Vote for Your Minutes!

Poll

After nearly two months of posting, you, as a reader, have had a chance to become familiar with the Minutes Worth Hours concept: I post advice every day about a 5 minute activity that could improve your life in some way. Now, I need your help with improving the blog, and making your minutes really worth your hours.
I've started a poll a couple of days ago, asking you to vote on how frequently you'd like to receive MWH updates. I realize that receiving a post in your inbox or on your RSS feed every day, may be a little bothersome to some of you. That's why I'm asking you to help me decide on a frequency that you would find more comfortable.

The poll is located on the right side of the blog. Just click the option you're most comfortable with. If you have other suggestions on how to improve this blog, I would love to hear from you. I write this blog for my readers, so I care about what you think. I have another blog where I just do my own thing. This one's here for you guys!

The poll will be up until June 15 (so for about two weeks) after which I will put the changes through, whatever you decide! 

Deciding how often you want to read blog posts is another way for you to exercise control over your life. Make sure you grab it!


Thanks for being here guys! I can't begin to say how much writing this blog and knowing someone's reading has changed my life!

Track Your Progress

Instant Boss is counting down

Is there a better feeling than looking back on a finished project, seeing what you've accomplished? It's one of those feelings that lifts us up and gives us the energy to do more. Being able to say 'I did it!' is one of the best rewards of a job well done. But before a project is finished, sometimes we feel like our energy is running out. It seems so difficult to estimate how much we've done and how much is left. A great way to stay motivated can be to track how long your work on something.

There's a free App for windows, called Instant Boss, that I love to use to stay focused on one task, and to track how long I've been working on one task.

Go to this website and download the little program. Once it's set up, it's very fast and easy to use. You click on the icon, and can set how much time you want to work, how long you'd like to take a break after each working session, and how often you want to repeat this cycle of work + break. 
The standard setting is 10+2*5. But you can change it to anything you want, and the program will remember your preference.

I use it for writing blog posts faster, working on my lesson plans and writing my book. I love that you can click to 'work longer' and feel like you're earning yourself an extra long break. It's also great to be able to recognize those 10 minutes of work you put in here and there, because they DO add up and can contribute a great deal!

You can find a review of Instant Boss on Simple Productivity Blog, which is where I first heard about it.

I hope you enjoy the program and find it useful in your life. Do you usually track how long you work? Have you tried this program or used it before? Let me know what you think!

Weekly Quotes for Inspiration

Picture by Luann Johnson

I love quotes! They're brief, inspiring and often brilliant. Just little bits of wisdom that can create 'aha' moments in an instant. They also offer a great way to get acquainted with a famous person's mind, although they can be taken out of context too, or be attributed to the wrong author.
Either way, I have benefited an awful lot from having quotes around me. I sometimes spend an hour just reading them online, reveling in one after another. And what do I do with the best ones? Those rare jewels that means something special to me? I write them down somewhere so I can reread them whenever I like.
Having a weekly quote, can be a reminder of something you want to focus on that week.

I suggest that before your week begins, you think about what you'd like to focus on in the coming week. Do you need a reminder to be more productive or stop procrastinating? Would you like to remember to eat more healthily or exercise more? Could you use a quick note to make sure you treat the people around you the way you want to? There are quotes on all these situations, and thousands more. 

When you've found a quote that you love and that really captures the point, write it down. Don't write it down just anywhere, write it everywhere! Leave it on your fridge. Put it on your computer's wallpaper. Write it on your bathroom mirror. Write it in your diary. Leaving it in many places means you'll be reminded of it often, and at different times. You're not as receptive at different times during the day. And a quotation can mean something different to you, when you're in a different mood.

Need some inspiration? There's a weekly installment of quotes on Repsych, or you can check out The Quote Garden. Typing in 'quotes' in Google will yield plenty of results too.

My weekly quote I got from Repsych as well:

Nature does not hurry and yet everything s accomplished- Lao Tzu

Rinse Off the Dishes

Picture by Michal Zacharzewski

You just cooked a nice batch of marinara sauce, and boiled some spaghetti noodles for dinner. You put everything nicely on a plate and walk out to present the meal to your family/partner/friends. In the kitchen, your pots are left on their own, which will result, inevitably, in the food drying and setting in there.
The same thing happens to those plate of spaghetti marinara that are left on the table or in the sink for longer than they should be. Or with the tall glass of juice that's left next to the computer. You know what I mean, right? Dirty dishes that stand out too long become more difficult to wash. They take longer in the end!

We've finally established the habit of rinsing off things like pots for making sauce, pasta or rice. Or we at least fill them up with water, so the left overs can soak. 
After we eat, we try to make it a habit to wash our dishes right away. Sometimes this is easier than others, but it happens more often than not.

To get yourself going on washing the dishes, ask yourself the following questions:

1. If I don't do them now, will I have to do them later? (If the answer is 'no', then of course, don't bother) 
2. Do I have urgent business that cannot wait 10 minutes? (if the answer is 'yes', you have a valid excuse)
3. Is doing the dishes now, really such a big deal? (only one correct answer to this one!)

If that doesn't get you going... try leaving the dishes out for a couple of days. Let them stack up, in the messiest way possible. After the stench has become unbearable, take a picture. Print it out. Put it on your wall.

Clean Out Your Closet

 This post was inspired by the suggestion of a friend. Any suggestions you have? Let me know!

Hubby's closet - labeled for ease of reference

I'll admit it, I'm not really fashion-oriented, or fashion-conscious even. I'm not a huge fan of shopping, though I do like to get nice clothes from time to time. All in all, the days I go shopping in a year add up to maybe 7 altogether. That is, whole afternoons dedicated to shopping, for example.
Yet, even if I don't buy a lot of clothes and try to avoid buying them, they still seem to accumulate out of nowhere. After a mere two years in China, the pile of clothes that fills up my closet has quadrupled, I kid you not! There's at least 4 times as many clothes in there as when I unpacked that first Wednesday in August 2009.
Luckily, I've taken some time here and there, a couple of minutes, to organize the stuff and throw away unwanted items.

