Did you ever feel like you wanted to join the Procrastinator's Club, but never quite got around to it? At some point in time, procrastination plagues us all, some more than others, but everyone at some point gets a bite from the bug.
We've all heard the quote, "Why put off till tomorrow what you can do today?" For some of us, this is the only motivation we need, while others struggle with putting things off for weeks, months, or even years.
Procrastination doesn't have to be a way of life for you; you can overcome it. With a little focus and the right attitude, coupled with some practical tips and techniques, procrastination can be a thing of the past.
Here are five strategies you can use today to help you bite the procrastination bug back:
1. Set small goals. Many times, we feel overwhelmed with a task, so we continue to put it off until we have no choice but to complete it.
Now throw on all the new projects we received while we were putting off the first project, and you have a prime equation for some serious procrastination.
Setting small, quickly achievable goals can help you avoid procrastinating in the first place so you don't get overwhelmed. Here are some tips for setting those small goals:
* Break your big project up into smaller steps. These steps can be completed systematically one at a time. Make sure you have well-defined end points for each smaller goal, that way you have something to keep you going.
* Setting small goals provides you a nonstop feeling of accomplishment as they're attained. With each individual success, you feel better about yourself, and this motivates you to continue.
* Giving yourself break points allows you to focus on each individual task and takes the overwhelming feeling out of the job. In addition, they give you a prime place to get up, move around, and refresh yourself for the next step.
2. Avoid distractions. We all do it. We sit down to start working, but have to get back up and grab some coffee. Then we sit back down and check email, then voicemail, and then email again just to make sure no one sent a message while we were checking the voicemail. How long did that take?
* Try checking your email only twice a day instead of every 5 minutes. You need to have some time to focus!
* Get everything you want, need or think you need before you sit down to start working so you can concentrate.
3. Delegate. Start giving some of your responsibilities to others instead of hogging them for yourself and creating more stress. Stress leads to procrastination, procrastination leads to tight deadlines, and tight deadlines lead to more stress; it's a vicious cycle.
4. Keep a list. A constant reminder of the things you absolutely need to do is a great way to avoid procrastination. A small pocket notebook or even a note card works wonders for list keeping.
* Keeping a list puts your daily to-dos in front of you at all times for quick reference.
* Include your small goals on your list. Get started early each day completing those small, easy goals. Doesn't it feel great to scratch through the things you've completed? Before you know it, the whole list is marked off!
5. Turn it off. When you're done for the day, shut down everything work related. Don't take it home if you can help it. Turn your brain off at the end of your workday. By giving your brain a break, you help avoid over exhaustion and keep your mind fresh for the next day.
* Spend some time doing the things you love to recharge your batteries for the next day.
Pick one or two of these techniques and try them out for three weeks. Studies have shown it takes 21 days to form a habit and if you truly want to beat procrastination, you have to make productivity a habit.
When you've made a habit of one of the strategies, pick out another one, and before you know it, you'll be the personification of productive!
William Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Building Self-Awareness
Would you like to see some changes in your life? You can begin making these changes by building self-awareness. Self-awareness is a self-conscious state where you're focused on yourself and your well being.
It's often said, "We cannot change what we will not see." Self-awareness is the process of acknowledging not only our strengths, but our weaknesses as well. Becoming self-aware entails listening to your body and feelings and taking action based on what you hear.
If you're in tune with your body, you'll know when to say no to that extra piece of cake or say no to staying up late. You'll become more in tune with your body the more often you respect it. Self-awareness is a process. The more we do it, the better we become at it.
How do you become self-aware?
These tips will help you in your journey to self-awareness:
1. Reflect on who you are and who you'd like to become. While it's important to notice your faults and weaknesses, it's equally important to acknowledge your strengths.
The better you understand yourself, the better you're able to accept yourself as you are or change the things you'd like to be different. Self-awareness requires you to be honest with yourself and have the courage to change the things you can.
* A full recognition of yourself gives you the opportunity to become the self-fulfilled person you're destined to be.
Looking deep within your soul, you'll find the many character traits that make you unique. Begin by acknowledging the positive things. This will strengthen and encourage you to face the less favorable character traits without abandoning your new venture.
On the other hand, when evaluating your strengths, don't let your ego get the best of you. If you magnify either your strengths or your weaknesses, you can't possibly get a realistic picture of yourself.
* Until you examine the truth of who you are, you cannot move into the person you can become.
2. Pay attention to your likes and dislikes. Far too often, people make life-changing choices without acknowledging deeply rooted personal preferences.
* Before you embark on goals for your future, have a full awareness of the things you especially enjoy and those you prefer not to have in your life.
3. Face your inner self. During your self-awareness process, think about your motivations, dreams, fears and stressors. Think about why you feel the way you do, then begin to work toward overcoming these inner battles.
4. Ask your loved ones' opinions. Talk to people who know you best and really listen to what they see as your dominant character traits and motivations. Ask them to be completely honest with you and be prepared to hear their opinions.
* You may not be your own best judge of character. Accept the way your loved ones see you as part of this process. Consider their opinions along with your own analysis in order to see the full picture of who you are.
Self-awareness is a necessary part of self-esteem and change. If you want to grow as an individual, begin with a complete and honest picture of who you are now. This total awareness will start your journey to becoming the best you can be.
William Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
It's often said, "We cannot change what we will not see." Self-awareness is the process of acknowledging not only our strengths, but our weaknesses as well. Becoming self-aware entails listening to your body and feelings and taking action based on what you hear.
If you're in tune with your body, you'll know when to say no to that extra piece of cake or say no to staying up late. You'll become more in tune with your body the more often you respect it. Self-awareness is a process. The more we do it, the better we become at it.
How do you become self-aware?
These tips will help you in your journey to self-awareness:
1. Reflect on who you are and who you'd like to become. While it's important to notice your faults and weaknesses, it's equally important to acknowledge your strengths.
The better you understand yourself, the better you're able to accept yourself as you are or change the things you'd like to be different. Self-awareness requires you to be honest with yourself and have the courage to change the things you can.
* A full recognition of yourself gives you the opportunity to become the self-fulfilled person you're destined to be.
