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Category: Personal Development

  • Here are Helpful Tips on How To Stay Focused and Not Get Distracted

    Here are Helpful Tips on How To Stay Focused and Not Get Distracted

    Here are Helpful Tips on How To Stay Focused and Not Get Distracted

    In today’s fast-paced world, staying focused can be a real challenge. With so many distractions around us, it’s easy to lose track of what we’re doing and waste time on unimportant tasks. However, with a few simple tips, you can learn to stay focused and avoid distractions.

    The first step in staying focused is to identify what distracts you. Do you get distracted by your phone, social media, or your environment? Once you know your biggest distractions, you can take steps to limit their impact on your work.

    For example, if you find yourself checking your phone every few minutes, try leaving it in another room or turning it off while you work. If social media is your biggest distraction, try using a website blocker to limit your access during work hours. If your environment is noisy, try wearing noise-canceling headphones or finding a quieter space to work.

    The next step is to set clear goals and prioritize your tasks. When you have a clear idea of what you need to accomplish, you’re less likely to get sidetracked by other tasks. Make a to-do list and focus on the most important tasks first. This helps to keep you on track and ensures that you’re making progress towards your goals.

    It’s also important to take regular breaks. It may sound counterintuitive, but taking breaks can actually improve your productivity. It gives your brain a chance to rest and recharge, so you can come back to your work with renewed energy and focus.

    The key is to take short, frequent breaks throughout the day rather than one long break. For example, you could take a 5-minute break every hour or a 10-minute break every two hours. Use this time to stretch, walk around, or do something else that’s not work-related.

    Here are Helpful Tips on How To Stay Focused and Not Get Distracted

    Avoid multitasking. While it may seem like you’re getting more done, multitasking can actually be counterproductive. It splits your attention and makes it harder to focus on any one task. Instead, focus on one task at a time and give it your full attention. This will help you to complete tasks more efficiently and with better quality.

    Finally, create a distraction-free workspace. This could mean turning off your phone or blocking social media sites on your computer. If you work in a noisy environment, consider wearing noise-canceling headphones or finding a quieter space to work.

    It’s also important to eliminate any other distractions in your workspace. Keep your desk clean and organized, so you’re not distracted by clutter. If you work on a computer, close any unnecessary tabs or programs to help you focus on your work.

    Staying focused and avoiding distractions takes practice and discipline, but with these tips, you can learn to stay on track and be more productive. Remember to identify your distractions, set clear goals, take breaks, avoid multitasking, and create a distraction-free workspace. By incorporating these habits into your daily routine, you’ll be able to achieve more and stay focused even in the most challenging environments.

    Another helpful tip to stay focused and avoid distractions is to break down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable ones. This can make a daunting project seem less overwhelming and help you stay on track. Start by setting small goals for yourself and celebrate each time you achieve one. This can help you stay motivated and focused on the task at hand.

    Lastly, it’s important to have a positive attitude and mindset when it comes to staying focused. If you find yourself struggling to stay on track, try reframing your thoughts and think positively about your work. Instead of thinking “I have to finish this project,” try thinking “I get to work on this project and make it great.” This simple shift in mindset can help you approach your work with more enthusiasm and motivation.

    In conclusion, staying focused and avoiding distractions takes time and practice, but it’s worth it in the end. By identifying your distractions, setting clear goals, taking breaks, avoiding multitasking, creating a distraction-free workspace, breaking down tasks, and maintaining a positive attitude, you can stay on track and accomplish your goals. Remember to be patient with yourself and celebrate each time you succeed. With these tips, you can stay focused and achieve success in all aspects of your life.

  • Where to Find Motivation and Inspiration When You’re Stuck

    Where to Find Motivation and Inspiration When You’re Stuck

    Where to Find Motivation and Inspiration When You’re Stuck

    It’s normal to find yourself unmotivated and uninspired sometimes. Slumps happen to everyone and you don’t have to be too hard on yourself when you just can’t seem to pull yourself together. When this happens to you, don’t fret because there are ways to find motivation and inspiration to get you back on your feet and running and hustling again like before. We got you.

     

    How To Find Motivation

     

    Revisit your ‘Why’.

    When you find yourself listless and uninspired to do the things you need to do, one thing that always perks me up is by thinking about my ‘whys’. It’s a simple gesture yet it’s something that we always neglect when we become too busy and preoccupied with life.

    In this fast-paced world, we are always on the go. We hustle hard and we get as many things done as we possibly can. We are always racing with time but when a moment of demotivation hits us, we feel like we’re not worthy to even slow down for just a little bit. If you are that kind of person, this is the sign you’re looking for. It’s okay to slow down and rest for a bit.

    When you lack the motivation to do your work, reach your goals, or even do your passion, it’s the perfect time to revisit the reasons why you are doing them in the first place.

     

    List down things that make you smile.

    An effective way to keep yourself motivated is by having a list of things that make you smile. Take a moment to jot down the things that brought you joy and the moments that made you excited.

    Do this daily to keep your list running with things that made you happy. Do you feel excited when you finish up work and go home to make dinner for your family? Does it make you smile when you saw a rainbow in the sky? Have you read something funny on the internet that brightened up your day? No matter how small or silly or irrelevant you think that thing is, if it made you happy, list it down. We often forget that it’s the little things that matter, it’s the little things that make up the bigger things.

