As a people person, someone who thrives on communication and company, an extroverted gal will often do so many things in a day that she might end up postponing something she truly needs. However, the following five ideas are so extrovert-perfect, that you’ll be rushing to make time for them on a regular basis, with or without accomplices!

Make a difference in your community

When you’re drained from work or you simply need to recharge your batteries, the last thing on your mind would be to head home to read a book. Yes, fine, it sometimes feels great, but if you feel invigorated being in the presence of others, then you should indeed find people – and do some good. In fact, by volunteering in your community, whether it’s a soup kitchen, reading to kids in hospitals or spending time with the elderly, you’ll be helping yourself as well.

You’ll connect with new people, exchange experiences, and simply by seeing you’ve made someone’s day, you’ll feel useful, productive, and purposeful.

Have a standing coffee date with your friends

Are there a few of your friends who feel the same about the hectic lifestyle they lead? If they’re also extroverts, then all you may need towards the end of the week (or month, if you’re that busy), is a cup of coffee with each other to hash it all out.

By venting to those who know you so well, sharing your experiences, making each other laugh, you’ll have a “purging” session of chatting, exchanging advice, and letting go of issues to move forward. Nothing will restore your energy quite like reminding yourself of the most important things in life––people you love.

Have a weekly group meditation sesh

You might not be the type to eagerly wait for your hour of alone-time, or performing breathing exercises in the silence of your home, but you can turn that very same, soothing experience into a group activity. If your friends share your enthusiasm, prepare your living room, and bring out your favorite fragrance oils to create the perfect atmosphere, as they are meant to calm your mind and inspire the right mood for a meditation. Put on some soft music in the background, and dim the lights, and you’ll be ready to start in no time!

After you’ve created the dreamiest possible atmosphere, you can all enjoy a guided meditation with the help of a video, or one of you can simply give instructions to focus on your breath and relaxing yourself. You can wrap it up by enjoying a cup of tea together, which will only enhance the entire relaxing ritual.

Treat yourself

What makes you genuinely, limitlessly, overwhelmingly joyful? If it’s travel, take a look at your itinerary for the weekend and book a ticket to somewhere, anywhere you’ve never been before. Discover a new city or a village nearby if you cannot head somewhere too far. If it’s shopping, set aside an entire day or perusing through your favorite malls, antique stores, second-hand stores, or designer shops.

Take up a dance class

There are those days when you wish you had a punching bag at the office, or your kids’ school. However, as brilliant as that idea may sound to extroverts, not too many colleagues or parents would approve. Not all is lost, as you can still enjoy a vigorous workout without actually hitting the weights at the gym, which you’d have to do alone.

Instead, you can join a dance class, whether it’s a tango lesson for the passionate and romantic among you, or pole dance for the sensual acrobats among you – every dance out there has an incredible potential to help you work up a sweat and put a smile on your face. As you learn something new, you’ll force your mind to let go of all worries and find your Hakuna Matata!

Go to the movies

Finally, when there’s absolutely nothing active you’re in the mood for, and you’re so tired you don’t even want to talk, you can invite your friends or family to head to the movies for the latest masterpiece. On the other hand, if you’re up for something different, you can set up a home movie theatre, ask for movie suggestions, and turn it into a full-scale marathon!

Rest assured you’ll forget all about your troubles, replenish your energy, and you’ll feel rejuvenated, happy, and fulfilled after your movie night with your best friends and family.

Tease your brain

Working up a sweat through new, interactive workouts is a wonderful way to recharge. On the other hand, the lack of enthusiasm for getting physical shouldn’t stop you from challenging your own mind! Attending fun workshops where you can hone certain skills, whether it’s baking, knitting, or heading to a shooting range, for that matter, can be wonderful for your mindset.

By working on new skills and knowledge, you’ll instantly feel the joy of accomplishment and strengthen your own self-esteem! Not to mention that you’ll have the chance to discover a new passion you might want to pursue further.

