Scatterbrain. What causes it?

Do you often forget to bring important office files, leave your cell phone at home or lost your ATM card again and again? It may sound normal, but if it occurs repeatedly and may cause harm to other people, you should look into the things around you.

As quoted from Health.com, here are five things that can cause it.

• Excessive Usage of Technology
  The smart phones that are always on, laptops, and iPods are the things that would always seize your attention. Especially if you use all them simultaneously. Because, the more you try to handle them all, the more difficult for you to focus. Train yourself to do thing one thing at a time and do not get addicted to technology. If necessary, turn of all your gadgets for one day.
  
  
• Lack of Sleep
  Lack of quality sleep will make you touchy, hard to concentrate and will give you hard times to finish your work. It is a normal reaction of a body deprived from proper sleep. Get a sufficient rest and you'll be back to normal.
  
  
• Job Dissatisfaction
  Boring or unorganized Work environment can also make it difficult to concentrate. Lack of clarity in job description which makes you have to do a lot of work simultaneously can also be the culprit.
  
  
• Stress
  Stress can take all of your concentration, making it harder for you to focus your attention and causing you slower to think. Do not let stress controls you. Try to cope your stress by doing various activities such as taking vacation or doing some meditations.
  
  
• Lack of Exercise
  Research shows that regular exercise makes your mind sharper and increases your ability to remember things. Lack of exercise will make the blood flows to many body parts, including to the brain, become less smooth and thus can affect your ability to concentrate. Try to do a little exercise regularly. Take some time to jog or run in the morning before going to work.

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Workaholic's Bad Habits

Working too hard has become a habit for many people. Even when they are at home, they still feel busy, can not relieve their thoughts out of their office work. Without realizing it, you might have worked harder and longer, thinking that hard work would bring you success.

However, do you know that working too hard for your career ambition could endanger your health? In fact, you could waste all of your money you have made out of your hard work at once if you get sick for being too tired. To avoid all of this, you need to get rid of "workaholic" habit from your life.

George Griffing, MD, a professor of internist from Saint Louis University, wrote in Times of India, that, "Many people feel they ought to work hard to gain financial success. But, high job pressure and long work hours will deteriorate you health in long term."

The workaholics often have bad habits that will give negative effects to their health. Here are the workaholic's bad habits that you should remove from your daily activities for a better health:

• Forget to relax
  If you always put yourself in pressure and do not allow yourself to relax, you will be caught in stress syndrome. You have to take time for relaxing. This way, you will be more alert and motivated. Too much stress will decrease your productivity.
  
  
• Eating on the Way
  Many times people forget to take a healthy lunch because of highload work such as meeting, conference calls and deadlines. It is necessary to eat in a calmy without overwhelmed with anxiety and haste. In the calmy situation, it makes more easily for nutritional content of consumed food to be absored by the body and make us more productive, especially for producing brilliant ideas for the quality works.
  
  
• Abandoning Sleep For Work
  Everyone, including super busy professionals still need rest as much as 7 to 9 hours of sleep every day. Loosing your sleep time can cause many problems such as irritability, difficulty in concentrating and also memory problems. And also problems associated with obesity.
  
  
• No Time for Exercising
  At least 30 minutes exercise every day is very important for your current and long-term health.
  
  
• Still Working in Sick Condition
  Many people still come to the office to work in spite of their sickness. There are three important reasons why you need to stay at home when you are sick. First, nobody wants you to spread germs and disease in the office. Second, you will definitely become less productive and third, you need the rest to heal in order to be able to work better.
  
  
• Drinking Alcohol (too much)
  Excessive drinking can lead to alcoholism, liver problems, and some forms of cancer.
  
  
• Skipping Annual Medical Examination
  You must do medical examination to detect disease early, to prevent others from developing disease, and to get the best treatment for your body if it is in vulnerable condition. You need to know what happened in your body.
  

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How to Say No

Throughout the day, you discover that there is always someone who needs your help, can be in the form of time, attention, praise, or even your approval. On the other hand, you also often need similar support from others. It happens everywhere, in the workplace, at home, or even when you meet a stranger on the street. That's what happens in life, take and give.

Always say "Yes" everytime someone asking for your help will drain up your energy, even your happiness. It's not easy to say "No", especially for someone who has become accustomed to say "Yes". But saying "No" is sometimes important for your health and wellbeing.

Thus, realize that you can not always say "Yes" to every request from others. Train yourself to say "No" instead if it is important to your health and wellbeing. These are some advantages of saying "No" :

• You will have more energy. Not only you will save your energy, the realization of the fact that you are the one who is in charge for your life will give you extra energy.
  
