Do You Have a Plan for Your Life?

Don't just let life happen to you; whatever will be, will be. Take charge of your life by having a plan. Be clueless no more as you have only one life to live and you owe it to yourself to make life happens for you with diligence and perseverance (there is no shortcut and instant gratification to achieve lasting results) to follow through with your plans.

Yes, sometimes you may go offtrack or get derailed, but you still know where you are heading and what outcome (including income) you desire to obtain. When you have recovered from your setback (e.g. health, relationship or financial issues), you will be back on track again. Having a plan will help to pull you back to head towards the direction of your goals and make your setback a stepping stone rather than a  stumbling block.

You could think of short-term (daily, weekly), medium-term (monthly, six-monthly) or long-term (annual, 5-years) plans.

Get a planner and write down the most important things that you need to do or work on each day, and start with topmost item each day. Once done, check it off and move on to the next item on the list. 

When evening comes, review your plans and update the list for execution tomorrow. 

Doing what needs to be done might be defensive or boring but nonetheless essential such as keeping your apartment or things clean and in order, keeping fit, or watching your diet.

On the pro-active side of planning, you could be aiming to save more money so that you could invest and use money to make money, learn a new language, or upgrade your professional qualification.

Be it passive or active, what is important is that you put your hands to the plough and make consistent efforts each day. The little that you do each day will all add up to lift you beyond your average as well as raise the quality of your being and doing.

It is time for you to get started on your plans each new day, if not already done so. You know that you can do it if you put your mind to it as YOU GOT A PLAN!

Your plan would be like a cloud hanging over your head that you are connected with everywhere you go and move you along the direction towards your goals.

Here are some resources for you to add fuel to remake you whenever you are ready.

Click here for a review of "Atomic Habits" by James Clear.

Click here for "The Ultimate Guide to Level Up in 2025!" by Terri Savelle Foy.

Dear Readers,

Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing. May you be enriched with new experiences and many happy memories this New Year!

Stop Brain Rot This Christmas

Do you find yourself scrolling social media on the internet mindlessly and, before you knew it, two hours had transpired? And, your neck hurts. Been there, done that, ya.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

This Christmas your brain deserves more and it is ever game for a challenge. It needs to be allowed to do what it does best -- think! The more you exercise your brain with observation, situational analysis, strategic planning, problem-solving, scenario planning and so forth, the more brain power you develop. It would up your game of life and stave off brain rot.

As sourced from ChatGPT with adaptation, "Brain rot" is a colloquial term rather than a medical diagnosis and is often used to describe a perceived decline in cognitive abilities or mental sharpness. It can refer to feelings of mental stagnation, reduced focus, or unproductive habits that seem to "dull" the mind. 

The usual suspects that may dumb or dull your mind are as follows:  

1. Lack of Mental Stimulation

2. Excessive Screen Time

3. Sleep Deprivation

4. Unhealthy Diet

5. Prolonged Stress

6. Physical Inactivity (Sedentary Lifestyle)

7. Isolation (Lack of Social Interaction)

The following ways would help you to treat your brain right:

1. Engage in Lifelong Learning

Take up new hobbies, learn a language, or read challenging books to stimulate your brain.

2. Limit Passive Consumption

Replace excessive screen time with creative or engaging activities like writing, painting, gardening, or baking.

3. Practice Mindfulness and Stress Management

Activities like meditation or deep breathing can reduce stress and improve focus.

4. Exercise Regularly

Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain and promotes the growth of new brain cells.

5. Maintain a Healthy Diet

Focus on brain-healthy foods like nuts, fish, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. And, have your fill of water each day.

"The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is: About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men. About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women."

6. Get Quality Sleep

Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep per night and maintain a consistent sleep schedule.

7. Stay Socially Active

Interact with friends, join clubs, or engage in group activities to keep your mind sharp.

8. Challenge Your Brain

Try games that require problem-solving or strategy, such as chess, sudoku, or crossword puzzle.

