Author: kellymeng123@gmail.com

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Goal Setting

Goalsetting Tips as 2021 Begins

SOME GOAL-SETTING TIPS AS AS 2021 BEINGS

If you’re planning to bounce back this 2021 and want to set goals for yourself, then read on as we share some helpful goal-setting tips. 

This year has been very challenging for all of us. Many have lost their jobs, businesses, and even the lives of people close to them. It’s hard to imagine, but the year is about to end and finally, we are seeing some good news because of the approval of vaccines.

Helpful Tips to Achieve Your Goals in 2021

Get clear on your “Why”

This is the first goal-setting tip you need to do, you need to get clear on why you want to achieve your goals. Know the reason behind it and why it’s important to you. 

To give you an example, if your goal for 2021 is to get fit, know the reason why you want to get fit. Is it because all your friends are planning to do it? Or is it because you want to look good and become healthier? 

Knowing the reason why you want to achieve your goal is what will motivate you and will give you a sense of purpose. It should be something that you really care about and will make you a better person. 

Write down your goals

When you don’t have something in writing then it simply doesn’t exist. Writing down your goals is like writing a contract or agreement with yourself that you are committed to achieving those goals. It will help you hold yourself accountable and will help to track your progress along the way. 

Another reason why you need to put it in writing is for you to be constantly reminded. A lot of things happen to us every day and you don’t want your goals to just slip your mind. Seeing your goal often will not only help you remember it but also help you to stay on track. 

Have a specific goal and plan 

Going back to our example of getting fit, you need to be more specific and have a target weight instead. In this way, you can create a plan and necessary steps you can take to achieve your desired weight. When you have a specific goal, it will also be easier to track and you’ll be able to know if you already reached that goal. 

If your goal is to save money this coming year, be specific, and set a target amount. If you’re planning to save $20,000 at the end of 2021, you can break this amount on per month basis. So you only need to save $1,667 per month to reach your goal. Basically, each month would be a step that gets you closer to your overall goal. 

Share your goals with people you trust

Another goal-setting tip is sharing your goals with people you trust can help you increase the possibility of achieving them. Why do we say so? If you set goals and don’t share them with anyone, it’s no big deal if you don’t achieve them as you would be the only person who knew about your secret goal. You would want to achieve your goal because you don’t want to be seen as someone who can’t walk the talk. 

Having someone that knows your goal can also see your progress and may give you some tips and feedback. They might also be interested in your goals and decide to join you in achieving them. You can have accountability partners that can remind you if you lost interest or motivation along the way. 

Make sure to review your goals

Your goals are an ongoing process and constantly reviewing them is imperative if you want to succeed. As you move along in reaching them, taking time to review your progress will help you stay on track and will help prevent you from losing focus. 

Reviewing your goals will subconsciously help your mind remember and retain that information. You will also able to revisit the plans you made on how to achieve them. Set aside time for your review. Make sure you are in no rush and your environment is conducive to a quiet reflection.

Final Note 

Setting goals for yourself is one of the best things you can do not only this coming new year but in your entire life. Our goals are one of the reasons why we wake up each day motivated to work on something. Goals help us live our life to the fullest. The process of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you will know where you have to concentrate your efforts.

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Time Management

5 Tips on How to Have Alone Time (and why it’s good for you)

5 TIPS ON HOW TO HAVE ALONE TIME AND WHY IT’S GOOD FOR YOU

Most of us feel happier whenever we hang out with our friends and family. But doing it often can also drain our energy and can affect our productivity. Introverts experience this the most. When they spend too much time around other people, they end up feeling burned out and that’s why having an alone time is important.

That’s why it’s natural for them to spend time being alone to recharge and to regain their mental and emotional stability. But introverts should not be the only one doing this, every one of us can benefit from having some alone time. Here’s why:

Why Having Alone Time Is Good 

Having An Alone Time

You’ll Have Time to Think. This doesn’t mean to think about the next Netflix series you’re going to waste your time on. This means that you’ll have the time to think about what you want to achieve in life. Like your goals, plans, and aspirations. 

You will only able to truly think about these when you’re alone. Do you randomly think about your goals when eating pizza with your friends? No, right? Only some me-time will allow you to plan for your future. 

