The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has just released the results of its 2020-21 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing. And one shocking insight from the study suggests that almost a third of Australians really don’t know how to look after themselves when it comes to mental health.

The ABS’ recent National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing study shows that three in five Australians took action to self-manage their mental health; which is great. However, one of the ways in which people tried to self-manage or self-treat their problems isn’t so great.

Case in point, the second-most used method Aussies tried to improve their mental health; a staggering 28.6% of Australians practised ‘thinking positively’ in an attempt to better their mental health.

Of course, every self-help book and wellbeing influencer on the planet pushes positive thinking but our first thought upon seeing “practised thinking positively” in the ABS report was ‘that doesn’t really work for people who are already dealing with mental health issues, does it?’

So, DMARGE did a little digging to see if thinking positively does (or doesn’t) have any benefits to mental health. First of all, we spoke exclusively to Dr Marny Lishman, a ​​Health & Community Psychologist, who told us positive thinking can actually be “unhelpful” in some cases.

“Yes, it’s all well and good to think positively all the time, but it can be rather unhelpful if you or others are denying how you are really feeling.”

Dr Marny Lishman

“All of our emotions are valid, and in fact, are very valuable to us because they are giving us information about our environment so that we can behave accordingly. If we are not allowing ourselves to feel the perceived negative emotions, we are not giving ourselves a chance to process them, change our actions or even space to learn and grow from experiences.”

Dr Lishman also recommended a few things Australians can – and should – be doing to look after themselves mentally.

“Physical activity, learning to be in the present moment (mindfulness and meditation) as well as connecting to other people. And of course, speaking to a professional is always very important as this can be helpful to not only get support but learn strategies to help manage your mind.”

Dr Marny Lishman

DMARGE also exclusively spoke to Dr Jodie Lowinger, Clinical Psychologist and author of The Mind Strength Method, who revealed that thinking positively can lead to “a struggle with our thoughts”, which ultimately makes mental health – especially anxiety – worse.

“​​The challenge with positive thinking is if we are told to just think positively or just stop being so negative, we start to get into a struggle with our thoughts which tips us into fight or flight, which is experienced as stress, anxiety, agitation or frustration.

Paradoxically, getting into a struggle with our thoughts can make anxiety worse. [Thinking positively] is different from practising strategies such as focusing on things that you feel grateful for…”

Dr Jodie Lowinger

Dr Lowinger went on to divulge how people can manage negative thoughts with “scientifically supported strategies” as opposed to getting solely focused on positive thinking.

“[Make] it a practice to have one positive focus when you wake up in the morning. This helps to take you out of the sympathetic nervous system of fight or flight, and associated adrenaline and cortisol [spikes], and stimulates positive neurochemicals, such as dopamine and serotonin.”

“Other scientifically supported strategies to help rebalance the negativity bias is keeping a gratitude journal, such as ending the day writing down three things you feel grateful for, or instead of being in the struggle to think positively, think about how you can respond with values-aligned actions or acts of kindness and compassion for yourself and others.”

Dr Jodie Lowinger

Considering that both Dr Lishman and Dr Lowinger – and this 2009 study – advise that there are better methods to improve and manage mental health than thinking positively and that the ABS’ data proves it’s a popular method among Australians, it’s clear that Australians need to be better educated when it comes to mental health and how best to manage it…

Hopefully, the government agrees with us and implements a program; which is not too unlikely as the ABS study was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.

If you’re struggling with your mental health, please contact Beyond Blue, Lifeline, Suicide Call Back Service, MensLine Australia or see your GP for help.

• Signs You Have High Functioning Anxiety – & How To Cope With It
• How To Tell Whether You’re Burnt Out… Or Just Lazy

The post Grim Statistic Proves Australia Needs Better Mental Health Education appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games are in full swing, following the opening ceremony and first events that took place on the 28th of July. Australia is expected to perform well as a Commonwealth nation, especially considering we currently top the all-time medal table with a staggering 2415 medals across gold, silver and bronze, accumulated since the Commonwealth Games began in 1930.

So, how can you watch the Commonwealth Games in Australia? Firstly, you’re going to want to set some alarms, because owing to the time difference between Australia and the UK, where the Commonwealth Games are taking place, to watch the majority of events live, you’ll need to stay awake into the late hours of the night and early hours of the following morning.

Here’s everything you need to know.

When are the 2022 Commonwealth Games?

The 2022 Commonwealth Games will run from Thursday 28th July until Monday 8th August 2022.

The Games will officially open on Thursday 28th July with the opening ceremony, which will be broadcast live in Australia at 4.45 am AEST on Friday 29th July.

The first competition, Lawn Bowls, will commence at 5.30 pm AEST on Friday 29th July.

Where are the 2022 Commonwealth Games being held?

The 2022 Commonwealth Games are being held in Birmingham, UK. Birmingham was announced as the host city way back in 2017 and it marks the third time England has hosted the Games and seventh overall for the United Kingdom. The previous two occasions England hosted the games were Manchester in 2002 and London in 1934. The 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games also mark the 10th anniversary of the London 2012 Olympics.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games will be spread across 15 venues to host the various Commonwealth sports. Some of the venues spread across the wider West Midlands region and track cycling to take place at the Velodrome in London, used for the 2012 Olympics – but the other 7 venues, including the main athletics stadium – where the opening and closing ceremonies will also be held – are in Birmingham.