Clear out a section in your closet. Just empty it completely! If you have ten minutes or so, do the whole closet at once. Then, decide on a system. I hang up my jackets, skirts, dresses and shirts that I like to keep neat. I have a pile for tank and spaghetti tops, short sleeves, long sleeves, sweaters, pajamas, shorts, and pants (so 6 piles). Everything that doesn't fit there, goes in a 'rest' pile. 
Every time I clear things away that I don't need. I recently wore out three pairs of jeans, and I'm just going to throw them out. I won't pack them to go to the States, not worth it. So they don't belong in my closet anymore.
Anything that is somehow ripped or has a button missing, also does NOT belong in your closet! It belongs on your 'to fix' pile. You won't wear it 'till it's fixed, so it's just gathering up space for now. 

When you put your stuff back in piles, look at what you wear most often, and what you wear least often. The stuff you wear least often could be considered for possible disposal. The same goes for anything that's stained/irreparably damaged/too small/too big. Get rid of it!

As a last step, try to make your wardrobe seasonal. I removed my winter clothes for the next following months, since I won't need them anymore and my closet looks much neater with less stuff in it. I've also taken out the summer clothes I'd put away. It's like rediscovering your clothes when you take them out for the right season.

My closet - in need of some 5 minute organizing

I find that a neat closet saves me quite a bit of time every morning, when I pick out my clothes. It makes it easy to find everything and to put your clothes back when you finish the laundry.

How do you organize your wardrobe? Do you go by color? Season? Style? Occasion?
Do you prefer just keeping things at random?

Create an Imaginary Haven

Picture by Ian Gay

Last week, I underwent dental surgery here in China. I had my four wisdom teeth pulled, under local anesthesia only. There were hammers involved, screwdrivers, lots of blood and huge syringes. It had all the elements of a traumatic experience, except that I just did not want it to be that way. I chose to opt out of the experience when it got too rough, by going to my 'Imaginary Haven'.

Your imaginary haven is a place that you enjoy being at. It can be an existing place, or a place you'd like to be in in the future. It works even better if it has people you love in there, and if you imagine what activities take place. 
You can make your place more real by filling in the details about how it looks, feels, smells, tastes and sounds. Using all your senses to compile this impression, will make it feel that much more real.


And what's the benefit of this haven? You can visit it any time you feel like it would just be best if you could ignore your present situation. If you're in a dental chair, if you're listening to a boring lecture, if you're trying to fall asleep but can't get your mind off of your worries. You'll find that visiting this imaginary haven can relieve stress, uplift you and comfort you, all at the same time.

My imaginary haven is a stretch of farmland somewhere in Australia. I'm riding a horse, or running around with my children-to-be. I see the green grass, smell the horse, feel the wind. It's the future I dream of.

This image has gotten me through many experiences I chose to soften a little by visiting it.

What would your mental haven be like? Which times would you visit it? Have you ever tried this?

Turn It Off

Picture by Celal Teber

Right now! Or ... once you finish reading this blog and are ready to get to start your day. "What is IT?" you wonder? To be honest, I don't know. It depends. IT depends on who you are and what distracts you most. It could be anything from a beeping cell phone, to a stable Internet connection (my big vice) to a TV in the background. But whatever it is, it's not making you more relaxed or more efficient.

We face more distractions in our daily lives now than ever before. The stuff is meant to distract us and draw us away from what we're doing. We get phone calls and emails that need to be answered instantly. The commercials on TV or in magazines try their best to grab our attention and keep it long enough for us to consider buying whatever they're selling. To get away from all of this, it's not enough to just ignore the distraction (as my husband can tell you), you need to eliminate it altogether.

I'm one of those people who rarely gets emails, but when I do, I hear a lovely 'ding' on my computer and a little message pops up to alert me right away. Conscientious as I am, I don't leave people waiting before I read their message (not that I know, and I rarely answer right away), but check it immediately. Now I'm here anyways, I might as well check my stats too and maybe type of a quick note... and it has started. I've fallen into the trap and it'll take me anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes (no kidding) to get back on track. Not efficient, if you ask me.

So the next time, I turn off my phone (people have gotten used to my non-responsiveness over time, the same will happen to you!), disconnect my Internet (aaaaaaaah) and turn off every program on my computer I don't really need to work. 
I even have to do this if I want to do something I like, like reading a book. Even though this is an activity I thoroughly enjoy, I still need to cut out distractions so I can stay focused. 

 If you make it a habit to turn off your distractions, even if it's only for fifteen minutes at a time, it'll become much easier to get into the work-zone and stay focused.

Any more tips on cutting out distractions? I'd love to hear what you think!

Take Two To Focus

Picture by Andrew Leigh (my hubby)

If you're any bit like me, starting a task can be tricky. It's not that you won't start, it's that you'll start but not really get going at full steam right away. Like your energy is still dispersed and can't be put into the task you're about to undertake. Does that ever happen to you?

It happens to me often, and not only do I lose time because of these distractions, I also get really frustrated with myself. I'm usually a pretty laid-back kinda gal, but feeling like I'm wasting my own time can stress me out like nothing else. If you don't believe me, ask my husband!
Now, if I have problems focusing my energy on the right thing, I take some minutes before I begin to direct my mind.
 

Get everything you need for your task ready. This exercise is kind of pointless if, two minutes into your activity, you have to get up to use the bathroom or get a cup of coffee. Get ready to go and comfortable.
Now, try to relax your mind and body. Let go of all the little things that are bothering you, everything that's on your mind, even the task at hand.
Close your eyes (turns attention inward). Breathe slowly and deeply. Say you take about 10 breaths, at inhalation 7 or so, you start getting your mind in the right mood for the task.
Think of it as telling your mind that in about 3 breaths you're going to start your work, and you're going to be completely ready for it. Over the last three breaths, you build up your focus and when you open your eyes, you're good to go!

I find that this works really well for me, especially when I want to do some novel writing, that takes a lot of focus to dive into the story again and ignore everything else on my computer. It's also good for speeding up tasks that normally take a long time because they're so incredibly dull (I'm thinking of correcting essays here).

Have you tried this? Does it work for you, or not at all?

Cultivate a Culture

Milk Kefir Culture (Picture by A. Kniesel)

I love all things natural, and fermentation is part of the natural process of making foods more digestible.
To ferment food, you need a culture that contains some kind of yeast. The fermentation digests sugars in your food, making it easier for you to digest it after. Most of these foods/drinks contain extra nutrients as well.
I'm currently cultivating a sourdough culture and a milk kefir culture. The sourdough culture I've had the longest, and I started from scratch myself. The kefir culture I received from a friend.
Both only take a couple of minutes to keep up, and I bake my bread with it and can get wonderful homemade yogurt from it.

