Develop Your Self-Confidence

Develop Your Self Confidence

According to Dr. Tony Alessandra, the president of Online Assessments and co-founder of MentorU.com, an online e-learning company, real self-confidence comes from a history of small victories and accomplishments that add up to a sense that you can handle yourself well in almost every situation. Start by taking inventory of your major achievements over the past years. Do not overlook the minor ones such as a one-day course on effective management that you have taken. Remember when you are in good health, you hold a responsible job and you have a happy family you are a successful person. Take the time to identify your strengths and appreciate them. This is the right way to boost your self-confidence.

Image source:https://www.bookdepository.com/Develop-Your-Self-confidence-Glenn-Harrold/9781901923223

The right way to take vitamins

Optimising Vitamins & Supplements

Most of us take vitamins regularly, but how do you consume vitamins for maximum benefits? Vitamins are better absorbed after food, so take your vitamins after breakfast or dinner preferable with water. Do not consume vitamins with an empty stomach. Your lifestyle also affects the absorption of vitamins. Smoking, work pressure, age, ill health, and poor diet will adversely affect the utilization of vitamins. Lastly, do not consume more than recommended.

Image source: https://www.newhope.com/supplements/best-times-take-vitamins-and-supplements

Goal Setting for Better Academic Results

Goal Setting for Better Academic Results

In the course of your study, it is a good habit to write down your goals. Goal setting can help you obtain better academic results. However, you must consider the following points to set your goals:

• Set your goals according to your standard, neither too high nor too low. It is to allow you to progress step by step.
• Do not base your gaols on the marks only. You have to take into account your effort and mastery of the subject.
• Review your results after every examination. Pay more attention to the areas where you are weak.

Image source: https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/how-to-write-smart-goals

How Do You Treat Your Maid?

How Do You Treat Your Maid?

Your maid is another human being. Treat her like a member of your family and you will have a better rapport with her. Just consider the following:

• Your maid needs about three to six months to adjust herself to the local environment. In this period you need to be accommodating.
• Though your maid has been trained, you need to be patient to teach and explain to her about all the household chores. Do not scold her.
• Do not treat your maid as a slave. Do not order her around. Remember you have children at home and they will imitate you. Teach your children to be kind to her and call her Ah Yee. Most important of all, do not mistreat your maid.
• Your maid is alone and far away from home. Communicate more often to her to reduce her anxiety and pressure at work.
• Keep in contact with your agent. In case of any changes in her behaviour, allow your agent to resolve the issue.

Above all, talk to your maid more often to reduce unnecessary misunderstanding, friction, and problems.

Image source: https://ae.help4u.today/blog/cleaning/treat-dubai-maid-with-respect

The room for Your Child to Study

The room for Your Child to Study

There should be a window in every room. The room for your child to do his study is without exception. With a window, the room is well ventilated with natural light from the outside. However, a feng shui master points out that you should not allow the desk to face the window directly. Your child will not be able to concentrate because of the distraction from outside the window. Another point is that the window should not face the west. The heat from the rays of the setting sun is unbearable. Again, it is not conducive to do homework or study. The room should be painted in light green and never in dark colour. Three or four potted plants would be ideal for the room. Lastly, do not put cactus in the room.

Image source:https://www.homeanddecor.com.sg/design/home-tips/set-up-your-childs-study-space-for-productivity-during-home-based-learning/

April 4, 2008 to May 5, 2008

According to a local feng shui master he has predicted the following for the above-mentioned period:

• Disaster caused by wind.
• Aircraft explosion.
• An elephant and a train make the headline.
• Water is the main culprit. Be careful with beverage poisoning. Don't allow your children to swim in the river. Water-related disaster will last for two months.
• Outbreak of infectious diseases.

Check the breaking news on TV. The unfortunate events could happen a little earlier.

Career Success

Career Success

As the saying goes: When you keep cycling you don't fall. To ensure your career success take note of the following:

• Lifelong learning: Take into account your goals, interests, your skills, and your past achievements to chart your future course. Make sure that you review your plans regularly to grab whatever opportunities that come along.
• Feel good about yourself: Have confidence in yourself and develop a positive outlook that will enhance your career success.
• Be happy at work: Accept difficult and demanding tasks with a smile. Your employer will appreciate your style.
• Cultivate resilience: If you are retrenched, use the time to polish your skills while on the lookout for another job. You can also help others by doing voluntary work in the community.

While you are doing your best, uphold the positive values of trustworthiness, commitment, and dedication.

Image source:https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2020/05/24/10-ways-to-set-yourself-up-for-career-success/?sh=79140f83606b

Treatment of Mouth Ulcers

How to get relief from Ulcers?

