How To Increase Personal Productivity

Your body is like a machine that uses food, water and rest to generate energy that you then use to accomplish important tasks in your life and work.

One of the most important requirements for being happy and productive is for you to guard and nurture your energy levels at all times.

The rule is that your productivity begins to decline after eight or nine hours of work. For this reason, working long hours into the night, although it is sometimes necessary, means that you are usually producing less and less in more and more time. The more tired you get, the worse is your work and the more mistakes you make. At a certain point, like a battery that is run down, you can reach "the wall" and simply be unable to continue.

The fact is that you have specific times during the day when you are at your best. You need to identify these times and discipline yourself to use them on your most important and challenging tasks.

Most people are at their best in the mornings, after a good night's sleep. Some people are better in the afternoons. A few people are most creative and productive in the evenings or late at night.

A major reason for procrastination is fatigue, or attempting to start on a task when you are tired out. You have no energy or enthusiasm. Like a cold engine in the morning, you can't seem to get yourself started.

Whenever you feel overtired and overwhelmed with too much to do and too little time, stop yourself and just say, "All I can do is all I can do."

Sometimes the very best use of your time is to go home early and go to bed and sleep for ten hours straight. This can completely recharge you and enable you to get two or three times as much done the following day, and of a far higher quality, than if you had continued working long into the night.

According to many researchers, the average Nigerian is not getting enough sleep relative to the amount of work he or she is doing. Millions of Nigerians are working in a state of mental fog as the result of working too much and sleeping too little.

One of the smartest things you can do is to turn off the television and get to bed by ten o'clock each night during the week. Sometimes, one extra hour of sleep per night can change your entire life.

Here is a rule for you. Take one full day off every week. During this day, either Saturday or Sunday, you absolutely refuse to read, clear correspondence, catch up on things from the office or do anything else that taxes your brain. Instead, you go to a movie, exercise, spend time with your family, go for a walk or any activity that allows your brain to completely recharge itself. It is true that "a change is as good as a rest."

Take regular vacations each year, both long weekends and one and two-week breaks to rest and rejuvenate. You are always the most productive after a weekend or a vacation.

Going to bed early five nights a week, sleeping in on the weekends and taking one full day off each week will assure that you have far more energy. This added energy will enable you to overcome procrastination and get started on your major tasks faster and with greater resolve than you ever could if you were tired out.

In addition, to keep your energy levels at their highest, be careful about what you eat. Start the day with a high protein, low fat and low carbohydrate breakfast. Eat salads with fish or chicken at lunch. Avoid sugar, salt, white flour products or deserts. Avoid soft drinks and candy bars or pastries. Feed yourself as you would feed a world class athlete before a competition, because in many respects, that's what you are before starting work each day.

By eating lean and healthy, exercising regularly and getting lots of rest, you'll get more and better work done, easier and with greater satisfaction than ever before.

LESSONS OF LIFE 2

 YOUR CHARACTER IS YOUR BEAUTY

                                                  

Most people, especially ladies, think that physical beauty is what being beautiful is all about. But believe it, your inner beauty is the only REAL beauty you possess. It depicts your values, morals, beliefs, interest, personality and most of all your character. The way you relate with people and how you are accepted do not have to do with your physical beauty (attributes), but who you are. Are you humble, respectful, kind, generous, loving and caring? Then, this is what will make people relate with you accordingly. Most people would not associate with beautiful or handsome persons, who are naughty, selfish, nasty and unfriendly. They prefer to be friends with not too beautiful or handsome persons who possess attractive qualities, because the people will not see the face but the beautiful heart. Try to feel beautiful if you think you are not. But know that everybody is beautiful in their own little way. So don’t ever have a complex where people expect you to be inferior, always act superior. Be nice and friendly to people, you can’t have a friend if you are not one. Your attitude will either make or mar you. Don’t associate with friends that are of questionable characters, because the kind of people you are associated with directly or indirectly will influence your character. Your beauty lie within you. Improve on your beauty so that people will relate with you and appreciate your being. Someone with a good character will definitely experience a fulfilled and glorious life. You beauty is hidden in you MANIFEST IT. 

