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Best Tax Savings Options for FY 2011-2012!

2011-10-22T17:22:00.000+05:30

The current financial year will come to an end within five months time. Its already late to plan for your tax savings for the current financial year. This article is mainly intended for those who are not yet started investing for tax savings purpose. There are many sections of Income Tax Act that enable individuals to save tax by investing in various qualified instruments. It's time for investors to review their investments in tax-saving instruments and look at possibilities to save maximum possible tax in the current financial year.

Under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act

Section 80C of the Income Tax Act allows income tax exemptions to individuals on investments in certain qualified instruments. The maximum limit to claim deduction under this Section is Rs 1, 00,000. You can invest Rs 1,00,000 in one or more of these instruments to avail tax rebate. The amount invested in the qualified instruments will be deducted from your total income. So finally you end up paying tax only for the net amount after deduction of the money invested in those qualified financial instruments.

You can reduce your tax liabilities by way of investing any of the following instruments

1) Employee Provident Fund

2) PPF – Public Provident Fund (Maximum limit per financial year Rs. 70,000)

3) Life insurance (term insurance as well as endowment plans)

4) Pension plans

5) Equity-linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) of mutual funds (three year lock-in period)

6) Bank Term Deposits (special deposits for tax savings purposes – lock in period applicable)

7) Specified government infrastructure bonds

8) Repayment of housing loan principal repayment

9) National Savings Certificates (NSC) and interest accruals on previous years' NSCs can also be added to the Section 80C limit

Infrastructure bonds

You can invest in specified long-term infrastructure bonds to claim a deduction up to Rs 20,000. The tax rebate for infrastructure bonds is in addition to Section 80C. (Lot of companies both Government and private sectors are planning to launch their long term infrastructure bonds during the month of Nov-Dec, 2011. Presently PFC, IFCI infrastructure bonds are on tap, in case you are patient enough to wait for another month you may likely to get more interest from the coming infrastructure bond issues. )

Housing loan – tax benefits

Housing loans provide tax relief. The principal repayment of a housing loan attracts rebate under Section 80C up to Rs 1,00,000 and the interest payment attracts a rebate of Rs 1,50,000.

Medical insurance

In addition to Section 80C, there is Section 80D that enables an individual to claim rebate on mediclaim policies. Payment of premium for medical insurance (mediclaim) is eligible for tax exemption up to Rs 15,000 This deduction can avail on medical insurance premium paid for yourself, spouse, parents and children.

Other deductions for salaried employees

If your employer provides medical allowance, you can available an income tax deduction of up to Rs 15,000 per year by offering proof of the relevant expenses.

If the employer gives leave travel allowance as a part of your salary, you can avail income tax deduction on travel expenses (family travel expenses can also be covered if family travels along with the taxpayer). Leave travel allowance can be availed twice in a block of four calendar years. Presently, the block applicable is from 2010 to 2013. Leave travel allowance can only be availed on the expenses incurred on domestic travel. However, the travel mode can be anything like taxi, bus, train or air.

Conclusion

Since only five months are left out for completing this financial year, it is advisable for you to review your tax savings planning, and explore available options to minimize the tax liabilities.

Please keep the following factors in your mind while proceeding with tax saving investments.

First of all, try to exhaust the quota for Section 80C. You can look at various options to invest and save tax under Section 80C. Salaried people can also look at saving tax by planning the expenditures under medical allowance, child education allowance and conveyance allowance. Investing in a medical insurance policy is another option to save tax, if your Section 80C limit is already exhausted. However, it is not advisable to take another medical policy just for the sake of saving tax, if you already have one.

Tips for Financial Planning & Investments

2011-10-06T10:44:00.000+05:30

1)     Don’t invest in any financial products without understanding the actual return potential and risk aspects of the product you are planning to invest in. Read the fine prints carefully, try to understand, make a comparative study with the similar products available in the market. Do not invest at seeing colorful and attractive advertisements, leaflets etc. Also, please careful about the brand ambassadors, suppose your favorite celebrity acting as brand ambassador for that company, that doesn’t mean that, the product he promoting is good to buy. His intention is to make cores and cores of money and he does not bother about whether the end user is going to benefit out of it or not.   In case you find it difficult to understand the products, take the help of an expert finacial planner.     Keep this in your mind that, the money you are going to invest is your hard earned money and the investment is going to be made with the expectation of earning a reasonable return without risking the original amount invested.

2)     Track your portfolio/investments regularly, review each and every products in your portfolios on a regular interval, if you feel that, some of the investments are not giving returns as per your expectation or in line with the similar products available in market. Watch the performance for one or two quarter, still its not improving or showing the sign of improvement remove those investments from your portfolio and look for a better investment option.

3)     Keep this in mind that, the return of any investment is not what actually get credited in your bank account or interest/dividend cheque you received from the company or bank. The actual return is what you get in hand after paying the taxes (income tax, capital gain tax etc) and also you need to adjust inflation factor. So the actual return should be net of taxes and cost inflation factor. Eg. You are earning 10% interest on your bank fixed deposits and present cost inflation is 8%, in this case the inflation adjusted return is only 2%.   When you make investments, if possible select investments whose returns are tax free or exempted from capital gain tax.

4)     In case you wanted to beat inflation, you need to invest in high risk high return assetslike equiteis or real estate. The traditional bank term deposits, company deposits, Post Office MIS etc can maximum provide you a return in the range of 8-12%, when you adjust the inflation factor, your actual return may be much less or even some times negative. So, start investing some amount (depends up on the risk and return appetite of the investor) in equity market,mutual funds or similar investment products. On medium to long terms basis, those investment are capable of beating the inflation. A wise investor can earn a return in the range of 12% -15% from these types of investments in the long term.

5)     For protecting yourself and your family for the money required for the treatment of any illness, take a mediclaim health insurance policy form one of the trusted insurance companies. This will protect your family for any extra amount required for the treatment of your family members and you are not required to liquidate your existing investments or take a loan from a bank or money lender, this is basically not an investment option but this will act as an insurance or protection of your investment.

6)     In case you are not an expert in stock market investments, its better to investment in good performing Mutual Fund schemes rather than direct investment in stock markets. The expert fund managers in the asset management company will take care your investments and do the needful by way of selecting, buying and selling of securities on behalf of the unit holders of the mutual fund schemes you have invested for.