Looking deep within your soul, you'll find the many character traits that make you unique. Begin by acknowledging the positive things. This will strengthen and encourage you to face the less favorable character traits without abandoning your new venture.
On the other hand, when evaluating your strengths, don't let your ego get the best of you. If you magnify either your strengths or your weaknesses, you can't possibly get a realistic picture of yourself.
* Until you examine the truth of who you are, you cannot move into the person you can become.
2. Pay attention to your likes and dislikes. Far too often, people make life-changing choices without acknowledging deeply rooted personal preferences.
* Before you embark on goals for your future, have a full awareness of the things you especially enjoy and those you prefer not to have in your life.
3. Face your inner self. During your self-awareness process, think about your motivations, dreams, fears and stressors. Think about why you feel the way you do, then begin to work toward overcoming these inner battles.
4. Ask your loved ones' opinions. Talk to people who know you best and really listen to what they see as your dominant character traits and motivations. Ask them to be completely honest with you and be prepared to hear their opinions.
* You may not be your own best judge of character. Accept the way your loved ones see you as part of this process. Consider their opinions along with your own analysis in order to see the full picture of who you are.
Self-awareness is a necessary part of self-esteem and change. If you want to grow as an individual, begin with a complete and honest picture of who you are now. This total awareness will start your journey to becoming the best you can be.
William Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
Sunday, May 24, 2009
What Is The Law Of Attraction?
There's a pretty good chance you've heard something about the Law of Attraction in the past few years. For a while it was pretty big news and lots of people who wanted better lives jumped on the bandwagon.
While you're not hearing as much about it in the media these days, the Law of Attraction still holds true. Just what is the Law of Attraction, and how can it work to help you be happier and more successful?
The basic rule of the Law of Attraction is that like attracts like. When you're in a healthy, successful mindset, you'll be healthier and more successful. Positive thinking is a powerful tool as long as you use it correctly. So how do you do it?
Here are some ways you can use the Law of Attraction to make your life more fulfilling and achieve your goals:
1. Visualize what you desire. You need to have a clear idea of what you want out of life, not just a general or vague picture. By envisioning every detail of your desire, you'll eventually receive it!
* Know exactly what your goal is and outline the path for getting there.
* Then track your progress. You'll be surprised at how much of a difference this makes!
2. Allow yourself to succeed. You may think this sounds silly. After all, you're not the one holding yourself back – or are you? Many of us keep ourselves from the success we hope for, whether it's because we feel like we don't deserve it or we're just not paying attention.
* Take a look at your life and ask yourself if you have behavior patterns or attitudes that keep you from taking advantage of opportunities that can help you succeed. Recognizing and being aware of these self-sabotaging attitudes is a big step toward change.
* Do you consistently do something that sets you back every time you're on the verge of achieving a goal? Forming a mindset that will allow you to be a success can make a huge difference.
3. Have focus. It's easy to have many desires at once. For your best results, work on one or two things at a time and give them your full attention. Without the ability to focus your energy and thoughts on your goal, the chances of failure and distraction go up.
So if you find yourself pursuing multiple goals but never get near any of them, it's time to focus. The Law of Attraction tells us that in order to achieve, we have to be in a clear, focused mindset, with a strong picture of a single goal.
* Once you've focused on a single goal and achieved it, you can turn your focus to your next goal. This way, one by one, you are realizing success.
4. Be willing to receive the bounty the universe offers you. The world is constantly giving you chances to make things better. If you maintain the right mindset, stay focused, and know what you want and how to get there, you'll reap the benefits of those opportunities.
* Every day there are opportunities that could lift you out of the rut and put you on the road to a better tomorrow. You just have to be willing to take advantage of them.
The Law of Attraction principles have helped many people change their lives for the better. Keeping a positive mindset and taking action to accomplish your goals will help you achieve the life you've always dreamed of.
William Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
While you're not hearing as much about it in the media these days, the Law of Attraction still holds true. Just what is the Law of Attraction, and how can it work to help you be happier and more successful?
The basic rule of the Law of Attraction is that like attracts like. When you're in a healthy, successful mindset, you'll be healthier and more successful. Positive thinking is a powerful tool as long as you use it correctly. So how do you do it?
Here are some ways you can use the Law of Attraction to make your life more fulfilling and achieve your goals:
1. Visualize what you desire. You need to have a clear idea of what you want out of life, not just a general or vague picture. By envisioning every detail of your desire, you'll eventually receive it!
* Know exactly what your goal is and outline the path for getting there.
* Then track your progress. You'll be surprised at how much of a difference this makes!
2. Allow yourself to succeed. You may think this sounds silly. After all, you're not the one holding yourself back – or are you? Many of us keep ourselves from the success we hope for, whether it's because we feel like we don't deserve it or we're just not paying attention.
* Take a look at your life and ask yourself if you have behavior patterns or attitudes that keep you from taking advantage of opportunities that can help you succeed. Recognizing and being aware of these self-sabotaging attitudes is a big step toward change.
* Do you consistently do something that sets you back every time you're on the verge of achieving a goal? Forming a mindset that will allow you to be a success can make a huge difference.
3. Have focus. It's easy to have many desires at once. For your best results, work on one or two things at a time and give them your full attention. Without the ability to focus your energy and thoughts on your goal, the chances of failure and distraction go up.
So if you find yourself pursuing multiple goals but never get near any of them, it's time to focus. The Law of Attraction tells us that in order to achieve, we have to be in a clear, focused mindset, with a strong picture of a single goal.
* Once you've focused on a single goal and achieved it, you can turn your focus to your next goal. This way, one by one, you are realizing success.
4. Be willing to receive the bounty the universe offers you. The world is constantly giving you chances to make things better. If you maintain the right mindset, stay focused, and know what you want and how to get there, you'll reap the benefits of those opportunities.
* Every day there are opportunities that could lift you out of the rut and put you on the road to a better tomorrow. You just have to be willing to take advantage of them.
The Law of Attraction principles have helped many people change their lives for the better. Keeping a positive mindset and taking action to accomplish your goals will help you achieve the life you've always dreamed of.
William Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Learn PPC Advertising!
Engaging in pay-per-click (PPC) advertising has its own benefits and drawbacks. But what exactly is PPC advertising and what it can do to your business?
Business nowadays is doing different kinds of austerity measures when it comes to advertising their products and services. This is because of high rates of placing ads on print and on television. But there is a fast growing approach that businessmen can utilize to bring their services closer to the people and that is through Internet Marketing.
One tool that is causing internet marketing popularity is PPC advertising. This is a technique used in search engine marketing that requires one to pay a fee every time someone clicks an ad on your website. Usually this placement is done through a bidding process. If you are a top bidder for your keywords/phrases, you are sure to be on the number one spot on all search engines. Just be sure of the effectiveness of your ad copy to get the most number of clicks you need for your business.
Here are the benefits of PPC advertising are:
1. You need not be a genius in computer and technology to be able to run this ad campaign.
2. Immediate results are seen after a few days.
3. No need to make a website conform to the SEO rules.
4. Nothing to lose even if you do not top the pages of different search engines. You can still always choose PPC advertising.
5. You can make use any search engine available.
6. You can type in any keyword you like.
Cons of PPC advertising includes:
1. Fixed payments every month to the search engine you choose.
2. Pay for each click received by your website. At times, visitors are just competitors or people playing pranks on search engines. This hassle wastes money you put in to this advertising.
3. Inability to pay for the fees next month would mean removal of your website on the paid listings.
4. This advertising can only be used temporarily because it is difficult to handle in the long run.
5. Pay-per-click pricing can be costly for long periods of time, therefore, this should be stopped after an ad campaign.
But how exactly PPC advertising can increase traffic, leads and sales?
PRE-QUALIFIED TRAFFIC. All visitors of your website are already considered as a qualified consumer or buyer of your product. PPC advertising leads your customers to you for a lesser cost.
INSTANT EXPOSURE, IMMEDIATE PROFITS. PPC search engines enable you to get your desired results fast. They will have your website live within just a few hours which means immediate increase in sale.
CONSISTENT TOP LISTINGS. This is to get your website on top of the sponsored search results for free. You just have to choose the keywords related to your site and business and place them within your web pages. After this, you are done.
PPC advertising enables advertisers to control their advertising campaigns. Advertisers have effectively targeted their audience and set their own price per click. PPC advertising networks provide the platform to identify the desired audience by geographic setting, topic and industry. These networks have a list of websites of the publishers where the ads will be placed.
Tools are provided by the networks to check how the pay per click limit is working for a certain advertiser. If its still competitive, would it be even listed among the paid search lists or does it generate sales? Of course, if the advertiser made the highest bid, the better chances the ad will be seen in the search engine. These networks too provide protection for the advertisers against click fraud. This advertising set-up allows advertisers to set a daily budget for his ads, thus, less spending for unnecessary clicks. Advertiser will never go over his budget.
In PPC advertising, what are important are the keywords and phrases. You have to select at least ten "very specific" keywords that would give you the best traffic in the search. Then, write the ad creatively but straightforward. Tell the truth about your product or service and do not lie. Good thing if your product or service will not disappoint those that are relying on your ad's promise - but what if it did otherwise? Important too is the clarity of the ad. Do not use very vague languages. Include important details like the price.
You should also remember to budget your bids. Do not go overbidding because you will only lose your money and do not go so low that your ads will never get the chance to show up. Check your profit against your spending. If you see no progress then most likely you have to drop your ad campaign.
More and more advertisers have been using PPC advertising and it will continue to grow faster than any online advertising techniques. From revenues of $2.6 billion in 2004 to $5.5 billion in 2009, cost per click will dramatically go up as well from $0.29 to $0.36.
PPC advertising is new in online marketing and it is going to continue in the years to come. For advertisers, this means increase revenues with fewer advertising expenses, savings, more sales, good return of investment (ROI) and effective ad campaigns in the days to come.
William Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
Business nowadays is doing different kinds of austerity measures when it comes to advertising their products and services. This is because of high rates of placing ads on print and on television. But there is a fast growing approach that businessmen can utilize to bring their services closer to the people and that is through Internet Marketing.
One tool that is causing internet marketing popularity is PPC advertising. This is a technique used in search engine marketing that requires one to pay a fee every time someone clicks an ad on your website. Usually this placement is done through a bidding process. If you are a top bidder for your keywords/phrases, you are sure to be on the number one spot on all search engines. Just be sure of the effectiveness of your ad copy to get the most number of clicks you need for your business.
Here are the benefits of PPC advertising are:
1. You need not be a genius in computer and technology to be able to run this ad campaign.
2. Immediate results are seen after a few days.
3. No need to make a website conform to the SEO rules.
4. Nothing to lose even if you do not top the pages of different search engines. You can still always choose PPC advertising.
5. You can make use any search engine available.
6. You can type in any keyword you like.
Cons of PPC advertising includes:
1. Fixed payments every month to the search engine you choose.
2. Pay for each click received by your website. At times, visitors are just competitors or people playing pranks on search engines. This hassle wastes money you put in to this advertising.
3. Inability to pay for the fees next month would mean removal of your website on the paid listings.
4. This advertising can only be used temporarily because it is difficult to handle in the long run.
5. Pay-per-click pricing can be costly for long periods of time, therefore, this should be stopped after an ad campaign.
But how exactly PPC advertising can increase traffic, leads and sales?
PRE-QUALIFIED TRAFFIC. All visitors of your website are already considered as a qualified consumer or buyer of your product. PPC advertising leads your customers to you for a lesser cost.
INSTANT EXPOSURE, IMMEDIATE PROFITS. PPC search engines enable you to get your desired results fast. They will have your website live within just a few hours which means immediate increase in sale.
CONSISTENT TOP LISTINGS. This is to get your website on top of the sponsored search results for free. You just have to choose the keywords related to your site and business and place them within your web pages. After this, you are done.
PPC advertising enables advertisers to control their advertising campaigns. Advertisers have effectively targeted their audience and set their own price per click. PPC advertising networks provide the platform to identify the desired audience by geographic setting, topic and industry. These networks have a list of websites of the publishers where the ads will be placed.
