Saturday, November 29, 2008

71 iDeas to Enjoy Your Weekend


“What are you doing on the weekends?” I asked this question to myself. Later I thought about what other people are doing on Saturdays and Sundays. I am working on a project to fulfill a long cherished dream. I dedicate 70% of my weekend to this project. What about you?  I prepared this list to be a reference for anyone who wants to spend their weekends(or holidays) joyfully, productively or differently

If you feel bored on a weekend or if you are feeling empty and don’t have an idea what to do on such days…here’s the list for you: 

1.    Make someone happy

2.    Try new dishes on your own

3.    Watch an old movie on DVD with popcorn and samosa

4.    Pick up an old friend from orkut(or myspace etc). call him and meet

5.    View your photo albums and go back in time

6.    Run or race with your partner or friend

7.    Rent a cycle and just roam all around your colony

8.    Have a soothing massage

9.    De clutter-throw away all the unnecessary items from your home and clean

10.  Visit a distant relative

11.  Write a story

12.  See or explore a new place in your area or city

13.  Visit a church if you are a Hindu, temple if Christian, mosque if Jain.. 

14.  Try to research on topic that interests you

15.   Meet new people

16.   Get fit by creating a weekend workout

17.  Work in small amounts each week to finish a dream project(realize the Power of Small)

18.  Try Gardening.. weed out the waste

19.  Engage in social work

20.  Plant a seed

21.  Teach alphabets to an illiterate

22.  Give a speech to your roommates or family on ‘How to reduce plastic usage?’

23.  Create a weekend business (if you have a great idea or just think)

24.  Read an inspiring book

25.  Go to a movie which stars an actor whom you dislike 

26.  Draw a picture of yours by seeing in mirror

27.  Team up with a close friend to work out on a joint project

28.  Dance.. and go crazy

29.  Go through a kids magazine

30.  Visit an orphanage near you and show your kids the sacredness of serving 

31.  Make new friends

32.  Go for a long drive

33.  Create a new hobby

34.  Listen to different genres of music

35.  Walk in the nature with your friend or partner

36.  Arrange an high school reunion to meet all old friends in your area

37.  Play street cricket (or some other game) with kids at your place

38.  Write a letter to a loved one, friend, mom or dad and post it(Not an email)

39.  Go through your slam books

40.  Learn a musical instrument (There are institutes to teach on weekends, enquire)

41.  Call grandparents

42.  Wash your bike or car (instead of giving it for water servicing center)

43.  Go through all the unread mails in your inbox

44.  Heal a wounded relationship

45.  Fast and drink 5 liters of water throughout the day (if you are health conscious)

46.  Eat raw food whole day.. for a change

47.  Spend in silence for three hours

48.  Learn a new language

49.  Watch cartoon network (or any other channel which you ignore often)

50.  Learn to cook

51.  Go to a restaurant, but order an item which you haven’t tasted in life

52.  Meditate for an hour

53.  Prepare a list of silly mistakes you have done ..and laugh at them

54.  Have dinner in the moonlight (at your own upstairs, if possible)

55.  Pick a magazine that you haven’t read till now

56.  Go window shopping

57.  Rearrange your furniture in different style and get a new look to your home

58.  Meet your new neighbor

59.  Take a long, relaxing shower

60.  Walk on the beach (lucky ! if  you have a sea shore)

61.  Swim

62.  Have a picnic indoors

63.  Record your speech and just listen

64.  Awaken the ‘bathroom singer’ in you

65.  Take kids to your office and show your cubicle

66.  Sleep like a baby (Read this article “How to sleep like a baby” )

67.  Revise your past week and plan ahead

68.  Go on hiking

69.  Think of new ideas

70.  Write a letter to yourself

71.  Surprise someone

How do you spend your weekends? Write your routine and also add some new ideas in the comments below . This list needs your contribution.. let the ideas flow –ajaY vegeSna

 


Friday, November 28, 2008

How to Sleep...Like a Baby

“Every closed eye is not sleeping, and every open eye is not seeing.” -Bill Cosby

 There is no other element in the world that gives us such a refreshment and strength like a good night’s sleep. That’s why Dalai Lama says,  Sleep is the best meditation.” When it comes to sleep, babies are the luckiest ones. When I see them asleep, I feel a bit of jealous cause Nature gave them a boon that adults can just dream of. In today’s hectic world can we get such a sleep; I pondered on this point a while and came up with some ideas that can help you…to sleep like a baby.

