Declutter Your Space To Clear Your Mind

An interesting study published by the Princeton Neuroscience Institute highlighted that “having multiple visual stimuli present within range of one’s view will result in those stimuli competing for neural representation”. In simplest terms, you are likely to get distracted when you are working in a messy place.

Clearing your mind may not solely rely on your working environment but, it is a good start. Here are some tips to efficiently declutter your space:

IS YOUR TIME UP?

When you are faced with a task, you typically focus on the deadline. A deadline gives you a tangible quantity of time to complete your task. Apply the same ideal to your home.

How much time can you spare to organize your flat? Pick a space or a corner that you can realistically declutter within the given time frame. You do not want to end up with a larger mess than what you have started with!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Designate a specific day of the week as your “Cleaning Day”. My sister and I sets aside a portion of our weekends to cleaning the house. We drop either our Saturdays or Sundays to mop the floors, change the sheets, wipe the corners, and change the towels. This habit inspires us to continue a healthy routine throughout the coming week.

ADDING INSULT TO INJURY

By buying more items beyond your household needs, you are making a displeasing matter worse. Keep clutter into a minimum by tossing or by donating these things aside. Prevent impulse purchases by asking your trusted partner or friend for advise.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

As I was about to sleep last night, I reflected upon my to-do list. I was determined to finish a single task to shorten the list. This made me adamant to organize my clothes before sleeping. Finding this glistening motivation helped me achieve the task. I was able to collate a donation pile too!

Find something or someone that will motivate you to clean your space. For instance, you may play your favorite songs or audiobooks while cleaning.

TAKE EVERYTHING OUT

Starting with a fresh slate helps you to rigorously declutter your space. You need to know what items or products you own by taking everything out. Last night, I discovered several clothing articles that I have owned since 2011. It is embarrassing to see how many holes some of these clothes have. Needless to say, most were transported to the donation pile.

Once everything is out in the open, you can wipe the shelves and dust the corners. It will be easier to determine what you want to toss and to keep too.

USING APPROPRIATE LABELS

Putting labels on everything is one of the reasons why I do not get lost at my boss’ office. Labels are utterly useful when multiple people utilize a common area.

You see, labelling your household storages allows your family to know where each item will go. They do not need to pull out random boxes (and make a mess) while searching for an item! You simply have to put chalkboard or paper labels throughout your space.

ARE YOU DRESSING THE PART?

Contrary to popular belief, professional cleaners do not stay updated with the latest cleaning gadgets found at the TV infomercials. Professional cleaners opt for comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes instead. You may also wear knee pads to spare your knees from potential bruises. Furthermore, you may protect your hands against harmful chemicals by wearing gloves.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

My mother’s sensitive skin is aided by all-natural solutions such as the Castile soap. Castile soap is a versatile product that you can use as a body wash, a laundry detergent, and a dish-washing liquid. Search the renowned “Dr. Bronner’s Organic Pure Castile Liquid Soap” to be educated about the hype.

Sources: 1,  2, & 3

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Consequence of breaking your trading rules

We know you have been a naughty boy and you want to break your trading routine. The hardest thing of our lives is the best thing that can happen to us and we always want to break it. You can remember how hard it was for your parents to send you to the school. You will have all the sicknesses of the world and still, your daunting mother sent you off to school. Trading in Forex can be boring sometime and you will need a change. Many people try to make that change by not following their routine and the result is not sweet. If you are wondering in your mind and want to know what will happen when you do not follow the routine you have made for your trade, this article will tell you what will happen to your routine.

Discipline is the key to success

In any profession, you need to show a great deal of patience to become successful. When it comes to Forex trading there is no other alternative to discipline. The majority of the senior traders in Singapore are extremely discipline and for this reason, they are able to make a consistent profit. Unlike them, the novice traders are always breaking their rules and losing money. If you look at the success rate among the traders in Singapore you will be surprised to know that most of them are doing relatively well in the investment business. This is only because they always follow the key rule investment. They are never taking any excessive risk neither they are dealing with the market with emotions.

Emotions can easily ruin your trading career and you can do nothing about it. You need to learn to control your emotion by demo trading account for at least six months. If you can successfully demo trade the market, it’s time for you to start trading with your real money. But always remember, discipline is the key to success in Forex trading. Read books about trading psychology since it will greatly help you to become a better trader.

You will get unorganized

The first thing that you will see in your career that you will get unorganized. A routine does not improve a trader but it helps to keep organized. If you know what you are going to do when you have finished brushing your tooth, it will be much easier for you to keep track on your daily works. If you break your routine and do what you want, you may not do something important. When you will break your routine, you will get unorganized and you will make losses. You will analyze the market sometime and sometime you will trade with your mind and you cannot expect that you will make a profit with this trading.

