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In this blog post, Fanny Kondowe shares 6 time management strategies on how people with busy schedules can maximise their time.
Tags: advice for busy people, blog, time management, work smart, self-management techniques, personal development, life skills, No Ordinary Life
“You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it”
- Charles Buxton
Everyone has the same amount of time on the clock. Although, some people have less time to work with, depending on the type of work they do. When you have more time than others, it might be difficult to know what to do with it. It is a funny world we live in where some people use the same 24 hours to become wealthy, get employment, further their education, and engage in relationships. But for others, the same 24 hours are not spent properly and all you hear is ‘how I wish I had more time’. At this moment, you get to the point where you wonder, if only I had 36 hours to do more in my life. A quick question for you. If you were given 36 hours a day, would you say that was enough? All of these are typical questions we might have asked ourselves at certain points in life; and time unfortunately won't stretch itself but you can manage your time better to make the most of time; even the shortest amount of it. In this article, I will share a few approaches that have helped me to cope with working in a busy sector.
Plan your day
I plan my day after my morning meditation, which entails thinking about all the tasks I will complete that day. I even factor in the time for choosing my outfit for the day, breakfast time ,lunch prep among my job responsibilities. It is crucial to do this since it makes you more organized and ensures that, rather than just winging it you know exactly what you will do on the day. Making a daily plan is crucial because it enables you to set specific objectives that will improve your day.
2. Finish the essential tasks, first
Start with the most difficult tasks and work your way down, doing the most crucial ones first. The challenging ones should always be your first priority. When you have worked on the difficult assignment first, you have the freedom not to worry about the workload giving you mental liberation. Burnout is less likely to occur if you work on difficult tasks earlier in the day. Besides that, when you focus on simpler tasks instead of difficult ones that consume the majority of your time, you become more productive.
3. Avoid distractions
Avoid distractions if you want to manage your time wisely and have a productive day. Distractions can take many different forms, including those caused by our own psychological thinking, chatting with co-workers for longer than necessary, and browsing social media when you should be attending to your priorities. Psychological detours can occur when you have unanswered questions in your head, or are thinking about something, which can also be time-consuming. It is challenging to move forward when you have things piling up in your mind. It's critical to be aware of psychological distractions while working, studying, or conducting business and to speak with someone about them before they become a mental distraction. So take care of your mind before it becomes a time waster in achieving your goal. Once you identify these time wasters it will be easier for you to manage your time well.
4. Know when to say 'No'
You'll also need to learn how to say no if you're a busy person. In my early years of working in media, I felt everything had to be a yes to becoming an active person and showing off that I was a hard worker. I therefore agreed to participate in programs that were not mine, took on unclaimed roles, and engaged in activities that were inconsistent with my area of work. As a result, I eventually got exhausted and stopped working as hard as I once did. Just pause and consider this, ‘What kind of day would you have, if you said yes to everything? And how would your day be if you declined some of those obligations?’ Saying yes to everything results in you spending more time working on other things than the task at hand, which makes you less productive and lose concentration. To attain your goals, therefore, you must learn to say no to the other things.
5. Delegate
If you are a busy person, learn to delegate. It is chaotic for a busy person to wish to finish tasks on their own without assistance. It’s interesting to see how many of us would prefer to do things our own way. For instance, we may feel that we are the only ones who can handle the work, prepare the meals, clean the house, and organize the office. When that occurs, trying to do all tasks alone leaves you feeling completely overwhelmed. Working in a hectic atmosphere has taught me to delegate work to others, which has relieved the stress I was experiencing in the past. I am now able to have spare time to read a book, watch TV, enjoy my hobbies, and to be able to focus on personal development because of delegation.
6. Set deadlines
You should also set deadlines in addition to everything else. Due to your awareness of how valuable every second is and how productive you wish your day to be, setting deadlines helps you overcome procrastination. Also, it motivates you to keep track of which chores need to be completed and which ones need to be prioritized. The accomplishments we aspire to make by a given date are kept in check by deadlines.