How to watch the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Australia?

• Channel 7
• 7mate
• 7Plus app

Obviously, Australians will want to know how they can keep up with all the sporting action, with big names such as Peter Bol making his Commonwealth Games debut, for example, following an impressive performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Channel 7 holds the exclusive broadcasting rights to the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and so will be broadcasting live coverage across the free-to-air channels, Channel 7 and 7mate, with the 7Plus app being home to replays of events.

Daily coverage will be available on Channel 7 from 7 pm AEST every day during the Games until 5.30 am AEST the following morning.

With 7Plus, you will be able to watch up to 30 live and replay channels of sports action, keep up to date with the constantly changing medal table, and create a watchlist and reminders, so that you don’t miss your favourite events.

Australia’s Chance To Make History

Australia could well make history in a number of ways at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. According to the all-time medal time, Australia is just 68 golds away from reaching an unprecedented 1000 gold medals. It’s certainly possible that feat will be reached this year, especially when you consider we won 80 golds at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast.

Notable Australian athletes such as Emma McKeon could also cement herself into Australia’s history books, as she needs just 3 gold medals to surpass Ian Thorpe, Susie O’Neill and Leisel Jones to not just become the most decorated Australian Commonwealth Games athlete, but the most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete, IN any sport, ever.

New Sports For 2022 Commonwealth Games

Birmingham 2022 will see four new sports debut, including women’s T20 cricket – which Australia’s women will be hoping for gold, having already claimed 5 world championship titles in the event.

Other new sports for 2022 include 3×3 basketball and 3×3 wheelchair basketball and para tennis.

Birmingham 2022 will also mark the first time able-bodied and para-athlete competitions will run alongside one another, as opposed to the usual format of having separate para-athlete games once the able-bodied games have come to a close.

2022 Commonwealth Games Sports

There are 20 sports in total for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which are broken down into 280 individual events. The 20 sports at Birmingham 2022 are:

• Aquatics – Diving (12), Swimming (52)
• Athletics – 58
• Badminton – 6
• 3×3 Basketball – 4
• Beach Volleyball – 2
• Boxing – 16
• Cricket – 1
• Cycling – Mountain biking (2), Road (4), Track (20)
• Gymnastics – Artistic (14), Rhythmic (6)
• Field Hockey – 2
• Judo – 14
• Lawn bowls – 11
• Netball – 1
• Para powerlifting – 4
• Rugby sevens – 2
• Squash – 5
• Table tennis – 11
• Triathlon – 5
• Weightlifting – 16
• Wrestling – 12

Australian Athletes at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Australia is sending a total of 434 athletes to England for Birmingham 2022: 201 men and 233 women.

Interestingly, Harry Garside won’t be competing for Australia in Boxing, despite having won gold for his country at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast.

Australia is expecting the majority of their medal haul to come in the swimming pool, with Emma McKeon, Ariarne Titmus, Kaylee McKeown and Zac Stubblety-Cook all genuine medal contenders.

Road cycling should be another event where Australia could taste success, but track cycling is hard to predict, following a rather poor showing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Peter Bol will be the man to look out for on the athletics track in the 800m event. Having just missed out on a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he’ll be hoping for a better time out in Birmingham.

Commonwealth Games 2022 Medal Table

Medals were awarded on the very first day of the Commonwealth Games, and they have since continued to come thick and fast. Australia, as expected, currently tops the medal table, mainly thanks to the country’s swimming efforts in the pool.

The post How To Watch The 2022 Commonwealth Games In Australia appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The first trailer for the highly anticipated Netflix film Blonde, starring Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe, is finally here. But it’s left people somewhat divided because of one glaring (or tiny, depending on who you ask) problem…

Blonde, which is based on the bestselling novel of the same name, is an upcoming film of the ‘biographical fiction’ genre; meaning the film is a fictionalised take on real-life actress Marilyn Monroe’s life. It’s a tad confusing but essentially, there will be some storylines in Blonde, that did not actually happen to Monroe.

Perhaps that’s why the trailer for Blonde – which was just released – shows Ana de Armas playing Monroe with hints of a Spanish accent. Of course, de Armas is Cuban and her first language is Spanish but when it was first announced she would be playing Monroe in Blonde, many thought she would play Monroe with an American accent, as Monroe was American in real life and because it was reported that de Armas was working with a dialect coach for the film.

WATCH: The trailer for ‘Blonde’…

However, because Blonde isn’t trying to be one hundred per cent accurate to Monroe’s real life, perhaps the film’s writer and director Andrew Dominik isn’t concerned about the Monroe in his film having a slightly different voice to the real one. After all, Monroe’s breathy almost childlike voice is hard to imitate, and de Armas does a fine job at the breathiness – just not so much at the American-ness.

But while Dominik may not be concerned, when Netflix shared the first trailer for Blonde on Twitter, many were disappointed with de Armas’ portrayal of Monroe. One Twitter user wrote, “She looks the part but I can’t get past the accent” while another said, “Looks incredible but unfortunately, her accent gets in the way. I know she worked really hard but it’s still very much there”.

User @NovaQuinn_3375 Tweeted that she was happy de Armas was given the opportunity to play Monroe but was “pretty upset” that de Armas hadn’t nailed an imitation of Monroe’s voice.