    You can keep a running list of things that made you happy on your Notes App so that you’ll always have access to it and you’ll always get to update it whenever you want to.

     

    Read something.

    Another way to find motivation and inspiration is to read something. May it be books, magazines, news articles, blogs, social updates, or whatever, doesn’t matter what medium it is, as long as you just read.

    Reading is a great way to find new ideas when you’re dried out. Perhaps you’ll find fresh thoughts when you read other people’s perspectives. Need to generate new ideas for content creation? There’s a plethora of high-quality content on the internet, just know how to filter the trash and look for the gold.

     

    Go outside.

    Sometimes, a change in surroundings will be a great help to get you out of your slump and demotivated state. It refreshes the mind and lets you see the world in a different light. Take a short walk and look at your surroundings.

    Listening to your favorite music while outside can also do wonders.

     

    Talk to a friend.

    When you find yourself lacking in the motivation department, talking to your friends can be another way to help you out.

    Phone a friend, go to the gym together or meet at a park to hang out and get to conversing. Having someone supportive by your side is a wonder to have especially when you have baggage to unload.

    If you want to have work done, you can have work dates. Grab your laptop and meet a friend. Even if you’re working on different projects, you’ll have a feeling of wanting to be productive by having someone who is also doing their work.

     

    Rest but don’t give up.

    There are times when we just couldn’t help but feel down. We don’t have the energy, both mentally and physically, to do the things we’re supposed to do. In times like this, it’s okay to accept that we don’t have the motivation to move. You can always take some rest.

    Rest but don’t quit. That’s what I always tell myself. There will always be moments in your life when you don’t feel inspired or motivated and it’s okay to take it slow. It’s okay to just be in your comfy pajamas watching your favorite tv show or surfing the internet or just relaxing. Having a day off won’t hinder you from achieving your goals. It’s a needed rest and you deserve it after working so hard.

     

    Where to Find Motivation and Inspiration When You're Stuck

     

    Where to Find Inspiration

     

    Facebook Groups

    Whatever topic it is you are looking for, or whatever field, I am pretty sure that Facebook has a group about it. Facebook Groups are great resources to find inspiration from. There are a lot of people active in these things and you get authentic inputs from groups that have highly engaged members.

     

    Youtube Videos

    Are you looking for something? A tutorial? A guide? An inspirational talk? Maybe just some ambient sound to relax your mind? YouTube has them all. This platform has grown exponentially over the years and the amount of content you can find in it is infinite.

    Whenever I need inspiration and I’m not in the mood to read, I open youtube and let it suck me into its many videos.

     

    Podcasts

    Podcasts are a wonderful thing. When you don’t have the time to watch a video, you can turn to podcasts and listen to them while doing your chores or something.

    Podcasts have been growing in the last few years and there’s a great variety of content in it today for almost any subject you can think of. Want to learn more about Mythology? Relationships? Digital Marketing? Want to listen to worship and gospel? Book raves? Slice of life? Crime and Mystery? There’s a podcast for these, I tell you. And you can listen to them whenever you want to! Such great things to pick up inspiration from!

     

    Pinterest

    Looking for visual inspirations? Pinterest is my go-to. It has a plethora of aesthetically pleasing photos to very well-designed infographics that will help you find motivation and inspiration in no time! Pinterest is a wonder.

     

    Other Blogs

    Another way to find motivation and inspiration is by browsing other people’s blogs. You can find so many things by reading other people’s words and most of the time, that’s what helps me overcome my slumps. Search up blogs on your niche or topic and find people whose writing style you like. With thousands of blogs on the internet, I don’t think you’ll have difficulty finding some that will become your new favorites.

     

    Books

    When all else fails, reading a book, or something tangible like a magazine can help you. Read something even unrelated to your work to refresh your brain. Read an adventure book to stimulate your imagination. Read a romance book to tickle your romantic bone. Maybe fiction or self-help is your thing, then go ahead and read that.

    The point is, reading is oil to the brain that will keep it from rusting and it always gives you something new to learn. And new learnings will eventually give you inspirations and new ideas for your work.

     

    We all have different strengths and weaknesses, and we have different ways to cope up with different stress factors. When you happen to be in a slump and demotivated state, just know that you’re not the only one who feels this way. I hope the tips stated above would help you and give you some ideas on how to gain inspiration and get you motivated again.

    Keep fighting!

  • 6 Steps to Stop Taking Life Too Seriously

    6 Steps to Stop Taking Life Too Seriously

    Stop Taking Life Too Seriously

    In the pursuit of perfection, people nowadays get too caught up with what they’re doing to ensure that nothing goes wrong. Taking things seriously is not a negative character, in fact, it’s a great quality because it shows that you are committed and passionate. But taking things too seriously may be harmful as it can cause you stress and anxiety. Stop taking life too seriously, enjoy it, and live it to the fullest.

    Do you remember when life wasn’t so serious? You had fewer worries, fewer problems to think about, and less stress. You had time to enjoy life, to put yourself first, to think about just yourself. When have you forgotten to have fun? when did you stop appreciating what’s around you?

    As adults, we all are desperate for approval because we fear rejection. We are afraid of being laughed at, so sometimes, we stop doing what we enjoy, we stop having fun, and we stop learning. The problem with taking life too seriously is that we choose to look good over learning new things. Because of this fear, we become boring and repetitive.

