Manhardeep Singh

A Is For Action’ – What Time Management Is Really About

April 1, 2018

When you get right down to it, time management is really about managing your actions. We all want to use the process of time management to allow us to perform more actions in the day, getting everything done that needs to be done and giving us time to do the things we enjoy doing. But time management isn’t a magical cure for getting the actions done that you need to do. It’s simply a tool. A very powerful tool when used correctly, but still just a tool.

For example, you might learn all there is to know about time management – read countless books, listen to CDs, and maybe even attend a few training courses or seminars. But unless you take action to put what you have learned into practice, it will be time and money wasted. And wasting time, as we both know, is one of the worst things you can do.

On the other hand, perhaps you do decide to take some action, and start to do some of the things you have learned. But only half-heartedly. Maybe you create a to do list at the start of the day, but then never refer to it. Or you organize all your existing files, but just throw any new papers into a single pile. Or you do a few of the exercises you have learned, but never do anything with the results you come up with.

But perhaps the worst thing that can happen when using the tools time management offers is to follow the actions you have learned, refer to the information you write down, but then simply not get anything done. In the case of a to do list, perhaps you draw the list up for the day, then just procrastinate on tackling even the first task. You may not even do it consciously – looking back on the day, things just always seemed to “come up” (although if you are following good time management advice, that excuse shouldn’t apply any more!)

If this is happening, it is possible that the issue isn’t time management, but more an issue of motivation.

If the tasks are part of your job, perhaps the work no longer interests you and you need to find another area to work in. If the tasks are for yourself and are related to your personal goals, perhaps the goals you have set for yourself aren’t the correct goals for you? You may have written those goals down because you thought you should, but it’s not really what you want.

Of course it may just be that you didn’t realize you were procrastinating on doing the actions you needed to do, and that realization spurs you on to get everything done!

Ultimately, time management comes down to taking action and applying the methods you have learned to plan your activities, then taking action to do those activities in the most efficient way possible. Everyone can do it – even you!
Dealing with failure in your career

March 31, 2018

Life is full of surprises and some are good and some are not so good. It is all going to depend on the way that you think and what you do to make it positive. Failure is one problem that we all have to deal with at some time or another. There are going to be issues that we have to work at and deal with as we go. Failure is part of that learning lesson.

Dealing with failure and your career is something that you need to handle with care. When you are not using all of your abilities to the best you will see that it is hard to be a successful part of life. Making all of your career dreams come true is something that you must work hard at not matter what.

Dealing with something that goes wrong at work can be hard. You have to think about the way that you want to handle it all. You have to make sure that you are professional about it all and using all of your skills to turn it around. Failure does not have to be something that goes on forever. You can change your luck and make things easier to deal with.

There are ways that you can change the failure that happens in your life. Many people like to take courses and classes on how to improve their skills in for their career. This can lead in many people furthering their education and getting the promotion that they have always dreamed about. Going to school to get another degree is something that you can be proud of and help you deal with any type of failure that comes your way.

Some people realize that their career is not the right path for them. They have chosen something that they have failed at and they can no longer deal with the pressures that go on. Having something that they can fall back on and learn from is a great experience and one that can bring more positive things later in life. Changing the way that you think will be a great advantage to everything else that you do. It can make you a better and stronger person that can handle the failures that come your way.

The way that you make your living should make you happy. If you are not happy with this lifestyle then maybe you should think about doing something else. You should be thinking of another type of career path that would make you happy. We all make bad choices about what we do for a living but if we decide to do something about it we can make a difference. Using our skills to change the way that that we live can also be a rewarding experience as well.

Finding out about ourselves and what we do can make a positive impact on how we life our life. Using what we have learned about ourselves and everything else can help us deal with the any type of failure in our career or with lie in general. It can all be fixed with the right type of help and a little patience. Remember that life is too short to focus in on the negative and any failures that we may have had. If we try and pursue a happy and healthy career that makes us happy, we will be better people in the end.

Figure out a way to use failure to gain more control over your life and all that you do to make yourself feel more confident for future goals that you set.
Relaxing Muscles Can Be the Key to Reducing Stress

March 30, 2018

Perhaps you’re an airline pilot who’s just spent hours in the cockpit. It seems like every muscle in your body is tense and you need relief. Or perhaps you’re a stay-at-home mom who’s spent the better part of your day cleaning your house. You feel as if your nerves are shot and you desperately want to feel better.