“I’m truly happy to know that a Latina woman was given such an amazing role to play in a film of this magnitude but, I’m pretty upset she didn’t take the time to study, practice & learn how to minimize her accent and speak like Monroe.”

Twitter user @NovaQuinn_3375

These sentiments were echoed by user @lostdogs20, who said, “Ana should have worked harder to get rid of her accent, I can still hear it.”

There were many though, who didn’t care that de Armas was playing Monroe with hints of a Spanish accent; and some didn’t even hear the Spanish accent at all.

One Twitter user wrote, “It looks as though de Armas is going to utterly inhabit this role, and that means more to me than whether the accent is bang on. Preparing myself for what may be a very strong film,” while another said, “What accent are y’all talking about[?] I don’t hear it…”

Twitter user @AdamDidThat had the funniest response with their comment, “I love that she kept her own accent, now Americans know how the rest of the world feels when they butcher every accent in every other movie ever.”

On a more serious note, some have taken issue with Blonde (which has been rated as not suitable for anyone under 18) for trivialising and further exploiting Monroe as opposed to de Armas’ accent. Twitter user @versaceschanel wrote, “I want Andrew Dominik to make it crystal clear that Blonde is fictional NOT a biopic bc if he doesn’t the film will go on and feed the public (who already has weak knowledge) more bs and false Marilyn Monroe narratives, tarnishing her name and legacy on the way.”

Similarly, user @themarilyngirl wrote an entire thread about why they won’t watch Blonde at all. Ultimately, @themarilyngirl believes that Blonde is “violating, tasteless and disrespectful” to Monroe’s memory mainly because it’s been confirmed that the film will feature an explicit rape scene despite there being no proof of Monroe being raped in her adult life and despite Monroe not being able to consent (she’s been dead for 60 years) to being presented in such a manner.

Many have defended Blonde though and believe the film will be respectful, and that it shouldn’t be judged until it’s released; as user @Rafaelc4492 put it, “To pre-judge something before the fact is supremely pompous and self-righteous”. I guess will all have to wait until Blonde is released globally on Netflix on September 28th to see if the film lives up to all the hype and rectifies the dividedness the trailer caused…

• Ana De Armas Couldn’t Speak English When She Landed Her First Hollywood Role
• Ana De Armas Gives Damning Opinion On A Female James Bond

The post Netflix’s Marilyn Monroe Film, ‘Blonde’ Has One Glaring Problem appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Web3 has quickly become one of the most hotly debated topics on the internet, yet the term remains shrouded in a haze of techno-babble, hype and criticism. How did this relatively obscure term for a new technology become one of the most polarising talking points around?

To properly answer that question, we put together this jargon-free guide to Web3.

We’ll explain everything you need to know about “the future of the internet” in simple terms and take an unbiased look at how Web3 actually works — which will help you figure out whether Web3 is something worth investing in.

What is Web3?

Web3 simply refers to the next big step in the evolution of the internet. The main reason there’s so much debate and confusion around Web3 comes down to the fact that Web3 is still very much in the process of being built.

If we take major Web3 developers & advocates at their word — Web3 simply refers to the next era of the internet, which will be built on blockchain technology. An internet that runs on blockchain technology will allow everyday people greater control over their data, privacy and finances online.

Instead of massive centralized tech companies like Facebook, YouTube & Google controlling the way that you use the internet and collecting all of your data in the process, Web3 will allow you as an individual to own your very own piece of the internet. 

This definition probably didn’t help all that much — so, to better understand what people mean when they say “Web3” we need to take a look at the history of the world wide web so that we can cut through the noise and figure out exactly what the “future of the internet” might actually look like.

Web1: Read Only

Web1 began in the late 1990s and came to a gracious end in 2004 as social media platforms like Facebook really kicked off. Web1 was basically just a bunch of static websites owned by companies. Websites weren’t particularly interactive.

You couldn’t do much with Web1 apart from reading things and publishing basic content for others to read. and there was very little interaction between users, with individuals rarely producing content – leading to it being known as the read-only web.

Web2: Read + Write

The Web2 era began in 2004 with the emergence of social media platforms. Instead of a read-only, the web evolved to be read-write. Instead of companies providing content to users, they also began to provide platforms to share user-generated content and engage in user-to-user interactions.

As more people came online, a handful of top companies began to control a disproportionate amount of the traffic and value generated on the web. Web 2 also birthed the advertising-driven revenue model. While users could create content, they don’t actually own it or majorly benefit from its monetization in the same way that the platforms do.

You might be thinking about how influencers/bloggers/content creators make a lot of money. This is true, but while platforms & advertisers may pay content creators for driving engagement with their products, these creators don’t actually own their space on the internet. They are still bound to top-down decisions from platforms (think YouTube, Facebook & Instagram censorship)

Web3: Read + Write + Own

The term “Web3” was actually coined all the way back in 2014 by the co-founder of Ethereum, Gavin Wood and has since become the general term for the vision of a new, better internet. At its core, Web3 uses blockchains, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs to give power back to the users in the form of ownership.

