Raphael Stevens

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    in lifestyle and culture

    The ultimate Emirates Woman guide to the best beach clubs in Dubai

    Life by Sarah Joseph 32 mins ago VIEW GALLERY/ 15 IMAGES Whether taking a moment to soak up the sun or going off the grid, Dubai offers the best places to refresh this season. Known for its array of premium beach destinations and with many new ones having recently opened, we’re here to keep you in the know about only the best. Designed with its aesthetic sun beds, a well-curated menu and a lively ambience, beach clubs are the ultimate spot to book a day out to rejuvenate and unwind. With that, here’s an Emirates Woman guide of the best beach clubs to visit in Dubai ASAP. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied & Feature Image: Instagram @tialineker  More

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    How I got my job as… founder of this bespoke Dubai-based coffee company

    Welcome to the Emirates Woman weekly series ‘How I got my job as…’ where we speak to some incredible entrepreneurs and businesswomen both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they’d give to those starting out; and the hurdles they’ve had to overcome. This week, we speak to Maria Pavani, a highly acclaimed coffee specialist and a 32-year-old award-winning entrepreneur, who has emerged as a trailblazer in the nation’s coffee industry through her brainchild, Três Marias Coffee Company. Maria took the leap of faith and moved to Dubai in 2013 to work as a head barista at a prestigious five-star hotel. Despite not having English as her mother-language, Maria thrived to succeed and eventually climbed up the ladder until she became a general manager of a roaster and even launched her own plant-based milk now. To delve into her journey, Emirates Woman spoke to Pavani to see how her journey in the F&B industry began. What was your favourite subject at school? My favorite subject was Physical Education. What was your first job? My first job was at the library of my school. I would have classes until noon, and then I would start my shift from 1:30pm to 5pm Have you been to Dubai? No, I came to Dubai for the first time in 2013 to start working. What inspired you to enter the F&B space and talk us through your role as founder of Três Marias Coffee Company? Well, my journey into the F&B world basically started with my love for people and coffee. I mean, who doesn’t love a good chat over a great cup of coffee, right? I started working with coffee as a barista in 2009 in the hospitality industry. Hospitality is all about people, and I’m good with both. I like exchanging pleasant conversations, and at the same time, I love coffee. When I came to Dubai, I spotted this awesome opportunity to blend my hospitality skills with the vibrant coffee scene here. I started growing in the coffee sector as a professional, and then I decided it was time to start exploring a bit more, and that is how Três Marias Coffee Company was born. My role as the founder is to ensure that, first of all, the company stays on track with our vision and then ensure I work on my growth journey as a first-time entrepreneur to be able to run the business as best as I can, innovating, creating new products, ensuring we are adding value to the coffee community as well. Talk us through the concept of Três Marias Coffee and how did you launch your own plant-based milk. When we launched the business in 2019, it was quite different from what it is today. I’m grateful that we’ve remained open to adapting and seeking out various ways to contribute to our community. The plant-based milk stemmed from a mix of questions: What was lacking in the specialty coffee industry, and how could we fill that void while also leveraging it as an opportunity for global expansion. This led us to the idea of creating high-quality plant-based milk. Our goal was to address the challenge of limited alternative milk options, particularly in the Middle East. It was essentially about crafting a superior product that not only solved a local issue but also had the potential to resonate on a larger scale. What are the key elements of your role? As the founder and CEO I feel it is very important that I have to network and meet as many people as a I can, knock as many doors as I can and introduce the story to as many people as I can to be able to look for new opportunities for the brand and the brand reaching the right ears that could give us an opportunity to enter as a supplier for businesses as well as, pretty much staying positive and being open to adapt especially because my colleagues at the company can feel when I’m down or up so its very important that I stay as stable and consistent with interactions with my team. Also, I am open to learning about what is new in the industry, so I travel the world making sure I’m aware of what is happening in the industry, what the trends are, what the future looks like, what is changing, and what not. As the founder and CEO, I strongly believe in the power of networking and making connections. It’s crucial for me to actively engage with as many people as possible, knocking on doors and sharing our brand’s story. This not only helps us uncover new opportunities but also ensures that our brand reaches the right ears, potentially opening doors for us as suppliers to other businesses. Maintaining a positive attitude and remaining open to adaptation is also important; my team can sense my mood and can tell when I’m feeling up or down, so I try my best to ensure I’m consistently having positive interactions with them.Moreover, I am always open to learning about what is new in the industry, so I travel the world, making sure I’m