In both instances, the key to relieving stress may be progressive muscle relaxation. It’s a technique that began in the 1930s, but still has relevance today. With this technique, muscle groups are flexed and then relaxed in short order. The foundation of this technique is the concept that physical relaxation leads to mental repose. While the method does involve activating the muscles, you don’t have to be a weightlifter to try it. That’s because it requires no special training. In fact, virtually anyone can master the technique.

In general, you’ll want to practice the method ten to 20 minutes a day. But don’t blame yourself if you don’t master it on the first try. It’s best to take a gradual approach, improving your muscle flexing capabilities over time. You’ll need to rehearse the technique again and again in order to obtain maximum benefit. You’ll also need to be patient because you might not be able to pick it up in a single afternoon. But, in the long run, it will be well worth the effort.

Progressive muscle relaxation is referred to as a deep relaxation technique. This means that it can not only reduce stress, but also help alleviate chronic pain and sleeplessness. Doctors often use the technique in an effort to treat migraines and cancer. Usually, the relaxation technique begins with the feet and the legs, then gradually moves up the body to the chest, neck, and face. However, some physicians may try to relax muscle groups in a different order.

After some time, the amount of muscle tension attempted is increased in order to maximize the work of the muscles. You can engage in this exercise while seated, or you can do it lying in bed. Make sure, however, that you attempt it only in a place that is quiet and tranquil. Otherwise, you might find it difficult to complete the exercise. To begin with, tighten the muscles for about eight seconds and then release. Relax for about 30 seconds, then move onto another set of muscles. You might use progressive muscle relaxation in conjunction with imagery. In other words, you might imagine that you are like a wave of the ocean unleashing your power by flexing your muscles.

Through progressive muscle relaxation, you can learn to interpret your body’s cues. In this way, you can identify signs of tension within your body and determine ways to correct it. As a result, you should feel much less stress and may even feel as if you have more energy. Because progressive muscle relaxation has been around for decades, it is proven effective. Therefore, it is not a fad, but a legitimate relaxation technique.

Your initial relaxation session should last about an hour. You will engage in such activities as making a fist, bending your arms, raising your eyebrows, clenching your teeth, pulling up your shoulders, tightening your abdominal muscles, and lifting your heels. In time, such exercises will become second-nature to you. However, you should not try to speed up your exercises—the point is to remain relaxed, not to quicken your pace. The exercises may be a perfect activity on a Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon—whenever you’re ready to relax.

Progressive muscle relaxation is for everyone. Whether you work at a construction site or a classroom, in a music hall or in a meat market, you can benefit from the relaxation exercises. Granted, it may be hard for you to relax at first. But, chances are, you’ll quickly master the technique and learn to enjoy your exercises. In time, such relaxation exercises should become a natural part of life. You’ll feel healthier, more energetic, and less stressed. Chances are your attitude will brighten, since the weight of the world has been taken from your shoulders. You’ll find that time relaxing is truly time well-spent.
Battling Romance Myths

March 29, 2018

The institution of marriage is surrounded by a number of myths, stories and advice freely offered by people on a daily basis. Unfortunately, many people listen to and believe these pieces of so-called wisdom to the point where it doesn’t help their marriage and it only hinders its growth. Many of the myths regarding relationships are incredibly damaging and it is unfortunate that they are such common beliefs. Once you understand why certain bits of advice or information can be regarded as myths, you can break through what could be blocking the growth of your marriage. In fact, you may actually learn to appreciate your spouse and your role in your marriage even more.

Sensationalist television, magazines and talk radio have been key players when it comes to fueling any belief that there is a battle between the sexes happening. While there are definitively some physical and psychological differences, they are not enough to earn the term ‘battle’ as a description. When you allow yourself to consider any kind of battle between the sexes, you risk grouping all men or all women into a certain category and that leads to stereotyping. Once you recognize that your partner is a unique individual with a number of positive attributes, you can shed the thought that there should be any type of conflict between the two of you. Any thought of battle or conflict only leads to lack of communication, misunderstandings and discourages growth in any relationship.