You’ll Be More Productive. If you’re working on something, spending time alone gives you the opportunity to lock in your focus. There will be no distractions like noise and comments from other people. All you have is yourself and your willingness to finish the task which will boost your productivity. 

It Helps You De-stress. Constant exposure to friends, co-workers, and social media will slowly drain you. All the information you take from these sources can build up which may result in stress. Having your me-time can help you detoxify and relax by doing your hobby or meditate. 

It Gives Us Time to Reflect and Understand Ourselves. In today’s fast-paced society, most of our time is spent with work, friends, and social media that we don’t even have a moment to think about what’s going on in our lives currently.

Alone time is the perfect opportunity for us to catch up with what’s happening with our lives. This is also the perfect time to understand ourselves better by thinking about our habits or routines and if those are helping us to become a better person. 

Now, spending time alone is quite hard for most of us. Sometimes we prefer spending time with other people or with our gadgets. Here are some tips to counter this. 

Tips on How You Can Have Alone Time

Having A Time Alone

1. Set your “me time”

The easiest way to have alone time is to set a specific time or day for it. It can be 15-20 minutes before you go to bed at night or 1-2 hours during weekends. It will depend on your schedule but setting a specific period will help you to achieve it. 

2. Pick the setting

Choosing a place where you can spend time alone is very important as it can make or break the success of it. You can do it in your room to block outside noise or pick a place you’re most comfortable with.

Other places can be in your nearby park if you want to breathe fresh air or in your local coffee shop if you want to sip your favorite latte while composing your thoughts. 

3. Ditch the gadgets

If you want to focus and utilize every minute of your alone time, you should not use any of your gadgets. Turn them off and place them away from you to avoid distractions. If you need to take down notes, use a pen and paper. Studies also say that you will remember things better when you write them down.

4. Shift your mindset

If you’re still thinking that spending time alone is being lonely, now is the time to change that mindset. Try to avoid going in with negative thoughts and be open to the benefits it will give you. 

5. Do it consistently until it becomes a habit

If you will do your alone time consistently, it will not be hard to find time for it anymore and it will become second nature to you. You will also develop techniques on how to do it better and maximize its full benefits. Try not to skip and let it be part of your routine. 

How to have an alone time

Final Note 

At first, it can be intimidating to spend time alone but understand that it’s going to take some time to feel comfortable. Just let yourself relax and let your thoughts come out. The outcome will be a fresh mind with new ideas and new learnings. Eventually, you will realize that time spent being alone is not time wasted.

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Weekly Newsletters

Communication and Why You Suck at it

3: COMMUNICATION AND WHY YOU SUCK AT IT

I’m just kidding, you probably don’t suck at it.

But more than likely, there is work that could be done, and that’s what you’re about to read.

First, why do we communicate to begin with? A meta question that needs to be answered before we start solving an undetermined issue. At the heart of communication, it is about changing another person’s actions or mental state. Simply put, persuasion.

So when we communicate with others and with ourselves, how can we make our message as clear as possible? And what is the most effective way to go about that?

Let’s draw a metaphor. You are an archer and your message is the arrow. You step up and aim for the bullseye – that’s the objective of your communication. Maybe you want your boss to understand why you deserve a raise, or your friends to visit the new Asian-Ethiopian fusion gastropub that will definitely be your new hang out spot (it wasn’t).

When an archer misses the bullseye, she does not blame the target. The arrow that goes astray is the result of poor marksmanship, which also holds true to communication. Whether the situation is professional or casual, it is your job to hit the bullseye with your messages.

The primary reason why I wanted to start writing was to strengthen my communication strategy and increase my interpersonal skills. And I can go on and on about all the glorious things I’ve learned, but I’ll sum it up with this.

Your purpose for communication is to set an example and encourage a common sense of purpose.

Before you say your next pitch, craft your next presentation, or submit your next proposal, ask yourself these questions:

  • Am I creating a unified story to be told?
  • Is your passion clear in this?
  • Is my call to action something that others will want to join in?
  • Is your thought organized?
  • Would this excite others?
  • Do you know what questions to ask?

Start there and aim to hit your communication bullseye every time.