7)     In case your risk appetite is low, try to use the Systematic Investment Plan (SIP)route of investments for both Mutual Funds and Equity investments. This will average your cost of investments, enhance the return potential and reduce the risk of losing your capital. Do not stopyour investments like Mutual Fund SIPs or insurance policy premium just because the stock market is down. You behave like an intelligent investor when you start investments and become genius when you see correction in the market. You start saying "market will surely go down further." It's better to invest more when all others are selling. This is the ONLY way to make friendship with stock market

8)     If you are planning to invest in stock market directly, invest with strict stop-loss and aim for target price. Once that target is achieved or the prices come down to a certain level, go and sell your shares to limit the loss or book the profit. If you are over confident or sure about the performance of the security, you can hold those securities absolutely at your personal risk.   Before selecting a stock for investment, study the fundamentals of sector, company, management of company and technical charts etc. Stock market is like a magnet, be careful.

9)     Always take term insurance policiesto cover your life risk. It won't give you anything at maturity but will surely take care your family, in case of your sudden death. Your wife will not try to seek a job at older age as she has sufficient funds to manage all responsibilities. Don’t consider buying insurance products as investments, it’s a protection against any future eventuality of any unexpected events like death, illness or disability etc.

10) Always think positively and take investment decisions rationally.   Don’t trust the investment/insurance products selling agents (either individuals or corporate). Most of their aim is to make money and they are not bothered about your financial wellbeing (don’t think that, all financial products selling agents are like that, there are exceptions too) It is you to decide, whether your agent or financial adviser is doing justice to your investment or they are keenly interestedin your financial wellbeing rather than earning their share of commission.

Best Regards
Mani.V
Source: Website

How to Reduce Tax Liability - for Salaried Employees!!!

2011-09-09T10:58:00.002+05:30

1) Proper Allocation of Annual compensation
Restructuring your salary with some additional components can reduce your tax liability. This restructuring doesn’t require any additional cash outflow. The following components can be efficiently used to reduce your income tax liability.

Transport allowance to the extend of Rs.800 is exempt

Medical expenses which are reimbursed by the employer are exempt to the tune of Rs.15000

Food coupons or ticket restaurant are exempt from tax up to 50 Per meal .No of meal in day can be up to 1-2 per Day

Individuals who are all living in a rented accommodation can include House Rent Allowance ( HRA ) as a part of their salary

Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) can be part of your salary as this can be claimed twice in a block of 4 years

2) Effective Utilization of Tax Exemption
As far as possible utilize the maximum exemptions available under section 80 C, 80 CCF and 80 D. The maximum exemption available under section 80 C is Rs. 100000.

Under this section Rs.100000 investment or contribution can be made in PPF, NSC, Life insurance premium, 5 year FD with banks and Post offices, Mutual Fund ELSS, Principal Repayment of housing loan, and the tuition fees paid for children’s education.

Under Section 80 CCF, you can invest up to Rs.20000 in infrastructure bonds.

Under Sec 80 D, the premium paid towards the medi claim policies are exempt. The maximum limit of exemption is Rs.15000 and for senior citizens the limit is Rs.20000 and for covering senior citizen parents there is an additional exemption to the extend of Rs.15000.

3) Properly Structure your Housing Loan
The Principal repayment of a housing loan is eligible for a deduction up to Rs.100000. The interest paid on a housing loan is eligible for a deduction up to Rs.150000. If the housing loan is for a sizeable amount, then it is possible that the principal repayment and interest may exceed the specified tax exemption limit. To utilize the maximum tax benefit, an individual can consider going for a joint home loan with his/her spouse or parent or sibling. This will make sure that both the co-owners can claim tax deductions in the proportion of their holding in the loan.

4) Tax Plan in Sync with Overall Financial Plan

You should not do your tax plan in isolation. You need to do it in sync with your overall financial plan. So a tax plan is not only to just save taxes and also it should assist you in achieving your other financial goals like children’s higher education, buying a home or retirement.

5) Avoid Last Minute Rush

In fact the right time to do the tax plan is the beginning of the financial year. If you postpone your tax planning even now and do it in the last minute, then you will not be able to choose the right investment. In the last minute rush, you will be forced to choose a scheme which gives the proof immediately. Is the investment sound and profitable? Is there any other better options? You will not be able to choose the best scheme and you may settle with a mediocre one.

6) Invest Some Quality Time
Before investing your money, you need to invest your time. You need to take some quality time to understand the various tax saving options and compare their benefits and limitations.

7) Check for Future Commitments
Some tax saving options like NSC or ELSS need only onetime investment. Some other tax saving options like PPF, Ulips need periodical investments year after year. You need to be careful in choosing a tax saving scheme where you need to commit for periodical future payments. You need to check on a few things like; do you need such a future commitment? Will you be able to meet the future commitments at ease? The law may change and you may not get any tax exemption for your future payments. Would you consider the scheme irrespective of tax benefit for the future payments?

8) Changed Your Job; Redo your Tax Plan

Did you switch your job in the middle of the financial year? Then you need to redo your tax plan with consolidating the income from both the companies. It is advisable to inform the new company about the income during the particular financial year from the old company. So that your new company will deduct the right amount of TDS. Otherwise you may need to pay extra tax at the end of the financial year.

Whenever you change your job, you need to have a sitting with your financial planner or tax advisor. So that the required changes in your tax plan can be done proactively.

With proper tax planning you can reduce your tax liability; save more; invest better and become wealthier

Warm Regards,

Mani.V
Source: Website

Dream Interpretation: What Can a Dream Tell You?????

2011-03-29T09:15:00.000+05:30

Did you ever wake up in the morning feeling very worried about a dream? You might have had a feeling that something very unusual is going to happen in your real life. You can understand the meaning of a dream if you can apply a little bit of logical thought. A dream can lead to the unification of your mind, body and spirit. It allows you to explore your inner-self. You dream when your subconscious state of mind work with your conscious mind amidst the events of the real life.

The Process of Dreaming:

Sleep has four stages and a person begins to dream in the fourth stage, the stage of deep sleep. The four stages of sleep are described below:

• Stage 1: This is a stage of very light sleep which lasts for only a few minutes. If you face no disturbances during this stage then you would make a transition to the second stage of sleep.

