10 Tips to Manage Your Time Effectively Under Pressure

Do you ever feel the need to be more productive and organized in order to accomplish much more than what you are doing right now?

Time management is one of the most important skills that you need to develop in life. With effective time management, you enable yourself to become more productive at achieving the goals and objectives assigned to you at work. You also get better in achieving the ones you assign to yourself in daily life.

In this particular article, you will find 10 useful and effective time management strategies that will boost your productivity dramatically.

Conduct a Time Audit

To acquire the skill of time management, you need to figure out where you spend most of your time and what you accomplish in that particular time. Track all your activities for a week and evaluate them to find areas that need improvement.

For example, if most of your time is utilized in unproductive meetings and low-priority tasks, try to reschedule your agenda. That way, you’ll bring more positivity in your daily routine so that you accomplish more than what you are currently doing.

Prioritize your work according to the weight and importance that each task carries. The most important and heavy tasks should be performed first so that you can relax your mind whilst performing the less important tasks.

Prepare for Meetings in Advance

When going to a meeting, be clear in the points that need to be addressed in the meeting. This will help you save precious time which you can use in other productive tasks.

In addition to this, share the meeting agenda with your colleagues and subordinates. This will help make sure that they know about the topics that would be discussed in the meeting.

Set Time Limits

Before you start performing a task, make sure that you set a timer for that particular task. This will let you know how long it will take to complete it.

By setting time constraints, you will focus more on your work and you are more likely to complete it on time. In case you still fail to complete your tasks in the given time, examine the workflow. Eliminate the unnecessary breaks to complete the tasks in a timely manner.

Plan Your Week

Plan your week on a Sunday so that you know your priorities. Make a full-fledged plan regarding the activities that you have been assigned so that you don’t forget anything.

After completing the tasks, mark them done in your notepad. This will allow you to simplify your assignments and you will have a better idea about the time you need to put in to complete your work.

Create a Daily Plan

Before starting with your daily routine, take a few minutes to make an outline of the tasks that are lined up for that day. This will enable you to know how much time you can spend on each individual task.

Moreover, knowing the time will help you gain motivation for the day and you will be able to perform better.

Most people find the first hour of their day more productive. If you are one of them, use this precious time to complete the most important tasks of your day.

Block/Ignore Distractions

When working on a high priority task, make sure that you enable the “Do Not Disturb” function in your smartphone and laptop. You can also go offline by logging out of all social media networking sites.

It is worth mentioning the fact that you should not consider multitasking when doing something important. When you multitask, you are dividing your attention into several other tasks and you lose focus.

Don’t Wait for Inspiration

Instead of waiting for inspiration, create the perfect environment for yourself to work. Waiting for inspiration is a waste of time and businessmen do not have time for such things because time is money.

Keep your mind busy and stay away from daydreams because these emotions also tend to waste your precious time. Similarly, instead of striving for perfection, strive for your best performance and perfection will automatically follow you.

Organize Your Messengers

Keep your inbox organized at all times because, with everything classified, you will be able to find the right email without wasting any time. People with cluttered inbox usually lose important information at the time when they need it the most.

In order to organize your messengers, you should:

• Keep your inbox clean
• Archive messages that are important but do not require immediate action
• Store the files attached in the messages in order to access them later when needed
• Use filters to assign labels to all the incoming and outgoing messages.

Use Your Calendar

Keeping a calendar at your office desk is always a good idea to keep track of your upcoming meetings, routine tasks, and events. Mark the tasks that are done and complete the ones that are left so that you can enjoy your leisure time doing fun activities.

You can also download a calendar app in your smartphone in order to know when exactly a certain task is due.

Balance Your Life

Take full responsibility for your work and take some time out to relax your mind. Research shows that relaxed and peaceful minds perform better than the ones that are always tensed up about work.

The key to a stress-less mind is a balanced life. Have a great time with your friends and family when you are not at work because you deserve it.

