Robert's blog

Getting out of our Little Bubble

What would you do if somebody asked you on the spot to go skydiving. Would you do it? Probably not. If someone told you to go on the ground, and start laughing hysterically, would you be up to the challenge? No way! It’s too embarrassing. Well, a few months back, a little birdie introduced me to a Youtube channel that challenges themselves into seeking discomfort such as skydiving, releasing emotions, and going on epic adventures. The youtube channel is called Yes Theory.

It began in 2015 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada as a group of 4 people doing 30 discomforting (but amazing challenges) in 30 days. Since then, they have moved to Los Angeles and has renamed their youtube channel to Yes Theory. They currently have over 3.5 million subscribers and has only continued to grow as interest continues to increase. The objective is to have the world step out of their con

front zone, and to seek discomfort in order to make us better people.

What I love the most out of their channel is that they are willing to go the extra mile to do challenges that people would find very difficult, if not impossible to achieve.

Why we Must Get Out of our Comfort Zone

Everyone has a certain dream they want to achieve. It could be anything from getting a job to traveling the world. We all want to be out there, but there is always something in the way that is telling us, “no”! “No!” That is what I call fear. We tend to let fear get in our way because we are worried that we are going to fail at reaching our goals. We fear about failure.

However, we must surpass that fear, and try because if we don’t, we may regret it forever. So, we should try to overcome our shyness, and ask ourselves, what is the worst that’s going to happen? Am I going to die from it? Although we may fail sometimes, it can only make us stronger. Stand up and try again. Continue until you finally achieve your goals. It can make your life much better if you do not let anything stand in your way.

There are so many challenges that this blogger is doing to seek discomfort. Writing this blog, though it’s been great, it’s an example of me getting out of my comfort zone.

Next Monday marks the beginning of April. April is known as Autism awareness month, and to coincide with it, I will tackle autism, its challenges, and why we must be more understanding towards autistic people.

Until next week, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger

Self-Checkouts

One morning, I was listening to the radio, and they were talking about self-checkouts. Self-checkouts are basically a cash registration where you are in charge of scanning your items, and paying for them on your own without a cashier doing it for you. This idea is having mixed opinions. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of self-checkouts.

Advantages of Self-Checkouts

no need to rely on cashiers
independently scanning your items
can be useful and quick if you are buying only a few items

Disadvantages of Self-Checkouts

Doing the cashier’s work = less jobs for workers
Lines build up if people buy several items or having trouble with scanning their items

Divided Debate

The idea of self- checkout machines isn’t a popular idea for everyone. Some people like the idea of scanning their own items because it is quick, and do not need to interact with other people. Some people don’t like the machines because a machine is doing the work for them as opposed to a human being and therefore eliminating several positions. They are also reluctant to adapt to the new technology. According to an article from CBC, 46% of millenials prefer self-checkouts while the baby boom generation tends to prefer having a cashier scan their items.

What does this blogger think?

Having self-checkout machines can be useful if you buy a few items. As long as there is not a line up, I prefer to use self-checkouts when I am buying a handful of items. If let’s say I go grocery shopping, I would rather have a cashier checkout my items because it’s faster for someone who has experience checking out items than for someone who isn’t as used to doing the job. A problem that I have with self-checkouts is when someone uses it when they buy dozens of items from the store. They are not experienced in checking out items, and it only holds back the line.

Recap

To summarize this blog, self-checkouts have been popping up tremendously in retail stores and fast food restaurants over the past 15 years. They are an alternative to having an experienced cashier checkout the item for you. While it can be useful to self-checkout a few items, it can be seen as a threat to the job market since machines are replacing humans. However, as people become more dependant on technology, the amount of self-checkouts in stores will only continue to rise. If you are concerned about self-checkouts replacing jobs then you should avoid self-checkouts at all cost (if you haven’t done so already). If more people avoid self-checkouts, it would only mean longer lineups in stores and therefore they will be a higher demand of retail jobs.

