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Beautiful Creatures
11 years ago
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Get Organized.
Are you feeling overwhelmed?
Do you often feel that there are not enough hours in the day to complete everything you need to accomplish?
Have you ever felt like screaming...
"Someone please help me Organize This Life!"
Well, you are in luck because I can help you organize your home, your office and your life! As a professional organizer I work with many people that would like to become organized but just don't know where to start.
My job is to help them find ways to organize their lives, while keeping in mind their individual needs and life styles.
The two things that set me apart from many other professional organizers are:
1) I specialize in organizing moms and children's clutter. Due to the fact that I also own a semi-annual children's consignment event AND have two small children of my own I am passionate about helping moms get organized so that they feel less over- whelmed and can get more done during the day.
2) I like to re-use what you already have in your home for storage and organizers. I think many times people run out and waste too much money and resources by purchasing all these cute, expensive organizers and storage units. Of course I love a cute organizing tool more than anyone and you can do this if you prefer, but I like to help clients "live green and organize green" by using what they already have first. Plus you can save money this way!
IThanks for stopping by!
Jennifer Ford Berry
Click to Look Inside
Click to buy
Publisher Comments:
The Ultimate Organizer for Moms is perfect for every new mom and mother to be. Guaranteed to make her life easier, this charming but hard-working journal has room for her to record everything she won't want to forget, such as her child's medical records, birthday parties, playmates, teachers, favorite toys, baby sitters,
and those all-so-important "firsts."
There's space for mom to plan and track her pregnancy (also filled with helpful hints).
She can design her baby's bedroom, keep a detailed health journal, and hoard photographs and mementos -
not to mention use the ample journal space to write down all those special memories as they happen.
The Ultimate Organizer for Moms comes with a front and a back pocket and is held snugly together by an elastic band.
The Ultimate Organizer for Moms is beautifully designed in the spirit of Welcome's best-selling Little Big Book series.
Drawing on the charming vintage children's book illustrations and the poems and literary quotes so beloved in The Little Big Book for Moms,
this organizer is designed with all the fun, magic, and wonder of early childhood.
This charming but hard-working journal has room
for everything a mom needs to record from pregnancy through year five,
including birthday parties,
teachers,
baby sitters,
doctor's appointments,
and the all-important first.
Filled with helpful hints and room for photos and thoughts,
as well as vintage art and inspiring quotes
How to Filter the Vuvuzela Noise
When you're tired of the World Cup broadcast being a cacophony of vuvuzelas, it's a relief to know that you can tone it down. Here are some ways to drown out the drone.
The benefit of this option despite having to fiddle a bit more is that you don't need a computer. You can perform this fix straight on your TV or stereo.
With this option, you'll need to use the computer linked up to the audio of the TV. The benefit of this option is that the software will do all of the fiddling for you. The only adjustments that you'll need to make are dependent on the age and speed of your computer.
Steps
Equalizer (EQ) option (TV or Stereo)The benefit of this option despite having to fiddle a bit more is that you don't need a computer. You can perform this fix straight on your TV or stereo.
- Locate the equalizer. Either use equalizer on your stereo if you're using that to listen with, or the one on your TV, if it has one. If needed, read the manual accompanying the stereo or TV for instructions on how to adjust the equalizer settings.
- Adjust the hardware settings of your equalizer. It is recommended to turn the frequency down as low as your equipment can go; try lowering sound level of the the frequencies 235 Hz and 465 Hz with about 40 decibels.[1] The drone sound should be considerably reduced, or even removed.
- Continue to adjust the different frequencies until you are comfortable with the sound. Given that all TV sets differ, only you will be the ultimate judge of what works best here. Things to consider include:
- Level of sound of the commentators' voices;
- Ability to enjoy the rest of the atmosphere; and
- The level of comfort of all persons watching at home.
- If you can't locate an equalizer on your TV or stereo, or just can't be bothered fiddling with it, try using your TV's treble sound control. Locate the treble control, and turn the treble sound down as far as is possible. Doing this should reduce the vuvuzela sound enough to be bearable.[2]
- Try adjusting your speakers if you have a surround sound system. Try lowering the volume of the speaker that brings out the crowd noise and raise the volume of the one with the commentator's voices.[3] Keep adjusting until you get the balance right.
With this option, you'll need to use the computer linked up to the audio of the TV. The benefit of this option is that the software will do all of the fiddling for you. The only adjustments that you'll need to make are dependent on the age and speed of your computer.
- Go to the National Instruments site. Download the free software here: http://decibel.ni.com/content/blogs/Simon/2010/06/16/world-cup-2010--filtering-the-annoying-vuvuzela-noise. There is a Windows and a Mac version available, choose whichever one suits your needs.
- Install the software. If you don't have the LabView Run-Time engine, you'll need to install this also (it's free).
- Insert your computer into the audio signal flow of your TV.
- If the TV has an audio output, connect the sound card line in to this outlet. Connect the sound card's output to your usual listening devices (such as speakers or headphones).