This is article #3 of “Getting Shit Done,” the muses of Kelly’s brain, broken down to easily digestible snippets and actionable tasks. Subscribe to future mailings by clicking this link: https://buttondown.email/kellymeng

Categories
Goal Setting

How To Commit To The Goals You Set For Yourself: Your Ultimate Guide

HOW TO COMMIT TO THE GOALS YOU SET FOR YOURSELF: YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE

The words goals and commitment are always connected in every aspect of life. Goals are often associated with personal achievements, future ideals, and career successes. Commitment gives a sense of responsibility and perseverance to ourselves and the thing we earnestly aspire. What steps have you taken to commit to the goals you set?

Have you ever thought of the things you want in life? Did you stay committed to the plans for your goals? It feels extremely frustrating when you fail on those plans, right? Things happen. It is a never-ending goal setting, trying and pushing ourselves to our limits, failing and then eventually, succeeding. 

Commit Goals in a computer

“Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.” – Jack Ma

Do not be deterred from your goals and plans. In this article, I have come up with an ultimate foolproof guide on how to stay committed to the goals you set without making constant alterations. 

  • Breakdown Your goal

Big GOALS -> current sub-goals -> specific actions

Once you’ve chosen a goal, broke it into small sub-goals and tasks it will be much easier to commit to goals. Come up with a clear and well-defined broad goal then try having a minimal breakdown of sub-goals. And yep, don’t bother planning every step. Listing down specific actions that support these sub-goals would suffice. At the end of the day, once you’ve done those specified actions you are a step closer to your goals. 

  • Doing Over Learning

Learning is a constant process. Whatever we do in life, requires us to learn something new. In the course of committing to the goals, it is best to prioritize doing over learning. There’s always room for growth and learning. Learn as you go, just when you need it. So smash those learning time barriers that are keeping you from doing. Don’t waste your time learning everything in advance, unless you possess some kind of perfect memory (which you most likely don’t). Make things happen by doing and taking the actions you set for. 

  •  “Planning” Time vs. “Doing” Time

Envision achieving your desired goal. Think about the plans and ideas you have in mind. Planning is essential during the entire process. However, you must exert more time and effort working on those plans. Planning sets a clearcut process for you, but spending too much “planning” time will keep you stagnant. Instead, make sure the blocks of “doing” time greatly outnumber the blocks of “planning” time. Always bear in mind that “planning” time is completely different from “doing” time. 

  • Commit yourself to consistency

Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally. It is what you do regularly and consistently. Commit to delivering something regularly. I assure you, it is life-changing.

For many people, planning and learning become a kind of procrastination. No matter how small it is, make sure you take a concrete step towards your goal each day (or week). Never let learning or planning gets in the way of delivering. Mitigate other distractions that would keep you sidetracked, as well. 

  • Be SMART

You may have heard about the SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) across the internet and in books. It seems to be the simplest rule when setting and committing to the goal. Yet, it’s powerful and highly recognized by most people.   

Narrow your scope and specify your goals. Make your goals objectively measurable and actionable. Focus on the life and career you want, then set your goals relevant to it. Again, time is gold. Set deadlines or create a timeline for your goals. 

  • Set Milestones

Think about where you are headed and give yourself less time. If you have measurable goals, then creating significant milestones is stress-free. Mark your calendars with ‘X’ in the future. It keeps on you on track of your daily or weekly progress in the future. If you miss the milestone, shut down the project, no excuses. Then find a project you care enough to finish. 

Claim it and commit to your goals!

Believe in the Law of Attraction. Your thoughts attract reality in your life. The most important outlook to have in mind is claiming that you’re going to achieve your goal even before starting them. Start working on what you want in life with positivity. 

Above all, remain steadfast in pursuit of your goals. Anticipate failures along the way but never give up and never give in. Stay inspired in achieving your goals and always find a reason to keep going.

Categories
Time Management

One Pomodoro Method At A Time

ONE POMODORO METHOD AT A TIME

Have you heard the POMODORO Method?

Lately, I have been wondering how I can increase my productivity. I tried different techniques and planned everything out but inevitably, I still get distracted. I ended up chasing time to meet the deadline. And it’s stressful.  

Let me guess. We’re on the same boat. You spend most of your time checking your social media accounts, watching episodes on Netflix, finishing the next level of a game, or perhaps, daydreaming, right?

