Value-Added Fruit. Using lemon juice as a cleaning agent is both earth- and pocket-friendly.
Assorted cleansers can eat up a significant chunk of your budget. At times, these cleaning aids may also contain allergens that could trigger asthma attacks or skin rashes. Thus, the folks over at GreenerChoices.org point out that the most environmentally safe and pocket friendly cleaners are probably already on your pantry shelf.
Consider these alternatives to costly cleaning agents:
1. Baking Soda. This removes stains from tile, glass, and porcelain. It also takes care of the tough baked-on food residue stuck in pots and pans. It's also good for cleaning and deodorizing the fridge.
2. Lemon Juice. Use this for lightening stains and removing the dull spots from brass, bronze, copper, and aluminum.
3. White Vinegar. An effective disinfectant, this also removes some carpet stains, as well as clean coffeemakers and counter tops.
4. Cream of Tartar. This takes care of stains in sinks and tubs. It's also great from getting rid of spots in aluminum pots.
So, keep your cleaning costs down by using these eco-friendly cleansers whenever possible. As much as possible, we should limit our use of store-bought cleansers. It's for the good of our planet--and, of course, our pockets.
Resistance is futile. The rush of mush that you get from looking at this puppy pose is actually good for you.
When I was younger, I thought that doing something for myself meant going on grand escapades. Of course, I believed that this grand venture had to involve a lot of money. During my sophomore year in college, for instance, my roommate and I hatched a plan to quit school and go off to live in France. Fortunately, I only went as far as to switch majors.
Over the years, as I seem to have matured into a mostly levelheaded wife and mother, I've realized that the things you do for yourself don't need to have price tags that cause nosebleeds.
Here are some of the "priceless" treats you can give yourself:
1. Seize a rollercoaster moment. Getting in a rollercoaster may be the best thing you can do. "Rollercoasters challenge our sense of risk, which is exhilarating. They allow us to confront our fears in a safe way," declares educational psychology professor, Dr. Frank Farley of Philadelphia's Temple University. He adds: "The ability to overcome uncertainty is one of the strongest human qualities." Keep this in mind the next time you're waiting in line to get on an amusement park ride that only lasts a couple of minutes. The profound exhilaration that you get from the experience is certainly worth the wait.
2. Get a cute buzz. Do you feel warm and fuzzy each time you see a picture of some furry animals sleeping? Don't suppress your urge to go "Awwww..." Scientists say that our mushy side stems from our "primal need to protect our young." Moreover, according to Dr. Stephan Hamann, associate professor of psychology at Emory University in Atlanta, the rush of mush we get from cute sights and scenes also give us a buzz similar to that set off by chocolate and mood-enhancing drugs. You see, when Hamann showed test subjects images of baby seals and puppies, their brain scans revealed increased activity in the ventral striatum, an area responsible for pleasure. So, when you're feeling down, snuggle up with your pet instead of engaging in self-destructive behavior.
3. Enjoy helper's high. Fight off cynicism by giving in to your helper's instinct. According to psychology researcher Felix Warneken of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, babies as young as 18 months try to help others without being prompted or offered any reward. The tots in Warneken's study hurried to fetch him objects out of his reach or open doors for him when his hands were full. No doubt the little tykes already experienced helper's high.
Go ahead and indulge in these priceless treats. In doing so, you'll begin to radiate a positive energy that will be welcomed by the people around you.
Smell something fruity? Yes, it's good enough to eat...but pineapples have an added benefit. Clue: Your nose knows what it is.
Long before aromatherapy became a buzzword, people already benefited from the power of scents. Now, with all the developments made in the scientific study of odors, more and more medicinal and energy-boosting properties of scents have been uncovered. Check out the ones I compiled:
1. Power up with pineapple. Various studies show that if you want to stay alert, the scent of pineapple should do the trick. Along with other citrus fruits, the aroma of pineapple can boost your brain and energize you when post-lunch lethargy sets in.
2. Shed pounds with peppermint. According to a study done at Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia, people who regularly sniffed peppermint consumed 23 percent fewer calories than those who didn't get a whiff of the refreshing odor.
3. Kick back with sandalwood. Research shows that sandalwood's chemical composition is similar to an element found in human sweat that acts as a naturally-occurring tranquilizer.
4. Jog your memory with basil. In a study published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, findings showed that the scent of basil stimulates the brain's prefrontal cortex, which processes short-term memory.
5. Fight off headaches with apple. Researchers at the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago discovered that the odor of green apples relieves headaches.
While these scents may indeed play a part in energizing your body and your mind, you can't just rely on them to get you through the day. On top of getting a whiff of the right odors, you should eat nutritious food, as well as get the right amount of exercise and rest.
The Real Deal. Aspire to be the authentic leader described by author Bill George.
Since businesses are focused on returns of investment and profit generation, we often forget that it's really not just all about the money. The success--or failure--of any form of business depends on the people who are tasked to run it. This is what Bill George emphasizes in his book, Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value.
Personal Investment
The great thing about George, former chairman and CEO of Medtronic, is that he does not glorify "the road traversed by the majority of corporate honchos who succumb to the pressures of satisfying shareholders." As he points out: "This type of leadership only results in short-term gains rather than building lasting organizations that eventually benefits all stakeholders."
By "stakeholders," George is referring to customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, and communities. Thus, his ideal vision of an authentic leader is somebody who puts premium on relationships that will strengthen business practices.
Prime Leaders
George lists the qualities that separate the true blue business superstars from the sharks:
1. They should be all about authenticity--not style. George is against the practice of putting chief executives on pedestals simply because they look good on paper. A good leader's character is not defined by the number of degrees he holds, it is defined by how he deals with people. One can have a dozen degrees from the best business schools in the world--but people won't respect him if he treats them badly.
2. They have the strength to go against the grain. When everyone else in the industry cuts corners in the hopes of getting "money for nothing," an authentic leader sticks to his principles. This doesn't mean that he won't be raking in profits. It simply means that he will choose to bring in money by working smarter. He won't use sneaky methods that could jeopardize the reputation of the company or his stakeholders.
3. They have a meaningful mission. A good leader thinks beyond financial concerns and makes an effort to develop products that make a difference in the lives of stakeholders. Aside from getting involved in charities and encouraging employees to support their communities, a true leader also endeavors to enhance the abilities of his subordinates by providing them with the necessary equipment and training so that they can maximize their productivity.
Noble Cause
In the face of a society that puts increasing emphasis on professional achievements at the expense of principles and personal relationships, George stands firm in his belief that there are business leaders who can blaze trails without crushing anyone's toes.
Though his concept may seem incredible, it serves to remind us all that we should all aspire for better things that benefit the world we live in. Money is great--especially if we earn it by playing nice.
Suggested Resource: Practice authentic leadership and reap success by signing up for Simpleology's 7 Day Business Turnaround course.
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Celebrate your life! Mark the day that you bounce back with simple but joyous moments like riding a Ferris wheel.
Had a bad day? Made the mistake of stopping to listen what haters have to say? Did your project fizzle out? Are you sore because the party you planned didn't turn out as great as you had hoped?
You're not alone. Many of us have had our share of bad days.
Bounce Factor
Needless to say, failure and setbacks hurt a lot. But, thankfully, as long as you've got enough strength to withstand the pain, then you're sure to eventually have enough energy to dust yourself off and try to seek happiness again. You just need one key ingredient to bounce back: resilience.