- Listen and check if it sounds better. If still needed, adjust the frequency on your computer. How much and whether you need to adjust will depend on the speed of your computer.
Video
Consumer Reports shows several easy ways to reduce the noise of the vuvuzela. Note that it doesn't recommend paying money to do this!Tips
- Mute it. Watch in peace!
- The vuvuzelas can pump out as much a 131 decibels.[4]
- Apparently the horn "drones" (is at its most annoying) at 233Hz.[5]
Warnings
- Not all TVs have a built-in equalizer. If you can't find one, try one of the other methods instead.
Things You'll Need
- Computer for first option
- TV or stereo for both options
- Speakers or headphones
Related wikiHows
- How to Play a Vuvuzela
- How to Be Comfortable While Watching TV
- How to Appreciate a Soccer Game on TV
- How to Use a Graphic Equalizer
- How to Fix Your Speakers
Sources and Citations
- Simon H, http://decibel.ni.com/content/blogs/Simon/2010/06/16/world-cup-2010--filtering-the-annoying-vuvuzela-noise - research source
- Lifehacker, http://lifehacker.com/5564085/how-to-silence-vuvuzela-horns-with-an-eq-filter - research source
- Consumer Reports, http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2010/06/fifa-world-cup-2010-vuvuzela-annoying-buzz-sound-audio-filter-app-noise-killer-scam-setting-minimize-horns-tips.html - research source
- ↑ Adam Pash, http://lifehacker.com/5564085/how-to-silence-vuvuzela-horns-with-an-eq-filter
- ↑ Consumer Reports.org, http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2010/06/fifa-world-cup-2010-vuvuzela-annoying-buzz-sound-audio-filter-app-noise-killer-scam-setting-minimize-horns-tips.html
- ↑ Consumer Reports.org, http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2010/06/fifa-world-cup-2010-vuvuzela-annoying-buzz-sound-audio-filter-app-noise-killer-scam-setting-minimize-horns-tips.html
- ↑ Wikipedia, Vuvuzela, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vuvuzela
- ↑ Sharon Machlis, How to lower vuvuzela noise when watching the World Cup, http://blogs.computerworld.com/16345/how_to_lower_vuvuzela_noise_when_watching_the_world_cup
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How to Confront Someone Who's Giving You the Silent Treatment
Are you getting the cold shoulder, but you don't know why? Is someone who's normally eager to speak to you now keeping your conversations to the bare minimum? This can be hurtful, frustrating, and confusing. Here's how to confront the person who's ignoring you without making things worse.
Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Confront Someone Who's Giving You the Silent Treatment. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
Steps
- Make sure you're not just being paranoid. Sometimes, it's not about you at all. Perhaps he or she is being quiet because someone in his or her family is ill, or is having personal problems. In this case, you shouldn't take it personally. Perhaps back off a little and leave some space. Or not: withdrawing from friends can be a feature of depression, so reaching out may be exactly what your friend needs. But, if you notice that this person is only acting quietly towards you, and not towards others, for an extended period of time, then you may have reason to be concerned.
- Test the waters with a sense of humor. If the person is just in a bad mood (maybe because of something you did, maybe not) you might be able to lighten the mood with a little bit of playfulness.
- Examine if this is a pattern. Has this person done this before? Does s/he try to control or "punish" you in other ways? If so, ask yourself whether this is a relationship you want to maintain. See How to Recognize a Manipulative or Controlling Relationship.
- Question your own behavior. When did the silent treatment start? What happened that day, or in the days just before the behavior changed? Could you have done or said something insensitive? Did something change? Try to understand what could set off the silence. Narrow it down to a few possibilities and try to think of ways you can fix the situation.
- Rehearse what you're going to say. You want to have one conversation and then feel like you said what you needed to say, so plan it ahead of time. It's easy to get nervous and/or defensive, or to come off the wrong way, if you aren't prepared. Close your eyes and imagine you're alone with this person and say out loud what you want to say. Listen to the way you make your statement, and adjust your tone if need be.
- Speak in private. Speak to the person when you're alone and are unlikely to be interrupted.
- Begin by apologizing if you believe you did something to offend or hurt the person, even if you're not sure what it is. Say something like "I'm so sorry if I've done or said something stupid to you."
- Say that you value the friendship. E.g. "I've really enjoyed spending time/working with you." or "Please help me out here, because I appreciate your friendship so much."
- Honestly express how this makes you feel. The cold shoulder is painful to the recipient (you). Let this person know that you do sincerely want to work things through, but if that's not going to happen in the near future, you may not continue "volunteering" to be frozen out. Example: "It really hurts that you're shutting me out, and I wish you would talk to me so we could put this behind us. The reality is that I think about this so much that I can't study or even sleep, so if this continues much longer, I'm going to need to stop waiting and just assume that you do not want to be friends anymore. I don't want to do that, which is why I'm telling you now."
- Be open to whatever s/he has to say. Let him or her know that if there's a problem, you're all ears. It's important to know why s/he is giving you the silent treatment, and s/he probably feels that you deserve this treatment. Moreover, people want to know you understand what you are apologizing for. Paraphrase, make educated guesses: "and that made you feel sad?", and use stories to reach mutual understanding.
