PRACTICES TO HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR LIFE

All of us look for ways to improve our lives everyday. The reasons for this may vary from wanting to advance in our careers or  to be a better parent, spouse or friend or simply to live a life that makes us feel better about ourselves. 

I have listed below a few practices that can help you to improve your life and help you lead a more balanced and productive life. Many of these practices are simple and uncomplicated, and can be adopted in to your daily lives without any difficulty.

1. Eat healthy, Meditate and Exercise 

I list this as the first point as your health and mental well-being is the most important aspect when it comes to improving your quality of life. Your health must be the number one priority. You cannot enjoy your life to the fullest if you don't have a healthy lifestyle. Also if you are constantly stressed or anxious and you can’t focus on the task at hand, you will suffer both in your personal and professional lives. It will  also negatively affect your family members as well. (as they say put the oxygen mask on yourself before you try to help others). Therefore, eating a healthy diet, meditating to increase your focus and to reduce anxiety or stress and exercising to keep your body fit must become one of  the most important tasks in your life. 

2. Be Positive 

Being positive not only helps you to see the solution in every problem, but being an optimist has proven health benefits such as reducing blood pressure, depression and anxiety. Positive Thoughts will attract Positive Outcomes in to your life. Studies have shown Optimists tend to live longer than their negative counterparts, suffer less from chronic illnesses, make more friends and have better and successful relationships. A few ways that you can be more positive are,

- Keep a gratitude journal

- Surround yourself with positive people

-Smile

-Identify and stop negative self-talk

3. Live in the moment –Be present 

I feel that  with the constant ability, and need to be connected and/or validated by social media and so called “friends” has a drastic impact on personal relationships and the ability to focus on one thing at a time. Turn off your phone when you are at dinner with a friend or your spouse, Give your full attention to the person in front of you,  Enjoy the moment, Read a book in peace, look at the rainbow in the sky, look at the hummingbirds and enjoy your delicious and expensive coffee without scrolling through social media.

4. Be efficient and productive 

It is important to work well in an organized and productive manner. Incorporate ways of increasing your productivity without spending hours on a task that can be completed in 10 minutes if it done is in an effective manner. Learning to work smarter will help you advance in your career, and it will also give you some free time to focus on new and exciting projects or a new venture in your life. 

5. Focus only on what you can control and Stop worrying

Most things that happen in our lives are beyond our control. Worrying about them is simply a futile endeavor and a waste of time. It is better to focus on what you can control and use that time for something more functional, practical and constructive. It is also important to stop worrying about the outcome. Once you have done anything to the best of your ability, whether it is an exam, an interview or a business venture. Stop worrying about the result. 

6. Hard work is more important than good luck 

This is one of the most important things  my parents taught me. They did it, not by preaching about hard work, but by setting a strong example. I am lucky to see firsthand that Hand Work is the way to achieve success in life. You can overcome any hardship as long as you are willing to put in the work to deal with your troubles. This ideal must be instilled in all children from a young age, and they will benefit from it throughout their lives. Work hard so that even if  you fail you know in your heart that  you have done the best you can.  

HOW TO BECOME A FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT WOMAN

Being financially independent is important for women for various reasons. These reasons include coping with rising cost of living, being prepared for emergencies and being able to support herself and/or her children if the need arises. Empowering women to achieve financial freedom will benefit the national economy and promote gender equality within the society. I have listed several reasons why women should strive to achieve financial independence in my previous post.

In this post I wish to write about a few ways that women can become financially independent and self-reliant, regardless of their age or occupation or whether they are married, single or have children. This list provides a few basic ideas on how a woman can be empowered to take managing her finances to her own hands and stop relying on another person especially her parents or her husband, for income or managing money. 

Have a Job or a source of monthly income

I believe that every woman must be in a position to earn a monthly income. This could be in the form of a traditional 9 to 5 job in a company or working as a part-time employee or being a freelance worker or being self employed or being an entrepreneur. The internet has provided many opportunities for women entrepreneurs in our generation to launch successful businesses and earn a substantial income to support their families. Some of these online income streams include blogging, being a virtual assistant, being freelance writers, and online teachers.It could also be the income you receive in the form of bank interest or dividends or rental income from your investment properties. There are also opportunities to start a home based business such as selling baked goods or food parcels, selling flower and vegetable plants, being a seamstress, babysitting, tutoring and teaching music or dancing. Most of these jobs do not have the restrictions of traditional jobs and can be done in the comfort of your own home. These jobs provide the opportunity for women choose an opportunity suitable for their lifestyle and earn a monthly income to support her family. Sometimes the income that you earn may not be a significant amount. However, even a small monthly income can become a huge advantage when you are facing a financial emergency. 

Get a clear picture of your current financial situation 

It is important that you have a clear understanding of your current financial situation or a financial snapshot. It is paramount that you know your outstanding debt liabilities, taxes, and what assets are in your name. It will help you to understand your current situation and help you to decide on a course of action, to set and achieve future financial goals. Organize your bills, tax documents and all other financial related documents so that it is easy to analyse your financial situation on a monthly or bi-annually basis. Set goals to achieve certain financial achievements and work towards it. 

Create a budget, save and invest 

Having a budget will help you to get a clear picture of how much you are earning every month and what your monthly expenses are.Find a budgeting system that works for you. A budget will also help you to cut out any unnecessary expenses and save money. Always spend less than you earn. It is imperative that you save money on a monthly basis even what you can save initially is a very small amount. Invest in assets that will generate a monthly income. Find investments that suit your lifestyle and your own financial situation. Create passive income streams to provide you with an income even if you are unable to work. Plan and invest for retirement from a young age. Be involved in your family's financial and investment decision making process. Don’t let someone else make all the financial decisions and just hope for the best.  