Here are my random picks of reading materials from National Library Board (NLB), Singapore, for you to open up new possibilities to fuel your brain with a great workout:

"Rhythm & Muse" by India Hill Brown

Reading this book would help you pick up some writing skills for writing fiction or just enjoy the author's prose and story shared. 

Click here to visit India Hill Brown's homepage.

"Hello" by Tere Liye

This book is written in Bahasa Indonesia, and if this is your second or third language, reading it would help you pick up from your last brush with the language.

Click here for more on Tere Liye.

"Hope at Christmas" by Nancy Naigle

This is one book you could huddle in for a good read during Christmas.

Click here to visit Nancy Naigle's homepage.

"Fortune" February / March 2024

Wouldn't you wanna know The World's Most Admired Companies?

Click here for more on Fortune.com

"Expat Living" Sep 2024

Even if you are a local, "Expat Living" could well offer you fresh insights on Singapore from the angle of an expatriate.

Click here for more on Expat Living. 

"Digital Camera World" Spring 2024

Photography is vast. With Digital Camera World magazine, you will will learn loads of ideas and skills for you to shoot great pictures.

Click here for more on Digital Camera World.

"Sight and Sound" October 2024 Vol. 34 Issue 8

With Sight and Sound magazine, you get to dive deep into the world of movies and what makes it tick.

Click here for more on Sight and Sound.

Click here for Bill Gates recommends a ‘perfect read for the holidays’—and 4 other books ‘to keep you warm’ this winter.

Click here for "It's Worth Every Minute Spent": People Are Sharing The "Couldn't Put Down" Books That Made Them Love Reading Again.

Dear Readers,

Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing blog. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Duolingo App for You to Learn a New Language

This is the best of times for learning a second or even a third language. 

You might wanna learn a new language out of interest, say, due to watching too many Korean dramas or being a die-hard fan of Blackpink or BTS. Another reason could be that learning the home country language of the conglomerate you are working for could jolly well help to advance your career. 

With an app like Duolingo, you save both money and time as you longer need to attend language classes at a school or learning centre, but would be able to learn anywhere with internet connectivity. You can choose the level of difficulty or advancement and the duration for each lesson. The app will then automatically remind you of your daily lesson and motivate you to maintain your consistency to keep learning.

Image credits: Duolingo.com

Within the app, you get phonetics as the words are pronounced for you to absorb by hearing and you get to practice tracing/writing the words on your device screen. For sure, you will be learning a new word or more each day and will definitely make progress to learn your new language of choice with a little daily effort.

Image credits: Duolingo.com

You can access Duolingo via your computer or download the app from your Apple phone's App Store or Android phone's Google Play.

Have fun while you learn your new language! The app is a great teacher who never give up on you.

 

Aiguille du Midi (Needle at midday)

Thanks to Microsoft screensaver, I got to catch a glimpse of the grandeur of Aiguille du Midi.

Aiguille du Midi
Photo by Hongbin on Unsplash

According to Wikipedia, "The Aiguille du Midi (French pronunciation: [eɡɥij dy midi], "Needle at midday") is a 3,842-metre-tall (12,605 ft) mountain in the Mont Blanc massif within the French Alps. It is a popular tourist destination and can be directly accessed by cable car from Chamonix that takes visitors close to Mont Blanc."

Click here for Aiguille du Midi : Breathtaking Journey to Mont Blanc's Iconic Peak & Montenvers - Mer de Glace.

There is evidently so many interesting places to visit in France that Aiguille du Midi does not make it to the top twenty places of interest.

Click here for Things to Do in France by Tripadvisor.com 

Click here for 10 best places to visit in France by lonelyplanet.com 

There is a Song for You

One could only wander how voiceless life would be without songs. Also, one can't imagine the positive impact that specific songs would have on people's life.

Photo by Mikkel Bech on Unsplash

There are probably some songs that you listen to over and over again. You like them but might not be able to pinpoint why. Maybe it is the vocals, melody, lyrics, blend of sound produced by the musicians, or the total package. 

Whatever the cause, it is great that someone has made the song for you to make it your own. And, if you are musically-inclined, your original songs could well be what someone else need.