Nice guys finish last is one of the worst possible sayings floating around today. Whoever thought of that and actually uttered those words must have been feeling truly low and full of self-pity because there simply cannot be any other explanation. Nice guys never finish last. They may have a longer and harder road sometimes, but it isn’t often that you see the bullies and jerks finishing first. If they aren’t, who is? It’s the nice guys, but they are so nice and gracious you don’t hear them bragging about it. It is also important to note that the word ‘nice’ doesn’t mean ‘weak’ or ‘ effeminate’ in any way. Nice means socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous and not at all negative in any way. Nice is not another word for push over or spineless. Nice is as close to a ‘perfect’ man as you can come and they always end up first in line.

Romance is all you need in order to save your relationship is a wonderfully optimistic thought, but not quite accurate. If simple romance were enough to save a marriage, it would be running wonderfully rampant throughout the world today. Unfortunately, it takes more than simple romance. If you truly feel love for your spouse and you are expressing it through romance, then it will save your marriage. If you are trying to use romance to buy some time or to placate your spouse, then you are only buying time or placating your spouse. Your time as a married couple is most likely limited and should be attended to immediately by a professional.
Effectively Using PowerPoint

March 28, 2018

The software application PowerPoint has been a revolution in public speaking particularly in the business world. PowerPoint is easy to use, available with almost every implementation of the Microsoft Office suite and it’s reliable. If you can use Microsoft Word, you probably have the skills to put together an effective presentation using PowerPoint.

But just like anything else, there is a right way and wrong way to give a talk using PowerPoint as a speaking tool. If you have ever sat in on a presentation where the speaker used PowerPoint unwisely, you know that the tool can become as much of a curse as a blessing to a public speaker. So it’s good to have some guidelines on how to use PowerPoint to help your presentation and not hurt it.

Knowing in advance some of the problems that can disturb your talk if you use PowerPoint unwisely can help you in the design of your slides. For one thing, it’s a good idea not to put too much text on a PowerPoint slide. If you put a long paragraph of information up on the screen, you will see people squinting to try to read it all. And even if the section of your talk refers to that text, you put your audience in the position of trying to read that text or listen to you. And either way they go, part of your message will be lost on them as they try to keep up.

PowerPoint comes with some really fun special effects like fonts and special effects like fade in or other ways text can be revealed on each slide. Avoid the temptation to get too cute with these effects. It’s always nice to have a little humor in your presentation but if your slides are overly “cutesy”, it reduces the credibility of your talk. Also if every slide uses a different special effect, color scheme or font, not only is that distracting to the audience, it makes you look like you just discovered PowerPoint and had to play with all of the toys it has. So establish some consistency in how each slide will look or behave and stick with it through every slide.

Another great device that PowerPoint offers is to allow the software to change slides for you on a timed progression. In that way, PowerPoint can change the slide every two minutes allowing you just the amount of time you want between slides. While this is also very slick, it is a dangerous toy to use because it can cause you to stumble while doing your talk. You have to have your talk planned to a high level of precision to carry off that kind of talk and if you pause too much, have a question pop up or any other disturbance in your script, PowerPoint will move on when you do not. So use this feature with caution.

Above all, do not turn your back on the audience to read a PowerPoint slide to them. This is the number one most common mistake people do when speaking using PowerPoint. Turning your back on your audience is always a bad idea. So if you must discuss what is on the slide, do so facing the audience. But to turn your back and then read a slide to them is insulting and boring to your audience.

It is far better not to have the text information on the slide but just a series of bullet items that are ticklers for the presentation you are giving. This approach assures that PowerPoint remains a tool that you are using not a tool that is using you. And that makes you the boss of PowerPoint which is the way it should be.
Stress on the Job

March 27, 2018

Perhaps it’s due to a boss who seems to be making unreasonable demands. Or it’s the result of a co-worker who seems to routinely pass her work onto you. Or maybe you’re in a profession where tension is great, such as medicine or law. While a little bit of stress on the job can be healthy, too much can be a killer—literally. It’s been shown that there appears to be a direct correlation between stress and heart disease.

As a result of this, it is important that you learn to deal effectively with stress on the job. This can be difficult, because a number of stress-inducing factors may be out of your control. For instance, you have no say in who your boss is or who your customers are. You may not be able to determine when you start your day, or how much time you have for lunch. However, it is important for you to recognize that job stress is a serious health problem.