WHOEVER YOU ARE, just stay BEAUTIFUL.

Taking The First Step To Achieving Your Dream

Do you have a dream deep in your heart that you want to pursue? If you do, have you taken the first step necessary to achieve it? Taking the first step is perhaps the most difficult thing to do in achieving a dream. There are a lot of mental obstacles that make it difficult to take that first step.

Here are some dont’s to help you solve the mental obstacles:

• Don’t wait until the situation is perfect.
  You should not wait until the situation is perfect because the situation will never be perfect. No matter how or when you see it, there will always be something that make you think again.
• Don’t wait until other people agree with you.
  Just like you shouldn’t wait for the situation to be perfect, you shouldn’t wait until everybody agrees with your idea. There will always be opposition, and that is perfectly normal. If you wait until there is a consensus, you will never start.
• Don’t wait until your skill is good.
  We might think that we need to have good skill before we start doing something. But the truth is, you will learn much more by doing than by waiting. Doing allows you to hone your skill much faster than just learning the theory.

As you can see, the three points above have “don’t wait” in them. So here is the bottom line: the best time to start is now.

Here are some more things you should do to successfully take the first step:

• 1. Believe in your dream.
  Believing in your dream is essential to get the motivation you need to achieve it. You simply can’t fool your own heart. Deep down inside you know whether or not you can believe in your dream. Is the dream worth pursuing? Is it something that you want to pour your heart into?
• 2. Visualize your dream.
  Can you imagine – in detail – how the world will look like when your dream comes true? Visualizing your dream will energize you because you can then see how the world changes for the better and how people live a happier life because of your dream. The energy and excitement is there for you to feel.
• 3. Expect a hard way ahead.
  While it’s not impossible, achieving your dream is definitely not easy. Don’t expect an easy way; expect a hard one instead. Having the right expectations from the beginning will make the journey much easier for you. That way, you won’t be surprised and lose heart when you encounter obstacles along the way.
• 4. Take one bite at a time.
  Your dream may be big (it should be!) and that might make it seem overwhelming. But, like the saying says, “When eating an elephant take one bite at a time.” So take a small portion of it that you can handle. Think about something that you can do within one week, and then think about what you can do today. It could be as simple as calling a more experienced friend to ask some questions.

There is no doubt that you can eat the elephant. But the key is to take the bites early and often.

LESSONS OF LIFE 1

BE YOURSELF

People often rehearse to be who they are not. But being oneself does not take away anything and does not cost anything. What you need to do is to seek improvement in areas where you are weak so that you become a better person. 

Don’t let other people set standards for you. Be your REAL self. Do the things you enjoy doing, do things you derive pleasure from; things that give you joy even if the people around you do not approve of it. They aren’t meant to be your NAFDAC (standard) only let God be, provided those things are not against God’s rules and regulations.

We are in a world where we make both friends and foes, which is why you can not satisfy everybody. You just have to satisfy your conscience and ensure that you do not deviate from the right path.

So, don’t try to be who you are not. Every person is unique and different, that is how God created us. Try to be happy and strive to see the good things about others.

Be hardworking, determined and prayerful, you will be a successful and happy fellow. A person that is fulfilled and contented is bound to be happy.

Remember, that not everybody has what you have. You are in all ways different from every other person. You are created for a purpose and that’s what makes you UNIQUE. 

DISCOVER YOUR POTENTIAL; UNCOVER YOUR SUCCESS

Our educational system is so degenerative and destructive in that it gives one a false sense of fulfilment, success and security. One is made to believe that the only guarantee of success in life is through rigorous and die-hard pursuit of academic excellence. This is a blatant falsehood!