    Perfectionism is the enemy. When the bar is set too high, we forget to rest and have fun just to reach that peak. Who we should be, what should we be, how we should do things. We push ourselves to do everything the right way because making even a single mistake can ruin what we’ve been building.

    When we take things too seriously, especially ourselves, we also take others seriously, and that’s why their opinions can hurt us. Other’s opinions and reactions don’t define you unless you allow them to. People can say whatever they want, but that doesn’t mean that you should take all of them to heart. The key is finding the balance, enjoy life more by taking it less seriously.

    Stop Taking Life Too Seriously

    6 Ways To Stop Taking Life So Seriously

    Learn to be more decisive

    The more we wonder between two options, the more we get stressed. Overthinking is never good for your health. Learn to relax and trust your instincts. Debating with yourself over one decision will just end up with you being more stressed than before. When faced with a big life-changing decision, it’s okay to mull over it for a while. But eventually, when you need to make the decision, take a big breath and go with what feels right.

    Accept your flaws and celebrate them

    Nobody is perfect, we are all a work in progress. Perfection is just an illusion, the truth is we are all different in our unique way and this what makes us special. Everybody has flaws that they are not proud of, but once you learn to accept them and live with them, your flaws can become your strength. Everyone’s opinions differ and we should not let them interfere with how we live our lives. Don’t waste your energy trying to live up to someone else’s standards, embrace your flaws because that’s what makes you unique. Learn to appreciate your individuality and accept that we are all different.

    Open your eyes to the humor around you

    Finding humor in life is absolutely one of the best things you can learn to stop taking life too seriously. Being able to laugh at yourself and the funny things around you will lessen the tension and stress you feel. Sometimes, a quick solution to lessen the stress when facing problems is to just laugh at them. Be around humorous people, watch comedy shows, smile. They weren’t joking when they said laughter is the best medicine.

    Eat healthier

    Our eating habits greatly affect our moods. Having a balanced diet will make you feel happier. Snack on foods that gives you energy. Dark chocolate and nuts are great snacks that will lift your mood. Coffee is also a great mood-booster, just don’t overdo it. Fuel your body with the good stuff and you’ll be surprised how it will make you feel better!

    Learn to let go

    Somethings are just not for us and learning to let them go will be the best thing to do. Don’t hold on to things that don’t give meaning to your life. Whether it’s a person or an object, excess baggage will just weigh you down. As Marie Kondo said, learn to let go of the things that don’t spark joy anymore. Letting go of some things will bring more joy to your life.

    Be grateful and enjoy the journey

    Learn to pause and breathe. Look at your surroundings and really see the things around you. Think about how far you’ve come and although you still have a long way to go, learn to be grateful that you had the journey you have. Enjoy the little things in life, learn to laugh at the little things, and just savor the small steps you take every day. Life is too short to stress over stuff that is out of your control.

    Remember that problems will always be there and they are given to us because we will be able to overcome them. No matter the size of your troubles, there will always be a silver lining and you will definitely find solutions for them. Wherever you are in life, don’t forget to breathe and remember that taking life too seriously won’t help you. Worry less, live more.

  • Improving Your Focus With Puzzles and Mental Exercise Games

    Improving Your Focus With Puzzles and Mental Exercise Games

    Improving Your Focus With Puzzles and Mental Exercise Games

    Focusing and concentrating can take a little bit more effort these days because there are all kinds of distractions present. Whether it’s for school or work, learning new things and remembering old information can be a challenge for people who are under a lot of pressure. Stress is a regular thing nowadays and it’s not good for our brains. Fortunately, playing puzzles and games can help in improving your focus and concentration.

    We don’t always realize it but our mental and brain health should be on our list of priorities. Aside from doing physical activities, our brains need exercise, too.

     

    How can you improve your focus?

    You can improve your focus by changing your habits and adopting a healthier lifestyle. Do practices that can make your mind sharper by doing brain game puzzles and exercises. This practice can help improve your level of concentration gradually. 

     

    Why should we prioritize our brain health?

    Having a strong mind and maintaining its health is just like keeping your body healthy and strong as well. Prioritizing your brain health can do a lot of good things for you as you age. It’s never too early to focus on your brain health. As much as possible, engage in a daily physical exercise routine, try out brain puzzles, and socialize with other people to build your brain’s cognitive response. 

     

    Improving Your Focus With Puzzles and Mental Exercise Games —

     

    Improving Your Focus With Puzzles and Mental Exercise Games

    The human brain is an amazing system because, with the right training and simulation, it has the ability to change, adapt, and react in a lot of ways. It is evolving and is smarter than you think it is. When you have problems with remembering and visualizing, there are things you can do to improve your memory and keep your mind sharp.

    Try out something new

    When you keep doing something that you’re already used to, no matter how intellectually challenging it is, it won’t do any improvements to your brain. That’s why if you desire to boost your brain, learning a new skill is the way. Learning something new isn’t only fun, it’s also a sure way to strengthen your brain connection.

    Try out a new hobby or enroll in a new course. Is there something you’ve always wanted to try out? This is the time to do it. Maybe you’re interested in learning a new language, a new program, or a new business venture?

