Living a Stress-free Life(Or at least trying to)

     There is always a ton of pressure put on us at any given time. When we are in school, we are expected to excel in our academic life, extracurricular life etc. After graduating, we expect to find the "dream job", which let's be honest is extremely difficult in today's world. When we are in the workforce, we are always expected to go above and beyond in our job. It can really be taxing, mentally and physically, trying to plan for the future or just trying to live our day-to-day life without going broke (or crazy, whichever comes first).

     I personally have a bad habit of giving myself too much stress. I stress out about the future, my life etc. In order to calm myself down and distract myself from all my problems, I have had to come up with some ways to live a relatively stress-free life.

Practice yoga.

Not only has yoga improved my posture, it really has taught me to relax and be more calm. Give yourself an hour every morning before going to work to practice some yoga. A lot of times, in life we cannot control what circumstances we will go through. Instead stressing about what might happen, or what has happened in the past, it is important to look forward and stop stressing out. What is meant to happened, will happen.

Be positive.

Being positive really works wonders. No one likes being around negative people who complain about everything, but never really does anything to change their current circumstances. Complaining never solves anything. Stop complaining and take action about the situation.

Remind yourself that things will change eventually.

Nothing is permanent in this world except change. If you are going through a bad phase in your life, of course you will be worried. That is normal. However, it is also important to remember that things will take a turn for the better, eventually. This does not mean, you can just expect everything to be handed to you. You still need to work hard and put effort in improving your situation.

Read more.

Not only will it distract you, you might end up learning something new which might be beneficial to you in the future. When you read, it helps you to escape the worries and stresses of your everyday life. You end up completely engrossed in the world that the author of the book has created. Reading also instantly helps to reduce your heart rate and ease tension in the muscles.

Give yourself a day off.

It is important to have some "me time" once in a while. You can treat yourself to a nice meal, go shopping, get your hair done etc. Anything that helps you to wind down and chill out.  Not only will it refresh you, it will also give you a boost. The next day, you will be ready to face any problem you have head on.

Enjoy Nature.

It is calming to go for nature walks or hikes. I like spending time in nature. It feels rejuvenating for the mind and body. Breathing the fresh air and spending time in the sun also helps you to feel better. Did you know going out in nature also helps to lower stress hormone levels?

Write. 

Sometimes it is cathartic just to write down what you are feeling. This way, you do not feel like you are just keeping all of your emotions bottled up inside you. You acknowledge your different feelings and emotions by writing them down which helps to give you a sense of relief.

10 Ways You Can Become a Regular Reader today

Are you one of those people who love to read but just is so busy with life that you do not have to time to read? Raise your hand if that is the story of your life. It is so easy to fall into a regular routine and not have time to read. With our hectic lives, it is easy to "forget" to read or to look for excuses as to why you do not have time to read.

However, there is hope for us! It is not actually that difficult to add reading into your regular routine as we tend to have time to spare during the day. It is how we choose to use that time which is important. Reading helps us to gain knowledge and is known to help with mental stimulation.

Here are ten ways you can work on becoming a voracious reader today!

1) Make a list of books you are interested in reading
This will motivate you to look for the books you want to read and then actually read it in your free time. You can look online for book lists for inspiration on books you are interested in.

2) Join a local library
Libraries tend to have a ton of books and you can just borrow it for free. Libraries also have a wide range of books so while browsing through the books, you never know what you might find. Try to challenge yourself and pick books from various genres. You can pick multiple books at once and return them once you are done. If none of the books grab your attention, you can always go back and choose other books.

3) Set aside time to read daily
You have to set aside time to read daily whether you want to or not. Try to set aside 15-30 minutes daily just to sit down with your book and read. You can easily get this time by cutting down on mindless surfing online(Read: Facebook, Twitter , Instagram etc) and instead giving this time to focus on reading.

4) Learn various reading techniques
The more you read the more you will start to pick up reading techniques such as skimming and speed reading. You can skim in the beginning of the book to see if you are really interested or not interested enough to commit to reading the book. This way, you will be reading more books as you will be able to get through a book faster.

5) Join a book club
Why not join a book club in your area? You will be more motivated to read this way. You will be able to meet with different members of the book club to discuss the characters and the plot of the book  which will keep you engaged with the story.

6) E-Books
If you are someone who prefers to read on a tablet rather than an actual book, go for it! It is convenient compared to traditional books. There are a lot of advantages and disadvantages of e-books and traditional books( https://chanda-chandasblog.blogspot.tw/2017/12/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-e-books.html) You can check out more information in the link above.

