Dumb Little Man | Tips for Life

Since becoming self-employed at the start of this year, I've noticed that I organize myself and operate a quite differently. While the actual work only differs slightly, the time I've been able to spend on my projects has increased dramatically.

When working with clients or for a boss, I always had to make sure my work was accessible for other people. That meant it would be in Word file that I could email, in Online Documents that other people could ace or even just stored in my mind to recall for the next meeting.

Since coming home and working for myself however, I have noticed that my clarity and productivity are through the roof. I credit this change to something very basic: the use of pen and paper. Because of this realization, I decided to look at exactly why I may have naturally started "going back to basics" and how this change has dramatically improved my output and creativity.

Practical Application
First of all, pen(cil) and paper can be used for a myriad of tasks. For that reason, this list could be endless, but here are a few of the tasks I use Pen and Paper (P&P) for on a regular basis:

• Organizing and structuring articles
  
• Action plan for my tasks
  
• Problem solving
  
• Brainstorming
  
• ...and much more

In fact, all the points in this blog post were written down on paper before I dared to type them on a keyboard. I have became so accustomed to the natural feel or writing things down rather than trying to remember them or first putting them on a computer, that I'm not sure how I could get by without this most basic of equipment.

There are four main benefits I have found for using P&P. The following are probably the main reasons that I have become reliant on such a simple but effective habit.

1. Frees Your Mind
   It is said that we each have around 65,000 thoughts a day. Most of them are repetitive and inconsequential but some of them are great ideas and sources of inspiration. For this reason, I try to keep a notepad or some form of 'thought-taking' with me at all times and I love looking back through my workbooks.
   
   Although it would be great if we could have photographic memory, it's only available for a few people and the fact is...we forget things - a lot of things. We can often remember the things we need to remember but it is usually at a cost of disregarding other things that come into our thought stream.
   
   Writing things down really does free your mind, allowing you to come up with new ideas or simply capture your insightful thoughts as they happen.


2. It Gives Things Value
   Because we do have so many thoughts and feedback from others each day, it can be hard to sift through everything and keep everything of importance in memory. When you put down an idea or task in ink however, it gives it some form of importance.
   
   A shopping list is easy to forget if all of the items are simply on your mind, but if you write things down and check your list while walking through the aisles, it's unlikely you'll miss anything. It's the same when I'm writing a blog post, I might have lots of points that i want to include but I know the ones I actually write down are more likely to make it in a final version.
   


3. You Create Reference Points
   There are a lot of events that we've gone through in life which we can recall in our minds quite well. They are usually important events like a wedding, a birthday or even the birth of a child. Thinking about these events in detail can also mean that we relive the emotions that we had on the past occasion.
   
   Our brains are highly advanced, but they aren't perfect. Can you remember what you ate last Tuesday, or the Thursday two weeks before that? Probably not; I know I can't. It's often the same when we have goals for ourselves or we're brainstorming new ideas for a project. We might be able to recall some of our ideas, but certainly not all of them.
   
   Paper gives us a physical reference point that we can use to recall our ideas, our thoughts and even an opportunity for us to keep a record of what we eat for lunch every Tuesday. I'm very big on goal setting and having action points, and it is far easier to make things happen when I can re-read my aims every single day.


4. It Ensures Clarity
   If I asked you to work out a riddle or perform a fairly difficult calculation but one that you could handle, it would be fairly difficult to do so in your head. You could probably get through the task, but you might lose track a few times or struggle to recall some numbers. Yet, if I give you a pen and a piece of paper to solve either, you would find things a lot easier.
   
   Writing things down literally puts them in black and white. We can clearly see everything we are dealing with rather than trying to keep certain things in memory while using other aspects of our mind to work things out.

There are many more benefits to writing things down so if you're someone who tries to remember everything or you just simply store ideas on your computer then give it a shot. If you can adopt the habit of "offloading" your thoughts and ideas onto paper you can constantly free up room for new insights and never be lost for inspiration.

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The reason diets don’t work is because we associate pain with food deprivation. Diet equals hunger, and hunger is pain. How could anyone succeed on a diet when pain is the result? Luckily, there is another way. After losing 40 pounds, I can testify that it works. The trick: Eat More!

The problem with dieting is the restriction. Eat less fat. Cut out carbs. Restrict calories. Only eat cabbage soup. Yuck. Do these diets work? Maybe sometimes, but at what cost? When we restrict our diet, the body’s metabolism adjusts to starvation mode. The metabolism thinks that it’s starving, and becomes better at storing fat. This is why people gain even more weight when they come off a diet. They have effectively trained themselves to retain more fat.