"Resilience is the basic ingredient of happiness and success. It affects your work performance and relationships. When you're resilient, you can make tough decisions with grace and humor. You stop being a victim and start being a survivor," says psychologist Dr. Karen Reivich, co-author of The Resilience Factor.
Sure Steps
Reivich then outlines a handful of tips to help you can get your groove back after you've been wiped out by mishaps:
1. Take stock of the damage. You're entitled to outbursts and some time to mourn your professional misstep or emotional spill. Own up to your mistakes and learn from them. During this crash-and-burn period, make sure that you don't take out your misery on other people. You can be honest about your feelings--but there's no need to turn nasty.
2. Mind your thoughts. Don't think that it's all your fault whenever something bad happens. More importantly, don't think that the universe is out to get you. Reivich advises: "Try to catch these thoughts, so you can rework them into self-talk that buoys you up instead of weighing you down." For instance, you should stop saying, "I'm such a loser for not noticing that my business partner wouldn't deliver on his promise." Instead you should say, "It's not my fault that he was unreliable. I signed a contract with him in good faith and I had no way of knowing he would let me down. Next time, I will pick better partners."
3. Take some credit. "People often find it easier to take responsibility for their failures than for their successes. When things go well, many people attribute it to luck or someone's kindness," observes Reivich. As such, you must learn to take some credit for your strength, patience, and talent. Knowing that you have something going for you will inspire you to get through challenges.
4. Keep your hopes up. While it's not easy to keep hoping for the best when you're down-and-out, you can get energized in every way through uplifting experiences and people who radiate positive energy. If you feel that you'd rather let your wounds heal in solitude, you can take up a project that would make you feel productive. For example, you can repaint your room, start growing a garden, kick off an exercise regimen, or even learn to train a puppy to do tricks.
5. Fight to get to the bright side. You know in first of action flicks when bad guy leaves the hero for dead? Of course, the hero refuses to roll over and die. He fights to live and be strong again so he can teach the bad guy a lesson. You should look at the cause of your fall as the bad guy. You shouldn't let it kill you. You must find the way to be stronger than ever. After all, living well is always the best revenge against the most unpalatable circumstances.
Renewed and Ready
Once you've fully healed from your crash-and-burn "injuries," make an effort to celebrate your achievement. You don't need to throw a lavish party. You can mark the day you got your groove back by taking a walk in the park and stopping to get a smoothie on the way home. As long as you do something that makes you feel good and remind you not to take simple pleasures for granted, then that's already a celebration of your spirit.
Suggested Resource: Fortify your spirit with enriching insights from the Kaizen Club. It's a course that will make you tough enough to handle just about anything that life throws at you.
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Last week we sent out an email that began with the best intentions ...
The Subject: Best President Ever?
The Body of the email began ...
No, I'm not talking about Obama.
I'm talking about a man who ...
I then carried on with an interesting email that was fascinating for many reasons - but, enough of that. That's not the purpose of this blog post ...
The purpose of this post is to apologize for a stupid mistake.
Before we sent out the email, I thought "hey, let's test the headline Dead Presidents."
"Dead Presidents" is slang for "money" in the USA - and I thought that would be a great opener.
What I didn't put together before I clicked send was that it would read like this ...
Subject: Dead Presidents
Body: No, I'm not talking about Obama ...
Ugh, I feel sick just thinking about what kind of impression that might have created. It was most certainly not intended as an insult to Barack Obama and I can sure see how it could have been read that way.
I didn't even put that together until one of our members called us on it. I'm surprised I didn't get a flood of hate mail! (I would have deserved it. Ultimately only two people commented out of our hundreds of thousands of readers. For a moment that fact tempted me to let this go by without comment, but it's such a vulgar mistake, I feel personally compelled to correct the record. It's clear very few noticed, but this isn't about what we can get away with - it's about righting a wrong - no matter how visible or invisible.)
At any rate, if you did catch that and thought I was throwing rocks at Obama, my sincere apologies. That was most certainly not my intention.
And in case you're wondering ... I prefer not to comment on the policies or actions of President Obama right now. Whether I agree or disagree with them is beside the point. If I comment either way, it will be divisive in this context. And it's just not the point of this blog. (Hey, if you want my personal political opinions, you can read my personal blog - you didn't sign up for that here.)
On whichever side of the aisle you find yourself politically aligned (or even if you don't stand on any side or even in the same room), we can all agree that the man has achieved something of profound human importance by becoming the first black president in America. He deserves far better treatment than I carelessly gave him in that email.
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Choose good plastic. Pick a credit card company that won't make you broke.
Throughout life, a person will most likely incur some form of debt or debts. Certain types of debts--such as college loans and mortgages--are justified and often manageable.
But credit card debt--no thanks to companies that charge astronomical interest rates and employ sneaky tactics--can turn the most laid-back person into a worrywart.
Frantic Over Plastic
A survey done by Ohio State University reveals that people admit to losing sleep over debt-related stress.
If you've come to rely on plastic to tide you over until you cash your next paycheck, then you have to rethink how you're managing your finances. It's time to wake up. You have to stop the cycle of "breaking yourself." (Read: You have to cease rendering yourself broke.)
False Hope
Then again, that's easier said than done--especially since many people see the credit card as a security blanket. Unfortunately, that may be the first big mistake they make about plastic.
Perhaps, exposing the schemes of credit card companies may help them perform some much-needed "plastic surgery." Take a close look at these sneaky tactics chronicled by Carmen Wong Ulrich, author of Generation Debt and writer Dave Gilson in his article "House of Cards:"
1. Universal Pain. Don't schedule automatic payments around due dates. Credit card companies shift those around, hoping to sock you with a late fee and raise your rate. Another reason to be early is a creepy practice called universal default. "Many companies have a system set up so when you're late on one card other cards raise their rates, too," says Wong.
2. Inconvenience Checks. Some credit card companies issue blank "convenience checks." Ironically, these checks are anything but convenient. Why? Well, it's because the company may simply decide not to honor the said checks for one reason or another. Cardholders are then slapped with a penalty fee of around $31 for each check that bounces.
3. Killer Contracts. Back in the 80s, a typical card's contract was less than a page long. But, the plot apparently thickens--as a credit card contract now averages 30 pages. There are companies who take advantage of the fact that cardholders don't have the stamina to go through novella-length contracts. Putting your John Hancock on such a contract is nothing short of willingly signing over your soul to debt.
4. Double Whammy. Some companies use a tactic called "two-cycle billing," so that they can charge interest on the original amount spent. It won't matter if you've already paid off part of it.
5. Ratings Game. Gilson points out: "Some cards raise customers' interest rates if they miss payments to other banks or creditors."
Cash on Hand
In cases where the use of plastic has depleted your resources, you have to possess a firm resolve to get rid of your credit cards. Stick to using cash so you know exactly what you can afford and what you cannot.
Otherwise, you'll be breaking yourself until what's left of your finances can no longer sustain your most basic needs.
It's all in the eyes. Your eyes often show what you're feeling even when you don't say anything.
The eyes are the so-called windows to one's soul. So the saying goes. Experts say it's literally true, as we give away our mental processes by the look in our eyes. Consider these insightful factoids from a Psychology Today article, "Whatta You Lookin' At?" by Matthew Hutson:
1. Faraway Look. When you're asked a difficult question, experts say you must look away to improve your concentration. Apparently, brains have a hard time ignoring faces. Just make sure you do this discreetly so that the person you're talking to won't think you're being rude.