See Also: How To Increase Your Productivity By Harnessing Dead Time

Conclusion

Your time belongs to you

Therefore, instead of wasting it in unproductive tasks, utilize it to accomplish the goals that mean something to you. Delegate some tasks on your subordinates and teach them how to perform better. That way, you can spend your precious time doing something that others are not capable of learning and executing.

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The Most Overlooked Secret to Dealing with Life’s Problems

How many times has life slapped you in the face with something unexpected?

Well, most of us have experienced that a lot of time. We all have problems and they will never go away. They will just change form.

At one point, you may be struggling with health and then money. And the next thing you know, you’re having problems with your relationships. That is both the curse and blessing of life.

However, you don’t have to suffer because everything isn’t perfect in your life.

Behind the Scenes of Problems

Nothing becomes a problem until you label it so.

You’ve probably noticed that different people have different opinions of what problems are and how much attention should be given to them. This means that problems exist in our heads.

We create them, define them, and fear them.

I, for example, am great at worrying about problems that do not even exist and I’m sure you’re no different. But that doesn’t change the fact that problems are made-up.

The One Thing You Have to Know

The secret to dealing with life’s problems is to realize that they are illusions of our imagination. Sure, they feel very real. I’m not denying that.

Imagine that you’re driving your car merrily down the highway. Then, someone cuts you off.

You might fly off the handle or you might not. It will depend on how you perceive the situation.

It’s an excellent example of how some people create something to complain about where others are completely fine.

Life will always have “problems” and the way to deal with them is to let them be. You don’t have to try to analyze, fantasize or figure out your problems. Let them figure themselves out. The more you try, the more you fuel the problem and the more miserable you become.

This doesn’t mean you need to stop solving problems. Instead, you just have to stop the compulsive worrying and fear-mongering inside your head.

How to Stop the Compulsive Worrying

You can stop the madness by simply staying present and letting whatever happens be. This can be extremely hard if you bump into a problem that is important to you, but it is through those big problems that the biggest changes occur.

For example, I tend to freak out whenever something threatens my health. I can even go into a cold sweat which I did a few weeks ago about a possible dental issue.

Despite that, I remained present. I observed my own body and mind without fueling it by thinking and trying to figure it out.

I was the observer of my thoughts and you know what happened?

The thoughts lost momentum and disappeared. The freak out ended within 30 minutes. Some people are so good at freaking out that it goes on for years or, even worse, their whole life.

Why is Life so Hard?

Life can seem tough from time to time, but it is through those tough times that you grow as a human being. It’s uncomfortable, yup, but that’s life.

It’s a roller coaster with both highs and lows so you might as well learn how to deal with it. The more comfortable you become with life’s problems, the more you’ll enjoy life’s gifts.

See Also: 5 Simple Ways To Cope With Life

Conclusion

Life is what it is and most of life’s problems are created by us. The problems are events in our life and no one is denying that. However, the extrapolation that we do freaks us out and then we wonder why we feel so bad.

It’s a life-long habit most of us have cultivated which means we can change it. But change starts with awareness.

So, today all I want you to do is be aware of how you worry and freak yourself out. Then, simply watch your thoughts. You will be pulled back into the drama of your mind, but gently pull your attention back to just watching what goes on.

Be kind to yourself, and enjoy both the highs and the lows.

Written by Henri Junttila who writes at Wake Up Cloud. There, he shares his personal tips on how you can live the life you know you deserve. When you feel ready to take action, get his free course: How to Find Your Passion (And Build a Business Around It). 

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How to Be Adaptable in 11 Simple Steps

Whether it involves your work, family, relationships or life in general, changes are bound to happen. And to be able to live with those changes, you need to be adaptable. You need to be able to face the changes head on and accept them for what they are.

If you are having a really hard time making the necessary adjustments, below are some tips on how to be adaptable you can totally try.

Stop whining

What do you do when something terrible happens?

Majority of people start whining as soon as they find themselves in a difficult situation. It’s normal but this reaction leads to nowhere.