For sourdough, all you need to do is mix some flour and water, about the same volume, and feed it a little more flour and water twice a day while stirring it. Bread does take longer to rise, and will taste a little sour, but that's the point! It's more natural and it's healthier.

For kefir, you'll need to find someone who can give you some of the initial culture. Then you just leave it in a jar of milk for about 2 or 3 days, strain and drink. No maintenance really. 

At this stage of my life, my cultures are my babies. I feed them, nurture them, try to create the best environment possible to support their growth ... and then eat them.

Naturally, recipes for using these cultures take up more than 5 minutes, and thus have no place on this blog. But if you'd like to know how to bake the bread or make a nice shake, comment and I'll let you know!

Watch a Child at Play

Picture by Valdas Zajanckauskas

Children have an ability to live in the present and be in the moment that most of us have long forgotten. Remember how, as a child, time seemed to stretch infinitely? I've already explained that this is because of all the impressions a child encounters in this previous post, but it's also part of their stage in life. As a child, there's not much worrying about the future, because your parents take care of those worries for the time being. There's not much worrying about the past, because there's not much past to speak of. In short, the moment is what takes up your full attention.

Luckily for us, this kind of attitude is contagious. You can feel drawn to the moment by  watching others be in it. Completely. Without hesitation or doubt. Watching a child (or a pet, if there are no children near you) play can open your eyes to everything NOW has to offer.

If you have children (or come into contact with them regularly) you'll have plenty of opportunities to just observe them at their game. You can see them make up stories, run around, teach other children and experience new adventures. You can see them fight and make up, fall and get up, break something and rebuild it. They are not concerned about what was or will be, only about what is.
If  you don't have the chance to see children in your daily life, you could go to a playground or the beach and watch them. Try to do this in as innocent a way as possible though. I mean, don't go around staring creepily! 
Another option is to watch youtube video's of playing pets and laughing babies, though this is not nearly as effective because the NOW in that case isn't really NOW is it?

What kind of adventures do the kids or pets you watch get into? How do you feel watching them play? Tell all, don't be afraid!

Pay Attention to Your Daily Activities

Note: This is a guest post from Angeliki who blogs at RePsych about the interesting lessons we can learn from psychology, and how to live a great life. She offers tons of great insipiration!

Keeping track of certain aspects of your life can be a surprisingly powerful practice; the very act of recording exerts an interesting psychological effect. Spend a couple of days recording your time use in details and you’re likely to find yourself using it more efficiently. Record what you eat and you’ll find yourself eat more healthily even without taking any other actions.  The idea of making the unconscious conscious chimes with the Buddhist concept of mindfulness- the practice of paying attention in every moment of one’s day without judgment.

And why don’t you take this knowledge a bit further?

When you have a few minutes to spare, take a notebook and write what you did in the morning or in the afternoon or between 1pm and 3pm, decide on a specific space of time.

Write everything you did no matter how small or big and next to each activity write what you gained from it. Was it nurturing, did it give you pleasure, did it give you a sense of mastery/satisfaction, was it depleting or did you feel zoned-out?

It only takes a couple of minutes to make this list but what you will discover can be very revealing. For example, when I did this little experiment, I discovered that I’m a “pleasure hunter”. Most of my activities were marked as pleasure. Also I noticed that a lot of the things I did were depleting and/or made me feel zoned out (e.g. watch TV, walking to places), which surprised me because I thought some of these activities were fun. 

If you want to increase the pleasurable and meaningful activities in your life, here are some ideas:

*do something pleasurable: have a nice hot bath, have a nap, go for a walk, visit a friend, write a poem, go for a run, phone a friend, spend time with your significant other, cook, go shopping, watch something funny or uplifting, read a book, listen to music
*do something that will give you a sense of satisfaction or mastery: clean the house, clear a cupboard or a drawer, catch up with letter writing/ emailing, do some work, pay a bill, do something that you have been putting off doing, exercise
*act mindfully: focus your entire attention on just what you’re doing right now, keep yourself in the moment, put your mind in the present, be aware of your breathing as you do things, be aware of the contact of your feet with the floor as you walk

What is your day structure? What depleting activity can you cross off your day and which one can you make a bit more pleasurable?

Create a Routine

Our good-night routine

There are some things that we have to do every day. Brushing your teeth, doing dishes, putting your shoes in the cupboard, etc. Some of these become habits, some of them are things we keep having to remind ourselves of. Obviously, the habits are much easier to maintain, because, well... they're habits!
You should try to make all of these activities habitual, so that you don't need to spend any more energy on trying to remember them. You can read about creating habits here.
But today, I want to talk about creating a string of habits to form a routine. Making routines will reinforce each separate habit and help you form new ones. It also prevents you from forgetting some of the things that need doing.

Think of what you need to do at a specific moment in time. A time in which you need to combine different activities, that don't really change on a day to day basis. A good example is the time after you wake up, when you go to bed or after you've arrived at work. List all the different activities on a piece of paper, and decide on an order that makes sense (don't brush your teeth right before you drink your cup of coffee, or after you put on your lipstick). 

For the first couple of days, keep this paper at the place where the last activity takes place. Go back to it, if you need to remember the steps. Stick to it religiously. That shouldn't be too hard, since you have to do all those things anyways, right? 
After about three weeks, this routine itself will become habitual. It will become faster and more efficient, thus saving you time and worries. 


To simplify this, try to limit the amount of activities at first and add to the routine later. 

My husband and I have now developed a very good 'going to bed' routine. Take a look at the picture to find out how we started it. It's been saving us time, money and stress. What's not to like?

What kind of routines are you creating? Did you do this already? Do you find it hard to keep it up?

Be Polite - The Old Fashioned Way

Picture by Justyna Furmanczyk

"Hello reader, welcome to yet another post at Minutesworthhours.com. I hope you have enjoyed the blog so far, and want to thank you for your time and attention. I apologize for anything that may have wasted your time, since that completely goes against the purpose of this blog."