While it’s still hard to give a solid definition of what Web3 truly is, the Ethereum Organization, an industry leader of Web3 tech, outline the following principles as the most fundamental aspects of what Web3 already looks like:

• Web3 is decentralized: instead of large swathes of the internet controlled and owned by centralized entities, ownership gets distributed amongst its builders and users.
• Web3 is permissionless: everyone has equal access to participate in Web3, and no one gets excluded.
• Web3 has native payments: it uses cryptocurrency for spending and sending money online instead of relying on the outdated infrastructure of banks and payment processors.
• Web3 is trustless: it operates using incentives and economic mechanisms instead of relying on trusted third parties.

Right now Web3 is a catch-all term that includes things like The Metaverse, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Cryptocurrencies,

Is Web3 Legit?

Because there have been a few notable, high-profile figures that have come out with Web3-critical statements, we need to go through some of these — to see if these are fatal problems or if they’re just bumps in the road.

All Hype?

Late last year, Elon Musk declared that Web3 is just a “marketing buzzword”, saying that Web3 is essentially all hype — which at the time was somewhat of a fair statement.

However, since that time, Web3 tech has grown in functionality and many projects are making enormous headway in the space while the markets (and general interest) are at an all-time low. We’ll delve into this properly just below when we discuss the best Web3 tokens that you can invest in.

Not Really Decentralized?

The other major criticism of Web3 tech is that it falls short of its ideals, particularly regarding the sacred cow of “decentralization”. Critics claim that ownership over the blockchain networks (the foundational infrastructure of Web3 infrastructure) is actually overly concentrated in the hands of early adopters and venture capitalists.

You can see how this argument unfolded in real-time on Twitter after Block Inc. CEO Jack Dorsey got into a major tiff with other tech founders and venture capitalists over Web 3.

At the heart of Dorsey’s big critique is the idea of “decentralization theatre,” where blockchain projects are decentralized in name but not in substance. Private blockchains, VC-backed investments, or decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols where just a few people hold the keys to hundreds of millions of dollars are all examples of this sort of theatre.

Seems Legit

However, if you listen closely to the words of Marc Andreessen, co-founder of venture capital firm a16z and billionaire entrepreneur who made his fortune from his early-internet company Mozaic, you’ll find that there are many solid arguments to be found for this initial centralization as it gradually becomes more decentralized over time.

Ultimately, Web3 is not without its flaws or bad actors, but the technology itself is a hotbed of potential, especially as humans migrate more of their lives online. Whether the dreams of the convicted founder are too idealistic to be put into practice will be something that everyday users will discover over the next decade as the tech grows in form and function (think Web3 versions of sites like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Spotify.)

This leads us to the next step, identifying the best organizations and projects in the Web3 space and figuring out whether they’re a good investment opportunity…

Best Web3 Tokens

Because we’re still early on Web3, the tokens associated with this space will undoubtedly change in significant ways. There’ll no doubt be a new wave of cryptocurrencies and associated assets that pop up over the next few years. To kick things off — we’ll start with the token that is essential for the spread and development of Web3: Ethereum (ETH).

Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum is a decentralized global software platform powered by blockchain technology, where developers from anywhere in the world can build new applications, programs and financial protocols.

Because Web3 will be built with blockchain tech at its core, Ethereum today is the #1 platform on where almost all of the major smart contracts, protocols and DApps (the foundational infrastructure of Web3) that exist today are built on.

Ethereum’s native token Ether (ETH) is a native currency that’s used to pay for stuff on the Ethereum blockchain, hence why ETH takes the number one spot on this list.

So, to keep it very simple: if you believe in the future of Web3 and you think that the Ethereum network has a significant role to play in establishing it, investing in ETH is a no-brainer.

Gala Games (GALA)

Gala Games is probably one of the most promising blockchain-based gaming projects in Web3 today.

While a lot of the other Web3 gaming & metaverse projects have the sort of graphics you’d expect to find in games you used to play on a friend’s computer back in 2006, Gala is doubling down on making sure players engage with great graphics and genuinely exciting gameplay.

They set themselves even further apart from the crowd by making their mission statement: “blockchain games you’ll actually want to play”. 

As a platform, Gala Games offers a multitude of different games to players built on the Gala Network, which uses its native token to identify in-game assets that players own. Players can literally buy and sell different parts of the game (imagine owning your own castle or hunting lodge in Runescape) by purchasing NFTs with the GALA token.

With an exciting lineup of really cool games to come, Gala Games is definitely a project to watch…

Basic Attention Token (BAT)

The Basic Attention Token (BAT) is the native token of the Brave Browser, a privacy-oriented browser that is on a mission to protect all user data from the prying eyes and exploitative data-harvesting strategies of big tech companies such as Google, Facebook (now Meta) & Amazon.

Not only does Brave block all third-party advertising from Google — which means you can watch infinite YouTube without ads — it also pays its users (in BAT) to view ads.

At its core, BAT is a blockchain-based system that anonymously tracks time and attention on websites viewed on the Brave web browser. Built on Ethereum, the goal of BAT is to efficiently distribute advertising money between advertisers, publishers, and readers of online marketing content and ads — while protecting individual privacy.

Super Quick Summary of Web3

• Web3 is the next major step in the evolution of the internet that will allow everyday people from all walks of life to express more autonomy over their financial and personal destiny online.
• The internet began with Web1 where people could only read content. It then evolved into Web2 where people could read and write content. Web3 is the future where people can read, write and own parts of the internet, instead of “renting” it from centralized companies.
• Web3 is only just getting started, and despite a wealth of criticism and market turmoil, the projects that are invested in building the infrastructure that will give rise to “the future of the internet” show no signs of slowing down.