If you’re one of them, don’t stay at a standstill. Instead, learn to accept the situation, adapt to it, and move on.

There’s no ‘right’ and ‘wrong’

Eliminate ‘wrong’ beliefs from your life. We used to believe that many things are ‘wrong’ and must be avoided, but it’s not the case if you want to be successful.

Be bold enough to try things that others run away from. This trait has helped many successful people build companies, corporations, and fortune.

Improve your coping mechanism

The way you deal with personal and professional setbacks may significantly affect your future success. Discover your coping mechanism and consider changing some aspects of it.

If you usually switch strategies to overcome various life challenges, try to forge ahead, learn from mistakes, and try again. Don’t run away from them. Instead, change what’s not working with your coping mechanism.

Be open to change

New things aren’t necessarily bad things. No matter how you slice it, changes make our lives better. Unless you’re doing something that can damage your health and overall life, feel free to experiment with spiritual, personal, and professional worlds.

See Also: How to Become a Spiritual Badass – The 20 Laws of Spiritual Power

Have the whole alphabet for your plan

Successful things don’t happen overnight. And this is where you may need the whole alphabet rather than the first three letters of it.

When Plan A doesn’t work, switch to Plan B. If it still doesn’t work, move to Plan C. If 20 plans don’t work, move to Plan W or Y. This way, no change will scare you.

Engage in a positive self-talk

I’m not telling you to sit and talk to yourself every morning or evening. That’s kind of madness, right?

But positive self-talk every now and then can help you adapt to any changes faster, especially if you have no one to encourage and support you during the rough times.

Stick to your natural inclinations

If a situation doesn’t come naturally and you have trouble coping with it, turn to your natural inclinations. If you’re an extrovert who draws the strength and inspiration from talking to other people, no matter whether they’re family members or total strangers, make sure you talk to them.

If you’re an introvert, spend some time alone. Analyze the situation you are in and find a solution. Do what you feel is right to you.

Think big

You can greatly improve your adaptability by learning to think big. Break through the limitations you’ve set for yourself. Let go of them. Expand your horizons. Set realistic goals and you will never feel like you failed.

All of these will not only help you be more adaptable in the future, but will also show you the road to success.

See Also: The Power of Thinking Big

Don’t blame yourself

… and others, if you have this habit.

Adaptable people know their personalities and they always keep reinventing themselves in order to adapt. They don’t blame themselves for mistakes, failures, rejections, traits, and doubts. They do realize that if they can’t change it, they must accept it.

Blaming yourself or others is just a waste of time. Focus on improvement, not the past.

Learn how to balance your life

Trying to succeed in all aspects of life is great, but you risk ending up feeling miserable in case of a failure. Create a balanced life, instead. After all, it’s impossible to adapt to all changes in all aspects of life, no matter how strong you are.

When you’re balanced, you feel grounded, calm, clear-headed, inspired, and motivated. Take time to look at your life, and figure out the aspects of it. You are either neglecting or paying too much attention to it.

Stop waiting

… for the right time, right place, success, happiness, money, people- you name it. Just stop waiting.

When it comes to adaptability, there’s no ‘right’ moment. You have to take action to cope with the hard stuff. You can either influence or accept it. There’s no other choice.

Adaptability isn’t a part of success; it’s a part of life. It’s vital for a happy life. Although some people are adaptable to circumstances by nature, you can master this skill as well. It will take time, patience, and effort but it will all be worth it in the end.

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Tor vs VPN – What is Your Preference?

No one can expect to be 100% secure online where internet freedom is becoming scarce, and cyber attacks are lurking in every direction. It is important to seek the right tools to protect your online security and not live in a fool’s paradise.

Keeping that in mind, users globally are suffering at the hands of geo-restrictions and are not able to surf the web freely. Multiple victims and organizations are suffering because of government espionage. And, thus, it has become difficult to stay secure online. Our every move could be and probably is being spied and recorded.