Educate yourself 

The phrase “Knowledge is Power” has significant weight in the context of money management. It is a well known fact that many of the successful entrepreneurs make it a habit to read and educate themselves on a daily basis. If you are serious about achieving financial freedom and independence as a woman, it is essential that you take time and make an effort to educate yourself on money management, saving and various streams of investments. This will not only help you to manage your money independently, but also help you to understand the risks involved in different investments and make better investment decisions. Make it a habit to educate yourself on tax liabilities as well as benefits that you are entitled to under the Law. Find out if your city provides any form of tax benefits, subsidies, workshops or networking opportunities for women-owned businesses and use that information to develop your business. 

Pay off Debt 

It becomes virtually impossible to become financially independent if you are in debt as the debt payments will eat up a large chunk of your monthly income. Evaluate the amount of debt that you currently have and device a plan to pay the debt off as soon as possible. Make sure that you understand the liabilities involved if you are co-signing a mortgage or a vehicle lease. Take steps to properly manage your money and not to amass any high interest consumer debt such as credit card debt. 

Safeguard yourself and your money 

Make a plan to prepare for unfortunate contingencies such as disability and death in the family. Although it may be a morbid topic to discuss have a plan as to how you are going to provide some form of financial security to your dependents (especially if they are minors) in your absence. Prepare a last will and appoint nominees for your bank accounts if you feel it is necessary to do so. Get an insurance cover (if necessary) to provide for grave illnesses or major surgeries. 

It is vital that all women make it a goal to become financially independent and become empowered to work towards advancing their financial position within their family.

Why Every Woman should strive to achieve Financial Independence

Financial Independence is a broad term which can be generally described as being able to support yourself financially and the ability to earn enough money to cover your monthly expenses without having to depend on another person. For a woman being financially independent generally means that;

(a) you have a job or you are self employed or you have a source of income; which means that you get a monthly salary or earn a profit from your business or you have income generating investments.

(b) you are knowledgeable about personal finance and money management; which means you know how to budget, save and invest money. 

(c) your finances are not dependent on another persons salary or capacity to earn. 

(d) you are in control of managing your own finances; which means you have the discretion to decide how much you spend, how much you save and how you invest. Those decisions are  not made under the direction or authority of another person.

Why should women be financially independent? 

1. To off set the Cost of Living

It is clear that in today’s day and age it is becoming increasingly difficult for a single person with one income to support an entire family, no matter how frugal you are. It is also  unfair and unreasonable, in today's economic context, to expect one person to undertake the entire responsibility of supporting the family.  Having a secondary income will help take the financial stress off the primary breadwinner and it will reduce any conflict as between you and your spouse when it comes to money. Therefore, it is important for women to earn an income to be independent and to support her family. 

2. To prepare for an emergency 

If your family is relying on one income, you might be put in a precarious position if the primary breadwinner has some medical emergency or looses his job. To have a secondary source of income at such a time, will be a blessing. It will help you to pay for the basic necessities and keep a roof above your head. It will reduce the stress relating to financial matters and give you peace of mind knowing that you are able to look after your family’s needs. 

3. To look after your parents and pay for kids expenses 

Women who are financially independent can easily look after any emergency medical and other needs of your elderly parents without being a burden or putting any strain on the family’s finances or having to ask for permission from their spouse. You can spend for your children’s expenses without having to constantly ask your spouse for money. 

4.To be your own knight in shining armor 

Being able to earn a living, to manage your money, to save and to invest on your own, will help you to advance in your career and in life. You will not be treated as a dependent and you will not have to rely on your husband or your parents for money. It is important that women know and understand that they are capable of managing their own finances and they take the opportunity educate themselves about personal finance. 

5.To be able to set and achieve future financial goals 

When there are two incomes in a family, you will able to save for retirement faster, save for a down payment for a house, pay off the mortgages faster,  save an emergency fund and increase the chances of getting approval for home loans. Both of you can work towards common financial goals for your future and to secure financial stability for yourselves and your children. 

6. To have your own spending money 

7. To gain self confidence 

8. To pay for higher education for yourself and your kids.

9. To have the freedom and the ability to make life decisions on your own terms 

Being financially independent will help you to make decisions for yourself without being influenced and controlled by anther. When you are financially independent you can take up a new job, change careers or launch your own business. You have the freedom to take a risk. You are not dependent on another person to take care of you (and your children) financially. You are only accountable to yourself on how you save and invest your money. 

10. To have a clear knowledge of the family's financial situation.

It is important for a woman to have a clear knowledge of financial assets and liabilities of her family. This includes knowing the amount of debts such as mortgages and vehicle leases, what assets are in her name, and  the various tax liabilities. It is important that she knows the bills which have to be paid in a monthly basis and online bill payment passwords. Therefore, in an emergency she is able to pay any bill without having the aid of her husband.

11. You have ability and the option of moving on 

Sadly, not all marriages and relationships work out. The situation will become much worse if such breakups involve emotional abuse  or domestic violence and  the abusive partner has complete control of the family's finances. If you have stable income you are capable of removing yourself from an abusive relationship or marriage. You can think of your safety and the safety of your children and take a decision to move out to a different place. If the woman has no source of income to support herself and her children, she might have no other choice than to stay in the abusive relationship. If you are  financially stable you can take yourself (and your children, if you have any) out of that abusive situation since you are not dependent on your spouse’s income. 

