Tag Archives: Monday

LIFE

21 New Year Resolutions for 2021

January 4, 2021 nyxhit 38 Comments

Yes, fin-spirational podcasts and skinimalism are on the New Year’s Resolution List – and my Resolutions for 2021 look different, too.

Hello everyone! Welcome back from the holidays. Hope you had a wonderful, safe, and relaxing time. If 2020 taught us anything, it’s how to continuously reinvent and restructure your goals. It also taught us the importance of taking care of our mental as well as physical hygiene. In 2021, that’s the lesson I am going to practice for the whole year. Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? I couldn’t strike off anything from my last year’s resolution, partly because I was diligently following COVID restrictions and protocols. And, partly because, in 2020, I mastered the Art of Procrastination.

And, as always, I found this incredible quote in my journal that’s perhaps the biggest takeaway from 2020.

“Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.”- Tony Robbins.

Here are my New Year Resolutions for 2021:

1.Drink Enough Water

Need a friend? Water is my new best friend.

2.Take more walks – walk a mile a day

As Hippocrates said, “Walking is man’s best medicine.”

3. Read for 45 mins every day

“That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving y our feet.”- Jhumpa Lahiri. The perfect way to travel in the pandemic.

4. Explore new hobbies

I will try to be productive in my “Me” time by exploring a new hobby.

5. Become a plant mom

It’s time to adopt and raise a houseplant. There is a blissful feeling when you see your child growing.

6. Invest in the skincare routine

Skinimalism! I am going to invest in a healthy skincare routine and get that glow back. Be Flawsome in every possible way.

7. Explore more eco-friendly options

Switch to an eco-friendly lifestyle and save the planet.

8. Go to bed on time

Because sleep hygiene is imperative for mental and physical health.

9. Declutter mental and physical space

“Get rid of clutter and you may just find it was blocking the door you’ve been looking for.” – Katrina Mayer.

I am looking for that secret door.

10. Support small businesses

The COVID-19 pandemic hit the small businesses hard, it’s time to support and promote them. A little act of kindness goes a long way.

11. Take Safe trips

Travel is on my mind. But safety comes first.

12. Stay in touch

Stop taking friends and family for granted. One positive thing about 2020 is that it brought families together virtually. Staying in touch with loved ones and continuing virtual parties/get together.

13. Learn something new

Nothing excites me more than learning something new. Time to renew my Skillshare subscription!

14. 25 minutes on the clock with no distractions ( Pomodoro technique)

I learned this technique in December 2020, and I am going to exercise it in 2021.

15. Avoid people who complain a lot

Avoiding people is not easy, but sometimes for your mental peace, it is the best thing to do. No hard feeling!

16. Practice mindfulness daily

“The basic root of happiness lies in our minds; outer circumstances are nothing more than adverse or favorable.” – Matthieu Ricard.

This quote says it all.

17. Try new journal activities

There’s a universe of journal prompts and activities. I am planning to try some new trackers like habit tracker. Continue with a 3-minutes-a-day journal routine.

18. Try meal planning

It’s not easy to come up with meal ideas every day. This year I am going to try meal planning.

19. Listen to Fin-spiration podcasts

Moving money in the right direction is important. And financial podcasts are not only informational but also interesting. This year I am going to listen and learn from some financial experts.

20. Learn Basic French

Learning a new language is a challenge that I have subscribed for this year. French – the language of love!

21. Ditch one bad habit

Oh! I hate to procrastinate and this is one bad habit that I need to ditch this year.

Now, it’s time for you to tell me your resolutions for 2021.

Happy New Year!

Lots of Love,

xoxo

19 Best free Apps for kids, Youtube channels, and Websites

November 2, 2020 nyxhit 97 Comments

From free Apps for kids to educational videos on YouTube and websites – with this crazy list expect fun and learning.

Whether your kids are having distance-learning, school-learning, or homeschooling, these educational free Apps for kids, Youtube Channels, and websites are the resources that can reinforce learning in a fun and interactive way.

“You cannot get educated by this self- propagating system in which people study to pass exam, and teach others to pass exam, but nobody knows anything. You learn something by doing it yourself, by asking questions, by thinking and by experimenting.”- Sir Richard Feynman.

Sesame Street is considered to be the watershed moment in children’s learning with television shows. It became the blueprint for all the educational content that came after that. However, in Sesame Street’s early days, the critics of the show argued that the show’s fast-paced content would interfere with a child’s ability to focus and a whole generation of children would develop ADHD. There is still no evidence-backed scientific research to support this.

“ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ. It’s the most remarkable word I’ve ever seen. ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ. I wish I knew exactly what I mean. It starts out like an A word, as anyone can see. But somewhere in the middle, it gets awful “QR” to me. ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ. If I ever find out just what this word can mean, I’ll be the smartest bird the world has ever seen.” — Big Bird, Sesame Street.