In light of the security concerns, two tools can help you protect and preserve your internet freedom. Tor and VPN are the two leading tools that, if, used properly would give you the ultimate online security to ever exist.

However, users compare the two tools together with the latter being very different from the former. They both serve the same purpose. However, their way of functioning is the exact opposite and the performance differs. Before you judge the tools and come to a conclusion, let’s make you spot the difference and see which is the better choice.

But first, let’s see how it works

Tor, known as the ‘The Onion Router’ was first developed and initiated by the US Naval service; Tor protects the connection by re-routing your data through multiple layers of encryption that creates a secure tunnel around your network.

Tor functions as a Network of servers which are called “nodes.” Every time you request something such as trying to connect to a website, the connection is routed through different nodes before it reaches the final destination. This may hinder the internet speed, but the connection remains encrypted throughout and is decrypted when it arrives.

Tor solely works on the number of people which can be called volunteers; however, a Virtual Private Network (VPN), on the other hand, routes your online traffic through one or two servers max before the online request reaches the final destination.

The VPN has its own set of servers spread globally on multiple locations. After the connection is bridged with the VPN, your connection will be established through a new IP while your real IP will be spoofed. All your online activity will be sent and received from that IP address while the real IP will be hidden from everyone.

Type of Protection Used

Through Tor, the connection is encrypted and re-encrypted on each node, and each server can see the IP address only that precedes it and which is followed further. But the server cannot see the entire connection, just a partial glimpse of the IP address.

With Tor, there is a weak spot between the last node and the destination where the request is sent (this is where the data or information gets decrypted). Also, it is quite risky being a volunteer on the exit node; the entire online activity will come from that server.

The VPN works differently. You can assume to be encrypted the whole time from sending requests from your device to the final recipient. While Tor only caters to one request at a time, the VPN will encrypt your whole connection as long as you are connected to it.

The VPN could get a sneak peek at your information, activities, and IP. Still, the majority of the VPN services ensure privacy and anonymity with a zero logging privacy policy. That indicates the VPN does not retain any logs, doesn’t monitor nor does it share details.

What Are They Mostly Used For?

If your country has bizarre internet restrictions and needs a solid fast way to browse the internet freely, then Tor is a fine choice. Tor can also be used to hide your online activities from government and mass-scale surveillance.

Meanwhile, VPN has multiple purposes. With strong encryption inclusive of the tool, it becomes the best option for securing online privacy. A reliable VPN will allow you to stream and access geo-restricted content from anywhere and keep your identity and IP address hidden from unwanted hackers and government prying eyes, allow you endless gaming, downloading files and much more.

See Also: 11 Cool Ways to Use VPN

The Outcome

Well, it is obvious which is a better tool. Tor is an excellent option if you are looking to protect your anonymity online while you browse, but Tor is limited to this feature alone. VPN is a far better option because it provides 100% safety and privacy online.

Tor can never provide the level of encryption that a VPN provides because VPN uses multiple different protocols including OpenVPN, SOCKS, PPTP, etc. It also implements security features such as double VPN, kill switch, static IP and much more. All of which enhance your online security like a steel vault.

For a safer approach, you can keep both the security tools and enhance your online security.

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7 Simple Exercises For Improving Your Posture

Your posture can affect not only how you hold yourself but your overall health as well. It helps prevent injuries as you work out and allows you to have better balance. It results in a greater range of motion and reduces chronic pain, too.

If the way you’re holding yourself isn’t quite how you want it to be, here are seven exercises to improve your posture.

Doorway Stretch

Using an open doorway, place your right forearm against the upright doorway with your arms bent and your biceps held parallel to the floor. Once in this position, lean forward to allow tension to build in the right side of your chest. Do this for about 10 seconds, then repeat 3-5 times before switching to your left side.

A good deal of back pain is actually due to bunched up muscles in the chest. When we slouch, the muscles in our back become strained and our chest muscles become tight.