Note: When I say sleeping like a baby, my intention is on the quality of sleep but not on the amount of sleep (FYI- Babies sleep 18 hours a day)

 

A brief look at the science of sleep: A neurotransmitter called adenosine is associated with our sleep and wakefulness. The circadian clock (an inner time-keeping device) works in tandem with this chemical. Adenosine is created over the course of the day; high levels of adenosine lead to sleepiness. Caffeine acts opposite this chemical, that is why we drink tea or coffee to avoid sleep as these beverages contain caffeine. 

 

First, let us understand what are the consequences of sleeplessness.

Typically lack of sleep may result in:

 

·         Headache

·         Irritability

·         Dark circles under the eyes

·         Loss of appetite

·         Decreased concentration

·         Weight loss or Weight gain

·         Constipation

·         Memory lapses or loss

·         Slowed wound healing

·         Can lead to Diabetes or Depression

·         Mental, emotional or physical fatigue

·         Road accidents

 

If you have sufficient sleep, the advantages are enormous.

Let’s see the benefits of a better sleep:

ü  You can think clear

ü  Can be more active

ü  Increases creative problem solving

ü  Can avoid accidents

ü  Promotes good mood and good health too

ü   Repairs the body

ü  Replaces aging or dead cells

ü  Brain gets organized

ü  Recharges the entire system

ü  Reduces stress

ü  Improves memory

 

8 Keys for a Happy Sleep:

 

1.    Pranayama: I tried Pranayama (a breathing exercise) which worked wonders for me, I observed that it not only helped me to get a better sleep, but also it woke me up automatically in the early morning. I am amazed by its impact on various areas of life

a.     It enhanced the quality of my sleep.

b.    It made my body feel light- like a feather in the air.

c.     Enriched my health

Try this :> if you are not getting sleep, just take deep breaths(deep inhaling and deep exhaling) 3 times and give few seconds rest and repeat this for 5 rounds. All this in a sitting posture, comfortably on your bed and closing your eyes. Now just lie down and do not open your eyes, just observe your inhaling and exhaling in normal breathing and gradually you will fall asleep.     

2.    Conquer stress: Stress is the major cause of insomnia (sleeplessness), some pointers to help you:

a.     Know your priorities.

b.    Do not over promise to your boss (or anybody)

c.     Don’t expect anything from others(yes, anything)

d.    Have good relationships

e.     Do not depend too much on others

3.    Eat light to sleep tight: Your food will have a direct affect on your mental state. Just reflect on your past-How many times have you faced disturbed sleep when you ate non-vegetarian or spicy junk for dinner. Always have light food (fruits, pulkas with vegetable curry etc). Avoid caffeine sources like tea, coffee, soft drinks, chocolates four hours before sleep. One golden rule for a sound sleep- EAT BEFORE 7 PM   

4.    Ambience: All these points are in vain, if you do not have cozy atmosphere in the bedroom. Make sure that your room is noise-proof and comfortable to sleep.    

5.    Avoid alcohol: Alcohol can get you to sleep fast, but it gives restlessness and will not let you to a deep sleep.

6.    Physical activity: When we have done lot of shopping we feel tired and our body demands rest through sleep. We are very much familiar with this pattern. If you are unable to sleep it means you are not fulfilling your body’s physical need. Benjamin Franklin observed, “Fatigue is the best pillow ” valid point, even in present times.

Exercise, jog, do Yoga, play  etc  if these are not possible-

      Try these :> Do activities that engage your body

a.     Use stairs(steps) instead of lift in the office or in the apartment 

b.    If you commute on bus, drop one stop before the destination and walk to the office.

c.     If you commute on bike or car, park your vehicle far away, so that you can put your feet to work

d.    Avoid using bike for small chores like buying that milk packet, or condiments from the nearby market. Instead walk.    

Note: These things may sound pretty silly to you. But the point is not in the activity but in its repetition. The more you repeat the more benefits you can reap. They not only get you good sleep but also keeps you healthy. Remember ‘small is BIG’ when it is repeated.       