- Offer to walk away. After all, a silent treatment indicates that he or she no longer wants to speak with you for whatever reason. If you have tried to discover the problem, but s/he won't share or discuss the reason, there's not much else you can do. At this point, ask directly, "So you just don't want to work this out? You don't want to talk to me or be friends any more?" If the answer is yes, s/he wants you to leave him or her alone, then do so. If s/he says no, or not really, or I'm not sure, then say something like "Okay, well, since you're not ready yet, take some more time. I'm here whenever you feel ready to talk again. I really like being friends and hope we can work this out, but I'll leave it to you to reach out when you're ready to be friends again. I'll be there." Leave the burden of calling or initiating contact to them, so that they can have the space and time that they need.
- Pay attention to your tone. If you did do something to start this, you want to make sure your tone doesn't indicate that you think s/he is being overly sensitive or is acting stupidly. S/he, after all, may feel hurt in some way, and a snide or patronizing tone will only make things worse between you.
- Try only once. This can be the hardest part - after you have apologized and attempted to understand what is going on, you have done your part. Now, it is up to the other person to step up and begin communicating with you. If s/he does not, that is his/her decision. You cannot fix this without cooperation from him/her.
- Pat yourself on the back. Confronting someone takes courage, and you've handled it as best and as maturely as you could! No matter what the final outcome is, you faced up to a problem squarely, made your best effort to resolve it, and accepted the result.
Tips
- Your objective should not be to accuse him/her, or even to defend yourself - rather, it should be to let the person know that (1) you didn't mean to offend or insult, (2) you've tried to understand his or her point of view, (3) if there is a need to address something with you, you agree to hear him or her out fully, and (4) if s/he wants to keep the reasons to him or herself, and end your friendship, you'll respect his or her wishes.
- If you make the person feel pressured to tell you what's on his or her mind, or if you offer guilt or more coldness in return, you might reinforce the behavior and miss a chance to save the relationship.
- Keep in mind that no one can be obligated to speak to you. Everyone has the right not to speak to anyone they like. If someone else has made that choice and chooses not to reconsider, your role becomes finding a way to accept that. At some point, it's no longer about the other person. It's now about you finding the maturity to let it be.
- If you're not sure whether it's the silent treatment, try asking more generically, "You've been a bit quiet lately. Is anything wrong?"
Warnings
- Don't feel guilty for failing as a mind reader. You can do your best to understand why this person no longer wants to associate with you, but for him or her to clam up and expect you to figure things out on your own is unrealistic, and exhibits poor communication skills. If s/he keeps giving you the silent treatment every time your relationship hits a bump in the road, and you've made it clear that you're receptive to hearing his/her perspective, then maybe the relationship is better off silent. One who seems to relish nursing a grudge makes for a difficult friend; in the end, friendships are supposed to be a refuge from the storms of life. If this friend is causing storms in your life on a fairly regular basis, it's not something you should "get used to" or put up with. It's something you should nip in the bud early, or accept the fact that you may just need to find friends who are supportive, kind, and communicative instead.
- If this is happening on a regular basis, it can be a form of emotional abuse. In an abusive relationship, even if you do everything "right," you will never be able to stop the abuse completely.
- Consult with friends to confirm your perception about this, and ask them if they feel it might just be paranoia on your part.
Related wikiHows
- How to Deal With Loneliness
- How to Meet New Friends at the Pub
- How to Make Friends
- How to Make up With a Friend
- How to Make Friends in a Certain Group
- How to Handle People Who Are Angry at You
Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Confront Someone Who's Giving You the Silent Treatment. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Doli Kuey Teow Goreng!
DInner tonight at
Doli Kuey Teow Goreng
No. 16, Jalan Wan Kadir 4.
Taman Tun Dr Ismail Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-77225351
A review : click here
********************************************************************
Last night, my parents , my sister and I went out for dinner. My parents are renovating the house a bit so my mom did not cook for us.
I suggesteed DOLI.
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Can you identify my dad and my sister?
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The infamous Kuey Teow Goreng Special.
RM10
Yaya and Mummy could not finish their.
So we shared.
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My 'Mee Kari'
Reminds me the 'mee kari' i had at CBN.
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Lastly, my dad's 'Mee Rebus'
*********************************************************
As for dessert, we went for Frozen Yogurt at TUTTI FRUTTI TTDI
It was so much fun.
We had to do it all ourself.
But be careful, you it might cost you an arm and a leg if you don't control yourself.
Hahahahahaha.
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These are the steps to a yummylicious frozen yogurt.
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Look at how many paper cups there are!
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Yup, this is the vending machine.
I was excited. Do not ask why.
Anyway, other than vanilla and chocolate, they also had passion fruit and pomegranate.
[ there were a few more, but i can't remember]
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Next, we sprinkled some toppings on our frozen yogurt.
Be careful again!.
Do not over indulge yourself.
Lastly, we placed our paper cups filled with frozen yogurt
and toppings on a weighing scale.