Without relegating the importance of formal education, life itself is a riddle and one’s academic/educational prowess is just a preparatory tool to unravel this riddle, so educational/academic excellence is not the end but the means to an end. However, in excelling at untangling the riddle of our life is ‘Self Discovery,’if you can discover  your innate potentials then you can uncover the mystery of life. Through self discovery, one can harness hidden and known potentials to one’s advantage in life.

Also, true success is not in the pursuance of menial material wealth but positively affecting one’s generation and generations to come. It’s about making the world a better place than we found it.

20 Principles Of Success Not Taught In School

No matter what you do for a living, no matter how old you are, and regardless of where you grew up, we all share something in common--a desire to be successful. True success should be defined by you, specific to you and your goals. What success means to one, can be very different for another. Success to some may mean fancy cars and homes. Success to others may mean being a good parent, spouse, or friend. For others, it may be simply to be happy. Or it can be all of the above.

I believe true success begins with this core principle:


Your success, happiness--anything you truly want for your life--has to begin with unwavering, non-negotiable desire, commitment, and persistence. Without it, you cannot withstand and overcome the tests that will be put in your way, to not only see how badly you really want it, but to help you appreciate what you have once you get it. Because it is through the tests, that you discover yourself and your purpose, which is what you were really looking for to begin with.
Through my journey, and as I continue to write my own "story of success," I have faced many obstacles and made many mistakes. The gift from those obstacles and mistakes are these principles, which I use as my guidelines--or should I say my way of life--to keep building my foundation stronger, and reaching higher to live to my fullest potential.

1. The only thing in life you have control over is your perspective. No matter what happens, YOU control what the meaning is, and what to do with the meaning you give to the circumstance.

2. Have more fear of regret than failure.
3. Failure is only part of the journey to success. There is not one success story out there that hasn't experienced failure. The reason you are hearing about it as a success story is because those people saw failure as a tool to get it right.

4. It's not about what you want to do for a living, it's about you who want to be. What is your purpose and legacy? I believe the age-old question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" is wrong. We need to be asking, "Who do you want to be? What footprint do you want to leave in this world?" From there, you will have your answer as to what you should "do."

5. Stay focused on your race within. When you are too busy looking behind and around you, people are passing you by.

6. True leadership comes from good energy. Worry more about what your energy is like than the firmness your handshake.

7. Life will give you the same challenges/problems over and over again until you learn your lesson.

8. Until you jump over your inner roadblocks, your outer ones will stay firmly in place. We spend so much time focused on all the exterior obstacles around us, letting them be our excuses. But the more clear and aware we are of our internal roadblocks, and dissolve them, the external roadblocks will begin to disappear, too.

9. The most successful people are the ones that work on themselves first.
10. Do not judge--be inspired. If you are too busy judging everyone and everything around you, you are not remaining open to find inspiration in everyone and everything around you.

11. You are not allowed to complain about something unless you are going to do something about it.

12. Surround yourself with people you want to be like.

13. Learn to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. The more fears you face, the more you will grow.

14. Always ask, "What if?" and, "Why Not?" Instead of thinking, "What if I fail?" ask, "What if I succeed?"

15. Creativity is your unlimited capital. Understand and harness its power.

16. "I only have good days." If you start off everyday with this mindset, even when challenges emerge, your positive mindset will help you overcome them more readily.

17. Create your own footprint. You do not need to do what others have done before you.

18. Hit the "mental reset button." When you are thinking negative thoughts, envision hitting the "delete" button in your mind and begin to rewrite a better story.

19. Abundance is everywhere. You must choose to see it and believe it in order to fully experience it.

20. There is a lesson in everything that happens to us--wisdom to be gained and gratitude to be given. Begin with gratitude and everything else will reveal itself.


The beauty of success is that it can have many layers. Success doesn't need to be limited to one aspect of life--but as many aspects as we desire to succeed in. The critical part of being successful is to be aware of what you want. Define it, write it down, and reflect, every day, on which steps are necessary to write your own story of success.

