Dumb Little Man - Tips for Life

The 7 Signs of a Leader - A Must Read

2009-11-20T01:49:00.001-06:00

We all need leaders in our lives: mentors, people to look up to, people that simply get it. Leaders inspire us, help us accomplish our dreams, and teach by example. Leaders make us better people and give us an ideal to strive for.

The measure of leadership is always influence; leaders have an amazing ability to influence our lives. Leaders lead wherever they go; they lead at work, at home, or wherever they happen to be.

So after that intro, it's easy to conclude that being a leader is not an easy task; it requires a collection of very important skills that have to be ingrained into your daily practice - your soul.

Below are the 7 Signs of a Leader. How many of these do you believe you have? More importantly perhaps, do you look up to someone today that doesn't have many of these traits? Are they really the person to look up to? The choices you make today and the people you surround yourself with will determine much of your path in life; choose wisely.

Vision

“It’s a terrible thing to see, and have no vision.” – Helen Keller

Leaders are visionaries; they know where they’re going, and their committed to bringing others along. They have a clear vision of what they want to accomplish and their vision is so compelling that it inspires others to participate in the fulfillment of the vision.

Discipline

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn

Leaders are disciplined individuals! They are the first partaker of what they preach and they exemplify unprecedented discipline, focus, and commitment in the achievement of their vision.

Emotional Strength

“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” - Proverbs

Leaders are not easily shaken. Leaders anticipate challenges and are not derailed by obstacles. Leaders remain strong when things get tough; they don’t faint when adversity strikes.

Leaders have an amazing level of emotional strength.

Experience

"Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment." – Jim Horning

Leaders have experience. In other words, they’ve been around the block a few times and they know where they’re going. Their experience has taught them how to get things done and they can differentiate between activity and accomplishment, between efficiency and effectiveness.

Leaders focus their efforts on the tasks that produce the greatest rewards.

Respect

“Respect is love in plain clothes.” – Frankie Byrne

Leaders are respected and trusted individuals. Leaders have earned the respect of their followers by becoming an “example.” They chart the course, follow their destiny, and inspire others in the process.

Leaders are respected because they earn respect. The second they demand respect is the second they are no longer a leader.

People Skills

Arguing with a fool proves there are two. - Doris M. Smith

Leaders have great people skills; they are friendly to the unfriendly, they know how to respond in every situation. Leaders do not engage in personal battles, they save their strength for the task at hand.

Leaders treat people with respect and dignity; they connect with others on a personal and emotional level.

Momentum and Timing

“If you're coasting, you're either losing momentum or else you're headed downhill.” – Joan Welsh

Finally, leaders know how to create momentum, and they know when to act. Nothing great is ever accomplished without momentum and timing.

Leaders Develop Leaders

The test of a great leader is who they develop. A great leader will develop great followers; those followers will become great leaders.

It takes a leader to make a leader. A leader’s legacy is measured by succession. Are you a great leader?

Thank you for reading.

Written on 11/20/2009 by Mr. Self Development who is a motivational author that offers a practical guide to success and wealth; support him by visiting his blog at mrselfdevelopment.com. .

Photo Credit: I'll Never Grow Up

Seven Ways to Create More Time In Your Day

2009-11-18T03:05:00.000-06:00

Do you ever feel like you have way too much time on your hands, and far too little work and life to fit into it? Unless you're a teen on summer break, I reckon it's unlikely! Most of us would love to have an extra couple of hours in each day. With two more hours, we could find time to exercise, to read some of the books that are gathering dust on our shelves, to spend time with the kids...

But, unless you're lucky enough to find a magic genie who can stretch your days to twenty-six hours long, you're stuck with the same twenty-four hours per day as the rest of the world. So how can you create more time in your day? Here are seven magic ways:

Get Up Earlier
Okay, this one's not exactly genius (or even genie) level. Get up fifteen minutes earlier. If you're like most folk, your morning probably feels rushed: you drag yourself out of bed at the last possible minute, grab a hasty shower, maybe get some breakfast if you're lucky, sort out the kids/cat/partner and dash off to work.

Getting up just a bit earlier can give you some breathing space. Perhaps it'll give you time to actually sit down and enjoy your breakfast for once. Maybe you can use that fifteen minutes a day to read through that book or stack of journals that you keep meaning to get to.

Create a Plan
At the start of your workday, before you even check your emails, make a plan. Jot down the three most important tasks you want to accomplish that day. Put a big star next to the most important. Now, before you get into the busy work of emails and photocopying and tidying your desk, start on that important task and see it through to the end.

Surprisingly few people take the time to plan their workday, and end up spinning their wheels on a number of low-priority tasks without really accomplishing anything big.

Batch Tasks Together
When you're going through the workday, try to keep similar tasks together. When you switch from one thing to another, your brain takes a few minutes to catch up and settle in: constantly jumping between answering emails and writing a report and tidying up your desk just means you'll lose track of where you'd got to. You might feel like you're working super-efficiently (because your mind is buzzing all over the place), but you'll actually be wasting a lot of time.

If you need to answer a number of emails, do them all at once. The same goes for phone calls, filing, photocopying and other similar tasks.

Block Out Chunks of Time
Do you have some big project that you'd love to get round to? Maybe it's writing a novel, starting a business, training for a marathon, decluttering your home ... whatever your particular venture or goal, you never get around to making progress.

The best way to tackle big projects like this is to force them into your schedule. Spare time doesn't just appear from nowhere – you need to make a conscious effort to create it. Block out a weekend afternoon, for instance: tell family and friends you have another engagement that day. Then storm on ahead with that project. Trust me, you'll feel great for having made a start.

Don't Multitask
Although multitasking feels efficient – because it feels busy – it actually loses you time. By sticking to doing one thing at a time, you'll be much more focused and able to produce your best work: there's nothing efficient about rushing a job which you then end up having to redo.

If you want some more advice on this one, read The Death of Multitasking and Rebirth of Unitasking, or Mono-Task And Work More Effectively.

Stay Focused
When you are working on a task, make a conscious effort to remain focused. Sure, you'll have intrusive thoughts like maybe I should check my email or this desk could really do with tidying. Just recognize that those thoughts are impulses which you don't need to give into. If you think of something while you're working on your task like I really must phone Joe, then just make a note on a bit of paper or in your diary so you don't forget – and get on with the task at hand.

You'll accomplish much more by working in a deliberately focused way than if you let yourself jump around from task to task as things come to mind.

Finish Work On Time
Finally, one of the best ways to make more time in your life is to finish your work on time! If you work for an employer, make an effort to leave the office on time – at least a couple of days each week. (I know this is difficult if your workplace has a long-hours culture).

If you work for yourself, you need to be even more self-disciplined, as your work is likely to be very easily accessible when you're at home! Some good ways to create a boundary at the end of the day are to keep your work separate from the rooms in your house where you relax. You could also schedule something social in the evening (perhaps meeting friends for a drink) so that you can't get caught up in "just one more email"...

What could you do with an extra ten hours every week? How could you create more time in your day?

Written on 11/18/2009 by Ali Hale. Ali is a professional writer and blogger, and a part-time postgraduate student of creative writing. If you need a hand with any sort of written project, drop her a line (ali@aliventures.com) or check out her website at Aliventures.

Photo Credit: gadl

The Bruce Lee Approach to Valuing of Money

2009-11-17T01:56:00.005-06:00

Bruce Lee lived his life through action; he was a man who lived what he taught. Many people don't know that he wasn't just a great martial artist but he studied, amongst other things, philosophy at the University of Washington. He was deeply interested in life and and all that encompasses, including money.

From the book, 'Striking Thoughts' Bruce Lee talks about money as a useful tool, nothing more. Here are some of the lessons:

The Nature Of Money

"Money of itself has no explicit nature. Money is what one makes of it"

Many of us believe that money holds a certain power. This is wrong. Money itself does not hold the power, rather it's our perception of money that has the power. If we change our perception about money, and understand that it is a tool used to acquire necessities, it no longer has the same power. In fact, I'd contend that we can start living life with a more balanced view once we understand what money really is.

This lesson is not usually gained until we are older and unfortunately, in youth, we have a very different view of material items and do whatever we can to accumulate items for the wrong reasons.

Money Is A Means To An End

"A Child must be taught early that money is only a means, a type of usefulness, an implement. Like all instruments, it has certain purposes, but it will not do everything. One must learn how to use it, what it will do, but above all what it will not do."

We've all heard the saying money can't buy you love. In fact, it can't buy you a lot of things in life. While the commercialization of the planet advertises that new cars, purses, and homes can create happiness, I think most of us know better.

Once you understand that money cannot purchase the emotions, relationships, or feelings that truly lead to happiness, money (and material possessions) will become much less important to you.

Money Is An Indirect Matter

"My policy is that money is an indirect matter. The direct matter is your ability or what you are going to do that counts. If that comes, the indirect things will follow."

If you do something just for the money, the love of it will soon die. If you do something you love, then the money is secondary but it will come a lot easier and it will last longer. This is something I have learned in business: when I chase the money it runs faster than me, when I let the money chase me by doing something I love, like writing, the race is a foregone conclusion.

A Fair Share Of The Profit

"Many film producers think I am only interested in money. That's why they all try to lure me on their set by promising me huge sums and nothing else. But, at heart, I only want a fair share of the profit."

This is a great lesson by Lee. By looking at what is fair for all parties involved you will be known as a fair and trustworthy person. If you take bigger slices of the profit, the profits will soon dry up. Think of it like this: If you are asking for a ton, those that you are working with may feel unmotivated and ultimately the success of the project suffers. If you are fair, and everyone is fair, the group works as one and accomplishes great things.

The Good Times Will Not Always Last

"I profited from my father's philosophy about money. He used to tell me, "If you make 10 dollars this year, always think to yourself that next year you may only make five dollars - so be prepared."

We all know this at heart and yet so many of us fail to practice saving for harder times. Many economic gurus these days like telling us to save more. Great, but if the mortgage can't be paid, how am I able to save? The key is to do something and set something aside - albeit only a few bucks.

Keep Money In Perspective

"Sure money is important in providing for my family and giving us what want. But it isn't everything."

Money is important, there is no questioning that, but answer this question:

"Would you swap your family for 1 million dollars?"

Ok, I know how most of you answered. The important test here is that you should always weigh the important of money against your actions, decisions, and behaviors. What are you willing to give up during your quest for cash? Your integrity, your family (by never being around)? Give it some thought.

Enjoying Your Work Is The Important Thing

"At [one] time I wanted all the indirect things - money, fame, the big opening nights. Now I have it, or am beginning to get it, the whole thing doesn't seem important anymore. I have found that doing a thing is more important. I am having fun doing it. Money comes second."

This is one of the most important lessons about money that I think Lee spoke about, and it's certainly true in my life. I have discovered over the years that the prize at the end of the rainbow is not really the prize, the prize was the Journey to the end of the rainbow.

Written on 11/17/2009 by Steven Aitchison. Steven is the Author of Change Your Thoughts and works as an alcohol and drugs counselor. He has a BSc in Psychology and has a passion for studying belief formation, thought processes and values and principles. His blog focuses on personal development through changing your thoughts but covers the whole personal development field.

Photo Credit: juanma

7 Healthy Foods That Will Fill You Up and Prevent Overeating

2009-11-13T05:47:00.015-06:00

David A. Kessler, the author of “The End of Overeating”, explains very well how people become addicted to foods that are high in sugar, fat and salt. Like addiction does, this causes people to crave so they eat more and more foods that are loaded with unhealthy ingredients and many times, completely devoid of any nutrients.

So, as the process goes, people are instructed to stop eating sugar, fat, and salt. However, many times, those instructions are not supplemented with healthy replacements and it's left to you to do the research, which is no simple task. As Michael Pollan says in “In Defense of Food”, scientists and the food media keep things much too complicated for the average person and this confusion keeps people trapped in a fat body.

So let's boil this down. There are nutrient-filled foods that will keep you full for a long time and quite easy to find at any local grocery store. If you eat these better quality foods, you won’t need to overeat and frankly, you may not be as tempted by the glazed donuts that Marcy brought into the office.

Here are a handful of the foods that we are talking about. Where are these in your diet today? Are any of them included? Is anyone snacking on all of these each week?

Banana
What a great fruit! Not only are bananas available year-round, they are fairly inexpensive. If you reach out for a banana when you feel hungry instead of an empty calorie snack, you’ll nourish your body and you’ll be ingesting way less fat and sugar than many snacks.

Elsewhere: 6 Awesome Health Benefits Of Bananas, Whole Foods' Lowdown on Bananas

Eggs
As long as you’re not eating 12 of them in one week, eggs are good for you. Eggs are an excellent source of protein and protein is the “real diet secret” because foods high in protein will keep you full longer. In fact, Prevention Magazine recently revealed the finding of a study that showed that eating two eggs for breakfast helped women lose 65% more weight and decreased their waistlines 83% more than women who didn't!

Almonds
Dr. Mehmet Oz might be the one responsible for popularizing the idea that nuts and almonds are such an important snack foods. Almonds are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and protein. Just one handful of almonds will keep you full for a long time because they are great at suppressing appetite.