    Anything that’s mentally stimulating, like puzzles and mind games, will make your brain think up of new patterns therefore will train your brain to keep it sharp. Just keep in mind that these new activities are out of your comfort zone so that you can really stimulate your brain.

    Do some brain-boosting activities like puzzles

    There are many brain puzzles and brain training games out there that you can try out. Whether it’s putting together a thousand-piece image of scenery or solving a crossword or playing boggle, the different parts of your brain will be exercised. There are also brain puzzles available online.

    Jigsaw puzzles are great for engaging short-term memory because it recruits multiple cognitive abilities. With jigsaw puzzles, the brain has to sort through a series of shapes, colors, and visuals when you put the image together.

    Keep your brain fired up with physical exercise

    While doing puzzles and brain training games are great, it doesn’t mean that your body does not need exercise. Doing physical activities is good for both your mind and your body. Exercising enhances your brain because it releases chemicals that can reduce your stress hormones. Go for a quick walk, jog, run, or maybe work out at the gym. Sweating out is an effective way to keep your body and mind in shape.

     

    Useful tips to exercise your brain

    Exercising in the morning

    Before starting your day, doing a few stretches and exercises can make a big difference. Exercising in the morning will clear out the sleep fog in your brain and wake you up, as well as help you burn some calories.

    Aerobic exercise

    This is a good exercise that will help your brain relieve you from feelings of depression and anxiety. Even a simple thing as walking can clear out your mind and help you put your thoughts and emotions in perspective.

    Regular physical activities

    Having a daily routine of physical activities can help you get over mental fatigue. It can also increase the size of your hippocampus which is the part of your brain that’s responsible for learning and remembering.

    Can brain puzzles really improve the way your brain functions?

    There are a ton of brain training app ads that catches your attention, promising to make you smarter and sharper if you use it a few minutes every day, but can these games really deliver those promises? Yes.

    These games and puzzles are made with the goal of improving your brain performance while challenging your mental capacity. Every day, it gives you a new level and it’s a fun way to strengthen your brain health and performance.

     

    Final Thoughts

    Brain exercises are effective in improving your focus and maintaining your cognition. However, it’s not an overnight thing. Improving your focus and keeping your mind sharp is not going to be quick and easy, it will require time and effort. And if you are diligent with your habits and practices, you will surely reap the benefits of your efforts.

    Read Next: 9 Tips on How to Do a Social Media Detox as a Marketer

  • How to Improve Your Content Writing Skills

    How to Improve Your Content Writing Skills

     

    How to Improve Your Content Writing Skills

    There’s no denying that content writing is a big business and the need for competent writers is increasing every day. Not everybody has what it takes to be a good writer. To be able to write properly on any topic, you have to continuously learn and put in the effort. There are various strategies to improve your writing skills. If you wish to improve your content writing skills, here are some tips that can help:

     

    Read other blogs

    As a content writer, you’re continually presented with new writing challenges. On some days, you have lots of time and may write at your leisure; on other days, you must write quickly to meet a deadline. It’s possible that you’ll be given an article that’s similar to anything you’ve written previously, or that you’ll be given something wholly fresh and unknown.

    As much as we hate it, writing is not always fun. It can also be frustrating at times. When I’m struck by writer’s block, I go back to the basics and read other blogs to expand my knowledge. Reading is a terrific technique to improve your writing skills, especially if you’re reading similar stuff to your own.

    Reading other blogs and soaking up as much knowledge from them will improve your writing. Reading exposes you to a variety of writing styles, which can be especially valuable depending on your industry.

    So start reading other blogs in your niche. If you don’t know any, a quick Google search will tell you. Be inspired by other people’s work and learn from other people’s successes and mistakes. 

    Improve Your Content Writing Skills

    Analyze the trends in your niche

    While keyword research is useful, it can only take you so far. As a content writer, you need to know what’s trending in your niche to create an engaging and interesting article that people will want to read. A number of tools can help in tracking what’s trending like Google Trends, Buzzsumo, and Quora.

    Analyze the trends in your niche. There’s a lot of stuff on the internet. Don’t just settle and write about the same stuff as everyone else. You would want to stand out so that people will read and share your content with others.

    There are a number of ways to analyze the trends in your niche. Research about what you’ll write. You can use social media to see what people are talking about, Google Analytics to see what material on your website is popular, Google Trends to see how frequently particular phrases are searched for, or Google Autocomplete to get suggestions based on the keywords you input.

     

    Do not overuse keywords or phrases

    When you have a piece of content, you will naturally want to use your chosen keywords several times. However, it’s important to remember that search engines look for density. This means that they look at how many times you have used a particular keyword in relation to the total number of words on the page.

    Don’t use too many of them. A few well-chosen keywords can improve your content’s relevance to search engines. Stuffing your content with keywords in an attempt to manipulate rankings, on the other hand, will have the opposite impact.

    A keyword density of little more than 3 to 5 percent is ideal. If you use more than that, you may be accused of keyword stuffing. Keyword stuffing is considered a black hat SEO strategy and can lead to penalties from search engines.

     

    Write with your audience in mind

    There are two sorts of writers: those that understand the rule, and those that don’t. The former know their audience, their needs and the way they want to be communicated with. The latter simply write what’s on their mind. If you want to succeed as a content writer, you need to understand your audience.

    Writing for an audience is like writing for someone specific. You have to consider their needs, their “pain points”, their problems and interests, and provide them with the information that’s most relevant to them.

