Frugal Shopping Technique

Are you a victim of mindless buying? Many of us are guilty for it. Sometimes, there is this funny feeling of having not enough, that we end up buying things we already have or buying extras, just in case.

Heard of buyer's remorse? It happens after you make your purchase. So, here is the technique to go shopping with more of things we really need and less of extras and things that we don't need.

Write down your budget - NOT CHANGEABLE

Take the trolley as you always do.

Fill it up with items you see and want.

Feel free to keep feeling your trolley like you've got endless source of cash.

Now, for the brutal cut-offs

Filter Round # 1

Round the supermarket again and back to wherever you picked your item at each different sections.

Ask yourself these:

Is there something else that can replace this item that I already have at home?

What if this isn't available, am I able to survive and do things as normal ?

Filter Round # 2

Now, you might have less items in your trolley, take out your budget you have written and look at your items.

Now ask yourself :

"I only have this much and NO MORE. Which item will stay and which one have to go?"

There you go, a simple frugal shopping technique for your groceries ( or any kind of shopping).

Sometimes, I play the game of limit to say, 10 items and I carefully select which one I will buy and which one will have to go.

You don't have to talk to yourself out loud if you don't want people around you to think you are a little looney. It's just like talking to the inner child of you saying " No, you can't have this now because..."

End of your shopping, congratulate the inner child of you who wants everything off the shelves for being good and for being able to compromise.

Less junk, less extra things that will end up collecting dust in your home and less things lying around.Also, you will be trained to stay within your budget and have a sensible, frugal living.

6 Simple Ways To Beat Procrastination

Procrastination can cause a lot of consequences. We procrastinate because a task is not our favorite, we don't feel confident, it is boring and repetitive; and many more. There are many reasons why we procrastinate and sometimes, we felt like we actually do not know why we procrastinate. If we dig deeper, there is always a reason. It's because we are use to avoid certain things, it became automated and buried deep inside us.

It's not easy to get the real reason out if we are not use to it, however, here are some easy tips on beating procrastination. Use these methods until you become used to it and soon, you will find that it will alter your procrastination habits.

1. Daily Pocket List

Create a list on what you need to do daily. Make it as a checklist and when do complete a task, check it out. Focus on the list until you finish. Don't make it too overwhelming or you will soon drop this idea. Put 5 items. Check each one off as you complete and if you still have time after check out the last item, add 1 - 2 items more. Put bite-size tasks so that it is more manageable.

2. Keep a calendar

Use a calender and place it on the place where it is obvious to you. If you keep it hidden, you will forget about the things you are suppose to do and will render it useless.

3. Time box

Time boxing is a method used in project management. You put a time frame for a certain task to ensure you complete it. You can use the same method but for a daily basis for smaller tasks. Setting an amount of time to complete a certain task can force you to be discipline and focus on completing the task.

4. Work environment

Create a space where you can work efficiently without much distraction. If you have too many gadgets or items that are non-work related, it can distract you. Clutter is also a distraction. While some may claim to be immune to clutter, it is a safer bet to be clean and organized. Keep the basic things you need and keep the rest at bay. There are many work places that encourages employees to keep a clutter-free desk for safety and productivity.

5. KISS

The same old method that is still effective for many uses. Use simplicity to keep focus. Don't open too many files and folders on your computer. It is easy for us to multi-tasks and easier to get distracted by so many tasks. Keep other works away when you work on one. Multi-tasks has greater risk of procrastination because psychologically, when we see too many tasks, we get overwhelmed, our attention span becomes short and risk making more errors. Set time aside to reply or read emails, chats and phone calls.

6. Mental Note

Tell yourself to get over it, just do it so that you will have time and not worry about it later. By ensuring yourself this, you will be more focus in completing the task because you are aiming for the reward of being free from it. Be your own mentor and encourage yourself the benefits of completing it.

There you have it, 6 easy ways to change your procrastination habit. If you do it long enough and make it a habit, you will boost your productivity and lose the bad procrastination habit.So, let's do it!

How To Get Over Anger Super Easily

In a day, it is possible that we can encounter some unpleasant experiences that left us fuming for the rest of the day. Guess what? If you happen to come face-to-face with such incidents and still feel the anger and bitterness in us, we have just lost our precious time.

Time spent on thinking or replaying the incident is time that is lost forever and not claimable. Why would you want to lose it? I am not implying that you are being wasteful or not appreciating it (time) but emotions, thoughts and feelings got the better of us and it IS a hard thing to control if we do not have enough practice.

