9 PROVEN WAYS TO CHARGE UP YOUR MOTIVATION

Ever felt unmotivated and simply not in the mood to do anything? Yeah, me too. Our productivity plummets to an all-time personal low as we drag our feet around on things we should be doing. It can be frustrating. When left unchecked, this lack of motivation can get out of hand. Rather than let your productivity yo-yo based on your mood, you should learn to get in control of the situation and counteract with self-motivation strategies. Below are 9 strategies to deal with situations of low motivation.

1. Design your vision
   
   
   One of the biggest reasons why we are not motivated is because we are not connected with our vision. Specifically, the vision of what we are trying to achieve. What are you working so hard for every day? What do you want to get out of this? What is your dream outcome? What are your end goals? What will excite and spur you to move forward?
   
   
2. Get clear on the 'WHY'
   
   
   Lack of motivation can come from losing sight of the "WHY" - why we do the things we do. We are so busy with work and managing different areas of our life that every day turns into a routine of activities. It becomes a race to get as much done, without consciously evaluating why we are doing all these things. Why do you live? Why do you do the things you do? Why do you slough away at work? What is it for? What do you want to get out of it? These are all important questions to ask ourselves, and important questions to have answers to. If you don't have the answers, perhaps it's time to seek them out.
   
   
3. Have deadlines
   
   
   Your goals should come with deadlines so that you will be spurred into action. After all, by Parkinson's Law, work takes as long as the amount of time we give to it. Not setting a date can cause us to slack off and dwindle on the task. If we set deadlines, we will be triggered to get things done by that date. Specifically when do you want to achieve this? What is your cut-off date? Subsequently, set the deadlines for your weekly and daily tasks too.
   
   
4. Take a rest
   
   
   Sometimes when we feel unmotivated, it's cue for a rest. Just like a car with no fuel needs to be refueled, if we run out of energy, we need rest. I was in a slump before and it took me a couple of months to realize it was because I wasn't resting at all. I was just working day-after-day and my mind and soul rebelled by taking a hiatus. I couldn't get new ideas for my writing and some items on my task list became chores rather than enjoyments. So, stop doing whatever you are doing and take a breather. What are some of your hobbies? Spend some time doing them. Get away from your computer too. Engage yourself in things that interest you. Go take a walk in the park, hang out with friends, listen to music, rest, watch a movie, etc. Simply relax. It'll give you renewed focus and energy.
   
   
5. Do things you love
   
   
   Sometimes, lack of motivation is a sign from our subconscious that we're not doing things we love. Do you spend a good portion of your time doing things you don't like? This applies to anything, from hanging out with people you don't like, or doing work you are passionless towards. You don't need to do things you don't like to do. If you feel dead towards something, then stop doing it. There's no point doing things you don't love. Life is too short to be spending it that way. Create an action plan to get out of things you don't like and move towards things you love. As long as you keep yourself stuck with things you feel dead towards, you will forever be held back by them.
   
   
6. Soak yourself in motivational materials
   
   
   Surround yourself in inspirational materials, such as self help books, podcasts, inspirational stories of people, inspirational speeches, motivational quotes and personal development blogs. 
   
   
7. Surround yourself with competition
   
   
   One of the best ways to motivate yourself into action is through competition. When you are in lone man's island, it's easy to descend into a mode of stagnancy. However, when in the face of competition, you will push yourself to do better and better. Look at your goals, and see how you can spice things up with competition. Trying to lose weight? Get friends with similar goals to join in and see who can reach the goal the fastest. Want to grow your business? Benchmark yourself with some of the top people in the industry.
   
   
8. Hang out with motivated people
   
   
   As Jim Rohn says, you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Do you notice that when you are around positive people, you become more positive afterward, even when you are by yourself? Similarly, when you hang around motivated people, their vibes will rub off you naturally too. It's kind of like diffusion. You will get motivated and be triggered to take action.
   