Time is crucial in all our daily endeavours. You can become more effective and advance personal development with time. For instance, you may prepare to start a business while augmenting your own skills. On the other hand, bad time management can make you exhausted, sleep deprived, procrastinate, have low self-esteem, and have a negative impact on your relationships. Everything relies on what you want to do with the time you have been given.
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No Ordinary Life (c) 2023 Last updated: 14/10/2023
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In this blog post, Claudia Newton shares 3 tried and tested well-known time management strategies to maximise your time, get important things done, avoid distractions and achieve your goals.
Tags: #blog #timemanagement101 #avoiddistractions #goalsetting #personaldevelopment #SMARTgoals #prioritising #scheduling #digitaltools
In today's fast-paced world, effective time management skills are essential for individuals to navigate through their daily tasks and responsibilities. Many of us often find ourselves feeling like "dummies" when it comes to managing our time effectively.
Time is a precious resource that, if not managed properly, can easily slip away from us. By developing effective time management skills, we can make the most out of each day and boost our productivity and performance in all areas of life.
In this article, I will present 3 powerful techniques on how to get things done in good time. Here it goes.
Priority Setting: Determine the urgency and importance of tasks
Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT89OZ7TNwc
2. Goal Setting: Setting Clear Objectives with SMART goals
A way of setting goals and working towards objectives is through these 3 steps:
Plan ahead by looking backwards. A good question is: what is the deadline you are working towards?
Plan specific tasks for each day (best option) or set weekly tasks (a good option)
Create smart goals for the tasks. You can go into detail into what you hope to do.
For example if one of your tasks is to write a blog post, you can make it a smart goal by stating the word count goal, including that you will edit and proofread and perhaps send it to your line manager or publish it by so-and-so time on so-and-so platforms. Now that’s SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound).
Another crucial element in goal setting and time management as a whole is maintaining focus. With numerous distractions constantly vying for our attention, it's essential to cultivate the discipline needed to stay focused on the task at hand. This could involve eliminating unnecessary interruptions or setting specific periods of uninterrupted work time. For most people, it will be using the ‘do not disturb’ feature or turning off the phone completely until the work is done. That feeling of accomplishment and job well done does guarantee satisfaction.
3. Scheduling: Use your calendar and digital tools for optimal time
An effective calendar not only helps you manage your own tasks but also takes into account external factors such as meetings, deadlines, and social gatherings. Over the past year, I have grown accustomed to putting everything I need to remember into my calendar. Salon appointments, reminders to call or check-in on someone, a tv programme I want to watch, you name it. I came across a saying while writing this blog; ‘your phone has a calendar, so use it’. I will also add that your phone more than likely has a clock, notes app, voice recorder, map and everything to keep you organised so use it. Most importantly, unlike a paper calendar (which I have nothing against), it is more mobile (no pun intended).
Effective time use helps individuals avoid procrastination and minimise distractions. By consciously managing our time, we can resist the temptation of mindlessly scrolling through social media or getting caught up in unproductive activities.
In conclusion, developing effective time management skills is crucial for anyone looking to achieve their goals and lead a fulfilling life. So why wait? Start implementing these strategies today and witness the positive impact it can have on your productivity and overall well-being.
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No Ordinary Life (c) 2023 Last updated: 19/09/2023
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In this reflective blog post, Fanny Kondowe shares 4 pieces of advice she would tell her teenage self if she went back in time .
Tags: #blog #resilience #womenempowerment, #mentalhealth #personaldevelopment Advice for young people, being confident, self-care matters, health and wellness, careers advice, No Ordinary Life.
Imagine turning 40 and thinking how I wish I could return to the younger me and tell myself things that would make my 40 years of life experience a success. We all have those moments when we wish we could go back in time and do life differently. If I were to reset the clock and refocus on myself at the age of 12 years old, these are the 4 things I would tell myself, and I wish to share them with you.
1. Learn to focus on yourself more
It was easy for me to focus on other things and not myself. I started ‘hustling’ at the age of 17 due to certain circumstances and forgot I was still a young girl who needed to embrace my teenage years and live the way my friends did. I focused on working hard at school and managing small businesses to support myself. In the course of doing so, I couldn’t take care of myself but others and made sure I helped more where I needed to.