There's some old fashioned politeness for you. Something that seems to have gone out of style somewhere around the '70s, and is in desperate need of revival. I live in the country with possible the least sense of decorum in the world (China). Service personnel is mostly taken for granted here. There are no questions asked, only demands made. There is no 'thank you' or 'good morning' when you go to the store. Not even an 'excuse me' when you get bumped into.

The rules about how to be polite used to be much stricter here, and in the West too. I remember being told to say 'please', 'thank you', and 'you're welcome' whenever the situation called for it. And I still do. What about you?

It's one thing not to be offensive or rude, it's another to be truly polite and friendly toward your fellow citizens. As you go through your daily activities, your mind is constantly busy with what else you have planned, the little problems you have at work or at home, the details that are going to slip your mind if you let go of them. So you hang on tightly to these thoughts, in order to stay on the rails. It's hard enough as it is, without worrying about keeping others on their rails too.

But is that really how you want to spend your days? Going through the motions, pretending everyone around you is just part of the play in which you play the lead?

I'm sure you've run into people who've been polite to you, out of the blue. They held the door open, said a cheery 'good morning' or thanked you for something you did. These little gestures make us feel better, like we're part of something bigger, and not just on our own. It reminds us that everyone around us is another being, much like we are, with equally complicated lives. The same fears, hopes and dreams.

Next time you run into a stranger, you could make them feel the same way too.

I've met my share of grumpy waitresses, cashiers and bus drivers here in China. My approach is always the same: a friendly 'hello' and a big smile. For many of them, it might be the first time in a week they're approached this way. I love seeing the feeling of surprise on their faces.

Do you believe in being polite just to be polite? Or is it totally outdated? Do you teach your kids to say 'please' and 'thank you'? Were you taught as a child?

Brush a Little Longer

As we rush through our day to day lives, most of our everyday habits become so routine that they might be done without much though. On the one hand, this is a good thing. It leaves time and energy for other and more important things. On the other hand, it could mean that you're not paying enough attention to something that's actually an important part of your daily life.
Take brushing your teeth, for example. I usually brush quickly and get the whole thing over and done with in a minute. The result? Cavities! The same goes for taking care of your skin, hair, nails, feet, etc.

While you're brushing your teeth, try to remind yourself of why you're doing this. What is the purpose of this activity to you? How much more could you do if you spend an extra minute or two? Maybe you could floss?
When you're doing a quick, daily activity, take an extra minute to do it extra well. Even if you only do this every once in a while.

 I can't stress the importance of taking care of yourself strong enough.Being the best you can be is not only a gift to yourself, but also for the people around you.

Donate your TV to Charity!

In December 2008, our TV cable in our small student apartment stopped working. Since I was in the middle of exam cramming, we decided not to replace it just yet (I'd spent too many idle hours 'studying' with Oprah in the background). After I finished the exams at the end of January, we were both so happy with the amount of time we'd been saving and enjoying, that we never got round to replacing the cable. When we moved to China, we put the TV in a closet, and a vase of flowers and fruit bowl where it used to be.
There's no real charities available here that take donation, but there might be where you live. Make yourself AND someone else happy!

TV is one of those things that we could be perfectly happy without. You can find so many interesting shows and movies online or at the DVD store. Why do you need the commercials? Do you often keep the TV on in the background? Can you honestly say it doesn't distract you? How about turning on the radio instead? You can do other stuff while you listen (clean, cook, laundry, etc). Or turn on some music if you're doing something that requires focus and you don't want it to be too quiet.
If you think you'd miss your TV, try not turning it on for a week or two. It's a small price to pay for finding out, isn't it? While you're NOT watching TV, think about how you would redecorate your living room if it were gone. How everyone could face each other when you have visitors. How the whole family can all enjoy a game on the coffee table.
You can always enjoy movies or TV shows on a (portable) computer screen if you want to!

Donating your TV (throw in your DVD player while you're at it) can make a different to someone else. Just making the call only takes 5 minutes. You can schedule pick-ups with Goodwill and the Salvation Army in the United States; the British Heart Foundation in the UK; for Canada, try the ERA. Have a look on Google for other options!

Giving up TV was one of the best things I've ever done to improve my quality of life. I still watch movies with friends or family, I just use a laptop to do it and then move it out of the way when done. It's a time to come together, not a background distraction.

If you're not ready for such a big move, how about just cutting cable TV?
Do you already live without TV and want to tell others about it? Have you tried this and did it work? Let me (and the other readers) know about it!

Browse Your Photo Album

Most of us take a camera on every holiday we go on. We bought one right before we moved to China, so we could be sure to capture every new experience. When we get back from a trip, we might share some of the pictures with friends and family, post them online to be viewed, or get them printed. If you're a real follow-upper, they'll even end up in a nice album. And then?

How often do you watch last year's pictures? How about the pictures of your college days? Your childhood?

Found a couple of spare minutes? Use them to get one of your albums out, or open a picture folder on your computer (Albums do make for WAY better presentation!). Get a cup of ... (favorite beverage), find a comfortable seat, and just let your eyes wander over (and wonder at) all the memories. 

You don't have to look at pictures for hours, to be reminded of them. You could just look at a couple of pages/photos, and experience the joys that were associated with that moment. 

I'd usually advocate focusing on the future rather than on the past, but when it comes to photo's, I can't help enjoying the walk down memory lane.

If you don't know how to present digital pictures well, consider getting some digital albums printed. There are a lot of websites that'll let you make wonderful books. They look great, and are much less bothersome than the original print & glue ones.

Savor Every Sip

Picture from acobox.com

In my humble opinion, coffee on the go is the most ridiculous outcome of today's fast paced society. It's practically an oxymoron. 'How?' you wonder?
Well, consider this: A cup of coffee (you may substitute tea if you don't like coffee, although 'tea on the go' hasn't quite taken off yet it seems) used to be associated with a short break. It was like a moment of stillness in the endless rushing of time. People took the time to brew it properly, and drink it together, enjoying the taste and the experience.

 Nowadays, they just grab a quick one on the way to work and sip it while rushing through traffic. Doesn't sound quite as relaxing, does it? So what's the point of drinking it then? Don't tell me you need the caffeine shot, because by the time you've progressed to the level of addiction where you actually NEED a cup in order not to have a headache, the coffee has lost most of its effect. I hardly get affected by caffeine at all these days. So how about reinstating the old fashioned coffee break?