Therefore, it is very important that women become financially independent regardless of their age, their marital status or their occupation.

Minimalism and Pets

Minimalist lifestyle involves getting rid of all unnecessary material possessions from your home.  So is keeping a pet something that is in line with the ideal minimalist lifestyle ? one might ask.

Well, the Short Answer is  YES 

For the long Answer please keep reading.  

If someone suggests to me that I must get rid of, or re-home my dogs to 'fully embrace the minimalist lifestyle' I can pretty much guarantee that  I'll probably never speak to that person again.

It is not only because I love my pets, but because I feel that pets become a part of the family the moment they walk into our lives. (I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who feels this way).

Adopting minimalism as a lifestyle is not limited to merely getting rid of all possessions. It encompasses much more than simply decluttering your surroundings. 

The reason why people think  that minimalist cannot have a pet with their lifestyle is that having a pet requires you to spend  your time, your energy and your money on them.   

Minimalism requires you to only keeping what is essential, what adds value to your life and what brings you joy.

Well  does a pet fit in to this definition of a ideal  minimalist lifestyle? one might ask.

To put it simply a pet, be it a dog, a cat or a bird  adds value to your life and brings you joy, therefore it becomes quite clear that it is not only possible but probable that someone embracing minimalist practices will hold on to their pets. 

-A pet is clearly different from "material possessions". A pet is a live being, it has it's own unique personality and pets are very attached to their owners (or the more likely scenario is that the  owners are very attached to their pets). 

- Having a pet has shown to have many health benefits such as reducing blood pressure, and even helping to cope with depression and anxiety.

-Having a pet helps you to battle loneliness and makes you more responsible as you have the duty of  taking care of the pet.

-Having a pet will help teach children responsibility

-Pets help you become more selfless

-A pet does not suddenly appear in your life. It is more likely that you made a conscious decision to buy or adopt a pet and make him a part of your life.

- A pet will help you reduce your stress. 

-A pet (especially a dog) will motivate you to become more  active because you must take it for daily walks and this will encourage you to socialize with other dog owners too. 

-Dogs are good for protection and they are extremely loyal

-A pet (especially a dog) will teach you what is most important in your life. For your dog it values nothing more important than spending time playing with you and seeking your attention. It values you as a person and is not bothered by your wealth or social status

-Pets teach you to be content with life. Give a cat a cardboard box and watch as it will play for hours with it. Pets are happy if they have food and water, a place to sleep and an owner who gives them a bit of love and attention.

Therefore, having a pet definitely has more benefits than drawbacks .

That being said you can incorporate a routines when it comes to bringing up a pet,  such as 

-Have a schedule for your pets such as having specific times for feeding, exercise and bathing them.

-Limit the number of pet  toys as pets prefer to play with their owners rather than their toys.

-Focus on feeding your pets a balanced diet, grooming them properly and getting them enough exercise. This will help you have a healthy pet and prevent illnesses. 

-Give necessary any vaccinations and medications according to the direction of your vet.

-Have some money saved up specifically for your pets for any unexpected illnesses and visits to the vet. 
- It is of utmost importance that You and your family  make a conscious and well thought out decision together, to bring a pet into your life. Unless you are ready to fully commit them and make them a part of your family, for at least  the next 10 to15  years or have the financial and physical means to support them, don't get a pet. 

Therefore, I would say having a pet is fairly  in line with the minimalist mindset and It is a intentional choice that we make to bring a pet in to our homes and make it a part of our family.

So does a Pet fit into the definition of an ideal  minimalist lifestyle? The Answer is definitely  "YES" 

How to Setup a Functional Work or Study Space

Whether you are a Student, Employee, Work at Home Mom or Entrepreneur, having a specific designated place to work or in your house or office, is vital to increase your productivity. A well-organized, functional work space will create a more constructive, practical, and, professional environment for work and will benefit in your professional and academic life. 
The suggestions and ideas listed below can be used to set up a Study Desk for a Student or a Work Space for an Employee or to set up a Home Office.

1. Figure out what the space is going to be used for. Ask yourself if it is going to be used by a student or an employee or as a home office. It is important to take note if the space is going to be used by a single person or by multiple people. The type of desk and, the essential items necessary to set up such work/study area will vary according to the needs and the preferences of the person or persons using such work/study area.

2. Choose a good quality Desk that can be used for a long time. Make sure that the desk is, sturdy, versatile and can be used for multiple purposes. Therefore, as your experience changes in your lifestyle (such as transitioning from being a student to a working professional) you can adapt desk space to suit your current lifestyle without having to buy brand new furniture. Buy a desk with drawers so that, what you don’t need to use for the current project can be kept out of site. For students these drawers can be used to store text books, binders or extra school supplies, and, it will help you keep your desk surface clear and minimal.

3. Place the Desk in an area where there is good natural lighting, and, in a place with minimal distractions.

4. Get a desk organizer and keep only the most essential items on top of your desk. Remove everything else.

5. Stop or limit keeping personal photos and, numerous little ornaments on your desk. It is taking up valuable space on your desk surface. If you feel that you need to keep personal items such as photos, I suggest you digitize some photos of your family and, make set it as the wall paper in your Computer or Laptop. That way you can see your family photos without taking up space on your work surface.

6. Set up an organization system which is functional and easy to maintain in the long run for your workspace.

7. Focus on one project at a time. This is important especially if you are working in an office that uses a lot of paper documents. It will prevent an important document ending up in the wrong folder and, limit the chances of misplacing important paperwork.

