Guide to Stop Feeling Fatigue

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Modern day culture and American culture in particular stresses hard work and long hours. We need only look at the bustling American economy to see the fruits of our labor. And what does it take to work so hard? More energy.

Fighting Fatigue

The number one thing that can hold us back from working longer is fatigue. Fatigue can be a sign of exhaustion; sometimes all we need to do is take a 15 minute cat nap in the afternoon to help energize us.

Drink More Water

Dehydration can contribute to fatigue. If your feeling tired, coffee can help but coffee can also be the culprit in causing dehydration. Next time you feel fatigued, drink 2-3 glasses of water and you’ll notice a quick pick me up.

Quick Exercises

Go out for a short brisk walk, the combination of walking and a burst of fresh air is sure to reignite your alertness.

Stimulate More Adrenaline

Adrenaline is what gives us that flight or fight rush. Even though we don’t want something so exhilarating, a little stimulation to the adrenal gland can go a long way in fighting fatigue. Open either one of your hands and about 1 inch below your middle finger, there is a round bone. Rub it in circle motions for 20-30 seconds at a time in each hand and this should pump more adrenaline.

Sleep

Finally, if you are feeling fatigue all the time it usually can be remedied by sleeping more.

Set It and Forget It Investing

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If you are like me, you have enough to do everyday and following the stock market just doesn’t fit into that schedule. Having a basic understanding of investments can provide you with a nice retirement fund or mutual find account. Below, I will outline the two funds which have provided me with an 11% average return over the last 7 years.

In the year 2000, just before the infamous dot com burst, I opened a 401k through the company I worked for at the time. I head read only a handful of books on investing, but one pattern began to emerge as I read them. One was that small businesses grew faster than big businesses and that about 75% of Americans were employed by small businesses. The other was the track record of the S&P 500 index and how over any 20 year period it had not declined. Great, because long term investment, was the bulk of my investment plan.

Armed with this knowledge, I opted to invest 50% of my 401k in the T Rowe Price 500 index fund and the Russell 2000 index fund.

Since then, the only time I have spent with this investment, is when I look at my statements every quarter. Other than that, it’s running on autopilot and since inception and has increased an average of about $10k a year. And should be well past $ 1 million by the time I retire, not bad for a few hours work.

Guide to Improving Your Memory

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Having a good memory can often mean the difference between success and failure. Consider for example two employees, one always forgets to do things and the other has memorized a Rolodex of names and numbers and can recall them at the drop of a hat. Who do you think will have more success in life?

But, having a good memory is not only beneficial for succeeding in the business world. In fact, being able to remember well has great mental health benefits. Think of a time when you couldn’t remember someone’s name or couldn’t remember an important phone number? It’s frustrating. Having a good memory on the other hand can lead to increased confidence and empowerment. I remember a few years back when the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts was in the process of being confirmed everyone in the hearing room was aghast at seeing him walk in without so much as a notepad. Instead he stunned everyone by answering every question by pure recall.

Like anything, developing a good memory takes practice. There are two parts we will cover, numbers and everyday things.

Remembering Numbers

Ever wonder why telephone numbers are formatted the way they are (123-555-1234)? It’s easier to remember! Obviously it would still work if you wrote it as 1235551234, but who could remember that?

In order to better remember numbers, we are going to apply the law of 3’s. The law of 3’s is an unofficial theory about they way westerners think. It can be applied philosophically such as in birth-life-death or as pragmatically as breakfast-lunch-dinner. I’m sure if you think about it, there are many other examples you can come up with.

So when dealing with numbers, think always in 3’s, also give them personalities. Yes, numbers have personalities and they can be whatever you wish them to be. Imagine 1 is a skinny guy, 2 is a queen, 3 is an eccentric, and 4 is missing a leg. There are only 10 total numbers, the rest are just combinations of these. So create ten personalities. When you have to remember say, an address, come up with a story. 1432 Bird rd can be remembered as a skinny guy without a leg who is an eccentric queen, lives on a bird road. Sounds ludicrous right? That’s the whole point; you are more likely to remember weird and wacky stuff than regular everyday mundane tasks.

Remembering Everyday Things

The ability to remember names is one the most important talents you can have. Let’s face it, would you rather someone remembered you by name or would you rather people kept referring to you as “hey you”? The trick to most memorization is to create a story or scene in your head. Rather than trying to recall things by brute force, it is far easier to come up with a story about them. Say you have a to-do list:

1.Go to the grocery store
2.Pick up at the dry cleaners
3.Drop off books at the library
4.Buy a gift for friends birthday
5.Take garbage out

I would come up with a story like this;

“While shopping for groceries I came across a huge row of clothes on a conveyer belt in the produce section. Books were attached to all the sleeves on the clothes and I showed my friend Karen the big pile of garbage I got her for her birthday. “

Sounds like the rambling of a maniac, put picture that in your head, it’s so bizarre you can’t help but remember it.

This also helps with thinking outside the box. Constantly pushing yourself to create imaginative stories can do wonders for your creative flair. So there you have it, you can kill two birds with one stone, have a good memory and be more creative.