7) Keep a notebook
You can use it to write quotes from the book and follow your progress in the book. You can use it to write summaries, book reviews etc. A notebook can also be used to keep progress of how many books you have read so far. It can also be useful in looking back and seeing what you have actually learned from reading the book.

8) Go to a quiet place to read
Sometimes you really need to go somewhere peaceful and quiet in order to fully concentrate on reading. You can go to a quiet corner in your house and spend time reading there. You can also choose to go to the library if you do not want to be disturbed by others. It helps you to focus on the book and not be distracted by others things.

9) Read at night before going to bed
Sometimes we just want to read in a relaxed manner before dosing off to sleep. Why not turn off your electronic devices earlier and just spend the extra time in bed and read? It is so relaxing to just sit on your bed and read.Remember as kids how our parents' used to read us bedtime stories?  It is because reading before sleeping actually helps to get a great night of sleep. It helps us to relax and de-stress from our day.

10) Turn off your electronic devices
If you are someone who is easily distracted, I would suggest turning off all your electronic devices in order to concentrate on reading. This way, you can focus on reading instead of checking your phone every few minutes. Take a deep breath and only focus on the book as that is the only thing that should be on your mind.

10 Ways to Become a More Responsible Person

The older we get, the more responsibilities we seem to have. We have to handle our lives, our jobs, and our family and somehow manage everything to the best of our ability. It is difficult to be a responsible adult. However, nothing is impossible. Did you know it can actually negatively affect your life if you are not a responsible person?

Today we will discuss ten ways you can become a more responsible person in life.

1) Stop blaming others
It is very easy to point your fingers and blame somebody for the education or the job that you did not get. Admit you actually failed and take the time to think back about the real reason you actually failed. By looking for excuses, and shifting the blame to someone/something else you are actually being irresponsible.

2) Stop being negative
Negative thoughts tend to be overpowering. It makes us think that is impossible to achieve whatever it is that we want to achieve. Actually, it is just tends to be in our head. We can do anything once we put our mind to it. Remember impossible is nothing. Try to keep a positive attitude and with that you will start to have more positive thoughts as well.

3) Do not complain
You fill yourself with negativity if you keep complaining about everything around you. Instead of nagging and complaining about all your problems, think about ways you can solve them. It is time to stop complaining and start taking action.

4) Be on time

"Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable!" - Eric Jerome Dickey

You have to be punctual if you want to be regarded as a responsible adult. When you show up on time to an event or a meeting, you are showing the other person that you take him/her seriously and are not going to waste their time by showing up late.

5) Be organized
Plan your day out. Write down what you need to get done in the day. This will help you be organized and keep you on your toes. You can also use calendar apps and note taking apps for your convenience. By having things written down or on your phone, you can visually track your progress towards your goals and not forget anything.

6) Be consistent
Have a schedule and try to stick to it as much as possible. It helps to be organized as I mentioned above. Routine means order. Having order in your life shows that you are responsible. It shows people that they can depend on you.

7) Be self-disciplined 
"When there is a will, there is a way." -  English Proverb
Now this depends on your willpower. How determined are you to make the change in your life?  You have to push yourself to become a more responsible person. If you are determined, then you can definitely make it happen. Being self-disciplined is a learned trait which will result in you having more control over yourself.

8) Admit your mistakes
Nobody is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes in life. We have to see ourselves and recognize both the good and the bad. Try to improve yourself and make yourself a better person instead of living in denial. Do not blame others for the mistakes in your life. Be accountable for your own actions.

9) Do not procrastinate
Try not to put things off till the last moment. It just will not be your best work. It is better to make a schedule and start working on projects ahead of time. It shows that you are serious about the project you need to get done and are not just interested in getting it done just for the sake of it.

10) Plan ahead 
If you want to go backpacking in Asia, do it! Nothing is stopping you except you. This applies to anything whether it be a promotion in your job or following your dream. Stop looking for excuses and start taking action.

10 Ways to Become a More Productive Person

How can you become a more productive person? 

It feels like we are all trying to get so much done while not actually getting that much done at the same time. The to-do list seems as if it is never-ending. We are also constantly adding new things to the list. It feels as if there is just never enough time for us to accomplish everything we absolutely need to get done. Is productivity really about getting the most done in the least amount of time possible?

Today we will talk about ten way you can become a more productive person in life.