5 Simple Ways to Increase Your Intelligence

By John WesleyYour brain needs exercise just like a muscle. If you use it often and in the right ways, you will become a more skilled thinker and increase your ability to focus. But if you never use your brain, or abuse it with harmful chemicals, your ability to think and learn will deteriorate. Here are 5 simple ways anyone can squeeze a bit more productivity out of the old gray matter.


1. Minimize Television Watching - This is a hard sell. People love vegetating in front of the television, myself included more often than I'd like. The problem is watching television doesn't use your mental capacity OR allow it to recharge. It's like having the energy sapped out of a muscle without the health benefits of exercise.


Don't you feel drained after a couple hours of TV? Your eyes are sore and tired from being focused on the light box for so long. You don't even have the energy to read a book.


When you feel like relaxing, try reading a book instead. If you're too tired, listen to some music. When you're with your friends or family, leave the tube off and have a conversation. All of these things use your mind more than television and allow you to relax.


2. Exercise - I used to think that I'd learn more by not exercising and using the time to read a book instead. But I realized that time spent exercising always leads to greater learning because it improves productivity during the time afterwards. Using your body clears your head and creates a wave of energy. Afterwards, you feel invigorated and can concentrate more easily.


3. Read Challenging Books - Many people like to read popular suspense fiction, but generally these books aren't mentally stimulating. If you want to improve your thinking and writing ability you should read books that make you focus. Reading a classic novel can change your view of the world and will make you think in more precise, elegant English. Don't be afraid to look up a word if you don't know it, and don't be afraid of dense passages. Take your time, re-read when necessary, and you'll soon grow accustomed to the author's style.


Once you get used to reading challenging books, I think you'll find that you aren't tempted to go back to page-turners. The challenge of learning new ideas is far more exciting than any tacky suspense-thriller.


4. Early to Bed, Early to Rise - Nothing makes it harder to concentrate than sleep deprivation. You'll be most rejuvenated if you go to bed early and don't sleep more than 8 hours. If you stay up late and compensate by sleeping late, you'll wake up lethargic and have trouble focusing. In my experience the early morning hours are the most tranquil and productive. Waking up early gives you more productive hours and maximizes your mental acuity all day.


If you have the opportunity, take 10-20 minute naps when you are hit with a wave of drowsiness. Anything longer will make you lethargic, but a short nap will refresh you.


5. Take Time to Reflect - Often our lives get so hectic that we become overwhelmed without even realizing it. It becomes difficult to concentrate because nagging thoughts keep interrupting. Spending some time alone in reflection gives you a chance organize your thoughts and prioritize your responsibilities. Afterwards, you'll have a better understanding of what's important and what isn't. The unimportant stuff won't bother you anymore and your mind will feel less encumbered.


I'm not saying you need to sit on the floor cross-legged and chant 'ommm'. Anything that allows a bit of prolonged solitude will do. One of my personal favorites is taking a solitary walk. Someone famous said, "All the best ideas occur while walking." I think he was on to something. Experiment to find the activity that works best for you.


Conclusion - I hope you aren't disappointed that none of the techniques I've proposed are revolutionary. But simple, unexciting answers are often the most valid. The challenge is having the will to adhere to them. If you succeed in following these 5 tips, you'll be rewarded with increased mental acuity and retention of knowledge.

20 Tips for a successful marital life

1. Start everyday with a kiss
2. Wear  your wedding ring all the time
3. Date once a week
4. Accept differences
5. Be polite and show respect
6. Give gifts
7. Touch regularly
8. Talk about dreams
9. Send a card for no reason
10. Do what the other person wants before he/she asks
11. Do it his or her way
12. Fix the other person’s breakfast
13. Know his/her needs
14. Compliment twice daily
15. Talk about your love
16. Apologize and forgive
17. Send flowers every
18. Birthday and Anniversary
19. Welcome the other person home
20. Be sensitive to each other’s sexual desires