aware of what is happening in the industry, shifts in the market landscape, and future projections. It’s essential for me to continuously learn and evolve, ensuring that our brand remains relevant and competitive in the ever-changing F&B industry. Talk us through your daily routine. My typical day looks something like this: When I wake up in the morning, I pray, have my first cup of coffee, and then head to the gym for my daily workout. I then shower and either have my first meetings around the city or I meet with my team to work on the tasks for the day. By 5 pm, I’m usually done for the day, so I head out to catch up with friends, exercise, or play padel. At night, I either go out for social dinners or call my family back home. What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps? In my opinion, one of the best pieces of advice I can offer is to embrace the possibility of failure. Not every idea will succeed, but persistence is key. If you keep trying, you might hit the jackpot once after multiple attempts, and that’s all it takes to propel yourself to the next level. Be curious. Curiosity is essential. Engage in conversations with others, exchange knowledge, and soak in diverse experiences. There’s immense value in sharing and learning from how others navigate the business world. Passion is another critical factor. The journey can be challenging and grueling, so having a genuine passion for what you’re doing is vital. Without it, you may find yourself wanting to throw in the towel when faced with challenges. Lastly, prioritize self-development. Stay open to personal growth and seek answers beyond the obvious. Continuous learning and evolving as an individual are fundamental to success in any endeavor. Tell us more about the product? The plant-based milk line from Três Marias was crafted with baristas in mind. We worked backward to address the problem that we were seeing in the market. Despite the growing trend towards healthier and more sustainable lifestyles, we noticed a hesitation among consumers in our region to adopt milk alternatives for their coffee. We discovered that taste was a major deterrent, especially when alternative milk was steamed and mixed with coffee. To tackle this problem, we developed an alternative milk that enhances, rather than overpowers, the flavor of coffee. Our formula ensures that consumers can still enjoy the taste of the high-quality beans they select. Additionally, our milk formula is engineered to achieve optimal frothing, allowing baristas to create stunning latte art and presentations for their customers. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? The best piece of advice that I received was from a friend who is also a business person. He told me that you, as the founder, carry the vision of the company; you have the answer within yourself, so listen to what others have to say but always go with what your gut has to say and your vision. Don’t let others influence you because they are successful. After all, each business is different; sometimes what works for you may not work for someone else, so trust your gut always. And what was the worst? One of the worst pieces of advice I’ve received was to slow down. It wasn’t the right guidance for the stage our business was in at the time. We were at a point where we needed to expand, but I was struggling to find the right product to propel us forward. After trying various approaches, a business acquaintance suggested I should take things slower. Had I followed that advice, we might have faced closure because we wouldn’t have gained the momentum needed to drive the business forward. Instead, I persisted and came up with the idea for our plant-based milk line and was given similar advice to slow down again. Looking back, I’m grateful I didn’t heed that advice because our plant-based venture turned out to be a success, opening up new opportunities for us. What’s the biggest challenge you have had to overcome? The biggest challenge that I had to overcome was definitely the financials of the business. I did not have a financial or business background, so all the biggest challenges that we have had so far were related to finance. How to structure our budget or even simple things like what is revenue, net profit, cost of operations, etc., so learning about these things and then being able to negotiate with partners or investors was very challenging at the start. I’m still learning every day but I feel much more confident now. What’s your future for the brand? We want to take Tres Marias global so we are expanding in the Middle East right now, expanding to retail, and we want to go to other continents as well. We want to enter in North and South America, in Europe and Asia as well. We want to create ready-to-drink plant-based drinks and keep improving our product line. We want to become more accessible to people and improve our e-commerce experience. So to summarize we want to make our high quality products accessible to people worldwide in retail, foodservice and e-commerce. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied  More

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    in health and weelbeing

    How To Actually Get Better At Talking To Yourself

    We’re all probably guilty of entertaining the negative voices in our heads in the midst of a situation where things aren’t exactly going our way. Whether you’ve missed a deadline on your assignment, dropped off the kids late for school, made a lacklustre supper or messed up a job interview, no situation is ever that grand for anyone to talk harshly to themselves.

    Ask yourself this question? How often are you polite to others as opposed to the number of times you bash yourself when things go wrong?