You’re more of a foodie? By all means, treat yourself to a day of “never before have I tasted” meals, from an unusual breakfast with a sweet twist, a midday snack at that new smoothie place, and a delicious dinner. The fewer ingredients you recognize on the list, the better! Give yourself an adventure of a lifetime, even if you’re on your own, but be up and about to see another perspective of your home town and its hidden perks. It will definitely help you start afresh the very next day, brimming with enthusiasm and energy!

Try something new

If you’ve never been spontaneous and preferred to plan things rather than act on the spur of the moment ‒ it’s time you changed that. Packing your bags and embarking on a road trip is a great opportunity to meet new people, explore unknown locations and just enjoy life on the road.

Learning something new every day helps us grow and understand the world around us a bit better. Being curious makes socializing easier, which means a person can befriend so many new, interesting people just thanks to simple questions like “Why?” “How come?” “Where?” or “When?” The next time you walk by an old authentic building ask about its history.

Living in one place for years can become really boring. Meeting the same people day after day and doing the same things will eventually become monotonous. Moving to another place can be a great way you can beat that monotony.

Change your usual day

An alarm clock beeps, you get up, go to the bathroom, have a cup of coffee, maybe some breakfast and you’re off to work. Is that what your usual mornings look like? If so, try to crank them up a notch and give your morning routine some twist. Try to do a little bit of morning exercise, get up half an hour earlier and indulge in a cup of coffee on your terrace, without a rush. Get up before the dawn breaks on weekends, and go look for the best viewpoint to enjoy the sunrise

Pets are great companions, so adopting one can change your life entirely. Taking a dog for a walk a couple of times a day may bring new life-changing experiences your way. You never know who you might run into on your walk in the park. What’s more, take your bike and bring a dog along for an exciting ride, so you’ll both have a little bit of physical activity while spending quality time together.

Help others

Be generous, kind and offer help to those in need. Whether you decide to volunteer in a community centre, help an old person cross the street, or you decide to give some money to a street performer, any act of kindness will both make you feel good about yourself and make others happy. What better way to evolve than to truly work on yourself and promote kindness every day.

It doesn’t take much to go from mundane to a life full of thrilling experiences. All you have to do is replace your everyday habits with new activities that will lead you to a completely new path, making your life more thrilling every day.

With the rise of the hipster population, I’ve seen a number of both close friends and acquaintances go through the inking process, and the process seemed very shallow. For instance, there was a friend who had a giant geometrical deer done across his chest, and when I asked him, why he choose that particular one he replies with: “Well I saw it on Pinterest and I thought it looked really cool, plus, the geometric shapes are so in right now.” I was shocked by the lack of thought put into something so permanent, especially coming from someone who I considered very smart and deep.

Unlike many people I know, I wanted it to truly mean something, and not be a shallow gesture that expresses a false sense of individuality; I didn’t want to be just another ‘special snowflake’. So, I started doing some research and even find people who have done tattoos that bear a truly profound and perhaps even a secret meaning. I’ve researched some of the most popular tattoos of today as well as some ‘ancient’ ones to see what was hiding underneath.

The infamous butterfly

This one has a seriously bad reputation, especially when inked on the lower back, otherwise known as the ‘tramp stamp’ location. I have to admit that I was positively shocked to find its true meaning. It represents beauty, metamorphosis, rebirth, and change. It’s plain, colorless, and almost ugly as it enters the world, and it leaves the cocoon as a vibrant, beautiful creature.

The Japanese believe that a butterfly stands for someone’s soul. In Chinese symbolism, two butterflies together stand for love. This was definitely food for thought and I found wonderful and intricate ones that I knew could only be done properly by a great tattoo artist. That is when I discovered that the best tattoos in Sydney are done by award-winning professionals of the Tattoo Movement. If you’ve truly experienced rebirth, or gone through struggles and came out stronger and more beautiful, you definitely have the right to proudly wear the butterfly.

