Have you been thinking about traveling? Going away for the Christmas Holiday? There are some important things to plan weeks, and even months before traveling. The following few tips are the most important that you should consider before escaping to the tropical islands or even simply visiting your family in a different state or province.

1. Passport, passport, passport. This is now the most important thing to plan for months before your vacation. Passports are extremely important for going outside your country even from the US to Canada, Canada to the US. Passport procedures can be a lengthy affair because getting together all the appropriate material will take more than a few hours. Also, you may need to take a day off from work to go and sit for hours in a government office. Finally, once your passport papers are submitted, it can take awhile, especially since you won’t be the only one getting away for Christmas. Planning to get your passport months in advance will also allow a buffer time if anything goes wrong, like losing your application.
2. Travel insurance. You may need to shop around for this. Travel insurance is a must for traveling and many will say, more important than the passport. If anything goes wrong, no matter where you are, you’ll need something to lean on. If nothing goes wrong, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that you will be covered if the unforeseeable happens. When I traveled years back I found the medication I needed was nearly double in the country I was visiting than back home, so having travel insurance eased my stress of not being able to afford it. I had bought insurance for 50$ where my medication came out to approximately 200$. This is a minor case, and imagine you or a loved one needs surgery or helicopter transportation because this could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Insurance is worth buying so go ahead and find your best deals.
3. Photocopies of important documents. Another important tip would be to make photocopies of your itinerary and passport. Bring a photocopy of your passport with you to use it as a backup in the event that it gets stolen or lost, because you do not want to be trapped in a foreign country with no identification. Also, leave a photocopy of your passport and itinerary at home, that way if worse comes to worse you can have it faxed asap. If in the event you go missing, I would not wish then on anyone, your family or friends will have an itinerary of where you are suppose to be and when. This will be a great help for local authorities to start a search.
4. Research laws, before traveling to a foreign country, or even state or province. What may be legal in one state, country or province may not necessarily be legal where you are going.
5. Customs regulations. If you will research laws as above, make sure you research the foreign country’s customs, too. When visiting, you should accommodate the best you can their rituals and customs, especially if not doing so will harm someone physically or psychologically. For example, some countries believe that pictures will steal their soul, so before taking a picture, ask the natives if they would mind.
6. Vaccines and other prevention. Know as much as you can about the country because you may need to get a special vaccine to keep you away from lots of nasty diseases. Call your friends that have been there or search the internet, but make sure you don’t miss this one on your list.
7. Money, money, money. These are not Abba’s lyrics is just a way to make sure you can come back home. When you plan a budget for your vacation you should know that anything can happen from buying something that you don’t need or maybe a lost luggage that would empty your pockets. You need a small reserve stashed somewhere. Be it a hidden credit card or a few hundred dollars in the secret pocket of your wallet or a traveler’s check you need to make sure you have it.
8. Check your gadgets. You will need a cellphone in case anything bad happens so don’t forget your charger. You may also want to take pictures, that means batteries and enough storage devices.
9. Luggage. If you fly then the first thing you should know are the items you can and cannot bring with you. Also make sure you stay under the radar with the weight of your luggage or the companies will charge you extra. Don’t forget to tag your luggage, or you will say thank you in case they send it wrong.
10. Misc gadgets. You may want to take your shaver, toothpaste and toothbrush, clothes for all kind of weather (you never know if forecasts are correct) and so on. Make a list of what you need before you start packing anything and just check on it what you’ve put in already.
11. Check your car. I have a few friends that would drive 3,000 miles instead of taking the airplane even if the price would be the same. If you’re car traveling or you just can’t fly in an airplane, then I suggest you to get your car for a check up. Tires, engines, lights and every other important parts should be checked before you leave.

These tips will help you better plan your vacation and to have a better time after you get there. You shouldn’t have to worry about medical expenses or being trapped in a foreign country! You should be enjoying the new culture, the new places and people!