Life is meant to be enjoyed, and for you to enjoy life you need to take care of yourself physically and mentally so you can focus more on the things that matter. As much as hustling and making money is important, don’t lose yourself in the process. Focusing on yourself helps you to be energized and you will be able to perform at your best. In whatever profession you are today, being a teacher, a doctor, a lawyer, or an entrepreneur, slow down on those busy schedules and do a social activity that will create some momentum in your life and help you to achieve more goals as you start focusing on yourself more. You can take care of yourself by resting, engaging in a hobby you enjoy, or just pampering yourself occasionally. Remember life is to be enjoyed, and not a burden, so at all costs focus on yourself.
2. Be Confident
As a young girl, I wished I had someone to tell me how to overcome low self-esteem. I believed I was not good enough, not pretty like other girls, afraid to make changes in life, was pessimistic, and struggled with comparing myself to others. This is a killer of dreams and what it does is that it takes a toll on you if you are not confident in handling life’s situations. I wish I could tell my younger self to be confident and believe in myself. I have learned to face my fears in life and face challenges as they come. Don’t be intimidated by what you haven’t tried at all, take that challenge, face it with confidence, and learn from it. If you fail, it’s okay, rise back again, and try it all over until you overcome it. One of the biggest fears in life is making mistakes and failing. Maybe you fear speaking in public, applying for that scholarship, taking that new job opportunity, or starting that business. Take that step to just face that fear and do it! You will not lose anything if you try, that’s a good starting point for being a confident person. Besides that, I have learned that most times low self-esteem is produced by the people we allow into our surroundings. If a person you trust says you are not good enough, then you might start believing in those messages. It will then be hard for progress to happen in life. Learn to be optimistic and not listen to the voices that say you are not enough, not good for that job, not pretty, or not worth it. Start replacing the negative with good thoughts that will boost your confidence. When you apply for that scholarship, tell yourself that I am an eligible candidate for this, the right person for that job opportunity, or an award winner for this fellowship. Confidence is telling yourself that I CAN DO IT! That mindset will unlock so many doors and you will start trusting in yourself more.
3. Surround yourself with people that inspire and support you
The surroundings we live in can sometimes influence who we become. It sounds unreal, but that’s the truth. Have people that will support you in life. When you want to pursue those goals and dreams, you will need people that will always inspire you to do more. Sometimes you also need to get involved in social activities and seek out those people that always motivate you. These people that are optimistic about your goals will also help you find connections or good networks for you to go further in life. I wish I had those kinds of people growing up: supportive, inspiring, and always pushing me towards my goals.
4. Take care of your health and wellness
Taking care of the body is a vital component for everyone. Whether you enjoy walks, meditation, running, or playing any other sport, physical activity complements mental wellbeing which helps when there are a lot of thoughts and problems taking over your life. When I was growing up, I used to think I didn’t have time to exercise; the only time available was for work and business. I worked very hard and was neglecting my health. If you don’t take care of the body, it has some effect on your productivity. Make sure you take care of yourself, even if it’s just 30 minutes of walking, that is enough for the day. On the issue of mental health, I never talked about the issues badly affecting me. I did not share that I was stressed with work or life and that had a negative effect on the way I handled myself. I wished I had sought help from a therapist or a counsellor to take me through the process of finding myself back. When you are worried, stressed, confused, and not sure what to do, always seek help. You will do better when not harbouring problems on the inside of you.
In ending
These are the 4 golden pieces of advice I would share with my teenage self and I hope they resonated with you too. Rounding up, my younger self could have been brighter if (1) I learned to focus more on myself, (2) I was more intentional in giving my confidence a boost. (3) If I surrounded myself with supportive and inspiring people, and lastly, (4) if I learned to take care of my health and well-being.
What would you tell your younger self?
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No Ordinary Life (c) 2023 Last updated: 15/08/2023
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An honest personal blog post to encourage the unemployed, employed but not happy in employment or those simply searching for happiness through the work of their hands or purpose and meaning in life.