• Stage 2: It is a stage of deeper sleep in comparison to the first stage. Dreams start to get developed from this stage onwards as you begin to feel the emergence of vague thoughts and ideas in your mind. You would now drift to the third stage if your sleep remains uninterrupted.

• Stage 3: By now, you have moved into a stage of deep sleep. During this phase, you experience relaxation of your muscles. Your heart rate slows down, accompanied by a fall in your blood pressure. Your breathing becomes steady and uniform. One would find it very difficult to wake you up now. Only a loud noise can disturb your sleep. You are now ready to move to the fourth stage of sleep.

• Stage 4: You experience the deepest sleep at this stage. This is the stage during which the dreams occur. It would take you a few minutes to wake up even if your sleep gets disturbed by a loud noise. Your blood pressure and the heart rate face fluctuations, and your brain heats up. It is then followed by REM or Rapid Eye Movement. You would be able to recall a recently seen dream if you are awakened at this point of time. The duration of the first REM session is ten minutes. You would then go back to the phase of deep sleep followed by another REM stage. The cycle continues till you wake up.

Steps in the Dream Interpretation Process:

1. Keeping a record of your dream is the first step in the dream interpretation process. Keep a pen and a paper at your bedside so that you can write down what you have visualized in your dreams.

2. You should relax and make your mind calm before going to bed. This is important because the excitement of the day would burden up your mind and would prevent the occurrence of meaningful dreams.

3. When you wake up, keep your eyes shut for a few minutes. This would allow you to remember what you have seen in your dream.

4. Now you are ready to analyze your dreams. Put emphasis on the key symbols and images and try to bring out a meaning. You need to interpret the images from a personal point of view to find out the past and present aspects of your life which are related to these images.

When do Dreams have No Inner Meaning or Prophetic Value?

Dreams that generally have little or no prophetic value are those that:
• Come within the first few hours of sleep;

• Which depict concerns of a person;

• Result from external stimuli, such as a book read or a film or television show watched just before going to bed;

• Result from illness, especially in case of medication.

The Most Common Symbols Found in the Dream Dictionary

• Angel: The image of an angle symbolizes Protection.

• Chair: A chair might denote the change of employment.

• Glass: A broken glass denotes success while an empty one stands for distress.

• Water: Images of a flowing river or stream stand for romance while muddy water means that one is uncertain of his/her own feelings. If you see fishes in the water, then it would mean abundance and creativity.

Dream Theme: When You See Animals in Your Dreams

• Cat: Cat signifies misfortune. But for the cat lovers, it means feminine sexuality, independent spirit, power and creativity.

• Dog: Dog represents the skills that you have ignored so far and the ones that need to be activated.

• Snake: Snake shows your inner fears and hidden worries that are threatening you. But in the positive sense, a snake represents transformation, wisdom and knowledge.

Dream Theme: When You See Characters in Your Dreams

• Actor/Actress: It denotes your quest for pleasure.

• Brother: It stands for some aspect of your relationship with your brother.

• Dead: It makes you aware of the fact that you are under the influence of negative people.

• God: When you see or feel God in your dreams, it shows your spirituality.

• Friend: It represents the aspects of your personality which you have disregarded, but are now willing to reunite these rejected parts.

• Lover: It stands for self-worth, acceptance and recognition of your true inner value. If you see an old lover in your dream, then it means that unresolved issues are still there in the old relationship.

Dream Theme: When You See Places in Your Dreams

• Amusement Park: It means that you need to rest and relax and find some time for enjoyment.

• Classroom: It denotes that you are on your way to learn an important lesson of life.

• Heaven: It represents your wish to find true happiness.

• Hell: This shows that you are passing through an inescapable situation.

• School: It shows your inner feelings of inadequacy and unresolved issues of insecurities of the childhood.
Meaning of Different Activities Which You See in a Dream

• Flying: It often denotes a newly found independence. You might have faced restrictions in certain area of life and when you see yourself flying in your dream, you feel as if you have been able to come out from such a situation.

• Being Chased: When you see that someone is chasing you, it shows your anxiety. It shows a situation that you want to escape from.

• Being Naked: This can carry different meanings. If you feel very ashamed and embarrassed of being naked, then it means that you are hiding a secret within you and this is making you feel burdened. If you take pride in being naked, then it portrays that you are a free spirit.

• Falling Down: These are common dreams. When you see yourself falling down, it means that you are having feelings of helplessness, insecurity and anxiety. It also indicates a feeling of failure or a missed opportunity.

We often don't remember dreams as soon as we wake up from sleep. But some of the dreams carry meanings which have relevance to our everyday lives. Therefore, we need to interpret the dreams accurately to find out what they stand for. This way, you can explore your inner self and come out of inner fears, inhibitions and anxiety.

Warm Regards,

Mani.V

soruce: website

Overcome Your Nervous Habits!!!

2011-03-16T21:34:00.001+05:30

Biting Nails:

Problem: Biting nails is a habit that is adopted and carried through from childhood and can become apparent in stressful situations throughout adulthood. Nail biting is often a subconscious habit that is an expression of some deeper anxiety that gets worse at times of stress. To most people, nail biting is associated with nervousness and shyness and is an involuntary response to certain social situations. This habit has a weakening and damaging impact on your nails and teeth. When you bite your nails down to the nail bed, the skin lying underneath suffers from reddening and swelling. The cuticle and the nail lie in close contact with each other to prevent the entry of harmful bacteria, fungus and water into the nail. But when the cuticle gets damaged, you might develop paronychia, an infection of the skin around the nail. Additionally, nail biting can cause broken or chipped front teeth, and gives an opportunity to germs and bacteria from underneath your nails to enter your mouth and cause cavities or gum infections.

Solution: It is very difficult for individuals to discontinue this habit. Keeping your hands clean and covering them, when possible, might help to check this habit. Keep gloves in your back pocket and wear them when you have a desire to bite. There are also certain bad tasting over-the-counter products available that you can apply on your nails.