   
9. Remind yourself of things you are grateful for
   
   
   What are the things you are grateful for in your life? Your family? Your friends? Your health? Your life? What are the things that make you happy to be alive and motivate you to live? List down all the things that you feel grateful for in a document somewhere. Feel the gratitude and love for those things that you have. Chances are, there is at least someone in this world who wants this but is unable to get it. Whenever you feel unmotivated, look at this list. It'll remind you of things worth living for.
   
   
   Article: Credit to Dumb Little Man

SECURE YOUR SAVED PASSWORDS IN FIREFOX

One of Firefox's most convenient features is its ability to save the passwords you use to log on to web sites - like your webmail and online banking - so you don't have to type them in every time. Those saved passwords appear as asterisks in the password field, but did you know how easy it is to see what they are? In Firefox, from the Tools menu, choose Options, and in the Passwords tab hit the "View Saved Passwords" button. Then hit "Show Passwords." Yup, there they are, all your high security passwords in plain text and full sight. I kid you not.

Try it. Right now. I'll wait.

Now consider how easy it would be for your Firefox-lovin' housemate to log onto your Gmail, or the computer-sharing temp at the office to get into your checking account or your other half to discover all your pr0n site logins. (Ok, we're just kidding about the porn. Maybe.) Not such a great feature anymore, eh? Today we'll go over a lesser-known feature in Firefox which secures your saved passwords without requiring you to give up the convenience of those autofilled login details.

Back in that password dialog (Tools menu, Options, Passwords) there's a "Change Master Password" button. This master password is a SINGLE password that will unlock the rest of your saved passwords from prying eyes. It's a password you'll have to enter once a session - so each time you restart Firefox. (Click to enlarge.)

When setting the master password, the fox has a neat "Password quality meter" which displays how difficult your password is to crack. Try different combinations of words and numbers and symbols to get this secure-o-meter as high as possible. For example the passwordlifehacker scored very low on the quality meter, but *l1f3h4ck3r* was about 90% hard to crack. (Click to enlarge image.)

Now, the trick here is to pick something you will NEVER FORGET. In the words of the venerable Firefox, "If you forget your Master Password, you will be unable to access any of the information protected by it." 'Nuff said.

Once your Master Password is set, close Firefox. When you reopen and go to a page where you've saved a password - like Gmail - you'll get a security prompt like so:

This prompt is a bit of an inconvenience, but it buys you the peace of mind that no one else is logging onto your sites without explicit authorization. Plus you only have to enter it once a session, a great alternative to "type every password in every time" for paranoids who never save passwords in the browser (like, um, me.)

Article: Credit to lifehacker

10 SICKNESSES OF THE HEART

Ibrahim Bin Adham ( May Allah S.W.T have mercy on him) told these sicknesses of the spiritual heart to a group of people who asked him why their doa’s weren’t getting answered. In other words, if you want your doa’s to get answered, reflect on the conditions below:

1. You believe in the existence of Allah S.W.T, but you do not fulfill Allah Commands.

2. You say you love the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W, but you do not follow his Sunnah.

3. You read the Al-Quran but you do not put it into practice.

4. You enjoy all the benefits from Allah S.W.T, but you are not grateful to Allah.

5. You acknowledge Syaitan as your enemy but you do not go against him.

6. You want to enter Paradise but you do not work for it.

7. You do not want to be thrown into Hell-Fire but you do not try to run away from it.

8. You believe that every living thing will face death but you do not prepare for it.

9. You gossip and find faults in others but you forget your own faults and habits.

10. You bury the dead but you do not take a lesson from it.

Article: Credit to IloveAllah.com

THE ETIQUETTE FOR SOLAT AL-JUMUAH

"O believers, when the call is proclaimed for the prayer on Friday, come to the remembrance of Allah and leave off business, that is better for you if you but did know." [Al-Jumuah, 62:9]

Purifying and cleaning oneself

The person intending to perform Solat al-Jumuah is highly encouraged to have ghusl (full bath or shower). The majority of the scholars are of the opinion that the ghusl for Solat a-Jumuah is recommended (sunnah) but not obligatory. The ghusl is performed starting from the time of Fajr Prayer. Also, if a person performs ghusl and then later invalidates his ablution, he need not repeat the ghusl. Making ablution (wudhu) suffices.