Take your cup of coffee, and go somewhere where you can drink it undisturbed. You can do this alone, or with a friend/spouse/colleague/family member. Get comfortable. Smell the coffee first. Coffee is one of the most fragrant of all drinks, and the aroma can be enough to send you into a spiral of happy, relaxing contemplations (it does for me). Carefully take your first sip. It may be hot! This is supposed to be the case (don't sue anyone if you burn your tongue, it's your own fault).

Enjoy your cup of coffee sip by sip. Letting it warm you, comfort you, relax you or excite you. Feel the positive emotions it brings you.  If someone happens to walk in while you're in the middle, throw them a look of caffeinated seduction and ask them to join you. Happiness is the only thing that doubles when its shared.

Do you have other drinks you prefer to savor? How about a favorite Trappist beer, or a glass of freshly brewed Ice Tea?

Track Your Time

This is an exercise I do every couple of months, when I find that I've been slacking and procrastinating. It's a great way to get motivated and it offers inspiring insight into your own behavior.
Basically, what you do is, you record how you spend your time for a couple of days (ideally) or just one day, even. Knowing where your time is going and what times of the day are already planned, will give you an idea of how much time you really have to yourself. Chances are, it's not as much as you think, or way more than you think. Most people have no clue how much free time they have in a day.

Keep a notebook with your for the duration of the experiment. Don't change your behavior now, that's not the purpose of the exercise. Just record every activity in your day and how long it takes. You write down when you get up, how long it takes you to eat breakfast, get your stuff packed, travel to work, eat lunch, etc. How much time do you spend on each activity, and how do you fill the in between minutes? 
Be honest! No one but you has to see the end result, and you're trying to help yourself here, not anyone else. Don't feel guilty about spending time on relaxing or taking extra minutes to drink a cup of coffee. Those activities matter too. You're not doing this to judge, only to understand.

I often use a calendar program on the computer and color code all my activities. Seeing how much 'green' I have in one day (relaxation) can be an instant reminder that I have to get my act together. Seeing all the 'purple' (teaching) and 'blue' (writing) makes me feel great at the end of the day.

A random week in March

Make it a Habit, not a Choice

Eat Breakfast! (picture by Vera Kratochvil)

New habits are hard to form, but old ones are difficult to let go of. That second part is discouraging when you're trying to quit a habit, but it can also be encouraging to know this when you want to form a new habit. It means that once you've actually formed it, it will get much easier to keep it up.
Every time you perform an action, it will become easier. Truly!

The difficulty is usually in sticking to a habit in the first place. See, many of these 'good habits' aren't really pleasant habits at first, are they? Who really wants to get up earlier to exercise? Who actually prefers to eat only half the steak? Not many, I'm sure. So, what are you doing asking yourself the question in the first place?
For once, stop paying attention to how you feel about something, and just do it. That's what habits are all about, doing things without thinking them over.

When I first started my morning yoga routine, I asked myself often if I really felt like doing yoga at that time. Was I awake enough? Did my legs feel just a little too tense? I ended up not doing the routine more than actually doing it. Not really a habit, right?
And then something clicked. I decided not to let myself wonder about how I felt at all. Instead of thinking about whether or not I wanted to do yoga, I just did it. I got out of bed, turned on a candle or two and some music, rolled at the mat and started. That's it. No questions, no hesitations, no second guessing.

The evaluation of your habit, whether it's actually helpful to you or not, is something you should leave for later. Right before the activity, is not a good time to start evaluating it. You need to let a habit settle in a bit, before you start questioning its benefits and drawbacks. Leave it for a time that's not related to the habit-moment. For example, if it's a morning habit, think about its benefits in the afternoon. That way, you're feelings about it will be more objective and reflect your whole experience of having this habit in your life, not just the experience of the activity itself.

Creating habits that improve your life, is one of the surest ways to reap long-term benefits from (rather) short-term investments. A good dental-hygiene habit is something we benefit from forever. The habit of bringing a bottle of water when you work, can really make a difference to your daily productivity. So can eating breakfast.

In the book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Amazon) you can pick up some ideas for very worthwhile habits.

What kind of habits have you tried to create? Have you failed or succeeded? Is there a habit you'd like to get rid of but can't? I'd love to stop my coffee habit, but so far no luck. Any advice?

Hum a Tune to 'Bee' Healthier and Happier

Picture by Petr Kratochvil (publicdomainpictures.net)

Humming has recently been proven to have certain health benefits, like helping to keep your sinuses healthy, but it's been used as a way to relax and heal your body for much longer. The 'ohm' chanting in yoga is the most obvious example.
If you've never tried yoga, it might seem like a weird habit to start off by saying 'ohm' a couple of times. It doesn't mean anything, does it? It's just a sound.

Well, that's exactly the thing. It's a sound. And sound means vibration. Vibrations can be a very powerful way to relax your muscles.
Ever stood on one of those shaking massage machines? That's the same basic principle (but much more expensive!)

I find humming helps me to relax my body and calm my breathing. It's also a great cheer-up tool when you're feeling down. Just hum a tune.

I suggest you invest a couple of minutes in finding a song that's cheerful and soothing to you (or two different ones, if those two concepts clash) and that you can hum easily. Make this your go-to humming tune, something you can refer to whenever you need it.
Alternatively, for a more mystical but also more effective experience, just hum a tone. They call this 'toning' and it's done by just humming the same note. Deep breath in, humming breath out, and repeat. Easy!

Humming slows down your breathing, and makes each breath more effective by letting your body absorb more oxygen on the inhale.
If you have kids or pets, you might find you're not the only one who's soothed by the sound of your own humming.

What kind of humming tunes are you thinking of?  Do you already hum along to music on your iPod or MP3? Have you ever paid attention to the effect it has on you? I'd love to hear your views!

Keep Your Keys Close

PicturebyAnn Cercova (publicdomainpictures.net)

I have searched for my keys for seemingly endless ... minutes. My keys have seen more of my apartment than my most intimate friends. At least they did, until about two years ago.
Fed up with constantly having to wait of the other to locate their keys/phone/wallet, my husband and I created a designated area where we would keep these things.
Only the key-thing really stuck (wallet/phone still get lost quite frequently), but it has saved us a lot of valuable minutes. Trust me, those minutes add up! And, it's saved us a lot of stress and bickering too, which is much more important.

