STAYING ORGANISED FOR 2014

One of my New Year's resolutions is to be more organised. I've been failing to stay organised and therefore more productive for couple of years now so I hope 2014 will finally be the year of keeping that resolution for at least 365 days. I've already failed in staying organised for the most part of January but I totally blame exam session for that. I've searched the Internet in order to find some good tips on how to stay organised and this is what I've found: 

1. MAKE LISTS: make any kind of lists, a shopping list, list of things to do, list of things to write about on your blog, list of things to take photos of for your blog posts and so on. Those lists are supposed to help you remember the things you need to do. But if you don't like traditional paper lists or you tend to loose or forget them you can always use your smartphone to do it. Also remember, don't put more than 5 things on your list or it will get too big and you'll feel overwhelmed. 

2. SCHEDULE: Making lists will probably still not be enough to really stay organised and productive. All goals need to be set in time. This is where calendars are most helpful. I've bought two calendars this year, one for organising my life tasks such as meetings, exams or birthdays I need to remember and another one strictly for blogging. I really hope they will help me with scheduling and planning. 

3. ORGANISE YOUR WORKING SPACE: Unclutter your desk for starters. Having a clean working space is a must when you want to stay organised. After it's been uncluttered it needs to be organised. For example take all pens and put them in one jar, put all files in one place, organise CD's by colour or in alphabetical order, whatever method you like, it's fine as long as everything has its place. And remember, when you use something, always put it back in the same place you've taken it from. It's also a great idea to place an organising board near your desk, in a visible place.

4. WRITE IT DOWN: It's an amazing idea to always have something to write and a notebook by your side. This way you can always write down an idea you think of in the most random moment (unless your brain comes up with the most brilliant ideas in the shower just like mine, then that's a problem). Just as with making lists, you can use your smartphone to do this. No wonder they're called "smart" phones, they are pretty smart and helpful, aren't they?

5. HAVE FUN: Being organised shouldn't be a bad thing, something you will struggle with and not enjoy because then you'll stop doing it after a one week. Find a fun way of doing it! By some pretty organisers, colourful stickers, make pretty lists and enjoy doing what you do! 

What do you do to stay organised? 

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HEALTHY LIFE / WEIGHT LOSS TIPS

Lately I've been thinking a lot about living a healthy life and losing weight (by lately I mean past 5 years). Internet taught me that these two things come in a pack as the best way to loose weight is to eat healthy and exercise. I've decided to gather some healthy/weight loss tips which I'm going to print out and hang on a wall. So if you also want to change your eating habits a little bit and have a healthy life, read the tips below.

1. Never skip breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day.
2. Drink a lot of water! It will keep you hydrated. You should drink at least 2 liters (or 8 cups) each day. If you drink water every day your body will get rid of retained water that shows up as excess weight, your skin will look healthier and your metabolism will go faster. Feeling thirsty yet? I know I am! But if you don't like water that much, you can add lime, orange, lemon or cucumber to give it a little taste but still keep it low calorie.
3. Eat more, smaller meals. By "more" I mean more meals of course, not more food. You should eat about 5-6 small meals every day, every 2-3 hours.
4. Avoid over-processed, refined foods like white flour or sugar.
5. Do not drink soda. Why would you want to drink your calories? Save them for food!
6. Eat oatmeal, almonds, berries, whole grains and avocados to keep your stomach feeling full. 
7. Eat eggs, lean meats and yogurt (I heard greek yogurt is the best option) to help break down fat.
8. Try drinking green tea, skim milk or coffee to speed up your metabolism.
9. Eat slowly. It takes 20 minutes for your brain to know your stomach is full, so the slower you eat, the less you eat. Perfect solution!
10. Get enough sleep! Structuring your sleep pattern helps regulate metabolism.
11. Drink a lot of green tea! It is a great source of anti oxidants, it burns fat, enables you to exercise longer and rehydrates you better than water! (I'm gonna make myself a green tea right now, you do too!)
12. Exercise! It's best to workout in the morning but if you're not a morning person like me I think it's better to exercise in the evening, because it should be a pleasure, not a torture. The most efficient way of exercising is probably running. And the easiest because all you need is a pair of comfy trainers and a road. You can also ride a bike, go swimming or exercise at home (my favourite way of exercising).
13. Make it a lifestyle. Healthy diet is not a short term fix, it's a way of living.
14. Be patient! Don’t expect results overnight.Remember: It takes time!
15. Be positive! 

That's it! I'm now sitting here with green tea in one hand and water in another. Maybe I went to far a little bit... Anyway, I hope I will hold on to these! I heard it takes 21 days for an activity to change into a habit. From today on, I'm going to read these tips every day and more importantly I'm going to respect them and I will let you know how it went in 21 days!