With this exercise, you can loosen up those muscles, allowing you to achieve better posture easily.

Plank

Place your forearms on the floor with your body aligned in a straight line to where you are balanced on your toes. Hold yourself in the plank position for 30 seconds to 1 minute and then relax.

Repeat this exercise 3-5 times. If you have difficulty with this position, you can modify it by going to your knees rather than your toes.

Building up your core is an important part of improving your posture and planks are excellent for developing greater core strength. Also, once you have become comfortable with the plank, you can try other plank positions so you can keep building up your core and overall posture.

Dumbbell Side Bend

With a dumbbell on each of your hands and standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, bend toward your left side. Then, come back to the center position before bending to the right side. Continue to alternate between sides for about 10 times.

This movement focuses more on building up your obliques. As your side muscles are developed, it will be easier to maintain good posture. Also, this exercise can help loosen the tension which has become built up in your back due to previously poor posture.

Back Extensions

Start by lying on your stomach with your hands outstretched in front of you. Then, raise both your arms and legs as high as you can. Hold the raised, extended position for 30 seconds before you release. Repeat the exercise 3 to 5 times.

By doing this exercise, you can help elongate your spine, switching between the flat position and the flexed position.

Chin Tuck

This exercise is simply performed by tucking your chin in until it touches your chest. Hold this position for 15-30 seconds before releasing. Repeat 3-5 times to help release the tension that builds in the neck, shoulders, and upper back with bad posture.

As you perform this movement, you will feel tension running from the back of your head to around your shoulder blades. You can easily do this exercise while at work to help alleviate some of the tension in your upper body.

Hip Flexor Stretch

Kneel down on your left knee, with your right leg in a 90-degree position. Brace your hands on your right thigh, then press with your hips forward until you feel a comfortable pressure in your hips.

Make sure that your upper body is held upright with your abdominal muscles flexed to maximize this posture-fixing exercise. Hold the hip flexor stretch for 30 seconds before relaxing and switching sides.

Office workers and those who need to sit for long periods of time can really benefit from this exercise. It targets the lower core muscles and can help loosen up tension which builds up while sitting.

Shoulder Dumbbell Shrugs

Stand with your feet hip-width apart and a pair of dumbbells in your hands by your sides. Make sure that your shoulders are relaxed. Then, raise your shoulders up in a shrug motion, hold it for a few seconds, then lower your shoulders back into a neutral position.

This exercise can help build up the muscle in your shoulders, chest, and upper back, allowing you to more naturally have better posture.

By doing these various posture-strengthening exercises, you can start enjoying better posture.

See Also: 6 Sleeping Tools To Help You Sleep Better And Alleviate Back Pain

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How Social Media Seriously Harms Your Mental Health

Social media forms a major part in the lives of millions of people all over the world. It has become a platform that connects the whole world and we attribute many other wonderful benefits to it.

However, despite all its advantages, social media still has ways of harming our mental health. Various studies have shown social media to be a leading cause of depression and all sorts of emotional trauma all over the world, among other negative effects.

We’ll be discussing some of the reasons why social media is bad for mental health.

It dismantles self-esteem

One thing about social media is that people have the opportunity to upload everything that goes on in their lives. Many times, we get intimidated by the seemingly perfect pictures that people upload on social media or by their so-called perfect dates and relationships.

This seriously damages one’s self-esteem, especially when things are not going so perfectly in your own life. This consequently breeds envy, depression, and lack of confidence.

By making the world connected, social media has led to several people judging their lives and happiness by other people’s standard.

See Also: Social Media Causing Depression and Anxiety: Is It True?

Fear of missing out

As our friends and family share pictures of all the good times they have on social media, we often end up feeling like we’re missing out on something important. This feeling is accompanied by social anxiety and low mood.

Stina Sanders, who has over 100,000 followers, admitted that she frequently suffered from this as a result of her friends’ social media uploads. They sometimes made her feel lonely and anxious.