    So, what’s the best way to write for your target audience? Here are some suggestions:

    1. Determine your target audience. Who do you want to reach and read your content? What features do they have in common? This will assist you in determining which topics will be most engaging and beneficial to them.
    2. Define a clear objective for your content. This might help decide which topics are most relevant to your audience. If you want to produce more leads, for example, create material that will appeal to potential customers.
    3. Find out what people are looking for on the internet by doing keyword research. This can help you come up with ideas for themes and keywords to put in your content so that it ranks well in search engine results pages (SERPs).

     

    Substitute images for text where appropriate

    To spice up your content, make use of images. Relevant images can make your article easier to digest.

    Images are essential for communicating complex information more efficiently. They also help draw readers into your content, which is especially important when you’re posting content on social media platforms. If possible, use original photos or graphics. If you don’t have the means to create unique images, there are plenty of free resources available online.

    Here are some tips for using images effectively:

    1. Use photos that are relevant to your theme. It’s a good idea to include an automobile image in an article about a car dealer, including a photo of a cat isn’t
    2. Wherever feasible, use original pictures. It’s usually preferable to use your own photos rather than stock photos or images that everyone else is using.
    3. Make use of a wide range of photos. Don’t use the same photo in all of your articles. Include autos from various angles and distances if you’re writing about automobiles.

     

    Write in a conversational tone

    It’s tempting to write in a formal tone and use complicated vocabulary, but this makes your writing difficult to understand. Remember that your readers are real people, not search engine bots.

    Using a conversational tone will convey concepts and explain ideas in the simplest way possible. You don’t have to talk like a teenager, but you should avoid using jargon or sophisticated terminology unless it’s really required. Rather, concentrate on explaining things in straightforward English that everybody can comprehend.

    It’s also easy to inject personality into your material if you write in a conversational tone. If you’re having trouble deciding, try reading some of your favorite blogs and try to figure out why you enjoy them so much. What does it take for you to like their writing style?

     

    Be organized and consistent

    If you want to write well, you need to be organized. Sounds simple, right? But despite this, many writers, particularly the new ones, struggle at being organized because they lack a writing strategy.

    So, how do you plan your writing schedule? You figure out what works best for you and then apply it repeatedly. To put it another way, you create your own writing system.

    No one ever got good at anything without first organizing their resources, scheduling their time, and practicing consistently every day. Writing is a skill like any other in this respect — it takes work and dedication to become proficient. It takes a system to succeed.

    If you’re writing for a blog, that means having a schedule and sticking to it.

    If you’re writing a novel, it means keeping track of your ideas, plot points, characters and so on in some kind of system.

    If you’re writing for your business, it means keeping track of who you’ve written to and when — even if all you do is write one email per day to someone who’s agreed to read your work.

    Not only will organization save you time and help you avoid mistakes, but it will also force you to think about your ideas in fresh, new ways.

    Final Thoughts

    Finally, practice is the most effective technique to develop and improve your content writing skills. Read your favorite blogs and websites and try to create your own content based on what you’ve learned. As you practice more, you’ll likely notice that your writing style becomes more sophisticated and coherent.

    We hope you found this post useful. There are different ways available to help you improve your writing. You only need to find the method that works for you and implement it in your next project. Good luck, and happy writing!

  • Taking the 5 Best Time to Slow Down this Holiday Season

    Taking the 5 Best Time to Slow Down this Holiday Season

     

    Taking the Time to Slow Down this Holiday Season

    Saying that 2020 has been a difficult year is an understatement. But although 2020 has been one of the toughest years because of the global pandemic, there have been silver linings along the way. Let’s not forget to be thankful for all the things we still have, despite all the bad things that have happened. Christmas is only 2 days away now, and so this is a reminder that taking the time to slow down this holiday season is a valid thing to do. 

    You have been in a loop of nonstop working and being productive. It’s time to pause and take a breather. Enjoy the season, embody the Christmas spirit, and celebrate the holidays with your loved ones.

    Here are some things you can do to enjoy the holidays.

    Movie Night

    Cuddling up and watching a festive film is a great way to spend time with your loved ones. Put on your coziest pajamas, make a cup of hot chocolate or a bowl of popcorn, and immerse yourself in the film. Classics like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf, A Christmas Carol, Miracle on 34th Street, and Home Alone are great picks!

    Bake Cupcakes and Cookies

    Spend time with your family in the kitchen and bake your favorite treats!

    Taking the 5 Best Time to Slow Down this Holiday Season

    Listen to Christmas Tunes

    Christmas time is always a great time to go caroling, but with the pandemic still going on, it isn’t recommended to go out and expose yourself. Do you miss singing your favorite Christmas Carols? Play them on speaker and sing along to your favorites. I always find singing along to these merry tunes the best way to feel the holiday spirit.

    Make your own Holiday Cards

    It’s always fun to create something. And this holiday season, it doesn’t matter if you are artistically inclined or not. Pull out your arts and crafts supplies and make your own holiday card collection! Fill them in with warm and loving messages to all of your loved ones and friends. This simple and personal thing will always draw out a smile as you give them to someone you cherish.

    Be Tech-Free – for just a day!

