You can get a cold from the cold

Catching a cold is a common worry during the colder winter months, but the idea of getting a cold simply because the weather is cold is something of a myth. It isn’t actually cold weather that spreads the virus that carries the common cold; that tends to happen because we’re more likely to stand close together in winter to preserve warmth and so it’s easier for germs to spread. There are some illnesses caused by the cold, but the common cold isn’t one of them.

You get arthritis by cracking your knuckles

Many of us find a good crack of the knuckles fairly satisfying, while at the same time worrying that we’re actually giving ourselves arthritis. This isn’t actually the case, although you can do other damage if you crack your knuckles regularly: you can end up with swelling and cartilage damage, but arthritis shouldn’t be on the cards.

You lose most heat from the top of your head

In the 1960s, the US Army carried out an experiment to see how we lose our body heat in extremely cold temperatures. They found that we lose most of our body heat through our heads, an idea that has persisted ever since. However, it’s largely nonsense. The truth of the matter is that when they carried out the experiment, the participants were wrapped up in survival gear – everywhere except for their heads. If this experiment proves anything, it’s that you lose the most heat from any part of your body that isn’t covered.

You save energy by having a shower

This myth has two sides to it. One the one hand, it is possible to save water and energy by having a shower rather than a bath. On the other hand, this isn’t always the case and yet the myth continues to persist. The spread of power showers in our bathrooms is largely to blame for the truth of the matter: the BBC recently reported on research carried out by Unilever that found that an eight minute power shower can use up to twice as much energy and water as if you had a bath instead.

You get nightmares by eating cheese

In 2005, the British Cheese Board carried out a study that concluded, contrary to popular belief, that cheese does not give you nightmares. Many of us avoid cheese before bed just in case, but there’s nothing to suggest you’ll have bad dreams because of it. You may well have more vivid dreams and be able to remember them better in the morning, but there’s no reason those dreams should be nightmares. Happy snacking!

Lifestyle Design is the defining and structuring of one’s ideal lifestyle and the automation of cash and cash equivalent, to increase personal productive time through elimination of the unimportant and designation of the irrelevant.

1. Defining and structuring one’s ideal Lifestyle

- To define one’s ideal lifestyle is to ask yourself questions such as, “What am I here for?” “If I have all the free time in the world how would I spend it?” “What are the things that excite me?” “What are the things or activities that is close to my heart?” etc.

The white sand beaches or the life of the party? You choose. Define your Lifestyle of choice.

To structure one’s lifestyle is to…

• Elimination of the unimportant – The unimportant things are the things that you really are not interested in.

• Designation of the Irrelevant – The Irrelevant are the things that matter to you however not inclined or not really bringing you closer to your desired goal or passion.

2. Automation of Cash and Cash Equivalent

- Chasing the dollar is the hype for the majority. They believe that if they could have enough money they’d be happy.

To do the things you want to do is the goal. If you can achieve it without having effort and cash i.e. having cash equivalents then so be it. Cash Equivalents could be tools, gadgets, skills or knowledge that will bring you closer to your dream.

3. Increase Personal Productive Time

- The main goal of Lifestyle Design. Your Personal Productive time is what you do after defining and structuring your lifestyle.

Here’s what you’ve go to do. Answer these questions and you’re off to a good start.

Define – What do I want to do? What do you want your personal productive time to be composed of?

Structure -How will I do it? Going back, you need to eliminate the unimportant things or tasks in your life. You also need to designate things or tasks that could be important but somehow Irrelevant. Of, course you need Cash and Cash equivalents, you need to automate the process on how you acquire them.

Personal Productive Time – Do the things that you enjoy. :)

Lifestyle Design involves three major ideas, Define, Structure and your End Goal or your Personal Productive. There are also some minor ideas involved with those three but get them covered and you could have the Ideal Lifestyle that you’d ever imagine having.

Do you sometimes feel that there is no point in continuing. Do you sometimes feel that you are in the edge of giving up. You can’t sleep. You can’t eat. All you do is think of your problem, maybe hoping that a miracle will happen.

Stop that and just do some ACTION. Nothing will happen if you will just think of your problem.