It was a research-backed benefit of Sesame Street that led to educational content that is engaging and offers a learning experience. “The results indicated significant positive effects of exposure to the program, aggregated across learning outcomes, and within each of the three outcome categories: cognitive outcomes, including literacy and numeracy; learning about the world, including health and safety knowledge; social reasoning and attitudes toward out-groups.”- Effects of Sesame Street: A meta-analysis of children’s learning in 15 countries

From Smart TV at home to tablets for school, kids are exposed to educational content on electronic and digital media almost all the time. It’s not the technology or the screen time that bother parents – it’s the content and how the child engages with it. For instance, you’d want your child to pick up and read as many books as he wants – unless he/she picks up Fifty Shades of Grey or a hot romance from the library.

The rule of thumb for great educational content are:

1- How engaging the content is?

2- Is it without any distractions? ( Pop up advertisements).

3- Does it have clear learning objectives that build on existing knowledge, and

4- Does it take care of Child’s privacy?

The educational content on digital platforms can enhance the learning experience for kids constructively and interactively. However, it is important to follow certain rules to make it enriching.

1- Make your own media use plan. Get one for yourself, here.

2- Set time limit and encourage outdoor activities

3- No Technology Zones ( e.g bedroom, dining table, etc.)

4- Teach the importance of Digital privacy and the dangers of online predators.

5- Learn about the age-appropriate content on Common Sense Media.

And remember, moderation and discipline is the key.

19 Best free Apps for kids, Youtube channels, and Websites (5-10 years)

Educational Free Apps for kids on ios and android:

Khan Academy Kids: Khan Academy Kids was developed in collaboration with learning experts at Stanford and aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework and Common Core Standards. It’s 100% free with no ads or distractions. Recommended age: 2 to 8 years
Quick Math Jr.: Learn boring maths in an extremely fun and engaging way. Build Number Sense: Practice counting, skip counting, subitizing, ordering numbers, mental arithmetic, formal addition and subtraction, and more. Recommended age: 4 to 8 years
Scratch Jr.: This app introduces young kids coding through simple tasks and involves reasoning and problem-solving skills. There are simple coding tasks that make a character do certain actions like running or jumping. Recommended age: 6 to 8 years
Cyberchase Shape Quest: This app is for kids to learn about shapes, geometry, reasoning, and problem-solving. There are three different fun games with an augmented reality game interface. It only works with tablet devices. Recommended Age: 6 to 8 years.
Duolingo: Kids can learn a foreign language and earn hearts as they go. Recommended age: 8+
Star Walk Kids: This app will teach your kids the basics of astronomy in a simple yet engaging way. Learn about the solar system while playing and having fun. Recommended age: 5-8 years
Princess Fairy Tale Maker: Kids can create their own fairy tales and learn the art of storytelling. Recommended age: 5+ years
Superhero Comic Book Maker: This app is similar to Princess Fairy Tale Maker but it’s for superheroes. Enjoy the art of storytelling. Recommended age: 5+
Leela Kids- Best Audio Content for 3-15 years old: This is a perfect app to introduce kids to the world of podcasts. There are age-appropriate engaging content and get their feedback on the topics they like. Recommended age: 3-15 years

YouTube Channels

YouTube channels can offer immense learning on topics kids want to learn. Unfortunately, Youtube also offers content that is not suitable for kids even though they fall into the category of Kids Channels. With supervision, your kids can learn what they want to learn and engage with the content that’s suitable to their age group. YouTube channels like Super Learning Songs, Little Baby Bum, and Chu Chu TV offers unique learning to younger kids. Here are 5 YouTube Channels that I highly recommend for 5-8 years, old kids.

Kids Learning Tube: Kids Learning Tube publishes weekly sing-a-long videos and covers a wide range of topics from geography, solar system, food and nutrition, fractions, etc.
Preschool Prep Company: The videos in this channel are designed for kids to watch and learn letters, numbers, phonics, digraph, etc.
It’s Aumsum Time: It’s a fun learning channel for anyone who wants to learn new things and find answers to different questions. Topics related to Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics are explained in a fun and engaging way.
The Story Time Family: This channel shares their favorite books and the narrator reads some classic, fun, educational stories that make it interesting for adults too. And there’s always time for some great stories.
Cosmic Kids Yoga: This channel teaches yoga, mindfulness, and relaxation for kids in a simple and engaging way to make the exercise interesting. It’s a perfect way to introduce yoga and mindfulness in a fun and easy way.

Websites for kids

Children can learn something new today and every day. These websites not only offer learning games but also content that can force them to think and reason. Bookmark them for easy access.

National Geographic Kids: It doesn’t matter whether you’re a young explorer or an adult, this website is a fun place to explore animals, habitat, environment, countries, culture and, also, try some cool experiments. There is something for everyone!
Starfall: This is an ad-free website that offers learning games and activities, covering various topics like maths, reading, writing, etc. This is a platform where children can learn through exploration.
Funbrain: Funbrain is created for kids in grades Pre-Kg through 8. It offers games, books, and comics that can develop skills in mathematics and literacy.
Almanac: This is a reference website that contains topics like weather forecasts, gardening, moon phases, recipes, and articles. It can sharpen the reading skills of our young readers.
The Kidz Page: Explore free games, printables, puzzles, coloring pages, etc. They also have holiday-themed educational games and activities that everyone can enjoy.