Keys

This tattoo always seemed quite simple and devoid of meaning to me. Its secret meaning shut me up for good; apparently, they are a symbol of the desire to protect what is valuable to us and those that we are close to.

A lock is often present alongside a key – often as a metaphor for love and the key to one’s heart. This is something that should not be taken or inked lightly, especially if you do it with a romantic partner. It takes an enormous amount of love and belief in the permanency and strength of the relationship in order to commit to a tattoo like this.

A semicolon

One of the most powerfully meaningful, yet simple in appearance is the semicolon tattoo. It was adopted by campaigners in 2013, and marks membership to Project Semicolon, a movement dedicated to presenting hope and love to those who are struggling with depression, suicide, addiction, and self-injury.

A semicolon is used when an author could’ve chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life. It stands for the decision to keep on living and fighting, not giving in to depression, not letting death win.

The tree of life

Although there are various versions of this tattoo in terms of design, the meaning behind all of them is the same. Trees are considered sacred in many countries and cultures. They symbolize resilience and strength. The tree of life has different meanings in different cultures, but it generally symbolizes knowledge, protection, strength, forgiveness, and eternal life.

Heartbeat line

This type of tattoo is very popular among siblings, like two sisters. This tattoo design can be used in remembrance of a loved one, especially if that someone is no longer with you, or you live far apart and this is a symbol of the love you share. It can also serve as a reminder death is a heartbeat away, in which case it’s most commonly done when someone experienced a near-death experience. Finally, it can signify a celebration of something special, like the birth of a new love that you hope keeps “beating.”

Weddingmoons are a perfect opportunity for you to take a break from the wedding chaos, recharge your batteries and find joy in wedding planning. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a ten-day vacation, a weddingmoon is just what you need to keep your spirits up.

A relaxing bachelorette party in a spa

If you and your bridesmaids have become too stressed out over the wedding, it’s high time you took a break and some time to yourself. Have a relaxing bachelorette party, and go on a wellness getaway where you can reminisce about your memories together. Not only will you be able to relieve tension and stress, but you’ll also have an opportunity to take a look at your personal progress, and how much you’ve all grown. You’ve probably been working so hard to plan a perfect wedding, so now it’s your turn to be pampered and taken care of.

Who says that you can’t have a weddingmoon with your friends? Once your wellness weekend is over, you can go back to planning your wedding positive and refreshed. In addition, going to a wellness retreat will enable you to look your best on your big day. So, instead of having a wild bachelorette party and getting married hungover, retreat with your friends to a soothing environment, find your inner peace and establish a connection between your body and your mind. Such a positive and spiritual energy will simply consume your entire wedding.

Romantic alone time on a remote island

You and your partner are in the middle of planning a wedding and you haven’t really had a lot of free time to spend just with each other. This means that it’s time for a romantic weddingmoon getaway. Grab your partner by their hand and take them to a remote island where you can celebrate your love away from all the stress. Nothing will spice things up before the special day like some quality alone time with your future spouse-to-be.

There are numerous out-of-this-world islands where you can retreat from the rest of the world and spend time imagining and planning your future life together. Strolling along a sandy beach right under the starry sky will be a spiritual and relaxing experience that will fill you and your partner with tranquillity and serenity. You’ll forget about all those unimportant disagreements over the wedding china or the decoration colour scheme. You’ll remember that the only important thing is that you’ll spend the rest of your lives with the person you love, and that nothing else matters.

An exciting cruise for new memories

Just imagine cruising along a river, listening to its calming flow and gazing into your partner’s eyes. Sounds perfect and dreamy, doesn’t it? Well, there’s no reason why you can’t go on a romantic cruise with your loved one before the big day. Not only will you discover the beauties of a new country, but you and your partner will also be able to make some new and exciting memories that you’ll reminisce about for the years to come.