If I need to start all over again, then let it be

The majority is afraid of facing failure and mistakes. We may be afraid of what others may think of us. We are afraid that people may reject us. We are afraid that our name would be ruined. So what? 

Accept. Accept that you have failed and you have made a mistake. There is nothing more you can do but to LEARN from your mistake and IMPROVE from it. Thinking of what other people would think of you is insanity. Thinking of what you could have done is wasting energy. Do that when your in the stage of solving the problem.

Everything is alright vs. Everything will be alright

We humans put misery on our lives. Look at the dog. Look at the plants. They are living in stillness. They are living in peace. Not worrying just living. If you are hungry, eat. If you need to wash the dishes wash them. If you need to fetch the kids do so. DO what is important NOW. Let the future take care of its own. Cross the bridge when you get there.

What does the Bible say about worry? Let me end this post with verses that I got  from the bible.

²⁵“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

²⁸“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Accept. Let it go. Everything is Alright.

Is this ethical?

Writing a scripted dialouge has been with us for ages. From how a customer representative answers a phone call “Hello good morning/afternoon/evening (put company name here), how can I help you?” to live broadcasts of presidents addressing a nation.

Think of the end in mind. By thinking what you want to achieve, you could write a script with specific lines to suggest the other side of the party to coincide with you.

e.g. With the end in mind; Finding a shirt printing supplier that let’s the costumer pay at the bank, delivers the products and offers it at an affordable price. The script will immediately filter suppliers who does not have the costumer’s desired want.

You: Good morning/afternoon/evening, are you into the tshirt printing business?

CalleeAnswer1: yes (Proceed.)
CalleAnswer2: No, sorry you got the wrong number (Say thank you and hang up.)

You: Do you require a minimum order or is one accepted?

CalleeAnswer1: We require bulk(Say thank you and hang up.)
CalleAnswer2: Yes, one is acceptable (Proceed.)

You: Ask how much will it cost you to purchase only one shirt. If the price is deemed too high ask if they give discounts. If they don’t give discounts say thank you and hang up. You can always call back for a negotiation with another strategical script.

You:Ask how you will pay, where will you send the design and how long will it take to produce. Introduce yourself and tell them you’ll contact them. Hang up.

It is a win win situation; A sale for the seller (but with a lower mark up) and a purchase from the costumer (at a more affordable price)

A script will save you time. Writing one will open up your eyes to possible answers or deters and from which you can supply a counter line.

Would doing one thing everyday for the rest of the week equal doing 7 things in one day? Wouldn’t you like to just get over those chores and errands and just have that quality time with your family?

 In this post we will discuss real life scenarios to give you an overview on where batching and bulking could be applied.

I. Bulking

Scenario 1 – You thought of saving up money by only buying small amount of shampoo every week (or every two weeks or month, whatever suits you).

Scenario 2 – You make a bulk order of shampoo to supply your grooming habits for the whole year.

Which strategy will save more??

If you thought of option 1 then you are in the wrong direction. Small amount of retail products leads to higher mark up. (That is why you pay more at a convenience store.)

Adding it all up, you will pay more than you think you are saving. Add up  your transportation cost and your time buying them.

Option 2 will save you more money and time. It gives you a lower mark up as a whole. You could also have it delivered at your doorstep eliminating your transportation cost plus increasing your time to do other things.

II. Batching

Batching is about grouping together similar tasks in order to lower down cost and accomplish them faster.

You could apply batching during laundry, checking of email, or any chore where it could be applied.

e.g. If you are in a family of five, do you do your laundry everyday or every other day? What if its only once a week?

Have some real life experiments. Record your forecasted expenses (your precious time, money, and utilities) while not using Batching and Bulking and compare it to your forecasted expenses if you use Batching and Bulking.

Disclaimer: There are things in which batching and bulking does not apply. Eating an extremely full meal once a day won’t match 4-8 meals a day.

Check Out: Increase Leisure or Free time part II: Time Constraints

Then came my research about productivity web applications. I was both enthralled and addicted. I read mostly about the getting things done (GTD) system although I also looked at countless others. I saw some task management web services that looked great. I even got a smartphone so that my productivity system on my chosen web application of the week could be accessible anywhere I went.