Instead of depriving yourself only to gain more weight, you can choose to lose weight and keep it off by eating more, and you still get to eat what you enjoy. Here’s how it works:

Think of your body as a gas tank. It can only hold so much. You are permitted to fill your tank with as much of whatever you like after you fill it with a few essentials to make sure it runs properly.

• Fill your tank with 70% water rich foods like fruits and vegetables.
  It’s too complicated to count all your food during the day, so look at each meal individually. Always fill your plate with a proportion of about three-quarters vegetables to whatever else you want to eat. Eat delicious, sweet fruits instead of deserts made of processed sugar. For breakfast, choose to fill your omelets with spinach. We are made almost entirely of water, so gift yourself the gift of eating as much water rich foods as you like.
  


• Eating vegetables and fruits until the cows come home isn’t always the most filling fare, so load up on high fiber and whole grain foods such as bulgar, quinoa and spelt. A bunch of great companies make pasta, bread and other products from whole grains so that you can eat more, increase your fiber and not even realize that you have reduced your intake of processed flours.
  


• Third, eat more beans, legumes and nuts. They make great snacks, chili and stir-frys. Like high fiber grains, you will be nice and full from a diet rich in beans and nuts. Don’t be afraid to check out soy products too. Almost anything can be made from the soybean, and soy products are tastier than ever.
  


• Fourth, drink more water, and flavor it with lemon, lime, or juice. Add your favorite juice to seltzer. Most people consume a huge amount of their daily calories through fluids. Drinking water, seltzer and sugar-free beverages like unsweetened iced-tea will help flush your body and make it easier to digest.
  


• Finally, don’t beat yourself up over eating food that you like such as meat, dairy or sweets, as long as you treat those items as delicacies that come once the tank is filled with quality fuel. When you eat meats or dairy, just make sure your plate is filled with green leafy vegetables, and a serving of high fiber whole grains.

Adding more of the above foods to your diet will naturally leave less room for the garbage we usually eat. This change in your lifestyle coupled with movement that you enjoy such as swimming or playing with your kids, will dramatically affect your weight, energy and quality of life.

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Is your mind playing tricks on you and robbing you of your happiness?

Our minds are complex and are often our own worst enemies when it comes to being happy. Really. Our own brains that we know and love deceive us into thinking something is right when it is really wrong, that we're in love when we're not, etc. Recognizing and debunking these traps your mind leads you into is essential to realizing a lasting happiness.

Check out this list to see if you are being deceived by your own mind!

1. I'd be happier if I just had less to do
   Our minds often try to trick us into thinking we'd be happier if we didn't have to work. We imagine a life of leisure and deceive ourselves into thinking this kind of lifestyle would make us happy. However, the truth is that idleness often leads to boredom and depression. We are industrious, creative beings. We need challenge and accomplishment to be happy. Get up and invest yourself into something significant and you will find that your happiness factor will rise!
   


2. It's not me, it's you
   Many times our minds lead us to believe we are unhappy due to our spouse, parents or some other person in our lives. We throw blame around like food in a middle school cafeteria. Of course, it takes two to tango. As Dr. Phil asks, "How's that workin' for ya?" Generally, we are as much, if not more, to blame than others in our lives. We need to accept responsibility for our situation and do our part to make the best of it. Taking personal responsibility for our actions is the beginning of true happiness.


3. I just need to discover the secret to success to be happy
   I am convinced that there are no "secrets" to happiness or success. As much as authors, publishers and our own minds would like to convince us that shortcuts exist, they do not. Living a successful life is pretty simple. You create a vision for the future, formulate a strategy and then work hard to achieve it. There are no shortcuts or secrets to this formula. Accepting this will get you much further down the path to happiness than anything else.
   


4. If I just had...
   Our minds deceive us into thinking we'll be happy when we get the right job or the right house or the right car or whatever. There is nothing wrong with wanting better things or circumstances, but these do not automatically make us happy. They may create a temporary high, but this quickly wears off. Those wanting a lasting happiness must acknowledge that this is a bottomless pit that we can never fill.


5. I like things just the way they are and never want them to change
   Believing this is just letting yourself be set up for a fall. Life is a journey of constant change. Some of which we control and some we don't. Resisting change or trying to control the change out of life is self-defeating. It will drain you and rob you of your happiness. Change is inevitable. You must accept this and learn to go with the flow. Being adaptable is very important to your happiness.
   


6. If it hasn't happened yet for me, it never will
   Our minds often get discouraged and disillusioned when success is just around the corner for us. Colonel Sanders didn't start franchising his KFC restaurants until he was 65, forty years after he started serving chicken at his service station. Perseverance is very important in achieving happiness. Never let your mind trick you into giving up. You don't know what tomorrow holds. One more day may be all it will take to realize your dream!