Cracking Your Knuckles:

Problem: We often choose to pull at our fingers or stretch our knuckles, thereby producing a cracking or popping sound. Those who are into this habit, say that the act relieves stress and feels as good as taking a nice short stretch. But why do we get to hear this crackling sound? This sound comes from the release of gases. All of the joints in our bodies are surrounded by synovial fluid, a thick, clear lubricant which contains dissolved gases like oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. When you stretch or bend your finger to pop the knuckle, the connective tissue capsule that surrounds the joint gets stretched. This stretching drops the pressure inside the joint capsule and leads to a sudden release of the gases, creating the popping sound. It takes about 25 to 30 minutes for the gas to redissolve into the joint fluid. During this period of time, your knuckles won't crack.

Although studies have shown that cracking your knuckles doesn't lead to or increase the risk of arthritis, however, habitual cracking of knucles can lead to other types of damage, including soft tissue damage to the joint capsule and a decrease in grip strength.

Solution: Since a nervous habit is in response to stress, identifying the source of the stress is the first step in dealing with the habit. With time, children can come out of this habit. But adults cannot get over this habit very easily. They might need the guidance of a behavior-modification therapist.

Hair Twirling and Pulling:

Problem: Playing, twirling and fiddling with hair is a common habit that develops during childhood. As the child grows, it may develop into hair pulling. It is indicative of number of emotions and behaviors such as nervousness and boredom. Individuals who are into this habit believe that this act can soothe their stressed minds or can act as a mind-stimulator during boredom. Highly nervous individuals may feel impelled to pluck the hair out of their scalp, usually one strand at a time. This type of routine and severe hair pulling can be an inherited condition known as trichotillomania, which the puller uses as a self-soothing mechanism. Over time, this habit can lead to damage of the hair follicles, thereby causing patchy baldness.

Solution: Experts suggest that a cognitive or a behavioral therapy can prove to have fruitful results in this case. As part of this therapy, people are taught to recognize triggers that cause them to pull hair, such as boredom or creeping anxiety. They are instructed to wear gloves or Band-Aids on their fingers so they're aware when they start to pull, and are trained to substitute another behavior for it, such as twirling a piece of string or squeezing a stress ball.

Smoking:

Problem: Smokers have found a very popular excuse for smoking: "smoking calms my mind in moments of tension". But according to experts, nicotine present in cigarettes actually makes you feel more nervous. Nicotine works by binding certain sites of the brain and raising the levels of dopamine, a hormone, which makes you feel good. This means, we need to smoke at regular intervals to maintain dopamine at those elevated levels. This causes you to smoke more frequently and you turn into a chain smoker. As everybody knows, smoking cigarettes can lead to many health problems such as lung cancer, respiratory illnesses and other health conditions as well.

Solution: It's never too late to quit smoking and there are many benefits to be gained no matter what age you are when you give up. Counseling sessions apart from treatment with nicotine patches and tablets (in the form of sugarless chewing gum) can help to come out of this habit.

Biting and Sucking Pens:

Problem: Our mouth is the main entrance to all the germs that enter our body. When we bite pens and pencils we never think that these objects are fully loaded with germs. Studies indicate that there are almost 60,000 types of germs of which only 1 to 2 percent have the capability to cause potential harm to our body. Your pen can get contaminated with these germs when you or your friends and family members - who have touched microbe-laden objects like keyboards, door knobs etc - get in contact with the pen. These germs can be the cause of cold or an acute case of gastroenteritis.

Solution: You can solve this problem by keeping your hands clean. Frequently wash your hands to prevent the transmission of microbes from your hands to pens and other objects. If you are unable to give up on your habit of pen sucking, try substituting another activity like drinking a cup to tea to satisfy your oral fixation.

Grinding Teeth:

Problem: Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, denotes an uncontrolled movement of teeth from front to back and from side to side. This habit often occurs at night while asleep on a subconscious level, usually in response to emotional stress. It has the potential to harm your teeth because when you are in the sleep mode, some of your protective reflexes do not work and you become susceptible to excessive damages. This can lead to a variety of dental problems including excessive wear of the teeth; chipping, cracking, and fracturing of teeth and loosening of teeth. It can also cause pain in the jaw joints, headache and severe toothache. A sore jaw or achy mouth can be a sign of teeth grinding. Many people normally do not grind during the day, but might resort to a clenching activity. This might loosen our teeth by loosening the periodontal ligament which anchors the teeth in the bone.

Solution: If clenching causes tightness of the muscles of the mouth, then massaging the area can bring some relief. Behavior modification techniques like self-checking for clenching can keep this habit under control. Health experts suggest that the upper and the lower teeth should always be separated by a small gap. To limit the damage teeth grinding can cause, your dentist may suggest you to wear a mouth guard at night.

Crossing and Uncrossing Your Legs:

Problem: Some people choose to cross, uncross or swing their legs in times of anxiety. Though it seldom causes problem, your sitting posture determines the degree of the harm that these movements can cause. When you choose to sit with your legs crossed, your entire body weight tends to shift to a single buttock and thus, the weight is not uniformly distributed among the two sitting bones. You feel very relaxed to sit in this position without realizing that the sciatic nerve which runs from the spine through the legs is getting compressed. This condition can lead to reduced blood flow, pain, numbness and tingling in the legs. You might also develop long term consequences in the form of chronic musculoskeletal problems.

Solution: Experts suggest that you should keep your spines in proper alignment by finding the best possible sitting position. You also need to check and correct your postures from time to time throughout the day. Correcting the sitting positions would be a remedy in itself, but if the condition becomes chronic, then stretches, manual therapy and exercises can help.

Touching and Rubbing Face:

Problem: We often tend to touch and rub our face without any justification to do so. Teenagers, who display anxious or nervous behavior and become very conscious about their looks during the adolescence, tend to display this behavior more prominently. People with this habit often experience tingly sensations or an itch in the face (a nervous sensation), which strongly draws them to touch it. Touching the face with the hands can cause irritation of the skin and this again provokes the hands to touch these areas! This is enough to cause acne due to the blockage of pores. Once an eruption occurs, you tend to scratch it even more, causing pimples to bleed which might develop into scars. Further, as your fingertips contain germs, you might pass on more infections to the already affected pustules.