Break the Routine by Thinking Outside the Box

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Are you tired of living what I like to call the template life, do you want to think outside the box and gain new perspective? Are you sick of the daily monotonous drudgery that repeats itself day in and day out? You wake up, get ready for work, and drive to work while listening to some bland radio show. Once you get to work, you hit the cubicle, you spend the day trying to steer clear of the ridiculous office politics.

You get home after a long commute to be with your husband or wife, you have dinner maybe watch some TV and off to bed, get ready because tomorrow will be absolutely no different than today was and you are sick of it!

Well, the good news is that if you are reading this then you want to change the template. Yes, things can be different and better. And believe it or not you can start thinking more creatively and outside the box.

Human beings are creatures of habit; we need it because it provides us psychological security and a sense of purpose. However, it’s this same instinct that can sometimes prevent us from breaking the mold and achieving a different perspective in life. The first step is to break the routine, to do this there are a myriad of things you can do. Let’s start with the physical.

Change in Diet

Believe it or not, your diet has a lot to do with the way you feel and think. Sometimes thinking better or thinking differently is as simple as changing your diet. I used to have a huge breakfast as recommended by most doctors; however, I found that I couldn’t concentrate well in the morning. One day when I was in a rush to leave the house, I grabbed a banana and a cup of coffee, later in the morning I was feeling great. It was the change in diet.

Don’t forget to include a healthy source of protein; it is what feeds the brain. Without a source of protein, the brain would lose much of its ability to focus.

Break the Routine

Sometimes a simple break in routine can help you think outside the box. Just imagine, if everyday you stare at the same cubicle, the same car, the same people, this can be a drag on your ability to think differently. Do this, take a day off from work and go to the beach, go for a hike, or somewhere you usually don’t go, and do this by yourself.

Thinking outside the box doesn’t always happen when you are well rested and crisp. Sometimes the best ideas come to me when I’m tired and its 3 am and I’m still working on a project.

These minor tips can help, but I have found that people usually want to change their train of thought and think outside the box because they are tired or bored with their life. To this point, change in your life ultimately rests with you. If you are sick of your job, change it. If you hate the town you’re in, move. Don’t box yourself in, take the leap and do it.

10 Techniques to Overcome Public Speaking Fears

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Speaking in public is one of the things people fear most. There’s a joke by Jerry Seinfeld that goes something like this “ Did you know that more people fear speaking in front of people than dying?. That means they would rather be in the coffin than giving the eulogy”

Regardless of what your past experiences with public speaking are, there are 10 techniques which I’ll outline which can make you a better public speaker.

1.It’s Not About You, it’s About Them

When most people get up to speak, they are usually focused on themselves. Being nervous is normal, but worried about how you might look or be perceived can really be hindering in getting past your fears. Remember most people in the audience are actually impressed that you have the ability to get up there and give a presentation.

2.Allow Yourself to Make Mistakes

We make them all the time when we talk normally in conversation so why would giving a speech be any different? If your aim is for perfection in a speech you are going to have a tough time talking publicly. Be conversational in your tone, if you find yourself losing your footing while giving a speech, take a moment and gather your thoughts then continue.

3.Master the Art of Concentration

Have you ever been worried about one thing and suddenly something else far more important takes your attention away? You soon realize that you had completely forgotten about what previously had you worried sick. The same holds true for public speaking, concentrate not on being nervous, but rather on the praise and adoration you will get from the audience once you finish your presentation. Focus better and do more.

4.Channel Your Power the Right Way

Imagine someone in the crowd becomes rude or interruptive while you are giving your presentation. A. You could get upset and allow that person to dictate the outcome of your presentation or B. You channel or that nervous energy to move ahead and finish successfully. If I person becomes so disruptive, a simple “I’ll wait until that gentleman in the fourth row finishes”. Something like this usually handles the worst offenders.

5.If You Can Dream It, You Can Be It

Visualize what the speech or presentation you are about to give will mean to you in terms of success. Think up of something wild like being lauded in the Macy’s parade for the wonderful you are going to do. The best athletes in the world use this technique to mentally prepare for competition.

6. It’s Like Being One on One

Many people claim to be comfortable speaking for hours on end when the conversation is between one person or a small group of people. So why not use this same technique when giving a presentation? As you are looking around the room while you give your presentation, you will probably notice a few people that smile or are very interested in what you have to say. Focus your attention mostly on these people and it should help you move along more comfortably.

7. Be Positive

Yes I know you have heard it all before, be positive, think good thoughts, etc… There is a reason behind that. Someone smarter than I once said, “if you think you can, you can, if you think you can’t, you’re right!” Be fun about it. Get in front of the mirror and scream at the top of your lungs “I’m the best speaker in the world!”

8. It’s OK to be Nervous

Some of the most influential speakers throughout history were nervous wrecks before their speeches. John F. Kennedy and Winston Churchill were two. Yet these great men motivated millions to reach for the stars and win world wars.

9.The Big Picture

Think about it, are you even going to remember this speech you are so worried about 5 years from now. How much of a catalyst is it going to be in changing the course of your life? Probably not much. In the big scheme of things, whatever presentation or speech you may have to give is going to mean very little. When looking back you’ll say to yourself, I don’t know what I was so worried about!

10. Keep it Fun.

Jot it down as another thing you have accomplished in life and have fun with it.