    “When it comes to our inner dialogue, a.k.a. self-talk, what we say to ourselves is often careless, critical, and even cruel. And while we may not think much of it, that self-talk is powerful and has more of an effect on our mental well-being than we realise,” explains psychologist Maya Rutstein, also a product architect for digital wellbeing platform, soSerene.

    Quick recap: Self-talk is the inner voice that houses the beliefs we hold about ourselves. It shapes our perception of the world and personal reality, therefore influencing our emotional, psychological and physical well-being.

    READ MORE: TV/Radio Presenter Rorisang Thandekiso On The Moments That Defined Her Path Forever

    The Origins Of Self-Talk

    “There are many factors that influence our inner voice during the course of our lives,” explains Rutstein. “It starts early on. Our past experiences and upbringing play a significant role in shaping what our inner voice sounds like. Interactions we have and feedback we receive early in life shape our self-perception into adulthood.” She adds that social comparisons play a major role, too.

    “When we compare ourselves to others and find ourselves wanting, this can lead to negative self-talk. Often this is exacerbated by social media, because we’re comparing our whole lives to carefully curated snapshots of other people’s lives,” says Rutstein.

    Cultural, societal and family expectations can also set standards that individuals strive to meet, influencing self-criticism or encouragement. For example, when family members expect you to have ticked off certain milestones (such as marriage, children or buying a house) by a certain age, you may start to feel like a failure if you haven’t met their expectations. Personal achievements and failures can directly impact self-talk, too, with successes boosting positive self-dialogue and failures often leading to negative self-talk.

    READ MORE: Enjoy Your Downtime (Without Feeling Guilty) In 3 Easy Steps

    Positive Self-Talk For The Win

    When self-talk is positive, it can have a wide range of positive effects on our lives – from how we feel to how we show up in the world. People with a positive inner dialogue tend to be more confident, more productive and happier. “Have you ever felt frustrated because someone with less technical ability than you got promoted and you didn’t? Or that someone else built a successful business off an idea that you also had but didn’t have the guts to pursue?” asks Rutstein. “That’s self-talk at work.”

    “Positive self-talk enhances mental well-being by reducing stress and anxiety and fostering a positive outlook on life. That optimism makes the other person believe that the business idea will be a success, making them more inclined to pursue it,” shares Rutstein. Positive self-talk also boosts self-confidence and self-esteem, empowering individuals to tackle challenges and pursue goals. Rather than being held back by self-doubt, the person believes that they are the one who should pursue the idea and turn it into a business.

    “Positive self-talk encourages resilience, enabling individuals to recover more quickly from setbacks and maintain motivation. This emboldens the person to take the risk of starting the business, because even if it doesn’t work out, they’ll bounce back and try something else. Positive self-talk can even improve physical health. It has been linked to lower stress levels, better immune function, and better overall wellbeing,” explains Rutstein.

    READ MORE: 18 Mental Health Books For Anxiety, People-Pleasing And More

    Why Negative Self-Talk Is A Definite ‘No’

    Unfortunately, as powerful as positive self-talk can be for improving the overall quality of our lives, negative self-talk can be just as powerful – but in a destructive way. Unchecked, it can lead to mental health issues such as chronic stress, anxiety, depression and low self-esteem, as well as exacerbate physical ailments.

    “Negative self-talk can result in a defeatist attitude towards goals and aspirations, hindering personal and professional growth. If you’ve ever given up on something before you even tried because you expected the worst, that was negative self-talk in action,” says Rutstein. She adds that it can also strain relationships by projecting insecurities and negativity onto interactions with others. “When you feel bad about yourself, you may enter social interactions defensively. This may cause you to misinterpret what other people say or do as an attack because that’s what you’re expecting,” says Rutstein.

    A classic example is when someone says, “You did well today,” but what you hear is, “You did well today for a change because you’re usually incompetent.” That, right there, is negative self-talk causing you to perceive a compliment as an insult.

    READ MORE: TikTok’s Loud Budgeting Trend Is What Your Wallet Needs In 2024, Say Financial Experts

    How To Show Up For Yourself

    Per Rutstein, if you typically engage in negative self-talk, the good news is that it’s totally possible to rewire your brain with these five easy steps:

    Practise mindfulness: Caught yourself feeling bad that the person on the treadmill next to you is running so much faster? Instead, think about how well you did by making it to the gym in the first place – and how many excuses could have held you back, but didn’t. Become aware of negative self-talk as it occurs. Acknowledge these thoughts without judgment and gently redirect your focus to more positive or neutral thoughts.