I had it all figured out. Yet I wasn’t getting done anything that I wanted to get done. I figured I probably just wasn’t using a system or software or application that catered to the way I worked and organized tasks. There must have been something too cumbersome in the system that caused me to abandon it.

And Then I Woke Up

After trying out a plethora of productivity apps, on both my computer and my smartphone, I started to think about how much time I wasted just trying to find the “best” system for me. I started to realize how distracting my search for the right system had become.

After routinely getting emails from several incomplete and practically abandoned online systems, I decided to have a productivity/tech cleansing and just devote myself to one, steadfast system that has been proven to work. I decided to go back to paper and commit to it for at least a month or two.

The Wonders of All-Paper Productivity

It’s hard to explain exactly how it works, but every idea I’ve ever written on paper stays with me. But not in an unsettling, lingering way. Whenever I’ve written a task or idea down and filed it in the proper in-basket, I rarely ever worry about. I don’t have any aching compulsion to get on my phone or computer just to see that a task is still there. I can see it sitting there already on my desk, every time I walk into my office.

To Do List

There’s simply something secure about having your ideas and tasks in a physical, empirical form that you can see and flip through in real life. And I’m not an old-timer sentimentalizing over an outdated technology because I’m having trouble adjusting (or just downright despising) to new technological innovations. I’ve been using computers and gadgets since childhood.

I also realize that any paper-form productivity system can easily be replicated with online applications to a T. Perhaps I just needed the entrance into my first successful productivity system to be empirical. I needed a simple system that I could trust and rely on. In the future, I may go back to digital, but in the meantime, I’m loving my current system.

Limits of All-Paper Productivity

Of course using an all-paper productivity system comes with its own limits, namely the following two:

• They require a good amount of storage space and organization.
• They are not easily portable or accessible anywhere.
• Also, due dates.

There’s no getting around the storage space and organization issue. Of course, always make attempts to purge your filing and reference cabinets, but realize that you will most certainly have to dedicate some of your office space for filing reference material.

43 Folder Tickler System Solution

Due dates are simple in computer productivity apps. Not so much on paper. There is a way to make a pretty useful tickler file system with 43 folders, 12 monthly folders and 31 daily folders for the current month you’re in.

The beauty of this system is that you can put anything in them, from personal note reminders to actual bills that are due. If you have something that is due on a particular day this month, put it in the daily folder required. If there is something coming up next month, put it in next month’s folder, and then organize it to a particular day when that month has arrived.

Hipster PDA Solution

As for the portability issue of all-paper productivity, there is an incredibly cost-effective “device” that can help you out a lot. The hipster PDA is comprised of two things:

• A Stack of notecards
• A binder clip

That is it! Just clip the notecards together and you’re set. With this, you can carry around reminders with you in your back pocket for any project you need to think about (or pitch) while not at your office. Be sure to carry some clean notecards with you, so you can collect ideas and inspiration wherever you are.

Once you’re home, process all your new notecards through the inbox on your desk. Perhaps some of the cards will go straight to your reference filing cabinet. Others may go into a tray on your desk for a particular project. Some you may decide to keep on your hipster PDA, so you can develop them more while away from your desk.

Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031 @gmail.com.

In a bad economy, it’s easy for companies to simply let go of entire departments (or families to forego certain luxuries altogether) to cut back on costs. This is a knee-jerk defense mechanism that people employ almost automatically, thinking that they significantly reduce their expenditures if they let go of the most expensive items in their everyday list. Companies pare down on their marketing and PR efforts, families give up one of their cars. The same thing can be observed all over the world as people stretch their current budgets to its limits.

However, cutting back on your biggest expenses isn’t always the smartest thing. There are ways to be more creative about your economy measures—after all, the priciest item on your budget may also be something that you absolutely have to retain, such as mortgage payments or company overhead expenses.

Think it through

If you cut back on your company overhead, can you still keep up the same level of productivity in your staff? If you give up your mortgage and look for an apartment instead, won’t you be spending just as much for rental payments?

There is more than one way to approach a financial problem. You just have to look beyond the immediate solutions to come up with something that’s both more effective and more efficient. What everybody does may be effective in the short run, but it’s not necessarily the best one for you.