    One way to delve into your childhood days is to unplug and just enjoy the day tech-free. Technology helps us connect to our loved ones who are far away from us, but sometimes, it can make us lose touch with the people who are right in front of us. Unplugging for even just a day will help you slow down and savor your personal time. Be present and enjoy the time you spend with your family and loved ones. Play board games, read a book, bake, or cook. 

    Do you have Christmas traditions with your family? What activity do you look forward to doing the most this holiday? Hopefully, this list will give you ideas on how to enjoy and slow down this holiday season.

    Merry Christmas!

    Last-minute Christmas shopping? Here are 12 Gift Ideas for Small Business Owners.

     

  • 7 Best Personal Development Apps You’d Never Thought You Needed

    7 Best Personal Development Apps You’d Never Thought You Needed

     

    7 Best Personal Development Apps You’d Never Thought You Needed

    In our world today, there is just about anything for everything. If you are looking for personal development apps to help you in your daily life, you’d be surprised that there’s a range of great ones you might love! Whether you are looking for an app that will help you with your career, relationship advice, time management, focus on your hobby, or help you relax and destress, there are personal development apps that are made for you. Here are some favorites: Personal Development Apps

    Elevate – Brain Training Personal Development Apps

    If you are looking for a fun way to challenge yourself and keep your mind sharp, this brain training app is a must-have. With Elevate, you can improve your reading, writing, speaking, and mathematics capabilities. In collaboration with experts in the field of neuroscience and cognitive learning, Elevate has over 35 games that will improve critical skills like memory, processing, focus, precision, and comprehension. This app greatly helps you in honing your listening, writing, reading, and speaking skills with games that focus on reading comprehension, improving and building vocabulary, and spotting grammatical errors. It also has mathematical games that will help you think fast improving your arithmetic thinking. Personal Development Apps

    Aside from cognitive games, Elevate offers detailed performance tracking, personalized daily training, and other features. The app is free to download but the free feature is limited to only three games a day. To experience the full features of the app, there is a modest price of only $4.99/month or $39.99/year that you can avail to enjoy the many benefits that come from improved life skills.

    7 Best Personal Development Apps You'd Never Thought You Needed

    Forest – Stay Focused Personal Development Apps

    Personal Development Apps. What makes this app unique among others is it offers an innovative solution for staying focused and productive in the present moment. Our world has become a series of infinite distractions and this helpful app can be a great help to battle this issue. Based on the Pomodoro Technique, which is a time management strategy, Forest is a very simple app that you can use every day to avoid picking up your phone and mindlessly scrolling through it. By setting up a timer, you will be able to put down your phone and concentrate on the tasks at hand.

    Furthermore, to make it more interactive with its users, the Forest app employs a gaming concept of allowing users to grow their virtual forest by spending time being productive in the real world. The coolest factor of Forest is that it allows users to use virtual reward coins to plant real-life trees in underdeveloped countries via partnerships with environmental non-profit organizations at a one-time cost of $1.99. Don’t you just love it when you find a useful app that allows you to be productive and, at the same time, help mother earth? Coz I do!

    Evernote

    If you love staying organized as I do, this app will be your new favorite! With notes and to-do lists, Evernote has been a life-saver with its multiple notebooks for both personal and business use. And the most useful feature it has is the auto-synchronization feature which you can install on your phone and pc.

    Are you out in public when a brilliant idea suddenly struck you? Evernote is a handy app for recording photos, audio, or written notes on your phone that you can take anywhere. No wifi? No problem, it will still be functional and will automatically sync through all your devices once you are connected to the internet again.

    I’ve tried other note-taking apps, but I never found a better one than Evernote. It’s an easy-to-use, clean, and organized app that works wonders!

     

    Fabulous – Daily Self Care

    With a 4.6 star rating on iTunes and over 30,000 reviews, Fabulous is considered one of the most powerful personal development apps available today. Developed in Duke’s Behavioral Economics Lab, Fabulous has a great visually stimulating interface that’s easy to use and will help you build healthy habits and rituals into your life. The easy-to-use interface of the app and the daily interactions make the process changing as well as habit-building an enjoyable process. You can also add personalized one-on-one coaching and a plethora of exercises are available with a premium account that promotes personal transformations. With the cost of $9.99/month or $95.99/year, Fabulous a great option to use to improve health, happiness, and success across every facet of your life.

    Youper

    One of the things that make most people not do anything is not the lack of motivation but the anxiety they feel because of a certain situation. Not to mention that depression and anxiety amidst the pandemic is not a joke. We are all just trying to cope and survive in everyday life. Your is a mindfulness app that generates a pocket AI therapist that is always there to talk. This app helps protect your emotional health by tracking and analyzing your moods daily, calming your mind to help you sleep faster, making you feel more balanced and focused, and also helping you understand yourself better. This app is free to download with in-app purchases to avail of the premium features.

    Duolingo

    If you want to learn a new language, I highly recommend Duolingo. It’s a free app that has a variety of language lessons such as French, Spanish, Korean, Arabic, Italian, and many more. The app’s interface is interactive and very user-friendly that making the learning process a breeze. Each lesson only takes 5-10 minutes depending on your pacing. You can determine how many lessons to partake in every day and you can track your progress in the app. This app is available on both Android and iOs devices, and it is also available on the web.