Going early to the masjid

There is a great reward in going early to Solat al-Jumuah, beginning after sunrise. By leaving for Solat al-Jumuah, one gets the reward of waiting for the Prayer, making dhikr (remembering Allah) and voluntary prayers during that time. Abu Umamah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam) said, "The angels sit at the doors to the Masjids and with them are scrolls in which they record the people [who come]. When the Imam appears, the scrolls are rolled up." Abu Umamah was asked, "Does the one who comes after the Imam still have a Friday Prayer?" he said, "Certainly, but he is not one of those who is recorded [as coming early]." [Ahmad and al-Tabarani]

Dressing well for Solat al-Jumuah

This is a special time that requires Muslims to appear in the best manner possible. One should therefore put on his best attire for Solat al-Jumuah.

The Prophet (sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam) said, "If one has the means, he should buy two pieces of clothing, other than his work clothes or [everyday clothing], to wear on Friday." [Abu Dawud]

Performing tahiyyat al-Masjid

If a person comes late to the Friday Prayer while the Imam is delivering the khutbah, should he pray the two rak`ahs of tahiyyat al-Masjid (prayer of greeting the mosque) and the sit or should he simply skip them? The strongest opinion is to perform the tahiyyat al-Masjid based on the Hadith of the Prophet (sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam): "If one of you comes to the Masjid, he should pray two rak`ahs before he sits" [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. However, tahiyyat al-Masjid is not required of the person giving the khutbah. Also, this requirement is limited only to prayers offered in a Masjid.

1. Walking to the Masjid whenever feasible as there is a reward for every step taken to the Masjid.
2. Avoiding stepping over people to get to a particular spot in the Masjid.
3. Avoiding dividing two people who are sitting together.
4. Not making someone stand and taking his place.
5. Sitting in the front rows and close to the Imam whenever possible.
6. Remaining quiet while the Imam is delivering the khutbah. This actually includes listening to the Imam and not playing with anything while the Imam is speaking.
7. Going to the Masjid in a state of calmness and not being hurried.
8. Reciting surah al-Kahf (surah 18) as an authentic Hadith states: "For whoever recites surah al-Kahf on Friday, it will be a light for him from that Friday to the next." [Al-Bayahaqi and Al-Hakim] The surah could be read any time of the day.

Indeed, Solat al-Jumuah is one of the most important acts of worship in Islam. The Prophet (S.A.W) has described the wonderful blessings and benefits that Allah has vouchsafed upon Muslims through this magnificent act. Knowing how important this prayer is in Allah sight, Muslims must do their best to perform it in the best way possible. They should strive and sacrifice for the sake of this Prayer.

Article: Credit to IloveAllah.com

5 SIGNS OF MALE BODY LANGUAGE FLIRTING

Body language flirting actually reveals all the answers you will ever want to know. All you have to do is look for the following six signs. They are very clear, subconscious indications of male attraction, which most men have no control over, so they are very accurate. One on its own will be a hint in the right direction, but if you see three or more then you should definitely take note!

The first sign is something that seems to be very obvious, but it will give you a good idea of his attraction towards you:

1. Is he smiling at you?

If the answer is yes then he is clearly interested in you. If a man has no interest in you whatsoever he won’t smile or try and engage you in this way. This sign of male body language flirting shows you that he is aware of you and wants to get to know you better. So if you like him, the best thing to do is – of course – make sure you smile back!

2. How much preening is he doing?

This is another classic sign of body language flirting. If he likes you he will want to make sure he looks his best and makes that clear to you. By smoothing his hair down and paying more attention to his appearance, he is unknowingly sending a clear signal to you.

3. Is he trying to assert his masculinity?

Men who do this by standing with their feet apart and striking a macho pose are trying to look better than every other man in the room. Even if you only have eyes for him, he will still strike this pose in order to appear as the best choice of the men who are available in the room. It might sound strange but this is very similar to how things work in the animal kingdom too. If he is doing everything he can to stand out from the crowd you can be sure that he likes you.