Avocados
Avocados are so misunderstood. So many people avoid them because they think they are fattening. I’ve been following The Biggest Loser Season 8 and I’ve rejoiced many times when trainer Bob or Jillian advise the participants to include ½ avocado at lunch time because it contains good fats (monounsaturated fatty acids) and it contains protein that will fill you up nicely. Not only can you add avocados to salads, but they are great as a spread on sandwiches and you can even add them to a smoothie!

Peanut butter
You can easily find peanut butter that contains only 100% roasted peanuts (you can buy the organic and non-organic kinds). In other words there are no hydrogenated oils, sugar or salt added to the peanut butter. This is a healthy option compared to conventional peanut butter and the price is not much different.

Peanut butter is full of protein and honestly it’s such a convenient food. You can spread some peanut on toast or crackers and you know that you’ll be full for many hours to come! It’s true that peanuts are high in fat, but they contain mono-unsaturated fats, which are good fats!

Oatmeal
Oatmeal is under-appreciated in my opinion. I like hot oatmeal during the colder months of the year and I’ll always grind a few tablespoons of oatmeal to include in my morning breakfast smoothie. Oatmeal is a great super food because it's low in sugar, high in fiber and it’s so quick to prepare. It’s only takes 5-10 minutes to prepare your oatmeal and you’ll be full for hours after eating a bowl. Here’s another great thing about a bowl of oatmeal: you can let your creativity run wild and you can top your oatmeal with pretty much anything!

Apples
Apples are full of fiber. There is a reason why your mother told you repeatedly that “one apple a day keeps the doctor away”. It might sound clichéd, but packing an apple for your daily snack will not only add one fruit/vegetable portion to your daily recommended intake (it’s recommend that you consume 5-10 fruits and vegetables a day), but the fiber will fill up your stomach and you won’t be so obsessed with food.

Written on 11/13/2009 by Krizia. Krizia (aka MissK) is an international author of an acclaimed food guide and she’s also a former self-taught personal chef. Krizia’s approach to healthy eating is about keeping it simple, approachable and REAL! In June 2009, two months after launching Eat Smart Age Smart, Krizia was awarded with the nomination of ‘Top 200 Health Blogger’ in the Healthy Eating category by Well Sphere.

Photo Credit: rhosoi

Frugal Fun: Five Ways to Be Social and Save

2009-11-12T07:21:00.003-06:00

Living in San Francisco, one of the most expensive places in the country, I have learned a lot about budgets. First lesson: I need a budget. Recently, I kept track of my monthly expenditures and was shocked by the number in my “entertainment” column; no wonder my paychecks disappear so quickly.

There are obvious alternatives to nights on the town, like socializing at home. However, sometimes we’re obligated to go out—a friend’s birthday, for example, or the need to leave the house and indulge ourselves a little. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to cut corners and still have a good time without entertaining ourselves into debt.

The credit card—leave home without it!
It’s easy to go out with every intention of scrimping and saving, but it’s much harder to put those intentions into practice. If you have sufficient funds in the bank, the best thing to do is to withdraw a set amount of cash before you go out and leave the credit card at home. That way, you only spend what you can truly afford. (It feels pretty silly asking to borrow money for dessert or an extra drink.)

They call it happy hour for a reason.
People tend to go out to dinner or meet up later in the evening, especially on the weekends. Unfortunately, they’re missing some great deals courtesy of local bars and restaurants. Many places offer happy hours (which usually last at least two or three hours, despite the singular name) with food and drink deals like half-priced cocktails, 2-for-1 appetizers, cheap beer, etc. There’s no reason why the party can’t get started a little earlier. Just try to get there early to snag a seat as happy hour is becoming increasingly popular (and crowded) in these penny-pinching times.

Dinner and drinks without loosening the purse strings.
Dining out can be a difficult obstacle to staying within budget. Food and beverages are often overpriced and even if you order minimally, there’s a chance the rest of the group (who didn’t exercise such restraint) will want to split the bill. There are ways to get around this, though. First, consider ordering off the appetizer menu. It’s cheaper and the portions are much more reasonable. Another option is splitting an entrée with a friend—most main courses are enough for two people, or you can save half for tomorrow’s lunch. Keep an eye out for restaurant specials and coupons in the local paper, or go to Restaurant.com and buy gift certificates to restaurants in your area for significantly reduced prices. (A $25 gift certificate for $10 is a frequent deal on their Web site.)

Beverages have a high markup so choose your poison wisely. Water is the best bet, but if you’re craving something with more flavor (or alcohol), just know you may have to cut back on something else during the night. Speaking of alcoholic beverages, ever notice how some mixed drinks are more expensive than others? That’s because patrons pay for the alcohol content, not whatever mixers are included. Stick to drinks with only one kind of alcohol or pick a stronger drink that you can sip on through the night. (Long Island Iced Tea is a popular choice among frugal drinkers. It’s pricier, but one or two should do the trick.) Sticking to domestic beers and ordering “well drinks” (read: not top-shelf liquor) are two more ways to keep the spending to a minimum.

Why pay for entertainment?
Since moving to this pricey city, I’ve discovered the beauty of art show openings. They’re free, they happen at night, and there is usually a table of snacks and beverages to enjoy. (Hello, free dinner!) Plus, you’re introduced to new artists and their work. Check online or browse the local paper to see if any gallery shows or art walks are happening in your area.

The Internet and newspaper are great sources for other events—concerts, book readings, community theater productions, shows at the local college, movie screenings—that are discounted or free. In fact, there are numerous Web sites and blogs dedicated to finding frugal forms of fun in various cities. Do a search online or read the calendar section of your city’s newspaper for updates on free or budget entertainment.

Have fun without spending a dime (or spending just a few of them).
Having fun with friends doesn’t necessitate a restaurant or club setting. There are lots of ways to spend time together and enjoy a night out without dipping into grocery funds. Creativity is the key. One night, my friends and I created and participated in a scavenger hunt downtown. It was fun and we met new people as a result—all with zero impact on our finances.

If weather permits, try a nighttime neighborhood tour or take a hike and go stargazing. There’s no reason why being active should be relegated to daytime, as long as you travel in a big group and are mindful of your surroundings. Stick to the safer parts of the city and use your best judgment.

Bowling, though not free, is another affordable alternative to a night out. You split the cost of lanes, the brew is cheap, and you spend a night perfecting your game (or if you’re me, perfecting just how skillfully the ball goes straight into the gutter).

Wallets may be lean, but that doesn’t mean we can’t occasionally enjoy ourselves. In fact, escaping the house to socialize with friends is what makes tough times bearable. It lends a sense of normalcy to our financially unstable realities. And, there are benefits to frugal entertainment, such as discovering activities in our cities that we might not have explored before. It requires a little effort—well, if you consider going online or opening a newspaper an effort—but the results can be surprisingly rewarding and not just for our bank accounts. Remember, it’s not being cheap—it’s being creative.

Written on 11/12/2009 by DivineCaroline. DivineCaroline a place where people come together to learn from experts in the fields of health, spending, and parenting. Come discover, read, learn, laugh, and connect at DivineCaroline.com.

Photo Credit: Laram777

Are You Treating Your Computer Better Than You Treat Yourself?

2009-11-11T06:26:00.001-06:00

Most of us work and play at our computers. We might abuse them from time to time, but we try to take good care of them. We install virus-protection software, we carry our laptops in a special case, we reboot the computer when it’s getting slow, and so on. If something goes wrong – an odd error message, or the blue screen of death – we take action to fix it.

Do you take such good care of yourself? Or do you end up working yourself into the ground, ignoring the first symptoms of problems? Here are some dos and don’ts which are probably part of your computer’s regime: how about making them part of yours too?

Don’t ... Run Lots of Programs At Once
You know what happens if you try to run a game, a bunch of chat applications, a web browser and your graphics-editing software at once: your computer grinds to a halt.

The same can happen to you. There’s been a backlash against multi-tasking recently: experts have shown that our IQ drops when we’re distracted by doing lots of things at once, and I’m sure that all of us have experienced that feeling of jumping between too many things and leaving all of them half-done or badly done.

In some cases, you need to literally close some programs on your computer. Having your email and Twitter open while working on a report isn’t generally helpful. In the offline world, stopping multi-tasking might mean that you don’t take phone calls while cooking dinner: either the conversation or the meal will suffer!

Like a computer, you switch quickly from one task to another

Do ... Prevent Viruses Ever Taking Hold
It’s a safe bet that your computer’s running anti-virus software. (If it isn’t, you can get free software from AVG.) This prevents viruses from ever getting into your computer.

Do you take similar preventive measures about your own health? A nasty cold can knock you out of action just as effectively as a nasty virus can render your computer inoperable. Ways to prevent yourself from getting sick include:

Getting enough sleep

Eating healthily: plenty of fruit and vegetables

Taking regular exercise

Possibly taking supplements such as vitamins (ask your doctor about this)

Avoiding excessive amounts of stress, which leave you susceptible to illness

Don’t Wait Until The Battery’s Dead to Recharge
If you’ve got a laptop, you’ll know that it’s never a good idea to wait until that “low battery” warning appears before you recharge. In a worst-case scenario, you might actually lose what you’re working on. You’ll almost certainly be inconvenienced if your power fails when you’re in the middle of something.

We often push ourselves too hard, and ignore our own “low battery” signals. Take a break before you run out of energy. Go to bed before your head is drooping at your desk. Give yourself a quiet weekend before you have a nervous breakdown...

Do ... Implement Efficiency Tips
There are tons of hacks to speed up your computer and to make it run more efficiently.

There are also lots of tips which will help you work more efficiently. You can find plenty here on Dumb Little Man. Whatever area you want to improve in your life – whether it’s waking up energised each morning or simplifying and eliminating waste – you can find a guide to help you to do it.

Of course, you can read all the tips in the world, but it’s doing them which counts. You wouldn’t expect your computer to improve just because you read a copy of PC Magazine, would you? So take the same approach with yourself, and put the advice you read into action.

Don’t ... Try to Fix It All Yourself
Finally, while tips are all well and good, you wouldn’t rely on them if your computer had a serious problem. If the hard drive failed or the computer wouldn’t boot reliably, or there was a worrying metal clunking grinding sound every time you put a DVD in the drive ... you’d get an expert to look at it.

With our own lives, though, we often struggle on without seeking any help. Perhaps we think we should do it all alone, or we’re not sure who to approach, or we’re worried we might be making a fuss about nothing.

The reality is, there is nothing wrong or weak about seeking help when you need it. If you’ve got unexplained symptoms, see your doctor. If you’re suffering a lot of stress, unhappiness or anxiety, consider counseling or therapy. If you’re struggling to make changes in your life, hire a life coach. There are plenty of experts in all aspects of your body and mind who can help you when things go wrong: don’t be afraid to consult them.

Is your computer getting a better deal than you are? How can you change things around to make sure that you’re taking good care of yourself?

Written on 11/11/2009 by Ali Hale. Ali is a professional writer and blogger, and a part-time postgraduate student of creative writing. If you need a hand with any sort of written project, drop her a line (ali@aliventures.com) or check out her website at Aliventures.

Photo Credit: Perfecto Insecto

Ditch Productivity For A Day: 12 Great Sites To Kill Time & Have Fun

2009-11-07T03:59:00.002-06:00

Sometime back, Leo Babauta from Zen Habits talked about how doing less and being less productive could benefit your work and life. He talks about spending less time doing quality work and have more time for fun.

Taking inspiration from Leo, I thought it'd be nice to take a break from productivity here at DLM and focus on some ways to kill time and have fun. That means another list of cool sites, but this time, it's not a list of productivity tools. Instead, it's a list of some great sites that will help you unwind and have fun.

The list includes some prominent social networks, video and humor sites, games and some unusual sites you might not have heard of. Check them out.

Yearbook Yourself
I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't love this site. Yearbook Yourself lets you upload your photos and give it the old retro look from 1950s and 60s. It has different looks for different decades. It's fun to see yourself in a black and white picture with some weird wig on your head. You can also edit the pictures and download them to your computer.

Veryfunnyads
Veryfunnyads, as the name suggests, is a site which brings you some of the funniest video adverts of different products. There are different categories you can choose from, like animals, cars, gadgets, kids and more. You could also pick specific brands or watch ads by countries in which they appeared.

Google Image Labeler
Google Image Labeler is a cool tool. In fact, it's a game within Google's Image Search that helps you suggest better labels for web images. It's very simple but can get addictive once you start playing it.

You are randomly paired with an online partner and both of you label the image you see in the time allotted to you. When both of you type the same label it's a match and you proceed to the next image. A fun way to pass time.

AudienceSounds
Another really interesting way to kill time. AudienceSounds is a repository of sounds. Be it clapping, laughing, giggling, snoring or cute baby sounds, they've got all covered. There are different categories too, like crowd sounds, people sounds, sounds by gender and baby sounds.

Listen to them online or download them to your computer/mobile phone to use them as your ringtone.

College Humor
College Humor is a well known comedy site that has humor videos submitted by users along with pictures, articles and much more. Some of the videos are really innovative like this prank played on a guy in a basketball court. It's awesome.

Along this same line is a site named Funny of Die. It was created by Will Ferrell and is pretty funny.

The Onion
The Onion is another very well known source of laughter and entertainment on the web. It is a satirical news site and is also circulated in print in the U.S. It contains current event and news parodies, some of which are simply hilarious.

YouTube
When there are million of videos watched everyday on a site, it just can't be ignored in this list. YouTube is probably the first site we visit when we think of taking a break from work. With videos from all over the world and on almost every topic you can imagine, this site never disappoints.