    Challenge your own negative thoughts: Question the validity of negative self-assessments and replace them with positive affirmations instead. Thinking about how you’re definitely going to mess up your job interview? Focus on all the reasons why you’re actually the best candidate for the position.

    Gratitude journalling: Regularly write down things you are grateful for or proud of about yourself. This can help shift focus from negative to positive aspects.

    Surround yourself with positive influences: Engage with supportive friends, family and content that uplifts you, reducing exposure to negativity that can feed into self-criticism.

    Set small, achievable goals: Accomplishing even little goals (making your bed every morning; not snoozing the alarm) can boost your sense of efficacy and foster a more positive dialogue about your capabilities and achievements.

    As a parting shot, we invite you to reflect on these words from author Brianna Wiest‘s book When You’re Ready, This Is How You Heal: “What if cleansing your mind with hopeful, joyful, positive thoughts is the rebalancing that’s been long overdue, after so many years of existing solely on the most negative interpretations you could come up with?” More

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    In pics: Hande Erçel shares snippets from her trip to Mumbai

    Life by Sarah Joseph 1 hour ago The 29-year-old Turkish actress has been travelling the world and is currently in India with all smiles. From Bali, Italy to Paris, this Turkish actress is an avid traveller. By always giving her 31.8 million fans wanderlust inspiration, she recently added Mumbai on our travel list. From experiencing nature to booking in some time for sight-seeing, we definitely know that the actress loves immersing herself in the country she travels to. In one of the videos Erçel even did a little dance while she was on the way to her destination. Known for her sartorial fashion choices, she left no stone unturned and was even seen in a crisp pinstripe co-ord set complemented with Gold Bottega Veneta earrings, looking ever-so-stunning as always. She shared a series of snippets from her trip to her 31.8 million fans, so to see where the actress has been to, swipe through the images from her trip. Now the question lies if this trip was scheduled in for work or play? Maybe there might be a highly-anticipated collaboration around the corner. However, only time will tell. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Instagram @handemiyy More

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    HH Sheikha Mozah Bint Marwan Al Maktoum on her journey from a pilot to an author