These are some educational resources that can make learning fun and interesting.

Hope you liked the post.

Lots of love,

xoxo

Monday motivation kit: Nothing will come of nothing

September 23, 2019 nyxhit 24 Comments

I am going to tell you a little secret: Nothing will come of nothing.

Your single dose of Monday motivation.

Isn’t it a clever wordplay by Shakespeare. If we do nothing or make no efforts to achieve our goal, we cannot expect a favorable result for our endeavors. Sometimes we just need a push, especially for a Monday motivation. If you’re in a need of a little boost to encourage you, then you’re on the right page.

Daily affirmations with some gratitude and positivity.

Your very own “Emergency care wall.”

Be Mindful

Get rid of Motivation Killers

Restart your relationship with yourself – Be Flawsome

Daily Brain Dump- Pull out from your mind, put it down on paper

And Finally….remember this!

Do let me know what makes you grow? Rejection, Heartbreak, fear or challenge?

I am kicking off a series next week and would love to hear all your thoughts, ideas, strategies, experiences, etc.

Hope you got some Monday motivation.

Have a great Monday!

xoxo

Don’t look for Monday motivation: Ultimate hacks to beat Monday blues

April 15, 2019 nyxhit 42 Comments

The ‘Monday Blues’ describe a set of negative emotions that many people get at the beginning of the workweek if they’re not happy at work,” says Alexander Kjerulf, an international author and speaker on happiness at work. “It contains elements of depression, tiredness, hopelessness and a sense that work is unpleasant but unavoidable.”- Forbes

Time to say no to the popular hashtag Monday motivation. Use these hacks to beat Monday morning blues!

When Monday Morning rolls around, I tend to get a “little grumpy”, mostly because I’m not sure if I will ever survive waking up at 6 o’clock and look like Beyonce (that’s rare). But here’s the deal. We all face on Monday together and look for Monday motivation. We have to deal with Monday blues after an amazing Sunday or long weekend. But contrary to the belief, Monday can be the best day of the week too. Whether you go for work or you stay at home, there are ways to make your Mondays better. Here are some crazy ways and quotes to survive Monday:

1. Get enough sleep and wake up early

It may sound a little crazy but waking up early is the key to get awesome Monday. Don’t plan anything for Sunday evening, prepare yourself for Monday. Make a crazy list, put on your sleeping mask and get enough sleep. I usually wake up at 6 o’clock in the morning and start my day with a cup of coffee and a book.

2. Dress up

No matter what astrology says but for me Monday is the day to put on my favorite dress, hottest pair of shoes or makeup. When you look good, you feel good. And when you feel good half of the battle on Monday morning is won. You become the magnet to attract positivity and charisma. Having a little more “me time” can lift your mood.

3. Keep your Monday “To-do list” light

Monday is the most hectic day of the week at the office and home. The best strategy is to keep your Monday schedule light and include things that you enjoy doing. Instead of handling complicated and tiresome tasks on Monday, do some interesting work that you look forward to. Sometimes procrastination is not so bad.

4. Listen to your favorite song

Music and mood are best friends. Neuroscience says that listening to music can lower your stress level and anxiety. Make a playlist of songs you enjoy listening and groove to the music. “Someone like you” by Adele is my favorite.But I am sorry I have a girl crush on Beyonce!

5. Read some quotes. It’s a great day for Wisdom!

We all need a daily dose of wisdom and motivation. Quotes and sayings are the types of motivation that not only helps to kick-start your day, but it also pushes you to accomplish your task. So use the hashtag Monday motivation and get your dose.

Here are some of my favorite quotes for this Monday!

“Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs — ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman

It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” – Lou Holtz

“By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands — your own.” – Mark Victor Hansen

“Nothing in the world is ever completely wrong. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.” – Paulo Coelho

“Of course motivation is not permanent. But then, neither is bathing; but it is something you should do on a regular basis.” – Zig Ziglar

“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“People who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”- Rob Siltanen

“You measure the size of the accomplishment by the obstacles you had to overcome to reach your goals.” – Booker T. Washington

“If you look at what you have in life, you’ll always have more. If you look at what you don’t have in life, you’ll never have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey

“Out of all the lies I’ve told, ‘Just Kidding!’ is my favorite.” – Anonymous

I hope you can survive your Monday with these hacks and quotes. Oh, I included some Giphs to get some “Awws”…Happy Monday!

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Are you a minimalist? If not, then check out this post!

Lots of Love

xoxo

QUOTES

De-stress Monday: 17 Quotes to motivate you to practice mindfulness

April 8, 2019 nyxhit 43 Comments

Is your life always on the go? Where does #hashtags exploit our minds vulnerabilities? Are you suffering from Fear Of Missing Something Important (FOMSI)?