Twitter
Want to kill time and not think about Twitter? Many would consider it a sin. Twitter, which continues to grow by leaps and bounds every month, is the simplest way to communicate with people around the world. While it has many advantages, it is without a doubt a great site to pass time.

Miniclip
Miniclip is a popular site which hosts games of all kinds. From flash games to nifty puzzle games, car racing games to big multi-player games, there are a number of options for games addicts.

Unnecessary Knowledge
Unnecessary Knowledge presents you facts which are weird, hilarious and could well be untrue. But that doesn't matter. The site is entertaining and the facts, true or not, give you the opportunity to have a good laugh. Just rate the facts and flip through them to keep enjoying.

Scribbls
Scribbls lets you draw whatever you want to draw. You could also take random drawings from other users and apply your creativity to them. Also rate and comment on other pictures.

Facebook
And lastly, we have our social network of choice - Facebook. Going by the news I browse through everyday, Facebook could well become the only meaningful social network ten years from now. Its growth is just insane. Obviously, people love spending time on it. I am guessing most of you love doing it too.

So that was about how you could kill time and have fun on the web. Did you like the sites? Do you have some other way of killing time on the web? Lets hear about them in the comments.

Cheers,
Abhijeet

Written on 11/07/2009 by Abhijeet Mukherjee. Abhijeet is an internet entrepreneur who loves writing about tech, productivity, blogging & making money online. Catch him at Jeet Blog and also subscribe to his weekly newsletter.

Photo Credit: icanhascheezburger.com

2 Tricks That Help Overcome Procrastination

2009-11-06T08:12:00.005-06:00

Your best friend, procrastination.

"What!" you say, "My best friend, how could you say that?" The reason procrastination is your best friend is because it's on the teetering edge of motivation.

Let me explain.

For a behavior to be classified as procrastination, it must be counterproductive, needless, and delaying. Here are some other examples you may be familiar with:

putting off an important decision
leaving a critical task undone
becoming counterproductive and keeping "busy" on needless work

To start behaving this way it takes real mastery. You've got to learn how to procrastinate - it doesn't just happen. You've got to use your physiology, create the right emotions and get it all working perfectly and in the right sequence. And when you get really good at it so you can do it without thinking, then you've really mastered it. What an accomplishment!!

Most people don't look at it this way. They think procrastination is a negative thing. What they don't realize is that you learned this behavior. If you can learn how to procrastinate and do it well, then you can just as easily learn how to become motivated.

You see, all you're creating is a result. You're teaching yourself how to get motivated or how to procrastinate. To get really good at procrastination you had to learn how to use your emotions because your emotions are what drive your behavior.

Here are 2 ways to overcome procrastination:

Eliminate Fear
You see, you've got these emotions pulling you back and forth. It's like an internal tug of war. Some days you're good and others days - not so good. Positive emotions pull you towards what you want; negative emotions push you away.

In a sense, procrastination is a form of self-sabotage. If fear didn't exist then you wouldn't be putting things off. You just go for it!

But since you're putting things off (like we all do at some point) then your negative emotions must be stronger than your positive emotions; or in other words, your fear is winning the tug of war.

If you want to eliminate procrastination, then eliminate your fear. Just ask yourself: Are you pushing away the things you want? And if you are, are you pushing them away because of your fear of success or your fear of failure?

Once you get clear on what's stopping you, you can reframe those fears and empower yourself to take action.

Cultivate Desire
Remember, emotions govern your behavior. Fear pushes you away from what you want and desire pulls it towards you.

Someone once asked me, "Why did you get into coaching?" I thought about it and said, "Because I have an overwhelming desire to do it." It's not an overly complicated answer, but here's my point.

Your emotions are what drive your behavior. If you keep putting something off, then you don't have a burning desire to do it. No desire = no action.

So, how do you cultivate desire?

You start with the end in mind. How will things look when they're all done? What will you see and how will you feel?

If you can associate strong emotions with the end result, you can cultivate a burning desire. Then watch how fast you jump into action.

Written on 11/06/2009 by Steve Martile. Steve is a Mind Power Coach and the creator of Freedom Education - Mind Power for Your Personal Growth. He is also the author of the ebook that you can download here: The Genius Within YOU.

Photo Credit: Danielle Scott

How to Become More Intelligent

2009-11-05T02:46:00.002-06:00

Intelligence is your capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding and mastery. It’s your aptitude in grasping truths, relationships, facts and meanings.

Knowing a great deal is not the same as being intelligent; intelligence is not information “alone,” but also judgment, the manner in which information is collected and used. -Dr. Carl Sagan

This article will offer you five ways to increase your intelligence by showing you how to enhance your capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding and mastery.

5 Ways to Become More Intelligent

Read Often
Do you realize that through reading you can learn in a few hours what took someone decades to learn? Reading not only informs, but it also increases your capacity for learning, thereby increasing your intelligence.

Although knowledge is not the summation of intelligence, it is the foundation of intelligence, so it’s crucial that we cultivate the joy of reading.

It’s an amazing thing, people who become successful write down how they did it, and then sell that information for a few dollars. For a few dollars and a few hours you can literally pick someone’s brain; you can buy a piece of their intelligence.

Reading gives you insight into great minds and sharpens your intellect. This allows you the ability to make greater logical connections because reading gives you more pieces of life’s puzzle. By reading from a multiplicity of sources, you gain the wisdom of many.

Reading (blogs like this one) is a great way to increase your intelligence. Remember, readers are leaders, and leaders are usually intelligent.

Teach Others

“Those that understand, teach.”- Aristotle

Teaching increases your capacity for reasoning, a critical aspect of intelligence.
Anyone who’s ever successfully taught anything realizes that teaching increases your capacity to reason. When you teach, you’re often required to view what you’re teaching from a variety of perspectives.

“I've always felt that a person's intelligence is directly reflected by the number of conflicting points of view he can entertain simultaneously on the same topic.”-Abigail Adams

When you teach, it’s often essential that you question what you believe in order to deal with objections and oppositions that are sure to arise. Teaching is often more beneficial to the teacher than the student.

Get Into Action
Action increases your capacity to understand a subject. As the old proverb goes, “In all thy getting, get understanding.”

You can have information, and you can teach what you know, but you will never fully understand a subject until you put it into practice. If you want to significantly increase your intelligence related to cooking, don’t just watch the Cooking Channel and don’t just tell someone how to cook; you must master cooking yourself by trying, failing, and perfecting the act of cooking.

You will always understand things better when you do them yourself. Knowledge gives you the pieces of the puzzle; understanding helps you put the puzzle together.

“A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting.”-Henry David Thoreau

Master One Subject
Mastery is a sign of intelligence. Mastery comes from focusing on one subject until you fully understand it. If you can fully understand one subject, it will help you to better understand other subjects. In other words, mastery will increase your aptitude for grasping truths. If you can master playing the piano, you will better understand music in general.

Additionally, if you can master any subject, you will understand what it takes to succeed.

Bonus: Watch More Television
You probably didn’t see this one coming.

By watching more television, you can become more “well-rounded.” Of course I’m not referring to watching more of the The Simpsons, I’m talking about watching television shows that offer an educational message such as political shows or shows on The Discovery Channel or The History Channel. These shows can increase your capacity for learning, reasoning, and understanding as long as you don't choose educational shows that also stress you out.

By putting these principles into practice on a consistent basis, you will begin to take on the characteristics of an intellectual. Your capacity to learn will be stretched, your reasoning skills will be utilized, your understanding will increase, and you will master at least one subject.

Written on 11/05/2009 by Mr. Self Development who is a motivational author that offers a practical guide to success and wealth; support him by visiting his blog at mrselfdevelopment.com. .

Photo Credit: Kamil Porembiński

How to Take Action on What You Read: Filtering and Using Information

2009-11-03T01:52:00.002-06:00

You spend a lot of time reading. Whether it’s blogs, magazines, journals, Twitter streams, newspapers or good old fashioned books, you’ve got a huge amount of information at your fingertips. Every day, you take in tons of ideas for overhauling your life: whether it’s shaking up your fitness regime, working more effectively, or having stronger relationships.

The problem is, it’s easy to get caught up in this sea of information. You might feel inspired when you read a particular blog article, or you might get a great idea from a journal... but all too often, that thought barely gets started before the next piece of information rushes in.

So how can you make sure that you’re not just passively reading through pages of information – you’re actually taking steps to make serious improvements in your life?

Avoiding Information Overload
First off, I’d say that it’s better to read a dozen articles and really make use of them, rather than skim a hundred. If you currently have a lot of magazine and journal subscriptions, or you have loads of blogs and email newsletters that you keep track of, consider whether it’s time to cut down.

If, like many of us, you use your email and your RSS reader for business purposes and for entertainment, then try dividing up your mail and feeds into sensible categories. I have a category in my RSS reader labeled “personal development”, and keeping these in one places means that when it’s time to read them, I’m ready to make notes and take actions as necessary. If you use Google Reader, try The 10 Most Useful Google Reader Productivity Tips to make sure you’re using it as effectively as possible.

Using a Notebook (Paper or Electronic)
First, you need a way to capture those ideas. Trying to hold them all in your head just won’t work and you know it! Whenever you’re reading for information (rather than for entertainment), keep a notebook on your desk or a document open on your computer. Jot down anything that comes up: it might be a reference that you want to look up, a particular tip you want to implement in your life, or a reminder to yourself.

Simply writing something down doesn’t get it done though. We’ve all written down lists of ideas and then forgotten about them for weeks. I have a couple of ways of avoiding that: which of these would work for your projects?

Transferring Notebook Items to a Task List, Calendar, or Diary
Every day, or every couple of days, go through the list of items in your notebook (or document) and decide how to fit them into your task list. This might mean scheduling some time in your calendar, or it might simply mean adding them to a “to-do” list.

Use a Separate Notebook For Each Project
When your notebook jottings relate to long term projects (such as improving your company’s website or decorating your house), keep them in one document. When you come to a day or an afternoon which you’ve earmarked for that project, simply open up your document and all your ideas will be in one place.

Using Online Tools
There are loads of online tools or pieces of software which can be used to capture, track and manage tasks and pieces of information. By all means use these but make sure you’re actually using them. By that I mean that there’s no benefit in bookmarking dozens of websites if you don’t ever go back and read them or put their advice into action! For some great advice on using bookmarks effectively in Firefox, read 9 Power Tips To Utilize Your Firefox Bookmarks.

I personally like Delicious for keeping track of web pages that I want to come back to or which I think might be useful to me. Often though, I simply keep URL links in the file which relates to that particular project.

It’s very easy to end up spending a lot of time tagging, filing and organizing online materials without really taking any action. Be strict with yourself and if a particular tool is becoming a time-waster, don’t be afraid to ditch it.

Finally ... Don’t Try to Take In Everything
There is far, far more information available than any of us ever have time to read. Much of this is great, authoritative, even life-changing stuff. However, if we all tried to keep up with everything, we’d never be able to actually take any actions. (Check out Six Smart Ways To Beat Information Overload if you’re struggling to stem the tide of information.)

Don’t worry about missing out: if there’s a truly life-changing idea out there for you, you’ll come across it one way or another. Ultimately, books, blogs, magazines and journals may well change the direction of your career or even your life ... but only because you make the time to take conscious action.

Written on 11/3/2009 by Ali Hale. Ali writes a blog, Aliventures, about leading a productive and purposeful life (get the RSS feed here). As well as blogging, she writes fiction, and is studying for an MA in Creative Writing.

Photo Credit: dylanroscover

7 Food Groups That Will Help Boost Your Mood

2009-11-02T05:40:00.004-06:00

This is the time of year when days begin to feel shorter and shorter. We see the sun much less, and when we do, it's often fighting a battle of gloominess with an impending cold front.

This gloominess hits us all pretty hard. In fact, if you've ever believed that you had a case of the Winter Blues, this is what we're talking about. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is no laughing matter because these dark-gray-rainy days have a huge impact on your mood and energy level. The good news is that we can all partially escape this mental zapping.

By now it's common sense to us all that our bodies are fueled by what we put in it. While most of us often think of this as it pertains to our physical traits or appearance, it's important to know that there is a connection with food when it comes to boosting your mood. If you’ve been feeling blue lately or if you are expecting an annual visit from the Winter Blues, here are 7 food groups that might actually help boost your body and your mind:

Eat your greens and your grains
The University of Kuopio in Finland conducted a study with 2,313 men for more than 10 years and they found that leafy greens and fortified cereals are good for your brain.

Vitamin B 12 should not be ignored
The study of the University of Kuopio also showed that dairy, shellfish and eggs can help your mood.

Increase your intake of folate
The same Finnish study found that increasing your intake of lentils, spinach, berries oranges and avocados will have a positive effect on your mood.

Orange is a great color
Orange vegetables are high in beta carotene and they are not only highly recommended to maintain proper eye sight, but they are excellent for your brain.

Drink tea
Nothing is more soothing that a cup of tea during the colder months of the year. Another study from Finland shows that 2,000 surveyed Finns who drank tea every day reported less incidences of feeling down or depressed compared to Finns who weren’t regular tea drinkers. The study also shows that the theanine naturally found in tea helps calm you down.

