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    How Does a Tomato Timer Help With Productivity? Here’s What You Should Know About the Pomodoro Technique

    The first time I learned about the Pomodoro Technique, I was standing in my manager’s office as she was staring at a tomato. She was convinced it would help improve her focus and her productivity. I remember being very confused and asking myself, “How in the world will this tomato help her get work done more efficiently?” Turns out, she was onto something. Well, actually Francesco Cirillo was on to something first.
    In the late 1980s, Cirillo developed the Pomodoro Technique while attending business school in Rome. How does the tomato timer come into play? “Pomodoro” in Italian means “tomato”, and Cirillo originally used a tomato timer when he first coined this productivity technique.
    My manager isn’t the only person who’s been intrigued by the Pomodoro Technique. Since its creation over 30 years ago, more than 2 million people have used this method to increase their focus and productivity—but how does it actually work? Here’s everything you need to know.

    So, what exactly is the Pomodoro Technique?
    The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that breaks a large task, or series of tasks, into short, timed intervals of work. Francesco Cirillo used a kitchen timer to break his work into 25-minute intervals followed by short breaks. Each interval of work and break is called a Pomodoro. The Pomodoro Technique is meant to improve focus and increase productivity by reducing distractions and reducing complexity. Each Pomodoro helps create smaller, more manageable tasks and improve concentration.

    How do I give the Pomodoro Technique a try?
    There are six steps to the Pomodoro Technique. Let’s break them down.

    Step 1: Select your task. This task can be big or small. It’s totally up to you! The most important thing to keep in mind is that it’s work that requires your full, undivided attention.
    Step 2: Set a timer for 25 minutes. You can use a traditional timer like Cirillo did, or an online timer. You can even set a timer on your phone or download an app, but keep in mind that during this time you are committing to no interruptions. That means that you won’t pick up your phone to check social media, answer a text, or even respond to an email.
    Step 3: Work on the task until the timer rings. As soon as you start your timer, your only objective is to immerse yourself in the task at hand. Remember, no distractions. But because it’s not uncommon for random thoughts to pop into your head (think that one item on your to-do list you totally spaced on), keep a piece of paper handy. If you have a thought that pops into your head, quickly write it down, and then get back to work.
    Step 4: When the timer goes off, stop working. Metaphorical pencils down! Your 25 minutes are up, and it’s time for a break. At this time, put a checkmark on a piece of paper so you can keep track of how many Pomodoros you’ve completed.
    Step 5: Take a short break. The key word is short. The break should only be 5-10 minutes long. Set a timer and do anything unrelated to work. Go for a quick walk. Refill your coffee cup. Grab some water. Do a few breathing exercises. Literally anything other than work.
    Step 6: Lather, rinse, repeat. Congratulations! You’ve completed one Pomodoro. It’s time to get back to work. Once you’ve completed four Pomodoros (approximately two hours if you’re working for 25 minutes with a five-minute break), it’s time to take a longer break. This break should be around 20 minutes, but it can be up to 30 minutes. This time is used as a reset before you begin your next set of Pomodoros.

    A few tips and tricks when implementing the Pomodoro Technique
    The Pomodoro Technique is fairly simple, but staying focused, which is the reason you’re probably trying out this technique, is often easier said than done. But I promise, you’ll get the hang of it after a few tries, and it works! While you won’t find a tomato on my desk anytime soon, I can attest to the magic that is a Pomodoro.
    As you’re working through your Pomodoros, here are a few things to keep in mind.

    Working in intervals is meant to instill a sense of urgency. So while you might find your flow right before the timer sounds, the built-in breaks are there for a reason (i.e., to help reduce fatigue and burnout). It’s important to trust the process.
    The Pomodoro Technique is a great way to take a larger, more complex project and break it into smaller, more digestible tasks. So just because you think a task will take longer than 25 minutes, doesn’t mean it’s not worthy of this technique.
    If you finish a task in the middle of a Pomodoro, use any remaining time to review your work or take a look at your to-do list to identify what you’d like to work on next.
    By keeping track of how many Pomodoros it takes for you to complete an item on your to-do list, you can begin to learn where your time is spent throughout the day to start to create efficiencies in your work week.

     
    Can I use the Pomodoro Technique with others?
    Yes! While the Pomodoro Technique was originally developed for solo work, there’s a benefit to adapting it to use with your colleagues and teams. For example, try scheduling time with a friend or co-worker to sync up your Pomodoros. Whether in person, over Zoom, or via text, holding each other accountable for knocking out your to-do list is a win-win scenario.
    You can even try the Pomodoro Technique with teams. Say you need to brainstorm for an upcoming project, set a timer for 25 minutes, and let your minds run wild. When that timer is up, take a team walk or snack break before diving back in. Accountability is a powerful tool, and the Pomodoro Technique allows you to hold yourself and others accountable for achieving your goals.