Well, let’s cut the interruptions. Lessen your mistakes. Sharpen your focus. Time management is the best solution for procrastination. It’s time to head on to the real task at hand. I have discovered a helpful and effective method to get away from distractions and improve productivity.

It is called POMODORO Method.

What is POMODORO METHOD?

“Take care of the minutes and the hours will take care of themselves.” –Lord Chesterfield

Developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, this technique is named after a tomato-shaped kitchen timer that Cirillo used. Pomodoro comes from the Italian word which means ‘tomato’. Makes sense, right? In this method, you simply need to time yourself while accomplishing your task with 25 minutes interval. Of course, you may take a short break in between those intervals. These intervals are known as Pomodoros. 

The main aim of this technique is to work without the impact of internal and external distractions. Like a tomato that gets rotten in a sprint of time, getting distracted from all interruptions around you would lead you to irreversible bad outputs and unmet deadlines. No way! That’s worse than a rotten tomato. 

How to implement this Pomodoro method?

I’ve got this 5-simple core process on how you can implement this method and get everything done. I have also integrated personal concepts on each step based on how I attained them.

1.Pick a task.

First things first, you have to know what you want to accomplish at the end of the day. Think of the tasks you want to achieve. You have to list them down, include all those stuff you have stuck in your mind that you fail to do. Don’t mind whether those are minor or major tasks. 

2. Set a 25-minute reminder

Set a timer for 25 minutes. It is the traditional and ideal time interval of a Pomodoro technique. However, it’s flexible. Scrutinize how much time your task needs. If you need more than 25 minutes, I recommend you to still follow the 25 minutes chunk and make repetition based on how much time you need. In this case, you can check on your progress when it rings each time. 

3. Work on your task until it is done

Nope. It’s not the end yet. When the allotted time is up, it’s the end of your work NOT the process. Put a checkmark on the task you just accomplished. After the completion, take the remaining 25 minutes to REVIEW your work for any mistakes and insights from a learning point of view.

  • Stay focused
    Focus and concentrate. Work on the task and keep away from all distractions. Seal your mindset on finishing the task and ignore all the interruptions. Check emails, texts, and calls after the 25-minute interval. Don’t worry about the timer. Believe that you can finish it before the bell rings. 

4. Take a 5-minute break

Boost your productivity in this technique. You’ve achieved one task. Take a 3-5 minutes break. Breathe. Relax. Do something different than your task. Then, move on to the next task on your list. Once you’re done, review put a checkmark, take a break again, work, and repeat. At the end of the day, you will be amazed by how much work you’ve completed. 

5. Every 4 Pomodoros, take a longer 15-30 minute break and Have Fun 

It’s fun to do. I swear! You will enjoy the challenge of beating your procrastination, and the urgency you build will be helpful. You will find the thrill of learning and improving on each task. Reward yourself with a longer break after 4 Pomodoros. Also, celebrate those little accomplishments and progress you make.

How will Pomodoro Method change you and what makes Pomodoro so effective?

It teaches you to work on a single task at a time rather than doing many things and failing to accomplish any. We are naturally very bad at multitasking, so when we slow down enough to do the Pomodoro method diligently, we do our tasks a lot more diligently. It allows us to work promptly and achieve our target goal. This method makes us realize the clear essence of training ourselves to be distraction-free to get things done. 

Categories
Time Management

Top 3 Calendar Apps To Plan Your Life

TOP 3 CALENDAR APPS TO PLAN YOUR LIFE

The most basic way is to have a full-proof way to ensure that your meetings, appointments, and deadlines are clear and foolproof. Check out my personally selected the top 3 calendar apps that will make life easier.

As we get acquainted with the digital realm nowadays, one significant tool you must have (and actively use) on your phone, tablet, or PC is a Calendar app. Even though I’ve always loved the tactile feel of pen and paper, the digital utility of a digital calendar is so much more practical than the analog, and you should highly consider making the switch if possible.

“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”
-Henry Thoreau

I’ve personally selected the top 3 calendar apps based on reviews, features, and device compatibility.

1. Google Calendar

Google Calendar App

Get it from Web, Android, and iOS.

The first one that we will discuss on the Top 3 calendar apps is the Google Calendar.

What can you do with this Calendar app? Well, it has plenty of nifty features that you can use. Above all, it’s so simple to navigate so there’s nothing to fret. You simply need to have your Gmail address to start.