Vitamin D
They don’t call it the “sunshine vitamin” for nothing. Most people living in parts of the world that has winter are deficient in vitamin D. In fact, Dr. Mehmet Oz declared that 100 million Americans were deficient in D in a recent episode on his new TV show “Dr. Oz” (think about it, that’s about 1/3 of the American population)!

A 2008 study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry showed there is a direct link between deficiency of vitamin D and depression. Milk and milk products are the obvious source of vitamin D, but if you are lactose intolerant that won’t help you. Some people simply don’t like the taste of milk and milk products and that’s where a daily supplement of vitamin D comes in so handy. If you can afford it, choose a liquid vitamin D which is immediately absorbed into the body!

Fish is good for your mood
If you don’t like fish, don’t worry, omega-3 might become of the best supplements you can take to enhance your mood. The University of Arizona’s scientific review concluded that omega-3 fatty acids eicosapenta-enoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) found in fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna helped people with major depression and people who suffered from bipolar depression. The study is so compelling that the American Psychiatry Association endorsed the review and now recommends that adults eat fish twice a week and that people with mental health issues consume at least one gram of omega-3 a day to help with their disorder.

If you’re feeling blue and you’re having problem shaking it off, you might want to consult a doctor, nutritionist or naturopathic doctor to find out how to incorporate these mood-enhancing foods.

Written on 11/2/2009 by Krizia. Krizia (aka MissK) is an international author of an acclaimed food guide and she’s also a former self-taught personal chef. Krizia’s approach to healthy eating is about keeping it simple, approachable and REAL! In June 2009, two months after launching Eat Smart Age Smart, Krizia was awarded with the nomination of ‘Top 200 Health Blogger’ in the Healthy Eating category by Well Sphere.

Photo Credit: bp6316 is alive

7 Must Read Productivity Steps to Finally Getting Things Done

2009-10-30T06:54:00.001-05:00

I wrote this article as a “master guide” to productivity. Well OK, I don't know about a "master guide" but one thing is for sure: implementing these steps will help you increase your output if you implement them towards the tasks that you’re passionate about.

The process I’ve documented below is the one that I personally use, and frankly, I have had excellent results. Before jumping in, try not to treat this like every other article (scan, consider, forget). Write down the steps, see how they specifically apply to your situation, and by all means, be sure to put them into action!

Remember, nothing changes until you change, or as I like to say, change isn’t change until you change!

Here are the 7 Master Steps to Productivity

Step #1: Write Down What You Want to Accomplish and Give it a Deadline
Most people know to do this but few actually put this step into action. It’s critical that you define each task that you want to accomplish and give each task a deadline.

Paul Meyer said, “If you’re not making the progress that you would like to make, and are capable of making, it is simply because your goals are not clearly defined.”

Written goals with deadlines (when seen daily) will drive you to be more productive. Without knowing “exactly” where you are going, you will most likely stagnate.

Let’s use the example of me “losing weight” for illustration purposes:
- It certainly wouldn’t be productive for me to think, “I want to lose weight.”
- The best thing for me to do is to give myself a deadline to accomplish the goal. Then place my desired weight with the respective deadline in a place where I will see it daily (like my vanity mirror). Finally, I should create a picture in my mind of “me” at my ideal weight. This picture will help drive my actions.
Step #2: Create a Simple Plan for Getting Things Done
It’s obviously not enough to just have a written goal with a deadline. Having a goal is like having “the address” to where you want to go. The address will certainly help you get to your destination, but it’s not enough. You also need a “plan,” or “directions” to get you from where you are, to where you want to be.

Do you have a plan for achieving your goals? Where is your plan documented?

Back to our weight loss example:
A weight loss plan may look something like this:
- Run on treadmill for one hour daily
- Plan all meals (limiting calories to 1700 a day)
- Read motivational “weight loss” material for 10 minutes daily prior to lunch.
Your plan should be detailed, specific, and have a direct impact on your goal.

Step #3: Schedule Critical Tasks Daily
Having a goal and a plan is still not enough. Now you must schedule your critical task! Critical tasks are tasks that directly impact the achievement of your goal. If your goal is to write a book, a critical task may be to write for 2 hours a day.

In our weight loss example, here’s how we would schedule our critical tasks:
- 7:00am – 8:00am – Run for one Hour on Treadmill
- 11:00am – 11:10am – Read Motivational Weight Loss Material
- 8:00pm – 8:15pm – Plan Meals for Next Day and Track Progress
Have you scheduled your critical task? Do you know what they are?

Note: Never have more than three critical tasks.

Step #4: Eat that “Ugly Frog” First
The “ugly frog” represents a critical task that you are reluctant to perform. The best thing to do with an ugly frog is to eat it first.

In our weight loss example, the ugly frog would be:

• Running on the treadmill at 7:00am.

Eating the ugly frog daily is usually the difference between success and failure. Do yourself a favor and eat that ugly frog at your first available time-slot.

Step #5: Focus on the task at Hand
Broken focus is the number one reason goals aren’t accomplished.

Paul Meyer said, “Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.”

You must stay focused on your critical tasks just as the sailor is focused on the port in the harbor in which he is headed. Don’t let anything side track you from completing your critical task on a daily basis.

Back to our weight loss example - Here are a couple of things that could break my focus if I was trying to lose weight:
- A family member brings donuts over to the house
- At 7:15am (while on the treadmill) I remember that I need to return a friends phone call and decide that is more important.
The key is to remain focused in the face of distractions. Distractions will come, just as sure as you’re reading these words right now. You must expect distractions and maneuver around them.

What distractions do you have? How can you maneuver around them? You must carefully allocate your time. Your daily task selection is critical.

You should always ask yourself:
- Is what I’m doing right now in alignment with my goals?
- Is this a level 10 on the critical scale, or just a level 5?
- Am I focused on my top 3 critical tasks?
Step #6: Just Say “No”
Just say no to tasks that are not in alignment with your goals. The word no is probably the biggest time saver there is so increase your “no” ratio if you want to increase your productivity.

The number one person you’ll probably have to say no to is yourself. Your mind is good at coming up with new things to do to get you off track. So remember, just say no, because the quickest way to stop a man with a good idea, is to give him two.

Back to our weight loss example; there will be many opportunities for me to say “no:”
- If I’ve planned a healthy lunch (based on my diet plan), and someone asks me to join them at a steak house…
It’s best if I just say no, in a nice way, as eating a steak for lunch is not in alignment with my goals.

Step #7: Track and Report Your Progress
Finally, there’s nothing like some good ole’ peer pressure to get you motivated. Tell someone about your goal and keep them posted on your progress!

This is how the tracking and reporting process would work in our weight loss example:
- I would tell my wife, “I will lose 16 pounds by December 31. This is how I’m planning on completing this task, and I will update you on my progress every Saturday at 8:00am.”
Knowing that I have to be accountable on a specific goal, on a specific day, to a specific person, is a great motivator. This level of specificity is a very important part of productivity.

The goal and deadline should be clear, the plan should be clear, the critical task should be clear, the scheduling of the task should be clear, and the reporting process should be clear. If there’s clarity, there will be progress.

In conclusion, don’t let this article be just another good article. Decide to put these steps into action to significantly increase your productivity. Remember nothing just happens, you have to make things happen and you start by getting into action!

Written on 10/30/2009 by Mr. Self Development who is a motivational author that offers a practical guide to success and wealth; support him by visiting his blog at mrselfdevelopment.com. .

Photo Credit: Alex Osterwalder

10 Tips for Navigating the Waters of Life

2009-10-28T08:21:00.004-05:00

While some of us might fit the stereotype of Jeff Spicoli beach bums who don’t care about anything other than riding waves, there is an entirely spiritual and zen side to the sport of surfing that gives us a chance to really understand how to navigate the waters of life. In fact one of the most common things you’ll hear a surfer say when asked about how much time they spend in the water is “Of course I surf every day that I can, it keeps you from going nuts.” So, here it is, in no particular order:

10 Tips for Navigating the Waters of Life

Trust Your instincts
If there’s anything I’ve realized over 31 years on this planet and 6 months in the ocean, it’s that your instincts are almost always right. I’d like to think that your instinct is the higher self speaking. Instinct is something that is really hard to quantify or define. It’s something you just feel or know. If you look back over your life you’ll notice that in the moments when you trusted that feeling, you ended up in positive situations. When you go against instinct you almost ALWAYS end up in a complete mess.

Bail out when you think you won’t make it
In many ways this is similar to trusting your instinct. While some might argue against this and say that failure is necessary to learn, this is more about knowing when it’s just time to bail out. If you’re about to take the plunge into a situation and feel like you are on the brink of a severe wipeout, you are almost always right. In life and in surfing this tends to hold true.

Be Present
Last summer when I was working as a marketing intern at Turbotax.com, one of the executives gave a speech to all the interns. When I asked her what they key to making fast progress in your career was, she gave me an answer that seemed counter intuitive to everything I’d ever heard. She told me “Don’t worry about getting ahead, focus on what you’re doing right now. Be present. The rest will take care of itself.”

Presence is at the root of almost any spiritual text that I’ve come across and every personal development guru seems to be a huge advocate of it. When you are present, you achieve peak performance in whatever it is you are doing in the moment. Too much focus on the future and too much dwelling on the past is a recipe for mediocrity.

Shake the wipeouts right away
Sometimes despite trusting your instincts, bailing out when you think you should, and being completely in the moment, you will fail. It’s just part of life. But, how you deal with that failure is what makes the difference between whether or not you achieve what you are truly capable of in this lifetime.

Sometimes the 2nd wave of opportunity is better than the first: If you’re a surfer then you know exactly what I’m talking about. Sometimes you take the first wave in a set and when you look back at the second wave, it’s bigger and better. Life kind of works the same way. There are moments that seem like your friends and everybody around you is getting ahead faster than you are. They are on that first wave of opportunity. If you keep comparing and competing then you’re likely to miss out on the 2nd wave opportunity which is often better than the first. Be OK with the order in which things occur.

Be Patient
Patience is something that I’ve never been very good at. I actually think we live in a world that discourages patience to some degree. Bigger, better, faster seems to be the mantra of the technology and information driven society that we live in today. Wayne Dyer said something really interesting in one of his books: Today it takes more time to get from one side of London to another, than it did before the automobile was invented." Yet, the whole purpose of the automobile was to speed up the rate at which we get to places. Sometimes slowing down will get you where you want to go much faster, and is less likely to get you into an accident.

Small adjustments make a big difference
It’s amazing how often the smallest adjustments can make huge differences. With surfing, a minor adjustment in your stance can make all the difference between staying on a wave and wiping out. If you look at the design of a car, sometimes it’s literally inches that make a dramatic difference in performance. For a musician, one minor change in the melody, can completely change the sound of a song. If you can find that one small thing that makes a big difference, you’ll expend less effort for more results.

Timing can make the difference between a great ride and a severe wipeout
You’ve probably heard the phrase about many things in life that “timing is everything.” In the worst of economic times, people have made some of their greatest breakthroughs. It’s known that many people became extremely wealthy during The Great Depression. Tough economic times tend to force innovation and this just happens to be timing at work. On the flip side, college students who graduate into a recession may have been better off by graduating even one year earlier.

Wave selection can make all the difference
Success in any endeavor is largely dependent on the choices you make. Choose the right wave and you’ll catch one wave after another. Choose the wrong wave and you’re in for a great deal of time with your head under water. Life is kind of the same way. Choose the right boss and you’re setting yourself up for a successful career. Choose the wrong one and you’re in a losing battle. Choose the right partner, and you’re in a for a joyful relationship. Choose the wrong one and you’re setting yourself up for drama and heartache. So, make sure you choose wisely.

Laugh and Smile every single day
After all is said and done if you don’t laugh and smile, then it doesn’t really matter how much of the above you incorporate into your life. Laughter and smiles are great medications that you won’t find in any pharmacy. Yet, they have more power than most synthesized drugs that we’ve learned to manufacture with the advances we’ve made.

The waters of life are interesting in that they go through phases of stillness, turbulence, peace, and serenity. But in the end, what makes the ultimate difference is how you navigate the waters of life.

Written on 10/28/2009 by Srinivas Rao. Srinivas is a volunteer for the Quality of Life Project. The website shares best practices on getting the most out of life from well known types like Richard Branson and Tom Skerritt to lesser known but equally interesting individuals. The mission of the organization is to help people live more enjoyable, purposeful and contented lives. Srinivas also writes at www.theskooloflife.com.

Photo Credit: mikebaird

How to Free Yourself From Limiting Beliefs

2009-10-27T08:37:00.004-05:00

“From this instant on, vow to stop disappointing yourself. Separate yourself from the mob. Decide to be extraordinary and do what you need to do – now.” - Stoic philosopher Epictetus

Whether you want to believe this or not, we all have the capacity to be extraordinary, to live our passion, to realize our full potential. When you get right down to it, what holds us back are limiting beliefs that run through our minds. These are mental habits repeating in an endless loop, making us believe that we are incapable and that our dreams are impossible to achieve. They trick us into thinking we are less than we actually are.

It is absolutely the case that when these beliefs are seen in the light of day and put to rest, our lives begin to soar. Whatever is in us that is begging to be expressed finally has a conduit into the world.