I hope you enjoyed my blog and come back next week as I will give out advice on getting out of your comfort zone. It can be a challenge to get of your comfort zone, but if you want to achieve something you’ve always wanted to do, it is necessary to get out of your comfort zone, and chase the dream.

Until next week, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger

Gender Roles

When the term gender roles comes to mind, we think of so called “gender based jobs”. Traditionally, the men would go to work, and the women would stay home and take care of the house. That has changed in recent decades as more women have entered the workforce, and therefore a rise in dual income families.

Gender Stereotypes

Here is a list of old stereotypes based on gender.

Male	Female
Strong	Weak
Doctors	Nurses
Filthy	Clean
Work	Housekeeper
Make more money	Make less money

Although some of these stereotypes remain true (ex. men still make more money than women), the traditional gender jobs are not the case as it once was.

Changes in Gender Occupations

Last fall, I took a sociology course appropriately called “Sociology of Occupations”. The book that I read for my occupation course, “Work, Industry, And Canadian Society” looks at how job occupations has changed since industrial times. In 2012, Statistics Canada revealed that men dominated in jobs in transports, manufacturing, and managerial. On the other hand, women dominated in health, business, art, and sales. In the early 20th century, women dominated occupations in servants, teachers, and farming.

Robert’s View in Changing Gender Roles

In my point of view, the shift in gender roles has changed the way we live. Gone are the days of where the men would go to work, and the women would stay home. Dual earners are much more common than ever before as more people are staying in school, and therefore are much more educated than in previous generations.

International Women’s Day

This Friday (March 8th) marks international women’s day. I just want to say kudos to all the women out there that have stood up and made changes way women play a role in society. It is appalling to think that there was a time that women did not have the right to vote. I believe every adult has the right to vote and should do so in elections despite how we feel about our “trusty” politicians.

Women still have a long way to go to achieve equality but I hope there is a day that women’s rights can equal to mens.

The woman that has had the biggest influence in my life is my mom. She has made me the person that I am today, and if it weren’t for her, I don’t believe that I would be writing a blog. Sadly, she passed away from cancer in 2003. She is well missed by family and friends. Love you Mom!

Come back next Monday as I talk about a machine that has been popping out in most retail stores. That is self-checkouts. Are they necessary? What are the advantages? Are they costing people jobs? Find out from this blogger’s point of you next week as I tackle this issue.

Until next week, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger

Balancing Work and University Life

It can be a challenge to balance work with college life. I know because I am one of them. For this week’s entry, I will be giving out my view on how to successfully balance these two commitments while still being able to have a social life.

Here is a list of steps of what you should do to make this balance work.

Prioritize your work and school schedule.
Add your commute within your schedule.
Set your study schedule. Make sure you put in at most 2 hour study sessions for one block. (ex. 9:00-11:00, 1:00-3:00).
Take a day off from work and classes to run weekly errands or housework.
Add sleep in your schedule. 7-8 hours a night is recommended.
Add in the times that you go out with your friends.

Important to Take Note Of

It is important to note that there are 168 hours a week and about a third of these hors should be devoted to sleep. This means that there are 119 hours left assuming that you put in eight hours a sleep per night. When you are in school during the fall and winter semester, try to only work 10-15 hours a week. Working and studying full time can be very hard to come by because you will not have enough time to study, and you feel very tired. While it is possible to work full time and study part time, it is very important that you put in your education first if you want to reach your academic goals.

Form a Study Group

It might be a good idea to pair up with a few people from your classes and form study sessions together. The best place to do so would be in the school library. It is because the library is a very convenient place to get work done. If your school library has group study rooms, be sure to book them. Make sure that the time is convenient for most of the group.

Avoid Late Night Cram Sessions

Although it is tempting to pull an all nighter, and cram for an exam, it is not a good idea to do so. If you pull an all nighter, you will end up feeling very tired the next day, and you will have a hard time concentrating on work or school. It is best to stick with your weekly routine, and if possible, ask your boss for time off around midterms and finals so you can catch up on studying or finishing off your term paper.