Tags: #motivation #blogpost #mentalhealth #discouragement #peopleproblems #unemployment #stuckness #findingpurpose #happiness #careermotivation
Yesterday, I finally listened to an audio message my father had sent me on WhatsApp. I say finally because, the forwarded audio message had been sent earlier yet remained unopened for almost 48 hours. Following the attachment, he had sent a message which said 'When can we talk?'. Certainly to say, listen to this attentively and call me after.
I let the WhatsApp messages sit on my phone unopened and unread for a few days. I was not in the mood to listen to anything or talk to anyone as I was trying to deal with matters on my mind which were troubling me this week. Among these troubles were thoughts of 'when will these disappointing job application emails cease? What organisation, role and industry will welcome me with all my qualifications?'
And the other thought that came to my mind severally was about people that had disappointed me this week. The thought ringing in my mind was 'how and why can some people be so maliciously-minded?'
In summary, I was discouraged and the usual companions of discouragement: worry, self-pity and frustration were feelings I was encountering too.
After over half a day of fruitless thinking and staying in discouragement, that same day, I decided to open the message knowing that an encouraging message awaited me. You see, it is typical of my father to say (or send...in this context) something encouraging when he knows I'm going through difficulties.
Anyway, the audio forwarded was a message by American Pastor, Joel Osteen and the 30 minute sermon generally spoke on making the most of time, choosing to be happy, choosing to forgive, choosing to be grateful, choosing to be optimistic even when life sends you the opposite. In summary, the message was about having faith and making a choice to be grateful in different circumstances because someone out there is wishing for what you currently have while you are sad and grieved about it.
I will leave out his examples in this post, but as I listened to the sermon, some of the examples he mentioned described my situation perfectly and I began to feel relaxed. I nodded in agreement, and gradually began feeling encouraged. I even managed to smile and laugh at certain points when all I had done in the days before was wear a fake smile, sad face and a stern expression when my anger up flared from memories of the malice done by some people over the week.
Consequently, the sermon had served its purpose and I didn't feel discouraged anymore. I understood that I had a choice to fix my happiness on other things that were going well for me rather than what wasn't. I also realised that I should learn lessons from peoples behaviour, and rather than let them affect me, I should simply let it go and continue to pursue a peaceful life which is within my grasp and control.
I say this with a much lighter heart today that letting go frees you. If you can't forgive right now, at least try your best to not keep thinking about it. But depending on the complexity, hurt and abuse caused, please do speak with someone you can trust, a specialist or report it to law enforcement agents; legal experts included. Being a better person does not always mean don't seek justice for wrongs made when the law is broken.
Dealing with emotional baggage is a process and does not get fixed overnight. Overcoming discouragement does not happen at the snap of a finger, but the first step is to place encouraging thoughts and memories in front of you.
So this is for you. For those who are seeking employment or not getting what their time, knowledge, talent, skill or ideas are worth...yes I am speaking to struggling business owners too. We have to choose to focus on what we naturally bring to the world. Here I am talking about our personality, our personhood, character, the things we don't need payment for. For example, your ability to make others smile or laugh, your ability to speak up for others with a strong sense of justice when they can't bring themselves to it, your encouraging words, your warm hugs or that lovely soothing voice.
The thing is, when you are not settled in employment or what you feel is your purpose, you begin to feel less of yourself, you may feel bitter and soon you start to feel that people matter more than you because they have more money, a title, a larger network or even more social media likes than you (which might be true but what does it matter?) so don't worry about that, you still have a purpose and a part to play in this world.
Recognise that you are valuable not for how much you earn, who you know or who knows you but just for who you are. First of all, the fact that you are alive is a more fortunate thing and an opportunity.
If you are struggling to believe your value or purpose then here is a quote for you.
Ecclesiastes 9:4 Easy-to-read Version
Let me conclude this post here. Find encouragement in who you are, what you have and make everyday count.
I would like to share with you the message that encouraged me yesterday. Watch, listen and be encouraged, here's the link.
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No Ordinary Life (c) 2023 Last updated: 21/07/2023
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In this blog post, Walter Tetteh briefly presents what the future looks like for the young African entrepreneur, the challenges, the setbacks and the way forward. He reflects on recent statements made by government leaders in his home country of Ghana and shares what could make entrepreneurship possible in a fairly challenging environment.
The definition of an entrepreneur does not specify age, but rather someone who can connect the dots. With that said, a young mind with the passion and ability to connect the dots can also be an entrepreneur. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary (n.d.) an entrepreneur is defined as one who organises, manages and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise.
In the business of entrepreneurship, the size or quality of your market can determine one's success or failure. Not forgetting the quality of your product. In modern times, the product is not necessarily an item, a software, social media platform, products that come to mind. Sometimes, it is a person with a 'brand'. Some people can make it or break it because of who they are, verified by their large following or support of their fanbase. Anyway, that's a story for another day.
The challenges of entrepreneurship
Every industry has its challenges. Being a young entrepreneur here in a continent where policies made by government focuses only on attracting large foreign investors forgetting to stimulate the location business is much more challenging. Some other challenges are lack of infrastructure, lack of funding just to mention a few.
In a news report by Starrfm Online (2021), the Finance Minister of Ghana, Ken Ofori-Atta, announced a ban on employment for civil servants. This was a big blow for many; knowing that the civil and public sectors are the biggest employers in the country. In response to this, the Vice President of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawamia advised the youth to venture into entrepreneurship, where they can develop their own businesses to enable them to build a sound future for themselves.
Addressing the challenges
For the youth, entrepreneurship has emerged as a potential solution to most of their challenges. The youth here in Africa are increasingly recognizing that traditional employment opportunities are very limited and are turning to entrepreneurship as a means of creating their own economic futures.
I believe that empowering the young entrepreneurs of Africa is vital for driving economic growth thus reducing poverty by providing access to resources. This includes, deliberate effort from governments to drive entrepreneurship and to assist the future job creators. This also includes, the creation of conducive environments to start a business. Most of young entrepreneurs do not make it past registering their business due to the process being cumbersome and very costly.
On the brighter side
Thanks to technology, young people are overcoming these challenges. The growth of the internet and mobile technology has created new opportunities for young entrepreneurs by connecting them with potential investors.
Also, mentorship and networking plays a great role in developing knowledge and skills in entrepreneurship for the youth in Africa. They often need guidance and support as they benefit from entrepreneurs who have been through the same challenges they are likely to face or already facing. Networking with such people provides valuable advice and helps them grow themselves since they are (wait - we are) the future leaders.
In conclusion, give the young African entrepreneur the right resources and the needed infrastructure and we are very capable of producing the next Youngest Billionaire from African soil.
Sources
Merriam-webster (no date) 'Entrepreneur definition and meaning' . Available at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entrepreneur.
Starrfm Online (2021) 'Start your own businesses – Bawumia tells graduates' . Available at: https://starrfm.com.gh/2021/11/start-your-own-businesses-bawumia-tells-graduates/.
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No Ordinary Life (c) 2023 Last updated: 31/05/2023
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In this blog post, Claudia Newton shares on the importance of practicing emotional intelligence in the workplace and how it can affect employee's enjoyment of their roles.
According to a Google definition from Oxford Languages, emotional intelligence is defined as ‘the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically’. [1]
In simple terms, this means being careful, caring, and empathetic in one’s words and actions.
How necessary! In the human society we live in, we do need emotional intelligence (EI) to better relate with others; known and unknown. Yet for decades, there has been a huge emphasis on ‘IQ’ which measures reasoning and intelligence. Being a reasoning genius is good, but high EI is equally good perhaps better. In a broken world with hurt people, we all need to be kinder to each other.
In the workplace, managers and supervisors need to be kinder and give more attention to the emotional needs of their subordinates. The same needs to be exhibited between colleagues.
Actions such as active listening, constructive criticism with positive appraisal, shared problem solving, inclusion and stress management all promote emotional intelligence and they must not just happen with a top to bottom approach but across the middle approach as well. I cannot count how many times I have heard of colleagues offending other colleagues by gossiping, backbiting and setting them up for failure. In these cases, the saying ‘do unto others, what you want them to do unto you' [2] is so far away.