When you are free of limiting beliefs, you experience the following:

Space for creativity to flow through you
Clarity about your everyday decisions as well as your life path
Happiness and confidence
Energy for the activities and people that bring you fulfillment
Greater ability to focus

Sounds great, right? So how do we free ourselves from these beliefs once and for all? The two-part answer is:

Identify the beliefs that hold you back.

Break up with these beliefs. That's right – let them go, it's time to walk away.

Step #1: Identify the beliefs that hold you back
We all have our version of limiting beliefs that creeps into our minds and keeps us small and constrained. To help you identify your mental habits, see if you recognize yourself in any of these common patterns:

The perfection-seeker is hard-driving, critical, and pushy. The tone of this inner voice can be very harsh as it tries to motivate you through judgment and ridicule. It starts sentences with, “you should...,” “you really need to...,” “you have to...,” “you better...,” “if you don't...”

The naysayer is negative about everything – you, your abilities, your ideas. It's signature phrase is, “I can't.” It tells you you are worthless or stupid and finds every reason in the book for you not to be succeed. It says your ideas are too difficult to carry out, they cost too much, you will have to work too hard, other people will think you are crazy, and on and on.

The doubter is full of worry and mistrust. It incessantly questions everything, as in, What if I fail?...Should I do it this way or that way?...What will they think?...What do I think?...I should have...I shouldn't have... The doubter second-guesses so much that you are paralyzed to take any action.

The procrastinator's favorite word is mañana, tomorrow. It constantly encourages you to put off taking action until another time that never comes. The procrastinator can be seductive because it loves watching TV, surfing the internet, and having a few beers. It also turns dreams into chores, as in, “Do I have to join the networking group?”

The blamer holds other people and circumstances responsible for your failure to shine. Everyone and everything else is at fault, while the blamer feels victimized and powerless. The blamer says, “If only...” - if only someone or some situation were different, then you would be able to move forward.

Step #2: Break up with the beliefs.
These limiting beliefs have incorrectly defined who you are. If you give them attention, they will continue; if you disregard them, they will eventually lose their power over you. You have had a relationship with them for a long time, and now that relationship is coming to an end. Make it a gracious breakup. Thank these thought patterns for trying to protect you, for that is why they have been present in you. Let them know they don't serve you anymore, then move your attention away. This is the key. Tell yourself:

They are not true;
I don't need them;
They hold me back;
They bring me unhappiness;
They are distortions of reality;
They keep me from realizing my potential.

Here is a technique that can sometimes help. I'd like you to stand up and feel the full effect of these limiting beliefs on you. Now, take a step to the right, and as you do, leave all of these unwanted beliefs behind. You are standing in a fresh place unencumbered by old stories of inadequacy and negativity. See how this is possible?

You may find a resurgence in your inner voices when you begin to walk away. Know that this is just more limiting mind activity that doesn't deserve your attention. Recommit to the freedom you truly long for, and politely turn from these beliefs – every single time. I promise you that you will be liberated from them once and for all. Break up with these beliefs, and watch your life sparkle.

Can you identify your own limiting beliefs? Have you been able to let them go? I'd love to hear your stories, insights, and questions.

Written on 10/27/2009 by Gail Brenner, Ph.D. Gail offers practical wisdom for clarity, freedom, and happiness on her blog, A Flourishing Life, focusing on real solutions for self-defeating habits.

Photo Credit: zakulaan@zainiabdullahpjk

How to Be More Decisive

2009-10-26T02:27:00.002-05:00

Do you struggle to make decisions? Do you sometimes find yourself dithering for ages, weighing up multiple options, or trying to second-guess what other people might want you to do? If so, you’re definitely not alone. Many people have trouble being decisive – but it’s an important trait to have, both in life and in business.

Is it possible to become more decisive? Well, maybe, er, possibly, it could be ... ;-) Actually, yes, yes it definitely is. Here’s how:

Honor Your Feelings and Preferences
In your life, how often do you let someone else’s choices determine yours? Perhaps you’d like Italian for dinner, but you think your partner would prefer Mexican – so you suggest that instead. Maybe you really want a quiet night in, but you end up going out because you think it’ll keep your friends happy.

Some people don’t even feel that they have any preference: they’re so used to letting others make decisions for them. I used to feel like this and a tip that worked brilliantly for me was to simply pretend that I liked one option over another. Simply making your own choice, and holding out for it, helps you get back in touch with what you want.

Don’t Try to Second-Guess Others
Do you end up making certain decisions because you want to keep other people happy? Maybe it’s your boss, or your mom, or your partner. For the sake of a quiet life, or in the hopes of making a great impression, you try to guess what they’ll want. Does it work? Not usually. Even when you guess right, you can end up feeling secretly frustrated that they didn’t insist on you having your way instead:

In discussing any joint action, it becomes obligatory that A should argue in favor of B’s supposed wishes and against his own, while B does the opposite. … they end up by doing something that neither wants, while each feels a glow of self-righteousness and harbors a secret claim to preferential treatment for the unselfishness shown and a secret grudges against the other for the ease with which the sacrifice has been accepted. (C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, p 143)

Doing Nothing is Still a Decision
Indecisive people often end up doing nothing at all. But, keeping things exactly as they are is still a decision – and often a disastrous one. You might be stuck trying to decide whether you should hire an accountant or do your taxes yourself. Both decisions will probably work out equally, but doing nothing at all will cause you a lot of problems!

When you’re faced with a dilemma – two decisions that seem equally good or bad – ask yourself what will happen if you do nothing. It’s a valid choice: just make sure it’s one you take consciously.

Have “Decision Criteria” to Help You
Sometimes, you really can’t decide between various options. Perhaps you’re out for lunch, and you don’t know whether you want the pizza or the salad. Both sound equally appetizing. So to make a decision, you might consider:

Going for the lower-calorie option (if you’re trying to lose weight)

Going for the cheaper option (if you’re trying to spend less)

So what should your “decision criteria” be? Obviously, that depends on you. They should tie into your current goals, like in the example above. You might want to think about:

Which decision will cost me (or save me) more time?

Which will cost (or earn) more money?

Which requires a longer-term commitment?

Which can be reversed most easily, if I decided wrong?

Which will stretch me the most?

Which will bring me new skills?

Do you struggle to choose between several options? What decisions are you stuck on at the moment – what are you putting off deciding?

Written on 10/26/2009 by Ali Hale. Ali is a professional writer and blogger, and a part-time postgraduate student of creative writing. If you need a hand with any sort of written project, drop her a line (ali@aliventures.com) or check out her website at Aliventures.

Photo Credit: Brymo

The DumbLittleMan Guide to Comma Use

2009-10-23T13:23:00.004-05:00

If all the punctuation marks got together for a party, the party wouldn't come alive until the comma arrived. The comma is such a versatile little animal. Often abused, under-used and over-used, the comma can be a readers best friend, but a writer's worst enemy.

Whilst the full stop is the red light to a sentence, the comma has the ability to keep the green light on a sentence for a long time. With its versatility it can keep complex sentences coherent, it can add additional information, add afterthoughts, and enlarge upon thoughts.

I bet you didn't think a little curl of a pen mark could evoke such passion.

I have been fascinated with the comma ever since an English teacher told me, 'The best way to use a comma is to think of it as a way of pausing before moving on to the next part of the sentence.', whilst this is a myth it is a good way to get started thinking about commas. However, there are so many other ways it can be used.

9 ways to use the comma

To glue two sentences together
When two complete sentences (independent clauses) are joined by a conjunction such as the words; and, but, or for.

Example:

The post about commas seemed like an unusual topic, but it managed to bring in over 100 comments.

You will see that the sentence above could quite easily be split into two sentences with the use of a full stop to read:

The post about commas seemed like an unusual topic. It managed to bring in over 100 comments.

To give additional information
Commas are great in allowing us to give additional information in a sentence. The additional information is called an appositive phrase, which is a noun or a phrase placed next to a word to provide identification or give additional information.

Example:

Jay White, the owner of this blog, is seen as an authoritative figure in the world of blogging.

You will see that, 'the owner of this blog', is not really necessary, but it does provide additional information, which could be useful.

Writing a series of three or more words or phrases

Example:

He was tall, dark, and handsome.

He opened the email, read it, and decided to publish the article he had been sent.

Note that you do not need to use the last comma in each of the sentences above. However, this is a matter of personal preference. Whichever way you choose, use it as consistently as possible.

Non restrictive phrases
Non restrictive phrases give additional information to a reader, but it is not essential to the sentence to be understood.

Example:

My son, who is an artist, enjoys listening to trance music.

You'll see from the above sentence that if we were to take out 'who is an artist' the sentence would still hold. It is a non essential piece of information.

However, if I had two or more sons, the non restrictive phrase 'who is an artist' would become essential for identification and therefore the commas would be left out because the phrase becomes essential to identify which of my two sons I was speaking about.

Demanding a pause
This is what first got me interested in commas. I was told that if you feel you need to pause during a sentence, then insert a comma. Whilst not strictly true, we can still use it like a pause

Example:

Wherever you go in the world, travel light.

It is important to note that all commas need a pause, but not all pauses need a comma.

Setting off direct quotations
When you are presenting quoted speech in a piece of work, you will need to insert a comma before the beginning quotation mark.

Example:

Oscar Wilde said, “Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination.”

Commas are also used if the speech is broken within a sentence.

Example:

"A true Blogger", said Steve, "is one who blogs!"

After conjunctive adverbs
Conjunctive adverbs are adverbs that act as a transition between complete ideas, remember that adverbs tweak the meaning of verbs, adjectives and other adverbs.

Example:

"Nothing can be unconditional; consequently, nothing can be free."
(George Bernard Shaw)

Using the example above you might notice that a semicolon has been introduced. This is usually the case when a conjunctive adverb is used between two clauses.

You may also notice that the comma can be omitted when conjunctive adverbs are used. This, again, is a personal preference.

Here are some example of conjunctive adverbs:

accordingly, also, besides, consequently, conversely, finally, furthermore, hence, however, indeed, instead, likewise, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, next, nonetheless, otherwise, similarly, still, subsequently, then, therefore, and thus.

Set off a direct address
Use a comma to separate the name of someone who is being addressed from the message.

Example:

Brian, you are my favorite copywriter.

Parenthetical phrases
This simply means using commas instead of using parenthesis, which are phrases in brackets.

Example:

Great blunders are often made, like large ropes, of a multitude of fibres - Victor Hugo

You see from the example above it could just as easily read like:

Great blunders are often made (like large ropes) of a multitude of fibres.

When not to use commas
We have looked at places where commas should be used. However, commas will always be used in the wrong places too, so here are a few places where commas should not be used.

Do not use a comma between two independent clauses, such as;

Writing great headlines is one way to catch the readers attention, advertising is one way to monetize your blog.

When we say independent clause we really mean sentences that have no real link to each other. However, we can link two independent clauses with a conjunctive word ( and, but, or, nor, for, etc.) So the sentence above would read:

Writing great headlines is one way to catch the readers attention, and advertising is one way to monetize your blog.

Do not use commas to separate a noun and its modifying adjectives when the adjectives come before the noun.

The shiny black, car was a Ford. (shiny black (adjectives) and car (noun))

Just look at the sentence above we know, instinctively, that it is wrong and it should be:

The shiny black car was a Ford.

Do not separate subject and verb by a comma

The readers of this blog, leave a lot of comments.

The comma between 'readers' (subject) and 'leave' (verb) should have no comma and should read like:

The readers of this blog leave a lot of comments.

Conclusion
Commas can be complex sometimes, but using the examples above should keep you on the right track to knowing when and where to use commas.

If you find any comma mistakes in this article, they were obviously put there to test you, so please tell us when you find them.

Written on 10/23/2009 by Steven Aitchison. Steven is the Author of Change Your Thoughts and works as an alcohol and drugs counselor. He has a BSc in Psychology and has a passion for studying belief formation, thought processes and values and principles. His blog focuses on personal development through changing your thoughts but covers the whole personal development field.

Photo Credit: Don Fulano

Learn To Eat Less And Feel More Satisfied

2009-10-22T13:37:00.001-05:00

I don’t want to be too cheeky, but let’s face it – chances are you’re looking to lose a few pounds. You can admit it you know. I won’t tell anyone. And besides, who isn't? Most of us are in the same boat, or have been at some stage. This so-called epidemic is no surprise, if you think about it. After all, it’s been a long while since the days when we had to hunt for our food and occasionally go without. In fact, the situation now is pretty much the exact opposite of those caveman days. Wherever you look, there’s food. On every corner abound temptations and treats. And it seems that just about every event you attend offers up endless amounts of the stuff. You just can’t get away.

And whether you’re someone who simply likes to indulge in good food or whether you’re doing your best to cut back but just never quite seem to fill up, I think I can help.

The truth is that there are certain approaches to eating that you may not have come across – ways to feel fuller and more energized by eating less food. Even better, there are a several very particular types of food that are actually designed to satisfy with just a small amount. I’m sure you can already think of one or two of these, but let me refresh your memory. Rest assured – eating for weight loss and for health doesn’t mean you’ll be stuck chowing down on nothing but raw veg or salad and whole-grains all day long. Quite the contrary …

Include Smart Fats At Every Meal.
It’s true that each gram of fat has around 9 calories, compared to 4 for each gram of carbohydrates or protein. But who said that’s a bad thing? When you choose good fats, not only does this dense amount of energy keep you feeling full for longer, you can actually boost your metabolism and spark endless bouts of energy. Talk about a recipe for success!