    Life by Ruman Baig 3 hours ago In a fusion of aviation prowess and literary ambition, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Marwan Al Maktoum, Dubai’s pioneering first Royal female police pilot, has soared to new heights. With the release of her debut children’s book, ‘When She Took To The Sky,’ Sheikha Mozah is not only rewriting the rules of ambition, but she is also changing the narratives that shape young minds. Through an exclusive interview, we delve into her remarkable journey from breaking gender barriers in aviation to inspiring the next generation of young women to reach for the skies. Can you share the inspiration behind your debut children’s book? The future leaders of tomorrow – the youth. I wanted to convey my encouragement to young women to go out and pursue their dreams, and I think the best way for me to do that was to highlight the stories of inspiring female aviators throughout history. I wanted to impart courage and strength to the young women of tomorrow to chase their passions – be it aviation, or any field. As Dubai’s pioneering first Royal female police pilot, how did your experience influence the narrative of your book? My aviation journey was challenging in many ways but immensely rewarding. As a young woman entering a male-dominated field, I had to put in twice the effort compared to my male peers to make my presence felt. But it never got me down – I was motivated to put in the work and make myself stand out because ultimately, I believed in my dream to be in the sky. The stories of the women all over the world who came before me and broke the glass ceiling were so inspiring to me, and I just felt like I had to retell their stories to honour them and inspire the future generation. They were a testament to the fact that women can do anything men can do and that flying does not categorise anyone based on gender – which is something I have always believed in. What message do you hope to convey to young girls through your book, particularly in terms of breaking gender stereotypes in aviation? The sky offers limitless possibilities for all, and anyone can fly and experience that regardless of gender. I want young women to find strength and courage within the stories from When She Took To The Sky. Especially in aviation where women as a group are so underrepresented, it is important to know their history and the remarkable feats of women who were here before us – their work has led the way for more women to make their mark in aviation, including me, in more ways than one. Can you tell us about some of the remarkable female aviators you feature in your book? When She Took To The Sky consists of stories of inspiring women in aviation from the world and the region. From Rosina Ferrario, the first Italian female pilot, to Helene Dutrieu, the first woman to fly a seaplane, and Lotfia Elnadi, the first Arab woman to become a pilot – all their stories highlight incredible grit and unwavering determination. Their desire to fly motivated them to overcome the many obstacles that stood in their way. The young generation needs to know their stories and their contributions to the field of aviation, because not only is it a way to honour their fearlessness and grit – but also because their stories are a reminder that nothing is impossible. How do you believe literature, particularly children’s literature, can contribute to empowering the next generation of young women in aviation? I believe literature, especially children’s literature, can mould young minds to pursue their goals and passions with determination. Young girls today should know that they can do anything they set their mind to – and so many women did the same thing before them. Literature can introduce strong positive role models to young women at an early age. Apart from highlighting strong role models, literature can serve as a reminder to let young women know they can dream big because there is a vast world out there that awaits them. Storytelling can inspire young women to not let themselves tire at obstacles but rather to persevere and fight them and emerge victorious. What challenges did you face in your journey as a female pilot, and how do you address these challenges in your book? I set out to become a trained pilot at a young age. Being amidst much older peers was daunting at first, along with the academic requirements. My instructors were also keen that I worked for my wings the right way, and not through privilege. And at many points, I had it harder than my peers who were male. But with time I was able to rise above and go on to thrive as a pilot up in the skies because that goal was what kept me motivated. The stories I have compiled in When She Took to The Sky are stories that give me the courage to keep moving forward as a woman in aviation. I did not have any female role models to look up to when I was young and did not want that to be the case for young girls today. Your career has been filled with groundbreaking achievements. How does it feel to add ‘author’ to your list of accomplishments? Thank you. It is an honour to be an author and to be a storyteller. I hope that my work in aviation and as an author can motivate and inspire more young women to reach for the sky (literally or figuratively). Could you share some insights into your writing process, did any personal anecdotes or experiences influence the story? When I usually speak at events, I realise that many people do not know about female firsts in aviation. I observed something similar when I would sit down and converse with my family, and they were so surprised by the fact that these women go way back in aviation history. They are awed by the fact that these women had to step up and pursue their dreams and not be kept at bay. Did you know that Fiorenza De Bernardi, the first European woman (Italian) to become a commercial airline pilot, is alive to this day? This is what led me to write a book to honour and highlight these women’s stories. What advice would you give to young girls who aspire to pursue careers in aviation? I would like to tell them perseverance goes a long way, and to bravely face any obstacle they encounter. Every pilot dreams of their first solo flight and being up in the sky all alone is an extraordinary experience that will make all the hard work, and challenges worth it. There may be times when you may have to work twice as hard to make a mark, but that effort will always pay off in the end. What do you hope readers, both young and old, will take away from your book? Ultimately, I would like the main takeaway from my book to be to go after your dreams relentlessly and bravely take on challenges – both to children and adults alike. Having a dream or a goal and putting in the work to make it happen is a hugely rewarding feeling and I hope everyone who reads my book gets to experience that. This is The Authenticity Issue – what does authenticity mean to you? For me, authenticity is defined by how passionate a person is about their dreams and is keen on putting in the work to make it happen, and the kind of attitude they adopt towards making their dreams a reality. I live by the motto that your altitude is determined by your attitude, and a positive and determined attitude can take anyone to great heights. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram March’s – The Authenticity Issue with Mouawad – Download Now Images: Supplied More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    This App Makes Managing Self-Employment a Total Breeze

