Take Lots of Breaks to Get More Done

What if you could get more done by working less? Everyone wants that, right?
But that’s obviously not the way most of us work. We think that in order to get more done and be more productive, we need to increase our effort and time.
That’s the obvious, intuitive answer. But the less obvious — the counter-intuitive approach of working less and taking more breaks — gets better results.
Instead of increasing the amount of time you work, try to increase the quality of the time you work. Focus on single-tasking and eliminating distractions. Train yourself to focus on one thing for a designated period of time. 30 minutes is usually a good starting point.
Then focus on taking breaks that rejuvenate you and recover your ability to focus. You may be resistant to this idea at first; taking breaks is seen as lazy and counterproductive. Warriors push through it and suck it up, right? Maybe, but they’re also the ones with the shortest careers, who burn out the fastest.
By taking a relaxing and regenerative break at least every 90 minutes, you increase your capacity to do more work. Just like your muscles need to relax after they tense up, you need to relax after short bursts of focused work. Obviously you don’t want to only take breaks. There needs to be a balance and a blend of relaxation and focused effort. But it’s amazing how many people forget the relaxation aspect.
I used to be this way. I thought if I worked through lunch, took no breaks and just pushed through it, I would get more done. But what happens is that after a few hours, I’m drained and lose the ability to focus. I end up multi-tasking, becoming easily distracted and default to doing unimportant busywork. I’m running on one or two cylinders instead of all six. But if I took short, rejuvenating breaks, I’d allow my body and mind to recover and regain ability to fire on all cylinders.In short, when you don’t take breaks and allow yourself to recover, you’re less than 50% there. 50% you = 50% work.
It’s obvious that taking short, rejuvenating breaks is the more effective way to work. So what are some examples of these types of breaks?
Change channels. Most of us do a lot of work on the computer, so doing some kind of physical activity for 10 or 15 minutes can be a great way to change our state. Bodyweight exercises, a brisk walk, or yoga can be a great way to get your body moving and put yourself in a different state.
Breathe. Do 10 or 15 minutes of meditation, focused on your breathing.
30 second headstand. Support your feet and legs against a sturdy wall (or tree).
Juice it. Stop by your local health food store and get a wheat grass shot or vegetable juice.
Refuel. Eating some kind of snack or small meal every 90 minutes is a great way to keep your glucose and energy levels steady. Go for fresh, organic fruit or a salad to get a quick pick-me-up.
Power nap. A 20 minute nap in the afternoon feels awesome and rejuvenating.
Motivate. Take a time out and listen to a Paraliminal session, guided meditation or personal development video on YouTube.
Flood your body with consciousness. This is something I’ve been doing lately that’s been really working for me. Take 10 minutes out to lie on your bed and flood your body with consciousness. Focus your awareness first on your toes and feet, then gradually move your focus up through your body, into your legs, pelvis, torso, chest, back, shoulders, arms, hands and fingers. Then back up through your arms into your neck, up your throat and into your face and your head. Really focus on feeling the energy in your body and only move your conscious awareness up your body after you’ve really felt it in the last part.
Total relaxation. This is a follow up to flooding your body with consciousness. After you’ve completely immersed your body in awareness, focus on relaxing each muscle in your body. In the same way previously, start with your toes and work your way upward through your body. Really let go and relax.
These are just a few ideas for ways that you can really relax, recover, and rejuvenate your body. Once you do that, you’ll be re-focused, recharged, and ready to work at 100% capacity.

How Giving Changes Everything

We often think that our success depends on focusing on ourselves. But this simply isn’t true.
Every successful person knows that you become successful because of how much value you give to others.
Yet, we often forget this.
It works the same way with our happiness, too. When I become overly focused on my goals and my feelings and my desires, I start to feel down. When I become focused on myself, it’s easy to think that everything is about me. But it’s not. And when I’m so focused on myself, I start to become easily offended by others. I think that others do things that I don’t like because of me, when they’re really just doing those things because of themselves.
See how easy it is to become depressed when you feel overly self-important?
That’s why it helps to turn your attention to others, and put your focus on giving, rather than receiving. You would think that by giving all the time, you will never receive. But the exact opposite is true; it’s because you give so much that you attract the desire for others to give back to you.
It’s crazy how this works:
The best way to be interesting is to be interested in others.
You gain more physical energy by burning energy when you exercise.
The way to be loved is to be lovable.
When you seek to understand, others are more likely to want to understand you back.
By helping others, they are more inclined to help you in return.
I think it’s interesting how we intuitively know these things, but somehow our ego gets in the way. Our self-importance makes us think that we need to receive to justify giving. This is the same part of you that seeks to be right instead of happy. Is it worth it?
I think it’s a much more empowering position to be the one that gives first. Otherwise, who knows how long it will take the other person to initiate, if it even happens at all. To wait for others to give is like waiting for someone to give you what you want. Why not just ask and find out what happens?
Giving yourself away.
When you can give without expecting anything in return, you have mastered the art of living.
Is it any wonder that the most successful people in the world are masters of giving? The most successful people are the ones that provide the most value to others.
So the question is: How can you give more of yourself away?
I think you’ll find, as I have, that you’re most fulfilled not when you’ve done something really cool, or when you’re doing something that excites you (not that those things aren’t important). You are most fulfilled when you’re serving others.
Here are some suggestions for small, but powerful ways you can give to those around you today:
Drop the expectations that you have for your partner and your family. Instead of expecting them to behave a certain way to you, see how you can show them how much they really mean to you.
Give away your attitude. This is really one of the most awesome ways you can give to others. Your attitude and positive energy has an amazing effect on those around you. Darkness, when approached with light, becomes illuminated. In the same way, low energy, when approached by higher energy, dissolves. Help dissolve others’ lower energy patterns by bringing your higher, positive energy to them.
Gift your intention. Whenever you encounter someone, say a silent blessing or send them a positive intention, instead of judging them.
Show your gratitude. Write a simple note or letter expressing to someone how much they mean to you and the reasons you love them. The impact this will have on the receiver is amazing.
Simply offer your help. If there’s nothing specific you can do for another person, simply let them know that if there is ever a way you can help, you would like them to let you know.
These things may seem small, but I think the world is changed by a profusion of micro ideas. Revolutions start with small actions.