The smartest fats for satiety and metabolism are those that include some essential Omega 3, such as grass-fed rich proteins, eggs, walnuts and oily fish. Coconut oil is also a wonderful fat for burning fat and providing satisfaction, and avocado or extra virgin olive oil in just small amounts will definitely turn an ordinary salad or meal into a belly-filling delight.

Don’t Forget The Power Of Protein
One of the best things about protein is that despite its low calorie per gram rating, it’s extremely energy-dense. This means it fills you up and keeps you full. In fact, protein is even said to trigger the satiety hormone PYY. And it doesn’t take much.

For example, if you usually choose a protein-free breakfast such as cereal, oats, fruit or yogurt (okay that has a little protein, but not much), and you find yourself hungry again after just an hour or two, then try simply adding a boiled egg to your morning meal. You’ll be amazed how something so simple can allow you to easily keep going through even the busiest and most active of mornings. The same rule applies for lunch, for dinner, and even for snacks (nuts or organic dairy are both good here) if possible.

While many people eat protein in the evening, lunch can often be more sandwich or salad based. Nothing wrong with that, but you can make it last longer simply by adding some fresh fish, some chicken or beef strips, or even another egg to your meal. And that’s far better than being overtaken by hunger pangs later in the afternoon and giving in to candy!

Choose Organic Whenever Possible
According to this article organic food is significantly higher in minerals and antioxidants than conventional produce – up to 60% in fact. And sure, there are no doubt a myriad of studies stating that organic is no better than supermarket fare but I simply don’t buy it. Not least because the proof is quite evident in the taste of organic food. If you’ve ever compared an organic banana or papaya to its conventional cousin you’ll know what I mean. It just tastes more real, doesn’t it? And when it comes to satisfaction, it’s not about the quantity of food you eat, it’s about the nutritional value of that food.

Food higher in vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antioxidants fills you up more. This explains in part why we’re capable of working our way through an entire packet of cookies and still not feeling satisfied, despite being more than full. Choose organic or free-range foods and you just may find yourself eating less and losing that urge to sneak extras in between meals.

Eggs – Nature’s True Wonder Food
Many health experts consider eggs to be one of nature’s only truly whole foods. A free-range or organic egg is high in essential omega-3 fatty acids which are crucial for metabolic function, energy, and mental focus. Make sure you eat the whole egg – it’s the yolk that contains the good cholesterol, the greatest amount of omega-3, and over 6 grams of pure belly-filling protein. Another thing that makes eggs unbeatable (no pun intended!) – they’re easy to pack and eat on the go. I often hard-boil a couple the at night if I know I have a busy day coming up.

Healthy Junk Food
If you’re going to choose something that you know to be unhealthy, why not be smart about it? Chocolate-based candies, for example, are a smarter choice than purely sugar-based – the fat and small amount of protein in the chocolate will minimize the sugar high and result in a lesser insulin response. Chocolate-based candies with nuts in them are even better – at least the nut constitutes a ‘real’ food. And if you can go so far as to choose dark chocolate with nuts, well – that’s almost healthy!

A similar rule applies to savory snacks. As odd as it sounds, it makes far more sense from a health point of view to enjoy meals that are digested slower, lower the glycemic index of the meal and thus leave you feeling full for longer due to the inclusion of cheese, cream or some other form of natural fat. For example, choose a lightly-creamed pasta over a tomato based pasta, don’t hold all the cheese on your pizza, and be sure to add a teaspoon or two of real butter to that mashed potato.

Are You Getting Enough Water?
There’s evidence to show that those pangs of hunger could be nothing more than a cry for water. Unfortunately, your body won’t tell you in advance that you’re becoming dehydrated – once you get that urgent thirst you’re actually already well and truly dry on the inside. Considering that even very mild dehydration can impair mental function and focus, I’d say this is a pretty serious situation.

If you find yourself often hungry before meals and know that you’re not honestly drinking adequate water, try upping your intake for at least a week. Aside from a short-term need for more bathroom breaks (don’t worry, you will adapt) you might just find that it’s not always food your body is cravings.

Nuts And Seeds
This just comes back to smart snacking. The best part being that nuts and seeds are extremely yummy! Aside from that, they’re an excellent source of protein, of fat, and of low-GI carbohydrate, and walnuts and Brazil nuts even contain omega-3. These factors combine to mean that just a small handful can easily tide you over in that long gap between lunch, overtime, and dinner.

While fruit is fine for an afternoon snack, it can result in a sudden energy-high followed by increased hunger. Add some (raw) nuts and seeds to the mix and you’ll feel fueled for hours. As far as I can see, there’s only one catch here – it’s hard to stop at just a handful! I get around this by bringing only small containers of nuts out with me each day. If I keep a huge packet with me there’s nothing that will stop me eating them all, and while it definitely fills me up, it does add up to a lot of energy that needs burning off.

Belly-lining Sauces And Gravies
Many pre-bottled or pre-prepared sauces and gravies are little more than sugar, cheap oils and synthetic chemicals. For this reason I encourage my clients to avoid them and make their own sauces from scratch. Sure, it takes a little more time but isn’t your time better spent preparing healthy sustenance rather than frequent snack-trips to the corner store? Satisfying and healthy stir-fry sauces can be based in simple herbs and spices like chili, ginger and garlic, and added to either coconut milk or raw honey and peanut butter. Pretty easy – and delicious. If gravy is your thing, don’t be afraid to use a gravy powder but be sure to add the blood and juices from your meat or you may be missing out on vital nutrients.

Slow Down That Chewing
This might be the simplest but most effective technique that I can share with you. Did you know that people who eat too fast tend to overeat at every meal and have a higher likelihood of weight problems? If eating on the go is a habit of yours then you’re most likely setting yourself up for failure in this area. It really does pay to take at least 10 minutes to focus solely on your food. Hey, you might even taste it. And that advice your Mom used to give you about chewing 60 times before swallowing? Not such a bad idea.

To obtain true nutrition and satisfaction aim to chew it up to the point where you can actually drink your food. This might take you a few weeks to get the hang of but be sure to persevere.

Choose Foods You Instinctively Crave
Sometimes all the rules and logic in the world mean nothing at all if you simply have an urge that can’t be shaken. And it might be that your mind and belly are 100% set on something that you know is only going to provide a few minutes pleasure before throwing your energy and hunger all over the place. But you know what? Sometimes that’s okay. After all, life can’t all be about following the rules. And if you just can’t get that tasty treat off your mind day after day then it might be time to give in. The key, of course, is to enjoy those foods in moderation. With that in mind, I’m off to enjoy a white chocolate Magnum. Organic protein-breakfast tomorrow of course!

Have your say – do you have any tricks or tips to share that I might have missed when it comes to lasting satisfaction from less food?

Written on 7/3/2009 by Kat Eden. Kat is a Personal Trainer from Australia. Visit her blog Body Incredible to be inspired with the latest nutrition tips, weight loss advice, and motivational thinking. .

Photo Credit: trekkyandy

How to Make a Great Impression on People at Work

2009-10-22T06:33:00.002-05:00

So you want to make a great impression at work, this article offers you five great ways to do so. However, this article is not only about making a great impression; it’s also about embodying that impression. By simultaneously using the five keys below, you will not only get noticed as a top-notch employee, but you will actually become a better employee and/or boss.

Making a great impression on the job is both an important and worthy goal. Why is it so important? Because companies and bosses will usually promote, help, and retain employees who make favorable impressions.

Here are five ways that you can make a great impression at work:

Come Early or Leave Late
Try to consistently arrive at work 15 minutes early, or leave 15 minutes late. What are the benefits? You will have more time to accomplish more work. In addition, people will actually begin to believe that you’re a hard worker.

People who work just a little later, or come in just a little earlier, are perceived to be more dedicated, loyal and concerned (even if they’re not); perception really is reality. Working just a few minutes more a day sends a silent positive message to all of your co-workers that you’re a dedicated employee.

“Everything you do sends a message.”

Just an additional 15 minutes is often enough to make you the first person to arrive in your department, or the last person to leave. With this additional time you can organize your day, or plan your tomorrow.When trying to make a great impression at work, this is a great first tip as long as you use the extra time productively.

Dress to Impress Everyday
Image is everything; people see who you are before they hear who you are. People in general, right or wrong, assign more positive traits to a person who has a neat and clean appearance than a person who has a sloppy appearance. People who dress to impress are assumed to more intelligent, astute, and judicious (even if they’re not).

It’s important that you “package” yourself for where you want to go. If you’re trying to become a manager in your department, and all of the manager’s where sports coats or pantsuits, then you should probably do the same. Give the impression that you’re already “one of them,” and you’re just being underpaid.

In addition, dressing your best helps you to feel your best, and when you feel your best, you will perform at your best.

Keep an Organized To-Do List and Office
Always keep “order” around everything you do. Order means the accurate arrangement of things.

Organize your “to-do” lists in a way that gives your most important task your greatest and best attention. Let your employer know that you’re organized and that you always prioritize. An organized and prioritized “to-do” lists will help ensure that you never miss a meeting, task, or deadline.

In addition, be sure to keep your office tidy (but not so tidy that it looks like you’re not busy). An organized desk represents an organized person. A messy desk represents…well, you know. Keep your area presentable, this will go along way in giving you a great impression at work. Remember, everything you do, sends a message.

Get Educated
What certifications and degrees do the supervisors and managers have where you’re employed? Find out how you can get those same certifications; some certifications are relatively easy to attain, I recommend you get those first.

You’ll have to go back to school in order to get a degree, but if you’re looking to move forward it’s best to strategically position yourself sooner rather than later.

Once again, the more certifications and degrees you have the more intelligent you will be perceived, so if you want to make a great impression and increase your chances of getting promoted, be sure to get educated.

Become the Boss's Right-Hand Man/Woman
Every boss wants a protégé, or at least an assistant. Try to become the right-hand man or woman; find out what your boss needs and wants. No, I am not talking about getting coffee, I'm talking about the needs they may have as it pertains to the business. If they need a strategic thinker, try to be one, etc.

You will only be rewarded in this life for the problems that you solve for others. Discover the “work related problems” your boss is encountering and come up with ways to solve those problems.

These problems could be quite simplistic, but determine to make your boss’s job easier. Even if you’re an executive, with a high six-figure salary, if your boss needs a “copy” of a document, and you’re the only one around, it’s probably a good idea to help him or her out.

Get involved in special projects, go outside of your basic job responsibilities and make a difference in your group or department. Leaders are always needed; find out how you can make a difference. Be the change you want to see on your job.

Special Bonus: Be Positive
Your attitude really does determine your altitude. People like hanging around positive, high-energy individuals, so be sure to always see the glass as half-full, this will certainly benefit you on your job.

In conclusion, be sure to implement the steps above, they will not only help you make a great impression, but they will help you be your best.

Finally, don’t wait for someone to come tap-you-on-your-shoulder and tell you that it’s time for you to be promoted, decide to take charge of your career, let people know what your plans are, find out the requirements needed to get where you’re going, get others involved in helping you attain these requirements, and soon you will be on your way to being where you want to be.

Success comes to those who plan it, so plan your success today. Thank you for reading, and please feel free to add some additional tips below.

Written on 10/22/2009 by Mr. Self Development who is a motivational author that offers a practical guide to success and wealth; support him by visiting his blog at mrselfdevelopment.com. .

Photo Credit: L-plate big cheese

How to Be Your Own Life Coach and Save Some Cash

2009-10-20T05:04:00.007-05:00

Life coaches aren't just for celebrities nowadays: lots of regular Joes like you and me have worked with, or are thinking about hiring, a coach. It's true that a good, experienced life coach can help you turn your life around – whether you want to improve your health, switch career or even overcome phobias.

However, many of us (me included!) can't afford to pay for life coaching. Should we resign ourselves to sitting on the sidelines, watching friends and colleagues forge on ahead, with their life coaches cheering them on? We could throw our hands up in the air and say, "Well, I'd be that successful too, if I could afford to pay someone to help me."

We don't need to miss out. There are ways to get many of the benefits of life coaching ... even when you're broke.

Set Aside an Hour a Week
One of the reasons that people benefit from life coaching is because they've blocked out (and paid for!) time which will be used in serious thought about their goals, dreams, ambitions and problem areas. Typically, life coaches will work with a client for an hour each week.

There's absolutely nothing stopping you from blocking out an hour in your diary, every Sunday afternoon (or whatever time you pick). I know you're probably thinking "I'm too busy" or "But what if something comes up?" If you make a genuine commitment to yourself that you'll keep that hour-long appointment, the time will be there!

There are 168 hours in a week. Surely you can invest just one of those in your own personal development!

