounts of luggage. I usually keep a shoulder bag and one trolley for my essentials and clothes. This makes me be more active and mobile while traveling and hence I am able to explore things much more easily.

        7. Don't crowd your day with so many plans:
        When you are traveling spontaneously, limit your plans to one or two destinations per day. This is because the overall trip can become a bit hectic when you have to visit most of the places in one or two days. Therefore, try to limit your destinations to 2 maximum, and enjoy your evening in a good restaurant or brewery.

        This will help you relax while you are traveling and you can also unwind and look back at your memories while you are taking a step back to rest and go through the photos and videos.

        Going to one or two places will help you take your time to understand the culture and history of a particular item and you will also be able to enjoy your day by enriching yourself with some knowledge about the place, not like other tourists that just come to the places to take a selfie to complete their targets.

        Leave your targets in office.

        8. Ask locals for their advice:
        It is always a good way to explore new destinations. This is because locals can let you know about things that not all websites or travel guides online can tell you. Also, if you are having trouble finding an activity in a certain city or region, or are simply looking for a travel experience that you wouldn't come by in your native city, ask a local for a recommendation. 

        Locals can help you know what are the best restaurants in town, which might also not be that famous but are great.

        9. Avoid travel review websites:
        Travel review websites are like spoilers for a movie. Sometimes that might be handy, but when you are looking for spontaneous experiences, then you should be away from them. This will help you be surprised when things happen out of a sudden.

        10. Enjoy getting lost:
        One of the most important things is to enjoy getting lost in the travel that you are doing. Don't panic about the office work that you have to complete after a few days. Try to enjoy your day and vacation time.

        Conclusion:
        Although spontaneous travel plans can seem a bit sudden, it is always awesome to take some time out of your busy schedule to enjoy some time. You can make plans with friends, family, or completely alone. This will even make you feel happy and more confident in life.

         

        • Mikhail Agapov

          Answer on How to organize your desk?

          Organizing your workspace or desk should not be a difficult task. As the saying goes, "A cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind", which seems quite a in place. When you have a clear and clean desk or workspace, you are able to focus on the...
            Mikhail Agapov
            Organizing your workspace or desk should not be a difficult task. As the saying goes, "A cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind", which seems quite a in place. When you have a clear and clean desk or workspace, you are able to focus on the...

            Organizing your workspace or desk should not be a difficult task. As the saying goes, "A cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind", which seems quite a in place. When you have a clear and clean desk or workspace, you are able to focus on the task at hand and not get distracted.

            I remember my own work desk was quite small. I had my laptop, notebook pen, and medicines with water bottles everywhere spread on the desk, and it was so congested that I was even not able to use my mouse. It was at this time that I realized that a clean desk helps in increasing productivity and makes us more efficient.

            Below are some of the tips by which you can organize and clean your desk more efficiently:
            1. Remove everything from your Desk:
            This should be your first work, that is, to remove everything that is there on your desk and keep them safe somewhere else. This is important because you will first have to clean your desk. Once you have removed all the wires and laptops, and kept them on some bed or some other desk, start by cleaning the desk.

            You can even use instant cleaning liquids like Colin which come in sprays and use a microfiber cloth to wipe the dust off. This will make your desk look clean and dust free. Ensure to check all the drawers, and clean your desk inside out.

            2. Throw away things that you do not need:
            This is again a very important point. We usually accumulate several medicines, trash papers, and other items that might not be required on our desks, so we should try to get rid of as much trash as possible. We don't want to again clutter our desks with waste papers and expired medicines.

            Sometimes as a human, we develop attachments to things that we don't use and have no benefit. For example, I had a metal bookmark, but I never read books so it was always there on my desk, and I never used to throw it away, just because I had an attachment to it. But it was more of a clutter on my desk. Letting go of unused belongings can bring you some much-needed space and peace of mind once it's done.

            3. Update that calendar on your desk:
            I had a calendar that had been given to me by my office, which I never used to update, and this is a really bad habit. Not only it makes you feel inefficient, you even end up being a bit lazy. Having said that, try to remove old photos, cards, and things that are of no use and are just taking space on your desk.

            Maybe, you have some outdated to-do lists on your desk that you haven't removed so far, so you should do it right away.

            4. Try changing the overall feel of your desk:
            Sometimes a little change in the overall placement of your devices can change the overall feel of your desk, and it will look more decluttered and spacious. I remember, when I first arranged my devices on my small table, I was only able to adjust one laptop on my desk, but I got a laptop stand, and today I can add 3 screens over my same old and small desk, which has made it look more spacious.

