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5 steps to go from a dreamer to a doer
Dreamer.Doer
The difference between a dreamer and a doer is the amount of action that follows her vision. Fabienne Frederickson - photo by Shutterstock.com
Mayra Bitsko
Deseret News National
Updated: Aug 1, 2014, 5:00 PM
Published: Jul 30, 2014, 2:35 PM

We all have a dreamer in us. Oftentimes, it is easier to envision things as oppose to putting our best foot forward to bring that vision to light. Many of our dreams require money or we believe we do not have what it takes. So, we continue to dream. But is it fair?

Dreaming about a career change sounded wonderful in my head, but seemed scary and impossible to do. I decided to put that dream on the backburner. After several months of consideration and anxiously wanting a change, I made up my mind. I decided to fulfill my dream at all cost.

Talking about your dreams but putting them aside is a vicious cycle. It is challenging to break free from it. But if you truly believe enough in your dreams, you need to start acting more and talking less. Here are five steps to becoming a doer:

1. Think
Take your time to think thoroughly of the dreams you feel strongly about. Think of the pros and cons. If you can visualize your dreams, then you are getting a step closer to making it happen.

2. Write or record
Create a list of the dreams you have visualized. Once completed, put it aside. A few days later, read the list again. By then your dreams may have shifted or the passion grew stronger. You can take it a step further and record your dreams. When you record your dreams and play it back at a later time, you will hear in the tone of your voice whether you still have that enthusiasm.

3. Decide
This is your chance to put your dreams in order. Decide which dreams are possible for you to pursue. If you're married with children, you must consider them in your decision. Your dreams may hurt the financial stability of the family or affect the time you spend with your spouse and children. For example, you want a change of career but in a different state. Will it be easy for your spouse to get a job? Will your children adapt to a new school? The process of decision-making is crucial before moving on to the next step.

4. Plan
Once you have your dreams in order, it is time to set plans. For each plan, you should give yourself a specific deadline. During that timeframe, you will gather the necessary details needed to advance. Do you need money for this dream? If so, how much do you need to save and how much time do you have.

5. Execute
After you build up the best plans, it is time to prioritize your dreams by importance and make them happen. Not all dreams you execute have the results you hope for. But at the end of the day, you became a doer and left that dreamer behind.
It does not matter how long it takes to bring your dreams to fruition. What matters is the dedication and effort you put into carrying out each dream.

Mayra Bitsko is a freelance writer, the author of A Second Chance and The Past Beckons and holds a master's degree in business administration-accounting. Contact her at www.mrsmbitsko.com
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Aug 13, 2018, 1:39 PM
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.