Then the cashier will ring the till machine to check out the price.
This is when my sister cringed!
Since she it was her treat.
Hahahahahaha.
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Tadaaaa!!!!...
The funny part was, when my dad said
" We must eat this as quickly as we can!"
-why?
"It is so cold in here!"
Well it just rained and the weather outside was cold.
Now, whose bright idea was it to have frozen yogurt?
-YAYA-
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Interested to try and have a taste?
Check out their locations here
Labels:
Yummylicous
The Carrie Diaries: Candace Bushnell.
I bought this book at TIMES bookstore [ Giza. Kota Damansara]
25% off for TIMES card member holders.
This cover is sold at Popular Bookstores,
Labels:
books
Emel Hari Ini 29/06/2010
Mai nak tunjuk cara nak hilangkan cemuih keja...sengai2 badan...fedup tengok komputer....
1. Mola2...cari lalat, tibai bagi mampoih, tapi jangan sampai terpenyet...
2. Ambik ketaih, susun lalat2 yang mampoih tadi ikut kesukaan...
3. Lukih apa patut menggunakan imaginasi/kepala otak bergeliga tu...
4. Hasilnya.....tadaaaaa..... mcm kat bawah ni... kalau nak meriah lagi...boh lam frame....
5. Bleh gak guna menatang lain...contohnya lipaih, lipan, katak, belalang, kutu, riang2... nak besaq lagi..bleh guna kera, labi-labi, kambin biri2 ka....
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E-mails
What kind of Handbag?
Remember this book?
Bought it at Kinokuniya last fridat day for RM45.95
So i am a studded-Balenciaga-gym-LeSportsac Lady!
Studded Lady Bag
Pros:She is unafariad of starin the ugly truth in the eye, knowing and loving it for what it is.
Conc:She is so prepared for the 'worst-case scenario' she wills it upon herself. Optimism is the new black.
Hollywood Bag Lady: Angelina Jolie
Balenciaga Bag Lady
She is the taste maker, the heartbreaker, whose fifth food group is caffeine and sixth sense is for vintage shopping.
LeSportsac Lady
She's on-the-go kind of girl, jammed into a bright and bubbly package.
She has a great sense of humor, which is just as well since her bag looks more like a comic strip than a respectable accesory.
Gym Bag Lady
Pros: She knows what she wants.
Cons: She's had on her friends as she is on herself, she might wind up very lonely. Occasionally she has to allow herself to deviate from her routine; flexibility is a crucial component of strength.
Cool eh?...there are like like over 30 types of bags with it's description.
I took a gist from the description, just to give you a picture of what this book is all about!.
It has :-
Designer Fake Lady
Diaper Bag Lady
Tods Tote Bag Lady
Vintage Leapord-Print Lady
Labels:
BAGSBAGSBAGS,
books,
Reviews
Monday, June 28, 2010
How not to get distracted at work?
Article 1:
One way to avoid distractions is to take a personal inventory of all the existing traps and hazards you encounter in an average day.
Begin with the commute into work.
Are you arriving at work on time, or are others causing you to be chronically late?
Are there co-workers or employers standing between you and your work area, eager to make small talk?
Do you have a number of voice messages or emails awaiting immediate responses?
To avoid distractions that arise before you begin your actual work, you may have to readjust your morning schedule.
If a carpool arrangement becomes unreliable, find another way to commute to work. Knowing you've arrived on time can cut down on the distraction of rushing through your pre-work routine.
Once you've arrived at work, keep moving deliberately to your desk.
If people want to have a conversation, ask them to walk with you.
Avoid making eye contact with especially chatty co-workers.
You can still be polite without getting distracted by the water cooler gang.
Another way to avoid distractions at work is to set boundaries with family and friends.
Personal phone calls and emails can become very distracting as the workday progresses. Whenever possible, inform your spouse, children, parents and best friends that your company frowns on too many personal calls.
This policy may only exist in your busy mind, but it will help to reduce the number of outside distractions during work hours.
Obviously, your family and friends may need to contact you for emergency reasons, but their definition of emergency may not necessarily meet your criteria.
Make your outgoing calls during scheduled breaks or your lunch hour.
Some workers avoid distractions by setting up similar boundaries among co-workers.
You may need to tell your work friends not to interrupt you between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., for example, because you're on a tight deadline.
If you remain polite but consistent, most co-workers should eventually get the idea.
In order to avoid distractions such as casual conversations, it's important that you not be a distraction for others yourself.
Save your own conversations for times when you are clearly away from your work area.
In a modern work environment, you can use technology to help avoid distractions.
If you have voice mail capability, let the phone ring during busy times.
For non-vital communications, provide clients with a fax number or email address.
This should cut down on the number of distracting phone calls you receive throughout the day.
You'll still have to deal with these messages, but at least you can respond at your own pace.
Many times, the best way to avoid distractions at work is to change your own focus.
Try to tune out any distracting background noises, such as a blaring public address system or the noise of machinery.