            Rearrange the items on your desk as it will help you to break the monotony of always seeing the same things in the same place when you sit down to work. In Maharashtra, India, it is said that change in work or change in the order of keeping things is a type of rest only.

            5. Ensure to get new stationery:
            Replace old and torn stationary items with fresh stock, as it will look cleaner and also encourage you to use them more efficiently. Make a list of items that you may require on your desk and then work your way to adjust them in proper spots. I usually keep my favorite pen and notebook as it makes me feel more in control when I have to note down something urgent.

            6. Try to arrange things more ergonomically on your desk:
            This is again an important point, because you don't want your mouse to hamper your writing speed if you are a content writer, and this is what used to happen when I initially set up my desk.

            I installed a mouse just below the laptop, because of which it became difficult to type efficiently, although the mouse was conveniently close, as a writer, we need more typing space than using a mouse. This is just one example, you should also take into consideration all the factors that come into play while you work because you don't want to make your desk ergonomics bad.

            Ensure to keep some space for your documents as those should be within your arm's reach. Having said that you may also need some space for keeping a coffee mug just in case you may crave some coffee while working.

            7. Use stands and drawers to store items properly:
            I usually use large coffee mugs to store my pens. That looks classy and also helps me in keeping everything at hand. Also keeping drawers help to store stationary items. This keeps your desk looking cleaner as there are fewer items on your desk.

            Items such as gym clothes or extra keychains can be kept in drawers. This will make your desk look more spacious and clean.

            Conclusion:
            Although keeping our workspace or desk is not hard, still we need to spend some time every week or even fortnightly to clean it up and your desk will be as good as a new one. You will also be able to work more efficiently and focus on your work with more dedication.

             

            • Mikhail Agapov

              Answer on What can I do with my Old Smartphones?

              When Smartphones get old, those are usually eating dust in some corners of our homes, and that may be because of several reasons; You have got a new smartphone, which would obviously be necessary because most phones become outdated after a few...
                Mikhail Agapov
                When Smartphones get old, those are usually eating dust in some corners of our homes, and that may be because of several reasons; You have got a new smartphone, which would obviously be necessary because most phones become outdated after a few...

                When Smartphones get old, those are usually eating dust in some corners of our homes, and that may be because of several reasons;

                • You have got a new smartphone, which would obviously be necessary because most phones become outdated after a few years of use and change in technology.
                • Your old smartphone's battery is not keeping up with your day-to-day activities, which again gets you in trouble because you need to have an alternative phone or power bank in that case.

                Smartphones are constantly evolving to the point where they are no longer useful or relevant. But it is also not practical to throw a smartphone just because it is not so relevant to today's necessities. 

                There are several ways by which we can use old smartphones and there is no need to throw them out in the garbage. If you have a used smartphone, like iPhone, Windows, or Android phone, there are many cool things you can do with old phones that will make them useful again.

                1. Use it as a dedicated Media Player:
                  Turn your old smartphone into a dedicated Media Player. Load it with your favorite music, podcasts, audiobooks, or videos, and use it while working out, commuting, or relaxing at home. You can also use it as a dedicated music player for your car because usually, our car has to be connected to our mobile phones, which again drains our battery. 

                  So, if you have an old smartphone, you can use it dedicatedly in your car for playing music and using maps on the go.
                   
                2. Use it as a Security Camera:
                  Transform your smartphone into a home security camera. There are various apps available that can turn your old device into a monitoring camera, allowing you to keep an eye on your home remotely. I used this kind of system when I had to keep an eye on my bike, which used to be outside my old residence, where local people were not so friendly. 

                  I used to sit in another room as my internet used to work in another room so I had set up my office in that room, but I had my smartphone connected to my laptop, so I was able to keep an eye over my bike even if I was not in the same room.

                  You can even insert a sim card in your own smartphone or connect it with your home wifi, in that case, you will be able to monitor your home from other parts of the world as well.
                   
                3. eBook Reader:
                  Use your old smartphone as an eBook reader. Install eBook apps and read your favorite books wherever you go. This comes in handy especially when you are traveling via flights because you cannot connect your phone to the internet, and if you have your favorite eBooks installed on your phone, in that case, you don't need to connect it to the internet and can also read them on your leisure.

                  One more thing is that you will not drain your primary phone's battery because you will be using your old phone for reading eBooks.
                   