Solution: The problem lies in the fact that most of us do not realize how harmful this habit can be! So if you cannot give up the idea of pricking into your pimples, then it would be better if you cut your nails short. At least, this way you can avoid bleeding! You should also avoid looking at the mirror very frequently since it would again tempt you to scratch the acne.

We never realize what we are doing or how we are acting in our unconscious state of minds. We even fail to realize that others are observing us in social situations. But we keep on pursuing our habitual behavior. Some of these habits are so unappealing that we have to hear comments. If we just ignore these comments, then we should at least try to give up these bad habits after thinking about its ill consequences on our health.

Warm Regards,

Mani.V

source: from Website

Tips for Overcoming Depression!!!

2011-02-03T21:47:00.000+05:30

Tips for Overcoming Depression

I got this Useful Message from the website.

What is Depression?

In behavioral terms, depression is when the gross (total) level of observable activity is low. Depression is what happens to you when you are unhappy and you don't know why. Depression is an illness that affects everybody but takes a heavy toll on the affected ones.

What causes Depression?

It can be caused because of a number of reasons like:

* Break up
* Death of a family or friend
* Health complications
* Being financially unstable etc.

What are the Symptoms?

There are numerous symptoms like:

* Loss of interest
* Loss of motivation
* Changes in sleep pattern
* No energy, easily fatigued
* Appetite change
* Anxiety dreams
* Feeling restless
* Unable to remember things
* No self worth
* Difficulty making decisions
* Low self-esteem
* Very sensitive and easily hurt
* Headaches

What can I do about it?

Here are some ways you can fight depression on your own:

1. Eat smart:

A healthy diet not only fuels your body, but it also helps you feel better. Some studies suggest omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12 may help ease mood changes such as depression. So increase the intake of oily fish (like salmon, mackerel and tuna), flaxseed, walnuts and low-fat dairy products in your diet. Add more low-fat carbs to help lift you out of a blue mood. Avoid sugary foods as they lead to a sharp drop in blood sugars later on and this leads to energy and mood slumps.

2. Avoid alcohol:

Many people turn to alcohol when they are depressed or stressed. But alcohol can make your depression worse and interfere with the medicines you take for depression. Avoiding alcohol when you are depressed gives you a better chance of recovering from depression.

3. Exercise:

Outdoor exercise is a key element in recovery so take up an exercise program. Exercise is a great way to get a natural high. You don't need to train for the marathon. Important thing is to choose an exercise you enjoy, so you'll look forward to it and feel better when you do it. For example, try playing tennis, riding a bike, swimming, or even going out for a short walk. You can also exercise with others for support. This will help overcome the exhaustion and loneliness of depression.

4. Get enough sunlight:

You may have seasonal affective disorder (SAD) if you feel more depressed during cold and darker months when there's less sunlight. So, get out and sit in the sunlight for at least 10 minutes. Sunlight helps to reduce stress, improve your mood, and help you cope.

5. Get enough sleep:

So many people are so over-tired and stressed that they find it difficult to sleep. Sleep regulation is important, when trying to fight depression. Anyone suffering from depression should make sure that they have a healthy and stable sleep pattern. Start by going to bed and getting up the same time each day.

6. Socialize:

When you're depressed, it feels more comfortable to retreat into your shell. But being around other people will make you feel less depressed. Socializing has a positive effect and removes some of the negative self-scrutiny that accompanies alone time. Getting connected to others is key to feeling better. That may means using the phone or getting out, even once a day, to have a social contact.

7. Keep yourselves busy:

When you are active, your mind has the chance to wander and focus on negative thoughts. Do the things you love like taking a stroll in the park, participating in your favorite sports, reading books, or engaging in any activity that you have passion for and would love to pursue. You can also play with your pet to take your mind off your problems.

8. Relax:

Remind yourself to relax in all situations. Take a break from your stressful workload and spend the day just goofing around. In other words, have some fun like listening to soothing music or a nice warm bath. You can also consider joining a yoga or meditation class to mentally relax yourself.

Recovering from depression is not exactly the easiest thing in the world. But support from family and friends can have a big and positive influence throughout a depression sufferer's treatment and recovery.

You Can Do to Be Happy.....

2011-01-31T23:27:00.001+05:30

1. Go for a Walk: If there's one thing that's virtually guaranteed to make you feel better, it's going for a walk. Walking is one of the most therapeutic things any person can do for relieving anxiety and stress. Go for a walk in the park. Walk slowly and admire the view. If you have a pet dog, take your dog for a walk. Several studies have shown the stress-relieving and improved heart health benefits of pets.

2. Talk to Someone: When you are having a sad day it is a good idea to talk to someone and not hold what you are feeling inside. As much as possible, spend time with those you love, and with others who you enjoy. It could be a simple phone call, or a short visit.

3. Laugh: Laughing can soften the blows. As someone once said, humor is a free ride to happiness. Not only is it good for your heart, but also for you and the people near you.

4. Watch a movie: Movies are an inexpensive way to change your mood in a few hours. Pick something you really like. It doesn't have to be something that makes you really think; it might be just a good fun film.

5. Take a hot shower: Just close your eyes and relax and let the water massage you. You will feel better and happier.

6. Listen to Music: A great way to change your mood from sad to happy is to put on some upbeat music, sit comfortably in your favorite chair and listen to it. Studies have found that listening to music activates reward centers of the brain, releasing dopamine, and giving you the same hit of happiness that you would get from a piece of chocolate or sex.

7. Treat yourself: Take a few minutes each day to give yourself a little treat, whether that's something like chocolate or gifts or taking a nap.

8. Do something new: Nothing excites quite like something new. So go out and do something fun that you haven't done for a while, or even something that you haven't ever done before. Even spending time to learn something new will help. Learn a new language or spend time on the Internet reading about a subject that you wish you knew more about.

9. Finish a long-postponed task: Finishing a task that you have been postponing for a long time -- like cleaning your wardrobe or desk, or making an appointment with your dentist -- will give you a rush of elation.

10. Make someone happy: Just make someone feel great and you will feel as well. Listening to a friend, passing on your skills, celebrating others' successes, and forgiveness also contribute to happiness.

11. Take breaks: Everyone needs breaks. Don't skip them to get a head start on other work. Take this time to relax and do something you enjoy.

Try using a combination of different sadness relief methods and avoid using only one. The more ways you can implement relaxation, enjoyment and positive thinking into your lifestyle, the less sadness you will have a hold on your life.