Profit will be harder to make

When you are unorganized in your trades, the profit will not come to you. You have to trade the market with the same routine every day and when you do not do that, you will be trading on a hinge. Following your routine is the right thing to do in Forex and when you break it, you do not make the profit. Traders are always saying to develop your routine and following it every day. This is why it is important for you never to break your routine.

Your career will not improve

Every trader wants to improve their career and it is not possible if you are trading without routine. Always keep a routine and follow it whatever happens. You may not make profit always but you will build consistency in your trading. The successful trader never breaks their trading routine and this is why they are consistent in their career. It is not possible to advance in your career if your routine is not followed. Never break your routine and trade the market with it and you will be successful.

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4 Steps To Overcome Family-Related Money Problems

The extent of your economic slowdown may vary from eating out less to changing your living conditions. Parents may not have enough money to put toward rent or school fees. These financial problems can take a toll on one’s mental and physical health. Thus, overcoming said hurdles is important.

To tackle these family-centered issues head-on, you must start with these four steps:

#1: DETERMINE THE ISSUE/S

It goes without saying that it is difficult to defeat the enemies that you cannot see. Try asking the ninjas! Similarly, how can you find solutions to a problem that you are not aware of?

Thus, the first step to overcoming family-related money problems is to identify the underlying issues. Financial problems are usually parts of a larger issue. Here are some common issues that you may think about:

a. Newborn (of first-time parents)
b. Unemployment
c. Addiction / Substance Abuse
d. Divorce

#2: OPEN THE COMMUNICATION STREAMS

As a child who sees his or her parents fighting constantly about money, talking about your worries can help. Find an appropriate time to discuss about the financial matters with your parents. If you cannot approach them right now, you may lean on a trusted friend or a credible counselor.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Do not hesitate to seek for professional help if the need arises.

#3: RANK YOUR FINANCIAL PRIORITIES

After addressing your triggers, it is best to create a path towards active resolution. Begin by writing down and ranking your financial priorities. Some may be as direct as paying off your credit card bills. While, others may focus on your lifestyle goals such as repairing your aesthetically pleasing home.

Nevertheless, it is important to create a realistic budget suited to controlling your financial problems.

#4: CREATE A SAFETY NET

The future of your wealth is up to you! As the above steps have illustrated, you must review your current financial circumstance and create a straightforward path. To prevent further damage or cushion unforeseen events, consider cultivating an emergency fund.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Families are recommended to have a sufficient amount worth at least 6 months of your income. Do not rely solely on credit cards for emergencies!

Sources: 1 &  2

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Protect Your Dream Home And The Contents You Value Most

Buying a home is often considered a big-ticket item purchase. It is also not uncommon to spend tens of thousands of dollars to renovate the house to bring it to the ideal living conditions. Having incurred such vast amounts of money on renovation and the purchase of new furniture, it is only prudent to protect them with comprehensive home contents insurance. A home contents insurance offers protection against physical loss of or damage to household contents and renovation.  Despite its importance, home contents insurance is often not purchased owing to common misconceptions about the coverage and the cost.

Dangerous Misconceptions

Majority of home owners believes that the basic fire insurance plans that they have purchased cover for everything. Add to the fact that they are often compulsory tends to lull home owners into a false sense of security. However, this cannot be further away from the truth. Basic fire insurance plans only cover for damage to the structure of the building. It is strictly a basic cover that does not insure home contents. In other words, the furniture, cost of renovation and personal belongings inside the homes are omitted.

Another common misconception amongst owners is to think that they will not suffer the misfortune of accidents happening to their homes. While a fire may not break out too often, burst water pipes or short circuiting of electrical appliances are actually not uncommon occurrences in a household. Although these typically only lead to localized damage in parts of the house, the cost needed to restore to the original state could turn out to be quite substantial. In trying to save the annual premiums on home contents insurance, such home owners could end up being penny wise and pound foolish.

The All-Encompassing GreatHome Distributed By OCBC Bank

To ensure that your cherished home gets the protection that it deserves, OCBC Bank is distributing the all-encompassing GreatHome insurance policy. GreatHome is a home contents insurance policy with an extensive coverage over renovation, home contents, personal liability, and personal accident. It complements fire insurance plans well since GreatHome covers the content and renovation while fire insurance plans cover the structure of the home. The personal legal liability clause covers for expenses or property damage caused by any of the household members, including live-in domestic helpers, up to a sum of S$750,000 under its Starter Plan.  Other helpful benefits include reimbursement for the cost of alternative accommodation when the insured property is undergoing repair. This reimbursement provides home-owners with a peace of mind during this trying period.

In addition, GreatHome is also competitively priced to provide great value for money. Home-owners get covered for their household contents and renovations for up to $75,000 from just S$128 for a 1-year Starter Plan. It gets even better as OCBC is promising home-owners mega savings with generous discounts on the premiums of GreatHome.