Mariana Bte Mohamed, a Unity NTUC healthcare pharmacist in Singapore provides the following D-I-Y treatments:

• Application of topical gels, pastes, or mouthwashes that contain anesthetics (lidocaine), pain reliever (choline salicylate, benzydamine), anti-inflammatory (benzydamine or corticosteroid such as triamcinolone).
• Gargling with warm salt water (half a teaspoon salt in one cup of water).
• Using diluted chlorhexidine or other antiseptic mouthwash once a day to reduce the duration of the ulcers.
• Avoiding foods that are spicy, acidic, salty, or particularly hot or cold can worsen the symptoms.
• Rinsing the mouth with iced water before a meal makes eating possible.
• Drinking cooled camomile tea.
• Taking herbs such as Echinacea to build immunity.
• Painkillers such as soluble paracetamol or ibuprofen can help to reduce pain.

Image source:https://facesurgeon.in/mouth-ulcers/

The Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou

This is a picture taken at The Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou. According to Chinese writing, the English version should be 'POLICE ON DUTY".

The only female container truck driver in Shenzhen

One of the local newspapers in Shenzhen reports about the only lady container truck driver in Shenzhen. In the report, she, a single mother from a poor family, mentions that it is her eleven old daughters that keeps her going on. Her daughter is smart. She is good at her study and she can sing and dance very well. According to her mother, she is her only hope and motivation. She is 35 and she gets paid 3,000+ yuan a month.

All the parents are the same and even more so for single parents. They slog for the whole life just to make sure that their children can have a better future.

I just hope that when her daughter grows up, she is able to uphold the virtue of filial piety.

Tour operation in Guangzhou

When you take up a package tour in Guangzhou do not believe in the face value of the brochure. You have to ask the following questions:

1. Are the charges all-inclusive? Do we need to pay extra for entrance to various places of interest?


2. Do you really go to the various attractions as stated in the brochure?


3. When the tour is over do you send us back to our hotel?

The tour bus just left us at the last place of visit during our recent one-day tour in Guangzhou.

Toilet Habit

Please Flush the Toilet

This is a sign taken in one of the toilets at Baiyun Mountain in Guangzhou. Literary it says: You come in a hurry when you leave please flush. However, it is written in a witty, humorous, and poetic way in Chinese. The last two Chinese characters of the first row and the last two characters of the second row are all pronounced as "cong" and 'chong" respectively. The "cong" in the first row means in a hurry. The "chong' in the second row means flush.

Guangzhou: A Cosmopolitan City

The people in Guangzhou speak Mandarin and Cantonese. You would expect to see only Chinese there. However, when you are walking along Tongxin Road you are in the community of Africans, Turkish, Lebanese, and other Middle Eastern people. Some of the Africans have settled down and established their business here. You will also find Muslim restaurants cater to them.

Guangzhou is a peaceful place and you can find police everywhere in the city. It's a delight to be there.

A Special Kind of Taxi in Guangzhou

These scooters with three wheels are plying along the streets of Guangzhou. They can carry up to two people and a sizable package. The drivers are special too. They are all disabled people. Thanks to the government they are able to earn a living the legal way.

The Genting Highlands of Guangzhou

In Malaysia, we have the Genting Highlands. In Guangzhou, it is the Baiyun Mountain. You can get to the mountain top by cable cars. However, at Baiyun vehicles are not allowed to travel up to the mountain. The only mean of transportation is the shutter bus which can accommodate about 12 people. Not many people use the bus and almost all of them walk all the way. No wonder I don't find many obese people in Guangzhou. They are healthy and fit. There is no casino, theme park, or big hotel up there. You go up there just to enjoy the cool clean air and the natural beauty.

The 100 Yuan Renminbi Currency Notes

The 100 Yuan Renminbi Currency Note

When you go to Guangzhou beware of fake currency notes, particularly the 100 yuan notes. For a start, you could have purchased the fake currency notes from the money changers in Malaysia. You are also likely to receive fake notes while shopping in Guangzhou. You can detect fake notes by observing the following:

• Fake currency notes are smooth when you feel them.


• Under the ultra-violet light, you can't see the figures 100 above the printed figures of 100 in the middle of the note.


• Currency notes bearing the same serial number.


• One corner of the note is cut just like your used passport.

You will notice that the taxi drivers, the shopkeepers, and the front office staff are very cautious when handling the 100 yuan currency notes.

How Do You Reprimand Your Child?

How Do You Reprimand Your Child?

When your child misbehaves, one of the ways is to let him know directly. However, it is even more effective when you don't say anything at all. Next time when your child throws a tantrum, just ignore him. Talk to him when he has calmed down. Explain to him why he was ignored. Teach the child to be self-restrained and not to be unreasonable. In fact, when you reprimand your child in silence, he will respond immediately to restrain himself. 