7.    Sleep when sleepy: Don’t force yourself to bed until you are sleepy. If  you are not sleepy, try to engage yourself in an activity like reading a book(many of us do this), observing your breath etc.

8.    Routine: Get your body habituated to specific timings for sleeping and waking up. So when the clock ticks that hour the body demands sleep and wakes you up at right time. Adults need 7-8 hours of sleep.     

 

Happy Zzzz..

 

If you have any technique to get a better sleep, please share it in the comments below.

‘Feed me with your feedback’ –ajaY vegeSna  (myinterface@gmail.com)

Sunday, November 23, 2008

4 Questions that Can Change Your Life

The key to wisdom is knowing all the right questions.  -Anonymous

We tend to ask lot of questions when we were kids but as we grew our curiosity was killed.

Questioning is the ability of the intelligent mind. Right questions produce right results. We stopped questioning and we stopped our own growth. As Voltaire says “Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.

But my point is “Are we questioning ourselves?”

 

Most of the time we are so shy or lazy to ask… Let’s explore 4 questions that we should ask ourselves to gain more self-knowledge. Because the only person that can answer these questions is: You.    

I am not saying that these questions are final or absolute, but these are very fundamental queries that would help you gain insights about your current state of living.

 

The Questions:

 

Question 1: Do you know yourself completely?

Once a curious seeker asked Socrates “Can you explain the secret of success in just two words which should contain the entire worlds wisdom.” Socrates replied “ Know thyself. ” Brilliantly brief answer. When you understand yourself  you begin to understand the world. A person may be known as a  walking encyclopedia, another may have read entire library by heart but all this is of no value when he is not aware of himself.

Pointers that can help you to understand  yourself  better:

a.      Think : Whenever we got some leisure time we try to fill it with some activity just by calling somebody, watching TV, going for a movie, chatting, gossips etc. We have office time, business time, lunch time etc  but do not have ‘thinking time.’ The only human-factor that keeps us superior to other species(at least in our sense) is our ability to think. Spend some time at least 21 minutes a day to think about yourself. (Yes, Twenty One minutes)

Note: Many people worry about a problem and assume it as thinking. Worrying is not thinking.  Worry brings in fatigue, thinking brings in clarity.

b.    Meditate : As we are spending a lot of time with others except ourselves, we are unable to find clarity in our thoughts and wisdom in our actions. Meditation introduces you to yourself. It cuts all the barriers and shuts all the unwanted stuff. It allows you to think in crystal clear. It soothes you and brings calmness.

c.     Ask Friends : when you have close friends you can rely on, ask them your strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes you will be amazed by the insights they provide because they have seen you with their eyes.

d.   Observe  Your  Past : we are here because of the decisions we took in the past. Our past definitely gives us clues to understand our moves.     

            

Question 2: Are you moving towards the right direction?

Whatever the life brings in, which ever situation you are stuck in, We should always move in only one direction: FORWARD   

Once a wise guy observed “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Brilliant idea. Isn’t it.    

 Many of us are stuck in the wrong jobs, we feel that something is missing but can’t understand that elusive part of our lives. Before we wake up and realize our hidden potential, our precious time passes just like grains of sand from our hand. To avoid this situation constantly ask yourself “am I moving in the right direction?”  

Winston Churchill said ““There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction”

Is your conscience giving you hints like the following:

“I shouldn’t have done this…”

“If I could have paid more attention to the details…”

“if I am more conscious… 

“I’m stuck…”

If you frequently feel like this, you might need to think again.   

Some pointers that may help you if you are headed in the  wrong direction:

a.     Take action: It’s never too late to do something that moves you ahead

b.    Confess: often we feel relaxed when we express our confessions to the people who are close to our heart.

c.     Be guided: if you know a person who can help you out in this situation, take their help

d.    Find a role model: search for a person who already achieved what you want to achieve and seek their suggestions. Ask how he turned his path to the right direction. If we are wise enough, we can learn from others mistakes too.   

e.     Have vision: if we do not visualize the future prospects, often we shall be trapped in our self-woven paths. So make visualization a part of your every decision.   

 

Question 3: Do you love change?