Tools are provided by the networks to check how the pay per click limit is working for a certain advertiser. If its still competitive, would it be even listed among the paid search lists or does it generate sales? Of course, if the advertiser made the highest bid, the better chances the ad will be seen in the search engine. These networks too provide protection for the advertisers against click fraud. This advertising set-up allows advertisers to set a daily budget for his ads, thus, less spending for unnecessary clicks. Advertiser will never go over his budget.
In PPC advertising, what are important are the keywords and phrases. You have to select at least ten "very specific" keywords that would give you the best traffic in the search. Then, write the ad creatively but straightforward. Tell the truth about your product or service and do not lie. Good thing if your product or service will not disappoint those that are relying on your ad's promise - but what if it did otherwise? Important too is the clarity of the ad. Do not use very vague languages. Include important details like the price.
You should also remember to budget your bids. Do not go overbidding because you will only lose your money and do not go so low that your ads will never get the chance to show up. Check your profit against your spending. If you see no progress then most likely you have to drop your ad campaign.
More and more advertisers have been using PPC advertising and it will continue to grow faster than any online advertising techniques. From revenues of $2.6 billion in 2004 to $5.5 billion in 2009, cost per click will dramatically go up as well from $0.29 to $0.36.
PPC advertising is new in online marketing and it is going to continue in the years to come. For advertisers, this means increase revenues with fewer advertising expenses, savings, more sales, good return of investment (ROI) and effective ad campaigns in the days to come.
William Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
Monday, May 18, 2009
Avoid Boredom And Find Purpose In Your Life
Do you ever feel like your life has no purpose – like you're just going from one day to the next, without really loving or hating it? If you're in this situation, boredom is your enemy.
We all experience boredom at some point in life, and it stops us from meeting our full potential. If you want to get out of this rut and onto the fast track to success and fulfillment, you're going to have to give up boredom. It's time to say you'll never be bored again!
Boredom is detrimental to your physical and mental health. It makes you feel unfulfilled, unhappy, and tired. It's a fact – inactivity leads to more inactivity, plus it leaves you feeling empty and miserable. The cycle becomes ongoing, and you've got to consciously break its path.
* If you're feeling bored and want to get out of the slump, do something – anything! It doesn't matter what. Just get moving. If you don't like your chosen activity, change to something else.
Boredom and Purpose
How does boredom relate to finding your purpose? It's simple. If you're allowing yourself to be bored, you're putting roadblocks in the way of finding the path that will lead you to the top of your personal mountain.
It's important to have a purpose, because that purpose will allow you to feel happy and give you a reason to get out of bed every day. It will keep you moving, active, and healthy.
* Your special purpose doesn't necessarily have to be a career; it could be a hobby or charitable cause.
It's also important to love what you're doing. The ideal, of course, is to turn your life's passion into a full time career. No matter what you're doing, if you don't love it, you need to find something else to pursue.
* Some people are able to pursue their passion during the time when they're not working, because some passions may not make the best careers. For example, there are few highly paid stamp collectors.
How Do You Find Your Purpose?
How can you discover your special purpose? The answer is simple, but the process might be a tough one. You need to open yourself to all new experiences and get out there and do things. You mustn't allow yourself to say you're bored anymore!
* Exploring the world around you is a great way to discover your purpose or passion.
Whether you're reading new books, exploring parts of your city you've never been to, or talking to people you've never met, you'll discover new things about yourself, learn more about your surroundings, and experience new adventures.
New experiences have a lot to offer. They get you out of the same old mindset and into one where you have more passion and interest in the world. New encounters encourage you to try new things, develop new skill sets, and find out what you excel at.
* You can find purpose in the strangest places, so don't rule out any activity. After all, if you try something and don't like it, you don't have to go back to it.
It's having passions, and the perseverance to pursue them, that makes us stars. If you've been feeling like your life is empty, it's time to fill it with some passion!
William Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
We all experience boredom at some point in life, and it stops us from meeting our full potential. If you want to get out of this rut and onto the fast track to success and fulfillment, you're going to have to give up boredom. It's time to say you'll never be bored again!
Boredom is detrimental to your physical and mental health. It makes you feel unfulfilled, unhappy, and tired. It's a fact – inactivity leads to more inactivity, plus it leaves you feeling empty and miserable. The cycle becomes ongoing, and you've got to consciously break its path.
* If you're feeling bored and want to get out of the slump, do something – anything! It doesn't matter what. Just get moving. If you don't like your chosen activity, change to something else.
Boredom and Purpose
How does boredom relate to finding your purpose? It's simple. If you're allowing yourself to be bored, you're putting roadblocks in the way of finding the path that will lead you to the top of your personal mountain.
It's important to have a purpose, because that purpose will allow you to feel happy and give you a reason to get out of bed every day. It will keep you moving, active, and healthy.
* Your special purpose doesn't necessarily have to be a career; it could be a hobby or charitable cause.
It's also important to love what you're doing. The ideal, of course, is to turn your life's passion into a full time career. No matter what you're doing, if you don't love it, you need to find something else to pursue.
* Some people are able to pursue their passion during the time when they're not working, because some passions may not make the best careers. For example, there are few highly paid stamp collectors.
How Do You Find Your Purpose?
How can you discover your special purpose? The answer is simple, but the process might be a tough one. You need to open yourself to all new experiences and get out there and do things. You mustn't allow yourself to say you're bored anymore!
* Exploring the world around you is a great way to discover your purpose or passion.
Whether you're reading new books, exploring parts of your city you've never been to, or talking to people you've never met, you'll discover new things about yourself, learn more about your surroundings, and experience new adventures.
New experiences have a lot to offer. They get you out of the same old mindset and into one where you have more passion and interest in the world. New encounters encourage you to try new things, develop new skill sets, and find out what you excel at.
* You can find purpose in the strangest places, so don't rule out any activity. After all, if you try something and don't like it, you don't have to go back to it.
It's having passions, and the perseverance to pursue them, that makes us stars. If you've been feeling like your life is empty, it's time to fill it with some passion!
William Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
Friday, May 15, 2009
Earn Extra Cash In Your Spare Time
No matter what you do for a living, there's always an incentive to make more money. Maybe you're trying to pay off credit card bills, save up for something special, or have a little cushion should something unexpected happen in your life.
It used to be that if you needed to make a bit of extra cash, you needed to pick up a second job, like bussing tables a few weekends a month or showing up early at the bakery to help with the ovens.
Now, thanks to the doors opened by the internet, and the ease of starting your own business, it's gotten easier than ever to bring in some extra money without working yourself to death in the process.
Here are five ways you can make some extra cash in a pinch:
1. Sell your unused items. Do you have books you'll never read again collecting dust on your bookshelf? Is your closet full of outgrown or embarrassing clothes? Are your old computers taking up too much space? Sell them!
* Have a yard sale.
* Sell your things to specialty shops like second hand clothing shops, used bookstores, used furniture stores, or even repair shops that need parts from what you have.
* Use eBay. Lots of things without local markets have a national or global market, and there are people who'll buy the oddest things on eBay.
In particular, if you've got some sort of fairly obscure electronic hardware, try selling it on eBay first. Chances are someone wants it and is willing to pay a premium for it.
2. Ask for a raise at your current job. There's no doubt that asking for more money is difficult, especially during a recession, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Most people are too scared to ask for a raise, so you can use this to your advantage.
* Assemble a list of the things you've accomplished at your work in the last nine months and make your case.
* Another way you may be able to make more cash at your job is to ask your boss if there's extra work you can do to gain more hours or get paid more for increased responsibilities.
3. Trade skills for cash. Are you a skilled seamstress, writer, or graphic designer? There are countless websites where you can use your expertise to earn extra money.
* If you're not sure how to get started, take a few minutes to do an Internet search. Resources abound on the ‘net that can help you find buyers for your skills.
4. Get a work from home job. There are lots of telephone based customer service jobs that you can do with just a computer and an Internet connection. Some of them pay remarkably well and all of them have relaxed dress codes to boot!
5. Start your own part-time business. Transform one of your hobbies or skills into a second business. There's nothing quite as exhilarating as turning your love for something into a business and making it profitable.
Many of these money-making ideas will work fairly quickly with little effort. You can take it one step further and significantly boost your income by creating a business you can run from the comfort of home. Take action and you can make more money!
William Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
It used to be that if you needed to make a bit of extra cash, you needed to pick up a second job, like bussing tables a few weekends a month or showing up early at the bakery to help with the ovens.
Now, thanks to the doors opened by the internet, and the ease of starting your own business, it's gotten easier than ever to bring in some extra money without working yourself to death in the process.
Here are five ways you can make some extra cash in a pinch:
1. Sell your unused items. Do you have books you'll never read again collecting dust on your bookshelf? Is your closet full of outgrown or embarrassing clothes? Are your old computers taking up too much space? Sell them!
* Have a yard sale.
* Sell your things to specialty shops like second hand clothing shops, used bookstores, used furniture stores, or even repair shops that need parts from what you have.
* Use eBay. Lots of things without local markets have a national or global market, and there are people who'll buy the oddest things on eBay.
In particular, if you've got some sort of fairly obscure electronic hardware, try selling it on eBay first. Chances are someone wants it and is willing to pay a premium for it.
2. Ask for a raise at your current job. There's no doubt that asking for more money is difficult, especially during a recession, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Most people are too scared to ask for a raise, so you can use this to your advantage.
* Assemble a list of the things you've accomplished at your work in the last nine months and make your case.
* Another way you may be able to make more cash at your job is to ask your boss if there's extra work you can do to gain more hours or get paid more for increased responsibilities.
3. Trade skills for cash. Are you a skilled seamstress, writer, or graphic designer? There are countless websites where you can use your expertise to earn extra money.
* If you're not sure how to get started, take a few minutes to do an Internet search. Resources abound on the ‘net that can help you find buyers for your skills.
4. Get a work from home job. There are lots of telephone based customer service jobs that you can do with just a computer and an Internet connection. Some of them pay remarkably well and all of them have relaxed dress codes to boot!
5. Start your own part-time business. Transform one of your hobbies or skills into a second business. There's nothing quite as exhilarating as turning your love for something into a business and making it profitable.
Many of these money-making ideas will work fairly quickly with little effort. You can take it one step further and significantly boost your income by creating a business you can run from the comfort of home. Take action and you can make more money!
William Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
Monday, May 11, 2009
Fun Activities Can Lead To Weight Loss
Do you groan when you think of trying to lose weight and exercise? Most of us do! Unfortunately, for so many, the very idea of losing weight breeds negative thoughts and feelings. You may even feel as if it’s an impossible challenge.
After all, who wants to think of climbing on those machines in the gym for 30 minutes to take off the pounds? Or even worse, doing sit-ups at home. Yuck!
If losing weight has become a drag, you need to rethink your strategy.
If you want the body that you imagine, you don’t have go to the gym every day to lose weight and get it!
Here are five simple activities that will help you get healthy while having a blast:
1. Play group sports. One great idea for losing weight the fun way is to play group sports. Sometimes your area recreation centers may have free gym equipment you can use, or even greatly discounted.
* Start playing soccer, softball, volleyball, or basketball. With these activities, you’ll be burning off the calories while enjoying yourself at the same time!
2. Go for a walk with your friends. Start walking with neighbors to improve your health and get active. Meet during the week to take a brisk walk together, either in the morning before your day begins, during lunch, or in the evening after work.
* Schedule your walk into your day as social time. While you’re walking, take time to catch up and chat with each other. This way it feels more like a social experience instead of exercise.
3. Dance. Dancing is a great way to burn calories and have a great time too. Once you get your heart pumping, you’ll enjoy an incredible workout!
* Take a dance class.
* Go out to a nightclub where you can dance the night away.
* Get some dance videos so you can dance at home.
4. Beautify your yard or cultivate a garden. Gardening and yard work are both activities that burn calories so you can lose some weight. Planting flowers or vegetables, pulling weeds, raking, hauling dirt, and doing other gardening chores can really help you get in shape.