    Goodreads Personal Development Apps

    If you are looking to start reading or even just read more, having the Goodreads app will prove helpful in your journey. It’s the perfect companion for tracking your reading progress. Join in a community and be inspired by fellow readers and their wide selection of books to read. Goodreads allows you to interact with other readers, find book reviews, join in the yearly reading challenge, add books to your virtual bookshelves, and also rate and review the books you’ve read. It’s one of my favorite apps on my phone!

     

  • 7 Best Maintaining a Healthy Work-Life Balance

    7 Best Maintaining a Healthy Work-Life Balance

    7 Best Maintaining a Healthy Work-Life Balance

    In this digital age, it’s become more and more challenging to attain this so-called healthy work-life balance. Almost everyone has their phones with them all the time and, in today’s growing economy, everyone is working hard to achieve success in their careers and businesses. They are either working overtime, meeting prospective clients, negotiating with suppliers, writing proposals, and so on, to reach all the goals they have set for themselves and their businesses.

    There’s nothing wrong with wanting to work hard to have a good life, but making your work control your life isn’t healthy. Many professionals these days opt to put all their efforts into their work that they would have no life after the working hours.

    As a professional, you need to learn the value of having a work-life balance. You don’t need to compromise your personal life to achieve success. To live a happy, stress-free, contented, and successful life, you will have to learn how to balance.

    Here are a few tips for maintaining a healthy work-life balance:

    Learn How to Prioritize

    To effectively maintain a healthy work-life balance, one must know how to prioritize things in both his personal and office life. There are only 24 hours in a day and it’s up to you to divide it up to get things done. Identify what truly matters, form a plan, and focus on committing to having that plan come to fruition.

     

    Know your Strengths and Weaknesses

    Nobody else knows yourself as you do, so the first step here is, to be honest about what your strengths and weaknesses are. Don’t try to be all things to all people. Don’t try to even do everything yourself. Know your limits and if you think you need help, then ask for help. Play to your strengths and concentrate on them.

    Set your Work Hours and Stick to it

    If you are working in the office, you have fixed working hours so it’s easier to stick to them. However, working from home is a different thing. If you are a freelancer or a business owner, you might find it hard to settle in a specific working period because you might like the flexibility of your setup. Having a flexible time goes two ways – being a good or a bad thing. It’s good if you know how to balance, but it would be bad if you let yourself work until the wee hours of the night every day just because you feel the need to. Set your work hours and do your best to follow it.

    Take Breaks

    Take short breaks in between your working hours to avoid burning out. Breaks will restore motivation and increase your productivity and creativity. Make it a point to give yourself a lunch break or a coffee break. Also, get up and stretch out every once in a while to get your blood flowing, it will help your mind become clearer and more focused.

    Keep your Workspace Neat & Tidy

    Always make sure that your work area is clean. Not only will clutter distract you, but it will also hinder productivity because your mind will not be able to focus on the tasks at hand. Keep all things necessary in one place, and put all the junk papers in the trash. If you are working at home, invest in a good table, a comfortable chair, and useful computer accessories to make your workspace ergonomic.

    Healthy Work-Life Balance

    Set Aside Some Personal Time

    Always give time to yourself. People fail to realize how important “me” time is, and, sometimes, it may be inevitable to be buried in your work. When this happens, don’t forget to spend some time to take care of yourself. Set aside time for your family as well, you need this to become more productive and inspired.

    Get Enough Sleep

    Of course, getting enough sleep is a prerequisite to have a healthy work-life balance. How else will you get your energy to do your job? Take care of your body and get the rest you need. Turn off all gadgets before going to bed, and that means the TV, the WiFi, and your phone, so you can have a restful sleep.

    Having a healthy work-life balance is not only good for your physical health, but it will also do wonders for your mental well-being. Stay in top shape, reach your goals, and forgo being a workaholic. Remember, work is important, but your personal life is equally essential.

    Stuck and out of motivation? Check out this post to get you loving and living life again!

  • Saying Goodbye to Negative Thoughts and Toxic People

    Saying Goodbye to Negative Thoughts and Toxic People

    Saying Goodbye to Negative Thoughts and Toxic People

    Whether it’s at home or work, certain people in our lives just give off negative vibes. It doesn’t matter if they are a friend, boyfriend/girlfriend, roommate, colleague, family member, etc. If they are toxic and make you feel miserable more than happy, remove and cut them off your life. If getting the peace you want requires you to say goodbye to negative thoughts and toxic people, then so be it.

    A toxic person can control your life without you even realizing it. They know your weaknesses and know how to use them against you. They know when to make you laugh or cry. And they may also be physically, mentally, or emotionally abusive yet somehow you still allow them in your life to continue doing these things. It may be because it’s not easy to spot these things sometimes, or maybe because you just can’t let them go.

    It’s not easy to cut off people from your life especially when they’ve become a constant. When you love a person, you open up yourself to them and go the extra mile for them. This is completely understandable, it’s normal and nothing is wrong with it. What’s not normal is you being good to someone who does not do the same to you in return.

    There are a lot of toxic people around you. Maybe it’s your boss who nags you at work and continues to take advantage of you even after work. Maybe it’s your current relationship who fails to appreciate you and gives you more stress than happiness. Or maybe it’s a family member or a relative who is so negative, you just can’t even deal with them.