    5 Expert-Backed Productivity Tips That Will Actually Help You Get Things Done More

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    7 Hacks I Learned From ‘Atomic Habits’ That Changed My Life—and Will Change Yours Too

    You may have come across Atomic Habits while scrolling through #BookTok or browsing Barnes & Noble looking for your next self-help read. After all, it’s been a consistent bestseller since its release in 2018. And as a book lover with a passion for books that cater to bettering oneself, I had to give this one a go. I am happy to say it lived up to the hype–I walked away with tangible tools to create better habits that I now stick with while letting go of old ones holding me back.
    Habits make up our everyday life, some as simple as brushing your teeth each morning or setting an alarm before you go to bed each night. These habits require little thought or energy and are ingrained into our routines. Starting a new habit is not always easy as keeping up with old ones, so it’s important to have the motivation and a good system in place to be able to stick with it. Atomic Habits breaks down a foolproof way to not only make sure you stick to your habits but also choose the right ones, and it even reverses theories to help break the bad ones too. So if you’re looking to build better habits, read on for the hacks that changed my life.

    James Clear
    Atomic Habits
    An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

    1. Improve by 1 percent every day
    Let’s say you want to lose weight. Your goal is to go to the gym every day and eat a healthier diet. At first, that may seem daunting, which is why the best way to start is to start small. Maybe it’s as simple as putting on your running shoes and walking outside for 10 minutes (it may not seem like much, but over time it adds up!) or adding leafy greens to one meal per day. Eventually, you can work up to 30 minutes or a workout at the gym and eat delicious, healthy foods for every meal, but focusing on the end goal will be overwhelming instead of helpful. “Breakthrough moments are often the result of many previous actions, which build up the potential required to unleash a major change,” James Clear explains in the book. Oftentimes, we look at athletes or successful business leaders and wonder how they got to where they are and how they accomplished so much. The answer is that they started small and never stopped. 

    2. Start habit stacking
    The easiest way to introduce a new habit into your daily routine is to implement it with other habits you already have. Habit stacking is a formula for ensuring that your new habits don’t fall to the wayside. For example, if you want to create the habit of meditating each morning but find yourself forgetting or not having the time, the best way to fix this is by inserting it with another habit. If your morning routine consists of waking up, brushing your teeth, and pouring a cup of coffee, insert “meditate for five minutes” before you have your coffee. Set the intention, say it aloud, and then insert the new habit into your routine. Sometimes when and where you choose to execute a habit can make a big difference. 

    3. Be aware of your environment
    We are both victims and architects of our environments—AKA the home we live in and where we go to work and exercise. All of these different spaces can affect our habits for better or worse. If every night before you go to sleep you lie in bed and watch TV, over time your bed will be associated as a place where you watch TV. Working from the comfort of your bed may sound nice but can be much more difficult if your bed is already associated with a place of rest. Once we understand the relationships we have with the spaces we occupy, we can use that knowledge to help form better habits and break unproductive ones. As Clear said, “It is easier to associate a new habit with a new context than to build a new habit in the face of competing cues.” It’s no wonder working from home can be more difficult if you don’t have a designated space to do so.

    4. Use the “Two-Minute Rule”
    Clear’s two-minute rule states that when you start a new habit, it shouldn’t take longer than two minutes to complete. The idea is to scale down a habit so that it is more attractive and you are more likely to continue repeating the habit. If the goal is to write a book, start by writing one sentence each day. If you want to read more before bed each night, start by reading one page. If you want to work out more, start with jumping jacks for two minutes, or if you want to have a meditation practice, set the timer for two minutes–you get the idea. The more the process is ritualized, the easier it will be to continue. You have to start small before you move on to bigger and better habits.

    5. Try a commitment device or accountability partner
    We all start off with the best of intentions when we decide to form a new habit, but then life gets in the way and it becomes easy to forget why we wanted to start the habit in the first place. This is where a commitment device or accountability partner comes in. A commitment device is a choice made in the present to help control your actions in the future. For example, if you want to stop buying coffee every day, you can decide to leave your wallet at home to reduce temptation. Another version of this is an accountability buddy: someone who can help keep you accountable for your actions, understands your commitment, and can check in on you (read: a friend, partner, family member, coworker, coach, etc.). We value the opinions of those around us, which is exactly why an accountability partner can work to help build better habits.

    6. Make the habit satisfying
    It’s a cardinal rule in life that we repeat actions that are satisfying: eating ice cream on a hot summer day, consistently working out and releasing endorphins, or online shopping and receiving a package in the mail. We return to these actions over and over again because we remember how satisfying they were. The same tactic is effective when forming a new habit. There’s a reason why you book your next workout class right after you finish one and then a couple of days later debate whether to go. Providing immediate reinforcement tells the brain to keep going back to an activity, whereas delayed satisfaction is not as effective. In other words, when you’re starting a new habit, make sure it’s enjoyable so it will last.

