2014 | Lee Harvard - Tips for Life

This will change you in exactly 60 seconds

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This will change you in exactly 60 seconds</div>
 
Children Are Our Future, But This Could Be How Our Future Would Look Like... 
 
If people truly believe that children are our future, why are they doing these? This 60-second video will change your thinkings and probably the rest of your life.
 
 
 
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“Children see. Children do.”</div>
 
 
How we act are making influence on the children. To teach the kids to be kind and responsible is not simply by talking about it, but by taking action for it. Example is better than precept. Can you take your first step and be a role model for the children?  
 
Questions? Don’t hesitate to ask. Have a question for our experts?  
 
Email it to change24h.net@gmail.com. Thank you :D 
 
Source: Youtube

This will change you in exactly 60 seconds

Photo by Youtube This will change you in exactly 60 seconds Children Are Our Future, But This Could Be How Our Future Would Look Like...

15 Tips for a Happy Family

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15 Tips for a Happy Family</div>
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This month, we asked our experts: What do you think is the key to a happy family?</blockquote>
 
1.Learning together, whether it’s visiting museums, listening to an elderly relative tell about their childhood or reading. (Devonne Carter, LCSW) 2.Ensure that every family member has an active role in taking care of the home. Even small children can help out with chores. It gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment to contribute. (Mari Farthing, MetroFamily Editor) 3.Research states that families who share meals are ultimately more successful and have children with fewer behavior problems. (Kevin Tutty, LPC) 4.Happy families let go of resentments and love unconditionally. This may sound cliché, but coming from a family that doesn’t practice this, I can tell you now that I’m an adult and have the capability to do so on my own, it makes a world of difference in my happiness, and more importantly, my level of contentment! (Valerie Riley, Founder of The Riley Group) 5.Read with your kids, even if they’ve been reading on their own for ages. And find things to do together that don’t involve a screen. (Jennifer Geary, MetroFamily columnist and blogger) 6.Focus on the positive! Every night for several years when our kids were young, we would take turns sharing one good or funny thing that happened in our day. No matter how hard of a day it was, we could always find something positive to share, and it ended our day on a happy note. (Tamara Walker, RN and host of MomRN radio program) 7.Shared traditions are important to family bonding. There is often a focus on one-on-one time with each child, but quality time spent together as a family creates positive memories and builds unity. (Sarah Taylor, MetroFamily Publisher) 8.Long road trips and breakfast on weekend mornings are great ways to spend time together as a family. (Donnie VanCuren, M.A., LMFT) 9.Start a project together. We love to experiment with new recipes and unfamiliar foods, but it can be anything. Gardening in the spring is another popular project we work on together. Anything that we can do to promote teamwork and a sense of unity and common purpose is a great way to bond with people you love. (Shannon Fields, MetroFamily columnist) 10.Don’t sweat the small stuff. Dessert for breakfast won’t cause the world to come to an end—trust me. (Donnie VanCuren) 11.Volunteer together! It instills the value of generosity and compassion in your kids while bonding families by working as a team. (Tamara Walker) 12.Communicate more positives than negatives to your kids and spouse. Find them doing something right each day. (Donnie VanCuren) 13.Schedules can be a working family’s best friend. Routines are good and help a household run smoother. Just remember to also schedule in fun, such as family movie or game nights and eating dinner together. (Shannon Fields) 14.Let your children see both your successes and your mistakes. They will need to learn from both. (Donnie VanCuren)   
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Let your children see both your successes and your mistakes</div>
 15.Children need to be allowed to make mistakes when they are young and the costs are lower, in order to learn to make their own decisions. Rejoice in their mistakes, because that’s when they truly learn and grow. Talk about it and engage your kids in understanding how important “failure” is. (Sarah Taylor) 
 
Have a question for our experts? Email it to change24h.net@gmail.com 
 
Source: metrofamilymagazine

15 Tips for a Happy Family

15 Tips for a Happy Family This month, we asked our experts: What do you think is the key to a happy family? 1.Learning togethe...

13 Tips to Increase Your Family’s Happiness and Health

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13 Tips to Increase Your Family’s Happiness and Health</div>
 
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Happy families share certain basic characteristics. Here are a few of the foundations experts say are key to creating a loving, cheerful home.
Tolstoy was right—happy families are all alike. At least they share certain basic characteristics. Here are a few of the foundations experts say are key to a loving, cheerful home:
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1. Create cuddle time. 
 
 
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13 Tips to Increase Your Family’s Happiness and Health</div>
 
You can’t overdose on hugs. It’s important for families to spend time snuggling in bed together, reading, or talking or playing games. This kind of positive touch helps kids feel loved and secure, plus it’s fun for parents! 
 
2. Sing together, stay together.  
 
The Von Trapp family had it right—singing together is a terrific way to bond as a family. Make up your own words to your favorite tunes; dance around the living room with your children; and use music to motivate room cleaning. 
 
3. Make room for fun.  
 
While it’s good to encourage your children’s schoolwork and extracurricular activities, too much emphasis on them can create tension and anxiety. Make time for activities that have no purpose other than to allow family members to enjoy spending time together. Play games, plot surprise parties, take long walks, explore a cave, plant a garden, or cook. 
 
4. Exercise together. 
 
 
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Exercise together</div>
 
Take a run or a bike ride to a local park with your child. At the park, you can take time to relax while your child plays in the sandbox or on the seesaw. This kind of outing allows parents to model healthy behavior, get exercise, and spend time with their kids. 
 
5. Create healthy habits. 
 
Junk food high in salt and sugar may taste appealing, but it will play havoc with your family’s health and moods. Create healthy snacking habits by leaving out bowls of fruit, cut-up vegetables, nuts, or dried fruit. 
 
6. Cook together.  
 
This is another way to get kids interested in healthy foods. While you’re whipping up dinner with your children you are encouraging healthy eating habits as well as teaching cooking, measurement, teamwork, and improvisational skills. Also, kids who help makes meals are more likely to eat them. 
 