The statistics tell the story. A study conducted in 1999 discovered that we are working longer hours. In fact, the average number of hours on the job have increased eight percent in just one generation—to 47 hours a week. One out of five of us works as much as 49 hours a week. We are a nation of workaholics. This can cause a great deal of stress, not only on the job, but on the homefront as well. A number of divorces are attributed each year to the workaholic syndrome. To put things in perspective, consider this: the average American works three months more each year than workers in Germany. The U.S. leads the industrialized world in the number of hours worked. The workplace has become so competitive in the U.S. that some employees compare it to the reality TV program known as “Survivor.”

In order to help reduce your stress on the job, you need to make a realistic assessment of your hours. Is it possible for you to cut back and still perform your duties? Are you wasting time on the job that would be better spent at home? Can you delegate some of your duties to someone else in the office? If you design a more workable work schedule, you might find your job-related stress decreasing significantly.

It is entirely possible that you will actually become ill working those extra hours. Over a four-year period, from 1996 to 2000, the proportion of employees taking sick time due to stress rose by three fold. Each day, as many as a million American workers have called in sick because they are under too much stress. This absenteeism is costing American companies money—and making workplaces less productive.

Americans are also feeling stressed out because they no longer think their jobs are secure. Over a ten year period, the number of employees who were afraid they would become unemployed doubled. And a survey conducted in the year 2000 discovered that half of all workers worried that they could lose their jobs. The dot.com burst, corporate bankruptcies, and massive layoffs have scared the American workforce. With little job security, workers live in fear of being tossed onto the unemployment line. A number of people have come to realize that they cannot expect to retire from the company for which they are now working. Therefore, they may have little allegiance to their companies, resulting in stress for both bosses and employees.

It would be wonderful if the economy could be changed so that long-term employment at a single company was still possible, but that may be wishful thinking. As a result, workers need to try to lessen their stress—knowing that they may be in a volatile position. For many workers, this might mean making sure that they contribute to a 401-K plan so that they have money socked away for retirement. For others, it might mean starting their own businesses so that they do not have to rely on someone else for their employment. If you try to be proactive, chances are you will lessen your stress level. You have to realize that you are ultimately responsible for your own fate. If you are in the driver’s seat, you will feel a sense of control which could lessen your stress level considerably.
How to Communicate Confidently

March 26, 2018
One thing common to all great communicators is that when they speak, everybody listens. However, communicating to people is one of the greatest fears for most of the human beings, and especially when it comes to public speaking. Most people dread public speaking more than death! Do you ever wonder why you don’t seem to get listened to by others even though you too have many ideas to share?

Confident communication however, is more than what you speak. It takes into account your body language as well.

What’s inside the mind of a Successful Communicator?

Confident communicators aren’t a know all

Of course, you need to have good knowledge about the subject you are talking about, but what actually matters is not what you say, but how you say it. Successful people don’t do different things, they do things differently. The first step is to believe in what you say. You must be fully convinced in the idea and only then will there be conviction in the tone of your voice. Your voice now is equipped with the power to hold people’s attention. Once you have conviction in your voice, and what you speak is useful for the other people and it actually helps them or gives some credible information, you get appreciation. This certainly peps up your self-confidence!

Confident communicators don’t let people make them nervous

Most people suffer from fearing catastrophes that never happen. Most people tend to make a very high imaginary impression of other people in their minds.

So much so that their mind starts believing that other people are perfect. This creates an unfair comparison between their own personality and the imaginary personality of other people that they create. This thinking breeds a fear of meeting and talking to other people. It lowers their confidence and they fear what it will be to meet and talk to these “perfect” people. However, in real life nobody is perfect and you must realize this. Everybody has their own set of faults and weaknesses. It’s important for you to realize that every human being is essentially imperfect. This will give you greater confidence to go out and face people.

Take it or leave it. You snooze, you lose

Ideally you must be the best of your moods and carry a pleasant demeanor when you go out and meet people. However, it might not always be possible and it may so happen that you are not fully prepared to communicate, or you are a little tense over some other matter. A confident communicator, though, develops an ability to keep control of his emotions. This quality helps the communicator to keep control of the situation. You may still not be in a good mood but you must make sure that you keep indecisiveness at bay. Your indecision will fritter away your focus and energy and you fail to make any impact. If you decide to communicate. Be yourself, have faith in yourself and go ahead.