Try Some Self-Coaching Techniques
Although you're (probably!) not a trained coach, there are some techniques you can use to help yourself get clarity and perspective about your life, and find solutions to your problems. These are a few to try:
- Timed Writing
  Set a timer for five minutes. Write down a problem or issue in your life (eg. relationships). Now write, without stopping or editing, about things you could do to overcome that problem. Put down everything that comes into your head, even if it seems silly.
- Question and Answer
  This is another writing exercise. Ask yourself a question, then write the answer. Keep asking questions if you think something isn't fully explained. Imagine the questioner as a very close friend, or as the person you'd like to become.
  If you're not sure what to ask yourself, try these questions:
  - What would make your life better right now?
  - Where are you going forwards in your life at the moment?
  - Where do you feel stuck?
- Meditation
  Lots of people have preconceptions about meditation. It doesn't have to be new-agey or spiritualist – meditation is just a way of quietening your mind. It's one of the best ways to reduce stress, and meditating at the start of your hour-long session can help you to get into a calm, focused frame of mind.
  If you're anything like me, you'll find that Meditation Techniques for the Busy and Impatient is a must read!
Work Through a Blog Post, Book or Program
Many life coaches, motivational speakers and other big shots in the personal development field have written books or produced programs that can literally turn your life around. There's a but coming, though ... you have to actually take some action.

How often have you bought or borrowed books, read them, enjoyed them ... but failed to change anything about your life? I love reading, and I'm too prone to rushing through books when I need to take the time to actually implement their advice.

Pick up one of the books you've read, or get hold of a good one (How to be Rich and Happy by life coach Tim Brownson and best-selling author John P Strelecky is the next on my list to work through). Spend your hour a week – or more time if you can – working through slowly, chapter by chapter. Many books will offer exercises for you to complete at the end of each chapter: try not to skip or ignore these!

Be Kind to Yourself
Finally, one of the best ways to be your own life coach is to learn to be kind to yourself. Many of us have a very critical little voice in our heads that berates us for making mistakes, getting things wrong and sometimes falling short of the mark ... in short, being human!

When you're tempted to judge yourself harshly, stop and think how a life coach would respond. Perhaps they'd remind you of the progress you have made, and perhaps they'd help you to look at the reasons why things went wrong.

What could you do to be your own coach? Have you got any tips to add to this article? I'd love to hear them in the comments!

Written on 10/20/2009 by Ali Hale. Ali is a professional writer and blogger, and a part-time postgraduate student of creative writing. If you need a hand with any sort of written project, drop her a line (ali@aliventures.com) or check out her website at Aliventures.

Photo Credit: spamdangler

10 Ways To Improve Yourself While Broke

2009-10-18T04:25:00.000-05:00

I'm going to start off by being very honest, I'm currently broke. I was expecting to get a scholarship that I didn't get, went on a trip that I probably shouldn't have gone on, and bought a certain someone special a present I couldn't afford. That's $4k in the hole, and no regrets, but a bit of a mess to clean up after.

I'm proactively trying to get myself out of the hole before I start dental school next year (see update). Once I start, I'll be about $70K-$90K in the hole per year, so it won't really matter, but it matters now. My goal is to get my credit card paid off, save up a small emergency fund, and establish a few passive streams of income before school starts and I'm a slave with no spare time.

I'll get into a couple of ways I'm earning money right now, but the general point is that self-improvement doesn't have to stop just because you're broke as a joke. Some ways to improve yourself are free, some are cheap, and some actually earn you money!

Talk is cheap.
Actually talk can be worth anywhere from a few cents a minute on skype to free if you're face to face. Being broke is a perfect opportunity to work on your relationships. You don't have to take your friend, or romantic interest on a super expensive date, you can do something simple like get to know what they're really about and what's going on with them. People like nothing more than to talk about themselves, and they're willing to pay professionals a lot of money to just listen to them, so you could be delivering a lot of value to your friends for free!

Exercise burns.
Exercise burns your calories, but it doesn't have to burn your wallet. You can invest in a $30 pair of cross-training sneakers, which can last you awhile if you don't run through swamps and they're practical for several sports. I maintain a really good deal at Bally's for $15 a month for life (after paying $60/month for 3 years awhile ago), so I don't see myself canceling that. However, you can create a 30-minute morning routine without any weight, using just kalesthetics, and maintain a healthy lifestyle for nothing.

Bottle it.
Invest a couple of bucks towards a large waterbottle, or reuse a plastic one you bought earlier, and fill it up with filter/tap water. Drink nothing but the water, avoiding alcohol and coffees which dehydrate you, make you fat, and add up in cash-money if you're a consistent consumer. It's a great way to keep your organs optimally hydrated while saving a lot of money.

Explore.
Find areas around your house, such as local parks and landmarks that you can go to for free. You're out there getting your daily walk, taking in the fresh air, and paying nothing to enjoy mother nature. This is a great way to spend time alone, with a friend, or to get to know a special someone. You'll be surprised how much 30 minutes of walking can improve your overall health, focus, and feelings of well-being. I actually journaled how I felt for 30 straight days of 30 minute walks and it was enlightening to see the full progress after the 30 days.

Reading is free.
That's a big statement to make considering I have shelves and shelves worth of self-improvement books in my room that have a combined cost of hundreds of dollars. However, there's always the library that has a large selection of great books and audio tapes that I like to frequent. Return books on time and it doesn't cost you a penny.

Work on skills and talents.
Some skills and talents are quite expensive to indulge in. Painting requires expensive utensils, racing requires fuel, singing may require instruments or recording equipment. Other skills can be worked on while saving or earning you money. Want to practice social skills? Work at a nightclub on weekends. Want to improve your cooking skills? Volunteer to cook at an elderly people's home in your spare time. Use your imagination and find a creative outlet that works for you.

Cook your own.
The best way to get healthy food into your system is to cook that food, instead of eating out at a restaurant. Find a cheap place, such as a farmers market, to purchase fruits and vegetables. Make these the cornerstones of your meals, taking up at least 90% of your caloric intake. You'll save money, you'll fill yourself with nutritious food, and you'll be able to impress friends or a date with a frugal meal that you created with your own hands instead of spending money on restaurants.

Character development.
Use this opportunity to do some journaling and introspection. Decide what kind of person you want to be, with what kind of virtues and ethics. Decide how you want to be seen by people, and how you would like to treat others. Create a list of rules that you will not budge from which will slowly but surely take you towards your goals.

Volunteer.
This can be a very fulfilling way to pass time while meeting some kindhearted and down to earth people. You're actively spending time improving the quality of someone's life while absorbing joy from the experience. Wow, what a great deal. They should start charging to volunteer. In my case I'm volunteering/interning twice a week at one of the dental schools I applied to. There's no doubt that I'm helping them out there but I'm also learning a lot and most importantly networking with great contacts.

Writing Pays.
Invest a little bit of money into a personal website. You don't have to pay more than $3-5 per month, and you can find a free theme to use. Either create a blog about something you're passionate about, or use it as a portfolio of your writing. Survey all the websites that write about topics you would be interested in, and start submitting your writing. Unleashing you're creativity through the process of writing is an excellent way to improve your train of thought.

I'm pretty much doing all 10 of these, and more, to the best of my abilities. It might not be the best situation and having to say no when your friends go out somewhere expensive isn't fun, but it's what needs to be done. I might not have always done this, but I know for a fact that the best way to see the big plus on your balance sheet is to live below your means and building positive habits should begin with as little as $1 to our name.

Alex

Written on 10/17/2008 by Alex Shalman. Alex is an avid reader and is constantly learning how to improve his life. You can catch him at Practical Personal Development . Republished 10/18/09.

Photo Credit: stuartpilbrow

10 Ways to Reduce Stress Without Spending a Dime

2009-10-17T03:18:00.000-05:00

Did you know that a recent Stanford University study conducted by cellular biologist Dr. Bruce Lipton concluded that “over 95% of all illnesses occur because of stress in the body’s autonomic nervous system”?

Did you also know that stress can seriously accelerate the rate at which you age because of the incredible strain it puts on your body?

Stress was already at alarming levels before these past few months, but it’s now at critical levels for so many of us. There is no escaping the media coverage of the planet's recent economical debacles and everyone, at some point, will feel some pain in their pocketbook.

So many people have lost the value of their homes, or they’ve lost their homes due to hurricanes, fires or bankruptcy, they’ve lost the value of their life savings and in some cases they’ve even lost their jobs to recent cutbacks. It’s quite unsettling to hear financial experts compare this period to the crisis of 1929 and it’s equally scary to hear the head of the most powerful country in the world sound the alarm on the current financial situation.

Most of us have never (EVER) thought about how dangerous stress can be to our health and very few of us make the conscious effort to manage stress so it doesn’t take over our lives.

Normal levels of stress won’t harm you, but high levels of stress can lead to these negative health conditions:

Heart palpitations
Panic/anxiety attacks
Chest pain
Dizziness
Depression
Irritable bowel syndrome
Spastic colon
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Chronic fatigue (constant tiredness)
Chronic headaches
Insomnia
PMS - Premenstrual tension

Stress can also change your personality and affect how you interact and deal with others. When you look at problems like anger, irritability, aggressiveness, verbal abuse, mood swings and road rage, you can see how they can be brought on by too much stress in your life.

When stress gets out of hand, it’s time to find practical ways to slow down and lower your stress levels.

I know that money is tight for a lot of us, so I’ve compiled a list of 10 easy and free stress-reducing activities you can do right now to help lower your negative stress levels:

Turn off the TV: This might sound obvious but watching the financial news channels all day long will only increase your stress level since they report on the latest downs in the stock market on a minute-by-minute base.

Go for a walk: This time of the year is so precious, especially if you live in an area with tons of trees. Take time to reconnect with Mother Nature and take time to escape from all the bad news.

Call up a friend: Sometimes, just the fact of spending time with a friend over a cup of coffee or a walk can make a huge difference to the way you feel. Don’t underestimate the power of human contact and friendship when times are difficult.

Take advantage of free events: Each city has a list of weekly free activities that are open to the public. Grab a newspaper and find out which ones might interest you and go out there and discover something new!

Hang out at your favorite bookstore: This is an activity I’ve always enjoyed so much. You can spend hours just browsing and looking at the latest books. Who knows, this might spark your creative juices!

De-clutter your home: Most North Americans have closets and even garages filled with products that they’ve bought and never used. In many cases, a lot of us still have sales tags on items that are just sitting there. This might be the perfect time to clean up your home and organize a garage sale or you take your clothing to secondhand stores. Remember that someone’s junk is someone else’s treasure. Also, because times are tougher, many people will turn to secondhand stores and garage sales to find affordable items for themselves or to give as gifts during the Holidays.

Treat yourself to a hot bubble bath by candlelight: This is such a relaxing activity. If you take as little as thirty minutes to soak away your worries, you’ll feel like a new person.

Bake your favorite cookies or your favorite cake: Nothing is more comforting than homemade desserts and cookies. Why not take time to make some and take the time to enjoy them. The activity of baking will get your mind off of things and your hands working. Now, you might have to buy a few extra ingredients that you don’t usually store in your pantry, but this stress-reducing activity should not cost you much.

Note: If you are stresses everyday, please don't eat a cake everyday. This is for occasional use only!

Brew a special cup of tea or coffee and sit down in your favorite chair: Grab a book or your favorite hobby magazine and take some “me” time. Even if you’re able to take 30 minutes of “me” time while the kids are away at their piano lessons … this will do you a world of good.

Update your photo album: We usually take photos of the happy times we want to remember. By updating your photo album and putting in recent photos you’ve not had the time to file yet, you can be transported to those times where you were happy and smiling. The feeling from this activity will surely lift your spirits and lower your stress levels.

Sometimes the simplest things can be extremely effective and because there is no (or little) investment of money, you can start putting these stress-busters to effect immediately!

Written on 10/22/2008 by Krizia. Krizia is an aging-well and stress management expert. You can catch her daily banter on Beauty Match where she’s currently the Editor-in-Chief of this online magazine. Republished on 10/17/09.

Photo Credit: rick

10 Signs That The Matrix Has You

2009-10-15T07:16:00.003-05:00

I know you're out there. I can feel you now. I know that you're afraid... you're afraid of us. You're afraid of change. I don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it's going to begin. I'm going to hang up this phone, and then I'm going to show these people what you don't want them to see. I'm going to show them a world without you. A world without rules and controls, without borders or boundaries. A world where anything is possible. Where we go from there is a choice I leave to you. -Neo, The Matrix

The other day I was watching The Matrix for what was probably the 30th time; it is easily one of my favorites. In fact, I'd say that The Matrix is one of my top 5 personal development resources. Really. Upon detailed examination, the movie provides us with countless personal development lessons and metaphors for life.

I’m not going to tell you what the matrix is because nobody can really do that. It’s something you have to experience for yourself. But I can hopefully make you somewhat aware of the fact that the matrix has you because awareness is the first step towards breaking free.

You’ll believe it when you see it.
If you operate from the idea that you’ll believe it when you see it, then you’re a long way from unplugging. A core lesson of this movie is that you’ll see exactly what you believe. In fact, if you only did one thing to advance your development, choosing empowering beliefs would be the most valuable thing you could do.

Your purchases are status symbols.
If you purchase nice cars, designer labels, and other expensive items because you want to have other people complement you, think you are cool or anything along those lines, then you’re really not in control of your life. You’re letting the approval of others dictate your purchases. There’s nothing at all wrong with having these things but only if you genuinely enjoy them and want them for your own personal fulfillment.

Excessive concern with approval.
While this is similar to the above it extends beyond what you purchase. Many people take actions in their personal lives solely based on the approval of others. Yet, the ultimate irony is that trying so hard to gain the approval of others is exactly what makes them think less of you.

You follow the herd.
Conformity is overrated. The most successful people in society have been willing to go out on a limb, go against the herd. In the end the herd ends up following them. Be a leader, not a follower.