7. Reward good behavior.  
 
It’s important to reinforce your child’s good behavior. But there’s no need to be extravagant. A trip to the humane shelter, a visit to the zoo, a movie and popcorn, or a slightly later bedtime can be good motivators. 
 
8. Read and write together.  
 
Make time every day for reading. Read aloud to the kids, or have the whole family spend time with their own books, or listen to an audiobook. Cuddling up on the couch can make it even cozier. It’s also important for children to spend some time writing each day. 
 
9. Go one-on-one.  
 
Parents with more than one child should try to spend a little time interacting just with one child each day, even if it’s just for ten minutes. That special time with a parent helps the child feel special and to bond with you. 
 
10. Have routines.  
 
Kids thrive when they know what to expect. So bedtime routines that involve bath, stories, and songs before sleep can minimize nighttime misbehavior. A morning routine can also help you get out the door faster with little fuss. 
 
11. Appreciate each other.  
 
Find little ways to show how much you value each other. One idea is to do a little happy dance every time a child returns from school or a parent from work. 
 
12. Remember sorry isn’t enough.  
 
When one of your children hurts the feelings of a sibling, it’s not enough to apologize. That child must also find a way to help heal the hurt she has caused, by helping with a chore or sharing a toy. 
 
13. Prioritize your marriage  
 
The most important thing you can do for your child is to love your spouse and to demonstrate that love. This models a good relationship for your child and helps to keep your marriage intact. 
 
 
Sources: Parents.com

13 Tips to Increase Your Family’s Happiness and Health

13 Tips to Increase Your Family’s Happiness and Health Happy families share certain basic characteristics. Here are a few of the foun...

7 Reasons Why Your Children Need Steady Routines

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7 Reasons Why Your Children Need Steady Routines</div>
 
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Children need steady routines so they know what their days will be like, which will result in them being more agreeable in daily life. Happy children make happy parents! Here are some reasons why your kids (and you!) need to stick to routines.</blockquote>
 
1. Routines eliminate anxiety and provide security. 
 
It’s a cliche that kids ask questions like “Are we there yet?” or “When will we do this?” over and over and over again, but they’re asking this because they want to know what’s coming next. It might be hard to hear the same thing all day, but indulge your child and answer them when they ask. If your child knows what is going to happen every day, they won’t be in the dark about what’s to come. Knowing what to expect helps decrease anxiety children might have about uncertainty in their lives. 
 
2. Routines relieve stress. 
 
Admit it: even as an adult, knowing what to expect makes you feel less stressed. Knowing how your day will go makes everything seem easier. This goes for children as well, especially since kids don’t know as much about the world as adults. Trying a new vegetable can be just as scary as a major life change, since both things are unknown to a child! Anything you can do to establish a routine and help reduce stress for your child will make life easier on them. 
 
3. Routines improve cooperation. 
 
If a child knows they need to be ready to go to school at the same time every day, they’re more likely to cooperate and get dressed on time. Remind your child periodically: “In thirty minutes, we’re going to leave for school.” “In ten minutes, we’re going to leave for school.” This will give them advanced notice and they can start managing their time. It will help them learn how to transition from one activity to the other with less interruption and behavioral outbursts. This habit will also transfer to other events, so they’re more likely to cooperate when it’s time to go to the doctor, or other less exciting tasks. 
 
4. Routines get things done. 
 
Having a routine ensures that your child will complete everything they’re supposed to do. If they wake up at the same time every day, they will have time to make their bed before coming down for breakfast. After breakfast, they will get dressed for school and make sure their homework is packed in their backpacks. Without this routine, your child (and you!) would be rushed every morning. You might not have time for breakfast, and your child’s homework might be left on the dining table. Routines like this help your child take responsibility for himself. 
 
5. Routines build self-confidence. 
 
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Routines build self-confidence.</div>
 
Have you ever noticed how your child straightens up when you praise him? If he has routines set up, he can accomplish more tasks on his own. He can do his own things while you do yours, and then you can compliment him when he’s done. This also helps establish responsibility. This means not only does he have more freedom, but so do you! 
 
6. Routines teach organization. 
 
Children having routines at bedtime or for putting things away teaches them that organization helps life run more smoothly. Unlike kids who grow up in chaotic, rushed, messy homes, your child will always know exactly where to find their belongings, and when they need to find them. 
 
7. Routines can be flexible. 
 
Don’t establish so many routines that your children feel overwhelmed and kept in a box. Let them leave the dishes in the sink one night to stay up and watch a movie with the family. Don’t be so strict they act out or feel like they don’t have freedom, but also don’t be so lax that they know you’re a pushover if they hit the right buttons. There’s a careful balance that ensures your children will benefit from set routines. 
 
 
Author: Allison Renner

7 Reasons Why Your Children Need Steady Routines

7 Reasons Why Your Children Need Steady Routines Children need steady routines so they know what their days will be like, which wi...

26 Gifts Your Children Will Never Forget

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26 Gifts Your Children Will Never Forget</div>
 
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You love your children. You want them to have a great childhood, and to live a happy and fulfilling life. As parents, this is 100% your responsibility. Your children will not have another relationship during their lifetime that will have greater positive or negative impacts than their relationship with you, so you cannot take this responsibility lightly.

Being a parent is one of the most rewarding, yet challenging roles we can play in life. Although there is no instruction manual for parenting, there is a lot of great information at your fingertips to support your efforts in giving your children what they need to grow into happy, strong, fulfilled adults.

Below is a list of 26 gifts we can give our children that they will never forget, and are as easy as A, B, and C.</blockquote>
 
Affirmation 
 
Everyone needs to be told they are valued, worthy, and doing a good job. Your kids are no different. By affirming them you are making them more secure and confident. 
 
Boundaries 
 
Whether we want to admit it or not, we like boundaries. These provide your children clear expectations and certainty, and not only do they like that, but the more consistent we are, the more consistent our children will be. 
 