Discount On Premiums

OCBC is offering a discount on its premiums. From now till 31 December 2018, home-owners who apply for a GreatHome 1-year Starter Plan will receive $30 off the original S$128. The discounts get higher if home-owners elect for more comprehensive coverage for their cherished homes.

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As GreatHome has demonstrated, insuring the contents of your home costs very little and requires little effort with its auto-renewal option. It is a great complement to your existing home fire insurance to provide complete coverage for your cherished home. Visit www.ocbc.com/greathome to find out more!

GreatHome is underwritten by Great Eastern General Insurance Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Eastern Holdings Limited and member of the OCBC Group. GreatHome is not a bank deposit or obligation of, or guaranteed by OCBC Bank.

Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme

This plan is protected under the Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme which is administered by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC). Coverage for your policy is automatic and no further action is required from you. For more information on the types of benefits that are covered under the scheme as well as the limits of coverage, where applicable, please contact us or visit the General Insurance Association (GIA) or SDIC websites (www.gia.org.sg or www.sdic.org.sg).

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Exotic and Affordable Dishes In Singapore

Let me paint a common scenario in this day and age. One unsuspecting click to a single headline or YouTube video leads to another. It happens to the best of us! This rabbit hole of wonders led me to a video featuring celebrity’s favorite dishes. As it turns out, singer The Weeknd finds comfort in “Siga Wat”. Siga Wat is a traditional Ethiopian dish made with a spicy beef stew and a side-dish (e.g., bread).

Image Credits: The Come Up Show via flickr.com

Hearing about this dish opened my mind to other exotic dishes in the international scene. How adventurous are Singaporeans when it comes to their food? Well, many are eager to explore new things. On that note, here are deliciously exotic dishes that are under S$30.

#1: BRAISED SEA CUCUMBER WITH CHINESE MUSHROOM (S$26)

I was first introduced to the sea cucumber in my Biology class. My lecturer highlighted that sea cucumbers are marine animals from the animal class of Holothuroidea. It has a strong anti-inflammatory effects, which may help alleviate pain in patients suffering from tendonitis and arthritis. Furthermore, historical Chinese beliefs considered it as an aphrodisiac due to its resemblance to the male’s genitalia.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sea cucumbers are eaten either fresh or dried up. Whichever way they are prepared, it has little to no taste and has a “fishy” smell. It is also rich in sand. A casual Cantonese restaurant in Singapore carries a dish that places it as their star. Cafe De Hong Kong serves Braised Sea Cucumber with Chinese Mushroom for S$26. Feel free to give it a try!

Location: 586 Balestier Road #01-01 Eastpac Building, Singapore 329898
Website: facebook.com/Cafe-De-Hong-Kong-48893444221

#2: CAUSA DEL MAR (S$19)

Contrary to popular belief, Peru holds more jewels aside from the renowned Machu Picchu! Its Peruvian cuisine fuses the Inca’s indigenous practices as well as the immigrant’s varied practices (i.e., immigrants from Asia, West Africa, and Europe). Corn and potatoes are staples to their dishes.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Taste authentic Peruvian dishes as you climb a vibrant rooftop joint – the Tiger’s Milk. Tiger’s Milk got its name after the traditional citrus-based marinade called “Leche de Tigre”. You must try the Causa Del Mar dish, which is a multicoloured potato-based starter filled with prawns, octopus, and avocado. Interesting combination, right?

Location: The Club, 28 Ann Siang Rd, Singapore 069708
Website: facebook.com/tigersmilksingapore

#3: GOBI MANCHURIAN (S$14.20) & STEAMED VEGETABLE MOMOS (S$9.80)

Centuries ago, the Chinese and Tibetans migrated to Bengal. The multicultural interactions brought dishes ranging from sweet to sour. Fifth Season Tangra Chinese is perfect for people who are deeply interested to witness the flavor play of Indian, Chinese, and Tibetan cuisine. The restaurant includes award-winning dishes such as the Tibetan Momos.

Image Credits: fifthseason.com.sg

Steamed vegetable momos consists of dumplings stuffed with minced vegetable. It is served with a special chili that is roasted in tomato sauce. Another exotic dish is Gobi Manchurian. It consists of crisp cauliflowers seasoned with garlic, ginger, and soy sauce. These dishes only prove that the restaurant will have you satiated with its extensive repertoire.

Location: 28 Race Course Road, Singapore 218550
Website: www.fifthseason.com.sg

Image Credits: Charles Haynes via flickr.com

“Exotic food is a term that is applied to culinary items which are considered unusual, novel, or taboo from the perspective of an individual’s native culture.” I, for one, am not afraid to try exciting and eccentric flavors. Some of the weirdest things that I have tried are Balut, crickets, frog’s legs, June beetles, and chicken’s intestines. Balut was my favorite among this exotic group.

How about you? How adventurous are you when it comes to food? Have you ever tasted or heard any of these dishes? Do not be shy to leave a comment below!

Sources: 1 & 2

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