This is so simple, it might seem pointless for me to mention this. Most of you might already have a designated spot for the many keys in your life. But just in case you don't, go ahead and find one now. We picked a place right by the door. After we unlock the door, we just drop the keys straight in the tray. When we leave, they're right there for us to grab.


For those of you who already have a solid key-routine, maybe there's something else in your life you often have to look for. What about your lipstick? Hair pins? Screw driver? (Had to add some testosterone there). Creating a go-to place for stuff around you will save you valuable time, every time!

Other things I often have trouble locating are: my belt (I only have one) and jewelry. What about you? Anything you always seem to be looking for?

Change Your Clothes After/Before Work

Picture by Piotr Lewandowski

I have a different mind-set when I work or when I play. You probably do too, naturally.
For me, enforcing these different roles in my life so I can fulfill them to the best of my ability (yes, the role of 'player' is just as important as the one of 'worker') is very important.

I help myself get into each of these 'zones' by changing my clothes when I go from one to the other.

 

There are some clothes you only wear at home. Am I right? There's probably a baggy sweater, an old t-shirt or a pair of stretchy pants that you feel super comfortable in. When you get home from the office, you could feel instantly more relaxed by taking off whichever work outfit you're wearing.

This works especially well for people who work at home. You could help get your mind into 'work-mode' by changing into clothes you associate with work. It doesn't have to be a suit, but I do suggest you choose something you would be comfortable leaving the house in. Clothes don't only make the man, they also make the mood.

An added advantage is that your work clothes stay much cleaner. You're not eating grilled cheese dipped in ketchup on the couch in them. That is one potential threat already avoided!

Do you change your clothes when you get home/stop working? Do you feel different when wearing different types of clothes? Share all below!

10 Reasons Why YOU Should Write a Grocery List

If you don't yet write a grocery list yet, let me tell you why you should. It really only takes 5 minutes! I suggest you keep a notepad lying around or on the fridge, so you can add something to it every time you finish the previous jar/box/tin.
So why is it SO important to make a list before you go shopping?

Picture from acobox.com

1. You save time: no wondering around aimlessly trying to remember what you need for which dish. Just follow the list.
   
   
2. You save money: unwanted things don't add up in your cart unnoticed. You already know what you need and can stick to it, thus avoiding extra costs.
   
   
3. Healthier choices: when you're writing the list at home, you're not facing those tempting cup cakes or carb-bomb pretzels. You've already picked what you need.
   
   
4. More environmental: you are less likely to forget something and have to drive back to the store. Thus saving gas and creating less exhaust.
   
   
5. Everyone gets a say: you can write a grocery list as a family, making everyone feel like they can contribute to the decision making process (e.g. ask the kids what fruit they would like. They're more likely to eat it if they're allowed to chose.)
   
   
6. It's fun: you get to check off items as you fill your cart, and can feel a sense of accomplishment. Much like a To-Do list.
   
   
7. Trying new recipes: you can pick up ingredients for recipes you found in a book or on-line. Preparing the list at home will let you check to make sure you got everything. Otherwise you'll fall back on the trusted dishes you already know how to prepare.
   
   
8. Less food going to waste: before you leave for the shop, you can check the fridge to see how much food is left. Do you have a ton of left-overs that you could use to put a meal together? Don't buy more than you need!
   
   
9. Peace of mind: You'll feel at ease knowing that you already did the preparation work at home. Now, all you need to do is walk through the store putting stuff in the cart. It's a piece of cake!
   
   
10. Delegating: if you have a list, you don't really need to go to the store yourself. You could bribe your spouse or idle teenager to do the job for you. Tell them they can add their favorite snack to the list as a reward.

I usually write the list, my husband usually picks up the groceries. We found that we spend a lot less and get a lot more fresh fruit and vegetables. Sure, we still pick up a pack of cookies from time to time, but not nearly as much as we did before.

For more grocery list related fun, check out grocerylists.org!

Are you used to writing a list? Do you manage to stick to it? Tell me, tell me, tell me! :-)

5 Minute Meaningful Mother's Day

To every mother who reads this Blog: Happy Mother's Day! You are the reason we are all here, and the reason we live happily and healthily. You have given your lives to raise us and take care of us. We are eternally grateful.

To all those of you who HAVE a mother, read on to get the scoop on how to give your Mom a meaningful Mother's Day in 5 minutes (preferably on top of all the flowers, chocolate and surprise breakfasts you're bestowing on her.)
Mothers have this inexplicable (check back in a couple of years and I'll be able to explain it) fascination with their children's childhood. They remember them as if they were the golden years. Talk to them about first steps, scraped knees and school report cards, and they go all teary-eyed.

How about surprising your mother with one of your fond childhood memories this Mother's Day? A time when you needed her, and she was there. Or a time when it was just the two of you, and you did something special together.
Call your Mom and tell her you were just (reading this blog and) thinking about that time when ... . Thank her for being there. Who knows, you might just make her day!

My fond memory? My mother used to write my little notes after I'd just learned to read. She'd put them in my lunch box, or on the table for me to find after I got home from school. I don't remember what they said at all, I just remember being delighted at finding one every time.
Dank u Mama!

5 Minute Meditation for a Productive Day

Note: this is a guest post by Elena Komskyte. Elena is a blogger at My Deep Meditation, a website with wonderful tips on meditation, yoga and reiki.

How do you begin your day and how does it end? If you analyze these two questions at the end of each day, you might be disappointed while recalling each incident that happened during the day. There must have been many incidents where you were angry, embarrassed, stressed or underwent emotional problems which might have led to medical conditions such as chronic headache, back pain or increased blood pressure. There must have been situations where you had difficulties in making decisions. This is a common problem every person experiences in his or her daily life. The only remedy to overcome these problems is to practice meditation, especially in the morning. People with busy lifestyles may not be able to spend lot of time on meditation in the morning. In that case, spare at least five minutes for meditation to live a better day without stress and worries.