Confidence 
 
I have two children and above everything else, my # 1 goal is that my children reach adulthood with confidence. The sooner we focus on helping our children be confident, the easier their lives will be. Confident people are simply focused on more productive things rather than getting caught up with drama, worry, and self-destructive thoughts and actions. With bullying being such a big issue in our culture, confidence is the best solution. Self-assured kids don’t bully, nor do they put up with being bullied. 
 
Discipline 
 
Like boundaries, we hate to admit that we need and even like discipline, but we do, and our kids need it too. They need to be guided down a productive path and held accountable when they veer off that path. They need to be able to count on the fact that there are consequences to their actions, both positive and negative. 
 
Expectations 
 
As parents to young children, we are the “life experts” and if we don’t set expectations and guide them accordingly, they will find another set of values and rules to follow. They need clear expectations. 
 
Friendship 
 
Don’t confuse this with being their friend. Parents don’t need to be their children’s friends: they will have plenty of those. We need to be their parents. Children need to learn how to have healthy and productive relationships with other people, and that starts with us. 
 
Gratitude 
 
Teaching our children to be thankful impacts other things like a positive attitude and appreciation for both people and things. 
 
Healthy Home Culture 
 
Is your home culture productive or destructive? Is it positive or negative? Are you setting a good example? What kind of people are your children learning to become within the walls of your home? We are all the results of the environments we grew up in, and there is no environment with a greater impact than your home. 
 
Identity 
 
Our identity is the result of our past. When our children reach adulthood, their idenity will be the result of their past experiences and relationships with us.  We must lead and guide our children so they have a confident and positive attitude about themselves, helping them avoid self-imposed barriers and suffering from what I refer to as an “Identity Crisis.  When you Google the words “define identity crisis” the following definition appears: 
 
“a period of uncertainty and confusion in which a person’s sense of identity becomes insecure, typically due to a change in their expected aims or role in society.” 
 
As parents, it is our jobs to give our children certainty and eliminate any confusion that will create insecurity and ultimately impact their quality of life. 
 
Jokes 
 
Some of the best times I have with my kids are in the car where I’m joking around and acting like a fool. My son demands more and my daughter tells me how much I am embarrassing her, all the while trying to stop herself from laughing. 
 
Kindness 
 
No need to elaborate here. Be kind to your children and teach them to be kind to others. 
 
Love 
 
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We must show our children love.</div>
 
I believe the words LOVE and RESPECT are the two most important words in parenting. We must set the example by not only showing love and respect for others, but for ourselves. We must show our children love and respect while holding them accountable for having a positive attitude about themselves and why it’s important to show love and respect to other. 
 
Mentoring 
 
Our kids get hammered with thousands of messages every single day, most of which don’t do not have their best interest in mind. They are either going to learn things from us, or from someone/something else out there. You want them to learn things from you. I don’t care how you look at it or what you call it. Your children need your attention, guidance, and leadership. 
 
Never Giving Up 
 
Giving up is just a symptom of a bigger problem; a bad attitude. It’s a dog-eat-dog world and our kids are going to get knocked around and challenged plenty. Quitting and giving up is the path of least resistance and if they aren’t challenged to keep going, taking the path of least resistance will become habit. Few people experience fulfillment and success in life by giving up. 
 
Optimism 
 
Few things are more challenging than dealing with people who are pessimistic and negative. Our children must be held accountable for their bad attitudes and it is up to us show them there is a more productive way to live. 
 
Passion 
 
When people are passionate about what they do, the harder they will work, and the more fulfillment they will experience. We need to pay attention to what our children are passionate about and provide the opportunities and resources for them to explore and excel. 
 
Quiet Time 
 
Many children are over-stimulated to the point they go nuts when they don’t have anything to do. Quiet time allows them to relax, think, and use their imagination. Turn off the TV, DVD players, tablets, phones, and gaming systems and let them figure out how to use their time. 
 
Reading Time 
 
Like anything else, the more time our children invest in reading, the better they will become. This starts with us reading to them at a young age and encouraging them to read on their own as they get older. A child’s reading ability impacts their confidence and enjoyment with school, as well overall confidence and success in life. 
 
Security 
 
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Security is the foundation of confidence.</div>
 
Security is the foundation of confidence. Insecure people think about themselves and the world very differently than people who are secure and confident. I am a big fan of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory, which suggests that insecurity impacts the relationships we build with others, as well as our self-confidence, and our ability to reach our potential. I truly believe that if we as parents raise our children to be secure and confident they will figure things out. 
 
Talks 
 
We need to be our children’s greatest influencers and that won’t happen if our children don’t have the ability to or don’t feel comfortable talking to us. The more we talk and build comfort and trust the more they will open up. 
 
Unconditional Love 
 
Our children must know that regardless of who they are and what they do, we will always love them.  Now, unconditional love does not mean you don’t discipline them or hold them accountable.  They are going to screw up and do stupid things, but we are the one relationship they need to be able to count on and we need them to depend on, in good and bad times. 
 
Values 
 
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is one of my favorite books and had probably had the greatest foundational impact on my life. Seven Habits taught me that the most important thing a person can do is articulate their values and create a vision for their life and make decisions based on those values. When a person makes decisions based on things that are meaningful and important to them, they can never go wrong. 
 
We must first understand our values, but also talk to our children about values to that will help them live a productive and fulfilling life. 
 
Wonder 
 
Wonder and curiosity are the keys to critical thinking and learning. We want our children to look at the world, ask questions, and have a desire to know more. We must be active in their learning when they are young and support them in their process of discovery. 
 
Xenodochial 
 
The definition of xenodochial is “being friendly to strangers”. Our children’s attitudes of the world will be a reflection of our attitude. Xenodocial aligns nicely with the love and respect I talked about above. 
 
Youthfulness 
 
When I think of the word “youthful”, I think of words like fun, energetic, creative, curious, passionate, imaginative, brave, open-minded, and happy. 
 
At 35 I hope I am still all those things. Too many people follow a plan or conform to expectations that leave them unemotionally wandering through life. I don’t want that for my kids. 
 
The world is full of all kinds of great stuff to get excited about and we need to share this with our kids. 
 