Mind your body language

Your gesture, postures and eye contact probably talk louder than your words. Body language cuts across all barriers of communication such as language, time, place, knowledge and so on. Your body language starts getting interpreted unconsciously by everyone around. People start forming impressions about you the moment you make an eye contact and body language certainly contributes a considerably large part of the impression you make.

A few facts you must know
- You may have a sad expression on your face because of some other matter, but the person you are talking to may feel that you don’t approve what he says, leading to misunderstanding.
- A steady gaze may convey intensity, anger, aggression or strong interest. Little eye contact may imply lack of confidence or shyness.
- Open hands may convey honesty and openness; however, making a lot of hand gestures might mean that you are being nervous.
Confident communication, including words and gestures, is something that you do not perfect in a day. You must grab every opportunity to communicate. Try to check your communication skills, your strong points and the mistakes you make along with the overall effect on the other person. Try to learn from your experiences and there is no reason why you can’t make it. Get going. Good luck!
Dealing with failure to care for yourself

March 25, 2018

There are a lot of people who fail with simple things like taking care of themselves. It’s hard to walk away from someone who you care a lot about, and that is why so many people have an enabler feeding their addictions and their negative habits. You need to learn to let go of all the destruction and try to think of ways that you can make yourself happy. The first way for you to learn from your mistakes is to never repeat. If you are serious about change then you need to make sure that you’ll take this as a learning lesson and avoid relapse.

The first thing that you’ll need to do is accept the fact that you can’t take on yourself and use other people to help you and guide you to get back on your feet. Your friends and close family are just waiting for you to come to them and ask them to help you. You’ll want to consider that there are many people who really do care about you. You’ll need to just take a step back. The next time that you feel the need to use or to drink, take a step back. You need to understand why it is that you do the drugs and drink the alcohol. You may want to consider the fact that it’s childhood reasons. You may also find that it is stress. You may also think that it’s just you in general. You’ll want to consider talking to a therapist.

Once you have taken the step back and you have left the scene that triggers your usage. You’ll want to consider that there are a few ways for you to increase your health, but it’s not always as easy as you think. Quitting a lifestyle that you’ve had all your life is extremely hard. You can’t just walk away from something that has defined your life. This is the time where you need to check yourself into a rehab center and try to work through the detox to get help. You’ll also want to begin regular therapy sessions between you and all of your loved ones. This way you will be able to feel the support of friends and family that love you. The support will help you to look forward to life, and also you’ll be able to see a difference in the way that you see like.

Instead of hurting yourself, you are also hurting your loved ones. Admitting that you have a problem is the first step, but it’s not the last step. Of course, you have heard about the twelve-step problem, but honestly, you just need to take it easy. If you feel for a second that relapse is possible, then you will need to keep in mind that there are plenty of people who got your back, you just need to lean on them sometimes. There is so much that you can do for yourself, but you have to want to change. Wanting to change is one of the most important ways that you can overcome some of the demons. You’ll need to keep in mind that there are going to be times of weakness, however, if you have people to rely on you’ll be able to keep up with all the hard work and stay clean.
Reading: The Pleasurable Escape

March 24, 2018

It can take us to exotic lands, with powdery white beaches and clear azure skies. It can take us back in time—even to prehistoric days—or forward to the Big Brother world of the 25^th century. It can fill our eyes with tears or make us laugh aloud. Reading opens a window to the world, giving us a vision of things we never dreamed possible. But, though you might not realize it, reading can also reduce your stress level.

For one thing, reading can help with problem-solving, which, in and of itself, can relieve stress. Say you are overweight, and that is contributing to your stress. It seems that the more weight you gain, the more stressed out you become, and the more you eat. By reading books about good nutrition, you can learn to plan meals that are low-cal and low-fat. As a result, your weight problem might disappear—and your stress level will be greatly improved.

Reading can also be relaxing. When you curl up with a good book, you put the rest of the world at bay. You take time out to travel to distant worlds, to learn about different time periods, and to expose yourself to out-of-this-world philosophies. You are essentially taking a vacation of the mind—but one that can be relatively cost-free, especially if you live near a library.