2. Winning Gaze. The gaze of a novice hockey or basketball player tends to be all over the place before he or she makes a crucial shot, but superior athletes are able to lock their eyes on the goal or basket.
3. Spot Focus. Don't be too quick to get creeped out by people whom you think are looking right at you. Chances are, they may not really staring at you--so don't take it personally. Studies show that there are certain spots on our face that draws people's attentions.
I hope you enjoyed "getting an eyeful" as much as I did. It's always a blast when your eyes are opened to fascinating trivia. (Eye-related puns all intended.)
Credits: Photo by Anna Cercova, courtesy of Public Domain Pictures.
Safe Shoes. Make time to store sensible flats in your car. It could save your life.
The little things that we do or don't do affect our lives in a big way. After all, smart, practical measures don't have to be elaborate in order to be effective.
Consider these simple acts that save people from a whole lot of trouble:
1. Women at the wheel shouldn't wear heels.Trouble Spot: According to a survey done by a London-based insurance company called Sheila's Wheels, one in 10 women have had an accident or a near-miss while driving in high heels. Practical Move: Stash a pair of comfy flats in your glove compartment. Aside from giving your feet a rest from your killer heels, they might also protect you from life-threatening road incidents.
2. Throw out has-beens. Trouble Spot: Many of us continue to hold on to things that are past their prime. It's no biggie when it comes to old books or clothes--but it's a different story when it comes to food items and medication. Food and chemical poisoning can result from Practical Move: Schedule a weekly weed-out session for your fridge and medicine cabinet. If an item's expiration date is anytime within the next two weeks, segregate it from the rest of the stuff by placing colored labels on them or putting them in a separate location. Thus, they won't be eaten or ingested by mistake.
3. Don't look at your computer straight on. Trouble Spot: If you're looking at your computer screen all day, you eyes will most likely suffer from the strain. This could lead to vision disturbances and tension headaches that would seriously impair your productivity. Practical Move: Position your computer monitor so you're looking slightly down at it. Thus, you limit your corneas' prolonged exposure to air. That means less eye strain and blurring, as well better vision.
4. Men should position ladders right. Trouble Spot: In 2007, the American Journal of Preventive Medicine revealed that the number of men who've suffered injuries after falling from a ladder has increased by more than 50 percent since 1990. In many cases, improper ladder positioning was the cause of the mishap. Practical Move: The right way to do it is to place the ladder one foot away from the wall for every four feet of the ladder's height. (Example: If the ladder is eight feet long, then its base should be placed two feet away from the wall. And so on.) Of course, it goes without saying that the ladder should be placed on a solid, even surface.
5. Prevent neck stiffness with the right pillow and stretching. Trouble Spot: Waking up with a stiff neck is one of the most annoying things you can experience. It's not exactly a debilitating condition, but it prevents you from doing your tasks. Practical Move: Canadian researchers conducted a study wherein they had 151 people with neck pain try a variety of treatments. They found that those who slept on an ergonomic pillow and did some stretching exercises experienced the greatest pain reduction. Aside from getting the perfect pillow, you should do five neck circles and five shoulder rolls before you get in bed and right after you wake up.
It's important for you to make time for these no-nonsense precautionary measures. As the saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Telephone Therapy. Just had a bad day? Phone a sympathetic friend.
While Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is commonly associated with soldiers returning from hostile postings, I was somewhat shocked by the findings of a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Everyday Obstacles
Researchers discovered that PTSD is more common than we think. Apparently, its symptoms--disturbing flashbacks, sleeplessness, panic attacks, irrational anger, irritability, and unexplained anxiety--are also manifested by people who are subjected to any form of hostility like road rage, emotionally-draining workplace politics, passive-aggressive "friends," harsh words, natural disasters, and even car accidents.
Moreover, researchers also say that PTSD now strikes one in every 12 people--with more women than men dealing with the unbearable mental anguish.
Invisible War
The thing is, the study also shows that most of the sufferers don't even realize that PTSD has already chipped away at their peace of mind and self-esteem. Most of them tend to be in denial, choosing to sweep disturbing episodes under the rug and bottling up their pain.
Fortunately, there are some no-cost alternatives to costly therapy. Experts advise people suffering from everyday PTSD to talk it out with their friends or loved ones.
Positive Therapy
Just make sure, though, that you talk to someone who won't not scoff at you or make insensitive comments. Because if you call the wrong person when you're in an emotionally fragile state, his or her unfeeling remarks could just exacerbate your fear or rage. One shocking example: A friend of mine called up his cousin right after he was mugged, but instead of offering some sympathy, the said cousin quipped matter-of-factly, "You know what, you're partly to blame because you dress like you have money."
So, when you've just experienced a PTSD-causing incident, call someone who's sure to put you at ease and give you the emotional support you need. Otherwise, you're better off joining a support group and seeking the help of a professional counselor or therapist.
In any case, your best recourse is to surround yourself with positive people even when things are going great for you. Chances are, they'll rally to your side when you're hurt in any way. They're your best allies against any battle. Because, really, in times of trouble, a kind word from a person who cares about your welfare already makes a world of difference.
Suggested Resource: Build up your emotional and mental defenses by getting to know people who think positive. Join the Kaizen Club and fight off everyday stress with empowering life lessons.
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Zone in like Beckham. Soccer superstar David Beckham has perfected the art of being "in the zone."
Don't get me wrong, I don't play hooky. Really, I don't. For the record, I'm meeting my deadlines. Yes, sometimes I cut it close but I haven't missed one yet. Though, of course, I could be much more focused.
Restless Episodes
Then again, I do go on Twitter and check out YouTube whenever I get restless. When I'm stuck on a passage, that's when I find myself Twitter-ing and looking for a funny video. While I don't spend too much time in the said sites, there are moments when I get so engrossed in them.
It goes to show that I just need to learn to be in the "zone." In sports, this refers to a mental state that enables an athlete to rise to the occasion.
You see, when it comes to maintaining razor-sharp focus, those of us who complain about being easily derailed--be it by chain emails, the hottest YouTube videos, or other fascinating productivity wreckers--should take lessons from sportsmen.
Mental Miracle
Syracuse University scientists conducted a brain imaging study and found that athletes have perfected the art of shutting out distractions or "zoning in" when it was time for them to go for the gold.
When these athletes are "in the zone," only one part of their brains light up considerably--the part which controls coordination. Meanwhile, other mental faculties become less active, enabling them to direct all their energies towards the execution of their designated moves.
Thus, topnotch athletes are able to tune out the roar of spectators. They even stop thinking about their chances of success. In effect, their brain is just telling them to get the job done in the best way possible.
Task Champions
In any case, those of us who don't sweat it out in sports arenas should simply learn to pretend that sites like Twitter and YouTube don't exist (unless you're looking for a video to go with your blog post or other work-related reasons) while we're doing a task. (I'm working on it.)
Is your cereal a killer? Make sure that the cereal you're consuming is good for you.
When it comes to choosing the right things to buy at the grocery, we shouldn't just consider our shopping budget. While it's nice to save a lot, you should keep in mind that your good nutrition should be your priority.
Check out these healthy options:
1. Go for olive oil in glass bottles.Manufacturers of olive oil have discovered that glass and tin prevent oxidation better than plastic containers. Olive oil also shouldn't be exposed to great amounts of light to significantly slow down oxidation. Keep it in a cool, dark place such as a cupboard.
