Tips to help you destress during the lead-up to NATA

Exam time is invariably stress time. But it need not be so if you know how to keep all your stress and worry at bay. Here are some handy tips that can help to dissipate stress and make sure you can get through the NATA with ease.  

Reducing screen time

The first and foremost thing for a student preparing for an exam is to cut down on his screen time. The time we spent in front of a screen of a laptop, video games, and mobile phones are termed screen time. It not only takes away our precious preparation time, but it is also highly addictive making it difficult to concentrate on studies.

Positive self-talk

Never ever tell yourself that you can't do it or you are too stressed to do it. Practice positive self-talk, not just for your exams, but for your life ahead. Make "I can and I will", your mantra, to be repeated when you wake up, when you go to bed, when you sit down to study and whenever you feel worried about exams.

Rest your brain

It is very important to take breaks and rest your brain during preparations. The best method would be to study for 45- 60 minutes at a stretch and then taking a break of about 10-15 minutes. During the break, stretch yourself, move the head from side to side and involve in something positive which makes the brain refreshed.

Eat healthily

Avoiding oily, spicy, and junk food during exam time is an overlooked tip to reduce your stress. The simplest science behind this wisdom is that when you eat heavier or eat greasier food, the digestive system will take up more of your energy and blood flow. This deprives the brain, resulting in fatigue and concentration difficulties, which cause more stress.

10 points about the Ram Temple

  The construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya began with a grand Bhoomi Puja celebration. Here are some interesting facts.

1. No Use of Iron or Steel: Iron and steel will not be used in the construction of the temple. It will be constructed using stones.  While wood, white cement, and copper would be used.

2. Large sanctum sanctorum: The sanctum sanctorum of the temple will be a huge structure, one of the biggest in the country - with a dimension of 20 feet by 20 feet.

3. Soil from Different Places: Soil from 2,587 religious and cultural significance places in India will be used during the construction of the foundation.  

4. Time Capsule Below the Temple: A time capsule will be placed 2,000 feet under the temple structure to protect the temple’s history. It will contain information related to the Ram Janmabhoomi, Ayodhya, and Lord Ram, written on a copper plate.

5. Special Bricks:  Bricks with ‘Shri Ram’ inscription on it will be used for the temple construction. These bricks were collected from devotees from all over the country. Most of it will be used for laying the foundation.

6. Stones from Rajasthan: The temple will be constructed using pink sandstone called ‘Bansi Paharpur’, which will be brought in from Bharatpur in Rajasthan.

7. Temple Structure:  Based on the Nagara style, the Ram temple will be built on 10 acres of land. The remaining 57 acres will be developed as the temple complex. The structure will have five mandaps - kudu, rang, nritya, kirtan, and prarthana.

8. The three-storied temple will be 161 feet tall. The ground floor will portray the story of Lord Ram’s birth and his childhood, while the first floor will have a layout of the Ram Darbar.

9. Ram Katha Kunj: Statues depicting Lord Ram's journey from childhood till coronation will be displayed in the courtyard of the temple. It will be called the Ram Katha Kunj and shall exhibit 125 scripts from Lord Ram's life.

10. The construction will take 3.5 years.

Startup creates a COVID care facility in 24 hours

MediCAB, a pilot project of an IIT-Madras-incubated startup, Modulus Housing has set up a 15-bed hospital in Wayanad, Kerala for treatment of Covid-19 patients. It was built within a day and will provide safe, durable, and affordable health facilities to treat Covid-19 patients.

Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) provided the inputs on certifications and customizations necessary for the project.

Normally, MediCABs are designed to have four zones. The first one will house rooms for doctors and nurses, zone two for screening patients, zone three for isolation wards and the fourth one will be the intensive care units. However, the facility at Wayanad has just a single zone comprising a medical ward. The ward is maintained at a negative pressure with its own exhaust system.

MediCABs uses customizable materials that can be installed by four people in two hours. It comes with in-built electricals and can be easily transported.

Modulus Housing is based in Chennai and develops foldable, portable homes. Post the COVID-19 pandemic, it came up with MediCAB by applying the technology to build instant healthcare infrastructure solutions.

The project is being developed with grant funds from Habitat for Humanity’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter.

A B.Arch from MIDAS will help you learn more about the emerging trends that will define the buildings of the future.

Tips to help students prevent home cyberattacks

Learning online from home has become the new norm for many students, as social distancing is implemented across the country to slow the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic. Connected devices are being used virtually nonstop, as students throng the virtual media for e-learning opportunities. Unfortunately, most residential computing networks aren't regularly maintained and monitored to protect against security breaches. This presents hackers with a virtual playground of which to take advantage.

Following are five tips to protect your home network - and the devices connected to it - from hackers.

1. Power down your devices. This disables the internet connection, cutting off access to any personal information stored on your computer, tablet, or phone. Unattended machines are easy targets for hackers, especially if you're asleep.

2. Secure your wireless network. Information accessed on an open network, including email passwords and sensitive bank information, is fair game for hackers. Protect your Wi-Fi network with a strong password that's difficult to guess. Wireless routers that are issued by cable providers are typically assigned a network name and password that's easily located on a label on the device itself. These can be changed using your online account, so do this as soon as possible for added security.

3. Invest in anti-malware software. Malicious software can be installed on your computer without your knowledge so hackers can damage your system, steal personal information, or restrict your access to extort money from you. Anti-malware software helps protect against, detect and remove malware, stopping cybercriminals from doing further damage. Also, avoid downloading music or video files from suspicious websites, and clicking on links or email attachments in messages sent from unknown senders to help prevent malware from infiltrating your system.