Life Events Beyond Your Control

Now of course balancing life and work will vary depending on the week. There can be “life bombs” (sickness, car accident, death in the family) that can derail your schedule. However, if you have to miss something important like a deadline or an exam, you will need to bring in documentation to prove that a “life bomb” had happened. It can be a pain to get the documentation but it is necessary so you don’t get penalized.

I hope these strategies has helped you. Come back next Monday as I discuss gender roles and how the gender role has changed in society.

Until next week, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger

Living With Anxiety

No matter who you are, we all feel anxious sometimes. We all feel that sense of dread in our bodies. When we feel that dread, we tend to feel weak and anxious. For me personally, I feel the tension in my body rising, my legs start to feel numb, and my heart starts to feel heavy. It usually occurs when a negative vibe goes through my brain. It could be that my brain is telling me that something bad is about to happen. Other reasons that I start to feel anxious are when I have to go to work or if I am running late. This week’s blog will tackle the issue of anxiety, and how to cope with it.

Causes of anxiety

There are many reasons why people have anxiety. It can be due to several stress factors such as, meeting up with deadlines, paying bills, recent breakups, a death in the family, or getting laid off from work, to name a few.

Worrying about the future is also another good reason why we feel anxious in our bodies. Here is a list of reasons why we worry about the future.

how our lives will play out
aging of our parents
how our children will turn out
climate change
phobias
political instability
violence
war outbreaks

While it is normal to worry, we shouldn’t let our worries take over our daily lives.

Anxiety Disorders

It is very common to know someone who has an anxiety disorder. Health Canada defines them as, social phobia, specific phobia, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. If you feel that you have the symptoms described on the Health Canada site, contact your doctor, physician, or psychologist.

How do I know if I am having anxiety

You are likely to have anxiety when you start thinking about negative or stressful thoughts. You will start to feel nervous and tense in your body.

Although being in a panic is similar to having anxiety, it differs in a sense that when one panics, they feel like they are losing control of themselves. It can be seen as an extended version of anxiety.

Anxiety attacks vs. Panic attacks

There can be some confusion between having an anxiety attack and a panic attack. So here is a more broad definition of what is an anxiety attack vs. a panic attack.

Anxiety attack: Occurs when one reacts to something stressful. One has their heart racing, and may lose shortness of breath. The symptom is short-lived.

Panic attack: It is unpredictable. One who suffers a panic attack fears that they will die, or lose control. One is likely to avoid places where they have experienced a panic attack. Panic attacks can be treatable.

My experience with anxiety

As mentioned at the beginning of my blog, my experience with anxiety is based on feeling this tension in my body. However, for me personally, I tend to feel anxious on a regular basis. You see, I am a nervous person. It seems like I am always on edge, and that a disaster could strike any minute. What I do to calm my nerves is to think happy thoughts. I always try to convince myself that it is all in my head, and that everything is fine. If this is you, feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the page.

What to do When I Start to Feel Anxious

Although anxiety is something that we all have every now and then, it can be controlled by following these steps.

Sit down
Close your eyes
Take deep breaths
Inhale and Exhale

Repeat this process for a few minutes. After that, you should start to feel more calm and relaxed.

I hope you have learned a thing or two on anxiety, and how to cope with this anxious vibe that goes through our bodies.

If you are a student, then next week’s discussion is one for you. Balancing work and school can be tough with so many interferences from outside forces. Next week, I will point out my opinion on this committed balance, and what you can do make the grade, and continue to receive paychecks.

Until next week, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger

Black History

When we think of black history, we think of people of African-American descendant that has had an amazing impact in society. Examples include Martin Luther King, Jackie Robinson, Oprah Winfrey, Muhammad Ali, and Rosa Parks. For more on great black heroes click here.

We also have our fair share of African-Canadians as well. They include Michaelle Jean, Rosemary Brown, and Harry Jerome.

February is black history month, and I believe that it is a good time to reflect on how black pioneers have changed society.