You can almost do everything for your solo schedules and even for you team’s event. Quickly start by scheduling and creating an event. Then you can add guests and location as you like, write descriptions and attachments, and set up notifications. Others may send an invite to you and you can respond to them too. In addition, you may opt to manage events, get an update, check guest attendance, and delete and restore deleted events too. By the way, you can create reminders so you won’t miss them out.

If you are working with a team, then this is definitely perfect for you. Because you can share your calendar and view other’s calendars, as well. Or why not create a shared calendar for your team? You can import and export events and calendars. Be sure to maximize the use of this calendar by customizing its look and integrating other Google apps. You can open your notes in Google Keep and to-do list apps in Google Tasks too.

2. iCloud Calendar

iCloud Calendar

Download it for free on your Apple devices.

Got an iOS, iPadOS device, or Mac computer? You have this default calendar app that syncs your calendar entries in ALL your Apple devices. Or you may also log on to iCloud.com from the web to access your Apple Calendar. iCloud account is all you need. Simple, right?

This calendar is flexible that it allows you to obtain information and details from other calendar apps like Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, and many more.

It offers everything you need from a calendar with stylish and limitless functionalities. With just a tap of your finger, you can create or add an event instantly; consisting of Title, Location, detailed Schedule, Alarm, Reminder, Invitees, and even Notes and URL. More to it is the birthday notification from your contacts, email, and so on. You won’t miss out on greeting and surprising important people in your life.
Never forget Siri, though. It plays a vital role in all apple devices. Siri suggests what you might want to do next, people you previously included, or events on your Calendar. An exclusive intuitive feature that gives an extra level of closeness to users.

3. Microsoft Outlook Calendar

Microsoft Outlook Calendar


It is available for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Web.

Make the most out of Microsoft’s Outlook with its very own Calendar. In order to keep up on the game of advancements with Google, Yahoo, and Apple, Microsoft Company upgraded its Office Suite with its key product versions. Of course, they did not disappoint us.

Connect. Organize. Microsoft Outlook gives us the powerful feels of having an intelligent management application. From email, notes, tasks, and contacts, you get to check them on your computer in a single view on this app.
Almost a ubiquitous platform to all users, Microsoft basically has this advantage to all employees and students. Work with the team by sharing your calendar with the team with privacy and use built-in Office apps. When I say privacy, you can select which information others can see. Expand your navigation. You may view your day, week, or an entire year in a glance or with multiple calendars side-by-side in one display. It allows you to multitask and be productive all throughout.

Outlook Calendar does more so you can do more every day.

What I presented is the most readily available tool and The Top 3 Calendar Apps that will make your life and career a lot easier to plan. This digital tool is just a support framework to reach your goals. Because the only way to take action is to have it scheduled in your life. Get a good grasp of features and functionalities you want to look for in your digital calendar. See if it is compatible with your device. You can write down everything to keep you organized. (If you feel overwhelmed and lost, you may also seek professional advice and support to keep you streamlined to all your personal and business ventures ahead.[keep this sentence in the sheet because I think I want to add this back on later when I have multiple services available, but not right now])

In conclusion, remember to implement concrete actions on those plans. Stay on track, even with little progress at times. Eventually, you realize that careful scheduling, planning, and organizing your target goals take you to greater heights.

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Uncategorized

A Utilitarian’s Review Of iPad Air 3: After Three Weeks

A UTILITARIAN’S REVIEW OF IPAD AIR 3: AFTER THREE WEEKS

Known for its top tier technological advancements, Apple releases innovative iPad versions every year with salient features targeting the right audience.

I had been thinking about buying an iPad for months but never bit the bullet. I did some practical research on which iPad to buy. Of course, I will never **not** be captivated by iPad Pro…the sleek design, the seamless bezels, and powerful processor enough to render my current desktop obsolete. Although significant, the powerful specs aren’t necessary by any means to me. Nor spending more money for the exquisite aesthetic feature it provides (i.e. the Apple pencil 2 and the ability to magnetically click on the side, or the Face ID).

Instead, I was rooting to buy the iPad Air 3 which has almost the same premium features as the latter. The iPad Air 3 soared in the market with wide and stylish display, powerful performance, comprehensible features, and way more affordable compared to iPad.