2. Choose dark honey. According to a study in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, you should choose the darkest honey on the store shelf. Dark-colored honey has a higher antioxidant content than the light-colored variety.
3. Buy whole grain cereal. Findings in a 2005 Australian study reveal that the majority of breakfast cereals--especially those marketed for children--contain too much sugar and not enough fiber. Well, regardless of the consumer's age, the fact remains that cereal made of refined grains raise the body's glucose and insulin levels. They also deplete your reserves of good cholesterol. Thus, it's wiser to opt for whole grain cereal. (Check out nutritionist Diana Mirkin's site for a list of cereals that are good for you.)
If you ask me, food should be the one essential that you shouldn't scrimp on. So, when possible, go for products that have the highest nutritional value. It's a grocery purchase you won't regret.
Credits: Photo by Scott Bauer, courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service.
Big Ticket Ride. Every boy dreams of owning a sports car one day. As grown ups, most of us have to realize that this is something we may not be able to afford if we don't do some serious saving.
When you're fresh out of college and you land your first job, it's easy enough to get caught up in the heady rush of consumerism.
You suddenly think you can afford to splurge on "cool stuff" like the giant aquarium that your parents never bought you. Alas, this line of thinking spells trouble for your finances...the kind of trouble that has you calling home and asking your mom and dad for rent money. Not exactly a sign of grown-up success, right?
"One of the biggest mistakes [people] make when they enter the workforce is establishing their lifestyle first and then trying to figure out how to pay for it," states Shannon Plate, author of Degunking Your Personal Finances.
If you made this mistake, don't despair. The good news is you can fix it. As Plate advises: "You can start by trying to cut 10 to 15 percent from your monthly expenses." She then goes on to enumerate some of the things you can downgrade or do without:
1. Cellphone
Citing J.D. Power, a firm which analyzes consumer behavior, Plate reveals that in 2006 alone the average cellphone user racked up 422 minutes of talk time. Strangely enough, cellphone companies stated that most of their subscribers went for their 600-minute and 900-minute plans. "Reducing your allowable minutes from 600 to 450 would save you that magic 10 percent. And, if you use prepaid plans, prepaid plans are always a better deal," suggests Plate.
2. Utility Bills
Remember what your parents told you. Turn off anything that you're not using. This rule applies to everything--from faucets to your TV set. To be extra sure, when it comes to electronics, unplug everything so that absolutely to electricity consumption occurs without you knowing about it.
3. Cable TV
Shop around for the most cost effective deal. There are many cable TV companies and they often offer special promotional prices or customer loyalty discounts. Make sure you don't miss out on these types of money-saving deals. Most of all, be realistic about how many cable TV channels you actually watch. New York Times columnist Joe Nocera points out that many of us end up paying for channels we don't even like. An AC Nielsen study revealed that the typical American household subscribes to about 118 channels--but only about 16 channels are are being watched regularly.
Moreover, you should lose your urge to shell out cash for status symbols. Get real. If you can't afford anything brand new just yet, then go for sturdy garage sale finds that will serve you well until you can finally afford a few simple luxuries.
This isn't to say you shouldn't channel your inner 10-year-old when you decide how to spend your paycheck. By all means, have fun with the cash you have after you've already paid all your bills and set some aside.
Bottom line: You can go crazy as a kid in a candy store with your money only after you've done what a grown-up is supposed to do. It's not that hard to do. "It's easier than you think," states Plate.
Suggested Resources: Acquire the skill of living below your means--as well saving more than you thought you could--by signing up for Simpleology 102: The Simple Science of Money.
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Brand New You. This tongue-in-cheek video shows you that there are no strict rules for making resolutions.
We're on the second month of 2009 and it's time for what I call the New Year Resolutions Reckoning.
I myself am not batting a hundred percent. I had vowed to quit eating potato chips, but I can't seem to give up my Ruffles habit that easily. But I'm not writing off my resolution just yet because I still have 11 months left to follow through on it.
But I figured I need all the help I can get.
In her article, "Make Your Resolutions Stick," Leslie Gilbert Elman cites psychiatrist Dr. Joan Lang's tips on how to stay true to your New Year goals.
Here's Lang's three-step approach to making resolutions count:
1. Do things one at a time. Be realistic. You are not a superhero. You must focus on one goal before you can move on to others. Lang explains: "Once you achieve that first goal, you'll build momentum for making other positive changes."
2. Record your progress. "Research shows that closely observing and recording what you do is a huge component of success," states Lang. Her tip: Buy a special notebook or use a computer program to track your progress. You can also keep a journal or a blog detailing your efforts to make good on your resolutions.
3. Work on your timing. If you're still recovering from last month's hectic schedule, you can choose to reschedule the start date of your resolutions. Lang recommends that you try a "midyear resolution," which you can start at the beginning of summer. You could also have a birthday resolution, Fourth of July resolution, first-day-of-spring resolution, or any-old-day resolution. Then, as Lang suggests, once you settle on a start date that suits you, cement your commitment by stating, "I'm choosing this time to make a change that's important to me, not out of guilt or habit or tradition, but because this is the right time for me."
It's crucial that you take these measures to empower yourself. Or else you'll feel as if you're stuck in a rut. Surely, you don't want to keep making--and ditching--the same resolutions each year after year.
Suggested Resource: Use the Daily Time Praxis (DTP) from Simpleology 101: The Simple Science of Getting What You Want to help keep you focused on sticking to your resolutions. The DTP is a cool productivity tool that will help you chart your day-to-day progress.
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Travel Advisory. Make sure you squeeze in some bath time before you catch your flight.
Come Friday, I'll be flying to Boston for my best friend Lisa's weekend wedding. So, in anticipation of my trip, I stumbled upon these not-so-usual away-from-home reminders:
1. Come clean before you fly.
There's one more reason why you shouldn't cut it close when you have a flight to catch. Often, when travelers are pressed for time, they skip taking a shower. But, according to a new study in Environmental Science and Technology, skipping bath time may make you airsick.
Researchers monitored 32 people who were placed in four-hour flight simulations and noted that compounds in body oils interacted with the air contained in the cabin to form chemical by-products in the air. The "greasy" group complained of headaches, as well as throat and nasal irritations.
2. Steer clear of hotel room hotspots.
Hotel rooms may look posh at first sight--but then appearances can be deceiving. This is especially true if housekeeping hasn't come in yet.
In a University of Virginia study, 15 people with colds were made to spend one night in a hotel room. Then, the researchers came in to swab the scene. As it turns out, they discovered that the cold virus remained on about 35 percent of the room's surfaces. The hotspots included light switches, the phone, and the remote control.
"A person's cold virus can linger on surfaces for at least a day," warns Dr. Owen Hendley, one of the study's researchers. If you want to avoid getting the sniffles, ask the hotel's housekeeping crew to spray some disinfectant on the cold virus hotspots.
3. Phone in--but don't stay on the line too long.
When you're on the road and feeling homesick, you'll phone home every minute. But, perhaps, you should consider other ways of touching base with your loved ones.
Indian researchers monitored 100 cellphone users. After four years of heavy usage of using their cellphone for calls at least an hour each day), the users' ability to hear high frequencies had been severely diminished. Apparently, the electromagnetic waves emitted by the handsets were to blame. "This radiation can affect your inner-ear mechanics over time," states Dr. Naresh Panda. As such, he suggests using a headset so that you can move your cellphone away from your ear. Or, maybe, you can just send several heartfelt text messages.