8. Clean and organize your Work/Study desk, at the end of the day.

9. Limit the number of school supplies you keep on your desk - dear students, I can safely tell you now that you really do not need to keep 30 black pens, 15 pencils and, multiple sets of colourful highlighters on your desk to help you become a better student. Even if you have organizers to store them, it will become virtually impossible to maintain the clutter in the long run. A messy study area makes it harder for you to pay attention to what you are studying  and will only be a distraction. You will tend to spend more time cleaning and organizing your desk, wasting valuable time you should be using to do the actual studying. Remove all clutter from your study area. I suggest, you buy only a minimal amount of school supplies. Buy only what you need, and before you go shopping for school supplies at the beginning of every school year, look through and take stock of the supplies you already have and buy only what you absolutely need. As a bonus, this will help you to stop wasting school supplies and save you same money on back to school shopping.

Simple Steps to Save the Environment

In this post I like to write about some simple habits and daily changes you can make to reduce the impact you have on the environment. Given the drastic and long lasting impact of  environmental pollution I believe that it is the duty of all members of the society to do what they can to protect the Environment. Most of these habits can help you to reduce the amount of trash you produce, protect natural resources and even save you some money. Here are  some simple ways to protect the environment. 

Switch to Reusable Products instead of using Disposable Products.

1. Use a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic water bottles 

2. Use Cloth or Canvas Shopping Bags instead of taking home Plastic Shopping  Bags

3.Use Reusable produce bags for fruits, vegetables

4. Use a Glass or Stainless Steel Lunch boxes

5.Use Re-chargeable Batteries

6. Use cloth handkerchiefs and cloth napkins  instead of tissues or paper towels

(i.e. basically stop using one time use disposable items and switch to reusable alternatives)

Save Electricity

1. Turn off all electrical appliances when not in use.

2. Unplug charging cords from the wall plug to prevent ‘vampire electricity’ use.

3. Use Solar Panels (if it is within your budget to do so).

4. Use energy efficient electric appliances in your home.

5. Turn off computers when you leave the office at the end of the day.

6.Use energy efficient bulbs such as LED bulbs and CFL bulbs in your home and office.

7.Encourage your local authorities to look for more sustainable ways of producing electricity such as Using Solar or Wind Power Stations.

8.Place work/study desks, kitchen counters and dinning tables in a place where you get a lot of natural sun light. 
9. Air dry clothes instead of using electric dryers.
10.Iron full loads of clothes once a week instead of ironing a few items at a time.

Save Water 

1. Stop any garbage being dumped in waterways and rivers

2. Install Low flow taps and shower heads

3. Install a rainwater tank for the garden 

4.Use less toxic cleaning supplies and use natural alternatives

5. Fix all broken taps and pipes to prevent water from leaking.

6. Wash full loads in the washing machine and switch to an energy efficient model if you can.

Reduce Paper Usage 

1. Opt for paper less bills and switch to online bill payments

2. Print both sides of the paper

3. Recycle old paper products

4. Borrow books from the library or switch to reading e-books

5. Read news online instead of buying the paper

6. Don't accept any paper flyers or any junk mail

7. Use papers which have been printed on one side for rough paper or for sketches or for kids drawings.

8.When buying printer-paper buy from companies which use sustainable practices

9. Don't Print documents unless you absolutely have to

10. Don't print handouts of presentations and email a copies of the presentation to the group.

11. Use the note app on your phone to type out random notes  and doodles instead of using a paper note book.

Transport

1.Walk (it's good for your health and your wallet)
2.Use Public Transport
3.Carpool with your colleagues when travelling to work.

Reduce Garbage 

1.Adopt the 3 R system- Reduce Reuse and Recycle  and if you want to take it a bit further and adopt a Zero Waste Lifestyle Adopt the 5 R system Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Re purpose and Recycle.

2. Switch to reusable products

3. Sort your garbage before disposing it

4. Have a compost bin in your garden

5.Bulk buy ingredients and use reusable containers

6. Avoid buying items with plastic packaging as much as possible

7. Re purpose plastic containers

8. Avoid getting plastic straws, plastic cutlery and paper napkins when you are buying take away food.

10. Bring your own reusable coffee cup and stop buying paper coffee cups.
11. Repair items 
12.Dispose of old electronics, batteries, laptops and phones is a environmentally responsible manner
13. Donate, Re purpose or Recycle items that you no longer need. 

It is important to stress the importance of protecting and saving the environment and adapting practices for sustainable use of non-renewable natural resources.   

These habits and tips are easy to adopt as a part of your daily routine and will have a great impact on the environment in the long run. Make it a point to become conscious and intentional about what you buy and what you choose to bring in to your life. Protect the environment and its resources for the present and future generations.

You may also like to read Simple Eco-friendly habits for Daily Life 

Minimalist Handbag

I have noticed that  a lot of people who embark on the journey toward a minimalist life tend to follow through with simplifying their lives and continue the practices of minimalism in the long run, if they can see and experience the benefits of a minimalist lifestyle without delay.  They want to celebrate small victories of minimalist life because it  gives them the feeling of accomplishment and motivates them to make more substantial changes in to their lifestyle by adopting minimalist habits. Some become frustrated if they don’t see results fast and tend to give up on simplifying their lives. 

As the first step towards leading a more simple life I would suggest that you starts with downsizing and minimizing the contents of your Handbag and/or Wallet. This is a relatively straightforward and uncomplicated step and, it has no drastic or extreme consequences. In fact, downsizing the contents of the handbag is one of the easiest and the least complicated changes a beginner minimalist can make. 