Our daily hustle, social approval, and technological interruption can be stressful but having mindfulness could be the only way to have a pleasant and healthy way to live. It’s time to be mindful to De-stress Monday

Mindfulness is the quality of being open to experiences, without being judgemental, criticizing or mind wandering. De-stress Monday to achieve your goals, concentrate on work and be more productive.

“Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different; enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t).” – James Baraz”

Learn 3 ways to make mindfulness meditation a long-lasting habit. Read it here.

There are multiple ways to practice mindfulness but what is important is to follow it regularly. There is no right or wrong way to be mindful. You just need to get off the treadmill of your thoughts and focus on your present.

It doesn’t matter whether you are embracing mindfulness practice or you are an established mindfulness practitioner. Sometimes you need an extra dose of inspiration to continue what you’ve started or about to start.

Here are a few powerful quotes to motivate you to practice Mindfulness to De-stress Monday:

1-“The mind is everything. What you think you become.” – Buddha

2- “Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” – Buddha

3-“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha

4- “Look past your thoughts, so you may drink the pure nectar of This Moment.” – Rumi

5-“Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.” – Mother Teresa

6- “With mindfulness, you can establish yourself in the present in order to touch the wonders of life that are available in that moment.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

7-Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” – Carl Jung

8-“If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.” – William Blake

9- It’s only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth – and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up – that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.” ― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

10- “Mindfulness isn’t difficult, we just need to remember to do it.” ― Sharon Salzberg

11- “Today, like every other day, we wake up empty and frightened. Don’t open the door to the study and begin reading.Take down a musical instrument.” ― Rumi

12- “The basic root of happiness lies in our minds; outer circumstances are nothing more than adverse or favorable.” – Matthieu Ricard

13-“In today’s rush, we all think too much — seek too much — want too much — and forget about the joy of just being.” – Eckhart Tolle

14-“I don’t need anyone else to distract me from myself anymore like I always thought I would.” ― Charlotte Eriksson

15- “Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” -Thich Nhat Hanh

16- “The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness. Mindfulness means being awake. It means knowing what you are doing.”- Jon Kabat-Zinn

17-“Mindfulness is about love and loving life. When you cultivate this love, it gives you clarity and compassion for life, and your actions happen in accordance with that.” Jon Kabat-Zinn

Monday food for thought:

It’s time to De-stress Monday to have healthy mind and soul.

De-stress Monday to be productive at work and mindful of every situation and emotion.

De-stress Monday to align yourself with the goals and objectives.

There are multiple quotes from Buddha to Meditation gurus that can inspire you to be mindful. I hope these quotes have given you food for thought to consider mindfulness exercise or maybe even inspired you to start the practice.

Do let me know which quote in the list inspired you the most? Also, let me know a quote that should have been on the list.

Lots of Love

xoxo

LIFE

3 Ways to make Mindfulness Meditation a long lasting habit

March 25, 2019 nyxhit 68 Comments

Do you know how to tame a critic in your head? Is meditation an answer for a calm and relaxed mind?

We all have a fierce monologue that rambles non-stop, every day and never going on a snooze mode. It makes you miserable, anxious and scared of your own thoughts. Sometimes you need to sit lonely on the floor in a quiet room in order to hear yourself from a totally new perspective. The first step towards a mindful life is to not let yourself drown in the noise of others as it can distract you from yourself. This can be done only when you do exercise for your mind – meditation.

Last year, I found myself affected by all the conundrum around me, I realized that I stopped looking at myself both physically, mentally and spiritually. Somewhere I lost the connect I had with myself and my surroundings. I wasn’t clinically depressed or entrapped in the spiral of anxiety but I was standing on the edge. The only prescription Dr. Google could provide me was a psychology jargon “Practice Mindfulness” to tame my mind.

So, I researched more on Google to understand the concept of mindfulness and meditation. After some time, I found enough in-depth guides on how I should meditate to reap its benefits.

What is Mindfulness?

“Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different; enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t).” – James Baraz”

Mindfulness is the quality of being open to experiences, without being judgemental, criticizing or mind wandering.

Mindfulness meditation is like an exercise for your mind. The more you exercise, the stronger it gets and the more it can expand.

Meditation

Basic meditation is not a very difficult practice and you really don’t need a master to teach you. There is a plethora of information available to make you stick to a plan.

a) Find a quiet place to sit.

b) Focus on your breath.

c) When your mind wanders, bring attention back to the breath.

d) Rinse. Repeat.

It is a simple practice but the key to meditating effectively is doing it every single day. This is where I struggled and most of us as a beginner struggle.

It doesn’t require a huge time investment.

Just 5 minutes.

But the struggle is real. I couldn’t even take out 5 minutes to concentrate on an activity that can help me overcome stress, improve focus and get clarity of mind.

I subscribed for newsletters, apps and read a lot of material available on the internet. And then finally searched for a master to help me conquer my mind. This required not only time investment but also huge monetary commitment too.

Just recently, my friend approached me and asked me to try an app to restart the practice. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to download a new app to start meditating regularly to experience the benefits.

But it helped!

HOW TO MAKE MEDITATION A HABIT?