If you’ve never been to France together, then it’s definitely a perfect destination for your weddingmoon because France is the land of romance and adventure. There is a range of different itineraries and programs that will enable you to explore the country’s finest regions. For example, by going on the authentic Rosa cruise, you’ll have an opportunity to explore Gascony, the French region of exquisite wine, magical medieval towns and castles, and charming little villages. The enticing colours of this French region will simply enchant you, and you and your soulmate will be consumed by love and romance. Who knows, you might even decide to spend the rest of your life together in a small French village surrounded by wineries and the aroma of freshly baked croissants.

Escape the wedding stress, and go away on a romantic weddingmoon getaway, or to a relaxing wellness resort with your friends. Afterwards, you can continue planning your wedding with a smile on your face.

You have to say goodbye and good riddance to all the previous relationship baggage and pain – get your dating mojo back so you can dive into the dating pool and have a real chance of making a real connection with someone, someone with whom you can start fresh and create something good and real.

So, follow us as we lead you on your confidence-boosting journey and create a new you starting today.

Repeat “I am worthy”

It might sound corny, but you have to begin by kicking off every new day by telling yourself how much you’re worth. If you have to, make a list of all the great qualities you possess. Yes, put pen to paper and note down all the things you love about yourself.

Once you have covered the good, create a second column that will contain things you do not like and wish to change. Start with simple things like changing your hair, buying some new makeup and skincare products, a stunning outfit or two and then work your way to the inner things.

Take up a sport – yoga for example is not only great for the body but also for the mind. Practicing yoga has been known to have amazing effects on minimizing anxiety, putting your mind at ease and restoring self-esteem.

Remember you’re not a half, but an awesome whole

During the course of a relationship, especially a long one, two people begin to melt into one and sometimes you lose sight of who you are as an individual and you begin to perceive yourself as a half that needs someone to fill in the void. You have to realize that you are a complete person, an amazing individual, not an incomplete half.

Take this time to rediscover who you are outside a relationship, remember the things that YOU love or hate, what your interests and tastes are. Remember Runaway Bride and the scene where she makes all different kinds of eggs to see which ones are actually her favorite. Do that, figure out who you are, and when you start dating again, do not make the same mistakes by merging with the other person.

Make a conscious effort to stay true to who you are.

Take matters into your own hands

Once you have realized that you are an incredible, attractive, gorgeous, smart and complete human being, it is time to get back in the game. Go out and get your flirting game on. Confident women know how to make the first move, and it is not as difficult as it seems. If you notice a guy across the room giving you flirty glances, take your drink and approach him. Ask him for a favor, or just an interesting question.  Keep the conversation light and breezy, with plenty of flirty banter. Let body talk take the lead, touch his arm, smile. Even if things do not go any further, at least you are getting back out there and improving your flirting game, plus the sense of empowerment that comes from making that first move can be intoxicating, and what is more, men are highly responsive to this show of confidence, so who knows, perhaps this could be the very first start of a blossoming romance.

Set boundaries

Once you are in a relationship, for it to be a healthy one, the key is communication and setting clear boundaries. This does not only help you retain your sense of self-worth but also serves as a great foundation for the future of the relationship. Never allow your partner to make you feel less worthy; your interests and needs are as important as his. Compromise is always necessary, but there is a fine line between compromise and doing everything according to someone else’s schedule.

Never let yourself be guilted into doing something you explicitly do not wish to do. Convey to your partner who you are from the get-go, so there’s no room left for misunderstanding and resentment down the line. Keep your heart open, but keep your eyes wide open as well, and never settle for anyone who doesn’t make you happy.

Finally, remember to be open, honest and silly. Never be afraid to tell the person you are dating an embarrassing anecdote, something personal about yourself and your background. This type of openness will not only make you feel good, but it will open the gates for your partner to be candid and encourage him to confide in you as well.