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There’s so many times in life that we sit back and realize that despite using our time well, there’s still a lot of spare time we have. Just in case you’re not one of those who find that kind of time then there are two possibilities. Either your time is mismanaged or you really work 24/7. Being busy at all times may make you seem very involved in your work and other chores, but honestly does it spell out productivity.

What is productivity and is my life productive?

If you’re working in regular office jobs there’ll be times you’ll hear the word productive. The company gauges you on your productivity. It refers to the amount of work you can complete in a specified time. So each month you’ll be judged on your average handling time, attendance, discipline, timeliness, sales conversion and the likes. All of this is calculated and the company decides how productive you are for them. Truth is all of us strive real hard to be amongst the most productive employees at our work place. If this is true then why is it that we don’t gauge our personal life’s productivity?

The missing link

If we are so ready and willing to please at our work places which is just one aspect of our existence then why do we take things for granted around the people who matter the most. This is true in so many people’s lives. You’ll wake up, dress well and be willing to go that extra mile to finish your work and please the superiors. You create an impression amongst your colleagues and you’re well liked and appreciated at work. But is this the same at home? Do you make the same attempts to make sure your contribution and productive on the personal front match that of your workplace. At home you’re so relaxed because you can support on your family unit. You know that anything you leave undone or incomplete will be taken care of by someone around you.

The tell tale signs

This is how it is for most of us. If we’re expected to stay a little longer at work and finish a task, we may complain, but we’ll still complete it. However if your visiting your spouses family or have just gone out, why do we get agitated when expected to stay a little longer with the family? Why do our thoughts revolve around, how will I wake up in the morning, or I’m really running late, instead of just enjoying the moment?

The family cushion

Yes many times that’s what it really becomes. Each of our families however different they be, are the stronghold of our existence and that’s why we are here today. Every too often, we take this very family for granted. It’s our safe zone where everything we do is forgiven and everyone around you is making adjustments including you. A family is strong enough to survive anything and that’s why we just keep pushing the limits so often, what we don’t realize is the more we push, the, more they adjust. Friends and family make suggestions, but they don’t really complain even if they are hurting.

Review your productivity

Apart from the work front, you have a life, a very real existence and isn’t that what you’re working so hard for. Your attempt to strive for the better isn’t wrong but your negligence is. Do not neglect the people closest to you. Make yourself as useful around the house and be as involved in the lives of those around you. It’s a lot more rewarding and adds a beautiful meaning to your life. Let your productivity not just soar at work but let your life’s productivity be optimum. This isn’t as difficult as spending long hours at work. Spending family time, helping with household chores, dropping the kids to school, going to the fair with them, eating together at dinner, talking after along day, inquiring about friends and relatives, helping with the gardening, grocery shopping and even cleaning around the house builds your productivity at home.

So next time, don’t just sit back. Get up and do what it takes to make a difference

In everyday life even when things seem just right or lets say perfect you may still find yourself in a position where getting out of bed and getting started seems a mammoth task. This isn’t really because you’re physically tired though that’s an accepted situation which can happen to the best of us from time to time, but I’m talking about sheer lack of motivation to go about doing anything.

When you don’t feel the urge or need to do anything despite there being enough to do around you, you simply have lost your motivation somewhere. This could be more of a mental setback than anything else. You first need to sit back and analyze the situation and know what has caused you to lose hope or momentum, whichever way you put it.

1. How to analyze yourself
   The best thing, is take a break, a very short one if need be. This will help you unwind and best thing your head won’t be filled with thoughts related to your line of work. When you get that off your head, you’re free to introspect and focus on your thoughts. This can work wonders, because with nothing else to worry about you can be attentive to your inner needs. You’ll get the time and opportunity to look into yourself and find out what it is that’s missing. You can ask yourself all the necessary questions and seek answers.
2. Don’t give up
   There could be times when despite all the thinking required, you still don’t find any answer at all or maybe what you think about isn’t satisfactory. Don’t let this get you down. This is only a momentary lapse and this phase will soon pass. And quite honestly it’s absolutely fine if you don’t have all the right answers because if we knew it all we wouldn’t be who we are.
3. Re-plan
   At times like this when you can’t seem to find that much needed motivation, go a little further back and a little into the future and think why the plans that you have made are not working. If this is what is troubling you it’s time to be a little more realistic and revise your plans. This can work very well for you, because with a whole new approach you’ll be opening more doors and finding that much needed opportunity. Don’t compromise on your dreams, just find the right approach.