Don’t always go with the flow

So if almost everyone tries to give up the most obvious and the most draining things on his budget, you have to take a step back and ask yourself—is this particular expense really what I need to let go of to restructure my cash flow? Don’t let yourself be pressured into taking quick-fix actions if there are other options you can explore.

Perhaps you don’t even have to completely cross out something from your ordinary expenses. Cutting down on the other stuff proportionately may enable you to retain everything, but only on a smaller (and more manageable) scale. You can still afford to buy a new pair of jeans every month as long as you minimize your makeup splurges to just once a month as well.

This way, you get to keep both luxuries without really spending more than is necessary. The secret is in striking a balance within your own budget that allows you to apportion your money in the smartest fashion.

Stand out from the crowd

For business firms looking to minimize their overhead expenses, laying off workers or cutting down department budgets is usually the first-level defense against the economic slump. Marketing is one of the most expensive activities that a company maintains on a regular basis, so it’s an easy target for executives who want to lower their operation costs.

Then again, scrimping on your marketing efforts can mean having lesser market reach and slower sales. And if everyone else is doing the same thing, that only means that the market doesn’t have as many advertisers vying for the attention of consumers.

Now is the most opportune moment for you to carve a bigger market for yourself and outperform the competition. Fill the vacuum in the advertising world by coming up with low-budget but still effective strategy that will put more customers on your side. Social media marketing is one cost-effective measure that you can try out even when you’re low on marketing funds.

Why should you even care?

If what everyone is doing is working just fine, then why you should you look for alternative solutions to your problems? After all, ripping out big chunks of items from your budget seems a good enough way to face the bad economic situation. Taking money from your marketing coffers also seems to be good for their budgets.

And yet, taking the same path as everyone else means that nobody is getting ahead in the game. You’re all stuck in the same position because you’re all doing the same thing. Tapping into more imaginative ways to approach the problem can spell the difference between success and mediocrity. You can choose to mimic the competition and reap the same benefits, or you can pick a different solution and get much more in terms of positive results in the long run.

When not out building relationships with other bloggers, Krisca Te can be found reading blogs that tackle personal development and productivity. She is also a personal finance freak who is currently working with ACC, a personal finance blog that wrote about personal finance and financial psychology.

On my last post I talked about The Difference between Inspiration and Motivation. I talked about it because I was confused on what to title this post. Would I title this as the List of Inspirational movies? or The List of motivational movies? I found my answer. If you want to know just read  The Difference between Inspiration and Motivation: Motivation Versus Inspiration.

Lacking drive in everyday life? Want some Inspiration or Motivation? Getting tired of not being able to take action? Here is my List of Inspirational or Motivational Must See Movies to Uplift Your Spirits. This list may help you find your inspiration or motivation. Harness any good thing that you can get from it.

Miracle, was based on the Miracle on Ice event. Miracle on Ice was the winning of the US ice hockey team over the Soviet team, which was considered the best hockey team in the world at that time.

A team made up of amateur and collegiate players led by coach Herb Brooks; Empowerment and right focus was their key to winning.

“Eleven seconds, you’ve got ten seconds, the countdown going on right now! Morrow, up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles?…YES!” – Sportscaster Al Michaels while broadcasting the last seconds of the game. 

The Bucket list, Starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. They portray the characters of two terminally ill men set out to conquer their longing dreams and adventures.

Turns out it was not just dreams and adventures that they had conquered but also, they had conquered boundaries towards themselves and towards others.

‘Have you found joy in your life?’ ‘Has your life brought joy to others?’

Awakenings, starring Robert De Niro and Robin Williams is a story that is based on the story of British neurologist Oliver Sacks who in 1969, discovers beneficial effects of the then-new drug L-Dopa. He administered it to catatonic patients who survived the 1917-1928 epidemic of encephalitis lethargica.

The patients were awakened after decades of catatonic state and have to deal with a new life in a new time, even if it is just for a short moment.

“What we do know is that, as the chemical window closed, another awakening took place; that the human spirit is more powerful than any drug – and THAT is what needs to be nourished: with work, play, friendship, family. THESE are the things that matter. This is what we’d forgotten – the simplest things.” – Dr. Malcom Sawyer

Extraordinary Measures, is also a film that is based on the true story of John and Aileen Crowley, whose children have Pompe’s disease.