There is an age-old method of getting over little things that makes us angry and cost us a lot of time and energy through count breathing. Unfortunately, like everything, it does not guarantee that we will be left unscathed by the incident.

Here is what you can do. Take a piece of paper or make a note on your computer by listing down all the important things in your life. You can list things like health, family, job, money, security, knowledge, etc.

This is for keeping your cool and not letting yourself snap on really small but really irritating incidents such as someone cutting you off on the road, unjustified remarks, petty games that most of us sees and experience in life. After all, these are small things and the purpose here is to help you keep cool and stay poised.

For example, if someone cuts you off on the road, or was doing irrational and annoying things like swerving and universal infamous sign languages, let them go off and try to avoid them. It is not a cowardly thing to do and besides, you are just at the first stage of receiving inputs. Let them off and while they are gone, recap about the 5 most important things in your list.

Did the person who cuts you off or swears cost you money? No. So, say to yourself "I didn't lose any money. So there is nothing to be angry about."

The key here is to go back to your list and ask yourself if you lose any of the things in your list. Simplify and think very simple reasonings.

Did my health went a notch lower (at the moment)? No. The other driver is risking his/her life driving reckless. As long as I did my part, I've done all I can.

Did I lose any money with them swearing? No.

Did my reputation went bad? No. He was the one being aggressive/rude/demanding and was only smearing his own reputation in public.

Well, there is a saying that goes

" If someone gives you a gift but you don't take it, to whom does it belongs to?"

Stay cool, calm and collected. Those are not your focus in life and you have better things to focus on such as the priorities in your list.

Zen for Mondays

Hello, it's Monday! The day that attracts a lot. Loads of traffic on the road, loads of emails, loads of news about the weekend, and of course loads of groans because, well, it's Monday. Here are some tips for zen and productivity improvement.

Sleep earlier

Set yourself to sleep earlier the day before and get yourself at least 7 hours of sleep. Getting enough sleep and rest is essential for the first day of the week. It's slow moving but requires a lot of energy especially to pull through the week in momentum. Have a good start and you will have a equal momentum for a moderate pace along.

Get up earlier

Waking up earlier can make a whole lot of difference, even if it is just 10 to 15 minutes early. You will have more time and be more prepared. You won't feel rushed or sulky and even less prone to little problems. Your tolerance to obstacles will be better.

Your own pace

Just like a car, when you first move, it will be slow at first, and then speed will eventually pick up. Now, imagine you are just at the initial stage, revving up for the week. Don't let the emails or the long list of tasks get to you. Go on your own pace and focus. Soon, you will notice you've done most of the things from the list.

Eliminate distractions

Try to avoid distractions and get things done first. Laser-sharp focus is important and equally hard. But you will benefit from it. Make a checklist and tick items off as you complete. Do this with little breaks in between.like a 10 minutes interval so that you don't feel all weary and tired with long hours. Simply take a short walk to stretch those muscles. Be strict and don't allow more than 10 minutes of disruptions.

Be on time

On time to go home at the agreed time. This is not going overboard to do just once a week. Arrange for your favorite activity and a sport or hobby would be better. Exercise can boost your energy and mood level.

It is important to not overuse your energy level on the first day of the week. Have an energy planner for the week so that you can stay consistent.

One thing for sure is, if you start it wrong, it can cause a domino effect to the days along the week. Why spoil it but live in the moment? Take one step at a time and have a nice week ahead!

Thoughts about : productivity , productivity development ,zen, personal development

Simplify And Get What We Want

I love minimalist, simplicity and de-cluttering, all for the better to be more productive and getting things done easier. I guess it's all we need to get out the complexity lifestyle hands over or at least, I have to keep it simple and manageable so that I don't waste time, energy over small details than maintaining the whole picture.

Minimalist or simplicity for productivity is very useful as it can be applied to other aspects of life. It's not only for work, but in our home, in our personal finance and in so many more.

There are little things we always get caught up in that keep us away from reaching our goals. If we learn the tricks and trade of how to keep the little things away, we can get more things done, have more time and certainly save a lot in energy, time and money.

Time for some awareness and mindfulness in what we have around us. Remove what we don't really and keep what we need. If that is what that can keep our focus on the big picture, then it is worth it!

Thoughts about : productivity,personal development,minimalist

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finding yourself scattered, shattered and broken down, pulled by the side of the highway...

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Thanks and welcome to Effortlessly Poise!