This could be new to lot of people, since many are not aware of meditation and its benefits. Practicing meditation for at least five minutes a day can help you to have a stress free day. Most people believe meditation is a long process and they have to spend hours on a single session. But this is not completely true. There are many types of meditation which can be practiced for smaller sessions. Try this effective 5 minute meditation, even if you only try it once, and see what the effect is.

Chakra meditation is the most ideal way to have a short meditation session. The chakra meditation helps to focus on a particular problem that you experience on a daily basis. There are a couple of steps in this meditation technique that can be performed quickly without spending too much time. The meditation process will increase your concentration and help to focus on issues carefully, which would result in making positive and effective decisions.

Chakra meditation is known to clear the mind from all kinds of emotional problems and worries, which gives you a positive perspective on every incident that happens in the day. Since chakra meditation focuses on various asanas (body parts) the body will also feel relieved from any tensions from the previous day, feeling refreshed instantly. Finally, it helps to reduce and prevent aches. Following and practicing chakra meditation in the morning, will help to begin a day with increased self-confidence, complete mind clarity and a positive perspective on life, until you go to sleep at night.

Mediation has the ability to improve various health conditions and enhance the clarity of mind. It has the power to give you a better outlook on life. The benefits of meditation will bring you numerous advantages, such as partial and complete relief from emotional problems like stress, anxiety, depression and anger.

When you are emotionally clear and strong, you gain the power and confidence to make effective and powerful decisions even in the toughest situations during the day. With enhanced emotional strength, various health conditions like high blood pressure, body pain - especially, back and neck pain - and heart conditions can be reduced (for people with medical conditions) and prevented (for people without medical  conditions). Celebrities practice meditation to experience the benefits of meditation for a better life.

How do you feel about meditation? Do you think 5 minutes can make a difference? We want to hear what you have to say, so feel free to comment below!

Follow Your Own Advice

I've had this Blog for about a month, posting (what I consider) great advice every single day. Now, it's time for me to take a closer look at what this advice has accomplished for me. In case of my grandfathers' death (both my grandfather's recently passed away, on April 21st and May 1st), the gratitude and memories posts were ones I've reread a few times. They've been really helpful.
I bet there's some great advice that you have, and that you might be able to follow. It circumvents that awkward situation where someone gives you (usually un-asked-for) advice and you have to try it out because you don't have any better ideas. Then you have to admit that they were right, and you weren't; it's just so annoying. So follow these steps to avoid it altogether.

Picture by Anna H-G

Step 1: Imagine that the situation you require advice for is really your friend's/sister's/cousin's/colleague's predicament. They're the one with the problem, not you. Listen to them tell you the problem (in your imagination naturally. Don't do this out loud since people will consider you crazy. TRUST ME on this!). Now give them the best advice you can think of. Be honest! 

Step 2: Think of how this advice would affect your situation. And if you have to agree it's the best way to go, then follow it.

Following your own advice will guarantee that it will follow your own standards and principles. Your best advice is usually the advice you give to someone you care about. It's more objective than looking at your own situation (naturally) so it has your best intentions and your best common sense.

What kind of advice would you give yourself? Any changes you need to make in your life? They can be big or small.
I tell myself to make a dentist appointment!

.   .   .

There! Done! Yay!

Make a Decision!

Cartoon by Frits Ahlefeldt

Some people are more decisive than others, that's just the way we were born, but all of us are prone to over-thinking at least some of our decisions. For most important decisions you SHOULD take your time to think them over. You don't decide who to marry right after you meet them, and I advise no one to buy a house without thinking it over at least three times.

However ... there's deciding and there's postponing a decision. Sometimes, we go back and forth between two (or more) possible options and just can't make up our mind. This contemplating, deliberating and ruminating is a black hole that keeps sucking in more and more time. And in the end, you'll end up making the same decision anyways, so what's the point? Really? This is especially true for those of you who have to think 10 minutes before they can decide on what to order.

Making a decision can involve different steps. You could make 'pro & con' lists, ask for advice, or imagine the possible outcome of the decision you want to make. Whatever you're preferred method is, do it now!
The biggest part of making a decision, is not the decision itself, but the 'sticking with it'. If you decide to buy that particular car, but change your mind again right after, you haven't really decided at all, have you? So don't go telling me "I decided but then I changed my mind", that just won't cut it!

So save yourself some stress and time, and decide - NOW! - on which decision you want to make. One you've been going back and forth on for a while. Make the decision. NOW! The choice that offers the  Then ACT on that decision. NOW! After you act on it, you'll be able to get on with the next steps in the process. 

I often apply this to myself when planning lessons (which topic?), going out to eat (what should I order?) and what to do for fun (watch a movie? read? cross stitch?). But we've used it for big decision too, like moving to China (let's go for it!) and having children (yes, we will, someday).
For more in-depth information on being decisive, check out the following post at one of my favorite blogs.

What decisions have you been postponing? What's holding you back from deciding?

How to Join CouchSurfing & 5 Reasons Why You Should

A souvenir from Dan & Jen who surfed our couch in Yantai

Ever heard of the Couch Surfing project? If not, you're long overdue! Couch Surfing is a network of people who offer their couch, guest room, back yard or floor space for someone to occupy for a short while.

It allows you to meet people from all over the world (host) and experience a country from the local perspective (surf).

We've been couch surfers for about a year, and have only had wonderful experiences so far!

1. Couchsurfing could enrich your life in many ways. It allows you to get to know fascinating people  you may otherwise have never met, and actually share some real experiences with them.
   
   
2. It can also save you a lot of money otherwise spent on hotels. Though that shouldn't be your sole reason for surfing couches, it's definitely a big attraction for many.
   
   
3. You can learn and teach new things. Many surfers love to exchange experiences and will ask you to teach what you know. I've taught about baking bread and playing Mahjong. I've learned about places to visit and cooking.
   
   
4. You get all the insight information about the places you visit. No more trying to get to those packed Lonely Planet recommended eateries, just ask your host for their favorite restaurant, or better yet, cook together! Ask them about what to do in the city, where to hang out, etc.
   
   
5. Meeting local hosts and travelers can help you discover new places nearby your hometown or current location that could be worth a visit. If you're hosting someone who just visited a nearby city, they could provide great information about this location.
   It's also nice to hear about a home country you might not know very well, and you can always visit your surfers at some point in the future.