Eat. Sleep. Meditate. Repeat

It is as simple as it sounds. But the key to being successful at anything in life is repetition. You have to do a task thousand time to master it.

Step 1: Set up a goal.

I started with 2-minutes every day as I found it easy to concentrate for that short duration. I would advise you to not exceed more than 3-minutes if you are a beginner. Reward yourself after you finish the session.

Every minute or two, I would find myself lost in thought: what will I make for lunch, next blog post, a funny scene from a movie. At first, distraction is inevitable but the idea is to focus again. I read somewhere

“Your mind is like a kindergarten class, and meditating is like trying to get your thoughts to take a nap. If one wakes up, tell them gently to go back to sleep. If your mind thinks, ‘But you have a to-do list!’ just say shhhh.”

Focus, distraction; focus, distraction.

When you want to form a habit, consistency is the key. It doesn’t matter how you perform, what matters is that you come back the next day without fail.

You can always set the goal higher once the habit is formed. Don’t worry if you miss a day…come back and resume the practice!

Step 2: Design your environment

Why do you think that meditation centers are a big success?

One of the key reasons for their success is the environment design. The calm environment, the soothing music, a color theme to help you relax and surrounding to calibrate your mind to shape human behavior.

Find a place that has a calming effect on you, free from distractions.

In this digital universe, we tend to easily get distracted with social-media notifications, news feeds, and e-mails. Easy solution: Put your phone on DND mode or Aeroplane mode or disconnect internet

Design your environment to tempt you to sit down for meditation.

Step 3: Download an App

I like the app Headspace, and I have heard great things about Strive Minutes – Simple Meditation Timer with Sync. I started using Strive Minutes – Simple Meditation Timer as I wanted a timer that tracks my activities and works toward setting a meditation habit. I love its minimalist design and features that make it distraction free. It is a non-guided meditation app to help you learn meditation at your own pace.

The Minutes Timer gives you the facility to:

Track and work upon your meditation habit
Sync data seamlessly on multiple android devices and never lose your session history
A distraction-free meditation session
An option to set your meditation time as short or as long as you need it to be.
A preparation interval before the start of each session
Option to track meditation duration beyond the set time. If you choose to continue your session beyond the closing chime, you will have the option to add the extra minutes to your session stats.
Simple, clean interface and visuals
Set a default meditation duration
A statistics page that tracks your streaks and all-time best sessions to keep you motivated
Start and end your meditations with a beautiful Tibetan gong, no other distractions or voice-overs

After using this App for 20 days, I could easily increase my meditation time to 20 minutes.

DND mode helps you get rid of any distraction coming from your digital space.

There are times when you will miss a day…don’t worry! The idea is to resume your practice and make it a habit.

You can follow Strive Minutes – Simple Meditation Timer on Instagram, here.

You can download the Strive Minutes – Simple Meditation Timer App, here.

By now, you know everything that you basically need to make meditation your habit. There is no right or wrong way of meditation but it’s important to find a practice that meets your need and becomes a habit. In the end, I am still in a learning mode and I would like to keep practicing meditation. I am fully convinced that after close to a month of dedicated meditation, I feel so relaxed and mindful.

Have a wonderful week ahead! Get some Monday Motivation here.

See you on Wednesday!

Lots of love

xoxo

LIFE

Flawsome! : 7 Awesome ways to be a genius despite having flaws

February 19, 2018 nyxhit 92 Comments

Flawsome is the new awesome!

We all want to be awesome. But how can we possibly feel awesome if we’re constantly concentrating on our flaws? Flaws are an integral part of our existence, some are visible and some are not. We don’t know how to feel good and co-exist with our flaws, that’s a problem. Learn to be flawsome!

Have you heard the awesome story “The Cracked Pot”!

A Water Bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One pot had a crack in it, and the other pot was perfect. The perfect pot delivered full water at the end of the long walk from the stream to his house. The cracked pot, on the other hand, arrived only half full. This continued for a very long time.

The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishment, but the cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection. After two years of what it perceived to be a failure, it spoke to his Master, “I am ashamed of myself, I want to apologize to disappoint you.”

“Why?” asked his Master. “Why are you disappointed?”

“I’m ashamed of myself because this crack in my side causes water to leak all the way back to your house. Because of my flaws, you do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot said.

The Water Bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion, he said, “As we return to the house, did you notice the beautiful flowers along the path.” The cracked pot instantly noticed beautiful flowers on the side of the path. “Now, look at the other pot’s side. There were flowers only on your side of your path because I have always known about your flaws. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years, I have decorated flowers on my table. Your imperfection made it possible.”

The cracked pot was Flawsome!

How to be awesome despite having flaws!

Being Flawsome isn’t going to happen overnight. It takes immense work, dedication and will to learn/unlearn. But practicing self-acceptance will give you everlasting happiness. Self-acceptance isn’t going to happen overnight. It takes extensive work and considerable dedication. But learning how to love yourself right and treat yourself well can impact the way you live your life and the things you’re able to accomplish. I know I am awesome, but it won’t do any good till I don’t shun the voices that let me down. When I accepted my flaws, I became flawsome.