It is a story of love and hatred towards losing someone you love. A story  about making miracles happen, instead of hoping for one.

Brendan Fraser plays John Crowley who together with a scientist Robert Stonehill form a biotechnology company to develop a drug to save the lives of their children, who have a life-threatening disease.

The Pursuit of Happyness, a story that is based on the true story of Chris Gardner. A man who stood up to every obstacle and problem for his son.

Chris Gardner is now a successful stockbroker but not always like that. He was homeless, he was left, he was an on and off salesman struggling to make a living.

His never ending drive, pushed him towards success and happyness.

“If you want somethin’, go get it. Period.” – Chris Gardner

Remember the Titans a film that is based on the true story of African American coach Herman Boone, as he tries to integrate a racially divided team at the T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia.

The African American and Caucasian athletes of the football team frequently clash in racially motivated conflicts at their football camp but it was not long before they can understand one another and have a relationship of brothers.

Titans go through the season undefeated while battling racial prejudice. A look on how understanding could lead to what we could always dream of.

Yes Man – Tired of all the negativity in the world especially the ones surrounding you? Yes Man is for you.

Say yes to life. Say yes to adventure. Say yes to fun and excitement.

Yes Man was based on accounts by Danny Wallace upon a year of the author’s life, in which he chose to say “Yes” to any offers that came his way.

“I know our music isn’t that mainstream — I love doing it. It’s like my photography. I know there isn’t that much demand for blurry photographs taken while running — but … you know, who cares? The world’s a playground! You know that when you are a kid, but somewhere along the way everyone forgets it.” – Allison

Life as a House, When a man is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he takes custody of his misanthropic teenage son, for whom quality time means getting high, engaging in small-time prostitution, and avoiding his father.

What begins as a way for George to redeem his own dreams turns into something much bigger…

George has hit rock bottom and there’s nowhere to go. His neighbors despise his sagging, dilapidated shack. His teen-aged son would rather stare into space than raise a finger to help him. His ex-wife, who once shared his dream, is now emotionally distant from him. Local city officials want to sabotage his plans. It seems there is no one left with any faith in him. But George is determined to build this house–even if it means refurbishing his entire life.

As Good As It Gets, –  A single mother/waitress, a misanthropic author, and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship.

The trials and tribulations of a compulsive writer, Melvin Udall. After his homosexual neighbor is brutally beaten, he is entrusted to the care of the neighbor’s dog, with a difficult relationship with a waitress to add on top of that. What develops is a weekend trip/triangle between these three individuals, and together they learn the true meaning of “the sunny side of life”.

(click on the images or titles to Buy)

Gandhi, His Triumph Changed The World Forever.

The movie is a Biography of Mahatma Gandhi, the lawyer who became the famed leader of the Indian revolts against the British through his philosophy of non-violent protest or the satyagraha.

The life of the legendary man from India  who gave up work as an attorney to defy British rule throughout the first half of the 20th Century before falling to an assassin’s bullet in 1948. Long, opulent, breath-taking and completely memorable take on one of the most important historical figures the world has ever known.

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Invincible – Everyone thinks your a goner. Everyone thinks you won’t achieve anything, Everyone keeps putting you down. Prove them wrong!

Invincible is based upon the  true story of Vince Papale, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1976-78.

A down-on-his-luck teacher and part-time bartender lives every fan’s fantasy of moving from the stands to the field when he makes it onto his hometown’s professional football team during an open tryout.

Magnifico Set in an impoverished town, a couple begin to lose hope and courage when faced with life’s adversities – a daughter who suffers from cerebral palsy, a son who loses his scholarship, and a young boy named Magnifico or Pikoy, who is not so good in school.

But Pikoy is gifted with a good heart and a large spirit that allows him to give joy to hopeless people in their community and magically transforms their lives for the better.

(click on the images or titles to Buy)

Pay it Forward is a multi-level marketing scheme of the heart.

It is how one simple social studies assignment can change how someone view the world.

Assignment: think of something to change the world and put it into action.