Once you’ve taken care of the above factors, there’s not much left to worry about. When it comes to motivation it’s true that you can find it in everything. A hard working colleague, a friend who is organized and manages to keep up a smile even at difficult times or even from little events that happen in and around your life.

But sometimes even this maybe short lived because euphoria and motivation are not really the same thing. The secret is to find your inspiration and identify your calling because it’s important not to lose inspiration. Keep your spirits high by doing the things that inspire you and don’t let daily troubles get you down. If it’s a favorite film, a good looking actor, an exciting football game, a good looking model, a morning activity like jogging and keeping fit and so on and so forth, the list is endless, don’t let these things become an event of the past.

Inspiration and willingness

Motivation is as much a factor that’s present within you as much as it is around you. If from within, you don’t feel the need to be motivated then no amount of outward motivation can get you up and going. Motivation may be inspired from great leaders like Buddha, great warriors like Alexander or great human beings like Mother Theresa. But that’s only half the job. You may like them, respect them but they’ll never inspire you enough if there’s no willingness within. So don’t wait and sit back for motivation to creep back into life. Find your motivation and let it work wonders for you.

And a few examples

If you’re low on motivation, enroll in meditation session, listen to a discourse, read an inspirational story but remember that all of this things didn’t come about in one day and are not mere feel good factors. There’s a lot more truth and history to them than we’ll ever know. So find your motivation, do the hard work and seek the inner truth, that’s what’s going to keep you going. Your true motivation lies in your everyday life and how you lead it.

The choices are yours and you don’t need to be highly educated, qualified or learned to identify where motivation has its roots. It’s different for each of us. So go find your inspiration today and live this motivated life.

You know it and I know it that the Holiday season is very close, with Thanksgiving coming up and then Hanukkah or Christmas shortly after, you might be on the verge of cracking. Stress and worry might be creeping up on you.

Chances are, this will only get worse as the dates grow closer so I you may want to take a look below for a few tips that will help you relax and make the most of your Holidays because this is the time of the year when you shoud feel the peace in your soul rather than your heart pumping faster and faster.

1. Get enough sleep
   The less sleep you get, the less able you will be to cope with stress and anxiety. This creates a vicious circle as with more stress and anxiety the less sleep you will be getting! As days go on, you’ll be more tired, more stressed and the consequences are that more and more things will not get done. This can be nipped in the bud from early on, sleep the right hours a night.
2. Eat right
   You will need your energy to get through this eventful time so don’t skip meals and eat lots of energy filled foods. Keep away from alcohol and sugars that will make you more tired in the end.
3. Do not overdo and set your limits
   There is only so much one person can do. If you are in charge of getting the family together, cooking or decorating you might feel like you are drowning in responsibilities. Set your limits before starting any one thing. For example, you need to call your family and friends to invite them over for Thanksgiving dinner. Set a time limit to how long this task will take. Family and friends love to talk, simply remind them of how busy you are and that you will have plenty of time to chat during dinner in a few weeks.
4. Split the work
   Bring in your husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, children, friends. Ask them to pick a task that they think they will be able to do. Not only will this alleviate the burden on your shoulders, by giving them the option to pick a task, but your partner(s) will not feel pressured into helping you thus reducing resentment.
5. Do not spend too much money
   Money restraints generate a lot of stress. Budget well and keep to the budget. This will reduce your stress during and after the holidays. Many know how much stress is caused by getting that credit card bill the month after Christmas. If you don’t spend more than you budgeted for, paying your holiday bill will be smooth and void of stress.
6. Do not get stressed if your plans aren’t working out as planned
   Some things you just can’t avoid and I’m thinking of cancellations right now. Plan ahead for possible complications and if something happens that you were not prepared for, breath, relax and know that stressing out will not solve the problem. It is only with a clear mind that you will be able to work through any complication.
7. Finally, cooking for the holiday stressing you out?
   Have a buffet! Have your family and/or friends bring something for the big day. Keep track of who brings what so that you don’t have fifteen salads and no cookies. The atmosphere will be warm and you’ll get lots of food on the table so everyone should be happy.