1)  Stop adding things to the to-do list 
Take a hard look at that to-do list and ask yourself, "What are the most important tasks I need to carry out on this list?" Cross off things which you do not need.  Remember it is important to take a less is more approach. This will help you to focus on accomplishing the things that really matter.

2)  Multitasking is a no-no
When you try to get everything done at once by multitasking, it is difficult for your brain to concentrate on everything all at once. Our brains are just not wired that way. Studies have shown that our brains are in fact, wired to mono-task. Chances are by multitasking, you would not have done such a great job on all five things you were trying to working on at once. It is better to focus on one thing at once. When you are done with that, move onto the next thing.

3)  Take short breaks
In order to rejuvenate yourself, why don't you incorporate short breaks throughout the day? You can work for an hour and then take a 10-15 minute break. You can do anything during the break. Take a short walk, stretch, go grab a snack, check your phone etc. Basically you can do anything as long as it was not the task you were working on during your work time. When you get back to the task on hand after the break, you will feel fresh and energized which in turn which help boost your productivity.

4)  Stick to a routine
Routines help to create structure in our lives and works to eliminate distraction. If you have a routine, you know exactly what you have to do and how you set out to accomplish the task. Since you already have a routine, all you have to do is work and focus on the task at hand. You won't waste time by thinking and trying to figure out what you have to get done since you have already planned it out in advance.

5)  Get up early
Try using this extra time to meditate, to work out, follow the news, and to have a healthy breakfast. This will help to give you the boost needed to have a productive day. This habit alone will challenge you to put your mind over matter and will help strengthen your willpower to get more done in life. The more time you have available to be productive, the more you will set out to get done.

6)  Are you a morning person or a night person?
Figure out when you actually get tasks done. For some people, they prefer getting things done in the morning, because that's when they have the most energy. While for others, they get their best ideas at night. It is a better idea to schedule your most important tasks to get done during the times you are the most active in your mind.

7)  Set deadlines
Set clear deadlines on the tasks you need to complete. If you do not set deadlines, you will forever be trying to put it off for later. Use it to help you to focus and stay in control of what you need to get done and when.

8)  Reward yourself
After completing your tasks, why don't you give yourself a pat on the back and treat yourself to something nice? This way you will trick yourself into working much faster if you know you will get a reward after finishing the task at hand.

9)  Make use of your spare time
If you think about it, you have a lot of spare time throughout the day to use to gain knowledge. For instance, why not use your commute time to listen to a podcast or read a book? This way, you are learning through the experience of others. By combining what you have learned through podcasts, books and through hands-on experience, it helps you to better you as a person in what you seek to achieve in the future. (Knowledge is important to achieve success. )

10)  Get rid of distractions around you
Distractions are everywhere, in the form of social media, the TV, your phones etc. Try turning off notifications on your phone when you're working so that you can focus on the task at hand. You do not really need to know who just posted on Instagram or Snapchat. You can save it for later, when you actually have time.

It is not easy to be productive, but the results at the end are definitely worth it.

How to get into the habit of writing?

Hmm, now I'll be honest, this is a tough one. It is not easy to develop a habit. Much less a habit that requires you to be creative.

But here we go, let's give it a try. Now how do you develop a habit of writing consistently? 

Well, first of all, you have this goal : writing consistently.

Second, you have to be determined enough to follow through. Granted, life does tend to get in the way sometimes, but you have to push yourself and be dedicated to keep up writing. It does not necessarily have to be for a public platform. You can write for yourself, on a notebook or a diary. You should write because you enjoy writing, right?

As I mentioned in my earlier blog post (The importance of time management), you should write down your goals and set reminders for yourself to accomplish them.

In my opinion, you don't have to write every single day, but try to write at least three or four times a week. Make yourself a cup of coffee, sit down on your desk and start brainstorming. You can write about anything, actually. Write about what inspires you, or write about anything you have on your mind. Writing is a great way to express your thoughts and ideas.

For instance, if you are thinking about writing a book, or a blog post, why not take the time to write some of the ideas down first, and then continue to expand on it later?

This way writing won't seem to be so overwhelming and exhausting. This is also a good way to stop writer's block. Since you have jotted down some of your ideas beforehand, it will be much more easier to expand on it.

In short, writing consistently is difficult. It takes a lot of dedication to be motivated to continue writing. However, the more you write, the more naturally it will come to you. Soon you will start looking forward to these writing sessions and then there's no looking back:)