(Source)

There is no doubt the days I work the most efficiently are the days I have a to-do list. Now that is not to say I am not busy on the other days. On the contrary, I am extremely busy. Just not very efficient.

Interestingly, I think it is the thought of “multi-tasking” that is the biggest downfall of women. We have been led to believe that not only can we do it all, but we can do it all at once.

In actual fact, this may not be the most efficient way to work. As most well run factories would testify, the best way to get a job done is to focus on one thing at a time. Have a job to do and complete it.

Yet this is in contrast to the way many of us work. Instead, we are busy doing ten things all at once. We are talking on the phone as we also catch up on emails, search the internet for a present for our father, think about what we are going to wear to a work function, clean the desk around the computer and help the children with their homework.

Does it work for us? I think the answer would be we think it does, because we seem to be extremely busy doing lots of things and therefore we must be getting a lot done. In actual fact, we would be better setting ourselves dedicated time for each of those tasks.

By having a clear plan, each of these tasks could be given your full attention, and no doubt finished in a short amount of allotted time. And as most of us know, the chances of the tasks all being completed when we are multi tasking is pretty remote.

Now I know we can't create the perfect plan for everyday, as life throws us curve balls all the time. But what we can is try to work more efficiently and with a lot less stress on ourselves. So dedicate yourself to each task, have a clear focus so you don't waste time procrastinating, and hopefully you can learn that we can do it all. But it has to be one solid step at a time.

(Source)

When a child is learning to eat solid foods, we are so patient. We start them off with simple, blended foods with mushy textures. We allow them to play with it in their mouths, and don’t even mind when they spit it out. 

Yet as life goes on, we become so much more critical of ourselves and of other people. We don’t allow others to make mistakes, and in fact, we don’t even have the patience to see ourselves make mistakes.

But what is even worse is that we are so quick to bring up past feelings and emotions to slot straight into our current dramas. If a friend calls to cancel a lunch date, we can so easily bring up issues of not being liked at school. You begin to think about the isolation and loneliness you felt when your group of friends put you on the outer. You think about the time your boyfriend dumped you after ignoring you for two weeks. All that really happened in your present moment was that your friend was so busy they unfortunately had to postpone your lunch date, yet within minutes, you can assume it was because you had done something to offend them.

And of course, we do it to others as well. There are times when someone might forget to do something for you, yet we love to remind them of how many times they have let us down in the past. Its like we look to the past to validate our present feelings, yet unfortunately, it is simply creating a lifetime of bad memories played out daily.

The thing is, we do all make mistakes and not everything in our lives goes according to our mental plan. But the key to happiness is to be able to sift through the information and file it correctly.

So next time you start to reprimand yourself or someone you care about, take a moment to consider your words carefully. Is there a past memory that is motivating you to feel negatively, or say something you don’t really mean? Are you putting too much pressure on the situation, when in actual fact, life’s moments could be looked at in a simplified and calmer manner?

If so, take a deep breath, relax and understand that the past doesn’t have to equal the present. Give yourself and others space to make mistakes and learn from them. And realise that some issues just aren’t that big a deal in the scheme of things.

(Source)

The following is written by a lady called Erma Bombeck. She was a witty American writer, who died of a kidney disease at the age of 69. These were her words in her dying days:

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's." More "I'm sorry's."

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it .. live it .and never give it back. Stop sweating the small stuff.

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.

Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with. And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally. I hope you all have a blessed day.

We all know that for physical health, it is important to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day and eat a minimum of 7 serves of fruit and vegetables. But the UK Government has now come up with a campaign to promote mental health. It’s all about the ‘five-a-day’ activities – five tasks that are going to promote mental wellbeing.

The report was compiled by 400 international scientists, who specialised in areas as diverse as economics and neuroscience.

One of the people who led part of the project was Felicia Huppert, professor of psychology at the University of Cambridge. She said: 'We found there are five categories of things that can make a profound difference to people's wellbeing. Each has evidence behind it.’

The five categories are:
1. Connect with family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.
2. Be active with sports and hobbies such as gardening or dancing or just a daily walk.
3. Be curious, noting the beauty of everyday moments as well as the unusual.
4. Learn something, for example fixing a bike or playing an instrument.
5. Giving to others you meet around you.

They are five very simple daily tasks that could do wonders for your wellbeing, so why not give them a go.

Source

(source)

There are so many pressures on teenagers these days. Both boys and girls are very fashion conscious, and the increasing obesity rates are also bringing further attention to issues such as weight and body shape.

Many, including myself, would say body image was always an issue. It certainly was when I was a teenager. But there is one dramatic difference that I can see, and that is cosmetic surgery.

I was a prime example of someone obsessed over my weight, but the thought of cosmetic surgery never entered my mind. Nor did it enter the minds of any of my friends. In fact, the only cosmetic surgery that existed in our minds was probably a nose job. We often joked about achieving the perfect nose, but it was purely that, a bit of harmless fun. The thought of liposuction or breast enlargement would never have entered our minds.

Recent surveys have suggested that 25 per cent of Australian girls aged 11-18 would have cosmetic surgery if they could, and 2 per cent have already had it. The thought of allowing even an 18 year old girl to get breast enlargement surgery is just criminal in my mind. Their young bodies are still developing, and there is no way they are old enough to be making sound decisions regarding such an important change to their bodies.

The scariest part is that these children are assuming cosmetic surgery will increase their self esteem. Yet these girls certainly wouldn’t be made to feel like a better person when they have men of all ages eyeing off their chest. In fact, it could easily have the opposite effect.

Cosmetic surgery is not the answer, just as diets will not make you feel like a better person. The answer lies in having a positive self-esteem. We must all be reminded of our own special qualities. We must remember we are all worthy of love, and most importantly, we have to learn to love every single piece of ourselves. This is the best path to happiness.

(Source)

The secret to a happy marriage has been discovered! And it seems that keeping the magic alive is much simpler than we could have imagined, and it doesn’t even cost a thing.

According to a poll of 4,000 married couples in the UK, the top rating key to happiness was having a cuddle with their partner four times a day. Couples who did this rated their marriage as very happy.

"Affection, cuddles and romantic gestures are part of a whole romantic scene which is desired by those entering a relationship," said Chief Educational Psychologist Dr Ludwig F.Lowenstein.

"They are the safe gestures which say - 'I like you, I am glad to be with you, I like and appreciate your support and care.'

Here is the rest of the list:
 

THE KEYS TO A HAPPY MARRIAGE

4 x a day: Cuddles
3 x a month: Romantic gestures like running a bath for your partner or giving them a massage
2 x a month: Dinner dates
2 x a month: Romantic walks
2 x a month: Romantic gifts
3 x a month: Home cooked romantic meals
1 x a month: Breakfast in bed
6 x a month: Proper conversation
1 x a month: Trip to the pub
7 x a month: Cosy evenings in
3 x a month: Clean house from top to bottom
1 x a month: Night out without each other
1 x a month: Cinema or theatre
2 x a year: Short weekend away
2 x a year: Holiday