Remember that no matter where the road may take you, your health should always be your priority. A journey is no fun when it's cut short by aches and pains that you could easily avoid. Your priority is to arrive at your destination in good spirits and to go back home in the same joyful state.
The Book of Quick Love. Author Nicholas Boothman says you can find The One ASAP.
In celebration of Valentine's Day, I thought it would be great to discuss a book that's all about establishing love connections in a jiffy.
In How to Make Someone Love You Forever (In 90 Minutes or Less), author Nicholas Boothman, an expert in neuro-linguistic programming, offers a three-step process to finding "someone who will love your forever."
Take a look at his guide to quickie love:
Step One: Get to Know Yourself. You lay the foundation for love by knowing yourself first. To get lucky in love, you have to know what you want in a potential mate. Thus, when he or she crosses your path, you're ready to introduce the real you. As in business, there has to be truth in what you're advertising. If you pretend to be someone you're not just to lure a person into your life, your chances of finding happily-ever-after are nil.
Step Two: Find Your Rhythm. Now that you already have the attention of your potential mate, you have to work hard to keep it. You have to show him or her that being with you will make a positive change on his or her life. You should not take anything for granted. Good manners, right conduct, and personal hygiene are your "building blocks" for this stage. Throw in your genuine interest in your potential mate's likes and dislikes and you'll be on the path to the match of your life.
Step Three: Go for Broke. There's no sense wasting time with mind games. You have to seal the deal by laying your cards on the table. Nothing drives away people faster than a "manufactured guessing game." Sure, the chase may be thrilling, people will think that you're just playing with their affections if you don't make your intentions clear.
Now, if you ask me, I really don't know if it's possible to find out if a person's right for you within 90 minutes of meeting him or her. My husband is my older brother Tony's friend and I had known him for about 17 years before I dated him. The first time my brother had him over, I was twelve years old and I thought he was "weird." I never thought I'd end up with him.
Besides, Boothman himself says, "You can't really learn how to fall in love from reading a book, not even this one. You've got to leap in and learn by doing."
Well, in my defense, I leaped in with all my heart once I realized I had found the one who was right for me. It's not my fault that it didn't happen within 90 minutes.
You may not have realized it yet, but there are three harmless objects in your household that wreak havoc on your plans to get fit. Care to find out what these objects are?
Here they are:
1. The Fridge
When you get up in the middle of the night, it's hard not to wander into the kitchen and see what's in the fridge. According to a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences a midnight snack habit can turn into a disorder known as the Night-Eating Syndrome. Aside from leading to obesity, this cycle throws off your body clock. So, when you get up at midnight, avoid going anywhere near the fridge.
2. The Coffeemaker
While your coffeemaker may be a welcome sight when go into your kitchen to prepare breakfast, you have to be mindful about the effects of caffeine. Various studies show that compared to non-coffee addicts, people who take in too much caffeine are 30 percent more likely to develop depression and 20 percent more to suffer from panic attacks. Thus, if you can't give it up, try to limit your coffee intake to a single cup each day.
3. The TV
According to a study in Obesity, too many hours in front of the tube can make it more difficult for you to maintain weight loss. Researchers profiled 1,422 people listed in the National Weight Control Registry who had maintained a loss of about 30 pounds for a year. Apparently, those who increased their TV time gained back an average of nine pounds. Thus, you should limit your TV moments to 10 hours each week. Or, better yet, find a way to exercise while you're watching your favorite shows.
As much as these objects pose some sort of "danger" to your fitness routine, you have to remember that they don't have power over you. The fridge, the coffeemaker, and the TV may tempt you to stray from your healthy ways--but the success or failure of your efforts depend on your willpower.
Retail therapy or retail hell? Shopping may look glamorous--like in the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic--but it's a different story when you're broke.
There are women who choose to erase their bad feelings by going shopping.
As a result, they end up buying more than they can afford and certainly more than they need. They spend a lot of money without arriving at any resolution to their emotional issues. Despite the trauma on their budgets, these women go through the vicious cycle over and over again.
Psychiatrist Dr. Catherine Birndorf--Self magazine's "happiness expert" and the director of the Payne Whitney Women's Program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital--presents a checklist that will help determine whether your retail therapy is still normal or if it has become a full-blown shopping addiction.
Consider the following symptoms:
1. You always have the urge to buy. You are always tempted to buy something even if you don't need it. While dealing with incessant temptations is understandable, the problem begins when you act on them without considering the financial consequences.
2. You'd rather go shopping than hang out. When you begin to ditch your family and friends so that you can go shopping, then you're in trouble. People who shop compulsively get high on buying things like there's no tomorrow. They may even conceal their habit from others.
3. You have a pile of stuff with price tags still intact. There's nothing like physical evidence to make you realize that you have to get hold of your shopping tendencies.
According to advice from ShopaholicsAnonymous.org, shopping junkies need to restrain themselves from buying anything and identify the emotion that has triggered their urge. They should take time out for, say, 10 minutes or more in order to objectively assess their feelings about the product. "The more you resist, the more willpower you'll develop and the healthier your shopping habits will be," says Birndorf.
And, more than that, women with emotional issues should find more constructive ways to cope
Suggested Resource: Put your shopping in the proper perspective by signing up for Simpleology 102: The Simple Science of Money. The course will teach you how to spend your hard-earned cash wisely.
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Mobile Mess. This video should convince you to do something about the mess in your car before you're overwhelmed by it.
As busy as our lives get, it's all too easy for clutter to sneak up on us.
Many of us go about our jobs and chores without realizing that various corners of our households have already become "dumping sites" of things we don't really need or stuff we've given up for lost. It gets even worse when these things get thrown in together and become a mixed up heap that nobody wants to touch.
To keep messy heaps from taking over our lives, check out these simple clutter management tricks:
1. Segregate things that are easily lost. Assign a specific spot for things that are frequently misplaced. Place a utility shelf by your door and get colored trays or bowls where you can place your loose change, keys, purses, and other stuff. "When you organize your life by category, it's easier to keep your belongings straight," states Regina Leeds, author of One Year to an Organized Life.
2. Clean out your car. Do a routine "clean sweep" of your car each week. Barry Iszak, in his book Organize Your Garage in No Time, advises: "Banish that jumble of stuff sliding in your backseat by keeping an oversized tote in your car to stow the loose items as they accumulate."
3. Make your bed. "Your bed dominates the room, so when it's tidy, everything looks better," observes Peter Walsh, author of It's All Too Much. This way, you also make sure that no other loose objects are tangled up with your sheets.
4. Adopt the 20-minute rule. "Take 20 minutes each day to clear out your fridge or sort through your jewelry box," suggests Liza Zaslow, founder of Gotham Organizers in New York City. By doing this, you're sure to never get overwhelmed with any pending organization tasks in the future. In fact, this rule will serve you well as you go through common problem areas like your closet or basement.
5. Throw out junk mail ASAP. Do you hate it when flyers and catalogs begin to have a life of their own? If you dread this, take your cue from Walsh who points out: "Treat mail as you would a suspicious intruder: Let it into your home after you've [determined that it's not junk]." Thus, he recommends that you place a recycling bin by your door so you can get rid of the junk mail pile "as they cross your threshold."
Always remember to stay on top of clutter before they invade your space. Don't wait for the day when you can barely maneuver your way through your house or your car without encountering a big pile of mess. Anyone will tell you that that's no way to live.
Fun Brain Booster. Playing a video game, like the classic Pacman, will help tune up your mind.