Read Next:

• How To Know Whether You Should Panic Sell… Or Hold On & Hope For The Best
• We Investigated Whether Australian Super Funds Will Ever Invest In Crypto

The post What is Web3, Is It Legit, What Web3 Tokens Should You Invest In? appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

I tried cold water therapy – a well-being movement known for bringing Australian men to tears – on a recent trip to Tasmania. I didn’t find it life-changing, but I can now see why people rave about it. I also discovered it may work better in a group setting.

Blame Wim Hof; blame Joe Rogan – I don’t care. Ice baths are trending. That’s right, thanks to Internet Couture, apparently, you’re no longer a real man unless you shrink your testicles on the daily (as if those ball-melting saunas weren’t enough).

Anyway, after Aussie boxer Harry Garside got in on the act (even showing us how it can be done on the cheap, by substituting the ice bath machine with a winter dip in the ocean) I figured what the hell, why not give it a try? And what better place to try it than Tasmania, where the water temperature is currently somewhere between “I’m good thanks” and “get the f**k out of here.”

RELATED: The Australian Winter Ritual Americans Will Never Understand

Having read up all on the potential benefits of cold water therapy, which include the easing of muscle soreness, boosting of the central nervous system, limiting of inflammation and training of the vagus nerve, I threw (most of) my kit off, and jumped on in.

WATCH: DMARGE Goes Cold Water Swimming In Tasmania

Here’s how the experience went, how I felt afterwards, and everything I learned from the experience.

Cold Water is cold

Healthline says “the most noticeable side effect of an ice bath is feeling very cold when you immerse your body in the cold water,” to which, I say: “no shit.” Jumping into this very cold water made me feel as if a thousand tiny knives were stabbing me. As for the other risks of cold water immersion, such as hypothermia and decreased blood flow (which may temporarily increase your risk for cardiac arrest or stroke), I seem to have got away with it.

Being freezing cold before jumping in makes the experience easier

I tried cold water swimming in Tasmania twice. Funnily enough, the time I was dreading it the most (already being a bit cold) hurt the least. So it seems the shock of going from cold to very cold is less than the shock of going from warm to very cold.

Both times, I felt amazing afterwards

It seems the expression: “no pain, no gain” has something to it after all. I can’t see myself climbing Mount Everest in boxer shorts any time soon, nor did I enjoy the experience enough to justify spending thousands of dollars on an ice bath (they range from $100 to $7,000), but I’ll definitely be repeating the winter swim experience in Sydney. If you want to try it yourself all I’ll say is this: make sure you have something warm to put on afterwards. Oh, and maybe avoid jumping in a boiling hot shower straight away (unless you’re a fan of pins and needles).

I didn’t look like James Bond

I may not be as emotionally repressed as the iconic 007, but I also don’t have his abs. I guess we can call it even?

The therapeutic benefits are not just physical

Ok, I’ll admit. I was too cold to recollect any childhood trauma or to confess my most f**ked up secrets to the unforgiving Tasman ocean. But freezing your ass off keeps you alert (in my experience) for much of the day. And the sense of superiority you get when meeting non-cold water swimming souls (“oh, what did you do this morning? Roll out of bed and drive to work? That’s cool…”) is hard to beat.

Taking deep breaths really does help

If nothing else, it gives your mind something else to focus on. Just make sure you don’t do it alone, in case you pass out.

Your vagus nerve will not literally thank you

To be honest, I still don’t know what a vagus nerve is.

I’m yet to feel the emotional benefits, but I can see why people talk about them

The ABC talked about cold water immersion as a “wellbeing movement bringing tradies to tears” in 2021. I haven’t practised it for long enough yet, and I’ve never done it as part of a community. But even from my limited experience, I think I can start to see why this might be the case. Also: I see why people say it’s addictive. I already crave more, and the thought of freezing cold water doesn’t bother me so much as it used to.

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A post shared by How’s The Head (@hows_thehead)

People will think you’re mad

But that’s all part of the fun… Welcome to the “ego free zone.” In all seriousness, cold water swimming is bringing men together all around Australia (from Victoria’s Elevated Springs to Coogee’s How’s The Head) and helping them with their wellness. I’m no expert after two solo sessions, but I’m all for it. And let’s be real: we all need it…

• Harry Garside Explains Why He Takes Cold Showers At 5am In Winter
• Why Taking Ice Baths Is Great For Your Mental Health, According To Wim Hof
• I Solved My Quarter-Life Crisis With A Skateboard

The post What I Discovered Freezing My A** Off In ‘Cold Water Therapy’ appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Dr Andrew Huberman says working out earlier in the day, and at the same time every day, will turn you into a morning person.

Are you a night owl who wishes to become an early bird? You’re in luck. There’s a (semi) easy trick that’ll make you more alert in the mornings.

During a recent episode of The School of Greatness – Lewis Howes’ popular business and self-development podcast – Dr Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist at Stanford University, revealed that exercising earlier in the day will make you a “morning person.”

“If you can shift [your] workout [to] earlier in the day, you will soon become a morning person.”