* When you’re squatting, bending, and yanking out those weeds, you’ll be working muscles you didn’t even know you had!
5. Play with your family. Even something as simple as playtime outdoors with the family can help you lose some pounds and stay healthy. Having fun with family can give you some much needed activity like running, Frisbee, playing tag, and other games.
You can find trails in your area for hiking, or even go to state parks.
* Climb a tree in your backyard.
* Go swimming or skiing.
The possibilities are endless! You’ll have fun spending quality time with your family, and teaching your children a healthy lifestyle as well.
Although these activities are fun, regular activity and eating a healthy diet go hand in hand when you want to lose weight. You can’t count one weekend of gardening as your exercise for the week. Vary your activities for more fun, and do something to get moving every day.
If you want to reach your weight loss goal, you’ll need to be consistent.
As you can see, exercising and getting in shape don’t have to be boring or unpleasant. You can find many other fun and easy activities to do for losing weight and improving your health!
Will Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
After all, who wants to think of climbing on those machines in the gym for 30 minutes to take off the pounds? Or even worse, doing sit-ups at home. Yuck!
If losing weight has become a drag, you need to rethink your strategy.
If you want the body that you imagine, you don’t have go to the gym every day to lose weight and get it!
Here are five simple activities that will help you get healthy while having a blast:
1. Play group sports. One great idea for losing weight the fun way is to play group sports. Sometimes your area recreation centers may have free gym equipment you can use, or even greatly discounted.
* Start playing soccer, softball, volleyball, or basketball. With these activities, you’ll be burning off the calories while enjoying yourself at the same time!
2. Go for a walk with your friends. Start walking with neighbors to improve your health and get active. Meet during the week to take a brisk walk together, either in the morning before your day begins, during lunch, or in the evening after work.
* Schedule your walk into your day as social time. While you’re walking, take time to catch up and chat with each other. This way it feels more like a social experience instead of exercise.
3. Dance. Dancing is a great way to burn calories and have a great time too. Once you get your heart pumping, you’ll enjoy an incredible workout!
* Take a dance class.
* Go out to a nightclub where you can dance the night away.
* Get some dance videos so you can dance at home.
4. Beautify your yard or cultivate a garden. Gardening and yard work are both activities that burn calories so you can lose some weight. Planting flowers or vegetables, pulling weeds, raking, hauling dirt, and doing other gardening chores can really help you get in shape.
* When you’re squatting, bending, and yanking out those weeds, you’ll be working muscles you didn’t even know you had!
5. Play with your family. Even something as simple as playtime outdoors with the family can help you lose some pounds and stay healthy. Having fun with family can give you some much needed activity like running, Frisbee, playing tag, and other games.
You can find trails in your area for hiking, or even go to state parks.
* Climb a tree in your backyard.
* Go swimming or skiing.
The possibilities are endless! You’ll have fun spending quality time with your family, and teaching your children a healthy lifestyle as well.
Although these activities are fun, regular activity and eating a healthy diet go hand in hand when you want to lose weight. You can’t count one weekend of gardening as your exercise for the week. Vary your activities for more fun, and do something to get moving every day.
If you want to reach your weight loss goal, you’ll need to be consistent.
As you can see, exercising and getting in shape don’t have to be boring or unpleasant. You can find many other fun and easy activities to do for losing weight and improving your health!
Will Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Making Healthy Food Choices In Your Busy Life
You already know how important it is to make healthy food choices for you and your family. But how can you fit the best choices into your busy life?
You'll be pleased to discover that a hectic life doesn't mean that every meal has to be fast food on the run! Sometimes it's difficult to make healthy changes, but with a little planning and know-how, it can be done.
Here are some strategies to help you and your family make healthy choices:
1. Avoid temptation. It's so easy to walk into the store with good intent, but walk out with bags full of unhealthy foods. Unfortunately, our wills are weak, especially if we've trained ourselves over the years to buy junk foods.
* Never shop when you're hungry. This way you won't pick out unhealthy choices because they look good at the moment.
* Get rid of the unhealthy foods in your home. If they aren't around, you won't be tempted to eat them.
* Think of healthier alternatives to your family's favorite unhealthy foods. Rather than high calorie chips, try trail mixes or rice cakes. Low calorie puddings or frozen yogurts are better alternatives to higher fat ice creams.
2. Eat fast and healthy meals at home. When you're tired at the end of the day and you realize you still have to feed the family, it's easy to go to a fast food chain and throw fast food on the table. It may save some time, but it won't save your health – or your pocket book!
* The great thing is that there are many easy, fast, and healthy foods you can make at home. This takes some planning, but you'll be more satisfied, save money, and be healthier as well.
* Look online for quick and easy recipes made with all natural ingredients. Many recipes can be made in 30 minutes or less and only have 5 ingredients. Taking the time to do some recipe research will save your sanity in the long run. Then once you find a "hit" with the family, store the recipe in a book or on your computer.
* When you cook, make large batches and freeze the leftovers. This way, you'll already have meals in the freezer that you can just thaw, heat, and serve. No muss, no fuss! This is the opportune way to enjoy "fast" food at home.
3. Eat Slower. Since the brain takes about 20 minutes to get the signal that the stomach is full, if you eat too fast you'll pack in a lot more food than you need. When you're still thinking you're hungry, it's easy to make the wrong choices about food. If you slow down while you're eating, you'll eat less and you'll still feel full.
* Set a calming mood before sitting down for a meal. Avoid having the television on or eating as you're rushing the kids out the door to another activity. Sitting calmly at the table will allow everyone to relax and enjoy their meal.
4. Make dinner time a social experience. Dinner should be about enjoying your company and taking pleasure in the foods you're eating.
When you begin to look at mealtime as a social experience, it becomes easier to make the right choices about healthy foods. Suddenly you aren't so worried about rushing through and making it quick.
Dinner becomes a great experience when you're able to enjoy healthy foods together. Take time to eat as a family and enjoy a real conversation with each other. Talking will naturally slow down your eating pace, while also reconnecting you with your family members.