Eventually, you can train your mind to ignore most extraneous sounds. If your job requires attention to detail, work on developing a type of mental tunnel vision.
Some work distractions are based on your own curiosity, so try to adapt a 'been there, seen that' attitude to remain on task.
Article 2:-
Here’s my list of 18 ways to stay focused at work:
1.Write out a daily task list and plan your day.
There’s nothing like a task list sitting next to you to keep you focused. When you have a list of the things you need to accomplish in a day, having that close to you constantly reminding you of what needs to be done is a great way of keeping on track.
2.Allocate time slots colleagues can interrupt you.
In a busy work place, people are moving and talking all the time. If you play a role in a team where others need to interact with you, try allocating a time slot they can interrupt you. Instead of having people stop by your desk every 10 mins and asking you questions, let them know of a time in the day, say between 2-4pm you can be interrupted. At all other times, you can really get some work done.
3.Apply time boxing.
In a previous article, I wrote about the benefits of time boxing. Instead of working at something till it is done, try working on it for a limited period, say 30 mins. By that time, the task is either completed or you allocate another time slot, perhaps in another day, to pick it up again. This way, you keep your work fresh and engaging throughout the entire working day.
4.Setup filters in your email.
If you spend a lot of your time communicating and planning in front of your computer, chances are you deal with emails on a frequent basis. Setting up filters in your email client can be a great way of sorting out what’s important and urgent from personal stuff which can wait. Instead of dealing with a single Inbox with hundreds of unread email, you only need to deal with smaller folders categorised by project, priority and context.
5.Do not check personal email in the morning.
Checking personal emails can be very distracting even with filters setup. This is especially true when your friends send you links to interesting articles, jokes or videos on YouTube. If you’re not careful, you can get side tracked for hours. Instead of checking your personal email as soon as you get in, try starting work straight away. This will build up some momentum as you ease into your work day. You should check your personal email only after you have a few tasks completed or underway. Also, if you don’t want to perpetuate a particular distracting email thread, just don’t reply to it until after work.
6.Set your IM status.
If you use Instant Messenger, when you don’t want to be disturbed, make use of the status and set yourself as being away or busy. Your friends and colleagues will honour that. They can either send you an email or look you up later when you aren’t as busy.
7.Listen to the right types of music.
Music is a great way of settling into the working routine. In addition, having music can drown out office noises like printers and background chattering. Be careful though, depending on personal preference, some types of music are not particularly conducive to productive work. For me, I can’t work when listening to songs with lots of lyrics because the words interrupt my thinking process.
8.Use the headphones but leave the music off.
Some people prefer to have absolute silence when working. I think that also depends on what kind of work you are doing. If you’re doing some serious planning or something computational, having music blasting in your ears may not be the best thing for keeping focused. Try using headphones or ear plugs to block out the background noise but leave the music off.
9.Fill up a water bottle.
Keeping yourself hydrated is pretty important for all sorts of health reasons. Instead of going to the water cooler with your glass every hour, try filling up a water bottle at the start of the day. This does a couple of things – firstly, it limits the starts/stops associated every time you get up for water and secondly, it avoids being sucked into lengthy discussions around the water cooler.
10.Find the best time to do repetitive and boring tasks.
No matter how much you try to avoid it, you’re going to have to face doing things which are either repetitive or boring. For these tasks, I find it is best to choose a time in the day to work on them. For example, I’m more alert at the start of the day, so it’s better to work on things which require brain power early. Working on boring tasks that can be done via auto-pilot are better left towards the end of the day when I’m usually tired.
11.Bring your lunch and have it at your desk.
I’m not suggesting you do this every day, but if you really have to focus and are trying to meet a deadline, having your lunch at your desk really helps. The normal one hour lunch break can really interrupt any momentum you might have built up during the morning. I find when I’m eating lunch at my desk, my lunch breaks are shorter and I can get through a few emails while I’m eating. After I’m done, I’m straight back working on the next task.
12.Don’t make long personal calls.
Most of us have a good separation between our working and personal lives (or a least try to). I think we can all agree we should avoid having work intrude on our personal time as much as possible. The reverse of this also applies. Try limiting the time you spend doing personal things during work as they can be distracting and draining on your motivation. For example, you do not really want to be thinking about your weekend away with your spouse when you really need to get things done.
13.Clean up your desk.
Some of you may have desks which can only be described as ordered chaos. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as long as you can find what you need without too much digging around. However, if you can’t, I suggest cleaning up your desk. That doesn’t mean having an empty desk, it just means having neat stacks of paper, all filed in the correct location. It also helps tremendously having all the things you need easily within arms reach. For example, if you need a place to write, having your pen and notepad close by and easily accessible is incredibly useful.
14.Get a good chair.
If you sit for long hours at your desk and I’m sure some of you do, you might find it helpful to get a good chair. I find it’s pretty hard to stay focused when my neck and back are sore because I have a bad setup at my desk. A good chair can eliminate this, allowing you to work for long stretches without breaks and physical distractions.
15.Use shortcuts on your computer.