4. Where do his feet point?

When a woman sees a man and wonders whether he is attracted to her, the last thing she will probably be looking at are his feet! But in fact that is exactly where you should look, because they can tell you a lot about the feelings of the man they belong to. If they are pointing towards you, this is a good sign of body language flirting because they tell you he is interested. If they are pointing away from you then you should start looking elsewhere because he has no interest at all. This is a little known fact.

5. Is he making good eye contact?

Most people know about eye contact, but it is very important to understand exactly how this works. If a man is not attracted to you then he will have no reason to look at you. This much makes sense. If he is attracted to you however, he will make more eye contact because of that attraction. But he may also keep looking away if you catch him looking at you. Don’t take that as a sign he isn’t interested though; in fact it is a very good sign because he feels self conscious that you caught him peeking! Body language flirting is easier to spot in eye contact than in some of the other signs at times. So watch out for it.

Article: Credit to Loveagame

7 REASONS TO USE GOOGLE CHROME

Google Chrome, the web browser by Google, has been gaining market share steadily since the day it was introduced. It's by far the best browser I've used (and I have used a number of them). I think my productivity has increased significantly since I switched to Google Chrome as my primary browser.

In this entry, I give 7 reasons to persuade you to switch to Chrome if you haven't yet. Now, nothing is perfect and there are some caveats here too, but, the pros definitely overshadow the cons and hence I recommend using Chrome.

It's Very Fast

Yes, it is. You realize how fast it is when you click on the chrome icon to open the browser. It comes up in a flash, much faster than other browser. As you start using it, you will find that the webpage also take less time to load.

Chrome is based on Webkit. The Chrome team recently talked about the factors that make it so fast.

Most Secure Browser

Not that security vulnerability aren't discovered in Google Chrome, but, it is considered to be more secure than its counterparts like IE and Firefox. In fact, it was the only browser that survived the Pwn2Own competition where security experts tried to exploit all the browsers in search for bugs.

Simple Searching

The address bar in Chrome also acts as the Google search bar. Hence you could just type your search query there and hit enter. It will quickly pull up the relevant Google results. You don't need to first go to Google in order to search. This saves time.

More Screen Real Estate

One of the best things about Chrome is that it's minimalistic. The browser options are tucked away on the extreme right and that enables it to get you more screen real estate by providing a bigger browsing space. This feature is quite useful when you are on long webpage and need to scroll down frequently. It also helps blogger like me to take better screenshots.

Quick Incognito Mode

The incognito mode in Chrome is a nifty feature. Although private browsing mode was later introduced in Firefox and some other browsers too, Chrome's incognito wins hands down. You could go incognito by pressing Ctrl+Shift+n. Apart from the obvious use of private browsing, there are several other uses of Chrome's incognito mode. Like, you could log into two Gmail accounts at once using this feature.

Default Bookmark Sync Option

There's a "Synchronize my bookmarks" feature in Chrome which you can access by clicking on the wrench icon on the top right. You could use this feature to synchronize your Google account. That way you can access your bookmarks if you are using Chrome on a different computer.

No Restart Required When Installing Add-ons

Yes, unlike Firefox where you need to restart your browser whenever you install a new extension or uninstall an old one, Chrome doesn't require that. And as someone who plays with a lot of add-ons, This feature saves a lot of time and frustration.

Article: Credit to Dumb Little Man

6 THINGS TO CHECK BEFORE UPGRADING TO WINDOWS 7

While upgrading might sound intimidating to someone who's not computer savvy, it isn't that difficult if one knows beforehand what he needs and how he should proceed. This post aims to address that.
 

Here's the list. Check it out.

Which edition to go for?
So you've decided to get Windows 7. Should you go for the Windows 7 premium or the Ultimate version? Do all of them have the XP mode, a feature that'd allow you to run Windows XP in virtual mode? How do you choose which is the best version for you?

To answer the above questions, Microsoft has prepared a comparison chart that compares all the Windows 7 versions. It'll help you decide the right version for you.

Use Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor
Is your computer ready for an upgrade? Are all the parts compatible with Windows 7? What about the software and tools? Do all of them run on the new OS?

To find out if your computer can run Windows 7, you can download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor provided by Microsoft and scan your PC with the tool.