  
• You will have plenty of time for yourself.
  
  
• You will be more confident.
  
  
• Your life will be more fun.
  

So, how to say "No" wisely? Here are the tips:

1. Let them know. Ask for their understanding that you are busy with your other responsibilities.
   
   
2. Have a work schedule. You can't check whether things are according to your initial plan or not if you do not have a schedule. And, if you do not have a plan, someone else will be more than happy to take advantage of you.
   
   
3. Train yourself to say "No". Maybe not to all help requests, 95 percent of all is good enough. Tell them that you also have other responsibilities that you need accomplish.
   
   
4. Make some considerations. Take about five seconds to consider whether 20 percent of all help requests from people around you could be tailored to your bustle life. If not, say "No".
   

Say 'Yes' to the important things
Does the rejection of pleas for help other people is always bad? That might sound like that. But, wait a minute. You need to realize, before stating 'Yes', identify whether it will benefit you, whether in your work performance or in your superiors's sights. If it is important for your career and yourself, then this is the right time to say "Yes".

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What Can Make Women Happier?

Because of the higher daily costs of living, many people make assumption that material possesions could bring happiness. But, do you know, there are simple things around us that can make you happier?

As quoted from web Shine, here are the simple things around us that show how happier you are than you imagined:

• Have A Sister
  Usually women who at least have one sister have a happy life. A study presented at the annual conference of the British Psychological Society declared that, another sister can become a stimulus for communication within the family.
  
  Not only that, having a sister could mean having a better social support, thereby creating a greater optimistic attitude in you.
  
  
• Not Addicted To Television
  Happy women who spend 30% less time to watch the television compared with women who often feel sad. According to the research conducted by University of Maryland, which has analyzed the lives of 45,000 respondents over 34 years, happy women are spending more of their time socializing, reading, or attending religious activities as well as and sporting.
  
  
• Collecting Memorable Photo
  Women who use past memories or photos to remind themselves from time to time could be a sign that she is a person who appreciates life. According to Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of California, USA, "Typically, women like this can always be happy in spite of difficulties."
  
  Good memories will remind you about your "potential for happiness", and can serve as a token to remind you that you can feel happy again even though you are in difficult time today.
  
  
• Making Exercise As A Routine
  Women who love sports are more likely feel satisfaction in life. According to Danish researchers, compared to women who sport actively, women who do not exercise routinely are 70% more prone to stress and are not satisfied with their lives.
  
  Mild exercise for 17-34 minutes a day can give a happiness 'injection' than not exercising at all.
  
  
• Getting Along With Sociable Friends
  Getting along with sociable and cheerful friends will make you cheerful also. How often do you gather around with your friends? If you often gather around with your friends, you have 42% chances to be happy, but your chance will decrease to 22% if you rarely got together with your friends.
  
  
• Having Two Friends
  Among the 654 researched married women, they said that having at least two friends make them more likely to feel good and happier, too.
  

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Eyeglasses May Make You Look Older

Do you often regarded as older than your actual age? This is probably because your eyeglasses. According to a survey conducted by London Vision Clinic, eyeglasses could make someone look older.

A survey to 4.000 people revealed that people who wear eyeglasses will look 3.3 years older than their actual age. And, for people of age 45 years will look 5 years older. This survey also found that people who wear glasses tend to be a bookworm and more fluent with computer.

People with glasses are also seen less confident and more look physically weaker. This study asked the respondents to analyze photographs of 10 different people (shown with and without glasses) and estimate their age.

"This research is interesting because it shows the quick assesment people make about someone in the first sight", said the psychologist Dr. Glenn Wilson as quoted from Stylelist.com.

Dr Wilson also added: "This study was also conducted in children. A quarter of respondents admit, the kids who wear glasses are often spieled by their friends of the same age".

If you have to use glassess, then you should choose carefully. Choose for eyeglasses that fit with your face and eye shape. Make sure that your eyeglassess highlight your beauty. Don't use eyeglasses that underline your asymmetric eyebrows, for instance.

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SECRETS OF HAPPY COUPLE

A problem that often faced by married couples are the waning of their romantic life because of daily chores. We need to express our love to our spouse, to keep our flame of  love burning.

To express our love, we don't have to wait for special occasion. We can do it in our day-to-day life, and make it a habit.

If right now you feel that your romantic life with your spouse has become less beautiful than it was, start doing this basic habit to rekindle the fire of love again. We'll never be too late for doing anything good, won't we?