You never want to rock the boat.
Some people are so afraid of conflict that their opinion is never heard. I used to be completely afraid of conflict. The downside to holding it all in is that you eventually explode. Rock the boat every now and then and your ride through life will be much smoother.

You believe in fate.
If you believe in fate then you believe in some unexplainable force that controls your life. There’s no predestined life that you’re supposed to have. You are the architect of your life, and your beliefs are the blueprint.

You are a victim.
The victim mentality is one that unfortunately is somewhat supported by members of society. People always tell you how bad they feel for you, how sorry they are. I’m all for sympathy and being kind to people, but when you decide to wallow in all of this, you become a victim. Victims are slaves to the matrix. Others accept what happened and move on.

You don’t make your own decisions.
I’ve grown up in a community where kids are often told from an early age that the most noble profession they can pursue is becoming a doctor. I always wonder how many of these people really wanted to be doctors, and how many of their parents decided for them at an early age, and eventually a decision their parents made became their decision. This is just one of many areas in life where people don’t make their own decisions. Decide what YOU want.

You’re a slave to your emotions.
Emotions can be both empowering and detrimental. When you don’t learn to control your emotions then you tend to let them control you. It’s just one more area where you are not in control.

You’re completely unaware of any of the above.
Awareness is really the beginning of freeing yourself from the limitations of the matrix. The average person is living in a reality that is a reflection of the ideas and images in the world around them, rather than a reflection of what’s in their own mind.

The matrix is nothing more than a system of beliefs, social constructs, and programs designed to hold you back from reaching your full potential. Hopefully the advice above will help you begin to unplug. Free your mind, be peaceful, be patient, and the rest will follow.

Written on 10/15/2009 by Srinivas Rao. Srinivas is a volunteer for the Quality of Life Project. The website shares best practices on getting the most out of life from well known types like Richard Branson and Tom Skerritt to lesser known but equally interesting individuals. The mission of the organization is to help people live more enjoyable, purposeful and contented lives. Srinivas also writes at www.theskooloflife.com.

Photo Credit: Now I'm Always Smiling

7 Free or Cheap Ways to Effectively Promote Your Business Online

2009-10-14T07:41:00.003-05:00

As a business owner, sales person, or marketer, you should always be trying to find ways to drum up more business – especially with the current economic climate. Each dollar that you spend on marketing and advertising should show a return on your investment and produce results that can help increase your bottom line. Easy enough right?

While recent times have made many businesses tighten their belts on their spending, it’s extremely important to the success of your company to keep marketing your business in order to gain new customers and continue to generate revenue.

Luckily for marketers and business owners, there are several ways you can very affordably advertise your services and products online (many of which are free). Let's go through a handful of them.

Twitter, Facebook & Social Sites
Connecting with your customers or potential customers is more important than ever. Take part in the conversations people are having about your industry or business by interacting with them on social networks.
Where to start: Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn

Tips & Resources:
· 50 Ideas on Using Twitter for Business
· 32 Ways to Use Facebook for Business
· Using LinkedIn As a Small Business Owner

Video
Whether you’re promoting products or offering your services, creating videos is an excellent way to attract new customers. Additionally, videos have a tendency to go viral and quickly reach a large audience.

Where to start: YouTube

Tips & Resources:
· YouTube Marketing – 11 Terrific Ways to Promote Your Business on YouTube
· How to use video to promote your small business
· How to Produce “Business-Quality” Online Video on a Small Business Budget

Blogs & Forums
Similar to social networks, blogs and forums are a great place to take part in creating a dialogue. You want to be resourceful, really help people, and provide valuable information in order to gain the maximum benefits of these mediums.

Where to start: Google Blog Search & Forums Relevant to Your Business
Tips & Resources: 10 Rules For Driving Traffic Using Forums

Press Releases
A great way to gain new customers is by creating press releases about your services, products, or business. Try and stay away from highly commercial press releases that simply show your company in a positive light. Instead, focus on a unique angle that will draw visitors’ attention to something you are doing or an interesting aspect of your business.

Tips & Resources:
· The New Rules of PR (PDF – 21 pages)
· 20+ Free Press Release Distribution Sites
· Online Press Release Checklist

Local Resource Sites & Classifieds
If you’re an offline business that is looking to promote your company, ensure that you are listed in all of the sites that relate to your local area. These can include newspaper sites, local portals or hubs, classifieds, and national sites that focus on local businesses like Yelp, CitySearch, or Yellow Page directories.

Where to start: Yelp, CitySearch, SuperPages.com, Google Local & Yahoo! Local, & Craigslist

Tips & Resources:
· List your business on Google Maps, Yahoo Local & More
· GetListed.org
· Local Search Ranking Factors
· A Look at Important Local Business Listing Attributes

Email Newsletters
Not only will building an email list help you connect more often with your customers, it is a great way to promote people who are extremely interested in your products or services. This can be one of your most powerful online marketing tools because you become less reliant on search engines and other ways of generating traffic to your site.

Where to start: Constant Contact, MailChimp, Aweber, and iContact

Tips & Resources:
· 5 Common Newbie Mistakes
· Choosing An Email Newsletter Provider
· 50 Ways to Get Email Newsletter Subscribers

Contests & Giveaways
To be successful with contests and giveaways, you need to give people things that are valuable and relate to your business or industry. The great thing about contests is that you can give your own products away and your only out-of-pocket expense will be your hard costs for the product(s)
Where to start: Promote them on blogs, forums, press releases, video, and newsletters

Tips & Resources:
· Anatomy of a Successful Blog Contest
· 14 tips for Twitter contests that build followers and brand visibility

+1 Bonus Tip: Start a Blog
One of the most beneficial and inexpensive ways to promote your site online is by creating a blog that compliments your business’ services and products. Not only does it give a chance for you to talk about new happenings in your industry, but it allows you to start connecting with people on your site – where you can promote your own business as much as you want.

Where to start: WordPress, Blogger, TypePad

Tips & Resources:
· Freelancers: Here’s Why You Need a Blog
· Does Your Company Need a Blog?

Written on 10/14/2009 by Big Manta. Big Manta writes tips aimed at helping people succeed online. He covers a wide variety of topics including: blogging, business, marketing and making money with the internet on his blog - BigManta.com.

Photo Credit: Intersection Consulting

Five Ways to Find Time to Live Healthily

2009-10-12T14:05:00.001-05:00

Whether it's because we're unorganized, unmotivated, or simply over-tasked, we’re all too busy. If I were to ask you to dedicate an extra hour each day for something, you'd laugh and call me crazy. However, what if I asked for a fraction of that? What if I wanted 30 minutes of your day and promised that the time investment would actually increase your productivity each day? Not only that, but you'd potentially live longer, perhaps be happier, and definitely have more energy.

That doesn't sound like a bad deal. A little prep work, a small time investment, and loads of new attitudes and productivity gains. Where is the catch?

Ha! Good question. The catch is that you have to take a little action - and the sooner the better. As Edward Stanley said:

Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.

I know, a new episode of Dancing with the Stars is on, but listen up; this is an important message because even a small change to your habits can equal a complete reversal to your health.

So how can we find time to lead a healthier lifestyle? Here are five ways:

Apply the 80/20 Principle
Okay, you have a busy life. It’s unrealistic for you to spend an hour every night cooking dinner from scratch. But that doesn’t mean ditching any attempt at having a healthy evening meal. Instead of getting take-out or surviving on frozen pizza, how about making a stir-fry from some ready-prepared veggies, some quick-cook noodles and some fresh prawns or cooked chicken? It’ll only take you ten minutes.

Look for other areas of your health where you can get 80% of the health benefits from 20% of the time investment. If driving to the gym, getting changed, working out and showering takes up far too much of your evening ... why not go for a 30 minute walk in your lunch hour instead?

Fit Exercise Around Your Day
I’m a big believer in fitting exercise around the rest of life. Aim to be active for at least 30 minutes per day (an hour is better). Cycling to work, walking or jogging in your lunch hour, taking a stroll round the local park with your partner in the evening, vacuuming the house, playing Frisbee with the kids... they all count.

You don’t need to be working out in a gym, or following a strenuous jogging program, in order to see real health benefits.

Get Up Fifteen Minutes Early
Don’t groan. Setting your alarm clock fifteen minutes earlier won’t make a huge difference to how awake you feel in the morning – but it could give you that vital time you need to prepare (and eat) a healthy breakfast, and to brown-bag lunch ... saving you from the greasy canteen food or the local fast food joint at work.

Fifteen minutes is plenty of time to manage some of these:
- Measure out a sensible serving of cereal (you’ll be surprised how little 40g is), add milk, and eat!
- Make sandwiches for lunch, using lean meat, low-fat spread and veggies.
- Sit quietly and think about the day ahead: how can you fit in some exercise? What food-related temptations are likely to arise?
- Plan what you’re eating in the evening: get meat out of the freezer to defrost, if necessary, and check stocks of other ingredients in case you need to run by the store on the way home.

Add One New Thing Each Week
When you’re already very busy, overhauling your lifestyle can seem like an overwhelming challenge. Don’t see it as an all-or-nothing endeavor. Try making small, incremental changes.

Find a way to exercise for just fifteen minutes a day, every day, for a couple of weeks – then increase this to thirty minutes.

Try cooking one extra night each week, or taking a brown-bagged lunch three days a week. Don’t focus on being perfect, just keep making small changes and you will reach your goals.

Make Changes That Don’t Take Any Time
If you really can’t squeeze an extra fifteen minutes into your day, the easiest way to get healthier is to find ways to make changes that take no extra time at all.

It doesn’t take any longer to buy and use wholewheat or oatmeal bread instead of white bread. It doesn’t take any longer to drink a diet soda (or better, water) instead of a full-sugar soda.

In some cases, the healthier option might be faster. You save time if you just get a glass of water instead of making a pot of coffee. You save time if you skip dessert and get straight back into work or a hobby. You save time if you eat cereal on the weekend, instead of a fry up.

How could you live more healthily, without using up a chunk of vital time? Are you going to try any of the tips above – or do you have your own ideas to add to the list?

Written on 10/12/2009 by Ali Hale. Ali is a professional writer and blogger, and a part-time postgraduate student of creative writing. If you need a hand with any sort of written project, drop her a line (ali@aliventures.com) or check out her website at Aliventures.

Photo Credit: mikebaird

Is Your Mind Holding You Back?

2009-10-12T08:31:00.010-05:00

When setting goals, checking off items on the to-do list, or simply going to the grocery store, bumps are bound to come up along the way. Clearly I don't have to tell you that; the challenges we face everyday are not uncommon. What I want to question is a little deeper than that: Is your mind causing these bumps? Are you setting yourself up for a rocky road?

"One reason why people don’t achieve their goals is because they don’t know what part of them choose the goal.” ~ John Kehoe

The best way to keep things smooth along your journey is to start by recognizing the great trickster that triggers these speed bumps - your brain!

Here are 5 ways to recognize when your mindset is holding you back:

#5: Lots of reasons and excuses show up.
Maybe you've had a goal to lose weight. You know there isn't any "secret" to loosing weight. The real secret to losing weight is to get your butt to the gym and stop eating so much; but following through takes more than will power - so you never bother to go.

If you're mind is making up excuses to stop you from doing what you know you should be doing, then recognize that this is the great trickster at work. That mass of molecules between your ears doesn't like change - so it's going to do whatever it can to trick you into staying the same. Just ask yourself who's in really in control here: you or your mind?

#4: Lack of Consistency or Self Discipline.
I'm not a big fan of the term "self-discipline" because in my opinion it implies that self-discipline is work and it really isn't. Self discipline just requires additional thinking. It means thinking about what you want and then going out and doing what's necessary to get it.

One way to do that is by intentionally creating your day. Instead of letting your day create you, you create it. There's no magic here, just a simple system. Start by crafting a daily plan. Craft a plan everyday by writing out the 5 most important actions you'll take that day. Do this everyday and you'll be on your way to greatness.

#3: The words "I can't" show up.
Maybe you're really determined - you don't spew reasons or excuses - you just do what you need to do. You're consistent and you get results. But maybe, just maybe you get to the point where you hit a wall - a stumbling block, or an obstacle, and this little voice peeps up that says, "I can't."

That little voice can transform a resourceful person into a frustrated and defeated person. Yes, the mind has that much power.

This tiny little voice comes from a deeper level. It comes from not being worthy or not being good enough. At some point you've got let go of these old ways of thinking because they don't support you. The real question you want to ask yourself is this: If you're not worthy enough now, then when will you be?

#2: Feelings of Doubt or Uncertainty
If you set goals that break new ground and take you to higher levels of performance then you're bound to feel doubtful at times. You're breaking new ground and starting something completely new so it can be awkward at first.

But if you're going to persist and achieve your goals then you've got to overcome these feelings of doubt. You want to expect good things in your life.

"If you do not expect it, you will not find the unexpected, for it is hard to find and difficult." ~ Heraclitus, 500 B.C.

You want to put yourself in a state of expectation. Because when you expect good things, they usually show up.

#1: Self-Sabotage
See the video I put together for this last way to recognize when your mind is holding you back:

Written on 10/12/2009 by Steve Martile. Steve is a Life Direction Coach and the creator of Freedom Education - Mind Power for Your Personal Growth. He is also the author of the ebook that you can download here: The Genius Within YOU.

Photo Credit: Scarleth White