Signing up on the website will only take you 5 minutes. Go to the sign up page and take it from there. There's no need to get verified, but you can if you want. and you can always refuse surfers that you wouldn't be comfortable with. Wouldn't you like to find out just how wonderful the experience could be?
Want to surf our couch in Yantai, or wherever we are? Check out my profile on the website. Also feel free to add me as a connection!

Read Some Good News

Picture by Crissy Watkins

I don't keep up to date with the news. In Belgium, it hasn't changed much in over a year, and it's never particularly good. The news that gets to the world headlines is mostly about war, hunger, disasters and crises. I don't see the point in watching that every day. I'm not helping by learning about it.

But, I do make an exception for good news. I'll browse the website of a newspaper and pick out something that looks positive and inspiring.

A daily portion of good news can work wonders for your mood and your faith in mankind. You'd be surprised at how much positive thoughts and feelings can change your experiences. Unfortunate events are rarely as unfortunate when you're in a great mood.
You can find good news (and ONLY good news) on the Good News Network,  Good News Daily (which also lets you add your own stories!), Happy News and MSN's Wonderful World.
The Good News Blog is another great source.

Isn't it comforting to know it no longer takes killing someone to make the news? Now we can get the attention we want by doing something good and worthwhile, and the attention positive all the way!

I'm a firm believer in 'you become what you think about most', so I try to steer my thoughts in a positive direction at all times. This has helped me avoid some bad situations and fix others.

Do you have any particular good news you came across that you'd like to share? Comment below!

5 Interesting Time-Facts

(Note: reading this post should take the average reader 3-4 minutes)

 Learning about Time is one of the best ways to start cherishing it. I recently finished a very good book, called Time: A User's Guide by Stefan Klein (this is the Amazon link) and it completely transformed my thinking about time. Actually, it's one of the reasons I started this Blog.
I want to share with you some of the key-points that I picked up about experiencing and using time. If you're interested in how to make time move slower, or how to enjoy every moment to the fullest, then by all means, read on!

1. Every cell a tiny clock
Every part of our body, every single cell, is governed by a sort of biological clock. It knows exactly when to do what. If you lock up a person in a cave without access to daylight or a clock (and yes, they have done this before, several times!), then their body will start running off of a biological clock of about 25 hours.


2. Time speeds up as we grow older
In our day to day lives, it seems as if time keeps running faster and faster. Stefan Klein explains that this is because our impressions of our environment become less and less memorable as we become older. As a child, every experience is new and worth remembering. When we look back in time, there are more memories, and that makes it seem as if there was more time. It's also the reason we remember our childhoods better than later parts in life.


3. Make time slow down
Stefan (by item 3 we're on a first name basis, naturally) suggests trying to be as much 'in the moment' as possible. Not such a novel idea. Mindfulness is an ancient Buddhist practice of being aware of the moment. Stefan Klein explains that the reason 5 minutes seem long when you're waiting for the bus, is that we take in everything at that time. We're in the moment (even if we're annoyed, irritated and stressed). If you focus on the good moments with the same intensity, they will last longer now and take up more space in your memory. That's why hours in front of the TV always seem like they lasted only minutes in hindsight: your brain didn't register much worth remembering ^^
This blog offers plenty of activities that help you focus on the HERE and NOW!

4. Morning or evening person
Whatever you are, that's what you are. Some people are genetically built to be morning people, others are evening people, and there's little to nothing you can do to change this. Better just learn to deal with it and accept who you are. Then you can find ways to schedule your life to your optimal daily rhythm.


5. Ups and downs
We all have ups and downs during the day that are related to our biological clock. We can't change these patterns, we can only try to work around them. Have you found that you're sleepy right after lunch? Don't plan any important tasks at that time. This could be a good time to do some stuff around the house. Tasks that are basically no-brainers. Write down for one or two days when you feel most awake and energetic, when you feel most focused, and when you'd rather curl up with a book or go to sleep. 
If you have the ability, schedule your tasks around this. The most focused time could be kept for the most demanding tasks, the somewhat less productive time for the routine ones. You catch my drift.

I thought this book was accessible and easy to follow. It might not satisfy the most scientific minds, but it has a lot of background information in case anyone wants to dig deeper.
Learning about how we spend our time and how to make life slow down a little is something that everyone could benefit from!

How do you experience time? Have you ever had the experience that time just flew by? Or that it dragged out forever? Let me know! Comment below! (that rhymes!)

zuì jìn 最近1

1.最近 {zuì jìn} recent; recently, lately, of late, in the near future, soon

Delete Facebook: the 3-step Plan

Oh oh, I shouldn't have written that, should I? I'm going to get a lot of angry responses at this one, aren't I? But it shouldn't come as such a surprise that I would suggest this. This is, after all, a Blog dedicated to 5 minute activities that will win you time and pleasure in life. And let's face it, how much time do you spend on Facebook every day? How much is that per week? Per month?

Sure, you use it for networking, right? Or to keep in touch with friends and family that you'd never get to see without Facebook, right? Deleting Facebook would be like deleting your friends.
Well, let's track back. When did you get on Facebook? How many years ago was that? Now how many years were there before that, that you spent in perfect harmony with the non-existence of Facebook?

1. Think this over for a bit. If you use Facebook for work, then maybe you need it. If you use it for exchanging pictures, perhaps it's the easiest way to do that (though there are plenty of other websites!). If you use it to play games and let people know how you're feeling every minute of every day, perhaps your time could be spent better doing something else.
   
2. You've decided to delete, but don't know how? First of all, send messages or write a status update letting your friends know you're leaving. Secondly, make sure you back-up anything you want to keep. Go to this link and follow the steps. This video and this article also tell you how to delete your Facebook account.
   
3. Do NOT LOG IN for 2 weeks (14 days) or your account will be re-activated. Make sure you delete cookies, don't press 'share' buttons or 'like' buttons for Facebook. All these will re-activate your account.
   
   Enjoy all your new free time! 

If you feel the need to fill an Internet void, you're always welcome here!

I quit Facebook in 2009 and haven't looked back since. It's been a relief, and I wasn't even such a big addict. It's also made it much easier for me to give up other distractions that were eating up too much of my time.

Have you ever thought of leaving Facebook? Or have you never had an account? Or do you think Facebook has added a valuable new dimension to your life? Share your views in the comments below!