Zeal 
 
“Great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective”. 
 
What are your kids passionate about? What cause can you pursue together that will show them the impact they can have on the world with the right attitude and action? 
 
 
Author: Jason Kiesau

26 Gifts Your Children Will Never Forget

26 Gifts Your Children Will Never Forget You love your children. You want them to have a great childhood, and to live a happy and ...

9 Skills That Every Kid Should Learn

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9 Skills That Every Kid Should Learn

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Kids in today’s school system are not being prepared well for tomorrow’s world.

As someone who went from the corporate world and then the government world to the ever-changing online world, I know how the world of yesterday is rapidly becoming irrelevant. I was trained in the newspaper industry, where we all believed we would be relevant forever — and I now believe will go the way of the horse and buggy.

Unfortunately, I was educated in a school system that believed the world in which it existed would remain essentially the same, with minor changes in fashion. We were trained with a skill set that was based on what jobs were most in demand in the 1980s, not what might happen in the 2000s.

And that kinda makes sense, given that no one could really know what life would be like 20 years from now. Imagine the 1980s, when personal computers were still fairly young, when faxes were the cutting-edge communication technology, when the Internet as we now know it was only the dream of sci-fi writers like William Gibson.

We had no idea what the world had in store for us.

And here’s the thing: we still don’t. We never do. We have never been good at predicting the future, and so raising and educating our kids as if we have any idea what the future will hold is not the smartest notion.

How then to prepare our kids for a world that is unpredictable, unknown? By teaching them to adapt, to deal with change, to be prepared for anything by not preparing them for anything specific.

This requires an entirely different approach to child-rearing and education. It means leaving our old ideas at the door, and reinventing everything.

My drop-dead gorgeous wife Eva (yes, I’m a very lucky man) and I are among those already doing this. We homeschool our kids — more accurately, we unschool them. We are teaching them to learn on their own, without us handing knowledge down to them and testing them on that knowledge.

It is, admittedly, a wild frontier, and most of us who are experimenting with unschooling will admit that we don’t have all the answers, that there is no set of “best practices”. But we also know that we are learning along with our kids, and that not knowing can be a good thing — an opportunity to find out, without relying on established methods that might not be optimal.

I won’t go too far into methods here, as I find them to be less important than ideas. Once you have some interesting ideas to test, you can figure out an unlimited amount of methods, and so my dictating methods would be too restrictive.

Instead, let’s look at a good set of essential skills that I believe children should learn, that will best prepare them for any world of the future. I base these on what I have learned in three different industries, especially the world of online entreprenurship, online publishing, online living … and more importantly, what I have learned about learning and working and living in a world that will never stop changing.</blockquote>
 
1. Asking questions. 
 
What we want most for our kids, as learners, is to be able to learn on their own. To teach themselves anything. Because if they can, then we don’t need to teach them everything — whatever they need to learn in the future, they can do on their own. The first step in learning to teach yourself anything is learning to ask questions. Luckily, kids do this naturally — our hope is to simply encourage it. A great way to do this is by modeling it. When you and your child encounter something new, ask questions, and explore the possible answers with your child. When he does ask questions, reward the child instead of punishing him (you might be surprised how many adults discourage questioning). 
 
2. Solving problems. 
 
If a child can solve problems, she can do any job. A new job might be intimidating to any of us, but really it’s just another problem to be solved. A new skill, a new environment, a new need … they’re all simply problems to be solved. Teach your child to solve problems by modeling simple problem solving, then allowing her to do some very easy ones on her own. Don’t immediately solve all your child’s problems — let her fiddle with them and try various possible solutions, and reward such efforts. Eventually, your child will develop confidence in her problem-solving abilities, and then there is nothing she can’t do. 
 
3. Tackling projects. 
 
As an online entrepreneur, I know that my work is a series of projects, sometimes related, sometimes small and sometimes large (which are usually a group of smaller projects). I also know that there isn’t a project I can’t tackle, because I’ve done so many of them. This post is a project. Writing a book is a project. Selling the book is another project. Work on projects with your kid, letting him see how it’s done by working with you, then letting him do more and more by himself. As he gains confidence, let him tackle more on his own. Soon, his learning will just be a series of projects that he’s excited about. 
 
4. Finding passion. 
 
 
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Photo by Lee Harvard</div>
 
What drives me is not goals, not discipline, not external motivation, not reward … but passion. When I’m so excited that I can’t stop thinking about something, I will inevitably dive into it fully committed, and most times I’ll complete the project and love doing it. Help your kid find things she’s passionate about — it’s a matter of trying a bunch of things, finding ones that excite her the most, helping her really enjoy them. Don’t discourage any interest — encourage them. Don’t suck the fun out of them either — make them rewarding. 
 
5. Independence. 
 
Kids should be taught to increasingly stand on their own. A little at a time, of course. Slowly encourage them to do things on their own. Teach them how to do it, model it, help them do it, help less, then let them make their own mistakes. Give them confidence in themselves by letting them have a bunch of successes, and letting them solve the failures. Once they learn to be independent, they learn that they don’t need a teacher, a parent, or a boss to tell them what to do. They can manage themselves, and be free, and figure out the direction they need to take on their own. 
 
6. Being happy on their own. 
 
Too many of us parents coddle our kids, keeping them on a leash, making them rely on our presence for happiness. When the kid grows up, he doesn’t know how to be happy. He must immediately attach to a girlfriend or friends. Failing that, they find happiness in other external things — shopping, food, video games, the Internet. But if a child learns from an early age that he can be happy by himself, playing and reading and imagining, he has one of the most valuable skills there is. Allow your kids to be alone from an early age. Give them privacy, have times (such as the evening) when parents and kids have alone time. 
 
7. Compassion. 
 
One of the most essential skills ever. We need this to work well with others, to care for people other than ourselves, to be happy by making others happy. Modeling compassion is the key. Be compassionate to your child at all times, and to others. Show them empathy by asking how they think others might feel, and thinking aloud about how you think others might feel. Demonstrate at every opportunity how to ease the suffering of others when you’re able, how to make others happier with small kindnesses, how that can make you happier in return. 
 