From my knowledge on the history of african americans, they were being slaved based on their skin color. Black people and white people were separated over what there skin color looked like. Not wanting to tolerate the segregation of black people, they were activists who bravely stood up for their rights.

As most of you probably know, Rosa Parks went to jail because she refused to let a white person take her seat. This moment had helped influenced the civil rights movement. I believe that if it weren’t for her courage, the Civil Rights Movement wouldn’t of been what it is. She passed away in 2005.

Why Black History Month History?

The term “black history month” began in 1976. The purpose of black history month is to celebrate the accomplishments that African Americans have made. Although celebrated in the United States, it has popularized internationally. The origins of black history dates back to 1926 when historian Carter G. Woodson saw that there was little in terms of black figures in textbooks. As a result he along with along of a couple of organization choose the second week of February as black history week. This was to coincide Frederick Douglas, and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays. Fifty-years later, U.S. President Gerald Ford declared February as Black History Day.

Why does black history matter?

Black history month gives people the opportunity to see that African Americans has had a positive influence in society. They have helped improve relationships between black people and white people. They help people realize that despite our differences, in the end, we are all the same. We just come from different values, and different cultures.

So this was my tribute to black history month. Next week come as we tackle the issue of anxiety. We all feel anxious sometimes, and it can lead us to feel less motivated, and more exhausted. I will tell my view on anxiety, and how you can cope with being anxious.

Until next week, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger

Poutine

Editor’s note: Make sure that you have a full stomach prior to reading this blog because will be on a addictive snack called, “poutine”.

Assuming that you have followed my advice, I will be discussing this French Canadian dish, and the best places to have one if you ever visit Montreal.

What is Poutine?

Poutine is a very popular French Canadian snack. It originated from Warwick, Quebec in 1957. A traditional poutine consists of fries, gravy, and cheese. There are so many different kinds of poutine dishes at various restaurants in Quebec. Poutine has become so popular, that fast food chains such as Mcdonalds and Burger King have poutine on their snacks menu across Canada. Having poutine late at night, though not ideal, is very common for people to snack on, after a long night of partying. A well known restaurant in Montreal that serves poutine is La Banquise. It is open 24 hours and it is not uncommon to see long lineups at 3 in the morning, when night clubs close.

Poutine week

Now why would I write a blog on a fast food snack? Well, it is because I want to coincide poutine week by writing on my favorite Montreal snack. For me, poutine is a classic Montreal dish, and is my favorite guilty pleasure. The taste of fries with gravy and cheese is mouthwatering.

Best places to have poutine when coming to Montreal

Besides La Banquise, another great place to get a nice bowl of poutine is (appropriately named) Poutineville. Poutineville is not only exclusive to poutines, but you can add in as many ingredients on their menu list as possible. Other great places for poutine are (or at least the ones that I have personally been) Chez Claudette and Dirty Dogs.

The Chik’N MacWaffle exclusively for poutine week. Photo taken by me last Friday at Dirty Dogs in Montreal.

I hope that you didn’t get too hungry by reading this delicious blog. For next week’s blog, I will discuss my views on black history. I will write about the importance of black history month, and the impact African people has had on today’s society.

Until next week, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger

Family

When we think of family, we think of our siblings and parents. That is what is known as a “nuclear” family. An extended family consists of having, aunts, uncles, and cousins live under the same roof.

The term, “family” may differ. It can simply be a nuclear family. Families can also include aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc. Step-families are also very common. For this blog, I will give out my view on what makes a family and why they are the most important people in the world.

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

What Makes a Family

I would say that making a family is more than just a mother, father, son or daughter. It can consist of people you love rather they are related to you or not. When one makes a best friend when they are in kindergarten and stick with each other throughout their lives can be seen as more than just a friendship. They are likely to treat and love each other as siblings.

Another form of creating a family is through adoption. For most cases, people adopt because they are unable to have children. For adoptive parents, it is not about blood that makes a family, but love does, and they love their adoptive child as much as if they are their own biological one.

