Friday, March 20, 2020

10 Signs Youre in the Wrong Job and Need to Quit

10 Signs Youre in the Wrong Job and Need to Quit We all know a job is a good thing to have- even, sometimes, the wrong  job. But if you’re in a job that truly isn’t the best one for you, then it might be time for a change. If you’ve started to feel unchallenged or miserable at work and find yourself simply going through the paces to get through to the weekend, then it might be time to start asking yourself questions. Staying in a bad job too long can damage your career. Here are 10 ways to tell if your current job is all wrong.1. There isn’t enough money in the world that would make you happy.It’s not just that you’re not being paid enough. When you ask yourself how much you should be making, you still experience that sinking feeling in your stomach that says you just don’t want to be there. Honor that feeling. If not even a big fat raise can make you feel good about your current job, it’s time to start looking elsewhere.2. You’re getting bad feedback.Not just once or twice, but often- and consistently. This job just doesn’t come as naturally to you as it does to your coworkers, and it’s making you feel bad about yourself. Take some of that feedback to heart and learn to accept your limitations. Then take responsibility for yourself and your career and find a place where you’ll be a better fit.3. You’re just not passionate about it.You listen to people talk about their businesses and their exciting jobs with envy. You could care less about your company and what you do, and you certainly don’t think it’s interesting enough to bring up at dinner parties. Start by rethinking what you are passionate about, what you actually like to do, then see if you can’t find a job doing one of those things instead of what you’re doing now.4. You can’t be yourself.There are plenty of companies out there that want you to be a corporate automaton, but these are fading out of popularity and being replace d with companies who make it their mission to encourage their employees to be who they are. If you have a big personality, stop trying to pound yourself into the wrong-shaped hole. Find a better fit.5. Your industry is dying.Rats are running from the sinking ship. You know it’s over. Your company knows it’s over. Your industry’s time has run out and you’re witnessing its steady decline. Instead of going down with the ship, why not figure out way to take your skills and market them in a new industry?6. Your boss hates you.It’s not just that you don’t like each other; your boss really seems to be out to get you. If this is you, and your work situation has become toxic, there’s probably nothing better you could do than find a way out.7. Your commute is killing your soul.Or even if it’s really not that bad, you just hate your job so much that the process of getting up in the morning and making your way there fills you with dread an d sloth. This is a pretty good sign that you need a change.8. There’s a ceiling.There aren’t many (or any) opportunities in your company for you to advance. Even if you don’t actively hate the job you have, it’s probably not a great idea to stay in a job that won’t allow you to work your way up.9. Your work/life balance has no  balance.Work/life balance is incredibly important. Make sure you’re not burning out. Some jobs will always be more intense than others, but keep in mind that you won’t always be young and you want to stay healthy enough to be able to get through your whole career in one piece. If a job just won’t let up, it might be a good idea to move on.10. You’re not learning.The minute you stop learning new things and being challenged is the moment that you are officially stagnating. This is always a bad idea, in the work world and in your life. Find a way to constantly push yourself to learn and try new thi ngs. And find a job that will let you do this to help maximize your career growth and potential.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

How to Keep a Caterpillar Alive All Winter

How to Keep a Caterpillar Alive All Winter Its actually fairly  easy to raise a caterpillar you have collected in the fall. The key is to provide conditions that mimic the caterpillars natural cycle and habitat. Some caterpillars survive the winter by simply burrowing under the leaf litter or squeezing into bark crevices. Others pupate as cooler weather approaches and remain in this state until spring. In other words, they wont stay in caterpillar form. If your caterpillar is still feeding, you will need to  provide food  as you would for caterpillars you find at other times of the year. Eventually, the caterpillar will stop feeding and may become more sluggish. This is a sign that it is preparing itself for winter. Overwintering Stages of Common Butterflies and Moths Its helpful to know whether the caterpillar you found is going to stay in the larval stage all winter, or whether its going to pupate. This list provides overwintering stages of selected butterfly and moth families. Please note that this is a general list, so there may be exceptions. Larvae (stays a caterpillar through the winter) skippers (Hesperiidae)loopers, inchworms, and spanworms (Geometridae) - sometussock caterpillars (Lymantridae) - some, but they can be difficult to keep alive over wintertiger moth caterpillars (Arctiidae) - some, including the beloved woollybear Pupae (spends the winter as a cocoon or chrysalid) slug caterpillars  (Limacodidae)flannel moths  (Megalopygidae)swallowtail butterflies (Papilionidae)whites and sulphurs (Pieridae)loopers, inchworms, and spanworms (Geometridae) - mosttiger moth caterpillars (Arctiidae) - some Keeping Caterpillars Over the Winter For species that overwinter as caterpillars, simply clean any remaining frass and food plants from the container, and then cover the resting caterpillar with a layer of leaves. Move the container to a porch or unheated garage or shed for the winter months. If the caterpillar is kept in an environment that is too dry, it may desiccate and die. Try to find a location where the humidity will be as close to its natural habitat as possible.  When spring arrives, watch for signs of activity from the caterpillar. Keeping Cocoons or Chrysalides Over the Winter Butterfly caterpillars often overwinter as chrysalides. Provide some twigs or stems so the caterpillar can suspend itself to pupate. You can secure the twigs with clay at the bottom, or cut pieces that will fit tightly against the container without falling. Once the caterpillar has pupated, move the container to an unheated area for the winter. Moth caterpillars typically pupate in the soil, sometimes incorporating leaves into their pupal cases. Place a layer of peat moss in the container, and add some leaves. Once the caterpillar spins a cocoon, you can remove any remaining leaves and move the container to an outdoor or unheated location. If you are storing your pupae or caterpillars outdoors, be sure to keep them out of the sun. Even on a cold winter day, the container can warm up quite a bit if placed directly in the suns rays. This might lead to premature emergence or may cause the pupae to dry out. As it gets closer to spring, its helpful to mist the pupae with a little water to simulate the increased humidity and moisture of the changing seasons. When spring returns, you should keep your caterpillar or pupa cool until other members of the same species are emerging. If you arent sure, wait until the trees in your area start to leaf out before moving the container to a warmer location.