In a New York Times interview, Clifford Nass – a professor of communications at Stanford University – explains, “Negative emotions generally require more thinking, and the information is processed more thoroughly than positive ones.” The extra brain power that’s required to process negative emotions means we spend more time contemplating the bad stuff and less time on the good stuff. – Huffington Post

Here are seven ways to kickstart your journey to be Flawsome:

Believe in yourself

The ability to believe in yourself is the key to success. It is important that you trust your dreams and decisions, regardless of what others say. You will find many critics in your life. Absorb constructive criticism and work on it but don’t let projected criticism affect you.

“Don’t waste your energy trying to change opinions … do your thing, and don’t care if they like it.” –Tina Fey

“Don’t waste your energy trying to change opinions … do your thing, and don’t care if they like it.” –Tina Fey

Celebrate your strengths

I have realized that we tend to spend most of our time and energy on focusing our weaknesses compared to our positive traits. It can be because of the self-esteem that’s breeding inside our mind or it can be a result of the constant comparison. It is extremely important to identify and focus on your strength and outsource or ask for help regarding the areas which you consider as your weakness. Stop comparing yourself. Be positive.

“Accept yourself, your strengths, your weaknesses, your truths, and know what tools you have to fulfill your promises.” – Steve Maraboli

“Accept yourself, your strengths, your weaknesses, your truths, and know what tools you have to fulfill your promises.” – Steve Maraboli

Practice Gratitude

I read something worth a thought last week and I still couldn’t take it out of my mind. “Science indicates that the human brain has a negativity bias, which means, according to psychologist Rick Hanson, Ph.D., “the brain is like Velcro for negative experiences but Teflon for positive ones.” Because of this bias, you need to intentionally create a high ratio of positive events to negative events.”- The Chopra Center

Gratitude has the endless health benefits. It gives you a sense of belonging and also, allows you to feed your brain with some positive thoughts. Take a break from your busy life and notice things you’re thankful for. It’s not difficult to infuse gratitude into your life and take stock of all the positive things in life.

The brain is like Velcro for negative experiences but Teflon for positive ones.

Accept imperfection

Perfection is an illusion. Don’t try to fit the mold of “Perfection”. Embrace your value, your talent and be confident in your skin. True confidence lies deep within our skin and not from what’s on the outside. When you accept yourself, you look your true identity. When you look only at your imperfections and downplay other aspects, you ignore your true-worth.

Confront your fears

When we are moving towards our dreams, fear of failure is inevitable and logical. We have two choices: we can let it prevent us from fulfilling our goal or we can use it to boost our motivation. Fear of failure has a twin sister – procrastination. This not only kills valuable time but also affects our approach towards fear. You don’t have to immediately defeat your fear. Use it in your brainstorming session and find a solution to your fear. Face your fear!

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill.

Forgive but don’t Forget

Forgiving is not a synonym of forgetting. Forgiving is like accepting what happened and forgetting loses the lesson. Which obviously we don’t want!

Don’t hold a grudge. Just let it go!

“Forgive but do not forget, or you will be hurt again. Forgiving changes, the perspectives. Forgetting loses the lesson.”- Paulo Coelho

Let Go toxic people

Negative people have only one goal in mind- to bring you down. They will tell you 99 reasons why you can’t achieve your goals or drag you down to their level. Sometimes it is easier to find faults in others than fixing the faults in their own life. They have a problem with every solution. Stay away from toxic people.

“The worst person to be around is someone who complains about everything and appreciates nothing.”

You don’t have to be awesome, you have to be flawsome to reach your personal and professional goals.

Sometimes we are Awesome because of our flaws. What are the flaws that make you awesome? Are you flawsome?

Share your thoughts.

Lots of love,

xoxo

QUOTES

17 Quotes to help you take tough life and business decisions

November 27, 2017 nyxhit 28 Comments

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” — Lao Tzu

It is a simple straightforward quote and yet, it is so complicated. At first glance, it seems that Lao Tzu is trying to explain that great things start from humble beginnings. It starts with the first step you take towards your dream. Once you know your destination, you have a clear vision and objective, lift one foot in front and embark on your journey. Whooosh!

But is it that simple?

Never

Even when a baby takes his first step, it is never physical. It is entirely mental. The first step is always a decision taken on the basis of your mental strength, risk analysis, and determination to achieve your goal.

“Decision is the ultimate power.”- Tony Robbins

The reason that decisions have so much power is that they make us the author of our story. I have seen people feeling frustrated and depressed because either they don’t take their own decisions or they believe that they have lost control of their situation.

A decision to act. A decision to commit. A decision to take action and responsibility.

I had to make a tough decision once. It was between choosing a corporate life or staying at home and take care of my daughter. I took a decision of venturing on my own and it seems like a big responsibility but it also gives a sense of pride – I took a decision. If you are faced with the similar dilemma then these quotes will definitely help. “When making a tough business decision, this is my No. 1 piece of advice: Be true to yourself.”