Fearing failure

People often imagine success as a straight line, but it’s so much more than that. It’s easy to lose sight of your goal and that’s where the great fear comes to the light – the fear of failing. Truth be told, it can be paralyzing but, for starters, remember that taking any step towards your goals is a brave thing to do. Learning from your own mistakes is the best way to learn because it will not only make you stronger but can also help you reveal your true desires and make you see your goals even more clearly.

Paying too much attention to skeptical comments

Skepticism isn’t necessarily a bad thing – it can make you question everything and think about things more thoroughly. But, on the other hand, if skeptical comments other people make stop you from succeeding then it’s time to ask yourself why this negativity bothers you so much. Is it because your own uncertainties or is it something else? Try turning things around in your own favor – think of their skepticism as an expression of worry about you and be thankful but just keep going.

Constantly comparing yourself to others at work

Having role models is fine but only if you don’t compare yourself to them constantly. Accept the fact that there’s always going to be someone more successful than you and learn to live with it. Instead, focus on your own goals and your own ways to get to them. The same goes for competition – some amount of envy is good for your motivation but don’t fall into the trap of thinking that grass is always greener on the other side. Every person is unique and that’s why any comparison is useless. Be who you are and do things at your own pace – and success will come.

Being low on confidence

Getting your confidence back is essential for success and that’s why being low on self-esteem is a real motivation killer. Failing a few times or taking things too slow can impact it seriously but it helps if you focus on what you have already accomplished. If things get serious, you can always ask for professional help. I have consulted a reputable psychologist in Sydney when I had problems at work. There are a lot of institutions that offer counseling to workers, so don’t hesitate to make an appointment. It might help you see things differently and improve your mental health and, therefore, confidence.

Focusing on mistakes and errors

It’s in human nature to take good things for granted and pay too much attention to bad things and then overthink them. The same happens at work, too – no matter how much you’ve accomplished during a single day, week, or month, there’s always going to be something that’s bothering you – something you think you might’ve done better. Well, forget about it – success is a game of trial and errors so it’s only natural to make a few wrong moves. Focus on the good ones instead to achieve your workflow and move on.

Setting the wrong goals

Finally, if you’re motivation is getting weaker by the day, you might want to revise your goals and see if that’s where the problem lies. For starters, make sure they’re realistic and attainable. It’s okay to have a huge goal but be aware of the work that has to be done in order to accomplish it. Break your tasks into minor chunks so that you can accomplish something every day. That will give you the sense of progress and keep your motivation high. Success doesn’t come overnight and once you accept that, you’ll be able to work hard and get to the main prize.

Motivation isn’t something you should search for – it’s already inside of you so you just have to preserve it and make it stronger. Try some of the things mentioned above and see for yourself – it will surely reignite your spark and help you achieve your goals even faster.

Nutrition

Packaged foods such as fruit juice, cereal, condiments, yogurt, and other similar products contain scads of salt and sugar, which are linked to cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. The amount of caloric sweeteners that people consume has greatly risen in the last 50 years, and a great amount of sodium intake comes from unhealthy, processed foods. In addition, nutrient depletion was a consequence of farmers trying to achieve greater yields. Thus, we may not be getting as many nutrients as our grandparents did from the same foods. Also, foods contain different contaminants and toxins due to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

What to do?

– Limit your sodium intake to 1,500 mg per day, while with sugar you should stick to no more than 200 calories per day. Read the labels for ingredient information to see how high sodium levels are or how much sugar a canned product contains.

– Cutting back on salt and sugar means changing your style of eating, and it will take about 6-8 weeks to adjust to it. It will be difficult for the first one or two weeks, but the cravings will disappear once you get the sugar or salt out of your system.

– Find out where your food comes from and how it is grown. Add some multivitamins to your diet to complement your natural stocks of minerals. Also, eat your foods raw whenever you can, because natural enzymes are not preserved in foods heated above 115 degrees. Go organic whenever you can, and purify water in order to filter out the problematic content (such as heavy metals).