    Dealing with toxic people can be one cause of losing yourself. In the process of exposing yourself to these people, you can even develop self-destructive habits and not even know it. Toxicity is mind-damaging and this is a big reason why we should be aware of it.

    Saying goodbye to negative thoughts and toxic people can be a little bit hard at first, but it will eventually become natural once you understand the reason why you had to cut them off your life.

    Saying Goodbye to Negative Thoughts and Toxic People

    Take A Break

    You always have the option to choose how you want to spend your time and who to spend it with. To start with, take a break from interacting with people who drain you. Lessen your time and exposure with that person and stop forcing yourself to “deal with them”. Avoid that aunt you dread to be in the same room with, decline your boss’ call when your phone rings beyond working hours, stop going to social gatherings when you know that a certain person is going to be there. You have the ultimate choice who to let inside your circle, if guarding your happiness means less time with other people then you’ll just have to brave it out.

    Establish Boundaries

    Just like social distancing, establishing boundaries is creating emotional distance from toxic people in your life. Say, for example, there’s a friend who always depends on you and asks for your help whenever she’s in trouble, but when she’s not, you never hear from her. Some people take advantage of other people’s kindness and compassion, and if you feel like your relationship with these kinds of people is not healthy anymore, then you’re better off alone.

     

    Avoid Negative Self-Thoughts

    You are entitled to your own thoughts and opinions, but when these are full of negativity, then it’s best to avoid them. It’s not easy to be always positive, trust me I’ve been there. There are always the down days and negative thoughts will always creep up on you when you are vulnerable and get the best of you. It’s tough but for your own sanity, it’s best to avoid negative thoughts when you can.

    Surround Yourself with Positive People

    This may be an unpopular thought but you can choose your crowd. You can choose who you spend time with. Surround yourself with people who are great for your mental health. Spend time with loyal friends who genuinely care for you and support you to do better. Being around positive people will influence your mood and reactions.

    You Have the Right to be Happy

    Remember, you have the right to be happy and you can do whatever you want to secure that happiness even if it means cutting off people. The most important part here is taking care of your emotional and mental health. The happier you are, the healthier you will be.

    Life is too short to deal with negative thoughts and difficult and toxic people. When things go haywire, it’s time to finally let go of them. It’s easier said than done, but it is possible.

  • 8 Helpful Tips to Improve Patience

    8 Helpful Tips to Improve Patience

    8 Tips to Improve Patience

    “Patience is a Virtue.” There’s a reason why this passage has stood the test of time. Patience will always be one of the many things that will get you through life no matter what your situation is and how bad it is. It’s a tough skill to master, and, like most skills, it can be developed and improved with dedication and perseverance. Here are some tips we can share to improve patience.

    8 Tips to Improve Patience - by VE Digital

    Slow Down

    Sometimes, we need to slow down and take a moment to see our surroundings. Not everything needs to be rushed. Some of us tend to always be in a hurry, want things to be done immediately, and can’t wait for things to take their natural course. This is not how you want to live your life. Pause and take deep breaths when you find yourself in these situations. Getting impatient won’t take you anywhere, it will just let you lose control, so why get worked up over nothing? Instead of losing patience, do something else that will take your mind off the things you’re impatient at, say listen to some music, read a book, or just enjoy the view.

    Practice Deep Breathing

    Deep breathing and meditation will help calm your nerves when you are in a frantic state of mind. Practicing this every day helps it become a habit. When faced in a stressful situation and you feel like your patience is running dry, taking a few deep breaths will greatly affect your mood and level of patience. Practicing meditation is also recommended as it takes us out of our thinking mind and lets us connect with our inner feelings and emotions.

    Think Before you Speak

    When we are in a situation where our patience is being tested, one thing we resolve to do is blurting out the first thing in our minds without thinking about how it will affect the people we are speaking to. By building the habit of thinking before you speak will help you practice and improve patience. We often have bursts of impatience when we are triggered and most often, we do not think of the consequences of our actions. Being patient will not only improve our mental wellness, but it will also help us avoid hurting and offending other people.

    Review the Situation you are in

    To assess the situation you are in, pause, and ask yourself questions. Is this in my control? Can I do something about it? Did I misunderstand something in the situation? Why am I irritated? Know the situation you are in before reacting.

    Accepting Things as is

    Accepting the situation doesn’t mean that you have to like or even agree with it. But accepting what it will help us get over our fighting nature. By learning how to accept things as it is, we will be able to breathe and relax. We can take in the situation without reacting immediately and this is what having patience is.

    Let Go

    Learning to let go of things and the need to know everything will help improve patience. Let go of the idea of perfection, let go of the desire to be entirely in control of everything in your life, let go of all the things you can’t understand. Learning to let things go bit by bit is a good skill to develop because by learning to let go, you will make space of the things that matter more and of the things that you can control.

    Choose to Grow

    Choosing to grow will make it easier to improve patience. When you see the bigger picture, it will help you keep yourself in check. Bad situation, frustrating moments, and irritating people can teach us valuable lessons if we choose to learn and see the bright side. By choosing to learn from these, we choose to grow.

    Appreciate Life

    Above all, we improve patience by learning to be appreciative of life. Look for the great things that are in front of you. Don’t take things and people for granted, no matter how small and insignificant they are. Don’t forget to see and appreciate the beauty of the world. Be grateful for the small moments that make life worthwhile.