As brain science and the study of human psychology advances, more and more surprising quirks of the human mind are uncovered. Here are five of them:
1. If you dig surprise endings, you dig yourself. A report in Media Psychology indicates that people with high self-esteem go for mind-boggling plot twists or unexpected outcomes in movies, TV shows, and books.
2. Trashing junk food can lead to a trashed budget. Researchers from the University of Minnesota say that following a strict diet can lead to compulsive spending. Why? Well, it's because you only have "a limited number of mental resources to allocate towards self-control." Thus, if you're using the said resources to fight food cravings, you become more prone to giving in to other temptations. "Don't touch products you don't need. That sensory stimulation will increase your desire to buy," cautions Dr. Kathleen Vohs, the study's author.
3. Being out of work won't work out for you. According to a study published in Psychosomatic Medicine, unemployment can wreck your immune system. Scientists collected blood samples from 100 unemployed people and discovered that their immune systems were 20 percent weaker than the working crowd. Then, about three months after landing jobs, the previously down-and-out employees had increased immunity.
4. Playing video games will help you play it smart. According to a University of Rochester study, playing video games can boost your visual proficiency. Researchers tested gamers and found that they scored about 20 percent higher than non-gamers on tests of spatial resolution, which assessed their ability to focus on a target, shape, or focal point. Shawn Green, M.A., lead author of the study, declares: "Games teach your brain to focus on the important things and filter out distractions." Then again, overindulging in games can make your brain fuzzy so it's best if you limit your playing time to no more than three hours each week. (Or as long as it doesn't get in the way of your responsibilities.)
5. When you're not gaining any friends, you tend to gain weight. A study in Social Neuroscience points out that feelings of loneliness can interfere with impulse control. This is why, when we're feeling left out, we reach for sweets and chips. So, the next time you feel like you need somebody to talk to, dial a friend and ditch the junk food.
I wonder, though, if these mind quirks are true for everyone. Then again, I already had such a blast learning about them.
Dream Come True. Don't let a high profile life ruin who you are.
Just recently, my friend Emily, who works in Manhattan, called to tell me that she was leaving her high-powered job. She said she was going back to New Orleans to set up a coffee shop with her cousins. "I called you because you're one of the few people who won't tell me I'm crazy to chuck away great job," she said. "I'm downsizing my life."
Simplified Life
I applaud Emily's move--but I have to disagree with her when she says she's "downsizing" her life. I think that by turning her back on her high profile--yet also highly stressful job--Emily's actually improving the quality of her life.
However, the reason why so many people think she's nuts for choosing to run a coffee shop over being a power player in a posh corporation is clear. Many of us have a cardboard cut-out idea of what success looks like...and running a cozy, family-owned coffee shop isn't one of the "standard" images.
Rat Race Exit
But who's to say that success should only come in flashy packages?
Certainly not Bob Griffiths, whose resume includes a stint as a vice president at Merrill Lynch and as senior vice president at Rothschild & Co. In his book, Do What You Love For the Rest of Your Life: A Practical Guide to Career Change and Personal Renewal, he relates how, at age 50, he decided to give up his high-paying job in order to become a playwright, actor, and director on Broadway.
Here are his life-changing tips:
1. Plan your escape--before it's too late.
Say what you will about the cash and the perks that go with the good life, but, more often than not, you'll be scrambling like mad to keep up with everyone else in your so-called power circle. A high-maintenance existence will eat you up. Material things will corrupt you. Without realizing it, you could turn into a person who's never content with what he has and who equates self-worth with material things. As Griffiths states: "My general feeling was one of despair. The material dreams had all come true, but my life had come up empty."
So, make an effort to break away from a shallow existence. Take your cue from philanthropists and people who do volunteer work without broadcasting it to the whole world.
2. Have a strategy for your dream life.
Before you take the proverbial leap of faith, make sure that you have what it takes to make a go at the life you want to live. As such, Griffiths outlines a step-by-step guide to managing your finances, as well as family concerns.
You have to have a pragmatic approach even when you're going after your dream. You have to differentiate between your needs and wants. You also have to learn to work around your new financial picture.
3. Gather your courage.
You must have a definite exit date from your toxic life. You can't keep putting it off just because you're scared about what people may think. Yes, they'll most likely think that you're crazy but so what? They're not the ones who have to live your life.
Just make sure that you can still enjoy the life you want. Make sure that you don't go beyond the point of no return. Because if you're already bitter and burned out, you won't be any good at being the person you want to be.
Real Life
Just remember that no matter how much you earn, it can't pay for your peace of mind and contentment. As Griffiths declares, "Position, prestige, and power also come at a moral and ethical cost, and hanging on to the Dream comes at the highest cost of all: the psychic cost."
If you ask me, that's a price that's way too high for anyone to pay. And I'm sure glad my friend Emily has chosen not to shell out her soul for it.
Bottom line: There's nothing wrong with having a lot of money--as long as you know it's not what makes the world go round.
Suggested Resource: Bring out the best that you can be and lead a life that won't drain you. Start by joining the Kaizen Club so you can get in touch with yourself.
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"Chronically elevated blood sugar may directly damage the brain neurons or eventually cause health conditions that indirectly impair cognition," explains the study's lead author Dr. Kristine Yaffe, who works as a researcher in UCSF's Department of Psychiatry.
Equal Opportunity
Though the study didn't have any men or younger people as test subjects, I'm pretty sure that the effects long-term sugar abuse hit us all the same way. Our sugar consumption pretty much sets us up for it.
In a previous post, I cited research which revealed that each year the average 30-something adult in the US consumes about 46 pounds of sugar. Kids, on the other hand, consume 49 pounds of the sweet stuff.
Those figures are way over the 32-pound limit, which, to me, still seems like a whole lot of sugar.
Early Start
In addition to self-control, Yaffe and her colleagues advise that we should eat more non-starchy vegetables--like spinach, broccoli, lettuce, and tomatoes--and limit our intake of sugary snacks and pastries.
This way we get a healthy head start--as well as a fighting chance of combating the effects of our past sugary exploits.
There are times when we reach for food in order to feel good.
Unfortunately, most of us stash away "treats" that aren't healthy. Before I became a mom, cookies and chips were my comfort food. Nowadays, since I've become more careful about my family's health, I make an effort to find out what's good for us.
Here are three easy-to-find food treats that you can get whenever you need a pick-me-up in the middle of a hectic day:
1. Strawberries
According to research in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, strawberries contain fisetin, an antioxidant that stimulates brain pathways responsible for long-term memory. Tip:Dip the strawberries in honey and serve them for dessert.
2. Orange Juice
Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center reveal that orange juice contains a type of citrate that guards against the formation of kidney stones. While other fruit juices are also good for you, researchers say OJ works best against preventing stones. Tip:: Stick with freshly-squeezed OJ so you won't ingest added sugar.
3. Cinnamon
The US Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center reveals that cinnamon could help prevent diabetes. They conducted a study on people who were at risk for the condition and, after 40 days of taking half a teaspoon of cinnamon each day, the test subjects' blood sugar levels dropped. Tip: Put some ground cinnamon on your breakfast toast and your cup of hot chocolate.
These yummy treats should help you fight off your junk food cravings. Besides, it's not as if they're not tasty.
Anger Overload. Flying off the handle won't do you any good--and this scene from the movie Anger Management (2003) shows just how much trouble you can get into when you do. Express your anger constructively.
Holding in your anger may work against you.