Work Life

There are various drawbacks of the “office worker” lifestyle. These jobs require no physical activity, requiring people to sit for 9 hours per day (on average). This kind of sedentary lifestyle can have different health consequences, increasing risks of various illnesses – diabetes, cancer, joint pain, chronic eyestrains and migraines. Job stress is also on the rise due to high unemployment rates and bad work relationships, which raises cortisol levels in your blood.

What to do?

– Walk, because it can do a lot for you. It’s an opportunity to dedicate some time to yourself, so it’s a kind of urban meditation.

– Staring at the screen all day causes mood swings and pain, because the liver channel pathway ends in the eyes. Find a way to take a break once every 2 hours, shut your eyes and breathe. Work your way to keep them closed and rest for 10-15 minutes.

– Any kind of physical activity matters and adds up to your overall well-being. Simple things like walking around while on the phone, taking the stairs, or just parking your car a bit farther than usual would do.

– Sleep is affected by chronic stress. When your sleep cycle gets broken, it can make you more irritable. Have regular bed and wake times to balance your body’s circadian rhythm. Consider getting a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine, which can help with your sleep apnea.

Tech Overload

Technology is a double-edged sword. You can answer emails, shop for almost anything, and communicate with people from almost any place on Earth. However, this kind of multitasking contributes to shortened attention span, hinders your productivity, and makes you feel less creative and more stressed. Your senses also become weaker when you’re glued to the screen. Fatigue, sleep loss, depression, and sense of loneliness are all outcomes of excessive Smartphone use, especially social media.

What to do?

– You have to tune out, because it seems that we never do. Turn off all electric devices – phone, TV, and computer – and have a meal with your friends and family with no distractions, phone beeps, and notifications. Don’t talk about work while having lunch with your colleagues. Also, moderate physical exercise can do you good.

– Drink more water. Your performance at tasks that require immediate memory skills and attention can be impaired even by mild dehydration. Take a sip of water often or choose a good herbal tea.

The key thing to living healthy in an unhealthy world is slowing down. We forget to commit to ourselves and take some time for remembering what’s important. Modern lifestyle drains our life energy, while we remain unaware of it.

Here are some lifestyle choices that everyone should watch out for.

Not saving money

Most people prefer spending to saving, but one should be smart about this. Saving some money on the side can be quite easy if you practice self-control. Try to cut all unnecessary expenses, and the money you didn’t spend should be put away in a savings account. If the bills just keep piling up and it becomes a struggle, look for things you can do without. Find things that cost too much and decide which ones aren’t essential.

One way for students to save huge amounts of money, is by buying used textbooks. New textbooks cost too much, everybody agrees on that. Having new textbooks isn’t mandatory, so there are ways in which you can save some money. Most colleges offer new students to buy already used textbooks for a fraction of an original price. One way to get some money back is to sell your used textbooks. There are even students that are willing to donate their books.

If you travel to college, consider carpooling with your colleagues. Packing your own lunch is cheaper and gives you the opportunity to eat healthier. Stop ordering fast food every night, learning to cook is a skill an adult should have. Decide what are the essentials you can’t go without, and try to cut back on everything else.

Careless spending

College is also the time to enjoy yourself. Students have great social lives, go out a lot and start dating. They are living in the moment, not thinking about the future. College is not a cheap ride, you must pay for your tuition, textbooks, transportation, food and supplies. Can you afford the lavish lifestyle of going out every day and spending carelessly? Think about what your priorities are and make a spending plan.

See how big your budget is, stick to it strictly and spend accordingly. Many students fall into a lot of debt during college, try not to make the same mistake. Learn how to be financially responsible on time.

Accommodations

Students have a choice of living alone or sharing the living space with other students. Living in private accommodations will allow students to live on their own terms. Choosing to live in private housing will give one a sense of freedom and a glimpse of what it is to live by yourself and be a responsible adult. This type of accommodation usually costs more.