4. Install the recommended updates. Smartphones, computers, tablets, and smart TV manufacturers, among other providers of connected devices, offer periodic software updates to protect against potential security breaches. Chances are if an update is recommended, hackers have already discovered a way to access your personal property and information, so keep your software up to date. Set your devices to install auto-updates when possible.

5. Beware of phishing scams. Phishing scams aren't new, but hackers continually use more sophisticated email - and even text messages - to trick people into providing their personal information. Once again, do not click on the links or attachments in messages from unknown senders.

Be your own boss! Thinking about practising architecture on your own?

Considering the economic challenges the world is faced with today it could be an excellent time to start practicing architecture on your own.

Recent furloughs and layoffs caused by the struggling economy and the social distancing necessitated by COVID-19 make that particularly true. But statistics show the number of those who are practicing on their own or starting their own firms has been growing over the past decade, partly because people enjoy the flexibility, control, and better work-life balance that can come with the role.

Here are some notable advantages

Control over your schedule

Practicing on your own empowers you with much more control over your workload and when you choose to complete it. Not only can you accept or decline assignments based on your availability and preferences, but in many cases, you can finish them during the hours most convenient to you.

Relaxed work environments

As your own boss, you establish your own workspace, rules, dress code, and core values. Having that kind of flexibility in this uncertain world can be a huge boon to your health, comfort, and sense of individuality.

Job satisfaction

Those who practice on their own often see their work as more rewarding than others. The primary reasons for that added satisfaction are the freedom to work from home, the flexibility of the work schedules, and the interesting nature of their work, says a recent survey.

Healthy paychecks

Because they can control their own pricing, profit margins, and productivity, many earn more working for themselves than for others.

A #BArch from #MIDAS will help you learn the skills that will set you apart from your peers across the globe. We combine architecture & technology to give you an innovative, imaginative & unique perspective that enables you to work on your own. Visit us at bit.ly/MIDAS_Admissions to know more.

Make the most of this lockdown by taking up an online program

The lockdown has opened the flexibility to learn online and add muscle to your regular degree. While online education provides students with a range of opportunities, it also can present challenges of learning in a new environment. Here are some tips to ensure your success.

Set yourself up for success

Before starting an online learning program, plan ahead. Give yourself space and time to study, as well as technology tools to do your best. If you are interested in taking up a career as an architect, join a coaching program to ace NATA. Visit websites of prominent architecture colleges like MIDAS and get useful insights from their YouTube pages.

Give yourself space

A quiet workplace without any interruption from family members is necessary for success in an online program. If your space isn't completely quiet, noise-canceling headphones can help you focus.

Check your tech

Always use a desktop or laptop for all your studies, as a tablet or phone may not be the best tool for most tasks. Familiarize yourself with the learning platform and keep information about tech support handy. Ensure that you have multiple browsers (such as Chrome or Firefox) available, as one might work better for some programs than others.

Organize your time

Time management is key to learning online, as you must take the initiative and be accountable for your own work.

Communicate

Stay connected to your instructors. Take advantage of opportunities to collaborate, share insights, and ask questions. Email instructors or use class discussion boards to ask questions or offer comments. Instructors like seeing student engagement and participating will improve your overall experience.

Be persistent

When things get challenging, remember the reasons why you're pursuing your education. Post verbal or visual reminders near your workspace to keep your goals top of mind.

To learn about the B.Arch from MIDAS, visit bit.ly/MIDAS_Admissions. 

Career opportunities for young architects

A B.Arch from MIDAS will help you to develop a fine range of creative, visual, practical, and design-based skills to offer employers. Although most architecture graduates will be looking to becoming architects to practice professionally, there are plenty of other options for you to consider.

The most obvious architecture career, as an architect is to design new buildings or complete extensions or alterations to existing ones, ensuring that they are safe, cost-effective, and functional.

Architectural technologists use engineering skills to create tough, resilient, and sustainable constructions and refurbishments. Using both computer-aided design and other drawing techniques, Architectural Technologists prepare and present design proposals and advise clients on technical matters.

Interior designers design or renovate internal spaces, fixtures, and fittings. With their architectural, creative design, and project management skills they ensure that spaces are both attractive and efficient.

Building surveyors deal with conserving, modifying, fixing, renovating, and restoring existing buildings. They are also involved with taking precautionary measures to keep buildings in good condition, as well as to make them more sustainable.

Town planners manage and develop the countryside, towns, cities, and villages. Working on behalf of everyone in the area and alongside other professionals they balance the needs of the local environment, population and economy and think of innovative, sustainable solutions for developments.

Production designers work closely with film producers and directors to develop a complete visual outline for the products they’re working on. Some production designers are entirely focused on theater and stage design.

Historic buildings inspectors work to promote the conservation of the historic buildings and help to protect them. They visit historic sites to inspect and survey them, advise on the best preservation methods, and take part in regeneration projects to benefit the community, economy, or environment.

Structural engineers are responsible for choosing the right materials to meet design specifications. They also examine existing buildings to ensure that they are structurally secure and up to standard.  

The B.Arch from MIDAS helps students to gain practical experience and develop key employability skills including critical, creative and strategic thinking, teamwork and ethical practice. Visit us at bit.ly/MIDAS_Admissions to know more.