8. Tolerance. 
 
Too often we grow up in an insulated area, where people are mostly alike (at least in appearance), and when we come into contact with people who are different, it can be uncomfortable, shocking, fear-inducing. Expose your kids to people of all kinds, from different races to different sexuality to different mental conditions. Show them that not only is it OK to be different, but that differences should be celebrated, and that variety is what makes life so beautiful. 
 
9. Dealing with change. 
 
I believe this will be one of the most essential skills as our kids grow up, as the world is always changing and being able to accept the change, to deal with the change, to navigate the flow of change, will be a competitive advantage. This is a skill I’m still learning myself, but I find that it helps me tremendously, especially compared to those who resist and fear change, who set goals and plans and try to rigidly adhere to them as I adapt to the changing landscape. Rigidity is less helpful in a changing environment than flexibility, fluidity, flow. Again, modeling this skill for your child at every opportunity is important, and showing them that changes are OK, that you can adapt, that you can embrace new opportunities that weren’t there before, should be a priority. Life is an adventure, and things will go wrong, turn out differently than you expected, and break whatever plans you made — and that’s part of the excitement of it all. 
 
We can’t give our children a set of data to learn, a career to prepare for, when we don’t know what the future will bring. But we can prepare them to adapt to anything, to learn anything, to solve anything, and in about 20 years, to thank us for it. 
 
Author: Leo Babauta

9 Skills That Every Kid Should Learn

Photo by Lee Harvard 9 Skills That Every Kid Should Learn Kids in today’s school system are not being prepared well for tomorrow...

13 Things You Can Do To Help Yourself Fall Asleep

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13 Things You Can Do To Help Yourself Fall Asleep</div>
 
 
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If you are having trouble falling asleep at night, it is could be due to lifestyle habits interfering with your sleep patterns. Here are 13 suggestions that you can easily put into practice. Once you find what works for you, you won’t have to take sleep aids or see a sleep specialist.</div>
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1. Always go to bed and wake up at the same time 
 
Everybody knows about jet lag. Traveling across time zones upsets your body clock and sleep patterns get skewed. But when you go to bed at irregular hours and sleep late, you are also upsetting your sleep-wake cycle, albeit to a much lesser extent. Make sure you go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time. Avoid oversleeping when tired or because of a late night. 
 
2. Time to get a new mattress 
 
Most people never bother to change their mattresses very often. The result is that physical discomfort negatively impacts your sleep. Did you know that the average life expectancy for a mattress is only eight years? Choosing a new mattress can be tricky, as its comfort is very hard to judge in the shop. Ideally, one should lie on a new mattress for at least 10 minutes to get a true feeling for how it feels. 
 
3. Build in winding down time 
 
Getting ready for bed means making sure there is a gradual transition from daytime frenetic activity to restful repose. Taking a warm bath helps you to relax. Some people do stretching. Switch off all electronic devices and turn down the lighting. Make reading a regular habit so that the body learns that sleep time is approaching. Some people like to use an audio podcast with music as this will not disturb their partners or other family members. 
 
4. Ban electronics from the bedroom 
 
If you use any electronic devices in the bedroom, you are asking for trouble. The blue light from screens tends to trick your brain into thinking that it is daylight again and this light tends to block the supply of melatonin, which induces sleep. The other problem is that once your brain starts to suffer from an information overload, it is going to go into overdrive. Some people insist on checking emails on their mobile devices while they lie in bed. A Nytol survey showed that 50% of Brits were addicted to checking their social media accounts and emails in bed. 
 
5. Take some magnesium 
 
Most people with sleep disturbances are suffering from a magnesium deficiency and they are not even aware of it! Typical symptoms are cold hands and feet, and excruciating leg cramps in the early morning. Magnesium is one of the essential minerals that help the Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) receptors function. These block the glutamate and norepinephrine receptors which stimulate the brain so GABA may help the brain shut down. The recommended dose is between 400 and 500 milligrams (mg) before bed. 
 
6. Mental activities will help 
 
When you cannot get to sleep, your mind may wander to thoughts of your insomnia, the causes and consequences, and how tired you will be in the morning. Start thinking about things which have absolutely nothing to do with your insomnia. Some of the following may work for you: 
 
Do simple math, like counting backwards from 100. 
Try going through the alphabet, thinking of a person’s name for each of the letters. 
Visualize yourself in a beautiful, calm setting and picture yourself as you drift off. 
 
7. Cut out stimulants before bed. 
 
Most people have problems because of tea and coffee intake before bedtime. Alcohol can help you to get to sleep initially but you will be restless for the second half of the night. British researchers in one study published in the Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research journal, found that alcohol upsets the thalamus area of the brain, which leads to disturbed sleep patterns. Cut out caffeine and alcohol well before evening to help yourself fall asleep faster. 
 
8. Drink these before going to bed 
 
One ideal nightcap is warm, skimmed milk because it has calcium and tryptophan, which can be converted into serotonin which helps you to feel drowsy. Another option is cocoa or hot chocolate, which help to produce phenethylamine. That can put you in a good mood. But chocolate has caffeine in it and some people find that it keeps them awake, so try what suits you best.  Instant malt drinks can also help, although they tend to be high in fat. 
 
9. Get enough daylight 
 
Strange as it seems, you need to get enough daylight. One hour (or even 30 minutes) of natural sunlight will keep your wake-sleep cycle perfectly tuned. This really helps and it is just as important as turning down the lights an hour before bedtime. 
 
10. Relax 
 
One of the reasons you cannot get off to sleep is that fact you are too tense. This may be due to overwork, stress, or simply tensing up because you cannot sleep. Try relaxing every muscle group in your body. Start from the head and work down. As you do this, you will be astonished at how tense you were! 
 
11. Exercise is great but.. 
 
Doing sports or any physical activity is great because it will make you tired. It will also get the endorphins going, which will put you in a good mood. It usually takes about four months for results to start kicking in.  The only thing you have to remember is that you cannot exercise too late in the evening, as it can to have the opposite effect of overstimulating you. 
 