Dr Andrew Huberman

Dr Huberman said this is because of anticipatory circuits, which he explained increase your energy. But to reap the full benefits of anticipatory circuits, you must ensure you’re exercising at the same time every day.

WATCH: Dr Huberman discusses anticipatory circuits…

“People should also know that if you work out at the same time for three or four days, your body builds in an anticipatory circuit. You will feel an energy increase a few minutes before that workout.”

Dr Andrew Huberman

The neuroscientist did admit that working out earlier in the day will be tough for both night owls and people who usually hit the gym at night time. But Dr Huberman believes pushing through is definitely worth it as eventually, you’ll start to feel more awake.

“It might not be as natural as somebody who naturally wakes up at 4.30 or 5 in the morning. But let’s say you’re, you want to get on an earlier schedule, you want to get that morning light… Force yourself to workout in the morning and by the second or third day of doing that, you will start to feel more alert as you arrive to the workout because there are these anticipatory circuits.”

Dr Andrew Huberman

Dr Huberman also said that another huge benefit to working out in the morning rather than at night is that you’ll sleep better. He has first-hand experience with this and even said his preference “is to always work out as early in the day as possible” because he then sleeps extremely well.

So night owls, go forth and hit the gym in the am – not the pm – and soon, you’ll be the early bird you desire to be. Tweet tweet.

• 3 Simple Health Hacks To Get In The Best Shape Of Your Life
• Want To Double Your Deep Sleep? Try This

The post Become A Morning Person With This Simple Hack appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

A few Americans who relocated to Australia have shared their experiences; some positive, some negative…

Are you an American thinking about migrating to the land Down Under, where drop bears and Hemsworth brothers are rampant? Well, there are a few Yanks who have uprooted their lives and moved to Australia.

And thanks to Quora, former US residents are sharing their experiences of what it’s truly like to take the plunge and move from The States to ‘Straya. As it turns out, there are many positive qualities that Australia possesses.

One user, Ryan Dion, listed multiple things he liked about living in Australia and one of the biggest draws for him is how “laid back” and “friendly” Australians are.

“​​Laid back attitude and friendly. These are the biggest magnets for me if I were to consider moving back to Australia. Seriously, everyone is just so friendly and annoyingly happy as if they live in a perpetual jaunty mood. I am generalising of course, but living outside Australia now allows me to see a lot more people have a stick up their arse attitude [on a] daily basis, they complain a lot and just not as care-free overall.”

Ryan Dion

David Sodeyama, another Quora user, said that moving to Australia was “the best decision” he ever made. Namely because of the following “pros” that David shared:

“Much more laid back work-life balance, less stressed people, way [more] affordable healthcare, fresh food ingredients, nicer environment (again, less stressed people which equals less crime becoming normalized).”

David Sodeyama

It’s not all sunshine and daisies though. Some Americans had trouble adjusting to the cultural differences. One Quora user named Chris had multiple negative experiences when he moved to Australia.

“Americans love to talk and are usually very good conversationalists. Australians looked at me like I was a deranged idiot and gave me a grunt, if anything.

You go for a coffee, expecting a simple cup for $1, but are told that’s not available in Australia so you have to order something fancy with lots of milk for $6. Then you hop on your bike to go for a ride – I loved doing that in the States. Very soon the police stop you and give you a fine for not wearing a helmet.”

Chris, Quora user

A lot of Americans also seemed to have issues with Australia not having fast and loose gun control laws.

For example, user Mickie S wrote, “I​​f you are an American who doesn’t feel comfortable or safe without guns in the house, especially hand guns, Australia is not a good choice. Self-defence is not a valid reason for getting a gun licence in Australia.” Similarly, another Quora user wrote that living in Australia was, “Very rough for the first few months. Not owning a gun takes some getting used to.”

Clearly, Australia won’t suit every American and not every American will suit Australia… We think user Bill Boyd said it best, “It could be recommended to other Americans to migrate here but for one simple fact: Too many of us here would ruin this paradise.”

• What Americans Find Bizarre About Australia
• Australians Outraged At Man Who Wants To ‘Americanise’ Tim Tams

The post How It Feels Moving From The United States To Australia appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

We’re used to blue watch dials and green dials are currently having a bit of a moment, but red dials? They’ve always been a bit overlooked. TAG Heuer’s latest limited-edition Carrera might be set to change that, however.

The 162-year-old Swiss watchmaker has had an unusually storied history when it comes to red-dialled watches – from the funky Heuer Silverstone of the 70s to the eclectic TAG Heuer Link and recent Formula 1 watches, they’re one of the few brands bold enough to use the colour.

Their latest red watch is particularly special, though. The TAG Heuer Carrera Red Dial Limited Edition (ref. CBK221G.FC6479) isn’t just a fantastic revival of the cult-favourite original Heuer Carrera ref. 2447, but one of the best red dial watches on the planet.

TAG calls the sunray-brushed dial’s colour ‘crimson’, but in person, it comes off more like burgundy or a blood red. Deep and luxurious, the way the dial plays with light is truly mesmerising. If you’re looking to add a red dial watch to your collection, we can’t think of a better candidate.

The Carrera Red Dial comes hot off the heels of TAG’s previous experiment in wild dial colours, the Monaco Purple Dial Limited Edition (ref. CBL2118.FC6518) which, as the name implies, boasts a smoky and rather alluring purple sunray dial.