Following these tips will reduce your stress during and after the holiday season. The most important tip up there is the fact that you shouldn’t skip out on sleep or food because this is what gives you energy. You are not Superman or Superwoman and more importantly you don’t have to do it all.

By organizing and splitting the work you will enjoy the holidays as they should be enjoyed: by not worrying about, if everything is perfect.

[photo by danusunt]

Have you been thinking about starting a new exercise program but do not know where to start? Have you just started a new program and do not know where to go from there? The following few tips should be taken into consideration before and during your new exercise program!

1. See a doctor before. This is crucially important. You should tell your doctor about your plan to start exercising so that your blood pressure, your lungs and your heart can be monitored! You might even need a specialized plan when considering your condition. This is where a trainer will come in handy.
2. Go slow. We all want to lose that 20 pounds in one week. We all want to see changes right away and we might either take too much on at once or get discouraged and stop. I suggest planning each routine and taking note of your weight every week. That way, you can see the pounds going down on paper though you might not be able to see the changes on your body.
3. Go with someone. I am sure either your boyfriend, girlfriend, friend or family member wouldn’t mind getting in shape with you! Going with a friend is a great motivating factor. Not only will you keep each other on track, it will make the experience that much more enjoyable!
4. Eat right. There is not much point in working out when you eat fast food three times a day! Though exercising would be better than nothing
5. Go even on holidays. Some people tend to slack off when holidays or days off come around! Even if you are traveling…your hotel could have a gym where you could work out or a simple jog every morning could be just right.
6. Spice up your routine. Doing the same thing can get boring, so have a few routine workouts planned, and alternate them!

The hardest part of any exercise program is starting it and then maintaining it. These tips are a good guideline to get yourself into gear to start and keep exercising. Your physical and mental health will benefit from the efforts you put out so Get Exercising!

[photo by tisfitness]

We all know that adolescents and adults can suffer from low self-esteem. Little attention is paid to the self-esteem of younger children. Who would have thought that children could suffer from low self-esteem from the moment they develop a self-concept? The following tips are a few among the hundreds that can help you and your child build a health self-concept.

1. Give the child a chance to contribute to the family!
   Let him/her pick out a task or chore that s/he wouldn’t mind doing during the week. This task can be changed weekly. Even something simple can help the child feel like they are contributing to the well being of the family. An example could be letting the child dress himself or letting him help fold socks.
2. Encourage the small things.
   Sure, we all notice the big things that children do, for example getting an A on that hard math exam. It is important to encourage these big things as well as the small things! It can be something as simple as the child putting out the garbage without being asked to. Watch what the child is doing, for example, praise them on a drawing they are doing at the moment.
3. If they don’t succeed but they tried hard, praise them still!
   Children are very aware and touchy about failure. Telling them it’s ok to fail is extremely important.
4. Pay attention to them!
   It is often the case where children go unnoticed in families as a consequence of busy schedules and routines. Well, making just an hour a day to sit down with him/her to go over the day can help boost self-esteem. Feeling neglected and alone often leads to low self-esteem.
5. Talk with your children about their feelings!
   Children learn to appraise their emotions from their family and environment. You can be a guide to understanding their emotions by simply letting them talk about what made them happy during the day, and why. What made them angry during the day, and why. From here, you both can devise ways of helping the child understand emotions like anger and sadness. These emotions can sometimes be confusing for a child. An example would be a child being angry at his best friend. This might lead to dueling emotions. Yes, their friend made them angry but they still like that friend and want to play with their friend. This can be confusing for children!
6. Get your child involved in the community.
   Visit elderly homes, get them into sports. No matter what the task, children’s self esteem will flourish when they have a chance to be part of the community.