On the other hand, if you are a social person and enjoy having a roommate or two then shared accommodation is the way to go. Living in student dorms is affordable, tends to be more fun and is much more affordable than living by yourself. Students looking for accommodation in Sydney don’t have to worry, there are numerous options with already furnished housing that students can choose from.

Borrowing

After graduating, students are already burdened with paying off their student loans. Using credit cards irresponsibly can only make this more difficult. Student loans are there for your education, don’t spend them on going out or buying unnecessary things. Use that money on your priorities, this means textbooks, college education and a place to live. Credit cards shouldn’t be used on everyday expenditures. This can turn into a bad habit, which can stick with you as an adult. Credit card debt made by irresponsible students sometimes takes years to pay off. Try not to borrow money for unnecessary things.

Developing financial responsibility as a college student is a smart idea. Learn how to be a responsible adult on time. Use these helpful tips on how to save money where possible, and how to cut out needless expenditures.

Kick start the day with refreshing gulps

When life throws you lemons, squeeze them into a glass of water and drink them like a ravenous lover of life. With a ridiculously low calorie count, lemon water contains antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins, and it’s as powerful focus and mood booster as coffee. Ditch the morning java and try lemonade instead: it’ll cleanse your liver, promote digestion, and set weight loss on the right and speedy track.

Try dry skin brushing for a healthy twist

Dry skin brushing stimulates the lymphatic system, digestion, kidney function, and circulation, so if you want to do a small thing for your wellbeing that will matter a lot in the long run, grab a dry brush and start scrubbing! For a sweet bonus, dry brushing will remove dead skin cells and bring back a soft glow to your skin, and it’ll also double as an anti-cellulite regimen and reduce muscle tension caused by stress and sedentary lifestyle.

Discover that life tastes sweeter with no sugar in it

Sugar may be most people’s favorite shade of white, but it’s still your health’s worst enemy, and regular intake of refined sugar can easily turn into an addiction if you don’t watch serving sizes. Going sugar-free with your diet will also help you lose weight faster and it’ll also stabilize your mood and blood sugar levels.

Ommm away to your private zen temple

Everyone’s into meditation these days, and you should be, too. Why? For starters, meditation is the best remedy to stress and anger, and it can also help combat pain, high blood pressure and mood dips. On the plus side, meditation improves brain function, focus, and immune system, so if you’re not already Ommm-ing your way to Zen on a daily basis, today is as good a time as any to start.  

Take a walk in the lap of mother nature

We all sit way too much for our own good and the sedentary lifestyle is one of the main causes behind diseases of affluence such as obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, and even depression. Drop the remote and head out for a short walk in the park: that’ll get your blood flowing, allow you to spend more time in fresh air and sunshine, and chase away the blues.

Work out to work up a healthy sweat

On that note, why not fish out your favourite workout apparel from the bottom of the closet and hit the gym instead of taking a stroll? Strength training and cardio are the building blocks of lasting health, and regular workouts are the best way to improve mood, shed fat, and hack wellbeing in a single sweaty gym session.

Treat yourself to a book, not chocolate

When was the last time you read a real book from cover to cover? In the fast-paced world we live in, it’s easy to get carried away on Facebook and Twitter, but it still doesn’t mean that you should stop investing time in your literary education. Every book you read has the potential to change your life, so make yourself some cocoa this weekend, curl up in your blanket, and start catching up with the latest literary releases.

Stand up at work for your health’s sake

Long work hours are a shortcut to chronic back pains and weak muscles, both of which can ruin your long-term health. No matter how busy your day at the office can be, you can always make room for a short break and stretch. A brief set of office exercises is also an excellent fix for mood and focus dips, so it’s a tiny change you can make today for the sake of long-term wellbeing and productivity.

Give your eyes a workout, not a break

Staring at the screen for hours is synonymous with eye strain and frequent headaches, but you can hack eye health easily right away. Use the time you’d spend staring at your smartphone to do a short set of eye muscle exercises and nip tomorrow’s eye fatigue and eyestrain-induced headaches in the bud.