Not to forget the law of diminishing returns that happens between the iPad Pro and iPad Air. One of my favorite you tubers, Ali Abdaal put it perfectly in this video. Being more expensive to most people, iPad Pro is packed with best of the best features. Even so, iPad Air 3’s price tag is reasonably affordable but still giving the users the powerful processor, display and features that Apple is always known for. This definitely sets the line as to which sells in the market.

So, I’m going to do my best to review about iPad Air after using it for three or more weeks now. I’m no expert about in-depth context of this device as much as a tech reviewer.

What I’ll be sharing to you are my personal experiences with iPad Air 3 and how it fits into my life as a fairly utilitarian person.

1. The pairing with Apple Pencil 1 is phenomenal.

The ability to write manually without feeling guilty about wasting paper is a true phenomenon. It’s PAPERLESS. I need to write, draft, revise, and edit countless times with my work. And, this iPad Air 3 is almost perfect. A newer option would be compatibility with the Apple Smart Keyboard which would fit for my long writings. But my Logitech Bluetooth keyboard is perfect for me right now for iPad and desktop.

2. Easy to use features.

This is a no-frills device making it easy to manipulate especially when editing texts. I know. All devices allow us to edit or change any texts we type in. But its user-friendly features for texts, edits, and graphics has completely eliminated the friction between me and my creative work.

3. Overall cleaner for the environment.

Since I won’t be replacing this iPad for the next couple of years, there would be less paper to use and no disposal of device. So long as I can contribute for a greener environment, I will do so. Replacing old phones, outdated TV and obsolete tablets for newer models adds up the pile of electronic waste. Improper disposal of e-wastes can lead to pollution. As such, purchasing devices like iPad Air for long term purposes can help keep our environment safe.

4. The home button is still pretty good for me, at least.

On a personal note, the analog home button is more satisfying to use. There is a sense of familiarity but still new and serving its features like Touch ID. Even though this is still available in the newest model of the Air.

5. Enough processing speed for me and my need.

My work basically requires a lot of writing and other digital productions. I do play Sims too. I’m actually a fiend for Sims FreePlay. The iPad Air has A12 Bionic processor providing powerful performance. With that being said, iPad Air is more than enough for my work and personal needs.

Unrelated to my review but more something that I chose to do with my device. I refuse to install any video streaming – related like Netflix, Hulu, Youtube. By doing this, I am less inclined to making it into another video-watching machine. I can focus on the task at hand and will get the job done without switching tabs for movies and series.

My verdict? In many ways, I see iPad Air as a lot more beneficial and superior for me without costing too much. This everyday go-to iPad Air 3 inevitably yields me to a productive and best output especially with creative stuff like blog writing, planning, and organizing. And for those reasons, I am glad I decided to buy it although the new iPad Air 4 just came out. I like it the way it is. It allows me to create things with best quality.

Do always note that it doesn’t have to be expensive and up-to-date to experience the best. And if you are seeking the best bang for your buck, highly recommend checking out the video from Ali Abdaal about the best iPad for you.

Categories
Productivity and Task Management Uncategorized

The Big 5 Personality Traits: What They Mean And How To Use Them

THE BIG 5 PERSONALITY TRAITS: WHAT THEY MEAN AND HOW TO USE THEM

I am unique. You are unique, too.

Who we are can be defined by our thoughts, behaviors and feelings toward certain situations and people. These personalities can change over time depending on our experiences or highs and lows in life.

Remember being asked numerous times to describe ourselves in our past job interviews? This could help find the best candidate perfect for the position. Then I pondered on why this question matters. During some introspection, it led me to the essential notion of who I really am. I should know myself best, right?

I deliberately took a personality test that could aid me discovering more of my inner being. Learned about the Big Five Personality Traits which has been widely accepted and recognized over the years. It was started by Godon Allport and Henry Odbert (1936) who came up with a list of thousands personality-related terms. It was then further developed and studied by various psychologists through the years which later boiled down into 5 core factors.

To make it easier, simply remember the acronym ‘OCEAN’. Let’s delve into details with each personality traits.

1. Openness

This trait tends to seek new experiences, intellectual pursuits, and appreciation for arts. High scorers tend to have a high level of curiosity and being inventive in various ways. . People who are high in Openness are abstract
thinkers, while people who are low in Openness are concrete. It’s good to notice this in ourselves to become more open on new knowledge, especially if we want to venture on new places, customs, and businesses.