    Almost six years ago, after years of working as a freelance writer on nights and weekends, I quit my salaried job and started working for myself full-time. As could be expected, it took a while for me to build my client base and fill my schedule with assignments (shoutout to The Everygirl for being the first publication to join my newly self-employed roster!). Keeping track of a handful of article assignments didn’t require an intricate organization system at the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey, but it wasn’t long before I started to lose track of my tasks as my workload increased.
    Fortunately, things began to change quickly for me and my business as I expanded my client base and started offering a greater variety of content creation and digital marketing services, but unfortunately, that meant my to-do list was overflowing and became overwhelming and difficult to manage. Knowing my clients wouldn’t be impressed with missed details or deadlines, I turned to Todoist (a task management system) for help, and let me just say that I’ve been hooked ever since.
    While you don’t have to be self-employed to get a lot out of Todoist, I’d be doing every other entrepreneur out there a disservice if I didn’t walk you through specifically how this task management system helps me stay on top of my self-employed game. I’m breaking down its features along with how I use it to be an efficient business owner ahead.
    What is Todoist?
    Todoist is a task manager and to-do list app that makes it easy to keep up with all of your tasks, no matter how big or small they are. Since it can be integrated with over 80 apps and is accessible across a variety of operating systems and devices—including desktops, smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches—its main job is to keep you organized. As a Mac user, I love that the app syncs on my phone, tablet, desktop, and laptop computer, so I can tackle my to-do list no matter where I am or what device I’m using.
    Features
    Within the tool, you can create projects, priorities, labels, tasks, sub-tasks, reoccurring due dates, reminders, and more. Flexible views allow you to keep a bird’s eye view of upcoming work or focus on what you need to do on a certain day, depending on how you like to visualize your workload. Similarly, you can switch between list, calendar, or board views for easier planning and tracking. For example, if you are working on a project for a client, you can view where each task lies on a calendar view or just take a look at your to-do list for the day (or upcoming days) to see what tasks you need to tackle to keep your project on track.
    One of my favorite (and most used) features is the ability to drop important notes and details into a task description that I don’t want to slip through the cracks. It’s incredibly useful to keep tasks open on my phone via the app when I’m on client calls, so when a client is throwing a bunch of small details and deadlines my way, I can jot them down in tasks that they apply to. No matter how you prefer to view and keep up with your work or how detail-oriented your work tasks are, features like this one, plus the features previously mentioned, make focusing on your most pressing to-dos a breeze.
    Pricing
    For many entrepreneurs, the free version of this app offers enough features to seamlessly manage your work; however, there are two paid options if you want more capabilities. The Pro plan is $4 per month and gives you access to more projects, an AI assistant, a longer activity history, and some of the more helpful features like setting reminders. The Business plan is $6 per month and gives you access to all of those things, plus the ability to create a shared team workspace and collaborate with team members. I try to keep my business expenses nice and lean, but after using the free version of this tool and realizing it was the saving grace, I upgraded to the Pro plan, which, to me, is a small price to pay for how organized it keeps me.

    How you can use Todoist to manage self-employment
    Keeping up with deadlines
    I love a good digital organization tool, but I am also a paper planner lover through and through. The physical and visual element helps me to stay clear-headed. However, if I tried to write down every to-do I had on the horizon, my planner would just overwhelm me.
    This is where Todoist comes in. I don’t use it to track my biggest deadlines, like the final product of an article. Instead, I use it to tackle all the tiny deadlines that lead up to a big one. For example, let’s say I need to interview a dermatologist for an upcoming skincare story. I would write the article deadline down in my planner, but I would add mini deadlines about the interview to the app: a deadline for when I need to reach out to potential interview subjects, a deadline for following up with them, and a deadline for prepping for the interview. Adding all of those tiny deadlines to my planner would be overkill, but it’s quick and easy in Todoist.
    It may seem a bit overkill to use a paper planner and a digital task-planning app, but I find having these two systems in place helps me avoid missing any deadlines. By putting the final project deadline in my paper calendar, I always know what big to-dos are on the horizon, but Todoist makes it so much easier to stay on top of the smaller tasks that make up those big projects. I like that I can easily shift around mini-due dates digitally, which would be a mess if I tried to constantly make changes in my physical planner. That being said, many people will find that Todoist is all they need to stay organized—especially since you can sync it with a digital calendar. I just can’t help my love of paper planners.
    Managing admin work
    On top of assignment deadlines, I also have a lot of admin-related deadlines that can be easy to let slip through the cracks. Working with a lot of different publications and brands (we’re talking around 30 every year) is very fun, but also requires staying on top of different admin deadlines—like remembering what day of the month each client likes to receive invoices. Any time an admin request comes through from a client (like signing up for new software or sending them a professional bio), I add it to the app ASAP so I don’t forget about it.
    On top of client-related admin tasks, I keep track of all of my personal admin tasks in Todoist that keep my business running smoothly, such as:

    Quarterly tax payment deadlines
    Canceling free trials or subscriptions to software
    Following up with clients on overdue invoices
    Following up with prospective clients, interview subjects, etc.
    Circling back with past clients to re-engage 
    Cleaning up my inbox
    Checking in with my accountant
    Refreshing my business website