7. I'll just avoid the things I don't like doing
   It is usually the difficult tasks that our minds try to trick us into avoiding. Unfortunately, these are oftentimes the very things that would result in the greatest rewards for us. What do you put off doing? Why? Procrastination and avoidance of completing important tasks or resolving nagging issues only delays your march to happiness. Attack these head-on and you will find a deep sense of gratification that will fuel your happiness.
   


8. The world is scary and something bad might happen to me
   Our minds tell us there are a lot of things beyond our control. For instance, the way that crime and terror is sensationalized on television might lead us to think that bad guys are lurking around every corner waiting to do dastardly deeds to us. However, crime rates have actually fallen in recent years. According to FBI statistics, violent crime is lower now than it was 20 years ago! Fear is a powerful emotion our brains use to get the better of us. We must seek and trust the facts to break free and be happy!


9. I'll decide when I know for sure what to do
   Over-thinking every decision will leave you stymied. Weighing the risks, analyzing the possibilities and making a plan are important, but nothing ever happens until a decision is made and action is taken. We very rarely have perfect information when making choices. Stop sweating it so much! Failure is not the end of the world. Napoleon Hill writes, "Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit." Don't let your mind trap you into over-analyzing everything!


10. I know I shouldn't , but
    Our minds try to trick us into denying the effects of our bad habits and rationalizing our behavior with flimsy excuses. This seems especially common with health issues. For example, have you heard someone say, "I know I shouldn't smoke, but it helps me keep the weight off." Or, how about, "I know I shouldn't eat this, but life just isn't worth living if I can't enjoy it." A major health issue like cancer, heart disease, or diabetes will certainly challenge your happiness. Don't let your mind get away with this trick!


11. Dreams only come true for those that are lucky
    Thomas Jefferson said, "I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." Our minds will sometimes trick us into thinking we are victims of fate. They will lead us to believe "nothing good ever happens to me". What our brains credit as the luck of others, generally is the result of years of practice, hard work and preparation. Pursue your dream with your whole heart and you might be surprised at the "luck" that comes your way.


12. I could never
    Our brains often trick us into thinking we can't. For example, have you heard, "I could never go back to school. I don't have the money." or "I can't learn to do that. I'm too old." Don't fall for this trick! Your mind is very persuasive in the way it uses this one. It will lead you around like a dog on a leash if you let it. You are full of potential and although your circumstances might add a degree of difficulty, it is nothing that a little persistence and ingenuity can't overcome. Henry Ford said, "Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right."
    Don't let these tricks steal your happiness!

See how our minds play tricks on us? If you identified with one or more of the cons on this list, don't despair! The truth will set you free! You now have the power to overcome these deceptions because you can see right through them. Enjoy your new found happiness!

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With the competition keener than ever and the economy in a slump, you need to prepare for your job interview thoroughly. It’s no longer enough to offer a firm handshake to your interviewer, make eye contact, and nod pleasantly now and then. You need to prepare a dynamic application letter and resume. You need to research the company. And you need to present a confident image and develop the ability to answer tough questions on the spot.

Although no one can predict the questions your potential employer will ask, you can think about how you’d answer some of the commonly asked ones. Here are ten questions for you to consider and a few hints about how to answer them:

1. Tell me about yourself.
   Chances are the employer doesn’t want to know how much you weighed when you were born, when you learned to tie your shoes, or how much you had to drink last night. He or she wants to know how you would fit into the company and what your relevant job experience is. You might answer by asking the interviewer what he’d like to know. Or you might talk about your education, the fact that you’re a team player, or whatever you think might be important to this particular company.


2. Why should we hire you?
   Even though five people may be waiting outside, you need to sound confident, calm, and capable. Explain how your experience has prepared you for the job. Emphasize the qualities you think the employer is looking for, such as your outstanding work ethic or the fact that you’re a fast learner.
   


3. What is your worst characteristic?
   Some human resource specialists suggest that you make a virtue sound like a flaw. “I tend to be a perfectionist,” or, “Everyone says I work too hard.” But others say these answers have become clichés. Mention a minor flaw, such as, “I think I’m too outspoken at times, but I’m working on it.”


4. Where do you want to be five years from now?
   Let the interviewer know you’re looking for job stability and that you aren’t planning to use this job as a temporary stopping point in your quest for a better position. You
   could say, “I’d like to be employed in a small company like this one, where I can learn,
   contribute, and advance.”
   


5. Why did you leave your last job?
   Never put your former employer or your co-workers in a negative light. Don’t blame them for your departure. Give a positive reason, such as you left to take advantage of another opportunity that was better suited to your skills.
   