Using these techniques will bring all kinds of healthy benefits to your family and teach your children a healthy lifestyle. Healthy food choices are a possibility in your busy life if you take the time to plan ahead and make dinner time a priority in your home.
William Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
You'll be pleased to discover that a hectic life doesn't mean that every meal has to be fast food on the run! Sometimes it's difficult to make healthy changes, but with a little planning and know-how, it can be done.
Here are some strategies to help you and your family make healthy choices:
1. Avoid temptation. It's so easy to walk into the store with good intent, but walk out with bags full of unhealthy foods. Unfortunately, our wills are weak, especially if we've trained ourselves over the years to buy junk foods.
* Never shop when you're hungry. This way you won't pick out unhealthy choices because they look good at the moment.
* Get rid of the unhealthy foods in your home. If they aren't around, you won't be tempted to eat them.
* Think of healthier alternatives to your family's favorite unhealthy foods. Rather than high calorie chips, try trail mixes or rice cakes. Low calorie puddings or frozen yogurts are better alternatives to higher fat ice creams.
2. Eat fast and healthy meals at home. When you're tired at the end of the day and you realize you still have to feed the family, it's easy to go to a fast food chain and throw fast food on the table. It may save some time, but it won't save your health – or your pocket book!
* The great thing is that there are many easy, fast, and healthy foods you can make at home. This takes some planning, but you'll be more satisfied, save money, and be healthier as well.
* Look online for quick and easy recipes made with all natural ingredients. Many recipes can be made in 30 minutes or less and only have 5 ingredients. Taking the time to do some recipe research will save your sanity in the long run. Then once you find a "hit" with the family, store the recipe in a book or on your computer.
* When you cook, make large batches and freeze the leftovers. This way, you'll already have meals in the freezer that you can just thaw, heat, and serve. No muss, no fuss! This is the opportune way to enjoy "fast" food at home.
3. Eat Slower. Since the brain takes about 20 minutes to get the signal that the stomach is full, if you eat too fast you'll pack in a lot more food than you need. When you're still thinking you're hungry, it's easy to make the wrong choices about food. If you slow down while you're eating, you'll eat less and you'll still feel full.
* Set a calming mood before sitting down for a meal. Avoid having the television on or eating as you're rushing the kids out the door to another activity. Sitting calmly at the table will allow everyone to relax and enjoy their meal.
4. Make dinner time a social experience. Dinner should be about enjoying your company and taking pleasure in the foods you're eating.
When you begin to look at mealtime as a social experience, it becomes easier to make the right choices about healthy foods. Suddenly you aren't so worried about rushing through and making it quick.
Dinner becomes a great experience when you're able to enjoy healthy foods together. Take time to eat as a family and enjoy a real conversation with each other. Talking will naturally slow down your eating pace, while also reconnecting you with your family members.
Using these techniques will bring all kinds of healthy benefits to your family and teach your children a healthy lifestyle. Healthy food choices are a possibility in your busy life if you take the time to plan ahead and make dinner time a priority in your home.
William Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Defining Goals For Business or Life
Whether you want to set goals for your business or your personal life, defining clear, concise goals is very important. Without clear goals you can end up confused about what you want to achieve, and you may be putting yourself on the path to stagnation. Clear goals can give you tremendous momentum and intense purpose in your life.
Here are five important tips to help you to define clear goals in your life:
1. Understand what you want to achieve. In order to define clear goals, your first step is to determine exactly what you want to achieve. If you don't know where you're going, you can't figure out a route to get there.
Once you know where you want to be and what you want to achieve, you'll be able to come up with the goals that will help you get there.
* Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
* Take the time to sit down and brainstorm your long-term dreams and desires.
2. Determine a timeline. Setting timelines will prevent procrastination and spur you on to action to meet your goals. Having a timeline for your goals also helps to clarify them because now you know what you want and when you want it!
* Come up with goals that you want to meet in a month, year, and even five or ten years from now.
* Make a plan that will keep you on track; however, don't etch your plan in stone! Allow for changes along the way, but keep your eye on the main goal.
3. Ensure your goals are realistic. With realistic goals, you can almost guarantee that you'll be able to achieve them, and you won't stress yourself out trying to accomplish something that's out of reach. A clear goal is a realistic one.
* Break your long-term goals into small, achievable action steps. Reaching multiple goals along your journey will give you a feeling of accomplishment and motivate you to continue.
4. Be specific. Clarify your goals with the details of exactly what you want. Avoid vague generalities. When you make a specific goal, you'll be better able to accomplish it.
* Specific goals allow you to form your timeline and define your action steps. There's no guesswork involved when dealing with specifics.(
* For example, "make more money with your business" is a vague goal. Come up with a specific goal, such as, "I will make $1,000 more per month, three months from today." This goal is specific, measurable, and realistic.
5. Refine your goals. Your goals may change as your life changes. During this process, you'll be able to make them more specific, realistic, and achievable.
* It's okay to refine your goals several times in your life! What's important now, might not be important to you six months or six years from now. Be willing to accept change. Revisit your goals from time to time and make new plans if necessary.
Some people flounder through life, unsure of their purpose or what they want to achieve. Don't let this be you! Your life will have clear meaning if you put some thought into what's important to you, what goals you want to achieve, and what actions to take to make your dreams a reality.
William Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
Here are five important tips to help you to define clear goals in your life:
1. Understand what you want to achieve. In order to define clear goals, your first step is to determine exactly what you want to achieve. If you don't know where you're going, you can't figure out a route to get there.
Once you know where you want to be and what you want to achieve, you'll be able to come up with the goals that will help you get there.
* Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
* Take the time to sit down and brainstorm your long-term dreams and desires.
2. Determine a timeline. Setting timelines will prevent procrastination and spur you on to action to meet your goals. Having a timeline for your goals also helps to clarify them because now you know what you want and when you want it!
* Come up with goals that you want to meet in a month, year, and even five or ten years from now.
* Make a plan that will keep you on track; however, don't etch your plan in stone! Allow for changes along the way, but keep your eye on the main goal.
3. Ensure your goals are realistic. With realistic goals, you can almost guarantee that you'll be able to achieve them, and you won't stress yourself out trying to accomplish something that's out of reach. A clear goal is a realistic one.