32 bit or 64 bit?
You've heard these terms called 32 bit and 64 bit, been intrigued by them and want to know what are they all about and if you should get a brand new 64 bit Windows 7 PC. This article on 32 bit and 64 bit Windows explains the details and tells you how to choose between them.

Clean install or upgrade install?
So how should you go about the upgrading process? Should you do an upgrade install, which means upgrading on top of the present operating system, or do a clean install from scratch? Check out this article that talks about the various aspects related to installing and reinstalling Windows 7.

Check compatibility of individual applications
Want to know if a particular software or application would work on Windows 7? Run a check for that online in the Windows 7 compatibility center and find out if it is compatible with Windows 7.

Test Windows 7 Online
Finally, if you want to get a hands on experience of Windows 7 and its various features then check this article that shows you a way to test drive Windows 7 online. savvy, it isn't that difficult if one knows beforehand what he needs and how he should proceed. This post aims to address that.

Article: Credit to Dumb Little Man

GREAT MIND MAPPING TOOLS FOR EFFECTIVE BRAINSTORMING

A mind map is considered a great way to brainstorm and generate more ideas. It helps you create a number of small ideas from one big idea, see how different ideas could be connected together and create a plan of action.

This article talks about eight mind mapping tools to help you brainstorm effectively. Almost all of them have free versions available. Some of them also help you collaborate with other people while working on the tool. Check them out.

1. Xmind

Xmind, available in both free and pro versions, is a brilliant and feature-rich mind mapping tool. The interface is easy to use and you could create a variety of mind maps without getting stuck in complex options. The mind maps could be shared, embedded on your site and exported as PDF, Word or PowerPoint.

The tool also offers a special "Brainstorming Mode" to help you capture ideas effortlessly. It works on Windows, Mac and Linux (separate installers) and the code is open-source.

2. FreeMind

FreeMind is a unique mind mapping tool. Unique because it's Java based and hence works on almost all the major platforms in exactly the same way. And being completely free to use, I'd say the features offered are quite good, the best thing being a wide range of keyboard shortcuts which could help you create a mind map in no time.

3. MindMeister

MindMeister is a pretty popular mind mapping tool that's web based and doesn't require any download. It has a great user interface and also offers a set of tools to enhance its functionality. There's a real-time brainstorming mode to collaborate with colleagues in the mind map creation process.

The basic version of the tool is free but it doesn't include all the features. There are premium and business versions available.

4. Mind42

If your mind mapping needs are fairly simple and you are looking for a no-frills, online tool then you should go for Mind42. It's free, has a clutter-free interface, helps you get started easily and offers most of the features that a good brainstorming and mind mapping tool should provide.

5. MindJet MindManager

Mindjet MindManager is a mind mapping tool for business professionals (and hence costly). It incorporates things like tasks and projects, information maps, interactive dashboards and much more into a mind map. It is in fact a complete idea visualization package that's available for Windows and Mac computers.

6. Mindomo

Mindomo can work as a web based tool as well as a desktop tool on Windows, Mac and Linux. It has a nice project planning and tracking feature to help teams work together on mind maps and track the progress. Both free and premium versions are available.

7. Freeplane

If  Freeplane sounds similar to FreeMind mentioned above, it is because it is a redesigned version of the same tool. It is created by one of the developers who created FreeMind and many prefer it over the previous one. You could try both Freeplane and FreeMind and then decide, depending on the design, which one you find comfortable working with.

Do you use mind mapping tools? Which ones have you tried?

Article: Credit to Dumb Little Man

PRAISING ALLAH

I know you are there 

Little bird, 

Covered by rich green, talking to the tree 

Yes, a talking tree! 

I know you are hiding 

Little ant, 

Under the solid brown, listening to the song 

Yes, the singing earth! 

I know you are relaxing 

Tiny drop of rain, 

Inside the airy white, hearing the laugh 

Yes, a laughing cloud! 

I know you are dancing 

Little bee, 

Beside fresh colors, joining a prayer 

Yes, a praying flower! 

I know you are breathing 

Little fish, 

Deep in the wide blue, amazed by stories 

Yes, the Historian Ocean! 