If you find you do the same thing with your computer more than once throughout the day, you might find it helpful to look for ways in which you can do them without too much manual repetition. For example, if there’s a project folder you access all the time, try adding a shortcut to your Explorer or Finder so you can get access to it with a single click, instead of expanding folder after folder in the tree panel.
16.Close programs you’re not using.
As a software engineer, I use a lot of programs important to my work. However, in most cases, I only need a few applications open at the same time. Instead of Alt-Tabbing constantly and fighting the computer to locate the program you need, try only having the applications you need open. Close everything else. For example, if you have already located a file and no longer need a particular Explorer or Finder instance open, close it. There’s no reason to leave it around at all.
17.Limit time on Digg, Delicious, news sites and blogs.
I don’t think I need to say too much about this. There are so many sites on the Internet worth looking at, including this site . Digg, Delicious, news and blogs are great from an interest perspective, but they can really take you away from the work you should be working on. Try to limit going to these sites during the working day. If you really have to, try doing it during your lunch time. No, you don’t need to have your finger on the pulse every single minute of the day…
18.Change your mindset and make work fun.
For me, I find it difficult to stay focused on doing things I’m not by nature interested in doing. In most cases, there’s probably nothing I can do about it. However, be mindful of the fact that your perception of work is something you can control. For my last tip here, I suggest you try changing your mindset or turning work into a game. An unfocused mind, is an unchallenged mind. So make things fun!
I hope these tips will take you closer to more focused and productive work days. If you are still in need for more tips about staying focused, you can take a look at a previous blockbuster smash hit article I wrote entitled 11 ways of staying focused. In that article, I approached the issue from a top down, rather than bottom up perspective.
Ok, good luck! If you like this article, tell your friends, Digg it or add it to your Delicious bookmarks.
Hey, what are you still doing here? Get back to work!
[ Hahahahahahahahah- i do not know but i am laughing my head off!]
One way to avoid distractions is to take a personal inventory of all the existing traps and hazards you encounter in an average day.
Begin with the commute into work.
Are you arriving at work on time, or are others causing you to be chronically late?
Are there co-workers or employers standing between you and your work area, eager to make small talk?
Do you have a number of voice messages or emails awaiting immediate responses?
To avoid distractions that arise before you begin your actual work, you may have to readjust your morning schedule.
If a carpool arrangement becomes unreliable, find another way to commute to work. Knowing you've arrived on time can cut down on the distraction of rushing through your pre-work routine.
Once you've arrived at work, keep moving deliberately to your desk.
If people want to have a conversation, ask them to walk with you.
Avoid making eye contact with especially chatty co-workers.
You can still be polite without getting distracted by the water cooler gang.
Another way to avoid distractions at work is to set boundaries with family and friends.
Personal phone calls and emails can become very distracting as the workday progresses. Whenever possible, inform your spouse, children, parents and best friends that your company frowns on too many personal calls.
This policy may only exist in your busy mind, but it will help to reduce the number of outside distractions during work hours.
Obviously, your family and friends may need to contact you for emergency reasons, but their definition of emergency may not necessarily meet your criteria.
Make your outgoing calls during scheduled breaks or your lunch hour.
Some workers avoid distractions by setting up similar boundaries among co-workers.
You may need to tell your work friends not to interrupt you between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., for example, because you're on a tight deadline.
If you remain polite but consistent, most co-workers should eventually get the idea.
In order to avoid distractions such as casual conversations, it's important that you not be a distraction for others yourself.
Save your own conversations for times when you are clearly away from your work area.
In a modern work environment, you can use technology to help avoid distractions.
If you have voice mail capability, let the phone ring during busy times.
For non-vital communications, provide clients with a fax number or email address.
This should cut down on the number of distracting phone calls you receive throughout the day.
You'll still have to deal with these messages, but at least you can respond at your own pace.
Many times, the best way to avoid distractions at work is to change your own focus.
Try to tune out any distracting background noises, such as a blaring public address system or the noise of machinery.
Eventually, you can train your mind to ignore most extraneous sounds. If your job requires attention to detail, work on developing a type of mental tunnel vision.
Some work distractions are based on your own curiosity, so try to adapt a 'been there, seen that' attitude to remain on task.
Article 2:-
Here’s my list of 18 ways to stay focused at work:
1.Write out a daily task list and plan your day.
There’s nothing like a task list sitting next to you to keep you focused. When you have a list of the things you need to accomplish in a day, having that close to you constantly reminding you of what needs to be done is a great way of keeping on track.
2.Allocate time slots colleagues can interrupt you.
In a busy work place, people are moving and talking all the time. If you play a role in a team where others need to interact with you, try allocating a time slot they can interrupt you. Instead of having people stop by your desk every 10 mins and asking you questions, let them know of a time in the day, say between 2-4pm you can be interrupted. At all other times, you can really get some work done.
3.Apply time boxing.
In a previous article, I wrote about the benefits of time boxing. Instead of working at something till it is done, try working on it for a limited period, say 30 mins. By that time, the task is either completed or you allocate another time slot, perhaps in another day, to pick it up again. This way, you keep your work fresh and engaging throughout the entire working day.