Wish u joyful Life...

Mani.V

How to Improve Your Concentration?

2011-01-30T20:41:00.000+05:30

What is Concentration?

Simply put, concentration is a person's ability to focus his thoughts in a particular direction for a considerable time without getting distracted by other things. Everyone has the ability to concentrate. Some people are quite good with concentrating. There are people though who find it quite difficult to focus their attention in one particular thing without their thoughts wandering. This can be quite frustrating. If you find difficulty concentrating, you need to practice and develop your concentration skills.

Your ability to concentrate may depend on a lot of factors. It can depend on your commitment to your work. It can also depend on your enthusiasm for a project, an assignment, or a work. If you don't know how to go about doing the job, you might be quite disinterested and end up losing your concentration. If you have problems and you are tired and stressed out, you'd have problems concentrating. If the place is not conducive to concentrating, you might not be able to concentrate on your work at all.

If you want to improve your concentration skills, here are some tips that you can follow:

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Strengthen concentration: Twice a day, practice holding a specific object in mind steadily for 5 to 10 minutes. The item should have some detail that you can imagine, but it should also be simple to "see" it in your mind. Some good examples: an apple, a pencil, the face of your child or pet, your house as it looks from the outside, and so on. Choose something you won't have trouble picturing, but something that requires you to focus in order to see it clearly. Call up a strong mental image of it, and then try to keep your focus on the object for a full 5 or 10 minutes without losing your focus.
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Empty your mind: Another focus-killer is a head full of scattered thoughts. You know those days when you've got a million things going on and you're trying to remember them all at once and you keep forgetting things anyway? Emptying your mind can do wonders for scattered thoughts! Before you do this exercise, first make a list of everything you can think of that you need to remember. This will help you feel more comfortable about releasing your scattered thoughts.
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Clarify Objectives: Know what your goal is clearly before you start. If you aren't sure what the end result is, the confusion will make it impossible to focus. Unclear objectives often result in having to redo sections of work.
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Visualize for practice: If you've got an important goal or task coming up and you're feeling unsure about your ability to do it, visualize it first! Many studies have been done on the power of visualization, and the general consensus is that performing tasks and activities mentally over and over again is equally as effective as performing them physically! That means that visualization can serve as a powerful practice session that helps you master anything including better time management!
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Do one thing at a time, set aside specific time period: It helps concentration if you just do one thing at a time giving it your complete undivided attention. Multitasking (doing many things simultaneously) will make you distracted and it is an ineffective way of doing things contrary to what many people believe. Do one thing at a time in order to develop concentration. If you are trying to think of giving presentation at office, or studying for your exam, for the next 30 minutes or so, just think of that alone. Focus your mind on the details of the job and how you plan to do it. Let not your attention wander to other things during this time.
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Use the "Two More" Motivation: When you feel your concentration begin to wane, tell yourself that you'll work for two more minutes or complete two more tasks. Once those are completed, settle on two more. When you break up a task into tiny sections, you'll find that you improve your concentration. It allows your mind to focus on smaller portions of tasks, thereby seemingly decreasing the amount of work that needs to be done. You can use Two More or Five More or Ten More or whatever works for you, but make sure that it's a number you can work with. If Ten More sounds daunting, go for five, and so on.
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Break task into smaller parts: Breaking a task into smaller parts will make it seem less daunting and help you approach it with more positivity. If you are trying to study a textbook for exam, then you can make a goal of finishing one chapter at a time.
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Do a thing wholeheartedly: If you approach something half-heartedly, it can show in the quality of the work. In order to do things better, do them with interest. Whatever you are doing, try to find some aspect of it that interests you. If you can find something interesting in each thing you do, you can enjoy even the most mundane and boring tasks.
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Check your diet: Research has shown that diets high in saturated fat and sugar help reduce your ability to concentrate. Monitoring your diet and reducing your intake of foods in these areas can certainly help to improve your concentration. In addition, keeping your body hydrated with plenty of water will help in this area as well. Your brain needs water to perform at an optimal level so give it what it needs and it will reward you with increased focus and concentration.
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Give Meditation a try: If you have never tried meditation before, perhaps now is the time. Many definitions of the word meditation include the words focus and concentration as the prime goal of this exercise. Taking time to yourself and clearing everything from your mind and working to focus on one specific thing can help bring a sense of relaxation to your body and help to de-stress yourself which will in turn allow your body to become more focused on whatever goals that you set for it.
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Reward yourself: Decide before starting your work how you would like to reward yourself when you finish. The reward can be anything that makes you happy and relaxed like having your favorite food, going out for a walk, meeting your best friend etc. It doesn't have to be something big, any activity that gives you pleasure and takes your mind off work for some time will do. This system of rewarding yourself will increase motivation for doing things.

Mani.V

Read more: http://www.lifemojo.com/lifestyle/how-to-improve-your-concentration-3534650#ixzz1CX1ZAoVw

8 Tips to Focus Your Mind

2011-01-30T20:23:00.000+05:30

Hi...

1. Witness your thoughts.

No one can stop thinking entirely; it is impossible. If you start trying not to think, you only end up thinking about how to stop thinking! What you can do, however, is to withdraw from your thoughts and become more of an objective spectator.

2. Picture your mind as a blank canvas or a dark sky.

Allow your thoughts to come and go, but resist the urge to follow each one. Your brain will eventually slow down and you will feel less pressured.

3. Count.

If you find it difficult to let go of your thoughts, try counting slowly as you breathe. Watch your thoughts and try to resist following them. Turn your attention to the count as you breathe out.

4. Pay active attention.

As you work and think, try to keep your attention on the task at hand. Be strict with yourself and each time your mind wanders, return it to the task. As you keep refocusing your attention, your “mind stillness” will improve.

5. Still your body.

One sign of fragmented attention is fragmented movement. For example, when you are at the theatre, it is easy to tell if others around you are fully attentive to the performance. People who sniff and sigh, move their heads this away and that, and wiggle in their seats are having some difficulty concentrating. Rapt attention is usually accompanied by still body posture.