Start counting your zzz as of tonight

Getting a good night’s sleep is the best investment in focus, good mood, and productivity you can make this evening. Don’t keep staring at your phone at bedtime more than you actually need to: indulge your senses in a scented bubble bath, turn in earlier, and set your alarm clock sans those Snooze intervals.

Tomorrow’s health starts today: it’s up to you to make a few small changes that will matter a lot when you look back a few years from now. Here’s to your lasting health and happiness!

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The ABC of flow: what flow at work stands for

Flow is the latest buzzword in the entrepreneurial arena, but few people know what the term stands for exactly. Simply put, flow is a highly focused mental state characterized by complete immersion in a task during which a person takes almost no notice of the passage of time or their surroundings.

The term was coined by Hungarian psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi back in the 1970s, and it has since gained popularity among success-minded professionals and career coaches around the world. In essence, flow in the context of work is an equivalent of Zen in spiritual practice, as it relies on the here and now and helps boost focus, productivity, calmness and work satisfaction.

Does flow have a place in the 21st century office?

In the world where multitasking has become a workplace norm, flow is often neglected as it is synonymous with single-tasking. Still, multitasking is a double-edged sword and in some cases it can actually slice rather than double productivity.

That’s where flow comes in: by shifting focus from a lengthy task list to prioritizing goals and tackling them one by one, you’ll achieve the same, if not better, results compared to all-day switching to and fro multiple projects. In this regard, flow has more to do with quality than quantity, but it still doesn’t make it any less of a productivity booster.

By investing maximum mental power into individual tasks, you’ll be able to get more work done and reduce the risk of slip-ups or oversights that commonly occur when trying to stay on top of a number of objectives.

At the same time, flow will curb work-related stress which goes hand in hand with constant focus shifts and interruptions, which will further increase satisfaction and sense of control over the tasks at hand, as well as your daily, weekly, and monthly goals.

Tips for achieving flow

In practical terms, you don’t need your workplace to be perfectly quiet or stripped of frills and trims to achieve peak flow. While office design does matter for long-term productivity, work engagement and wellbeing, flow can be optimized with the help of several different strategies.

Go after your passion

If you hate your job, flow will be of little help in the long run. Instead of signing up for just about any job that comes your way, try to find a line of work you feel truly passionate about. If you’re out of ideas as to what you would love doing for a lifetime, you can turn to Qi Men Dun Jia strategy, or life coaching for useful hints and answers to the job dilemma.

Important tasks first

However difficult or time-consuming certain work tasks can be, they’ll need to be tackled at some point. The sooner you complete the tough projects, the better you will feel about your professional performance, skills, and competences – and this will also keep you motivated for the remaining points on your to do list.

Timing is everything

If morning hours are not exactly your peak performance hour, stick to the time slots when your focus, creativity and output are at their highest. For some people, the peak flow hour is late afternoon or evening, but some entrepreneurs perform better early in the morning. Work out your flow timeline and stick to it for your productivity’s sake.

Clear out distractions

Excess of visual details in the office can completely shatter your flow, so keep the workplace organized with just a few personal touches. Spring clean your work area, throw away useless clutter, wipe the surfaces clean and stay away from social networks during peak hours. The same goes for audio distractions: turn off your phone, turn down the volume on your player and use earplugs if you’re having problems shutting out workplace noise.

Grab focus and keep it

Once you get into the flow, try to stretch your focus for as long as possible. Don’t fall prey to temptations; keep your eyes fixed on tasks at hand and work your way up to longer flow intervals. This may take a while if you’re used to switching between tasks, but it’ll be effort and time well-spent in the long run, as your work productivity will begin to climb with regular daily practice.

Practice flow optimization every day and professional success will not fall short. Tap into the flow, and watch it transform your work experience from drudgery into peak productivity and happiness.