4.Setup filters in your email.
If you spend a lot of your time communicating and planning in front of your computer, chances are you deal with emails on a frequent basis. Setting up filters in your email client can be a great way of sorting out what’s important and urgent from personal stuff which can wait. Instead of dealing with a single Inbox with hundreds of unread email, you only need to deal with smaller folders categorised by project, priority and context.
5.Do not check personal email in the morning.
Checking personal emails can be very distracting even with filters setup. This is especially true when your friends send you links to interesting articles, jokes or videos on YouTube. If you’re not careful, you can get side tracked for hours. Instead of checking your personal email as soon as you get in, try starting work straight away. This will build up some momentum as you ease into your work day. You should check your personal email only after you have a few tasks completed or underway. Also, if you don’t want to perpetuate a particular distracting email thread, just don’t reply to it until after work.
6.Set your IM status.
If you use Instant Messenger, when you don’t want to be disturbed, make use of the status and set yourself as being away or busy. Your friends and colleagues will honour that. They can either send you an email or look you up later when you aren’t as busy.
7.Listen to the right types of music.
Music is a great way of settling into the working routine. In addition, having music can drown out office noises like printers and background chattering. Be careful though, depending on personal preference, some types of music are not particularly conducive to productive work. For me, I can’t work when listening to songs with lots of lyrics because the words interrupt my thinking process.
8.Use the headphones but leave the music off.
Some people prefer to have absolute silence when working. I think that also depends on what kind of work you are doing. If you’re doing some serious planning or something computational, having music blasting in your ears may not be the best thing for keeping focused. Try using headphones or ear plugs to block out the background noise but leave the music off.
9.Fill up a water bottle.
Keeping yourself hydrated is pretty important for all sorts of health reasons. Instead of going to the water cooler with your glass every hour, try filling up a water bottle at the start of the day. This does a couple of things – firstly, it limits the starts/stops associated every time you get up for water and secondly, it avoids being sucked into lengthy discussions around the water cooler.
10.Find the best time to do repetitive and boring tasks.
No matter how much you try to avoid it, you’re going to have to face doing things which are either repetitive or boring. For these tasks, I find it is best to choose a time in the day to work on them. For example, I’m more alert at the start of the day, so it’s better to work on things which require brain power early. Working on boring tasks that can be done via auto-pilot are better left towards the end of the day when I’m usually tired.
11.Bring your lunch and have it at your desk.
I’m not suggesting you do this every day, but if you really have to focus and are trying to meet a deadline, having your lunch at your desk really helps. The normal one hour lunch break can really interrupt any momentum you might have built up during the morning. I find when I’m eating lunch at my desk, my lunch breaks are shorter and I can get through a few emails while I’m eating. After I’m done, I’m straight back working on the next task.
12.Don’t make long personal calls.
Most of us have a good separation between our working and personal lives (or a least try to). I think we can all agree we should avoid having work intrude on our personal time as much as possible. The reverse of this also applies. Try limiting the time you spend doing personal things during work as they can be distracting and draining on your motivation. For example, you do not really want to be thinking about your weekend away with your spouse when you really need to get things done.
13.Clean up your desk.
Some of you may have desks which can only be described as ordered chaos. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as long as you can find what you need without too much digging around. However, if you can’t, I suggest cleaning up your desk. That doesn’t mean having an empty desk, it just means having neat stacks of paper, all filed in the correct location. It also helps tremendously having all the things you need easily within arms reach. For example, if you need a place to write, having your pen and notepad close by and easily accessible is incredibly useful.
14.Get a good chair.
If you sit for long hours at your desk and I’m sure some of you do, you might find it helpful to get a good chair. I find it’s pretty hard to stay focused when my neck and back are sore because I have a bad setup at my desk. A good chair can eliminate this, allowing you to work for long stretches without breaks and physical distractions.
15.Use shortcuts on your computer.
If you find you do the same thing with your computer more than once throughout the day, you might find it helpful to look for ways in which you can do them without too much manual repetition. For example, if there’s a project folder you access all the time, try adding a shortcut to your Explorer or Finder so you can get access to it with a single click, instead of expanding folder after folder in the tree panel.
16.Close programs you’re not using.
As a software engineer, I use a lot of programs important to my work. However, in most cases, I only need a few applications open at the same time. Instead of Alt-Tabbing constantly and fighting the computer to locate the program you need, try only having the applications you need open. Close everything else. For example, if you have already located a file and no longer need a particular Explorer or Finder instance open, close it. There’s no reason to leave it around at all.
17.Limit time on Digg, Delicious, news sites and blogs.
I don’t think I need to say too much about this. There are so many sites on the Internet worth looking at, including this site . Digg, Delicious, news and blogs are great from an interest perspective, but they can really take you away from the work you should be working on. Try to limit going to these sites during the working day. If you really have to, try doing it during your lunch time. No, you don’t need to have your finger on the pulse every single minute of the day…
18.Change your mindset and make work fun.