6. Find a comfortable position and don’t allow yourself to move.

Concentrate on what you are doing or watching, drawing your attention away from physical distractions, and focus your thoughts on your task. After a while, you will notice that you fidget less and feel less physical discomfort. You are now channeled into mental exertion.

7. Interest your mind.

Try to find interest in projects to help you concentrate. Taking up a new hobby can be a tremendous help. You should also try to find something interesting even in the dullest chore. If you are at a gathering, find someone and start a conversation. Be inquisitive and you might discover you have similar interests.

8. Open the mind.

Just as strength, stamina and flexibility must be incorporated in your physical routine, the mind needs new and absorbing challenges to give it a change from its everyday journey. Notice something new on the same way home that you might not have noticed before. Buy a magazine on a subject you normally wouldn’t look at, read it, and open yourself to new possibilities.

Mani.V [hug]

Source: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-tips-to-focus-your-mind-how-to.html#

JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

2011-01-27T21:48:00.000+05:30

First impression

When you walk in the room the very first impression you make on the interviewer can have a great influence on the rest of the interview. It is important that you introduce yourself, shake hands, and are friendly. The first question is often a "breaking the ice" (establish a rapport) type of question. Don't be surprised if the interviewer asks you something like:

How are you today?
Did you have any trouble finding us?
What do you think of the weather lately?

Don't be surprised by the friendly tone. The interviewer wants to put you at ease (help you relax). Answer the question without going into too much detail. The language you use should be simple but polite, for example;

How are you today?
GOOD
I'm fine thank you, and you?
I'm well thank you.
BAD
So, so
OK
Not so well

What is most important?

Talking about your experience and credentials (qualifications) is the most important part of any job interview. Your qualifications include your education from High School on and any special training you may have done in the past. Your experience is any work that you have done that is directly or indirectly related to the job you are applying for.

Education

Remember that your education took place in the past. Therefore you need to use the past tenses, for example:

I attended the University College of Engineering and Technology from 2001 to 2005.
I graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

If you are currently a student you should use the following present tenses:

I am currently studying at the University College of Engineering and Technology

Malaysia

and will graduate with a degree in Electrical Engineering in December.
I am studying English at the Borough Community College.

Past training
Remember to include any training you may have had when talking about your education. This includes any computer training, correspondence courses, etc.

Make sure to mention your English studies.

This is very important as English is not your first language and the employer may be concerned about this fact. Assure the employer that you are continuing to improve your English skills by any courses you may be taking, or by saying that you study a certain number of hours a week to improve your skills.

Experience and Qualifications

Work experience is by far the most important topic of any job interview (at least in the United States and

Britain

). Therefore, it is important to explain what experience you have in detail. Generally, employers want to know exactly what you did and how well you accomplished your tasks. This is not the time to be modest. Be confident, and talk freely about your accomplishments in past employment.

The tenses you should use are the following:

When talking about current employment be careful to use the present perfect or present perfect continuous. This signals that you are still performing these tasks at your current job, for example:

Smith and Co. have employed me for the last 3 years as a salesperson.
I have been creating customer contacts for 6months.
Etc.

When talking about past employers use the past tenses to signal that you are no longer working for that company, for example:

I was employed by Jackson's from 1989 to 1992 as a clerk.
I worked as a receptionist at the Ritz while I was living in New York.
Etc.

Talking about Responsibilities

Most importantly, you will need to demonstrate your qualifications and skills, which are required for the job you are applying for. The job skills that you have acquired in the past may not have been for the same exact job. Therefore, it is important to show how the capabilities you do have relate to the job you are applying for.

Example from a real story:

A student from Moscow who had worked as the manager of an important theater in Moscow would like to apply a job in New York. Unfortunately, he had to start from the beginning in New York and therefore wanted to get a job as a rodent exterminator (someone who kills rats!). When asked what kind of experience he had, he replied that, as the manager of the theater, he had had to make sure that the theater was always rodent free and was therefore capable of doing the job well! This is a fantastic example of the type of adaptability most employers are looking for.

Use the Right Word

Below is a list of great verbs to help you express just exactly what you did with impressive vocabulary. These verbs are used to express responsibilities and tasks performed:

acted
accomplished
adapted
administered
advanced
advised
allocated
analyzed
applied
approved
arbitrated
arranged
assisted
attained
blended
brought
built
carried out
catalogued
changed
classified
collaborated
compared
completed
computed
conceived
conducted
constructed
consulted
contracted
controlled
cooperated
coordinated
corrected
counseled
created
dealt
decided
decreased
defined
delegated
derived
designated
detected
developed
devised
directed
discovered
distributed
documented
doubled
edited
encouraged
engineered
enlarged
escalated
established
estimated
evaluated
examined
expanded
experienced
explored
facilitated
finalized
formulated
founded
functioned
governed
grouped
guided
handled
harmonized
harnessed
headed
identified
implemented
improved
increased
indexed
initiated
inspected
installed
instituted
interpreted
introduced
invented
investigated
justified
led
localized
located
made
managed
maintained
mechanized
merged
moderated
motivated
negotiated
opened
operated
organized
originated
overcame
perceived
performed
pioneered
planned
prepared
presented
presided
processed
programmed
promoted
provided
purchased
raised
recommended
recorded
recruited
rectified
redesigned
repaired
replaced
restored
reversed
reviewed
revised
saved
screened
selected
serviced
set up
solved
sorted
sparked
specified
started
stimulated
strengthened
summarized
supervised
supported
systematized
tested
trained
transacted
transcribed
transformed
tripled
upgraded
validated
varied
verified
vitalized
won
wrote

To describe your skills the following adjectives are useful

accurate
active
adaptable
adept
broad-minded
competent
conscientious
creative
dependable
determined
diplomatic
discreet
efficient
energetic
enterprising
enthusiastic
experienced
fair
firm
genuine
honest
innovative
logical
loyal
mature
methodical
motivated
objective
outgoing
personable
pleasant
positive
practical
productive
reliable
resourceful
self disciplined
sense of humor
sensitive
sincere
successful
tactful

trustworthy

Use these verbs and adjectives and really sell yourself. You only have a few minutes to show how good you really are. By using this precise vocabulary and being confident can help you make the best impression possible.

COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTION

First Impressions

The first impression you make on the interviewer can decide the rest of the interview. It is important that you introduce yourself, shake hands, and be friendly and polite. The first question is often a "breaking the ice" (establish a rapport) type of question. Don't be surprised if the interviewer asks you something like:

How are you today?
Did you have any trouble finding us?
Isn't this great weather we're having?

This type of question is common because the interviewer wants to put you at ease (help you relax). The best way to respond is in a short, friendly manner without going into too much detail. Here is some examples of correct responses:

Interviewer: How are you today?
You: I'm fine, thank you. And you?
OR
Interviewer: Did you have any trouble finding us?
You: No, the office isn't too difficult to find.
OR Interviewer: Isn't this great weather we're having?
You: Yes, it's wonderful. I love this time of year.
Interviewer: Did you have any trouble finding us?
You: No, the office isn't too difficult to find.
Here are some examples of incorrect responses:
How are you today?
So, so. I'm rather nervous actually.
OR
Interviewer: Did you have any trouble finding us?
You: As a matter of fact it was very difficult. I missed the exit and had to return via the highway. I was afraid I was going to be late for the interview.
OR Interviewer: Isn't this great weather we're having?
You: Yes, it's wonderful. I can remember this time last year. Wasn't it awful! I thought it would never stop raining!
Interviewer: Did you have any trouble finding us?
You: Yes, the office is too difficult to find.

Getting Down to Business

Once the pleasant beginnings have finished, it's time to begin the real interview. Here are a number of the most common questions that are asked during the interview. There are two examples of excellent replies given for each question. Following the examples, you will find a comment describing the type of question and important things to remember when answering that type of question.
Interviewer: Tell me about yourself.

Candidate: I was born and raised in Gambang, Kuantan. I attended the University College of Engineering and Technology Malaysia and received my degree in Electrical Engineering. I enjoy playing tennis in my free time and reading magazines and books.
Candidate: I've just graduated from the University of Lancaster with a degree in Computers. During the summers, I worked as a systems administrator for a small company to help pay for my education.

Comment: This question is meant as an introduction. Do not focus too specifically on any one area. The above question will often be used to help the interviewer choose what h/she would like to ask next. While it is important to give an overall impression of who you are, make sure to concentrate on work related experience. Work related experience should always be the central focus of any interview (work experience is more important than education in most English speaking countries).
Interviewer: What type of position are you looking for?

Candidate: I'm interested in an entry level (beginning) position.
Candidate: I'm looking for a position in which I can utilize my experience.
Candidate: I would like any position for which I qualify.
Comment:You should be willing to take an entry level position.
Interviewer: Are you interested in a full-time or part-time position?

Candidate: I am more interested in a full-time position. However, I would also consider a part-time position.
Comment: Make sure to leave open as many possibilities as possible. Say you are willing to take any job, once the job has been offered you can always refuse if the job does not appeal (not interest) to you.
Interviewer: Can you tell me about your responsibilities at your last job?

Candidate: I advised customers on financial matters. After I consulted the customer, I completed a customer inquiry form and catalogued the information in our database. I then collaborated with colleagues to prepare the best possible package for the client. The clients were then presented with a summarized report on their financial activities that I formulated on a quarterly basis.
Comment: Notice the amount of detail necessary when you are talking about your experience. The employer wants to know exactly what you did and how you did it; the more detail you can give the more the interviewer knows that you understand the type of work. Remember to vary your vocabulary when talking about your responsibilities. Also, do not begin every sentence with "I". Use the passive voice, or an introductory clause to help you add variety to your presentation
Interviewer: What is your greatest strength?

Candidate: I work well under pressure. When there is a deadline (a time by which the work must be finished), I can focus on the task at hand (current project) and structure my work schedule well. I remember one week when I had to get 6 new customer reports out by Friday at 5. I finished all the reports ahead of time without having to work overtime.
Candidate: I am an excellent communicator. People trust me and come to me for advice. One afternoon, my colleague was involved with a troublesome (difficult) customer who felt he was not being served well. I made the customer a cup of coffee and invited both my colleague and the client to my desk where we solved the problem together.
Candidate: I am a trouble shooter. When there was a problem at my last job, the manager would always ask me to solve it. Last summer, the LAN server at work crashed. The manager was desperate and called me in (requested my help) to get the LAN back online. After taking a look at the daily backup, I detected the problem and the LAN was up and running (working) within the hour.
Comment: This is not the time to be modest! Be confident and always give examples. Examples show that you are not only repeating words you have learned, but actually do possess that strength.
Interviewer: What is your greatest weakness?

Candidate: I am overzealous (work too hard) and become nervous when my co-workers are not pulling their weight (doing their job). However, I am aware of this problem, and before I say anything to anyone, I ask myself why the colleague is having difficulties.
Candidate: I tend to spend too much time making sure the customer is satisfied. However, I began setting time-limits for myself If I noticed this happening.

Comment: This is a difficult question. You need to mention a weakness that is actually a strength. Make sure that you always mention how you try to improve the weakness.

Interviewer:Why do you want to work for Matshisita Electronics?

Candidate: After following your firms progress for the last 3 years, I am convinced that Smith and Sons are becoming one of the market leaders and I would like to be part of the team.
Candidate: I am impressed by the quality of your products. I am sure that I would be a convincing salesman because I truly believe that the Matshisita Electronics is the best product in the market today.
Comment: Prepare yourself for this question by becoming informed about the company. The more detail you can give, the better you show the interviewer that you understand the company.
Interviewer: When can you begin?

Candidate: Immediately.
Candidate: As soon as you would like me to begin.

Comment: Show your willingness to work!
The above questions represent some of the most basic questions asked on any job interview in English. Probably the most important aspect of interviewing in English is giving detail. As a speaker of English as a second language, you might be shy about saying complicated things. However, this is absolutely necessary as the employer is looking for an employee who knows his or her job. If you provide detail, the interviewer will know that you feel comfortable in that job. Don't worry about making mistakes in English. It is much better to make simple grammar mistakes and provide detailed information about your experience than to say grammatically perfect sentences without any real content.

Best of LUCK.......

Mani.V

Adapted from: Beare, Kenneth ( 2004) Finding a job for ESL learners {on line article} retrieved 18 Mac 2004 from http://esl.about.com/library/business/bl_jobs_vocabulary.htm