    Organizing bigger projects
    My favorite element of Todoist is how you can organize your tasks into a “project” instead of having one massive list of tasks. This feature doesn’t have to apply to a specific project you’re working on (although it can)—instead, it allows you to break your work into categories. For example, I create a project for each client I work with, a project specifically for my personal admin work, and a project that houses all of my invoices. I find breaking down my tasks by project (or category) helps me stay more organized. In fact, one of the reasons I pay for a subscription is because it gives me the ability to create even more projects.
    Some of your assignments might be simple and won’t require you to build out a project, but let’s say you’re working on an ebook for a client, for example. You could name your project “[client name] ebook” and then create a series of tasks that could include creating an e-book outline, researching topics, submitting the first draft to the client, making necessary edits, and so on.
    By keeping all of my like tasks together, I find that it’s easier to view the status of a project and see where I might be falling behind. Similarly, I can easily view a project and update a client on its progress. Whether you have a lot of project-based work or just simply like to organize your work into buckets, you’ll really love this feature.
    Balancing responsibilities outside of work
    When you work for yourself, it can be easy to let the hustle and bustle of running your business distract from your personal life. This is why I also use Todoist to stay on top of personal tasks. For example, I have tasks to set doctor appointments or buy birthday presents for loved ones. I even have tasks that remind me to pay my bills or cancel subscriptions.
    Life gets busy, so having one clear place to stay organized and friendly reminders to nudge you along can be a big help. If you’re planning a wedding, overseeing a home renovation, or tackling any kind of big personal endeavor, creating a project within the app to house all of your to-dos will be a game changer.
    It’s so easy to grab a Post-It note or random notebook, write down things you need to get to, and promptly forget about them. Having my responsibilities front and center (and in one place) has made managing both my professional and personal life more efficient. Plus, it saves me a lot of time and helps me achieve a better work-life balance, and who doesn’t want that? More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    10 artisanal bakeries that you knead to order from in Dubai

    Life

    by Sarah Joseph
    2 hours ago

    VIEW GALLERY/ 10 IMAGES
    Sometimes freshly baked croissants, cakes and bread at artisanal bakeries can most definitely make any day batter.
    Whether a special occasion or if you’re simply looking to treat yourself, these in-house baking havens ensure that each pastry and croissant is crafted to perfection. Be it classic cakes or gourmet delights, we all need something freshly baked to complement any beverage.
    So, it doesn’t matter you’re a local resident or just visiting Dubai, Emirates Woman has collated the best bakeries and patisseries worth visiting if you’re looking for a midweek or weekend treat.
    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: Supplied & Feature Image: Instagram @miamirr  More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    How ultrarunner William Goodge ran across the US in 55 days

    Life

    by Sarah Joseph
    4 hours ago

    Ultrarunner William Goodge discusses completing the 3,076-mile journey from Huntington Beach, Los Angeles to Central Park, New York and what kind of mindset it takes to achieve the extraordinary.
    What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine?
    I like to wake up and replenish my electrolytes and get ahead on hydration straight away by using a couple of Humantra sachets with water. I wake up before sunrise so have to leave any exposure to later, but wherever I am I’ll put on my favourite songs of the moment and get ready to go and do my first training session of the day. The gym or out for a run.
    Talk us through your background.
    I am from a small town in the UK called Ampthill, about an hour north of London.I grew up playing every sport I could, ironically one of the only ones I didn’t like too much was running long distance! I had an amazing but somewhat normal upbringing, when school was over I decided to go travelling to Thailand and Australia instead of going to University. When I got back, my sport was rugby and I ended up playing semi-professionally. This was my life until I found running.