These are just a few of a whole list of things that you can do to build and maintain your child’s self-esteem. Healthy self-esteem is related to creativity, productivity, happiness and overall well being. So any help you can give them sets them on a good path.

[Photo Source: Flickr]

“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” that’s what Paulo Coelho said, but not many of us live by this principle. Is it just another of his literary genius or is he one of those that knows the real secret of this world and understands the true meaning of our existence. Yes the secret is what our life revolves around. It is simple and the more we believe in it the more it proves its existence in every sphere of our daily lives. The secret is about wanting something. It isn’t about asking someone around you for it but about believing in the fact that you want something and asking for it from the forces of the universe. This simple truth may be told to you by a believer, or may come to you through chanting or even by life’s simple examples. The real thing here is to truly want something and believing the fact that it will come to you. If you strongly believe what you ask for will be yours.

The truth

There’s no greed in wanting something as long as it’s not for the wrong reasons. We all have the right to be happy and ask for the little joys of life. At any given time we could be in a difficult situation and may need help of any nature. At times like this let go of your inhibitions and with an honest heart ask for the help you need. You needn’t do this in a religious surrounding and neither do you need to call your best friend. You simply need to ask for what you need and that’s as simple as it gets.

The reason

If you’re wondering isn’t this as good as wishful thinking, yes it is but it is also much larger than that. If you believe that the world is a lot beyond just what meets the eye and that there are happy spirits around us that are there to help and see us through life, then the reasons won’t be important because you will understand it with ease.

The argument

In reality when you make an earnest request it certainly won’t go unanswered just like they say when you pray without asking for incorrect reasons. It is your belief in the forces of this world that enables your wishes to come true. A simple reason being, when there’s something in your mind you consciously, semi consciously or unconsciously work towards it. That’s one part of the job done. The rest they say happens because you’ve been graced.

Acknowledge

Once you start believing that things happen because you asked for them, be grateful for every such gift you receive. Believe in the graces you receive and be thankful each time. Consciously acknowledge such occurrences around you and keep your faith.

Spreads the good word

Once you begin to believe in such graces, spread the message and help others realize this truth. It is a great gift that you can give to others. It instills faith and allows them to be thankful for the millions of small gifts we receive each day. Honestly it is all about realization and appreciation of things that happen around us and in our lives. It is true that sometimes we work very hard to attain something and the happiness at the end is worth it. But the other reality to everything that happens in our lives is that things happen because they’re meant to be. So acknowledge your life and realize you’re special and that’s why you receive so many gifts each day. Pass on this good fortune to others and keep asking for everything you need. There are too many forces in and around us that are always at work even when we sleep. There is harmony around us that lets things happen when they need to.

Express your gratitude

For the good fortune that you experience ensure that you pass it on to others. Do good to others, when you’re in a position to help. You could be their angel for the moment. It is about selfless giving and stepping in to help when you know you can, because honestly not all help is monetarily bound. There are many things each one of us is in a position to do to put others out of their present worry.

So, step up and help, because sooner or later someone else will walk into your life and help you. Each day is new and each moment you can give. Experience the joy in helping and consequently receiving because for every godd that you do to help the secret grow, there is a blessing in store for you that always comes into play when you need it most.

[photo copyright wanzw]

Yes, you heard right, deal with every problem that comes your way, and this need not necessarily be the most difficult problem. There’s a very effective solution to all your problems. You need not have your problems grow on you. Deal with them as soon as they turn into a problem. For this you simply need to categorize each problem as minor or major. Yes that’s all you have to do. Make your life easy and trouble free by exercising a few things that you are already aware of.