2. Conscientiousness

Do you also see yourself being efficient, organized, hardworking, responsible and goal-oriented? Well, you and I possess this personality of being self-disciplined and always targets achievement. People who are high in Conscientiousness tend to work hard to put their plans into action, Such, we aren’t easily deterred because we are driven seek success. This is normal if we aspire to leverage ourselves in life, both professionally and personally.

People who are low in Conscientiousness are less interested in longterm goals and more interested in responding to the moment.

3. Extraversion, often spelled as Extroversion

This refers to people who are social, outgoing, friendly and energetic. Are you one? Then you are the life of the team, energized by being around other people versus being by oneself and always a go-getter. But hey! Need not to worry. Being an introvert, doesn’t make you less of a person. You are the reserved and listener type, which balances the group.

4. Agreeableness

This is about our behavior with others. This is the tendency to put the needs of others ahead of their own needs. High scorers are typically friendly and cooperative and get along with others. Low scorers are people mostly concerned with serving their own interests When working on projects, better look for people with this attribute because we tend to adjust to suit others.

5. Neuroticism

Do you more likely feel anxious and pessimistic over insignificant situations? Or finds it hard to get over a simple mistake? In simplest term, you are emotional. How do you response to stress? Highly Neurotic people are susceptible to anxiety, depression, anger, and other negative emotions when subjected to stressful conditions. On the contrary, low to average score means that one can cope successfully with any stress or negativities in daily lives. Getting low scores on tests shouldn’t be a problem. On this test, low Neuroticism means we are more emotionally stable, calm, and resilient. And that’s a good thing! Overthinking and becoming a giant worrier doesn’t make a good outcome.

Of course, there are limitations to any blanket assumption of human behaviors. The results may vary from our mood and intuition on the day we took the test, or where our life was at that particular moment. But the most essential part is not the result, but the transition process of discerning our inner self while responding on each personality-relevant items. Results are computed and formulated with room for interpretation. Yet the progression of arriving to those results make us realize and appreciate who we really are.

Because you were different 4 years ago. And you will also be different come another 4 years. It’s interesting to think about our unique lives relative to the general public.

Keep in mind that no one has the same exact traits. Learning these traits within us can help determine our strengths and weaknesses.

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Productivity and Task Management

Top 5 To-do List Apps You Cannot Live Without

TOP 5 TO-DO LIST APPS YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT

I’ve got top 5 to-do list apps that will get you organized with your tasks and might as well, your life too. It feels overwhelming thinking all the things you need to do, right? How many times have you planned organizing them but failed? What if you missed an important meeting because you overworked on a trivial task? Slow down and don’t stress.

I got you. 

Let’s list them down, set priorities, schedule reminders, due dates and organize everything not in a notepad, but in an advanced to-do list applications. This way you can get ahead of your game and become more productive. I’m pretty sure you’ve come across many of these on the internet but pay no heed because you got a handful of tasks. 

Plus! I included the OS compatibilities that sync across all your devices and few key features. Check them down and see which fits your day-to-day need.  

Things 3

Things 3

(iOS/macOS only) 

This app offers wide range of functionalities without making you feel complicated. The elegant and minimal design makes it more appealing and simpler to organize. With easy drag and drop interface, it aims to perform all the to-do tasks effectively. Are most of your devices Apple? Look no further, this app’s version limits to iOS and perfect for people like you. 

Todoist

Todoist

(iOS/Mac/Android/Windows) 

Todoist is not a notable to-do list app in the market for no reason. Todoist gives you a complete balance of simplicity and feature-rich app. This app highlights the integration with Zapier. In other words, it automatically creates a Todoist task whenever your favorite phone calendar, emails, chat messages apps pop an event or happenings. You will even receive notifications from your email and SMS. Using a conducive natural language processing when adding tasks makes it easier too. Remarkable, indeed. 

Microsoft To do

Microsoft To Do

(Android/Windows/iOS) 

This is one of the most effective apps if you are using Office 365 and Outlook on a daily basis. Use this app so you can continue or rewrite whatever pending tasks 

you have. Similarly, it has numerous functionalities from daily task lists to folders and subtasks which are significantly useful. You can also set the level of urgency on task prioritization. In addition, you can share your list with anyone for better collaborations and distribution of tasks.