12. Sex is good 
 
Laura Berman, the director of the Berman Center for Women’s Sexual Health, says that people are getting less sleep and not having enough sex. Sex helps you sleep, as it releases oxytocin and endorphins. It also causes other hormonal changes which aid restful and deep sleep. 
 
13. Make a list 
 
Lots of people go to bed and already start worrying about the next day. They have a ton of things to do and they start fretting about everything, which leads to restlessness and poor sleep. A great idea is to make a list of all the things you need to take care of the next day before you go to bed. Writing them down gives you a sense of control and will help you to relax. 
 
Now that you know where the problems lie, why not bookmark this page and start your plan of action. Sweet dreams! 
 
 
Author: Robert Locke

13 Things You Can Do To Help Yourself Fall Asleep

13 Things You Can Do To Help Yourself Fall Asleep If you are having trouble falling asleep at night, it is could be due to lifes...

10 Ways To Greatly Improve Your Attitude

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10 Ways To Greatly Improve Your Attitude</div>
 
Our attitude plays a big part in our everyday lives and can affect how our life may turn out in the future. If you decide to live with a negative attitude, always expecting the worst and never enjoying what you already have in your life, you’ll find that your inner choices will reflect on the outside. However, if you have a good attitude, you’ll be the kind of person who works hard, is a believer in the fact that life is for living, and you will live the kind of life many would aspire to. 
 
Attitude comes down to choice, you can choose whether to have a good or a bad attitude and whether external things can affect it or not. With this in mind I’ve come up with a few ways to help improve your attitude when you are struggling to turn a bad day into a good one. 
 
1. Take action and then let it go. 
 
If you have something you need to get done, and you’ve been putting it off because the result could go either way, the best thing for you to do to improve your attitude is to take the appropriate action required and then let it go. Holding on, worrying and wasting precious time fretting will only put a downer on your attitude. If you remember that life is for living, and what will be will be, then you can’t go far wrong. Worrying is a complete waste of your time—if it’s going to happen, it will happen anyway, whether you worry about it or not! 
 
2. Spend time with those who share your positive attitude. 
 
This is a must if you want to improve your attitude. The people you surround yourself with most of the time will reflect upon you and how you live your life. So always make sure that these people share your positive vibe, and lift you rather than bring you down. We are, after all, only human, so there will be times when we get a bit down on our luck, which makes it even more important to have good, positive people on hand to encourage, support and inspire us. 
 
3. Remember to forgive easily the limitations of others. 
 
So often we get disappointed by other people’s actions or non-action. Instead of getting angry or retaliating, the best way to improve the situation and to improve your attitude is to forgive. Most people don’t understand why they do the things they do or say the things they say. It is through your forgiveness (which is not about letting them off the hook, but rather letting yourself off the hook) that you will improve your attitude. Holding on to grudges will only cause you more harm than good because most people don’t realize how their limitations affect others anyway! 
 
4. Always act with a purpose. 
 
When you take action, always take steps to act with a purpose, so that your actions are in line with your values and who you are. Many people walk through life blindly, with no real reason for what they do and why they do it. Instead, live with a sense of purpose, so that you go through life knowing the effect you have on those around you and why you do the things you do. For an example, Walt Disney’s main purpose was to “make people happy,” so next time you act, think of your purpose and improve your attitude whilst doing so! 
 
5. Always say, “Please,” and, “Thank you.” 
 
Being polite when given help or asking for it isn’t a hard thing to do, yet so often we forget these simple words, especially with those closest to us. If you want to improve your attitude use, “Please,” and, “Thank you,” every single time you are given the opportunity. Why? Because what you give out you get back, so when you are nice to someone who is helping you out or when you need some assistance, you’ll find that you’ll get more than you bargained for—in a good way, of course! 
 
6. Don’t compare yourself to others. 
 
If you want to improve your attitude to life and to those around you, quit comparing yourself to others. It’s human to compare our lives with others, but when we do it too often we can drag ourselves down and start to think that life isn’t going the way it’s supposed to go. When we compare, we think someone else’s life looks better than ours. It’s important to remember that we are observing the external view, and things may look different behind closed doors. So spare yourself the worry and stop comparing, only focus on your own life and attitude to it and you’ll be much happier in the process. 
 
7. Expect the best out of every situation instead of the worst. 
 
How many times do you focus on the bad stuff that might happen in your life, rather than the good? Do you hear yourself saying things like, “Oh, I knew that would happen,” or, “I really hope this doesn’t cost too much,” and, “I don’t want to be late”? 
 
When life is hectic and you feel that you don’t have time to do what you want because of what other people want from you, it’s no wonder you can get so down and disgruntled about life. We tend to focus on what could go wrong in our lives rather than focusing on what could go right. In some respects we like to have a moan, and it seems complaining has become such second nature to us that we don’t even realize we are doing it. 
 
So how about trying something different? Try not to complain for seven days and instead replace any negative thoughts with a positive one. Expect the very best out of every situation and see the improvement in your attitude, you won’t be disappointed! 
 
8. Wake up early every day. 
 
I am a real advocate of early rising. For me it brings me closer to the feeling of starting afresh, just in case yesterday didn’t go quite as planned. I usually get up at around 4 a.m., although that kind of time is pretty extreme to most people. However, when you plan to wake up early and intend to make each day a good one, you’ll find your attitude will change. It’s like you are taking the day by the horns and making sure you get every last bit out of it and on your own terms. You’ll feel in control of your life rather than just going through life in a blur. 
 
Just try it, even if you only get up 20 minutes earlier than normal. 
 
9. Live in the present moment. 
 
As you read this you will probably have 101 things on your mind. Errands to run, things you should be doing and things that have happened that are worrying you. All too often we spend our days lost in thoughts about the past or the future and never really living in this very moment. When we live like this, we are never really comfortable with ourselves because our inner peace is constantly at odds, which affects our mood and our attitude. 
 