Things to do when you feel down and under

1. Take a deep breath.
   At first, take a deep breath and calm down, and a deep breath doesn’t mean just one. Slow down, sit and exhale in and out. Do this a few times and you’ll feel much lighter.
2. Make a list
   Once you feel a little better take a pen and paper and start writing down all the matters that are troubling you. Yes start with all your problems and include payments, bills, housing, clothing, appointments, invesments or anything that should be done.
3. Categorize your problems
   Carefully listing all your problems will ensure that you don’t forget anything for the last minute. This helps you prepare while there’s still time than do a last minute job of something that’s important to you.

Once the list is there in front of you, you have a realistic idea about the extent of matters that need to be taken care. Now divide the events in your list into things that can be resolved immediately and those that need to be left for later.

The right action

Once you know your immediate problems, solve then. Quite simply if the light switch needs to be repaired get it done today so you won’t wake up with the same problem morning after morning. This is the best gift you can give yourself. Instead of having the problems grow on you; deal with it as soon as you can. So with the light switch repaired you can happily remove it from your problems list and get on with the next effective action. This way you’ll have less weight to carry on your shoulders and can deal with your problems as soon as they arise, if it presents you with such an opportunity.

When you’re able to deal with you smaller problems on a daily basis, you’ll be able to lead a more relaxed and hassle free life because you won’t be bothered all the time. Simply there won’t be things that cause worry at the back of your head every waking minute. This offers a much more relaxed outlook and keeps you stress free.

Identify with your problems

It’s all about being able to identify your problems. It’s necessary that you accept and acknowledge the fact that there are many issues you have to deal with on a daily basis, whether big or small. So, it’s best that you don’t sleep over your problems because that way they’ll only mount. Resolving smaller matters with urgency leaves you with a less crowded head so you can think freely about the more serious aspects of life.

It’s always better to be aware about things that you know need to be taken care of, rather than sideline them and deal with it all in the last minute. You don’t need to rave about your problems at all times, but keeping matters of importance in your head makes you aware of them at all times. As such, when the opportunity arises, you’ll be able to resolve an issue immediately because it’s all so clear in your head.

Let there be motivation

Whether it’s in the best interest of your family or personal well being, it’s important you take care of things in the right manner. This way you not only ensure a personal peace of mind but will be guarantying a secure life to your loved ones. Having your problems weigh you down will not only rob you of your calm and peace but will slowly affect the wellbeing of your family. They will be troubled about your wellbeing and in time will start to take your tensions upon themselves. Let this not happen. Take the right action today so all of you can live in harmony and peace. Do not let your problems make you snappy and lash out at others, its’ not their fault. Maybe it’s not even your fault, it’s just a situation, like many others good or bad, it’s an opportunity to move onto the next stage of life, so deal with your problems and accept what comes on next instead of being bogged down by your present state.

So far you’ve written out your lists of Career, Financial and Personal Goals. You’ve gone through each of them and refined them after giving each a more in-depth look. Now it’s time to move on to the next step and pull it all together.

Find those revised and refined pieces of paper. The ones I had you write out all your career, financial and personal goals on 3 sheets of paper and then I had you use them to refine each category. It’s now time to take those out again.

Take 5 new sheets of paper and divide them into 3 sections each. Label the sheets 1-month plan, 1-year plan, 3-year plan, 5-year plan and 10-year plan. Label the sections on each sheet Career Goals, Financial Goals and Personal Goals. Take the original 3 sheets of paper and put each goal listed on them on the appropriate sheet, in the appropriate section according to when you would like to accomplish them.

Once done, take each sheet and section by section prioritize each goal. For example, you may have decided you want children in your 5-year plan and you want to be established in your career. Decide which is more important to you and give it a higher rating. If you see anything that needs to be added, or removed, do it now. You want this to be the last time you have to revise for at least a month.

Once again, and for the last time, rewrite those 5 sheets with each goal listed according to priority. Everything should be clear and organized by this point. You should be able to look at them and clearly see where your priorities are for each and every category and time frame.

Next time I’ll walk you through what I think you should do with those 5 finely tuned pieces of paper. I’ll talk about how often you should review them, update and modify them. As tedious as this may have been the end is almost near and, by now, you should have a sense of accomplishment and a sense of direction.

[Photo Source: cjelli]