I am sitting in my room 

Seeing you all in the heart of my eye 

Praising the work of God 

Wishing to add more before I die 

Talking tree 

Singing earth 

Laughing cloud 

Praying flower and 

Historian Ocean 

Let me join you, and be sublime 

Praising Allah till the end of our time! 

-Zoya Ahmad published in Im a Muslim & Im Proud

AN ANSWERED OF MY PRAYER

I asked for strength,
And Allah S.W.T gave me difficulties to make me strong;

I asked for wisdom,
And Allah S.W.T gave me problems to learn to solve;

I asked for prosperity,
And Allah S.W.T gave me brain and brawn to work;

I asked for courage,
And Allah S.W.T gave me dangers to overcome;

I asked for love,
And Allah S.W.T gave me people to help;

I asked for favors,
And Allah S.W.T gave me opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted but I received everything I needed.

MY PRAYER HAS BEEN ANSWERED.

WORDS OF WISDOM

Real happiness comes from inside, nobody can give it to you. 

-Sharon Ston

When Allah S.W.T tests you, it is never to destroy you. When Allah S.W.T removes something in your possession, it is only in order to empty your hands for an even greater gift. 

-Ibn Al-Qayyim

You cannot discover oceans unless you have the courage to leave the shore. 

-Successories 

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.

-Mother Teresa

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you will help them to become what they are capable of being. 

-Johann W. von Goethe

It is extremely important that you show some insensitivity to your past in order to show the proper respect for the future. 

-Roberto Goizueta

Silence is a great source of strength. 

-Lao Tzu

Intelligence is what we use when we don't know what to do, when we have to grope rather than using a standard response. 

-Jean Piaget

Experience is how life catches up with us and teaches us to love and forgive each other.

-Judy Collins

If you desire Allah to be persistent in granting you the thing you love, be persistent in doing the things He loves.

-Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal

Without some goal and some effort to reach it, no one can live.

-Fyodor Dostoyevsky 

Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by its breathtaking moments.

-Michael Vance 

Everything you now do is something you have chosen to do. Some people don't want to believe that. But if you're over age twenty-one, your life is what you're making of it. To change your life, you need to change your priorities.

-John C. Maxwell 

Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, but they're supposed to help you discover who you are.

-Bernice Johnson Reagon 

Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy because we will always want to have something else or something more.

-David Steindl-Rast  

Trials and tribulation are like feeling the heat and cold, when one knows that they cannot be avoided, he will not feel anger at their onset, nor will he be distressed or disheartened."

-Ibn Taymiyyah

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

-Winston Churchill 

When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.

-Harriet Beecher Stowe 

Every punishment from (Allah) is pure justice and every blessing from (Allah) is pure grace. 

-Ibn Taymiyyah

Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.

-Eleanor Roosevelt 

If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down.

-Mary Pickford 

A sign of the heart's death is the absence of sadness over the acts of obedience that you have neglected and the abandonment of regret over the mistakes that you have made.

-Ibn Ataillah RadhiAllahu Anhu

Everything is material for the seed of happiness, if you look into it with inquisitiveness and curiosity. The future is completely open, and we are writing it moment to moment. There always is the potential to create an environment of blame or one that is conducive to loving-kindness.

-Pema Chodron 

Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. 

-Surat ar-Rad 13:11

Make it a rule of life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy, you can't build on it. It's only for wallowing in.

-Katherine Mansfield 

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.

-Albert Schweitzer 

Life can be found only in the present moment. The past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life.

-Thich Nhat Hanh 

If you think you are leading and turn around to see no one following, then you are just out taking a walk. 
-Benjamin Hooke

Asking a question is only embarrassing just for that moment. Not asking is embarrassing and it will haunt you for the rest of your life.

-Japanese Proverb

Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

-Richard Carlson

Destiny is not a matter of chance, it's a matter of choice; it's not a thing to be waited for, but a thing to be achieved.

-William Jennings Bryan

If you assume that there’s no hope, you guarantee that there will be no hope. If you assume that there is an instinct for freedom, there are opportunities to change things, there’s a chance you may contribute to making a better world. The choice is yours.