                4. Use it as a Remote Control:
                  Turn your old smartphone into a universal remote control for your TV, or DVD player, or other devices using apps designated for this purpose. I checked out one such device online, which is able to push buttons or switches on or off when installed. Therefore, you can use your phone as a remote control for your switches as well.
                   
                5. Use it as a Kitchen Helper:
                  Keep your old smartphone in the kitchen and use it as a recipe reference, cooking timer, or for watching cooking tutorials. I used it for watching my favorite cartoons on youtube and also for searching for new recipes. This helped me in keeping my primary phone on charge, and there was also no danger of my primary phone getting covered with oil vapors.
                   
                6. Use your old phone as a Digital Photo Frame:
                  Load your old smartphone with your favorite photos and set it up as a digital photo frame on your desk or wall. You may have to check the battery levels in between, but it is one of the great ways to use it, as you can change the photos as per occasion as well, or can also start a slideshow for all the photos that you have on your phone.
                   
                7. Use it as a Gaming Device:
                  Use your old smartphone as a dedicated gaming device for casual games or retro emulators. I used to play Mario on my old Android phone which was really awesome because it used to remind me of the good old days.
                   
                8. Give it to your kids:
                  Securely remove sensitive data and install educational or entertaining apps to create a dedicated device for your child to use. You can also install several tracking apps that can help you track your kids wherever they go. Keep them informed about this tracking so that they are also aware not to uninstall those apps. This could really help in some emergency cases. 

                  For example, once one of my friend's kid's school took them for a picnic, and their school bus got stranded in an unknown location because of some breakdown, but luckily my friend had kept a tracking app and was able to rescue the whole team because she had the last location in her tracking device by informing the authorities when the bus didn't come on time.
                   
                9. Use it as a Fitness Tracker:
                  Utilize your phone as a fitness tracker by installing health and fitness apps that can monitor your daily activities. This will also save your primary phone from too much information and battery drain.
                   
                10. Use it as an Emergency Backup Phone:
                  Keep your old smartphone charged and ready as a backup phone in case your primary device runs out of battery or malfunctions.
                   
                11. Use it for DIY Projects:
                  Get creative and explore DIY projects like turning your old smartphone into a mini-computer, a home automation hub, or a smart mirror. I used to use my old smartphone as a separate chat phone so that people are not able to know what I usually use for chatting.

                  I also used to install different software to check if I can expand its overall functionality. You can even use it as a personal assistant by downloading to-do lists and time trackers.
                   
                12. Use it as a Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot:
                  If your old smartphone can still connect to the internet, you can use it as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot to provide internet access to other devices while you are on the go.
                   
                13. Use it as a Language Translator:
                  Install language translation apps and use your old smartphone as a portable language translator when traveling to foreign countries.
                   
                14. Use it as a Weather Station:
                  Transform your old smartphone into a weather station by installing weather apps that provide real-time forecasts and weather updates.
                   
                15. Use it as a Baby Monitor:
                  Use your old smartphone as a baby monitor by installing baby monitor apps, which can help you keep an eye and ear on your little one.
                   
                16. Use it as a Digital Notebook:
                  Turn your smartphone into a digital notebook or journal, where you can jot down ideas, make to-do lists, and store important information.
                   
                17. Use it as a Barcode/QR Scanner:
                  Utilize your old smartphone as a barcode or QR code scanner for price comparisons or to access online information quickly.
                   
                18. Install Offline Maps and Navigation:
                  Load your old smartphone with offline maps and navigation apps to use as a backup navigation tool in areas with poor internet connectivity. If you are traveling to a city where there is metro connectivity or some local transport, in that case, you can download apps that give transit maps as well.
                   
                19. Use it as a Voice Recorder:
                  Use your smartphone as a voice recorder to capture lectures, interviews, or personal notes.
                   
                20. Use it as a Bird Watching Tool:
                  Use your smartphone's camera and bird identification apps to aid in birdwatching and learn more about the feathered visitors in your area. Just like Ash used to do it using its portable Pokemon Identifying Device Poke-Dex (if I remember it correctly) :)

                Remember to wipe all personal data from your old smartphone before repurposing it, and in any case, I suggest not to donate or gift it because even if your data is deleted, still it can be recovered by hackers. Therefore, it is always better to keep your smartphones with yourself or destroy them by breaking them apart and also removing their batteries.

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                  • Mithlesh Dhar

                    Mithlesh Dhar

                    Safakadal, IndiaHi, I have been working on several projects to connect creators with the world. Feel free to write for any feedback.