Families are a everlasting bond and are always there for each other, no matter what. Although love between family members are unconditional, it is important to not take them for granted. It is because they are so precious that it will be hard for you to deal with once they are gone. They are your best friend as they always have your back; especially your parents.

Unfortunately, not everyone has a family to love for. They either live far away or that their families abandoned them or vice versa. Consequently, they are likely to feel lonely and bitter. People without family may hate the idea of family bonding because they do not have one. Anyone that is reading this blog; just remember how lucky you are that you have a family that supports and loves you.

Robert’s Experience with his Family

Coming from a big Italian family, it is safe to say that family is very important to me. I am very fortunate to have a loving and extended family. It is interesting to note that another form of families are those that you known through family, such as siblings and cousins. Although not related in any way, they have know you for so long that they become a part of your family. I am grateful for every family member in my life. Although my family is not perfect, I can not imagine not being related to them.

Family Recap

Recapping this blog, what makes a family is through love. Families do not have to be blood related to make a family. It can just happen by love between people, and that they care about each other. So remember this, family is the most important thing to cherish on this planet because without a family, big or small, you will feel very empty and miserable.

Get ready to feel hungry for next week’s blog. To coincide with poutine week, the topic will be on (that’s right) poutine. I will discuss this favorite Montreal snack and where you can find the best poutine when you’re in Montreal.

Until next week, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger

Winter Blues

First of all, I would like to acknowledge that today is Martin Luther King Day and would like to thank him for his hard work on civil rights. Although there is still a lot of work that needs to be done, I believe that it is people like him that has helped made the world a better place. With that, I thank him for standing up for what is right.

Coincidentally, Blue Monday falls on the same day as Martin Luther King day. Blue Monday is described as being the saddest day of the year. It is because we are in the depth of winter, very little sunlight and dealing with credit card bills from Christmas gifts. However, does this really mean we are all going to feel depressed today or is the idea of Blue Monday a myth? For this week’s blog, I will give out my view on Blue Monday and how to beat the winter blues despite the snow and cold.

Blue Monday

The term “Blue Monday” is based on a mathematical calculation based on weather, debt, motivation and the days since Christmas and New years. An organization called the “Mental Health Charity Mind” suggests that a single date on the calendar does not determine when people are the most depressed. I agree with the organization because one can feel depressed at anytime of the year.

Winter Blues

The term “Winter Blues” describes someone who is feeling sad during the winter months. It can be understandable because we have to dress in layers when we go outside and we can not enjoy the time to relax outdoors as we would normally do during the summer months. It can seem depressing since we are trying to hibernate indoors and not getting enough vitamin C from the sun.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Having the winter views should not prevent one from going out and enjoying life. However, people with Seasonal Affective Disorder (or known by its acronym SAD) struggle with dealing with the cold temperatures and lack of daylight. SAD is a form of depression and is caused by sleep disruption and not wanting to do anything. If that is you, then I would suggest that you go see a doctor and seek treatment.

How to deal with the Winter Blues

For those that who are having a hard time dealing with winter and are unable to go on vacation to a warmer climate, here are some ways to deal with the winter blues.

1. Embrace it

It is important to embrace winter since it is here to stay and it is impossible to avoid the cold and snow. There are fun outdoor activities that you can take part of. It can be done in a form of skiing, tobogganing, skating, and snowboarding.

Photo by Xue guangjian on Pexels.com2. Attend a winter themed event

In my hometown of Montreal, there are plenty of events going on that will give you something to look forward to. There is the Fete Des Neiges Festival, Igloo Fest, Montreal En Lumiere and so much more! To find out on what is going on during the winter months in your hometown, a simple google research should give out some ideas on what to do.