1. Never forget to say "I Love You" to your partner everyday. Let him/her know how much you care about him/her.
   
   
2. Hug him/her and give him/her a kiss good-bye before you leave. Do the same when you get home: greet him/her and give your warm hug.
   
   
3. Treat him/her as if he/she were your date. Treat her/him even better than when you were dating: opening the door for her, hold out a chair for her, help her in her domestic work, or hold her hands when you're walking together.
   
   
4. Do not let small things annoy you. It's only a matter of choice whether feeling annoyed with your partner's bad habit or finding a workaround. If she always leaves the cap off the toothpaste, then use a separate tube. Or if he always leaves his clothes laying around, just try to ignore it or pick them up and put them on place. Buying additional hangers won't be a big deal, don't you think? Buy some new ones and keep them handy. As best as you can, create a pleasant atmosphere for both of you in your home.
   
   
5. Instead of thinking about the disappointing things he had done, why not just focus on the positive things he/she had done for you? Things that may draw both of you closer together?
   
   
6. When you get angry, try to hold your words, even if you feel you want to shed your anger on your partner. Take a break, breath deeper. Or give yourself time to regroup by being away from him/her for a moment. By doing that, you may be able to see problem more clearly. Letting your anger shed uncontrollably would just make you say and do things that you will regret later.
   
   
7. Never use your partner's secrets or weaknesses against him/her! Never talk to your friends, mother, his family or anyone about it, even when it seems insignificant or cute to you. Your partner entrust you with his/her secrets, so never ever fail his/her trust.
   
   
8. Be willing to, at least, accompany your partner in doing his/her favorite things, such as watching a soccer ball game or fishing. Make him/her enjoy their activities. Do that and later you'll find how he does the same to you!
   
   
9. Show respect to your partner. Do not ever talk bad things about your partner to others. When you are talking about your partner to somebody else, let the one who talks with you feel the respect and love you have for him/her. Let your respect and love shine through your words.
   
   
10. Always find convenient time to be together every day. Find out what kind of activities that you both enjoy either eating your meal together, or just laying in bed. Skipping your favorite TV program for a a walk around the block with him/her would never hurt either. You can choose and mix the activities anyway you wish. If you are away from home, don't forget to call home just to hear his/her voice. The point is to spend time together every day, either by just talking, holding hands when sitting together... or whatever things to build connection between the two of you.
    

Without loving acts, loving words are meaningless. Make a romantic life a part of your daily life!

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INSTANT WAYS TO OVERCOME STRESS

Many things in our daily life can trigger stress, such as workloads, family problems, relationship with spouse or the traffic jams. If right now you are facing this situation, try these instant ways to cope with stress:

BREATH PRACTICING
When you are consciously trying to breathe more deeply, it will naturally help your
body to return to a relaxed position. Put your hand on your stomach, and feel it
when it expands while you inhale deeply. In the mean time, count in your heart from
one to three or four then hold your breath for the same count. After that, exhale as long as possible, and feel how your stomach deflate. This will help you to focus on the breath thus help you to get rid of your stress.

MAKE A TARGET
Every morning, think about something small and fun to do on that day. Thinking about small and fun activity such as doing crossword puzzles, or the big ones such as conquering Mount Everest may help you to train your brain to divert the focus from the problems you face.

MAKE SMALL CHANGES IN YOUR ROUTINES
It is the fact that little changes in everyday chores can make some people stressful. If you want to explore a new things in your life, intentionally making small changes will help you in your cognitive responses. You will be more flexible, and better than that, it will also help you to face challenges that lie ahead. For example, you can try a food that you've never tried before or maybe join a new exercise club near your office.

HAPPY MOMENTS PHOTOS
Look at the photos of your happy moments, for example, your holiday photos, or photos about the funny things you do with your nieces and nephews. If you would spend just 10 seconds to concentrate on these pictures, it would help reduce your tension and stabilize your heartbeat.

GIVE PRAISES
Studies show that the warmer your relationship with others, the better you would be in combating the stress. So, build good relationships with your colleagues and others around you. Don't be stingy of your praises. Don't hesitate praise your colleague for his/her accomplishments. By doing this, not only will you make them happy, but it also helps you feel better, more comfortable and more cheerful.

START TO THINK OF MONDAY AS JOYFUL DAY
I hate Monday. It's a popular saying among the workers. But that thoughts have side effects. The thoughts would unconsciously make you think that Monday is a bad day. No wonder then reports say how most heart attacks occur on Mondays than on the other days of the week. So, change your mentality by start to think of Monday as a joyful and extraordinary day. Schedule something fun for Mondays, such as lunch with friends or join an exercise class that you can enjoy at the end of the day. This way, you will anxiously waiting for those fun Mondays, and you would be able to say "I love Monday".

ATMOSPHERE TRANSITION ON YOUR WAY FROM THE OFFICE TO HOME
You always go through the same paths every day from your office to home, but have you ever tried to enjoy the scenery along the way? Or enjoying a favorite music during your trip home? Doing this will help you adapt from the office atmosphere to a more relaxed home atmosphere.

EXPRESSING YOUR THOUGHTS
Worriment will make a person experiencing sleeping disorders. Get a notebook and write your thoughts, including your worries and the possible solutions you can find to overcome your problems. Make a promise to yourself that can make you feel better, such as to not willing to give up to worries until 12:00 o'clock the next day. This way, your brain would try to find ways to divert your mind from the things that can make you feel worried.

LEARN TO DEBATE MORE FAIRLY
Fights with a partner is the most frequent cause of stress, quoted from a survey conducted by SELF magazine. Indeed, arguments or disagreements with a partner are sometimes needed to enable us to understand each other. But it is advisable to take a moment to take a breath and to calm down in the middle of the debate. Once you both have reached an agreement, continue with positive activities, such as hugging or making love to increase endorphins's level. This hormone will make us more comfortable and lessen the negative effects of stress.

ROSEMARY FRAGRANT
A study conducted in Japan said that inhaling scent of rosemary can reduce cortisol level (a stress hormone) in a person's brain. You can buy for this fragrance in stores that sell aroma therapies.

That's all. Happy trying and good luck!

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Take Joy in Your Singleness

Your happiness does not depend on somebody else. You and only yourself alone can make your life happy.

If you are single today, or if you just have experienced a breakup, do not despair. Do not feel inferior. Live a joyful life and be grateful of all the blessings you you still have in spite of your current condition.

So, here are few of the many advantages you have as a single:

• You have more opportunity to get the best person for your life.
  Being single again, you now can spend your time anyway you like, with any man you want. Go on a date or just hang up with your male friends if you wish to.
  Nobody will mind you doing that. Make the best use of this situation to choose the best candidate for your future partner.
  
• You are free to do what you want.
  You are free to do the activities you like such as going to spa with your friends or just hanging out with them anytime you feel convenient. Or go for travelling and spend your holiday overseas freely.
  
• You can socialize more without restrictions
  When we are with someone, either we like it or not, there are always some barriers that prevent us from socializing freely. Hanging up with friends from the opposite sex is just out of option. But as a single, we will hardly have this problem. We can socialize with all people without having to deal with the jealousy of the partner, without having to worry about the time if it is already too late or not.
  
• Having 'me time'
  In your singleness, you can enjoy a long break without a hitch. If you want just to relax at your home while watching your favorite drama movie, you can do it. Or if you just want to go to mall for window shopping, nobody will mind. Time is all yours. You can spend it anyway you want.
  
• Investment or saving
  You can save or make investment 100% just for you and your future.
  

So, never be too worry with your single status. Enjoy your singleness and do the best thing for your life and your future.

Say it to the world: I'm single and I'm happy!

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Two Glasses of Water Before Meals to Lose Weight

Having problems with weight? You have tried hard to lose weight, either by using medication or diet foods consumption. But so far it does not work. Do not despair, there is good news for you. You have an alternative way to lose weight, using natural method that inexpensive and safe like the following.

Researchers from the United States have found that drinking two glasses of water before meals will help you in losing weight. This natural method more effective because it can reduce more weight than using the other method such as by calculating the calories intake.

They have done a comparison between people who go on a diet by drinking 2 glasses of water before meals with the other groups who counting the intake calories.

For three months, people from the group that doing diet by drinking two glasses of water before eating lose weight as much as 7 kg, 2 kg more than those that using other methods.

An advice from Dr. Brenda Davy from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University that cited by Daily Mail, says that if you want to lose weight, then you should drink more water and reduce sugar consumption.

This makes us wonder why this simple method can give very satisfactory results? The answer can be found from previous research conducted by Dr. Brenda and the other researchers. From this study it was found that people who drink water before meals will consume 75-90 calories less.

Water indeed provides many benefits for us. One of them is able to assist us in reducing weight in a healthy way. If your stomach is full of water, then the stomach will feel full up and you will eat less.

So, start today with drinking more fresh water. In addition to lose weight, you will also have better health.

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