* Break your long-term goals into small, achievable action steps. Reaching multiple goals along your journey will give you a feeling of accomplishment and motivate you to continue.
4. Be specific. Clarify your goals with the details of exactly what you want. Avoid vague generalities. When you make a specific goal, you'll be better able to accomplish it.
* Specific goals allow you to form your timeline and define your action steps. There's no guesswork involved when dealing with specifics.(
* For example, "make more money with your business" is a vague goal. Come up with a specific goal, such as, "I will make $1,000 more per month, three months from today." This goal is specific, measurable, and realistic.
5. Refine your goals. Your goals may change as your life changes. During this process, you'll be able to make them more specific, realistic, and achievable.
* It's okay to refine your goals several times in your life! What's important now, might not be important to you six months or six years from now. Be willing to accept change. Revisit your goals from time to time and make new plans if necessary.
Some people flounder through life, unsure of their purpose or what they want to achieve. Don't let this be you! Your life will have clear meaning if you put some thought into what's important to you, what goals you want to achieve, and what actions to take to make your dreams a reality.
William Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
Monday, May 4, 2009
Ways To Boost Your Self-Esteem
Discover The Benefits of Xocai Healthy Chocolate!
Everyone needs to feel a sense of self-worth and healthy self-esteem in order to live a successful, contented life. While some people look to others and their material success to gauge their own self-worth, the most important assessment is how you feel about yourself.
There are many things you can do to boost your own self-esteem. By taking the steps to build your own self-worth and well-being, you're practicing the best form of preventative medicine possible.
Here are the top seven ways to boost your self-esteem:
1. Do things you love. The more time you spend doing things you love to do, the better it makes you feel. Doing the things you enjoy causes your brain to produce higher levels of endorphins, which are chemical in the brain that increase your sense of joy and well-being.
Engaging in activities we love also helps us recall other times we've done them, and those memories increase our self-esteem. Our favorite activities are often things we do well, which is a factor in increasing our self-esteem.
2. Strengthen your strengths. When you exercise your strengths, they become stronger and your self-esteem rises as well. We all like to feel proud of the things we excel at and those things cause us to feel better about ourselves.
Spend time working on, building, and renewing your strengths, and your inner approval rating will soar.
3. Surround yourself with positive people. Positive energy is like an electrical charge as it spreads from one person to the next. When you spend time in the company of positive people, your own attitude will lift to match theirs, and you'll be charged from their energy.
4. Measure your worth based on yourself, not on others. Everyone sees the world based on his or her own biases and circumstances. When someone pours negative thoughts on another person, it's a greater reflection on their own deficiencies than the person they're attacking.
Basing your self-esteem on another person's opinions is never a good idea. Instead, take your value from what you know to be the truth about yourself from the inside out, not the other way around.
5. Believe in yourself. Trust in your ability to achieve whatever you set your mind to accomplish. When you believe that you're capable of attaining your goals, you unleash the ability to do so from deep within you, so trust in the process.
6. Set your thoughts on the things you want to attract. Albert Einstein determined all things are made of energy and energy attracts more of the same energy. Focusing your thoughts on the things you desire in your life keeps the energy of those things moving toward you.
7. Speak affirming thoughts to yourself. We've all heard the phrase "act as if." Affirmations work on that principle. Instead of saying, "I want to be happy," say, "I am a happy person." Say it out loud everyday.
You'll begin to reprogram your subconscious to believe it as the truth, and soon you'll be feeling that truth every day.
These simple steps to boost your self-esteem are easy to put into practice in your day-to-day life. Start today and build your self-worth and self-esteem into the foundation of your character. Your life will never be the same.
William Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone needs to feel a sense of self-worth and healthy self-esteem in order to live a successful, contented life. While some people look to others and their material success to gauge their own self-worth, the most important assessment is how you feel about yourself.
There are many things you can do to boost your own self-esteem. By taking the steps to build your own self-worth and well-being, you're practicing the best form of preventative medicine possible.
Here are the top seven ways to boost your self-esteem:
1. Do things you love. The more time you spend doing things you love to do, the better it makes you feel. Doing the things you enjoy causes your brain to produce higher levels of endorphins, which are chemical in the brain that increase your sense of joy and well-being.
Engaging in activities we love also helps us recall other times we've done them, and those memories increase our self-esteem. Our favorite activities are often things we do well, which is a factor in increasing our self-esteem.
2. Strengthen your strengths. When you exercise your strengths, they become stronger and your self-esteem rises as well. We all like to feel proud of the things we excel at and those things cause us to feel better about ourselves.
Spend time working on, building, and renewing your strengths, and your inner approval rating will soar.
3. Surround yourself with positive people. Positive energy is like an electrical charge as it spreads from one person to the next. When you spend time in the company of positive people, your own attitude will lift to match theirs, and you'll be charged from their energy.
4. Measure your worth based on yourself, not on others. Everyone sees the world based on his or her own biases and circumstances. When someone pours negative thoughts on another person, it's a greater reflection on their own deficiencies than the person they're attacking.
Basing your self-esteem on another person's opinions is never a good idea. Instead, take your value from what you know to be the truth about yourself from the inside out, not the other way around.
5. Believe in yourself. Trust in your ability to achieve whatever you set your mind to accomplish. When you believe that you're capable of attaining your goals, you unleash the ability to do so from deep within you, so trust in the process.
6. Set your thoughts on the things you want to attract. Albert Einstein determined all things are made of energy and energy attracts more of the same energy. Focusing your thoughts on the things you desire in your life keeps the energy of those things moving toward you.
7. Speak affirming thoughts to yourself. We've all heard the phrase "act as if." Affirmations work on that principle. Instead of saying, "I want to be happy," say, "I am a happy person." Say it out loud everyday.
You'll begin to reprogram your subconscious to believe it as the truth, and soon you'll be feeling that truth every day.
These simple steps to boost your self-esteem are easy to put into practice in your day-to-day life. Start today and build your self-worth and self-esteem into the foundation of your character. Your life will never be the same.
William Drapcho
http://SweetHealthy.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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