-Noam Chomsky

TIPS TO REDUCE INDOOR ALLERGIES

If you or someone in the family suffering from annoying indoor allergies then starts reading this article, you will find great ways to cure the problem of Indoor Allergies. Given below are some of the tips that can help you to reduce the allergens around you:
 

Remove carpet from home

Wall-to-wall carpeting in the home is the biggest collector of allergens in your home. Carpet retains all kinds of allergens from dust particles to pet dander. Even if you are using a high-quality vacuum cleaner every day, you would not be able to completely get rid of those allergens. Few people are allergic to even synthetic dyes & glues found in the carpet while some are sensitive to the chemical stain products used in carpet fibers. So, it is better for you to remove all wall-to-wall carpeting. Better go for the products which are Eco-friendly.

Repaint home using “green paint”

Most of the people are sensitive to the fumes that come out from indoor paints. These paint fumes can cause respiratory problems, headaches and also indoor allergies. People who do not usually suffer from allergies can also get allergic to these fumes. So, it’s better, when re-painting, to use paint that is free from VOCs or volatile organic compounds. When buying paint, check out the full description whether it is water-based and have organic pigments or not.
 

Remove bedding that is over 7- 8 years old

This is a big culprit of allergens. Your pillows, mattress and comforters generally conceal allergens. So, when you re-decorate your bed-room, try to replace these items with only natural wool comforter and also use blankets and cotton quilts. Buy only organic cotton sheets and pillow cases. Plus, Pillows must be filled with natural fibers. If you are suffering from upper back and neck problem, buy only those pillows that are only filled with buckwheat.
 

Replace your furniture

Replace your furniture with natural wood furniture. If you are looking for comfort furniture, better go for natural wood furniture which is leather-covered.

Credit to Wellness Start

HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT NATURALLY

Losing weight quickly and naturally is a common goal, especially now that the weather is getting warmer and swimsuit season is coming. But is it really possible? More importantly, is it safe? Below you’ll find some important aspects to keep in mind when trying to learn how to lose weight in 2 weeks in a way that’s natural for your body:

Manage Your Expectations
Your health should be the top priority. That means that if you’re going to lose weight quickly, especially in two weeks, you need to do so in a way that isn’t going to damage your body. The best way to do that is to have realistic expectations before you even begin. It’s important to stay balanced and not be obsessed with shedding pounds. Losing weight too quickly can slow your body’s metabolism, meaning you might even put on weight if you try to lose too much, too fast. So keep a realistic perspective on your weight loss efforts, or you’ll end up sabotaging yourself.

Drink Water
One of the best tips for losing weight quickly is to drink a lot of water. A common mistake that people make is to replace fattening foods with sodas, milkshakes and sports drinks, which contain large amounts of calories and make it difficult to lose weight. Water is obviously calorie-free, so you can drink as much as you want. It will also reduce your appetite to a certain extent.

Avoid Simple Carbohydrates
Simple carbohydrates, such as those contained within bread and sugar, should be avoided when you’re trying to lose weight quickly. This is because they force your blood sugar levels to rise rapidly, which in turn increases the amount of sugar that’s converted into fat. The more you can avoid these foods the better.

Exercise
Arguably the most important part of losing weight quickly is frequent exercise. Within reason, the more you exercise, the more calories you’ll burn, and the more weight you’ll lose. The best approach is to increase your heart rate, which you can do with cardiovascular exercise, such as running, swimming or cycling.  Yoga and interval training are also thought to be effective for people trying to lose weight. It’s vital that you don’t overdo it, though, as that can cause injuries. It also doesn’t do any good in general to punish your body by doing excessive exercise. It’s much better to stay in tune with your body, concentrate on general fitness and exercise in ways that feel good to you. That will also help you feel motivated to continue doing it. With any kind of exercise, you should work your way up to full exertion only after you’ve warmed up, and stop if you get any pain or feel dizzy. It’s always a good idea to get a doctor’s opinion on your exercise routine before starting in order to ensure you’re physically able to do it safely.

The factors above can make a big difference when it comes to losing weight quickly!

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