According to a study published in Psychosomatic Medicine, holding in anger leads to lower-back pain.
Scientists gathered 94 people who suffered from chronic back pain and then asked them to recall an upsetting episode. As it turns out, those who didn't express their anger registered 30 percent more tension in their lower back.
Dr. John Burns, lead author of the study, explains: "Anger provokes a fight-or-flight response, which includes preparing large muscle groups for action." Hence, your lower back tenses up when you remember moments that made you fly off the handle and you choose to gloss over your feelings.
Just how do you manage your anger so that your back doesn't pay the price?
While it's healthy to feel angry, you should not engage in destructive behavior in order to express it. As such, the American Psychological Association (APA) offers these simple tips to keep anger at bay:
1. Breathe deeply. Breathe from your diaphragm. (Breathing from your chest won't relax you.) Picture your breath coming up from your "gut."
2. Use calming words. Slowly repeat a calm word or phrase such as "relax" and "take it easy." Repeat it to yourself while breathing deeply.
3. Think nice. Use positive imagery. You can visualize a relaxing experience, from either your memory or your imagination.
4. Move it. Non-strenuous, slow yoga-like exercises can relax your muscles and make you feel much calmer.
Keep in mind that while it's good for you to come to terms with your anger, you have to control it before it gets the best of you. Also, I think you should learn to channel all your angry energy into doing something constructive or fun. Personally, when I get mad these days, I just rearrange the books on my shelves, do some chores, or pop in a DVD of a horror movie. This way, I don't do anything I'm sure to regret.
Think twice before you hit the Send button. Email etiquette--or the lack thereof--remains a pressing issue.
Email is a wonderful thing--but it can only do so much. For starters, your feelings may not translate well on it. And, let's face it, not all of us can write emails that are emotionally reassuring to its recipients.
Heartless Messages
Case in point: My mother. Thanks to my sister Holly, my mom has recently learned how to use email. Unfortunately, my mother just told me that Holly herself had quipped, "Mom, you sound so heartless in your emails."
Since my mother thinks I'm an email genius because I'm "on the Internet all the time," she asked me to teach her to sound "like herself" on email. To which I said, "I don't know if I can do that." In the end, I just told her to use a whole lot of smileys. (My dad's advice: "Just call your daughter!")
Limited Editions
To be fair to Holly, my mother did "sound" like a drill sergeant in her emails. One went like this: "Holly, get over here on Saturday afternoon because I can't wait for you on Monday." To my mom, who probably "heard" her own soothing voice as she typed the message, the message seemed perfectly fine. To Holly, it sounded like "a robot telling me what to do."
Both Holly and my mom would be relieved to know that their email debacle doesn't reflect the true state of their relationship.
In fact, research done at New York University (NYU) shows that "electronic communication is inherently prone to misunderstanding because sometimes the senders just don't realize how their messages will be received."
"We should always realize that email has emotional limitations," explains lead researcher Dr. Justin Kruger, associate professor of marketing at NYU. "You see, when you're speaking face-to-face, your nonverbal cues, such as hand gestures, facial expressions, and tone of voice, can make your meaning clear even if your words are ambiguous."
Bigger Picture
Then again, this incident had me thinking. If an email misunderstanding could cause considerable disturbance among family members, then how much more damage can it do when it involves workmates or business partners? A family issue is easily addressed--but I don't think an email blowout is as easy to clean up when it involves anything official.
Studies conducted by Nicholas Epley of the University of Chicago, as well as research done by Zhi-Wen Ng and Justin Parker of the University of Illinois, show that "negotiations conducted via e-mail more often lead to an impasse or ineffective agreement than negotiations that take place in person."
Write Right
So--whether for personal or official purposes--how can you make sure that your email isn't sending the wrong message? Kruger highlights the following tips:
1. Always remember who the recipient is. If you don't know the recipient personally or you have yet to meet him or her in person, it helps if you know some details about him or her. This way, you won't find yourself in an awkward situation. A friend of mine, for example, in an email to her new boss, wrote, "Give my regards to your husband and kids!" as a parting shot. Imagine how mortified she was when her boss replied with, "My kids are OK. But I just got divorced." If you already know the recipient personally, be considerate and steer clear of topics that are sore points for him or her. To be safe, be friendly but don't get too personal when it comes to official emails.
2. Pretend you're the recipient. You should step back and imagine how your email might read on the other end. Check if the words you used are appropriate for the recipient. Surely, you can't greet your boss or potential business partner with, "Hey, buddy, how's it hanging?"
3. Cover all your bases. If you want to be extra sure that your message is not misinterpreted, you can always write something like, "I am sorry if this may sound terse, but I am really swamped now and the best words seemed to have leaked out of my brain." Honesty and self-deprecation go a long way. Besides, it's better to sound apologetic than arrogant. People will be considerate if they think you're the former, but they'll be quick to write you off if you sound like a know-it-all on email.
Human Touch
In her article, "Negotiations: Electronic Communication Has Limitations," Christine McMahon, who heads a sales training and coaching firm in Milwaukee, observes: "Certain technologies can be powerful negotiation tools that save time and money. The same technology if not handled correctly, can become a distraction, create a misunderstanding or contribute to a sense of distrust. The choice of communication medium can affect the stability of your relationship, the quality of information shared, and the efficiency of the negotiation process."
Yes, we use machines to communicate, but we shouldn't forget that the human touch is still the force that seals the deal. It's what establishes connections that make relationships (be it with your boss or your mother) flourish. And that doesn't happen in just one click.
Note: The phrase "dyslexic heart," is from a song by Paul Westerberg. The phrase, as used by Westerberg, refers to a person who is not attuned to or cannot decipher his own emotions. It is not in any way meant to discriminate against anyone who is dealing with dyslexia.
Suggested Resource: Cultivate a positive attitude and channel it into your emails. Join the Kaizen Club and get clued in on how you can project the best version of yourself in everything you do.
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If you've just discovered the joys of cooking or if you want tips on how to whip up some comfort food, all you need to do is surf the Net. I did just that and now I'm hooked on three delightful cooking blogs. Check them out:
Cooking With Amy is by food writer and recipe developer Amy Sherman. The site features original food writing, as well as recipes, restaurant reviews, and culinary news. It's perfect for food enthusiasts who crave for anything and everything that has to do with food.
Chronicles of a Curious Cook is a blog by Ellen Ferlazzo. It has easy-does-it recipes that help people save money on their cooking. But make no mistake about it, the recipes featured are awesome. They certainly don't "taste cheap" at all.
Merry's Kitchen by Merry Strong is a haven for anyone who's a kitchen gadget junkie and a total food fan. Aside from recipes, the blog features food shopping advice.
Get some culinary inspiration by visiting these blogs. You're sure to work up an appetite as you read each mouth-watering post.
Suggested Resource: Thinking of starting your own cooking blog? (Or any other kind of blog for that matter.) Sign up for Simpleology's Blogging course and be a part of the world's fun-filled community of bloggers.
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The tagline that keeps on giving. If you're lucky, your tagline could be powerful enough to fuel a long-running--and very successful--ad campaign. The Got Milk? ads are so popular, every pop icon (whether real or fictional) is willing to be in one.
Up until recently, I didn't realize that taglines were big business. (I mean, hey, there are tagline specialists nowadays!) That's probably because I never really stopped to seriously ponder on the impact that taglines make on product sales or profit margins.