 Related article:

7 Tips to Develop a Healthy Relationship with Your Child a.k.a. How to Get Along With Your Son

Image source: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/communication-discipline/Pages/Disciplining-Your-Child.aspx

The Influence of Friends

The Influence of Friends

How do your choose friends for your child? You study their characters. Some children are extroverts and they can mix around with others easily. If your child is an introvert, it is better for him to look for companions who are active and cheerful. After a while, your child will open up as he has been influenced by his friends who are talkative, outward-looking, and active.

Image source:https://www.chatelaine.com/health/how-your-childhood-friends-influence-your-happiness/

Bathroom

Bathroom

The bathroom is the most secluded place in your house. According to feng shui, it should be located out of sight. The worst location is that when you open the main door you can see the bathroom as well. Changing one of the bathrooms into a sleeping room is also bad for feng shui. From a hygienic point of view, you should keep the bathroom clean and tidy. Furthermore, keep the bathroom window open to allow air circulation. Observe the above-mentioned points and your family will be free from illnesses.

Image source:https://www.bigbathroomshop.co.uk/info/blog/bathroom-installation-cost-guide/

Tighten Your Belt

Tighten Your Belt

Another round of petrol price hike is looming. The other essential items have already jacked up their prices like nobody's business. You count yourself lucky if you have found new sources of income to supplement your monthly salary. If not, you have to tighten your belt further in the following ways:

• Energy savings at home: Don't use your air-conditioner throughout the night. Switch on the fan in the early hours of the morning. Turn off your computer and TV at night instead of standby mode. Turn off the lights when not in use.
• Eat more often at home as the prices of food and beverage at eateries are not cheap anymore. I enjoy hawker food so I opt for take-away instead of eating at the stall.
• Whenever possible use public transport. The cost of maintaining a car is escalating.
• You can enjoy a discount on petrol by signing up with a credit card issuer that is affiliated with one of the petrol companies. However, make sure that you pay your credit card bill promptly and fully.

Image source:https://www.pinterest.com/pin/543317142532665823/

Effective Use of Time

Time Our Most Precious Resource

Time flies. The holidays that you look forward to has come and gone. We need to use wisely every minute of our time. Here are some tips:

• Always do the right things. The things that move you closer to your goals. The things that keep you healthy and fit. The things that improve your skills.
• Listen to motivational tapes while travelling.
• Catch up with some reading while you are waiting.
• Save time by confirming all appointments and flights.
• Be prepared to do something else when the original task cannot be carried out.

Remember the three words once mentioned by W. Clement Stone: "Do it now!"

Image source: https://www.gre.ac.uk/articles/ils/time-management

Stress Management: A Positive Mental Attitude

Stress Management: A Positive Mental Attitude

Stress awareness and relaxation techniques are vital tools to deal with stress. 

Stress Management

Equally important is living a life with a positive mental attitude. Adopt an I-can attitude to face the challenges in life. You can prepare yourself better by rehearsing. Do proper planning and visualize it by going over the situation successfully. Get ready with an alternative plan in case the one you rehearsed doesn't work out. In addition, talk to your family and friends about the situation. Instead of keeping it to yourself, you can release your tension and stress by airing your feelings.

Image source: http://agnaacademy.com/event-category/community-contribution-sq/?lang=en

How to Build Credibility at the Workplace

Credibility

According to an article in a recent newspaper, you can boost your credibility by taking the followings steps:

• Be enthusiastic and passionate while dealing with others. It is particularly so when you are talking on the phone.
• Make sure that you deliver what you have promised. In the long run, people can count on you.
• Do not act in haste. Listen carefully to understand the situation fully before taking action.
• Stay calm even though you are working under stress. This allows you to listen effectively and communicate constructively.
• Do not beat around the bush. Go straight to the point. Use simple language and speak clearly. You will gain credibility.

Image source: https://www.resource-connection.com/2018/09/19/how-to-build-your-credibility-at-work/

Stress Management

Stress Management

Consider the following when you try to reduce your stress:

Stress Management: A Positive Mental Attitude

Health: Regular exercise, eat wisely, and have sufficient sleep.
About yourself: Accept yourself as you are. Think about what you have and count your blessings.
Relationships: Maintain a cordial relationship with your family members, relatives, and friends.
Improve yourself: Build self-confidence by improving your skills and make yourself more valuable at work.
Time management: Always prepare a daily to-do list so that there is a smooth flow in your work. It will definitely reduce your stress.
Seek help: When you have a problem that you can't handle yourself, ask for help from your friends and relatives.
Relaxation: You can relax by doing exercise, listening to music, meditation, or spending time on your hobbies.

Image source:https://www.qminder.com/stress-management-tips/