RELATED: The Best Chronograph Watches To Stop The Clock For

Like that watch, the Carrera Red Dial comes mounted on a black alligator strap – although the Carrera additionally features an old-school Heuer clasp – and is powered by TAG’s workhouse in-house Heuer 02 movement, which boasts an outstanding power reserve of 80 hours and 100m of water resistance.

A limited-edition of only 600 pieces, it’s available at select boutiques as well as at TAG Heuer’s online boutique here. 

• Boost Your Golf Game With TAG Heuer’s Newest Smartwatch
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The post Bloody Hell: TAG Heuer’s New Red Dial Watch Is Something Different appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

There used to be two main modes of being. You were either working or on vacation. Other than trustafarians gallivanting the world on permanent backpacking adventures, there was little in between the states of ‘at work’ and ‘on holiday.’ Now, though, there’s a new type of ‘holiday’ that’s growing in popularity all around the world.

Think the only acceptable WhatsApp status’ are ‘in a meeting’ and ‘in the Greek islands’? Think again. There’s a new travel trend sweeping the world and it’s not about sightseeing, adventuring, digital nomad-ing or even partying.

It’s about being still. This new “type of time,” as Unyoked co-founder Cam Grant put it recently while speaking exclusively with DMARGE, has risen up in response to the unhinged busyness of modern life.

Though the movement has been stirring for quite some time, the pandemic has given it a boost, with more and more people realising there’s more to life than working 9-5, ordering UberEats and becoming one with your sofa.

This “new type of time” involves taking shorter breaks more regularly, in order to decompress from urban stresses, reconnect with yourself, feel the awe of nature, find inspiration and be back in the office a couple of days later.

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You might think this sounds a bit happy clappy, but it’s not just us (and companies who have a vested interest in spouting it) saying it. The late Anthony Bourdain once made a similar observation (admittedly, about Paris, but please, bear with us).

“The absolute worst thing to do when you come to Paris is plan too much. Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, Arc de Triomphe, stand in line for hours to experience what everybody says you have to. Me? I like to take it easy in Paris, especially if I’m only in town for a few days.”

Anthony Bourdain

The same point was made by an opinion piece in the Sydney Morning Herald. The author wrote: “rather than liberating us, the existence of too much choice – of jeans, of cars, or places to visit – can result in analysis paralysis and decision fatigue.”

If this sounds like something you can get your credit card behind (and trust us, compared to camping, it isn’t cheap), this new kind of escape (or “new type of time”) could involve staying in one of a company like Unyoked’s cabins. Or it could also be done by finding a Tiny House on Airbnb. You also, though it’s a slightly different thing, could book a campsite on Hipcamp (a privatised version of camping where you don’t have to deal with other campers) or a van on Camplify (where you can rent a luxuriously kitted out camper van for a few days) to achieve a similar effect.

RELATED: Why A Van Is The Best Way To See NSW’s South Coast

The key idea behind the phenomenon is urban escapism – but without having to go too far, and without the worry that things might not go perfectly. Traditional camping, for instance, is a much cheaper alternative to this. When traditional camping, for instance, you might pay $6 (or perhaps $24) for a night in a campsite in a national park near whatever city you live in (staying at an Unyoked property, by comparison, is more like a couple of hundred a night).

The problem with traditional camping is that if you’re not an experienced camper, you might have a miserable time if the weather is poor. Also, depending on which city you live in, you might have to drive a long way to get to a national park (and all the good campsites are often booked out a long way in advance). Another disadvantage to traditional camping, if you are trying to find peace and solitude, is that public campsites are often full of people. Not to mention: you probably don’t have a Koala mattress in your tent…

This brings us to the new phenomenon of unhitching yourself from civilisation, on demand, in relative luxury and at a price (a price, it should be noted, that many people, in increasing numbers, are willing to pay). Enter: Unyoked. DMARGE recently had a chat with Unyoked co-founder Cam Grant, who is one of the industry leaders in this new space, to get his thoughts.

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“My twin brother Chris and I are the co-founders of Unyoked,” Cam explained. “We started about 5 years ago now, we lived around Australia and moved a whole bunch as kids because of our dad’s job, but nature was one of the only constants. We were always outdoors growing up and in uni, like many Australians, we’d go overseas quite extensively.”

“We went on trips to Nepal, Sumatra; places that were a bit further away and kind of off the grid.”

Cam Grant

Cam also shared how he used to drive up the coast for 8 hours with mates to go camping and found that it was an experience he’d “come back from feeling a bit different.” Fast forward a bit and Cam was working in the Commonwealth Bank’s strategy department and his brother was working at General Assembly. During this time, they realised doing short trips benefitted them both personally and professionally. As Cam put it to DMARGE: “You feel guilty for going away so you [most people] only do it once a year and when you do you stack so much stuff into it that you’re more stressed when you come back.”

“Then you go through these hectic periods at work where you are not seeing anyone and are not doing anything. Then you just come home and eat UberEats and watch Netflix. There are so many negative cycles people catch themselves in.”

Cam Grant

When he and his brother would go through these times, Cam told DMARGE they would be “on like page 10 of Airbnb looking for this thing that didn’t exist – that kind of trip that’s in the middle of nowhere, where on a Wednesday night we can go on Thursday and be back in the office for a Friday. We wanted to tap out, switch off and recharge; so we kind of just decided to create it.”