Reading can be a source of great hope, which can also help to relieve your stress. Through biographies, you can read about famous people and learn how they overcame their struggles. These stories of triumph might inspire you to seek ways to overcome the challenges in your own life. Inspirational books can send your spirit soaring, enabling you to accomplish things you never dreamed possible.

Of course, there are instances when reading can raise your stress level. For instance, if you are studying for a test, or reading about tragedies in your local newspaper, you might find your stress level skyrocketing. That is why it is important to be choosy when it comes to your reading material. If you’re feeling stressed, pick up a book that will relax you—perhaps a travel book, a cookbook, or a book of poetry. Resist the urge to read something that could simply make you feel more troubled.

Self-help books are particularly effective in helping to reduce stress. They allow you to explore your feelings and the triggers that lead to stress. And they recommend such techniques as listening to soothing music, playing a musical instrument, playing cards, or engaging in deep breathing in order to deal with stressful situations.

Or you might buy a book to learn about a hobby that can further reduce your stress. Perhaps it’s needlepoint, woodworking, or crochet. It may be origami, calligraphy, or stenciling. You can learn how to refinish furniture, paint, renovate your kitchen, or redecorate your bathroom. You can either build upon a skill you already have, or learn a new one from scratch.

It has been shown that reading novels can relieve depression, so it should come as no surprise that such an activity can also reduce your stress. When you read a novel, you travel to a distant place, metaphorically speaking. This allows you to use your imagination freely as you try to picture characters and settings. It’s a wonderful escape from the pressures of everyday living, and can allow you to return to your life feeling more refreshed.

Reading also forces you to concentrate—concentration which might be otherwise lost due to stress. As a result, you learn to exercise your mind—an exercise that can bear much fruit. Thanks to your reading, you may notice you find it easier to remember things which can, in turn, reduce your stress level.

If you find that you don’t like to read, you might start with graphic novels. These comic book-like creations might appeal to you because of their interesting pictures. Or you might simply start with glossy magazines. In the long run, it doesn’t matter so much what you read as how much you read. Read in the grocery line, at the bank, or while pedaling your stationary bike. You’ll quickly find that the more you read, the more you will want to read, and the less stress you will feel.
Mark Your “New” Beginnings By Making Memories

March 23, 2018

As you and your partner begin exploring your romantic sides and you are both providing new and creative ways in which to express your love for one another, you may find that you want to do what you can to hold on to as many of these memories as possible. Consider starting a ‘memory’ chest or box with your spouse where you can place all of the important and considerate items that will remind you how romantic your experiences have been.

If you and your spouse have started to enjoy spending nights out on the town together, you can begin by saving what you collect while you are out and about. Keep all of your theater ticket stubs, movie theater stubs, concert ticket stubs and even restaurant receipts if you choose. If you eat somewhere that offers matchbooks or something comparable, you might want to begin picking one up and putting it in a special box when you arrive at home. For a more organized version of this, those who love scrapbooking can create a scrapbook around these items or you can simply place them in photo albums so that you and your spouse can go back to see all that you have experienced together.

Some couples love to go on vacation together and romance can play a huge role in most of them. Tropical or mild vacation destinations are quite popular and can provide a number of romantic items that can return home at little or no cost. You can collect shells or fill a small bottle of sand marked with the beach it came from to keep at home. I know one family that collected seashells and surrounded the base of their swimming pool with them! For couples that prefer to take both tropical and wintry vacations, the colder climates provide similarly beautiful trinkets for couples to collect like pinecones and even melted snow!

If you and your spouse enjoy wine and/or champagne, start saving the labels and corks from the bottles. You can save them in plastic bags marked with the occasion and any other notable information from when the beverage was used. For couples who enjoy road trips, keep maps from all of the journeys you’ve taken together or keep a large map on the wall at home so that you can mark where you’ve been with pushpins.

Make your own special memories just by staying at home. Challenge each other romantically by trying to agree on the most romantic kiss that has even been in a movie. Buy that movie and try to recreate that kiss with each other! Place the movie in your memory box and revisit it frequently. If you can’t agree on just one kiss, name the top five and repeat the aforementioned steps with all five! Next, try and agree on the most romantic song ever made. Buy the CD (or download the single and burn it) and dance with each other to that song. Place the song in your memory box and again, dance to it frequently.