-Find a good quality, sturdy handbag in a neutral colour and in a style which matches all or most of your outfits. Make sure that the bag itself is lightweight and does not have a ton of accessories which adds more weight to it. Opt for a simple functional design. The hand bag doesn’t have to be expensive or be a name brand product, but make sure that it is comfortable, that it will suit your everyday lifestyle and that you will actually enjoy using that bag. 

-If you have the tendency to carry basically everything you own in a large tote bag, at the expense of your health and posture, buy a smaller handbag. So that you will have no choice but to downsize and carry only what you need. 

-Take everything out of your handbag and evaluate each item. Consider whether those items really need to be in your bag. Make sure to go through your handbag daily and empty out the trash. Then designate a specific spot for each item inside your bag. If your bag does not have internal pockets to store items consider buying a bag organizer or using zippered pouches to separate and organize items inside your bag. 

-Identify the essential items you NEED to carry on a daily basis. This may vary from person to person. These essential items in my case include, Cash, Debit/ Credit cards, Phone, ID/ Driver’s License, Keys, Medication and a Water bottle. Try to use multipurpose items such as a phone case which doubles as a cardholder . 

-De-clutter your wallet every day. This will not take up more than a few minutes of your time but the results you see will be significant. Make it a point to go through your wallet, and, empty out anything is not an essential item. Take out all your receipts, and, store-cards you hardly use. If you use coupons, use an app on your phone to scan coupon codes. Take out any coins you have and put it in a coin jar daily. Get into the habit of daily cleaning out and organizing your wallet. 

-If you are just going out of your house for a short time or just to run errands consider taking only your wallet, phone and keys. 

-Feel free to leave the “just in case” items (pens, hair ties, beauty products, packets of tissues) you carry in your handbag at home. You will probably not need them anyway. If it makes you feel better, and, just for the sake of peace of mind, get a small box or pouch and keep those the “just in case” items in your office desk/locker or in your car. 

-Be realistic about the number of electronic items you need to carry on a daily basis. Ask yourself is it really necessary to carry a laptop, a tablet, and a smart phone, and, all the chargers and data cables that goes with them. Carry only what is absolutely necessary.  

Minimizing the items you carry in your daily handbag will not only help you to prevent neck and back problems in the future, it will also help you be more organized, save time and energy. It is also a habit that is simple to maintain in the long run. Also, you will also have the added bonus of not missing an important phone call again because you simply can’t find where you put your phone inside the handbag or, be standing outside your house or car rummaging through your purse looking for the keys.

My Thoughts on Minimalist Living

At first, venturing into minimalist lifestyle may be a little intimidating. It may seem too drastic, or unbearable. It is important to understand why some people are skeptical of the minimalist lifestyle and why they think the minimalist life is unattainable or unrealistic or too difficult or that it is some trend that will disappear gradually. 
The consumerist mindset in today’s globalized economy plays a big role in this pattern of thinking. Somehow, it is embedded in the people’s mind that, the value of a person can only be measured by their job, the size of their house or the type of car they drive, and the society seems to have forgotten to look beyond the material possessions. 

In this post, I wish to share some of  my thoughts on the minimalist lifestyle and the common misconceptions and fears preventing people from adopting minimalist practices  in to their life. 

1. There is no “one size fits all”, proven, 100% effective, method to incorporate minimalism in to your life

Minimalism can be adapted into so many different parts of a person’s life and in so many different ways. The flexibility of minimalism has become one of its main attractions. There are no rules on how minimalism can be adopted in to one’s life. One can choose incorporate minimalism into just one part of their life and not others. It is an incredibly personal choice on how and why you would want incorporate minimalism in to your life. How you choose to live a more intentional and minimal life does not need to conform to the beliefs and norms of, the other minimalists or  the society or your friends or your family. 

2. It is NOT a competition

How we choose to incorporate minimalist practices into our lives will not be identical or even similar to another minimalist’s way of life. It is not a race to see who can de-clutter more items, or how fast you do it. It's not about who has the least amount of items in their homes.  Minimalism is not about removing all material possessions from our life. It is about removing anything that that does not bring you joy or adds value to your current lifestyle and making intentional decisions what you choose to buy and what we choose to surround ourselves with on a daily basis.

3. Minimalist and Non- minimalist can’t co-exist (well this statement is an exaggeration  but there is a notion that one family member adopting minimalism can cause friction between the non- minimalist family members) 

You can live a minimalist life even if you are living with a non-minimalist or if you have a family. The important thing to realize is that, when you minimize, and get rid of possessions, make sure that you limit the decluttering to your personal items. Never try to tell or force your non-minimalist family member that he or she has to adapt a minimalist lifestyle as well. Respect their choices and belongings. Don’t Preach or lecture about “How amazing the minimalist lifestyle is”. Simply let them see and experience the benefits of a minimalist and intentional life. Then leave them to make their own choices (and, respect their choice especially, if they chose to continue to live a non-minimalist life) 

4. You don’t have to explain or defend your choice to incorporate minimalism in to your life 

Choosing to live a minimalist is  a personal preference. Most people including your own family members will see it as drastic and feel that you may regret that decision later. Explain to them have your own reasons to adopt such practices to your daily life. However, even if you try to explain, there is a chance that they will not understand. Simply tell them that you are making a conscious choice to adopt this minimalist lifestyle and let it go.

I hope my thoughts in this post help you shed light on some of the common misconceptions  that the society has about a minimalist lifestyle. I hope that you will be able to look past these misconceptions and simplify your life to suit your current life situation.