If our life seems like a routine without much adventures and advancements, it’s definitely lacking change. The great achievers are the people who accepted and embraced change. The people who create the change are known as pioneers.

If we observe our own life, we shall find many instances where we lost opportunities just because we are against change.

Reflect on these situations:

 We don’t want to move to a new job because we fear we may lose our comfort zone. We don’t want to take that first step to build our own business because we fear it might end up in losses. We don’t want to make adventures and risks in life because we feel nervous about the outcome. We don’t want to make that career shift which we always wished for, because we lack the drive to make that move.  Many of us end up our lives doing  mundane jobs which does not ignite our hearts. The hidden reason that’s stopping us in all the above scenarios is: CHANGE.

We do not love change that propels us to a new level. All the change-lovers may not be achievers, but all achievers are definitely change-lovers.

To handle this:

a.     Be the change: Instead of waiting for it to come, you drive the change so that others can follow. Start with small changes in your life gradually intensify and expand it to other areas.

Ex. If you are not punctual to your office or any appointments, try to bring that change into your life from today. See the compliments you will be receiving once you accomplished this for one week. Slowly expand this change to other relationships as well i.e. don’t miss the scheduled time even with close friends or relatives. Don’t take them for granted.

 Once you feel the fulfillment of achieving one task, that will drive you through the rest of the things. In the beginning you should drive the change, later the change drives you.

 

b.    Seek opportunities: Many times we get chances to embrace change but we ignore or neglect. Seize the opportunities that beckon you in different areas of life. May be sometimes you were asked to speak on an occasion, may be someone invited you to a new place. Identify the opportunities

c.     Meet new people: Often in life we are stuck with same kind of people, this is not wrong but we should not stop meeting new people. When you make acquaintance with new people we get to know new thoughts, new way of thinking. The diverse inputs result in diverse outputs.

Note: New people does not mean only strangers. They can also be your colleagues but may be you have not spoken to them often, they can be your neighbors, they can be someone in your vicinity.

d.    Learn a new skill: Research proved many times that you can postpone aging if you feed your brain with new abilities. Scientists observed that people who constantly learn are also leading happy lives without any tensions. Learning is a change for the mind which boosts all your brain cells. Peter F Drucker, father of modern management, used to learn a new subject every three months. Not in his retirement, but when he was a busy Writer, Professor and a Management Consultant.

Busy people have more time to learn new things because they know the value of a new skill. Lazy people don’t have time because they are busy planning…an escape. What a paradox !       

           Try to pick up a new skill that helps you grow. Example

i.              learn a new language(English, French, Italian)

ii.            Understand the art of graphology or body language

iii.           Try a new game or sport

iv.           Create a new hobby like playing guitar etc

v.             Explore new things like- How stock markets work, How do cell phones work etc

 The bottom line is expose your mind to different inputs. If you want to have change in your life ask this question frequently: “When did the last time you did something for the first time?”

 

Question 4: Do you take care of your body?   

We give our vehicle for servicing regularly, we check, if it is in good condition but often we forget the importance of the life vehicle: Our body 

Just like our car and bike our body needs quality fuel (food) and proper attention otherwise it can’t move us to the desired destination. 

We usually make our body a dumping ground for the junk and ruin its power. The body has the stamina to get rid of diseases provided you give it a chance.

Here I am giving you simple techniques to boost your body

a.     Fast: Fasting rejuvenates your body and strengthens the resistance. It generates healing power and cleanses the system. What meditation is to the mind, fasting is to the body. Fast once a week

b.    Drink water: The best things in life are free.... like oxygen, mother’s love and water. We  neglect what we have and seek what we lack. Research has proven that water increases your creativity.  It eliminates toxins from your body and prevents dehydration.  

c.     Go natural: Eat lot of fruits and vegetable salads. Sprouts are best sources of nutrition. Plant-based diet is always a great option compared to animal-based food.

d.    Move your body: lack of physical activity springs many diseases. Swim, jog, play, exercise…do whatever that gives you pleasure.

 

Note: For more  details on how to stay healthy, go through my article “Your temple is on fire

 

Feedback is the fuel:

If you want to add more questions to the above list or want to have your say, write in the comments below. I love your feedback –ajaY vegeSna  (myinterface@gmail.com)