3. Exercise

It is very important to stay in shape at any time of the year and winter is no exception. A great way to do this is to join a gym. With plenty of exercise options and staying nice and warm, the gym should keep you going during the cold days of winter. It can be tough to get to the gym but as Nike’s slogan goes, “Just do it”.

man standing on riverbank — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

4. Eating healthy

It can be tempting to go after comfort food to deal with the winter blues. While it is fine to do this every now and then, it is important to stay on a balanced diet, regardless of what time of year it is.

Overall, stay in shape this winter and go have fun. Do not let a day in the calendar determine your mood. I get that winter can be miserable because it is cold outside and everyone gets sick but before you know it, spring will come and a cold winter means that we will appreciate spring even more when it finally arrives. Don’t worry, be happy (even if it’s Monday). Also, a reminder that we are 58 days till spring (as of January 21st).

Stay warm!

Come back next week as I tackle on what is the most important thing that we should always cherish. That would be family. I will explain my views on what makes a family and why they are the most important people in the world to you and me.

Until next week, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger

Personal Budgeting

So we have settled into the new year. It is a time in which people try to make changes in their lives in order to make themselves more organized and confident. It is also a time when people receive their credit card bills from December and realize that they have spent a lot on Christmas gifts. A good way to help organize spending is by making a monthly budget.

What is Budgeting?

Budgeting is an important necessity in our lives. It allows us to keep track on how much we spend. It is important to stay on budget in order to save money and not go into debt.

https://www.mymoneycoach.ca/budgeting/what-is-a-budget-planning-forecasting

Budgeting Without Guilt

A great way to keep track of your budget is to write down the amount you spend on an item everyday. Afterwards, decide which category the item belongs to. Every week, calculate the amount of money you spend and continue to do so every week till the end of the month.

In my opinion, using Microsoft excel to help organize a monthly budget is a great idea because based on my experience, it is the most efficient way to categorize your personal budget and to make changes if necessary. The first thing to do is to put in a category (row) (ex. phone, dining), along with the amount of money you are willing or must spend on (column). If you like percentages, you can put in how much percent of the budget you are going to use for that particular category (ex. Phone) in the next column. The following column should be on how much you spend followed by the percentage of money that you ended up spending within that category. The last column should be the difference. It does require a little knowledge of math, but with Microsoft excel tools, you should be able to calculate spending costs for the month without problem.

A good strategy on not feeling guilty of overspending is to exaggerate a bit on spending; especially on non-essential expenses. For example, if you are willing to spend $150 on eating out, put $200 instead. That way if you pass the $150 mark by a few dollars, you will not feel as bad as you would if you stayed with your original scenario.

Scenario 1: $150-160= $-10 (107% of the eating out budget used)

Scenario 2: $200-160=$40 (80% of the eating out budget used)

I believe that scenario 1 works out better than scenario 2. Thoughts?

Now you have probably seen this in your economics course, but here is what I believe should be considered spending on things you absolutely need and on things that you want to spend on but is not necessarily important.

Needs	Wants
Rent	Events/Concerts
Mortgages	Subscriptions
Electricity	Gambling
Water	Vacations
Phone	Expensive Clothing
Groceries
Gas
Bus Pass

It is important to prioritize mandatory spending when creating a budget because these expenses must be paid every month no matter what.

The amount you put on your budget will vary by month. For example, you might want to expand your budget in January if you are going on vacation. In that situation, be sure to lower your budget on non-essential spending such as eating out for that month. Also expect your bank account to go down by the end of the month. This can be made up by lowering your budget. Only put in non-essential spending if there is any money leftover in the budget and do not expand it.

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

Robert’s Experience

In terms of saving money based on my experience, the best time to save is from January to April. This can be explained that the winter months were calm in terms of non-essential spending. The months that I have spent the most money were in June, July and December. June and July are tough because there were a lot of events that occurred during those months (vacations, festivals).

Blog Recap

To recap this blog, budgeting is a very important life skill that we should all use to keep track and save money. Budgeting should be based by month since one can expect to spend more during certain months, depending on life events.

Come back next week as the focus will be on the term “Blue Monday”. I will explain what Blue Monday is and what you can do to beat the winter blues.

Until next time, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger