Do you feel groggy after surfing the net for too long? Watching YouTube videos with multi-tabs? Do you feel like you suddenly don't know what you are doing or what you are living for???
This is the danger of multi-tasking. It keeps you from looking at the big picture, but instead you are just so focused on achieving so many things at the same time that you don't even feel your own body. Your attention is so focused and diverted at all these small tasks that you forgot to live...instead you are just running chores everyday!
Besides, it can be really fatal at times. I saw a real life example on tv one day. A busy mother left her youngest child in the car who died due to the heat as she was just so preoccupied the whole day that she literally "forgot" her own child....so tragic!
However..I'm not saying you shouldn't multitask just because it's dangerous. It is beneficial to everyone if it is done the right way.
Multitasking should be used moderately and wisely, just like with anything else. A few rules to remember:
1) Do a few things at a time only when something needs waiting.
For example: While waiting for the rice to cook, do other things. Or while waiting for your email to load, you open another website.
2) Multitask only when you want to save time, not to create more trouble. For example, you can't watch the tv and study at the same time...although I know you will insist. This is because you won't be able to concentrate on your studies which will cause you to do another round of revision to make up for it. Isn't it a waste of time???
So, the next time you find yourself spending hours and hours using the internet or the computer, but more than you really should, stand up and take a break. Go get a glass of water. Then you will will better!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Habits
Do you find it hard to keep yourself away from the internet? Do you find yourself YouTubing and just cannot stop doing it? In other words, do you have ANY addictions in your life?
To me, habits shape a person's entire life. This is because habits become unconsciously carried out once it is carefully "programmed" into your conscious mind. Now, the key to a successful life is to implant the 'right' or 'good' habits into your mind by practicing it continuously, for a certain period of time.
I'm sure you must have heard that changing or instilling a habit takes about 21 days to 30 days to be successfully done. To modify or change a certain behaviour or habit, there is a thing called "Behaviour Modification Model" (Adapted from Prochaska, Norcross, and DiClemente, 1995,pp. 10-50), which is one of the psychological theories about social change. It states that to change a really bad habit, for example smoking, will require 6 steps. First, precontemplation, where a person needs to go through a stage of denial or refusal to change.Second, contemplation, where a person will begin to question whether the 'addiction' that they have should be corrected by confronting themselves. Then, preparation is the next stage as a person goes through a certain investigation about their problem. After that, action kicks in. Where active commitment to change really occurs. However, maintenance should be carried out after that...or else everything will be back to square one. Lastly, it is termination, which is the completion of a change or behavior modification. Only 20 per cent of changes reach this stage.
To me, to change a bad habit or to instill a new habit has a simple trick. I will do it at the exact same time everyday by consciously following it up with something that I already do everyday.
For example, I used to have the bad habit of leaving all my showering bottle's cap open after using. My mother started to nag me everyday and then I decided to change that. How did I do it? Very simple. The first day that I decided to change, after using a bottle, I close the cap right away. Because, I always forgot to do that when I wait until I am done bathing. So, I just break THAT habit by doing it right BEFORE. This kind of thing does not take you 21 days to implement.
However, I do have to say that, to change a really big and bad habit, it might take you longer than 21 days or 30 days if you miss even 1 day. It differs with individuals. But, you have to remember...if you forget to do it for one day, you will tend to not do it the next day. So, if you want to succeed fast, you can keep a check card or use your mobile's reminder to help you.
Until then, best of luck!
To me, habits shape a person's entire life. This is because habits become unconsciously carried out once it is carefully "programmed" into your conscious mind. Now, the key to a successful life is to implant the 'right' or 'good' habits into your mind by practicing it continuously, for a certain period of time.
I'm sure you must have heard that changing or instilling a habit takes about 21 days to 30 days to be successfully done. To modify or change a certain behaviour or habit, there is a thing called "Behaviour Modification Model" (Adapted from Prochaska, Norcross, and DiClemente, 1995,pp. 10-50), which is one of the psychological theories about social change. It states that to change a really bad habit, for example smoking, will require 6 steps. First, precontemplation, where a person needs to go through a stage of denial or refusal to change.Second, contemplation, where a person will begin to question whether the 'addiction' that they have should be corrected by confronting themselves. Then, preparation is the next stage as a person goes through a certain investigation about their problem. After that, action kicks in. Where active commitment to change really occurs. However, maintenance should be carried out after that...or else everything will be back to square one. Lastly, it is termination, which is the completion of a change or behavior modification. Only 20 per cent of changes reach this stage.
To me, to change a bad habit or to instill a new habit has a simple trick. I will do it at the exact same time everyday by consciously following it up with something that I already do everyday.
For example, I used to have the bad habit of leaving all my showering bottle's cap open after using. My mother started to nag me everyday and then I decided to change that. How did I do it? Very simple. The first day that I decided to change, after using a bottle, I close the cap right away. Because, I always forgot to do that when I wait until I am done bathing. So, I just break THAT habit by doing it right BEFORE. This kind of thing does not take you 21 days to implement.
However, I do have to say that, to change a really big and bad habit, it might take you longer than 21 days or 30 days if you miss even 1 day. It differs with individuals. But, you have to remember...if you forget to do it for one day, you will tend to not do it the next day. So, if you want to succeed fast, you can keep a check card or use your mobile's reminder to help you.
Until then, best of luck!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Stand to be alone
The famous poet Robert Frost is one of the favorite poets among my siblings and I. His poem "The Road Not Taken" was included in the literature component in Malaysia's high school syllabus. Thus, all three of us were quite familiar with that poem.
Although I did not take the poem very seriously when I had to study it, I now understand how much it means to me. Sometimes, you just have to age a little bit before you understand something that you read.
"The Road Not Taken" talks about choosing the road that most people never took, and also making the decision to be yourself although you might become extremely lonely. For me, it has a deeper meaning to it. It means that in order to succeed as a person, you have to be able to stand to be alone, that means you have to endure the pain of being quite isolated in your dreams sometimes, because everyone is unique. It is because people tend to follow each other like sheeps that they never realize who they are in the end...or sometimes, even lose a whole lot about their own personality and individuality in the process.
I myself have always thought I am queer. I never fit in. And of course, I realized in time that it is pretty dumb to fit in. Because you never will. The only thing you can do is to search for similarities between people, and thus learn to live with each other. Not to sacrifice your special qualities to become just like everyone else. And so, I never tried to impress people after that. Although I felt like I was doing the right thing, I always feel quite lonely in this path.
So, in a nutshell, to really come out strong, you have to learn to be lonely first. Then, you will succeed by becoming the person you can be, and also letting others appreciate you for who you are, instead of just another stereotype.
Although I did not take the poem very seriously when I had to study it, I now understand how much it means to me. Sometimes, you just have to age a little bit before you understand something that you read.
"The Road Not Taken" talks about choosing the road that most people never took, and also making the decision to be yourself although you might become extremely lonely. For me, it has a deeper meaning to it. It means that in order to succeed as a person, you have to be able to stand to be alone, that means you have to endure the pain of being quite isolated in your dreams sometimes, because everyone is unique. It is because people tend to follow each other like sheeps that they never realize who they are in the end...or sometimes, even lose a whole lot about their own personality and individuality in the process.
I myself have always thought I am queer. I never fit in. And of course, I realized in time that it is pretty dumb to fit in. Because you never will. The only thing you can do is to search for similarities between people, and thus learn to live with each other. Not to sacrifice your special qualities to become just like everyone else. And so, I never tried to impress people after that. Although I felt like I was doing the right thing, I always feel quite lonely in this path.
So, in a nutshell, to really come out strong, you have to learn to be lonely first. Then, you will succeed by becoming the person you can be, and also letting others appreciate you for who you are, instead of just another stereotype.
Just Another Day
While the excitement for Chinese New Year can still be heard everywhere, the celebration for me has been toned down to just watching chinese movie series and eating biscuits.
It has been a whole lot different many years ago. It used to be that everyone in my family will wear their new clothes, put on a big smile and then have a great time with our relatives. However, as time passed by, some faces have disappeared and the young 'uns have all grown up. The initiative to make a difference rather than 'just another day' has gone.
However, it is never too late to feel happy by being just a little bit more grateful. I consoled myself by thinking that I am really fortunate and lucky to spend a whole week of my LONG holiday with my family...not having to worry about my lunch, and not having to deal with being alone in the house at times. To me, Chinese New Year is all about family, love, rest, laughter, food, cherish, art and tradition. In this thousand years old tradition, I see the Chinese spirit, of diligence and patience....that has brought us to this land, Malaysia...without becoming just another race that has forgettable culture heritage.
Nevertheless, I can still find excitement and happiness by just using a little bit of childishness. In my opinion, you really become old and a terminal
adult if you lose your ability to find joy and excitement in the littlest things. Take this mandarin orange for example. I was peeling it off to eat it but then I suddenly used my imagination and formed it as if it was a flower.Besides, I still jump with joy when I think about food...I still sing and hum songs in my head and feel great. Just use a little bit of your inate childishness and you will feel much better. Although there is a lot of serious business and sad things in this world, there is no use to be weighed down by it. Otherwise, you will lose out on contributing a little something to the world while you are able!
It has been a whole lot different many years ago. It used to be that everyone in my family will wear their new clothes, put on a big smile and then have a great time with our relatives. However, as time passed by, some faces have disappeared and the young 'uns have all grown up. The initiative to make a difference rather than 'just another day' has gone.
However, it is never too late to feel happy by being just a little bit more grateful. I consoled myself by thinking that I am really fortunate and lucky to spend a whole week of my LONG holiday with my family...not having to worry about my lunch, and not having to deal with being alone in the house at times. To me, Chinese New Year is all about family, love, rest, laughter, food, cherish, art and tradition. In this thousand years old tradition, I see the Chinese spirit, of diligence and patience....that has brought us to this land, Malaysia...without becoming just another race that has forgettable culture heritage.
Nevertheless, I can still find excitement and happiness by just using a little bit of childishness. In my opinion, you really become old and a terminal
adult if you lose your ability to find joy and excitement in the littlest things. Take this mandarin orange for example. I was peeling it off to eat it but then I suddenly used my imagination and formed it as if it was a flower.Besides, I still jump with joy when I think about food...I still sing and hum songs in my head and feel great. Just use a little bit of your inate childishness and you will feel much better. Although there is a lot of serious business and sad things in this world, there is no use to be weighed down by it. Otherwise, you will lose out on contributing a little something to the world while you are able!
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