The expression “pay it forward” is used to describe the concept of asking that a good turn be repaid by having it done to others instead.

What do you do to change the world?

“The Blind Side” depicts the story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher’s presence in the Touhys’ lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle.

(click on the images or titles to Buy)

p.s. Check out Daily Inspirational Stories for a collection of inspirational or motivational stories, quotes, poems, videos, sayings that could inspire you in everyday life.

I always have these instant realizations that come up out of nowhere. One day I was just passing by our kitchen and I realized this though: “I could so much more in one day!”

Heck, maybe that wasn’t a big enough realization for some of you, but for me and most people, it is a big deal!

I recalled and differentiated my actions and activities today, as to years past; I was disappointed.

I was wasting too much time and opportunity today than I was before. Imagine if you one was just doing what they need to be doing years before then that person could have already accomplished their dreams or goals. You could already be that world a record holder, or maybe that great cook! 

You could do so much, more than you could Imagine!

All of us have 24 hours in a day. That whole twenty-four hours, is for us  to waste or for us to invest to.

Let’s say that you generously need 8 hours of sleep. Deduct 8 to 24 and you get 16 hours time of opportunity. Isn’t that great?

Of course you might be asking; How about eating or taking a bath or just any other activity, we also consume time for that?

To tell you the answer, that is just a limiting belief! You could take a bath in approximately 5 minutes, more or less. You could also dress up with less of that time. Most of us actually take our meals in around 15 minutes or so too.

You could also decrease your travel time, one way is to walk briskly. Let’s also consider that you need to work for 8 hours.

There are still so much that you can do with the remaining hours! Would you try to be productive with the given time? Or would you just, lie down there, be lazy and hope that you would have energy to do the work tomorrow?

The lesson here is this…

Time is an investment and you should know where to focus your energy. Are you investing your time and energy unto the right things?

My Busy Life during Sophomore College

The time where I really got serious with my studies was during my sophomore year in college.  It was for the wrong reason.

Before proceeding, I thought that I might give you a small background about myself. I studied entrepreneurship at the oldest university in Asia. What follows will be a story of my journey there:

I was failing quizzes form a course about mathematics and finance.  I was afraid of the inevitable, if the losing streak went longer then I would fail the course.

Aside from that, I was also struggling with Statistics. I also tuned myself into accounting because the professor was that strict. :D

I also had this encounter with muggers (I wasn’t hurt… and robbed.)  that I enrolled myself in a martial arts school. I was also going to the gym during some days to compliment my martial arts training.

It was also the time that I started a band with past alumnus and friends during high school.

I also read books, and listen to audio materials about dating, personal development, and mostly self help.

You see, I was too busy with school but I still managed some time to develop myself. I pushed myself physically. I enhanced myself musically, and I broaden my learning with books. I did bring out a better self.

Who says it can’t be done? If you can’t “fit” that activity that you’d always wanted to do because of you’re “busy”, then you’ve got to discipline yourself. There can be always time, all you need to do is to be willing to do it, therefore devoting energy unto it.

My Busy mentor

We were partnered with past graduates or professionals to help us with our feasibility study. I was privileged to be mentored by a past graduate who achieved honors and appreciation with the things he achieved during school days. Outside of school, he still maintains his habit of productivity and efficiency that I deem admire.

Here are some of the tasks that he did during school: He was the president of their class. He was also the president of a collegiate organization. Aside from that, he was also organizing an international organization that was to be introduced locally. All of that with his regular studies plus his feasibility study.

He told us that, If he could do so much with that given time that he had, he also expects us to do the same or better.

What you could do

1. Forced Responsibility – This seems like counter intuitive. Why would someone want a “forced responsibility” or task to be handed unto him?

This may work for you or this may not. If you are self employed, I think this likely work for you.

The logic here is simple; If you have a responsibility that you must really attend to no matter what, you would do it. So it could be good as an igniter for your work momentum. It can also be the reason for your enhanced productivity during the day.

Another reason is that, if you (somehow) don’t like that work, you would feel the urge to get out of it and then do the things that you really want to do. (Not advisable. Love what you do. Put your heart into every work.)