Instead of rushing about, try to spend time watching your thoughts and becoming more mindful of what you are saying to yourself. If you are worrying about something, you are not in the present moment because you are thinking about something that could happen in the future. Anxiety, stress and worry are all signs you are not living in the now. When you have too much of this going on it can lead to health issues later on in life. To improve your attitude, learn how to take a break, to sit and be quiet even if it’s just for 10 minutes a day. Your body and mind will thank you for it, and so will your friends! 
 
10. Be grateful for everything you have. 
 
This always seems to come up whenever I write because gratefulness is one of the most powerful attitudes to have in life. If you want a better life, give thanks for all that you have each and every day. When you rise early, practice grace before you do anything. This kind of practice will set your day off nicely, your attitude will improve and you’ll find you will receive more things to be grateful about! 
 
So how’s your attitude today, does it need a little fine tuning? 
 
Author: Paula Lawes

10 Ways To Greatly Improve Your Attitude

10 Ways To Greatly Improve Your Attitude Our attitude plays a big part in our everyday lives and can affect how our life may turn o...

Improve Life Quality Now by Enjoying Your Sundays

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Improve Life Quality Now by Enjoying Your Sundays</div>
 
 
 
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Try a quick exercise. Look over your past week and see how much of your time was spent on work. Work also includes house chores, grocery shopping, errands, and minding the children. If work represents one of six slices of a pie chart, how big is that slice? Quite big, I bet.

We work hard so we can afford holidays or a move to a bigger home and improve life quality. Don’t wait for a holiday or a new home to bring balance to your life. Reserve Sundays for doing meaningful things you don’t get to do on weekdays and improve life quality now.</blockquote>
 
1. Slow Down 
 
Turn off the alarm. If your internal clock wakes you up at the usual hour, use the time for deep breathing exercises or read inspiring quotes and experience positive emotions.  If you wake up late, that’s great! You’ve begun to enjoy your Sunday. 
 
The point here is to not have a schedule. Letting the day flow will allow more leisure time for recreational activities and for doing them at a leisurely pace. 
 
2. Disconnect Electronically 
 
Is this hard for you to do? Look back to an instance when you felt toxic and were ready to toss your phone out the window to get 15 minutes of uninterrupted time. This will make it easier to put your phone on silent and out of sight. Now is the time to give your laptop and other devices a rest too.  You may be surprised to discover engaging things to do minus your devices. 
 
3. Notice and Appreciate Things 
 
No strict schedules and no electronic devices equals a space of silence and freedom to just BE. Heighten your senses and attention to find joy in the simplest things—homey kitchen smells, new grass, children’s laughter, a leisurely shower, or your relaxed breathing. To measurably improve life quality, be aware of and appreciate the things that bring quality to your life. 
 
4. Enhance Your Home 
 
The spaces you move around in affect your well being. Home is where you wake up every morning. Enjoy Sunday by engaging in a hobby—art, crafts, carpentry, gardening—and decorate your home in the process.  No such hobbies? Try rearranging the furniture, adding a couple of throw pillows, and organizing your book shelf, kitchen cabinet, or wardrobe closet.  Your enhanced living space would then be a pleasant place to come home to. 
 
5. Sit Down for a Meal 
 
Is your weekday breakfast an on-the-go affair where you munch on a sandwich as you hurry to the subway station?  How often do you get to have dinner with your family or partner?  Sunday is when family and friends can sit down, share a meal, and chat in a relaxed atmosphere.  Have fun preparing the meal together at home or make it a restaurant treat. 
 
Ask light questions to get conversation going.  Be positive, listen fully, and appreciate these wonderful people you share your life with. 
 
6. Help Someone Out 
 
It could be your child asking for your opinion on a school project, an elderly neighbor needing some company, or a request for volunteers to pack relief goods for disaster victims.  Helping others moves focus away from yourself and brings meaning to life beyond mere accomplishment. 
 
7. Do Something Just for You 
 
Make Sunday a day to reward yourself.  Get a haircut, buy that nice shirt you’ve been saving for, have a massage, watch a matinee or a sporting event, or stay home to read, play video games, or nap.  The only rule: it makes you happy and is good for your health. 
 
8. Attend to a Spiritual Practice 
 
A spiritual practice is an activity that reminds you of your connection to the divine source. It could be a full-day facilitated retreat, a Sunday service, a quiet jog in nature, a gratitude journal, insightful books, or inspiring music. Keeping a meaningful connection to the divine lightens your perspective in life. 
 
Sunday is a day to forget work and to rediscover other areas of your life. A consciously-spent Sunday helps you appreciate work and allows you to handle the week’s stress. You gain work-life balance that will improve life quality starting right now. 
 
Featured photo credit: Lee Harvard via flickr 
 
Author: Luwee Francia

Improve Life Quality Now by Enjoying Your Sundays

Improve Life Quality Now by Enjoying Your Sundays Try a quick exercise. Look over your past week and see how much of your time...

8 Reasons a Leader Should Smile More

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8 Reasons a Leader Should Smile More

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Being a good leader has a lot of components, but even something as simple as smiling can be incredibly important. Whether you’re the boss and used to being the leader, or you’re temporarily in charge of a project, or anywhere in between, smiling can get you far. Check out our top 8 reasons why leaders should smile more.</blockquote>
 
1. Smiling helps people relax. 
 
It’s a fact that people who smile more help those around them feel more relaxed. It indicates that you are pleased with those around you and the work that they are doing. Passing on good feelings via smiling can help others feel less pressured and relieve some of their stress, which ultimately helps productivity. Relaxed people are also more open to new ideas, and are more trusting of those that have made them feel relaxed. 
 
2. Smiling draws people to you. 
 
Smiling indicates to others that you are approachable and nice. Leaders cannot be effective if people don’t like them, so next time you need to get up in front of a group of people, start out by smiling. It will make people more likely to listen to you and be more open to what you have to say. It can help you get what you want without saying a word. 
 