Marketing Magic
"A good tagline is one of the least expensive forms of marketing you can develop and use," says Rhonda Abrams, author of Successful Business Plan: Secrets & Strategies. "If you don't have a tagline for your company or products--and most of us don't--it's time to sit down and come up with one."
Apparently, taglines matter a lot. They help bring in sales in every level--from branding to word-of-mouth marketing.
Winning Words
In 2006, TaglineGuru president, Eric Swartz asked 100 leading advertising, marketing, and branding professionals rank over 300 nominated taglines. They picked the most popular taglines since 1948, since the advent of TV. Here are the winners:
1. Got milk?(California Milk Processor Board, 1993) 2. Don't leave home without it.(American Express, 1975) 3. Just do it.(Nike, 1988) 4. Where's the beef?(Wendy's, 1984) 5. You're in good hands with Allstate.(Allstate Insurance, 1956) 6. Think different.(Apple Computer, 1998) 7. We try harder.(Avis, 1962) 8. Tastes great, less filling.(Miller Lite, 1974) 9. Melts in your mouth, not in your hands.(M&M, 1954) 10. Takes a licking and keeps on ticking.(Timex, 1956)
Rules of the Game
While it's a general rule that taglines must be kept short, there's more to it than that.
"To the uninitiated, creating a good tagline can seem relatively easy," observes award-winning ad executive John Follis. "After all, it's just a few simple words, right? And, the truth is, anyone can come up with some tagline-like phrase. The question is... Would it be something that you'd want to define your company for the next 20 years? Remember, just as a smart, creative tagline will help your business, a poor one will work against it."
He adds: "A great tagline involves a perfect mix of right-brain creativity and left-brain strategic thinking. Both are critical because it won't matter how clever it is if it's the wrong message, and it won't matter how strategically smart it is if it's dull."
1. It's short and easy to remember. A tagline must say something about your company but not everything. If it's too long, people can't remember it. It will be a challenge, but boil your tagline down to its essential core message.
2. It conveys what's special about you. This is perhaps the most important element of a good tagline--it helps customers know how to distinguish you from competitors. If you serve a specific or niche market, you can focus your tagline on that. Remember, a tagline doesn't have to be memorable to everyone to be effective--just those you want as customers.
3. It conveys something you want potential customers to remember or feel. When a tagline succeeds in conveying a feeling, it strengthens the emotional bond between you and your customers.
4. You use it repeatedly and prominently. Naturally, you should use your tagline on all your marketing materials, throughout your website, and in every bit of advertising you do. Don't forget to put it on your business cards and use it as a tagline at the bottom of every e-mail in your "signature."
If you notice, all these qualities are met by the top taglines.
Buzz Time
This is not to say that you should let your taglines do all the work. Before anything else, you must offer a great product or service. Then, when everything is in place, that's when you think of a tagline that will create a profitable buzz around your business or product.
And don't think that a great tagline is just for big businesses. As Follis points out: "It's especially important for smaller, unknown businesses. Why? Because most have little to zero brand awareness...and you won't get prospects excited if they aren't even sure what you do."
Suggested Resource: A great tagline is one of the many cool marketing tools you can use to make your business grow. If you want to maximize your marketing power, sign up for the 7 Day Word of Mouth Marketing Accelerator Kit and discover more profitable strategies for solid success.
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Don't try to do it all. Pretending that you're working hard by doing superfluous tasks like this woman in the video will not get you promoted.
Over the years, I've read a lot of books about workplace productivity and empowerment. I've realized that while the authors may have different theories about how to achieve success--they single out the same types of personalities who slow down productivity or bring down morale.
Here are three people who may never get promoted--along with simple suggestions on how they can change their fates:
1. The Human Furniture The Diagnosis: Silence may be golden--but you have to know when to break it. When you don't speak up at meetings and continue to be silent about your concerns, people at work will think that you're just plain clueless. By being passive beyond belief, you cease to be proactive and transform into "office furniture." The Remedy: Try interacting with your co-workers. Social psychologist Signe A. Dayhoff, author of Diagonally-Parked in a Parallel Universe, advises, "Start small. Using a co-worker's comment as a springboard, respond with 'That's a good idea.'" Practice speaking your mind and forming definite opinions without being influenced by others.
2. The Magic Slate The Diagnosis: Instead of learning from one's mistakes, this person chooses to forget about his or her mistakes and acts as if nothing happened. If you have this kind of personality, your boss and your colleagues will think that you refuse to take responsibility for your actions. You will never be seen as a person who is willing to "take one for the team." Or, worse, they might think you could actually have a disorder that prevents you from owning up to your errors. Last year, Tilmann Klein and Dr. Markus Ullsperger at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany, discovered that a single genetic mutation can determine whether people repeat their mistakes. The Remedy: Genetic mutation or not, you have to learn to face the music. Own up to your mistakes and ask people how you can avoid making the same ones. This way, you also show them that you're serious about doing better and rectifying your errors. Remember, you begin by telling yourself the truth.
3. The One-Stop Shop The Diagnosis: You have to understand that productivity isn't about quantity--it's about quality. If you're taking on too many tasks just to impress people at work and yet end up not meeting any deadlines, then you've got a problem. The Remedy: Do one thing at a time and, when possible, stick to the things you do best. You don't have to prove that you can do everything--especially when you really can't. If you have to overdeliver, then do so with tasks that you're sure to ace. "If you do this, you'll look like a star," says Deborah Brown-Volkman, author of Coach Yourself to a New Career. And that's infinitely better than being a scatterbrained know-it-all who can't deliver.
Bottom line: None of these people are hopeless cases. They can all change their luck and deal with their issues. After all, being proactive is the first step towards maximum productivity. Adopting a can-do attitude always works for the workplace.
Suggested Resource: Want to have a winning attitude in work and in life? Join the Kaizen Club and discover how you can unlock your full potential.
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Hold it before you hoard it. The items tagged as bargains aren't necessarily money-savers.
Warehouse stores are a blessing for moms like me, as they have a lot of fabulous bargains. But then I have to admit that I often get "too happy" when I'm shopping in a warehouse store--so much to that I actually end up spending more than I should. In fact, I once came home with 10 bottles of apple juice and five cartons of chocolate milk just because I got caught up in a warehouse store sale.
My family is just me, my husband, our son, and three beagles. Thus, I ended up giving away some of the stuff I hoarded. (Okay, most of the stuff I hoarded.)
Lately, I've wised up. (But I'm still always tempted.) Here are some tips which I hope will be also be helpful to you--whether you're a warehouse store fan like me or just the average shopper:
1. Do some pre-shopping research. Before you head out to the store, check out sites like PriceGrabber.com and BizRate so you know the prices of the things on your shopping list. This way, you won't make the mistake of assuming that all the items you see in the store are "great bargains at rock-bottom prices."
2. Pay in cash. Seeing a whole roll of bills will serve as your reality check. You will have an accurate idea of how much you are shelling out for groceries if you don't rely on your credit card to pay for them.
3. Don't get taken in by "new" products. Be cautious when you see products like lemon-flavored ice cream or strawberry soup on sale. Chances are, these types of "novelty products" are a bust and, thus, are placed on sale so the store can get rid of them.
Remember, though, that shopping smart doesn't have to be a boring chore. The satisfaction that you get from making a wise purchase--when you get value for your money--is sensational. It's certainly worth it.
Save Up By Going Green When You Clean
Value-Added Fruit. Using lemon juice as a cleaning agent is both earth- and pocket-friendly.