For years, I knew that I needed to be more emotionally intelligent, however I didn’t take it seriously enough to do better. It wasn’t until quite recently that a friend pointed out how something I had said came across as insensitive that I stopped to think. I realized that my mouth acted faster than my thoughts and I was only repeating what I had been hearing people say to people of my age group. My first lesson was, just because it is widely said, does not make it right. Think first before you speak.
And that first lesson was good enough to cause me to do better. I also reflected on how I had felt hurt in the workplace. I realized that the common denominator between the cases was that the quality of my work came before my emotional health. I know I am not alone, a few people I know will testify and that is why conversations like these ‘Mental Health and Work’ are so important. Many suffer in silence, putting their need for their daily bread ahead of their daily motivation because before long the drive and joy of work leaves them.
The first definition above also includes this statement, ‘emotional intelligence is the key to both personal and professional success’ [1]. Let us all be more kind to ourselves and to each other so that we do well in our lives and in the professional environment.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Sources
Google (ed.) (no date) Google search 'emotional intelligence meaning', Google search. Google. Available at: https://www.google.com/search?q=emotional%2Bintelligence%2Bmeaning&rlz=1C1VDKB_en-GBGB975GB975&oq=emotional%2B&aqs=chrome.4.69i57j0i131i395i433i512j46i131i395i408i424i433i512j0i395i433i512l3j0i131i395i433i512j46i395i408i424i433i512j0i131i395i433i512l2.4546j1j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 .
(no date) Matthew 7:12. Bible Gateway. Available at: https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Matthew%207%3A12.
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No Ordinary Life (c) 2023 Last updated: 14/02/2023
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It’s another Monday and you just don’t feel it. You don’t feel inspired, motivated or even feel a little bit yourself. Put simply, you’re not okay and things haven’t taken a turn for the better in the new year. As they say, “new year, new you” hasn’t quite happened for you yet. Can you relate? Because I definitely can.
I have felt that way for the past few weeks and I’ve been taking it one day at a time. I have had to scrap a daily to-do list for a weekly target; just because I just haven’t been able to get things done. But the good thing is, I have had this uninspiring experience before, so I have learned a few lessons to help me cope better. My faith plays a huge part in leading my recovery.I had to go asking for inspiration, then seeking it out through books, blog articles, my holy book (the Bible) and funny enough... conversations with people I hardly spoke with.
This new year I realized that I couldn’t rely on completing a to-do list to bring me a sense of accomplishment - especially when I sometimes lacked inspiration. What has helped me is building healthy habits into my days. These are actions that I often neglected because I just didn’t have the time to do them when I had a ton of things to get done. Phone calls with friends or loved ones, starting a chat with a friend to check in on them, taking time to actually listen to a podcast and not just skipping through the parts. Reading a chapter and taking the time to ponder over the information I was receiving. I was going through a tough time in a certain aspect of my life. My job was giving me a certain level of dissatisfaction and the more I thought about it, the more it took over my mind. But I forgot that there was so much more to life than my job. There is family, friends and loved ones.
If I may speak to you right now, there is also what you are good at and what you are very passionate about. There is down-time and all the things that you can do with it. So this new year, I will encourage all of us to shift our minds from the things that seem to be giving us stress and go back to focus on what really matters: mind, body and soul. Take care of you, invest in yourself and your people. And life may just begin to look that much brighter.
Remember Mind, Body and Soul. And if that sounds a bit vague, let me put it another way: live, love and learn.
Live - Determine that a particular problem(s) will not take over the full spectrum of your life. You are equipped with skills and abilities. Start doing more of the things that you love.
Love - Look around for the good people you still have in your life, be grateful and take time out to say Hi.
Learn - Invest in learning something. The language lessons you abandoned, the cooking skills you stopped practicing...learn about a time in history.
So LIVE, LOVE and LEARN.
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No Ordinary Life (c) 2023 Last updated: 31/01/2023