“Sir, What is the secret of your success?” a reporter asked a bank president.
“Two words.”
“And, sir, what are they?”
“Good decisions.”
“And how do you make good decisions?”
“One word.”
“And sir, what is that?”
“Experience.”
“And how do you get Experience?”
“Two words.”
“And, sir, what are they?”
“Bad decisions.”
– Unknown author

“Using the power of decision gives you the capacity to get past any excuse to change any and every part of your life in an instant.”- Anthony Robbins

“I found every single successful person I’ve ever spoken to had a turning point. The turning point was when they made a clear, specific unequivocal decision that they were going to achieve success. Some people make that decision at 15 and some people make it at 50, and most people never make it at all.” – Brian Tracey

“Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson

“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.” – Paulo Coelho

“Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.” —Keri Russell

“When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal. If you give up before your goal has been reached, you are a ‘quitter’. A quitter never wins, and a winner never quits.” – Napoleon Hill

“It doesn’t matter which side of the fence you get off on sometimes. What matters most is getting off. You cannot make progress without making decisions.” —Jim Rohn

“Life is about choices. Some we regret, some we’re proud of. Some will haunt us forever. The message: we are what we chose to be.” —Graham Brown

“When you live in reaction, you give your power away. Then you get to experience what you gave your power to.”- N. Smith

“The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.”- Sun Tzu

“Decision is a sharp knife that cuts clean and straight; indecision, a dull one that hacks and tears and leaves ragged edges behind it.” – Gordon Graham

“Where there is no decision there is no life.”- JJ Dewey

“Choices are the hinges of destiny.” – Pythagoras

“When you cannot make up your mind which of two evenly balanced courses of action you should take – choose the bolder.” – William Joseph Slim

“The worst business decision you can make is no decision. The needs are not going to go away. Waiting is whats gotten us in the situation we’re in now.” – John Peace

Every decision we make has a reference point that can help in guiding you. It is imperative to look closely at reference points and follow your gut. And if you face the fear of failure, then read these quotes and move ahead.

Lots of love!

xoxo

FASHION & BEAUTY

Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Smoothing Shampoo and Leave-in Conditioner Review

November 12, 2017 nyxhit 59 Comments

Are you in pursuit of soft, smooth, shiny and frizz-free hair? Can Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Smoothing shampoo and leave-in conditioner tame tangled and frizzy hair? Read my in-depth review.

“A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life. “- Coco Chanel.This is one quote that I strongly feel speaks my mind. I am obsessed with my hair – it’s my favorite jewelry. I keep changing my style so that I can take control and change the flow of my life.

I have chemically treated my hair, played with my hair length, coloring and used heat to make it straight or curly. But after moving to Dubai, my hair became unruly, frizzy and dry. My heartbeat slows down whenever I comb my hair. I am scared of HAIRFALL! I think my relationship with my hair is terribly personal as it brings my entire existence into focus. So, it is very important for me to take good care of my hair all the time. For over a fortnight now, I have been using Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Hair Products with Jamaican Black Castor oil – Olive Oil Smoothing Shampoo and Olive Oil Leave-in Conditioner. I used it for a long time before writing this review so that I can be sure of what I say.

I just tried celeb hair dye trend, Balayage, to get that dreamy, lust-worthy and sun-kissed hair. I know…it sounds cheesy but I love my new hairstyle 😉

My relationship with Palmer’s is not all that different than relationships with people. It all started during my pregnancy when I started using their Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for stretch marks and then I used Palmer’s baby products. I love Palmer’s Prenatal, postnatal, and baby care products.

What is the company behind the revolutionary Palmer’s brand?

“E.T. Browne Drug Company is one of the longest standing proprietors of skin and hair care products in the United States. The company has been family owned since the middle of the nineteenth century and has been under the current ownership since 1971. E.T. Browne Drug Company has been headquartered in New Jersey for over 50 years. Under the current ownership, the revolutionary brand Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula was created and introduced to the world.” –

What is Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Smoothing Shampoo?

Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Smoothing Shampoo is enriched with a unique blend of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Hair Keratin Amino Acids, and Vitamin E.

Key Ingredients:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Olive oil has been used for centuries as a natural conditioner. It locks in moisture and preventing dryness of the scalp, it can make hair soft, smooth and shiny.

Vitamin E: It is an antioxidant that helps repair and build tissue. It helps reduce inflammation and repair damage to the follicles, and healthy follicles encourage hair growth.

Keratin: Keratin is the protein found naturally in hair strands, which gives hair its structure. It can help with hair thickness too.

Jamaican Black Castor Oil: It is rich in Omega-9 fatty acids that moisturize the scalp and prevent hair from drying out. It is an effective remedy to control hair fall.

My Thoughts:

Washing hair too frequently can result in a loss of natural oils that are required to hydrate and nourish. This shampoo instantly moisturizes, hydrate and nourish hair. It is light and has a citric fragrance which is not strong. I use it 2-3 times a week and it instantly revives my hair. If you wish to tame unruly and frizzy hair then this shampoo will not disappoint you. It instantly moisturizes your hair and makes it softer and smoother. This shampoo is not for you if you have fine/straight hair as it would be too moisturizing. But if you have thick and coarse hair which needs a kick of moisture then you’ll love this shampoo.