11 SIMPLE TIPS ON MONEY MANAGEMENT

The subject  of 'Financial Management' is not typically taught schools. It is difficult to approach this subject even with your family or closest friends. It appears that there is some taboo surrounding the subject of personal finance. Most of the time we, as adults, are left to our own devices to figure out how “Money” works. Because of this  a large number of  young adults, live with little to no savings and are burdened with consumer debts or student loans. They find it difficult to understand the basic financial principles. Sadly, this problem affects adults who have established careers as well as retirees. 

I cannot stress the utmost importance of understanding and gaining knowledge on the fundamental principles of money management, regardless of your age, gender, job or social standing. It is a basic life skill that everyone must strive to learn. 

You and you alone can change your financial situation.  With few intentional lifestyle changes and hard work, it is possible for anyone to attain a comfortable degree of financial stability regardless of what your financial situation looks like today. 

It is important to stress that you consult a qualified financial professional and do all necessary research before you invest in any financial product. It is crucial that you  must exercise due diligence and understand  the risks involved when it comes to finances.

Listed below are a few simple but  useful tips on Money Management that can be incorporated in to your daily life. 

1. Make a conscious and intentional decision to take control of your financial life

You must take  an intentional decision to gain knowledge about money management, saving, and investing. Educate yourself on  basic financial principles, savings, taxes, and investing. Stop telling yourself that you are not good with money or that you don't understand how 'money' works. Like everything else in life you must learn how to manage your money. Be responsible and make an intentional choice to gain control of your finances.

2. Create a budget 

Always know how much you are earning  and how much you are spending. Identify all your income sources, such as take home-salary, bank interest and any other income that you receive on a monthly basis.

Track your monthly spending. Take in to account expenses you pay on a yearly, or on a by-annual basis (eg- Insurance, Vehicle Revenue Licenses, Property taxes) and calculate the monthly cost of those expenses. Try to be accurate and honest. When you have a clear picture of your financial situation, you can start to take appropriate decisions and actions to improve your financial situation. 

If your monthly income is higher than your monthly expenses, it is a good sign that you already have a good sense of money management.

However, if your expenses are higher than your monthly income, you need to start thinking about making some serious changes, either by cutting down on your expenses or by finding an additional job or side hustle to increase your income. 

Basic steps to create a budget

3. Create a Bill Payment Calendar

Take your daily planner or calendar or a separate notebook and, write down all your bills and their due dates. Make it a habit to pay your bills on time and avoid late fees. Check your monthly bills carefully to see if there are any errors, or if you are being overcharged on something. Immediately, inform the utility company of the said error to ensure that it is resolved promptly. 

4. Identify and take control of your bad spending habits.

Identify the types of non-essential purchases (handbags, shoes, beauty products, electronics, notebooks etc.) that is making a serious dent in your income. Learn what triggers you to buy these items. (eg:- when you are feeling stressed or when you feel sad)  If you already have a stockpile of these items at home STOP buying them completely. Either, use them all up or minimize your collection. Donate the additional items to some needy cause. Self impose spending freeze for such unnecessary items for 3 to 6 months. Once the remaining supplies run out allocate a fixed amount of money to purchase those items per month. Exercise self-control. Learn to say “I can’t afford this and/or I don’t need this” and walk away from the shop.

5. Automate Savings

If you are an employee who gets his or her  monthly salary directly deposited into your checking account set up an automatic transfer of a fixed amount  of your salary to a separate savings account. If you have created a Monthly Budget you can determine, how much money should be automatically transferred to a different account. It doesn't matter how much you save at first as long as you start and continue to save. Establish a habit of saving money each month. 

6. Save a 'Mini-Emergency Fund', and, a Proper 'Six Month' Emergency fund 

A mini emergency fund can be additional sum of money that you leave in your checking account. Depending on your financial situation this amount could vary. It can be a weeks’ worth of your expenses, or if you are frugal, prudent, and financially savvy, you can have an entire months worth of expenses stashed away in your checking account. The purpose of a mini-emergency fund is to accumulate a small safety net to pay for any unexpected bills, fines or increases in utility charges. The main goal of such a mini emergency fund is to prevent being charged hefty overdraft fees. 

Your Proper Emergency Fund should ideally have at least 6 months of expenses saved in it. (more money you have in the said fund the better). It is better to save the emergency fund in an easily accessible account. Save your Emergency Fund in an account where you can get some interest. This fund can be used in the case of  actual emergencies such as, job loss, repairs to the home or vehicle or unexpected medical expenses. Never use this Emergency Fund to pay for unnecessary impulse purchases. 

7. Try to build up multiple streams of income, passive income opportunities and side hustles to boost your income. 

8. Save for your retirement 

Set clear and specific goals as to when you want to retire and how much money you need for retirement. Start saving and investing for retirement when you are young and if it is possible start with your very first salary. Choose appropriate and wise investments for retirement that fit your individual needs. Educate yourself about your tax liabilities on your retirement savings.

 

9. Never save money at the expense of your health

Never skip buying medicines, or skip doctor’s appointments or check-ups. Don’t be so overwhelmed with work and stress that you neglect your physical health and mental well-being. There is no point of accumulating wealth if you are too sick to enjoy its’ benefits. Take a break and reset your mind and body. Learn to lead a healthy lifestyle. 

10. Use credit cards responsibly

First, think long and hard before getting a credit card. Merely because you are eligible to get a credit card does not mean that you are financially responsible enough to own one. I admit, that the whole idea of owning a credit card is really enticing and makes you feel like a “real grown up”. 