3. Smiling people are happy people. 
 
Leaders don’t always have to smile just for other people–they can also smile because it helps them feel better. Smiling and laughing can help you feel happier and more positive. We can often trick ourselves into feeling an emotion simply by mimicking the actions associated with it. And everyone knows, a happy leader is a good leader. 
 
4. Smiling indicates confidence. 
 
When leaders smile, it indicates that they are capable. Smiling carries a message of confidence with it. If you’re not totally confident about something but need to do it anyway, just “fake it ’til you make it.” Force a confident smile, and the confidence will soon become a reality. 
 
5. Smiling can act as a reward. 
 
Smiling lets others know that you’re pleased with them. Good leaders let people know that they’re doing a good job in various ways, but an easy way to do it is to smile. A smile indicates that you care and have noticed the outcome of someone’s hard work, and it is an easy and simple thing to do. Everyone benefits. 
 
6. Smiling creates good work culture. 
 
Having a positive culture in the workplace is always good. Not only does it make for more efficient and more in sync workers, but it also makes people happier with their work situation and their leadership. Just the simple act of smiling can leave people feeling happier and more positive throughout the day. 
 
7. Smiling can help seal the deal. 
 
Leaders have a lot of roles, and one of those is attracting business, whether it be for a company, a campaign, or a project. As a leader, you want people to want to help you, and they’re more likely to feel that way if they feel happy. Flash a quick and genuine smile, and people are much more likely to give you what you’re asking for. At the end of the day, a smile can mean the difference between a deal or no deal. 
 
8. Smiling can have a domino effect. 
 
When people are smiled at, it generally elevates their mood and makes them want to pass on the positive vibes. Smiling at people can encourage the spreading of that behavior around the office. This tends to make people trust and like each other more, and workers that are in tune with one another is the key to being the leader of a well-oiled operation. 
 
Featured photo credit: Jackie via Flickr 
 
 
Author: Maggie Health

8 Reasons a Leader Should Smile More

8 Reasons a Leader Should Smile More Being a good leader has a lot of components, but even something as simple as smiling can be ...

20 Things You Are Wasting Money On

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20 Things You Are Wasting Money On

Here is a list of things that you may be wasting money on:</blockquote>
 
Bottled water 
 
Bottled water can be expensive. If you want filtered water, buy a water filtering system and fill-up a re-usable bottle on your own. You are helping the environment this way as well, since you won’t be using so many plastic bottles. 
 
Famous brand products 
 
When was the last time that you bought something primarily because of the brand? Many people do this. Try to look for items that are similar, but without the brand name logo on it. 
 
Jewelry 
 
Yes, jewelry can be nice to have at times, but should you be spending your life savings on it? Probably not. 
 
Shoes that you do not need 
 
Shoes are important, but are a pair of $1,000 sneakers a “need?” Buy shoes that help you run, walk, hike, look good, etc., but a crazy expensive pair is most likely just a waste of money. 
 
Second-rate entertainment 
 
Second-rate entertainment can be a big money waster. Try to find things to do that are more frugal and fun. Go for a hike, a bike ride, and so on. 
 
Transportation 
 
Do you find yourself driving to where you need to go, when you could easily walk or drive a bike? Think about this next time before you get in your car. Also, think about living closer to work so that you can save on transportation costs that way as well. 
 
Movie theater food 
 
Buying food at the movie theater can be very expensive. Boxes of candy may be around $4 or $5, drinks around $7, and popcorn somewhere between that. Save money and skip the food. 
 
ATM fees 
 
ATM fees can add up quickly. My bank charges an extra $2 or $3 onto whatever the ATM charges me. At times, that means that I have paid over $5 just to get money out. Instead, try to figure out a different way to not pay an ATM fee. 
 
Lottery tickets 
 
Yes, it is nice to think about what you would do if you won all of that money, but the chance of you winning is very slim. Save that money instead. 
 
Coffee 
 
I know of someone who complains about never having money, yet they go to Starbucks every single day and buy a latte. It makes no sense! Save your money and make your cup of coffee at home. 
 
Prepared foods 
 
When at the grocery store, there are always many food items that are already prepared for you. However, try to cook yourself or make things from scratch. You can save money this way. 
 
Insurance 
 
Insurance is expensive, no matter what you are talking about. Car insurance, health insurance, home insurance, life insurance, etc. most likely eat up a lot of your budget. Shop around and find the best rates. 
 
Buying books 
 
Reading a book can be a great hobby that is cheap, but it could be cheaper. Borrow books from your library to completely cut out this expense. 
 
Too large of a home 
 
How much of your house do you actually use? If your house is too big, then you probably have extra rooms that are empty, or you might buy furniture just for the sake of filling those rooms. A bigger house costs more to maintain, and utility bills are most likely higher since you have more space to heat or cool down. 
 
Warranties 
 
Sometimes a warranty may be a good deal, but most of the time they are not. They are usually pure money-makers for the company offering them. If you think the item will break, then you might want to rethink the purchase altogether. 
 
Food that you don’t eat 
 
If you are not careful with what you buy, then there is a large chance that you are wasting a lot of fun. The average family wastes around 25% of the food that they buy. 
 
Smoking 
 
Smoking is not good for you. Try to find a way to break this unhealthy habit. You are saving your life and your money. 
 
Taxes 
 
Many people think that they can do their income taxes on their own, however this isn’t always the best case. A good accountant can help you find areas where you might be able to lower your taxes. 
 
Water 
 
Water can be expensive, and there are things that you can do to lower your water spending. Look into buying more efficient home products, such as a better toilet, faucet, shower head, dish washer and so on. 
 
Cell phone 
 
Cell phones are expensive.  Evaluate your needs and see if there is a cheaper contract out there. There are many new companies popping up all over the place with plans under $30. 
 
What are you wasting your money on? 
 
Are you managing your money well?  
Questions? Don’t hesitate to ask. Thank you :) 
 
Featured photo credit: Lee Harvard via Flickr 
 
Author: Michelle S.

20 Things You Are Wasting Money On

20 Things You Are Wasting Money On There are most likely a good amount of items in your budget that you can probably cut out comp...

Lee Harvard - Tips for Life