“We would always have cabin porn in those days – spreadsheets and cabin porn.”

Cam Grant

They were basically looking for a little cabin nestled in a forest. Something that would inspire you with awe, or just get you back to basics. It also had to be somewhere you could get to easily. And so Unyoked was born.

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As Cam explained: “We realised properties like that are generally in national parks.” This was a problem because national parks are “hard to access” and the government tends to be really slow at handing out approval for doing anything in these areas (if you get it at all).

The solution? Find private property owners, and convince them of the Unyoked mission. As Cam explained: “Then we realised there’s all this land within two hours of all these major cities that have these beautiful spots. That’s how we hacked the land side.”

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“We found two friends – an architect and a builder – and started tinkering. Everyone we spoke to had the same need, looking for this thing that wasn’t there. We knew we were onto something fairly early, then launched in March 2017. We shut down Concrete Playground’s page for 20 mins. That was a big moment where we were like: ‘Ok, this has got legs.’ Since then it’s been a bit of a journey on that same path.”

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Cam and his brother were on a mission to help people understand the scientific benefits of nature and then provide a way for people to connect to it “on demand.” He told us a good analogy is Headspace (the meditation app). The brothers plan to do “what they [Headspace] did for meditation for the outdoors.”

“A lot of people already kind of get it, but there’s this huge amount of people that recently have been realising, ‘Shit I should look after myself. I should switch off and be closer to nature.’ We [Unyoked] want to be the ones that help them understand the ‘when, why and how.'”

So, what does Unyoked look like then? Cam explained to DMARGE that “each cabin is pretty similar but the geography and landscape are different.” There are two types of Unyoked cabins, with some being chosen for their awe-inspiring properties (these “vast landscaped” cabins are about 3 hours away from major cities) and others being simpler but closer.

As for the cabins themselves, they are basically tiny houses of one single room with a gas burner, a fridge, a composting toilet, a hot shower, solar power and a bed. There’s no Wi-Fi or TV but there are things like yoga mats, Penguin classic books, board games and cocktail-making kits.

Cam told DMARGE: “There is tonnes of research on what awe does for you – it gives you a sense of perspective, makes you feel closer to other people, there’s so much. We’re just gradually helping people realise.”

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Cam also chatted to DMARGE about that much thrown-around buzzword ‘sustainability.’ He told us he believes there is no point in teaching people the benefits of nature if they aren’t looking after it too: “We build all the cabins in our facility beforehand and they’re just towed in. The whole concept and long-term aim is that by helping people understand the benefits of nature they’ll have a greater appreciation of our landscape and protect it for future generations.”

“We make sure our whole operation is minimal footprint, [we can go up] goat tracks and little hills and things, but we don’t touch the environment. All these people [the land owners on the properties where Unyoked cabins get put] generally had a favourite spot they would go to on the property and had this immersive quality, but they either didn’t do anything with it or they didn’t have the money to build their own thing or they just couldn’t access it. But they have this desire to open it up for other people.”

RELATED: This Anthony Bourdain Quote Completely Changed How I Travel

Cam also credits part of the success of Unyoked to the skyrocketing of the sharing economy, which “was already quite evolved” when Unyoked came into existence. That said, the concept of people booking accommodation where they basically want to be left alone has still been a novel idea for some property owners, with some asking Cam “don’t they [the guests] want to know about the antique store?”

At the moment there are some 60 Unyoked properties, with the company operating primarily on Australia’s Eastern Seaboard, and with options also in Perth, Adelaide, Tasmania, Queensland, Melbourne, Auckland and (most recently) Europe.

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This expansion has come alongside “this global cultural trend of people living and working more flexibly” Cam told us. “Instead of saying you’re busy, people actually make time now to focus on their mental health and wellbeing and people have an increased appreciation for the natural world now.”

“Covid was hard but this was the silver lining; the market has grown so deep because everyone gets it and is looking for this kind of thing.”

Cam Grant

The three key benefits Unyoked sells itself on are recharging your batteries (studies show spending time in nature can reduce your cortisol levels and destress you), boosting your creativity (Cam told us being out in nature for 2 days can increase your creative problem-solving skill by up to 50%) and giving you a better sense of perspective (nature is – literally – awesome).

“We don’t see it as a holiday – there’s a new type of time; not just leisure and work… something in the middle.”

Cam Grant

Looking to the future, Cam told DMARGE he sees Unyoked fulfilling a purpose beyond just holidays, seeing it as something where meditation and the “health and wellness” fitness type spaces collide: “That [new type of] time is now growing as a category in people’s minds and they are putting a value to it. That’s why we’ve seen so many people come mid-week. We’ve booked out like 90% every single week since it was launched.”

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“People are realising working isn’t just sitting in an office and plugging away. Your mind actually works differently – you can be creative in different environments and productive in different environments. It’s more of a flow, so we’re seeing a lot more people coming to work from the cabins rather than just switch off – so [they] do a little on the laptop, go for a walk, come back, write notes etc. It’s moving away from just creatives and freelancers into people who are sitting in the office and in strategy and things like that.”

There you have it. Could it officially be time to f**k off only holidaying for two weeks of the year in hotels? As for us, we certainly think it’s worth a try…

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The post The New Type Of Holiday Taking Australia By Storm appeared first on DMARGE Australia.