For me, I find it difficult to stay focused on doing things I’m not by nature interested in doing. In most cases, there’s probably nothing I can do about it. However, be mindful of the fact that your perception of work is something you can control. For my last tip here, I suggest you try changing your mindset or turning work into a game. An unfocused mind, is an unchallenged mind. So make things fun!
I hope these tips will take you closer to more focused and productive work days. If you are still in need for more tips about staying focused, you can take a look at a previous blockbuster smash hit article I wrote entitled 11 ways of staying focused. In that article, I approached the issue from a top down, rather than bottom up perspective.
Ok, good luck! If you like this article, tell your friends, Digg it or add it to your Delicious bookmarks.
Hey, what are you still doing here? Get back to work!
[ Hahahahahahahahah- i do not know but i am laughing my head off!]
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Tears is the way to show that you have a heart.
Sometimes you have to forget how you feel and remember what you deserve. -Sarah Kane
Take care of what God gave you, and He will be sure to take care of what He's about to give you.
Sometimes we have to stop and let go of one dream so we can move forward with another. -Amy Brenneman
To fight fear, act. To increase fear: wait, put off postpone. -David Joseph
Listen to your heart, because in the end, it is your heart that counts. -Pete Wentz
Feelings are much like waves, we can't stop them from coming but we can choose which one to surf. -Jonatan MÃ¥rtensson
Sometimes you have to forget how you feel and remember what you deserve. -Sarah Kane
Take care of what God gave you, and He will be sure to take care of what He's about to give you.
Sometimes we have to stop and let go of one dream so we can move forward with another. -Amy Brenneman
To fight fear, act. To increase fear: wait, put off postpone. -David Joseph
Listen to your heart, because in the end, it is your heart that counts. -Pete Wentz
Feelings are much like waves, we can't stop them from coming but we can choose which one to surf. -Jonatan MÃ¥rtensson
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Friday, June 25, 2010
Why Mars & Venus Collide?
Currently reading this book.
Bought it for rm18 at Amcorp Mall.
Let us take a look ya!
Pada abad modern yang semakin sibuk dan rumit ini banyak menimbulkan
stres dan kelelahan, yang membuat Mars (pria) dan Venus (wanita) bisa berbenturan.
Sayangnya, respons Mars dan Venus terhadap stres sangat berbeda.
Pria cenderung berpaling, menjaga jarak, dan melupakan masalah mereka,
sementara wanita terdorong untuk mendekat, mengajukan pertanyaan, dan berbagi masalah.
Perbedaan sederhana ini bisa sangat mengganggu hubungan jika tidak diapresiasi dan dihargai.
Dengan pengalamannya di dunia internasional sebagai ahli hubungan pria-wanita, dalam buku ini Dr. Gray memberikan teknik untuk menghentikan percekcokan sebelum menjadi masalah yang menyakitkan.
Dia juga mengajarkan cara menciptakan Obrolan Venus sebagai suatu ritual dalam kehidupan kaum wanita,
yang akan menjadikan makhluk Venus rileks dan makhluk Mars merasa berhasil dengan usaha yang minimal.
Dengan membaca uraian yang jelas dan menarik dalam buku ini,
akan muncul pemahaman baru dan saling pengertian bahwa perbedaan yang ada justru malah dapat memperindah hubungan.
*************************
Why Mars and Venus Collide:
Improving Relationships by Understanding How Men and Women Cope Differently with Stress
Once upon a time, Martians and Venusians functioned in separate worlds.
But in today's hectic and career-oriented environment,
relationships have become a lot more complicated, and men and women are experiencing unprecedented levels of stress.
To add to the increasing tension, most men and women are also completely unaware that they are actually hardwired to react differently to the stress.
It's a common scenario:
a husband returns home from work stressed out and eager to kick back on the couch and watch television.
A wife returns home from work stressed out and wants to talk about it with her husband. What happens?
Neither is on the same page, anger and resentment set in, and Mars and Venus collide. Using his signature insight that has helped millions of couples transform their relationships, John Gray once again arms the inhabitants of Mars and Venus with information that will help them live harmoniously ever after.
In Why Mars and Venus Collide , Gray focuses on the ways that men and women misinterpret and mismanage the stress in their daily lives, and how these reactions ultimately affect their relationships.
"It's not that he's just not into you; he needs to fulfill a biological need," Gray explains.
"And it's not that she wants to henpeck you; she also has a biological drive."
He shows, for instance,
how a husband's withdrawal is actually a natural way for him to replenish his depleted testosterone levels and restore his well-being,
and how a woman's need for conversation and support helps her build her own stress-reducing hormone, oxytocin.
Backed up by groundbreaking scientific research,
Gray offers a clear,
easy-to-understand program to bridge the gap between the two planets, providing effective communication strategies that will actually lower stress levels.
Whether in a relationship or single,
this book will help both men and women understand their new roles in a modern,
work-oriented society,
and allow them to discover a variety of new and practical ways to create a lifetime of love and harmony.
http://www.ebooksbeat.com
Click to look inside
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