The Four P’s.

This week I’ve ran into a ridiculous amount of situations where people weren’t prepared for what they needed to do. This is a huge pet peeve of mine, it not only slows down the people around you, but you’ve just added extra stress to yourself and it’s easily avoidable.

So, in this post I’m going to declare the importance of being prepared whether it’s for work, school or daily activities.

My Dad always told me Preparation Prevents Poor Performance, and boy is this true for everything.

If you have a problem with being ready on time, or always forgetting something after you leave, wake up earlier and prepare the night before.

If you need to, write a list of everything you need to leave with, the night before. If you’re pretty good with mental checklists, give yourself 5 minutes of cushion before you leave and make sure you’ve got everything you need.

For me, I get my backpack, clothes and breakfast set up the night before I need to do anything, it makes sure I can sleep better rested, knowing I’ve got everything, plus I don’t have to rush in the morning.

Anyways, my concluding point is that you should make sure you’re always prepared. Not only is it an admireable trait, but you’ll be a little less stressed when you know that you’re set for the day.

 

GET PREPARED!

MissLynne

Unplug it.

Everyone knows that being stressed in the long run can shorten your lifespan.  I think it’s easy to say that the number one stress causer in most peoples lives is  technology, especially cell phones. Over the past ten years there’s been a huge difference in the use of cells. Most of the time they were used for important calls, not texting and you didn’t see people frantically checking their phone every five seconds to see if they got a new tweet.

My solution for this huge issue is try to go without your phone a few hours daily. As hard as it seems to not be able to check Facebook messages every other second, it ends up being like a short therapeutic session, and you tend to feel calm afterwards.  Space from your phone and technology in general gives you some space for you and your thoughts, plus it will help you focus more on the task at hand, whether it’s relaxing, dinner with a friend, homework or work in general.

I’m pretty sure you won’t explode if you miss checking your tweets for a few hours, take some time to read a book and sort through your thoughts.

Go ahead, turn off the technology for fifteen minutes or a few hours, it’s well worth it.

MissLynne

How to destroy your cold.

It’s been a season extremely full of sneezes and coughs. I was lucky until recently to have missed out on the horrors of runny noses and fatigue.

Of course, the day I start school I get hit with a cold, and now I’ve got to get rid of it fast. So in case you’re in the same boat as me, here are some tips to get rid of that nagging cold.

These are going in no particular order, since all of them work differently in certain situations.

 

• Get some sleep, whether you have to take a natural supplement to help you get quality sleep, or if you need some Nyquil, just make sure you get some rest.
• Lots of fluid, as you know I love tea, so of course I have to say drink lots of Green or Black tea (preferably low caffeine) also water. If you can slip some lemons in that water, it’ll give you a chance for some tasty extra antioxidants.
• Blow your nose. Stop sniffing that mucus back into your head and get it out.
• Keep your “sick area” clean. Try to disinfect it nightly, or have someone else do it. (The best part of being sick is getting taken care of!)
• When you take baths/showers make them extra warm, it’ll help those dry nasal passages and will also relax you.
• Wash your hands! This will help reduce the chance of you spreading your cold to the people around you, I’m sure they’ll be grateful.
• Keep taking your vitamins, (especially zinc).
• Gargle with salt water, or even just your regular mouthwash.
• Chicken noodle soup, it’s easy on your stomach and gives you the nourishment you need. Definitely DON’T NEGLECT YOUR BODY’S NEED FOR FOOD, even if you feel crappy and don’t feel up to it, you gotta eat.
• When you DO eat, throw some garlic into whatever it is, sure you’ll smell a little funky, but garlic is know to halt colds.
• Peppers or anything spicy can help thin your mucus so you can actually breathe.
• Don’t exercise.

 

Hopefully you’re all healthy out there and don’t need to put these to use!

 

Do you have some tricks for getting over colds?

 

MissLynne

Pivotal Moment for a New Adult.

I know this blog is usually supposed to be tips and advice for other but I want to use today to gloat.

Today was a big day for me, I’m officially enrolled in a CNA program and will be done with it at the end of the school semester. This may not seem like a huge deal to other people, but for me it’s so important. After I get this CNA certification I basically get to start my life. My boyfriend and I get to move out to our own place, I’ll be able to be independent of my parents. (As much as I love them, this is a huge plus).

Honestly this is all kind of scary, but I’m so excited and I wanted to blog it in case I’m still blogging in a few years after I get my nursing degree so everyone (and me) can see the changes.

Anyways, I hope you (my blog family) share the same excitement I do.

Since school is starting this Monday, I’m going to start doing weekly blogs instead of doing ones every other day, that way they’re better quality and I don’t go crazy in the mix of homework and writing.

 

Much love!

 

MissLynne

 

 

Already losing motivation?

When I start my classes I’m on a mission and it’s like nothing can stop me. That is until the third or fourth week comes around and I get the college version of Senioritis. Instead of me giving you guys advice, I want yours.

Whether it’s school or work how do you keep yourself motivated to do well?

Visualize it.

I’m definitely one of those people who believes that if you want something, if you want it badly enough it’ll come to you. One thing that I’ve used that’s helped me to accomplish my goals and wants, is visualize exactly what is it that I’m aiming to get and also make it clear what I want.

When I visualize tell myself what I want I don’t saw “a car” I say “I want a 2012 gunmetal Scion TC”.

Another example of using visualization is what I did today.  My boyfriend and I went apartment hunting even though we won’t be able to get one for a few months, we test drived(drove?) the car he wants badly and went to a store to look for all the things we want in our apartment (when we get it).