Understand your credit card policy. Read the fine print before you sign the contract. If you have a tendency to spend impulsively or have the habit of forgetting to pay your bills on time, use just one credit card and keep track of every purchase you put on that card diligently (or just don't get a credit card until you become financially responsible). Be mindful and intentional about your purchases and ask yourself ‘Do I really need this?’ and ‘Can I afford this?. Learn your credit card’s resettlement policy and repayment period, and make sure that you  pay the credit card bill in full each month. Never carry a balance on your credit card because then you will have to pay a hefty sum as interest. Never use credit cards to pay for emergencies. (that's what the Emergency fund is for). If you use credit cards responsibly, you can gain certain benefits like cash back offers or loyalty points and help you build your credit score. But if you are not diligent about using credit cards, you will end up owing a  massive amount of debt. 

11. Learn to live a more minimalist and intentional life.

When you learn to adopt practices of minimalism in to your life, managing your money will get easier over time. It will help you not to spend on frivolous items that adds no value to your life. You will learn to use, appreciate and take care of your belongings. A minimalist lifestyle also helps you to learn that you don't need massive quantities of material possessions or money to live a happy, meaningful and fulfilled life.

I hope at least one person who reads this article will be inspired to lead a more intentional and financially responsible life.

Disclaimer - It is important to note that the above tips are my personal views and opinions on money management. These tips should not be considered as  professional financial or legal advice. This information is  general in nature, may not be suitable to your individual, financial or legal situation. Always consult a competent and qualified Financial Professionals and a Legal Professional before you chose any investment, and, do all  necessary research and understand the risks involved  before you purchase any financial product.

17 WAYS TO SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE

In this post I have listed 17 ways to simplify your daily life. Adopting at least a few of these simple habits in to your daily routine, and in to your family’s busy schedule will help you to achieve your daily tasks in a more efficient and productive manner, and help you to achieve some form of ‘Work/Life’ Balance. 

1. WAKE UP EARLY – Set your alarm at least 20 to 30 minutes earlier than you would set your usual daily alarm. This will give you a head start on the day before the other family members wake up for the busy morning rush. 

2. MAKE YOUR BED IN THE MORNING – This will help you feel more organized, and productive. It also sets the tone to start the day on a positive outlook along with a can-do attitude. 

3. MAKE A LIST OF FIVE IMPORTANT TIME SENSITIVE TASKS - Keep a notepad and a pen on the bedside table. Quickly jot down five tasks which require urgent attention, tasks which must be attended to and completed by the end of the day. Don’t include mundane everyday chores such as do the laundry or clean the kitchen or pick up the mail. Focus only on urgent family/ work /business related matters. Be clear and precise about what you need to achieve and when these tasks must to be completed.

4. TAKE 10 MINUTES IN THE MORNING TO PRACTICE SELF-CARE – Drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up. Do some breathing exercises, or meditation, or Yoga or simply pour yourself a cup of tea or coffee, sit down and enjoy it. It will do wonders to your physical and mental health. 

5. PICK OUT AN OUTFIT TO WEAR TO WORK THE NIGHT BEFORE- This habit will save you so much of time in the morning. Create a capsule wardrobe, to mix and match a variety of different and versatile outfits with a few items of clothing. Stick to comfortable, simple, functional clothes and accessories. While you are at it, pack your work bag the night before too.

6.SIMPLIFY YOUR BEAUTY/ MAKEUP ROUTINE

7. USE A PLANNER TO ORGANIZE YOUR DAY- Use a planner to efficiently and effectively break up complicated work or home projects into manageable individual tasks. Learn to prioritize these tasks by importance and due dates. A planner will help you to increase your productivity. Using a Planner will give you the ability to work smarter and not harder. Keep your planner set up minimal and simplistic. A minimalist planner set up will help you maintain it throughout the whole year. 

Keep your planner supplies minimal, and buy only what you need to organize your day more efficiently. Buy decorative planner supplies only if they add value or bring joy to your life and you enjoy expressing your creativity through using such decorative supplies. If you prefer to use an electronic version for organizing try using the calendar app on your phone or online planner. It really does not matter what type of Planner you use, as long as it is functional and suits your lifestyle. 

8.SIMPLIFY THE COOKING AND MEAL PREP PROCESS- Find recipes with a few simple and easily available ingredients, which are simple to prepare. Rotate those recipes throughout the week. Try to substitute different vegetables and fruits in your standard recipes to create different meals. Prepare make ahead breakfast recipes and smoothies for a filling meal during the morning rush. Prepare double the quantity of some family favorite meals and freeze the extra portion for nights you just don’t have time to cook. Teach your older children, especially if they are Teenagers, how to prepare simple meals and snacks (but make sure they are supervised by an Adult at all times when they are in the kitchen). Give the older kids the responsibility of packing his/her lunch. Also, don’t feel bad if you serve the same meal, twice for dinner during same week. Your children will survive just fine on the nutritious food you cook, and, they will be grateful that their parents have the time to cook, a home cooked meal from scratch, with their busy work schedules. 

9. DO A WELL PLANNED SHOPPING TRIP FOR GROCERIES AND HOME SUPPLIES ONCE A WEEK. 

10. LIMIT THE TIME YOU SPEND WATCHING TV, SURFING THE WEB, AND USING SOCIAL MEDIA.

11. TRY TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF CLUTTER YOU HAVE ON TABLES, COUNTER TOPS AND INSIDE THE HOUSE IN GENERAL 

It helps you to clean up faster, and, if some item does not add value to your current lifestyle, donate or recycle that item. Adopt a minimalist approach when it comes to decorations and furniture. Avoid bringing unnecessary items into your home in the first place. 