    You completed the 3,076-mile journey in 55 days, what mindset practice helped you through this?
    I would always ask myself when things got tough “can I take another step?”. A very simple question and a very simple act to say yes and do it. There is rarely a moment in life, no matter how tough it is, that you can’t make forward progress.
    During the journey you powerwalked for 12 hours straight after running for two weeks – tell us more.
    This was a day in Oklahoma, the weather had changed quite drastically to gale force winds and rain blowing directly in my face. It was a conscious decision for me that trying to run through that would take a lot more effort. I worked it out mathematically that if I power walked at 4mph I would get to 50 miles in just over 12 hours. This meant my usual stops every 6 miles would become walk throughs. My crew would have everything ready, as they always did, and would walk with me to change my bottles and give me food. I skipped my usual midday nap and just powered through. There was some beauty in the misery and I did it for three days total.
    Your radical change of mindset got you through the experience – what was the challenge and how did you overcome it?
    It’s very hard to look at the whole of America, or 3000 plus miles and understand what that is going to take. The biggest challenge for me was pushing so hard every day and knowing I was only a fraction of the way there. It was too big to think about so I hadto pull back from the bigger picture and concentrate on the day at hand, or the next 6 miles. We got into a great routine so things were running like clockwork, this gives you confidence. I was also always ahead of my initial goal to finish in 64 days, so there was an element of competitiveness with myself of just how much quicker I could finish. You have a lot of time out there on your own to think, so creating reasons to go harder were always creeping up on me. The motivation to embark on this expedition came from a deeply personal place – tell us more. My reason for getting into extreme running was through the untimely death of my mum, Amanda. Seeing someone fight for their life and show much strength gives me a perception of ignorance to my own suffering which could be much worse. I realised very early on after her death, that as a 23-year-old I had every excuse to wave the white flag and give up on life for some time. I could have thrown some of my life away and everyone would have allowed me freedom because they knew what I was going through. But I simply couldn’t. I had to show the world just how strong my mum was by doing something to make it mean something more than a sad story. I’m a big believer now that emotions equals energy. Heightened emotion like anger, pain, even incredible joy can be channeled into a physical output. Through this we have raised over £250,000 for charities, which I am incredibly proud of and I know mymum would be too. It all came from her.
    During this journey, elaborate on what a day in the life of William Goodge looked like?
    Wake up: before sunrise, this changed across the country as we crossed four time zones. I would have a bowl of cereal and a coffee, I liked starting the day light and fuelling across the day. My crew would take off and go approximately 6 miles ahead for each stop. The first two stops I would consume a high kcal smoothie with things like protein powder, nut butters and frozen fruit and vegetables alongside pastries. Stop 3 was my favourite stop because Chef Pete would have made me a breakfast sandwich, some meat and egg in some kind of bread. After that it would change a bit to fruit, high salt items like crisps and pretzels, anything I fancied. The further east we got the more built up the areas got so I would also add in a coffee stop. This would usually be a gas station. Not the best coffee but I really enjoyed having a moment to go inside and do something ‘normal’ for a second before leaving to walk with my coffee. At mile 30 it would usually be a big lunch and nap time for 40 minutes in my bed inside a crew vehicle. I used an app on my phone called NuCalm that automatically puts you into a nap-like state through music in headphones and wearing a sleep mask. I would also put on compression boots so I could increase bloodflow to my legs and move around any inflammation. When I woke up Pete or Robbie would bring me a big lunch. Usually something from dinner the day before like a bean and meat chilli or a sandwich, avocado on the side, some rice. Then, it’s back out the door. 30 to 55 miles – this was when the crew members would usually join me. Pete and Robbie are amazing runners themselves, so they would help break up the boredom by coming out with me, these were my favourite moments. Plenty of laughs and most of our talks were about what we would do when we finished! The same stop plan, every six miles for refuelling. Once the running was finished I would clock my watch and get back to the main camper van to shower, change and eat a big Chef Pete dinner. We tried to make this process quick so I could sleep as much as possible, but it was never rushed. I really loved the moments of eating dinner with the crew. It was a normal moment in an otherwise chaotic time. I might sacrifice 20 minutes of sleep, but for my happiness it was essential.

    What’s your fitness mantra?
    What is the limit? It is an ever moving target as once you think you have found it, it’s moved again. It’s good to have something to chase, remainunsatisfied.
    What advice would you give to your younger self?
    Everything is going to be okay. Enjoy the moments now, show appreciation to the ones you love. You’re in for a hell of a ride, but you have the strength to see it all through. It’s going to be exciting!
    This is The Emirates Man Spring/Summer Issue – how would you best describe your style?
    I live in the fashion and running world, which isn’t usual. I use both to express myself equally, whilst running I’ll be in 247 Represent or Vuori. Outside of that my style is diverse, I couldn’t describe it in a sentence as it takes many forms. I have a particular passion for sunglasses and will be releasing my own brand later this spring / early summer. It occupies both worlds, glasses you can wear to a fashion event or dinner or the running track. Function plus Fashion. It’s called RIZK.
    – For more on how to look smart and live smarter, follow Emirates Man on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: Supplied More