Healthy and Fit Algorithm

Food:
Eat every 3-4 hours. By doing this you’ll keep your blood sugar stable which is the key and also turn your body into a fat burning machine. Think of your metabolism like a camp fire. If you don’t want a camp fire to burn out, you have to constantly add wood and logs to it.
Never let yourself get hungry! This serves many purposes. It keeps your blood sugar stable, keeps that fire burning, but also when you’re very hungry it’s extremely hard to make good decisions!
Eat only complex carbs. Refined and simple carbs will spike your blood sugar which is exactly what we don’t want. Eat whole wheat bread instead of white, whole wheat pasta instead of regular, brown rice instead of white, etc.
Eat lean proteins! Depending on your lifestyle stick with proteins like chicken, eggs, and fish. Beans, nuts, legumes, and lentils are also awesome choices.
Veggies! You can never have too many vegetables. I say everything in moderation. Even moderation. Not with veggies!
Fruit is nature’s candy. Eat fruit when you are craving something sweet. You’ll be amazed at how little you miss junk food!
Drink lots of water. No need to get obsessive but try to drink a glass of water with each meal, and in between every meal. Your body will love you for it.
Don’t eat 2-3 hours before bedtime. And if you must - make it a protein rich snack.
Don’t eat until you’re stuffed. Instead, eat until you’re satisfied. You should feel like you can exercise right after you eat.
Eat slowly. The best way to eat until you’re satisfied is to savor every bite. The slower you eat the more full you’ll feel. It takes 20 minutes for our brain to realize we’ve eaten. We don’t need nearly as much food as we think we do!
No such thing as perfection! No one eats perfectly. We’re not robots! Remember: It’s what we do most of the time that generates most of our results! If you eat unhealthy make your very next meal healthy! No big deal. Just make that U-Turn! Every meal, every healthy choice, every compromise, really and truly makes a difference. Your body never lies!
Am I hungry? Or am I eating to change the way I feel? Ask yourself this before you eat. If the answer is yes, you’re eating for the wrong reasons! Physical hunger comes on gradually. Emotional hunger comes on suddenly.
Focus on eating foods that make you feel good. What does this mean? I like ice cream and cookies as much as the next guy. But I hate how it makes me feel afterward. Tired, lethargic, unfocused, etc. Instead, focus on foods that make you feel good before, during and after you’re done. You’ll never regret making a healthy choice!
Exercise:
Do it 4 times per week for at least 30 minutes. Seriously, doesn’t matter. Basketball, jogging, weights, push ups, etc. Unless you have a specific goal just make sure to get it done!
The two day rule! You can’t miss 2 days of working out in a row. You can skip one day. But not the next!
Don’t let the “Exercise Monster” build up. When I don’t do laundry for a while it becomes what I like to call the ‘Laundry Monster’. It builds up in my mind and I avoid doing it at all costs. Until finally, I have to. And it’s never as bad as I think it’ll be! Don’t let it happen to you. Follow the two day rule!
Don’t focus on exercising at a certain time. Just focus on making time to exercise!
Make it fun! Listen to music; join a nice gym; etc. Bonus: If you love working out with music as much as I do, only listen to your favorite music while you workout. I’ve actually exercised just to listen to my music.
Focus on how you want to feel. We always feel energized after we workout. Yet, we usually skip exercise when we’re feeling tired! Remember: Exercise will give you energy. Want more energy? Exercise more!
Exercise and eating right pays off big in your quality of life! If you need to spend extra money on groceries, a gym membership, trainers, etc., do it!
Warren Buffet said it best. “The best investment you can make is in yourself!”
And if you’re able to follow these rules consistently you’ll be well on your way to getting in shape!

homemade face mask

Things You’ll Need:* 1 tbsp. of full fat yogurt* 1 tbsp. of honey* Fresh lime juice* Water* Washcloth* Towel# Place the honey in the microwave for a few seconds so that it becomes more liquid.# Combine the honey, yogurt and a dash of lime juice in a bowl to form a face mask.# Apply the yogurt face mask to your face and let it sit for 15 minutes.# Using a warm, wet washcloth, wash the face mask off of your face.# Pat your face dry with a towel