6. Tell me about a problem you had in your life and how you solved it.
   Be prepared with a short answer that shows you’re resourceful. “I really wanted to go to a private university, but my parents didn’t have the money. I went to a community college for two years, worked part time and saved my money so I could attend the last two years at the college of my choice.”


7. Have you had difficulties getting along with supervisors or co-workers?
   You’d have to be a saint to have had no problems with the people you worked with. You might answer, “Nothing major. I try to get along with everyone.”


8. How do you deal with stress on the job?
   The employer wants to know if you’re going to run out the door when things get stressful. Ask yourself if you thrive on working with deadlines or if you need creative time to function more effectively. Think about how you handle stress and be honest. “I focus on the work I’m doing,” or, “I make time to work out at the gym.”


9. What salary do you want for this job?
   Rather than stating a definite figure, tell the interviewer you’d expect to get somewhere in the standard range paid for this position.


10. Do you have questions for me?
    Always have a few questions. They show that you researched the company. Ask about a
    current issue the company is working on or how their recent layoff in another department
    affected company morale.
    

Remember-- the job interview is a two-way discovery process. By doing your homework and answering interview questions intelligently, you’re striving to prove you’re the person for the job On the other hand, you need to decide--sometimes in the midst of the questions---if the position you’re applying for is what you want to do and if the company is where you want to spend most of your time for the next few (at least) years.

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Imagine it’s Monday morning. Over the weekend, you had a major argument with your partner (and you’re both still sulking), your alarm clock fails to go off, you try to get your usual breakfast only to find that the cereal box is empty and the milk’s gone sour, and then the car won’t start. By the time you get to work, you’re already feeling frazzled – and then your boss dumps an “urgent” project on your desk. You know you’ve got a backlog of emails to deal with from last week and you can feel your stress levels and blood pressure going through the roof.

Now, it’d be nice if you could de-stress by following some of the great advice you’ve no doubt already heard. You know, take a long bath, have an afternoon off, enjoy a long weekend’s vacation, go for an hour-long jog, etc. Unfortunately, you can only afford five minutes. Can you de-stress in five minutes? Yes, you can; just try one of these.

1. Go For A Quick Walk
   Even if you can only spare five minutes, go for a walk (it might just be to the water cooler and back). The aim here is to get yourself away from the immediate source of stress and to calm down. A few minutes to gather your thoughts is all you need to get some perspective.


2. Read Some Fiction
   If I’m seriously worked up, upset or stressed, one of the best things I can do is to grab a book. Fiction is ideal (especially anything funny or uplifting). Reading fiction takes you out of the here-and-now and into a different world. You can forget everything that’s troubling you, for just ten minutes, as you concentrate on the story.


3. Meditate or Pray
   Often, the best thing we can do to instantly de-stress is to simply stop. Many life coaches and stress advisors recommend meditation: there’s no mystery to it, just sit and try to clear your mind of thoughts (perhaps concentrating on a calming image or a word or phrase, if that helps you). I also like to pray – if this suits your religious/spiritual persuasions, it can be a very powerful way to get outside of your own head and call on a higher power for some much-needed help!


4. Watch A Funny Video
   I don’t know about you, but I just can’t stay stressed out when I’m laughing. (It’s like trying to pat my head and rub my tummy at the same time...) If you have a favorite YouTube clip, or if LolCats make you giggle, then give yourself five minutes to indulge. You’ll find that you return to your work – or whatever the source of the stress is – feeling much better equipped to handle it.


5. Make A Herbal Tea
   If you’re feeling uber-stressed, caffeine isn’t going to help. A warm, soothing mug of herbal tea might, though. The act of making yourself a drink can be calming: it gets you away from your desk, and it gives you a chance to concentrate on something physical. You’ll probably also feel a psychological boost from doing something positive and nurturing for yourself.


6. Punch A Pillow
   Depending on where you are when you’re feeling stressed, and on your personality, throwing a few punches at a pillow might help. Think of the stress leaving you through your fist with every punch. (If you’re in the office, please don’t be tempted to use a co-worker as a substitute pillow ... even if said co-worker has caused your stress.)


7. Take Slow, Deep Breaths
   When we get stressed, we tend to breath more quickly, taking shallow breaths. Concentrate on your breathing (you might want to do this in conjunction with meditation or prayer). Imagine breathing from your stomach, not your chest. Take slow, deep, fulfilling breaths. Calming your body down physically in this way is likely to have a knock-on effect on your frazzled mental state.

Do you find yourself getting overly worked up on a regular basis? What are your instant fixes for when you’re feeling stressed?

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