Here are some clips of songs and music to inspire you.

Click here for Her Bullies Told Her Not To Sing, But Watch Her Now

Click here for You WON'T Believe Her Voice | Adele - When We Were Young

Click here for Amazing 9 YEAR OLD GIRL Steals The Show | Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On

Click here for Passengers React When A Boy Plays Canon in D by His Violin At Train Station (Tagbonee)

What a Glorious Day - 7 December 2024

With the onset of the monsoon season in Singapore, it has been raining regularly for prolonged periods of time each day, be it in the morning, afternoon or night, with some respite.

Today is glorious though as the morning sun broke through and white clouds came out to sketch the blue sky under the sway and direction of the wind.

Take a break from your mobile devices, and let the wonder and force of nature captivate your heart and soul afresh to remind you of your Creator and His creation as well as that you are creative, having been made in His image and likeness.

Here are some snippets of this glorious day for your refreshing.

Are you experiencing sunshine in your life today? If not, here are some ideas for you to try out:

1. Get Physical

Disengage from your mobile phones, tablets or computer. Do some physical exercises such as household chores, go cycling, go fishing, take a walk, walk your dog, play with your cat, or go for a swim. 

If you are feeling unwell, then listen to your body and get some well needed nourishment and rest.

2. Meet Someone

Plan a date with a friend or loved one for a meal or outing. Hey, even Anti-social Club members gotta meet up somehow to do their thing and validate themselves as a bona fide member.

Not everyone will bite you; they are kindred folks out there who would care for you genuinely. Good friends might be hard to come by, but you need to step out to initiate and explore with due diligence and build up trust from there. All said and done, even the best of friends might fail you. 

If you were to ask me, I would say to you more truly than Levi's '"Quality never go out of style" that Jesus is the truest friend you can ever have. Yes, you can meet Jesus in silence and solitude right where you are besides going to church and cell meeting.

3. Read a Book 

Reading is hard work is this era of instant gratification and social-media dopamine fixes. As you slow down and allow the writer to unravel his story, you will gather insights and inspiration to apply them in your own life and hold your head above the water.

Watching a movie might work as well as you pay attention to the background story. For example, where amidst all the fighting and killing, the estranged daughter of an FBI agent begins to see at the climax of the movie that his father truly loves her as he is willing to exchange his life for hers even after she had disassociated from him upon learning of his killing spree to get the job done.

Have a nice day with lots of sunshine!!

Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing.

Getting a Headstart in December

Time and tide await for no one, be they kings, queens, celebrities or ordinary folks. The passage of time and the ebb-and-flow of tide are unstoppable and follow a rhythm of their own.

As you transition to the month of December, you can prepare to make the most of it before the year-end holidays and Christmas pass you by and the New Year arrives sooner than expected with you scrambling to make resolutions instead of darting off from the starting line on cue.

Here are some ideas for your refreshing:

1. Take Stock

Review your progress thus far this year and check off your goals which have been achieved. For those unmet goals, review and decide whether they need to stay on your list for the upcoming new year. 

2. Shop Now

Well done, if you have capitalised on Black Friday sales and filled up your shopping cart for Christmas. If not, it would be advisable to get your Christmas shopping done early in December before you end up jostling with the chronic latecomers on the cusp of Christmas Day.

3. Plan Ahead

Start making your list of goals for the new year. WRITE IT DOWN. Do not be fuzzy about your goals. Envision your goals and be SPECIFIC. Fill in the details; specify what each goal would look like for real. Stay hungry to achieve your goals. 

Watching video clips by Terri Savelle Foy such as "Conquer The Clock - 5 Ways to Manage Your Time" is one way which you can propel yourself forward and closer to lay hold of your dreams and goals.

As you put the above ideas into practice, may this December be a harbinger of a higher level of growth and expanse of accomplishment for you in the coming New Year.

Click here for Coldplay - Clocks (Official Video)

Click here for Conquer The Clock | 5 Ways to Manage Your Time