12. LEARN TO DELEGATE SOME HOUSEHOLD CHORES AMONG THE FAMILY MEMBERS- Each family member must take responsibility for performing household tasks. Teenagers and older kids can be given the task of keeping their rooms clean and organized. They can also be held responsible for simple tasks such as setting the table for dinner, help cleaning the dishes and cleaning the house. Younger kids can be taught to pick up their toys and books at the end of the day, and, put them in their designated spots. Teaching children to perform simple household tasks, and teaching them to be organized, will help them to learn essential life skills for future. 

13. TEACH SCHOOL CHILDREN TO BE ORGANIZED AND HOW TO USE A PLANNER- Children who are in school must be taught to use a planner, to enter exams, school tests, and, assignments due dates as soon as they are handed out by the teachers. Children must be taught to schedule time for studying, completing assignments, extra-curricular activities, and playing. Parents must provide a quiet and distraction-free place, for school children to do their homework, assignments, and, to study for tests. The children must also be given the responsibility to keep their study area clean and organized. These habits will help your children to become more responsible and productive when they are older.

14. DO ONE THING THAT HELPS YOU FEEL CALM AND CENTERED DAILY –Be it meditating or praying, or gardening or reading a book, or listening to an audio book or some classical music, make it a part of your daily routine. It will help you reduce any anxiety or stress in your life. 

15. SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY- taking at least 15 minutes a day to sit down together and talk with all your family members, without any distractions from phones, emails or social media, will greatly improve your quality of life. It will give the opportunity for the family members to talk about any problems that they are facing, and, find a solution or ask for advice from other family members. 

16. PRACTICE GRATITUDE - At the end of the day take a few minute to be thankful for your job, your spouse, your parents, your children, the health of your family members, and any other blessings that came in to your life that day. If you are the type of person who likes to write in a journal, I suggest that you keep a Gratitude Journal, and, read it anytime you are feeling unhappy/unlucky/overwhelmed. 

17. FOCUS ON ONE THING AT A TIME- I personally, feel that the concept multitasking is overrated and most of the time ineffective. There have been many studies that show employees and students, tend to be more focused, efficient and productive when they focus on a single task. This increases their performance level and reduces the chances of making mistakes. Focusing all your attention on a single task at a time,will not only make your life more simpler, but it will increase your productivity, and, give the opportunity to get more done during the day. 

"Life is simple, don't complicate it by overthinking"

Advice for Aspiring Minimalists

Choosing to live your life with fewer possessions seems to be a movement that is gaining momentum daily. In this short blog post I wish to give some basic guidelines, tips and recommendations to any person who is considering living a minimalist life from the viewpoint of another beginner  minimalist.

§ THE REASON 

It is important to figure out why we choose the path to lead a more intentional and minimalist life. I suggest you write down all the reasons why you decided to venture into  a minimalist lifestyle. It may be that your life has taken you on a new journey, such as being a parent, which obviously means you want to spend time bonding with your newborn than doing some menial household chore or maybe it is the work related stress that comes with a new promotion or changing careers, or maybe you are planning to move to a new city or new country and, don’t want to be burdened by all your material possessions or  you want financial stability or to protect the environment. It could be that you enjoy the peacefulness and the serenity of a minimalist home or workplace. It could also be that you are simply attracted to the minimalist aesthetic. Whatever the reason which led you to choose minimalism and intentional living, write them down, clearly and precisely. This list of reasons will give you a sense of purpose and help you when you feel like you don’t have enough things.

§ START SMALL 

Try to incorporate the process of simplifying and practices of minimalism into your life in a more gradual manner. Try to declutter one room in a day or in a week, as it suits your lifestyle. It is not a race, take your own time to make conscious decisions about the items you want to keep in your life and, the items you want to let go. Start with a small and uncomplicated area of your life. When the process of minimizing is intentional you lessen the chances of mistakenly getting rid of something that you will need, that is valuable and irreplaceable. You will also not get overwhelmed and stressed about minimizing your material possessions. Start with some place like your wallet, handbag or your work desk.

§ USE OR SELL OR DONATE 

You can finish using the multiple items you have purchased, such as notebooks, pens, printer paper, or donate them to a school in your area. Donate the items to charity where it will be useful to someone in need. clothes, handbags, and jewelry can be gifted to your family members or sold online. Think of ways to utilize or re-purpose  items you are decluttering to prevent wasting money and resources, instead of just throwing them in the garbage.

§ BOX IT UP AND PUT IT AWAY FOR 6 MONTHS 

If you are concerned that when you declutter, you might accidentally get rid of something that useful or necessary, I suggest you get a large box and fill it up with anything you think you want to get rid of. Make a list of what is inside and then put the box away. In case you have by mistake, put away some valuable or necessary items, in the coming weeks you can simply retrieve those items from the box. If after 6 months you have not even touched that box, dispose of the contents or donate them.

§ DE CLUTTER BEFORE YOU ORGANIZE 

It is always advisable to declutter and get rid of all unnecessary items before you decide on an organization system.   Once you have decluttered the unnecessary items from your home, find an organizing system which will work for you and your family. The system must be easy and practical to maintain in the long run. Designate a spot for each item, and put it back to that place after using it. 

§ EXPLAIN TO YOUR FAMILY WHY YOU ARE CHOOSING TO LIVE A  MINIMALIST LIFE. 

Although they may not understand or agree with you, informing them of your choice to live a more minimalist and intentional life will help prevent disagreements in the family. Sometimes you may be able to encourage some of your family members to try out a minimalist lifestyle too. It will also reduce the chances of them giving you material gifts for various occasions because they know  that you are trying to reduce material possessions from your life