2. Rest When you can – During my sophomore year, I leave the house by six in the morning and go home by maybe seven in the evening. I work myself up all day that I tend to sleep on the way home. When I get home, I proceed to do my other activities that I need to fulfill.

Rest or Sleep is important. It is vital for our improvement and well being. Without it, we may not function well and deliver what is ask for us.

Work when you can, strive and deliver. Rest after. Recuperate so that you can bring out again your best when it is needed.

3. Have a deeply routed goal – People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine.

The key is in not spending time, but in investing it. -Stephen R. Covey

Michael Phelps wanted to win 8 golds at the Olympics. He deeply wanted it. He did what he could with the time given unto him. He is now a world record holder. What goals do you have in mind?

4. Focus on what is Important – You gotta have an Insane Level of Focus! There could be so many distractions that would tempt you to slow you down. You got to have the discipline to say “No” and continue with the journey.

5. Fixing your schedule – You see this is the most part where people find it difficult. If you have read tip number four then maybe you would know how fixing your schedule would work.

Prioritize first the urgent and the important! That’s the trick, just focus on what you need to do NOW and not on some distraction or unproductive thing that is going on around you.

The moral is not to find more time. We all have a fixed amount of time per day, but why can some people do more than what we can?

Action Plan!

List down all the activities and tasks that you want to do but also can Immediately implement. Fix them unto your schedule. Start Today; Continue Tomorrow!

Most business professionals have a yearly vacation which lasts at an most, two weeks. This is much coveted, as the idea of “being away from everything” is enough to make even the middle-aged person feel a little euphoric. If you are one of the lucky individuals finding themselves in this situation, be thankful, and be efficient.

How can you make the most of the time you think about all year?

Planning the Travel

Two years ago I took a trip to France, touring Paris, Versailles, Caen, Amiens, and Dunkirk. Obviously, I spent many an hour planning the details of hotels, train tickets, and mapping the sites. Because of this preparation the tour went extremely well, and I was able to anticipate the problems I faced with enough confidence to solve them.

The Destination

• Feel free to choose a destination of your choice.

• Planning: The farther in advance the better. Plane tickets, hotel rooms, and rental cars are cheaper the farther ahead you plan. Additionally, you can find deals for bulk travel packages which include everything. One of the best sites online to use is Kayak.com. This resource brings in all sales from Priceline, Orbitz, and other travel sites and collects them in one place. It saves on web browsing and time.

• Packing: Contrary to popular opinion you DO NOT have to bring a second bag with which to haul your purchases home.

• Bringing a sole bag is substantially cheaper than paying for another bag, or, worse, paying a penalty for the other bag weighing over 50lbs. While in France, I used one of the many Fedex locations to ship packages home. The difference? At the Paris airport, the woman in front of me had an overweight bag. Her penalty was $638.  Air freight is much cheaper.

Tip: In scheduling your trip, come home a few days before you have to go back to work. Readjustment is the hardest in the office; to maximize your vacation you have to recoup from your vacation. The night before work is not enough time.***

Pros: pulling yourself out of your world, changing the routine, seeing a new place, adventurous, proximity to work is non-existent (not counting the internet)

Cons: expensive, flight delays, lost baggage, exhaustion and readjustment after returning home

What if you choose to Stay Home

Last year I had an opportunity to take some time off and decided to save some money by staying in town. The first three days were fine, given I used them to get caught up on various things around the house. Afterwards however, I got bored. How did I remedy the situation? I sat down at my computer and did several things, some of which were retroactive.

What is local? Ask yourself this, preferably before the week begins. Put together a list of things you want to do that are new, or things you would like to rediscover. You’ll find the list to be quite long. What things have you wanted to do on those days when you would rather be somewhere else? The answers may surprise you.

Tip: If you decide to wait until your vacations starts to plan, you will most likely plan to do nothing. Nothing eventually translates into boredom, and boredom to regret. Know this, and plan ahead.

Pros: inexpensive, convenient, no flights or baggage claim, no crowds, no lines, no packing.

Cons: no adventure, nothing new, close proximity to workplace, boring

This only happens once a year. If you plan accordingly the reward is automatic. The difference between being efficient and being inefficient can be the difference between a good memory and a regret.

Photo by Kymberlie R. McGuire