Tick Tick

TickTick

(Android/Windows/iOS)

Get your hands on this to-do list app that offers voice command making it convenient in adding on the list. Customize the themes to help you sort each task, especially if you are visually inclined. Also in order to achieve full concentration on the task at hand, you can time track your progress and move on to the next one. The rest of the basic features of other to-do list apps are also present.

Google task Logo

Google Task

(Android/iOS) 

A quick and easy, simple and minimal to-do list app that gives you basic tool management. It is integrated with all Google applications, so it makes your managing life stress-free. Just take note, if you are looking for advanced functionalities for collaborations and time tracking then this is not for you. 

Now, we have a clear-cut perspective of these to-do list apps. Here are some few bonus reminders you need to consider when figuring out which one’s for you. 

  • User-friendly and easy to navigate 
  • Design and template 
  • Tools for managing tasks and options for group or collaborations 

” Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” – Willie Nelson

 

Before navigating and getting immersed on these apps, what a better way to start a new endeavor but with a positive outlook. This is something you can never download but it’s a free app innately available within you. Visualize your work getting done and this sets the tone of your entire day. 

Have you finally figured out which of the Top 5 to-do list apps is best for you? Share it with me. Let’s free up your mental space and get things done.

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Uncategorized

Morning Pages: How 3 Pages Of Writing Can Improve Your Life

MORNING PAGES: HOW 3 PAGES OF WRITING CAN IMPROVE YOUR LIFE

Ever get those days where you have a hard time focusing on doing your tasks; whether you’re writing, taking calls, or just generally working on something? Have you tried writing morning pages? Do you recognize that feeling of having so many thoughts going on in your head that it hinders your productivity?

Writing Morning Pages is one of the effective ways to clear your mind to which I really recommend. They also help reduce anxiety and enhance your productivity throughout the day. You might be thinking, does it really work? Do I have to do morning pages in the morning? Let me answer those for you.

What Are Morning Pages?

Morning Pages originated from Julia Cameron’s 1992 book, The Artist’s Way. In the book, she explained that morning pages are:

  • Writing 3 full pages with a pen and paper
  • Done in the morning
  • Written in a stream of consciousness
  • Write anything that crosses your mind

Your Morning Pages is where you dump all the stuff that is going through your head. It’s like deleting files to free up space, so there’s more room for files or thoughts that will are helpful and will contribute to your productivity. Similar to Morning Pages, writing down any thoughts in your head to the pages will allow creativity to pop up, improve your focus, and relationships throughout your day.

How to Write Morning Pages?

It’s very simple. When you get up in the morning, instead of checking your phone and scrolling through social media, stretch a little, make your morning coffee or tea, take your pen and notebook, and start writing. The idea of Morning Pages is to clear out lingering thoughts to help address any concerns or conflicts you’re having.

One of the things you should know that these pages don’t need to be perfect! It’s completely fine to make mistakes and be honest with the pages. Don’t censor yourself as you write and don’t let anyone read your Morning Pages, not even yourself! Once you let people read your pages or even you, you could get conscious which can result to not being honest while writing.

Ideally, Morning Pages is the first thing you need to do in the morning. Don’t check your phone and proceed to write your pages. Avoid distractions. If you’re living with your family, a significant other, or with kids, talk to the people that you’re with and tell them that you will be needing time for yourself. Getting up early before them can be helpful too as writing these pages can take up to 30-45 minutes.

Another tip is using your favorite pen (this is mine!). Let your thoughts flow through the ink, to the pages. Writing on your pages will be SO much better when you’re using a pen you really like. Your handwriting shouldn’t be an issue too!

Can I Do Morning Pages at Night?

For some, it does take time to build a new habit. Morning Pages is just the name of the activity but you can do it any time of the day. If you’re not able to do it in the morning, writing your pages before bed is fine. Although that could be an option, I highly recommend that you write your Morning Pages in the morning, incorporate it to your morning routine, for it’ll allow you to plan and adjust with whatever can happen in your day.

Establishing a new routine may be difficult for many, but being able to practice decluttering the thoughts in your head through pen and paper in the morning will be a game-changer.