As far as packaging is concerned, it is quite sleek and simple but that’s what appeals me the most.

What is Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Strengthening Leave-In Conditioner?

Palmer’s® Olive Oil Formula® Leave-In Conditioner detangles strands, reduce fly-aways, tame frizz and it’s a lightweight spray. It gives an extra punch of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Vitamin E, Keratin and Silk proteins. I use it daily to add shine and less frizz.

My Thoughts:

Where hast thou been? I’ll give thee a crown. This is one product that I strongly feel can easily enter in Top 10 Leave-in conditioners of 2017. ? As I told you, I have thick, dry and coarse hair that frizzes – it makes my life difficult. I would take time to get ready and most of the time I am in a rush so it is difficult to take out time and set hair. This lightweight spray helps control frizz and makes hair soft and manageable. I keep it in my bag so that whenever I see frizz I just spray and set my hair. I am going to stick to this product for long. This is a “BOMB”.

Special Note:

These products have no Sulfates, no Parabens, no Phthalates, no Mineral Oil, no Gluten and no Dyes. Also, Palmer’s is against animal testing so these are cruelty-free products.

Where can you find it?

Palmer’s Haircare Range is available in U.A.E in selected Boots Pharmacies: Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall, Al Barsha, Mirdif City Centre, Deira City Centre, Al Wahda Mall. Prices starting from AED 32

You can easily find Palmer’s products in mass merchandise stores, drug stores, beauty supply stores, supermarkets and online shopping websites.

Final Verdict:

Overall, Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Smoothing Shampoo and Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Leave-In Conditioner is a good product worth trying. However, it is not for people having fine and straight hair as it would be too moisturizing. It will definitely help you tame unruly and frizzy hair. My hair is definitely softer, smoother and shinier after using it. And the winning stroke is the price point – affordable and effective. I, highly recommend it to anyone who is tired of dealing with tangled and frizzy hair.

Have you tried Palmer’s haircare range? What are your thoughts? Also, please share your favorite hair product.

I know…it’s Monday so here are 5 ultimate hacks to kick Monday morning blue. Read it here.

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to stay connected.

Disclosure: I am Palmer’s Brand Ambassador and I received these products for honest review. I tested this product for a while before writing this review.

7 Inspirational Quotes to kickstart morning routine

September 18, 2017 nyxhit 117 Comments

What do you think is the morning routine of some of the most celebrated entrepreneurs and successful executives? Have you ever wondered what are an integral part of their morning routine?

Things like exercise, journaling, and making crazy lists of priorities and meetings- kickstart day to a productive and focused start.

I am sure there isn’t any perfect morning routine as it depends on what works best for you. These days I am slowly getting involved in the world’s oldest holistic healing science, Ayurveda. I have started focusing on Ritucharya ( Seasonal routine; adapting to the effect of the changes in the season) and Dincharya (Daily Routine). A daily routine is absolutely necessary to bring radical change in body, mind, and consciousness. Reading quotes and inspirational stories is one of the many things I have embedded in it.

Here are seven quotes, for every day of the next week, to make your day productive.

Monday

“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” – Henry David Thoreau

Set your goals, write them, communicate them and start working towards them. You just need to put the foundation under them. It’s time to make them tangible

Tuesday

“Be practical as well as generous in your ideas. Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground.” – Theodore Roosevelt

If you believe in your dreams, you can achieve it. Be practical. You must have set your target and started working towards them. But it is equally important to deal with the circumstances and changes to reach the stars.

Wednesday

“A goal without a timeline is just a dream.” – Robert Herjavec

Every goal must have a deadline. It is important to review your progress and identify what is going wrong or what can be done to improve your performance. Don’t just dream, work on it.

Thursday

“Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.” – Jack Ma

Never. Never. Never, give up! Just focus on your goal and find a way to achieve it. Work on your strengths and opportunities and identify the threats and weaknesses. Learn from your failures but never quit.

Friday

“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.” – Maya Angelou

Don’t make money your goal. If you achieve it, you will have the fear of losing it. If you don’t achieve it, you will consider yourself a failure. Being successful at what you love doing is a true accomplishment. You will always be happy and content.

Saturday

“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook — try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless and above all have fun!” – Julia Child

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Learning is the only constant thing in this ever-changing world. Keeping up with the changes in your business, industry and the world around you makes it easier for you to develop new strategies and gain insights. Don’t forget to have fun!

Sunday

“To live a fulfilled life, we need to keep creating the “what is next”, of our lives. Without dreams and goals there is no living, only merely existing, and that is not why we are here.” – Mark Twain

What’s next? Prepare yourself for next challenge and spread your knowledge to the world.

What is your Dincharya (Morning routine)? What is the first thing you do in the morning?

Get some Monday motivation to kickstart your week with a Lego story, here.

Lots of love

xoxo

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