I’ve done this in the past with things I want and I’ve gotten it. And the more I visualized it or went to see what I wanted, the faster it came to me.

So my suggest to you for the day, visualize what you want.

• Write it down DESCRIPTIVELY
• Print a picture of it and put it somewhere you can see it often
• Put the picture in your mind and repeat what you want
• Go see it so you can remember the amazing feeling you get when you have it

If you want a good read that’ll help you grasp the power of visualization go read The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, it’s a good read (and not religious).

Anyways, my message was short and sweet once again, but I hope it was helpful!

 

MissLynne

Hey, drop that soda!

I learned a crazy fact in biology that scared me senseless and made me drop drinking diet sodas (which were the only sodas that I drank at the time).

The ingredient that gives your diet soda that sweet taste, called Aspartame, turns into Formaldehyde when it gets to a certain temperature.

For those of you who don’t know what Formaldehyde is, it’s the chemical used to embalm corpses. There’s a beautiful image.

But I have a solution, just for you!

DRINK TEA.

Tea is probably the best, most versatile drink on the planet.

There are tons of different teas, you can get them bagged, loose leaf not to mention there’s hundreds of different flavors or ways to mix them.

Along with being a tasty beverage, there are so many health benefits to drinking tea.

• It’s good for your heart.
• Good for your skin.
• Less caffeine than coffee, but still wakes you up.
• Easy to make.
• Can possible increase the length of your life.
• Antioxidants to keep you from getting sick.
• No calories! 
• Last but not least it increases your metabolism, to help you lose weight.

So whether you’re trying to kick soda all together, you want to lose weight or just get healthier, go drink some tea.

My favorite place for loose leaf teas that are amazing quality is www.teavanna.com.

If you’re not super into loose leafs, go get some Lipton, it doesn’t matter what kind of tea really, they all end up having the same benefits, as long as you don’t add ten cups of sugar.

MissLynne

Show ‘em some love.

I’ve got a short sweet message for you today.

Make sure your counterpart/boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife/friend/family member knows that you love them today.

Honestly, you never know what’s gonna happen, plus it always feels amazing to know you’re loved.

Whether it’s a small love note, a long sappy letter, a cupcake, hug or just plain telling them you love them, make sure they know how much you love and appreciate them.

 

MissLynne

A site that makes you a better person.

Last year I started using this fantastic site called DailyFeats. It’s seriously probably the best, most uplifting site I’ve ever used. You “check-in” the feats that you’ve done throughout the day and get points. The coolest part about these points is that you can either get free premium rewards that include gift cards or you can get local gift certificates for diners, museums and many other things.

Getting rewards isn’t the best part of the site, it honestly makes you a more productive and healthier person, not to mention you’re surrounded by positivity on the site.

So my gift to you this year, is showing you this site.

Go now!

Dailyfeats.com

Do you have any sites that have made you more productive? Share!

MissLynne

How to ACE your college classes.

To put it lightly, my last semester of classes didn’t end as well as I wanted to, so before I start up a new batch of classes I wanted to look back at what I didn’t wrong and figure out how to ace my studies and hopefully help others to do great too.

1. Use a calendar, religiously. 

When you use a calendar, put in your class schedule first (make sure you add your professors name, email and phone number). After throwing in your schedule, go through your syllabus and add your in any weekly assignments, test or final dates you have. Be sure to update this weekly and look at it daily.

If you have a smart phone or an Apple product, look for educational apps. The apps I use the most are a voice recorder, iStudiez Pro which organizes my homework and class information, and of course Netflix (of course for educational documentaries).

2. EAT YOUR BREAKFAST!

I know I probably sound like your mom, but it can be nearly impossible to retain anything your teacher is lecturing about if you’ve got a rumbling stomach. Even if it’s just a banana, make sure you have something in your stomach.

3. Make a space in your house to study, quietly. 

As comfortable as you feel studying with music, the best studying you’ll get is when there’s silence.

4. Read your notes over again after you get home. 

Reread your notes often, not just the day before your tests, and if you need to, rewrite it so you can understand them better.

5. Study what you don’t know.

It’s easy to look over and reiterate the things you already know, but that’s not going to help you much on your exams. Make a list of the things that you DON’T know and strictly focus on those things.

6. Don’t suffocate yourself.

If you’re getting overwhelmed with studying, just take a break, no, not a four hour social visit, but maybe half on hour for a walk, some stretches, deep breaths or a quick snack.

7. Make sure you make time for your social life. 

Don’t be the person who seems to make studying their entire life, studying all the time doesn’t guarantee a good grade, and it can totally destroy your relationships.  Plan an afternoon/day with friends or family, or just do something you enjoy.

8. Find a study buddy.

I’ve made it through some of my hardest classes by getting a study group going, it’ll help you in more ways than one. Even if people in the group are slightly behind you in the class, you can help teach them which makes the material more concrete in your head.

9. Don’t give up. 

Even if it seems like you’re going to end up doomed in the class, keep your head up and keep going.  Hard work can get you farther than wits sometimes, so if you ain’t got the wits just put some elbow grease into it, you’ll teacher will realize you’re trying which is better than nothing.

10. Don’t be afraid to talk to your professor.

Your professor can be your saving grace in your classes. At the beginning of the semester, talk to them and introduce yourself. This will make it easier to talk to them later or ask questions when you get lost.

Hopefully, a few of these will provide a solid base so you can do terrific in your upcoming courses.

What helped you get through a semester with good grades, definitely share in a comment (we all need the help).

MissLynne