Sleep disruption

You would have experienced this at one time or another. Social media keeps us awake, sometimes until late at night, causing us to have fewer hours of sleep.

A professor at NinjaEssays once wrote that the effect of less sleep on mental health is not limited to depression and unhappiness alone. Other effects include mood issues such as bipolar disorder, a feeling that we are less happy than others, and neuroticism.

Research indicates that people who have terrible sleeping cycles were 6% more likely to be depressed. 9% were more likely to be unhappy than those who had good sleeping habits.

Bad body image

This deals particularly with the female gender, although it can affect male also.

Girls are more concerned about their body than boys. This means that they are more likely to be affected negatively when they see models or even colleagues with “perfect bodies” on social media.

Psychologists have traced this as one of the main causes of negative body image. It’s the culprit behind inferiority complex and even eating disorders among many teenagers. It leads to mental pressure and anxiety in individuals.

Addictive tendency

No addiction is good for mental health, including social media addiction.  According to a scientist, receiving likes, wonderful comments, and earning followers on social media release dopamine into our brains. These cause all the pleasure we feel when they happen. It causes our brains to expect and anticipate some forms of pleasure when we post on social media.

This explains why we find it difficult to quit social media and why we are glued to our phones. It affects our concentration, leads to depression, and causes anxiety as well.

Stops you from enjoying real experiences

We live in a world of filters.

Several people feel uncomfortable uploading pictures from events and outings without first applying all the filters and beautifying features on their social media apps. Psychologists have stated that the more time we try making our social media experiences perfect, the more we lose the ability and the time to enjoy and be happy about experiences in other parts of our lives.

Besides, you can get sorely disappointed and sad when your upload gets very few positive reviews after spending a lot of time perfecting it. That’s simply terrible for your mental health!

See Also: Social Media: Open This Pandora’s Box At Your Risk

Conclusion

According to a study carried conducted in the University of Pennsylvania, a decrease in the time you spend on social media would largely decrease the level of stress, depression, and loneliness that you feel as you go through life.

On this note, we conclude by saying that while social media is indeed packaged with a lot of benefits, for the sake of your mental health, you should reduce the time you spend on it. Your mental health starts with your habits!

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What Happens If You Delete A Paid App On Your Iphone or Ipad?

At times, you may download a new paid application to your iPhone or iPad. You try to make it work, but it just doesn’t function like you hoped it would. What happens if you delete paid apps on iPhone or iPad?

How To Restore a Paid Application

People make mistakes. That is a fact of life. When you toggle around your electronic device, you might hit the wrong button, key or open the wrong screen. You might accidentally delete a paid app on your iPhone or iPad.

Does the application store keep records of who purchased an app? Can I get reimbursement for my deleted app? Does it matter if I paid for it with a credit card?

Most application stores maintain their purchase records for a long period of time. If it has only been a matter of weeks or months, you have the best chances for success. Many online companies keep records even longer for their internal sales and marketing employees. Your information is valuable.

Revisit the application store. Your payment process might still be in the system. Go to your purchases and lick the app in question. It should give you a pop-up window saying that you have already paid for this application.

Do you want to download it? Then, just re-download it.

Also, check to see if the same application is available or if there is an upgrade. You want to get the latest version of your app. However, you might need to download the latest iOS version to make it work.

If you have any problems, contact the customer service at the website. You are probably not the first one to have deleted paid apps on iPhone. Maybe they can help you out.

Any purchase with a credit card is likely to have a detailed record of the transaction. If you have a problem with any purchase, you can contact the seller. Banks will allow you to cancel a credit card transaction if something was faulty with the merchandise. This is the extreme situation.

Syncing with iTunes

Apple iDevices have created an amazing system of backups where your iPhone and iPad can sync with iTunes. Even if you have deleted an application on your device, it might still be in iTunes. Check to make sure.

See Also: How Do I Send All Calls On My iPhone Direct To Voicemail?

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