    7. Reflect on your habits and progress
    Habits are great tools to help us accomplish our goals, but as we evolve and complete certain goals or set new ones, it’s important to look back and assess our habits and progress. If you set out to write a book and haven’t finished one chapter, maybe the habits you set are not working and need to be changed. Our habits should be our motivators and keep us engaged in our goals. They should be something we look forward to doing. Taking the time to reflect on our habits (both the good and bad) is a great way to make sure we are constantly challenging ourselves to do better.

    James Clear
    Atomic Habits
    An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

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    Networking Works: Here’s How One Connection Changed My Entire Career

    I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason, especially when it comes to your career. Whether it’s taking a job just to pay the bills (been there!) or taking a role that is far from your dream job just to get your foot in the door (done that!), it can be easy to wonder if all of these random jobs will ever get you where you want to go. In a world where we regularly see people in our networks announcing a shiny new job offer or promotion on LinkedIn, it’s easy to feel down about working a less-than-stellar job. But all is not lost, because even if it’s not your dream role, making the most out of any opportunity can take you places you’d never expect.
    I’ve been there a few times in my career, but one role, in particular, stands out. I knew I wanted to work in the content and editorial world, but it can be hard to break into the industry (gird your loins indeed!). After trying and failing to get a job in the fashion world, I took an entry-level position as a copy editor at a digital publication and bravely walked into the full-time working world. That role ended up being a lot of fun, helped me learn key skills that I still use today, and gave me my first steady paycheck, but those actually weren’t the best things I walked away with. I ended up meeting someone there who, unbeknownst to me at the time, would help me to grow my career to new heights in a number of ways in the coming years. Put in more basic terms, I learned the power of weak ties—how your acquaintances can actually be more helpful in some situations than your close friends and family—something which I definitely wasn’t taught in college.

    My experience
    I met this individual in the office one day when our desks were rearranged, and we found ourselves sitting close together. She was on a different team and from what I could tell, we didn’t have much in common. Her desk was full of DIYs she had made herself (I can barely color in a coloring book), she was older than me (which seemed very significant when I was only 22 and intimidated by anyone with a smidge of work experience), and she already had a strong network of connections in the office with whom she regularly hung out with. I figured we’d be friendly to each other and go about our business like regular coworkers, but we ended up connecting way beyond that.
    Throughout the time that we sat together, she gave me a lot of industry tips, and we bonded over our adopted dogs. When I ended up leaving the company for a different role in an entirely new industry, she leveraged her connections to get me a meeting with the hiring director, and a few years later, she randomly invited me into a top-secret Slack group for marketers in our city (who even knew those existed?!) which is where I found my current role that I love. That, and I ended up tripling my salary over the course of four years as I changed jobs which is something I can tie directly back to my colleague (#blessed).
    Here are some of the things I learned from this relationship that has helped me grow and build an authentic network and similar connections with other people.

    Source: Social Squares

    How To Create Meaningful Connections

    Be open to connecting with anyone
    As I mentioned, I didn’t think that this person was going to completely change my career trajectory. That was largely driven by the fact that I had no idea how networking worked, and I didn’t think there was much value in building connections with people outside of my direct department. Anyone who knows anything about networking will tell you that is totally backward, and I’m glad I learned sooner rather than later because the best connections expose you to people you otherwise wouldn’t probably know—AKA you need to know people outside of your department! By building up a genuine friendship with someone who I otherwise wouldn’t have gravitated toward, I exposed myself to a huge network of her connections which she leveraged when I was looking to make a job switch. I wouldn’t have had access to most of these people or resources had I not made the effort to be open to learning more about her and her role when we worked together many years ago.

    Find common ground
    It’s all well and good to be nice to random people in your office, but what if you have nothing to talk about?! There’s nothing worse than being forced to make small talk about the weather every day, so it’s important to find something in common and build a connection around that. Most people are happy to talk about things they are passionate about, you just need to do some detective work to figure out what that is. In my case, we both had adopted dogs and would swap stories of their antics, but for you, it could be that you share a love of craft breweries or wear similar clothing—seriously, I once became great friends with a VP in my department because I noticed her wearing a sweater I also owned and then figured out that we had the same style. I used to tell her about ongoing sales all the time. It’s easier to build a network when you have an “in” with each person outside of your direct working relationship.

    Nurture your connections
    Once you’ve found common ground, it’s important to nurture your relationships with these people, even if you don’t know if they can help you down the road. In my opinion, this is the hardest part of fostering authentic connections. With the person in my story, we’d stay in touch over text about industry news and occasionally grab lunch, slowly becoming more friends than colleagues. If there’s something I see that reminds me of a past colleague or connection, I take 30 seconds to send them a quick email. Most people love to receive genuine messages on LinkedIn along the lines of “thinking of you!” in a way that isn’t looking for something in return, so be that person. Sometimes one text or LinkedIn DM a year is all it takes for them to keep you top-of-mind.

    Source: Color Joy Stock

    Remember that it’s a two-way street
    On that note, if you want your connections to hook you up with amazing networking and job opportunities, you need to be open to doing the same for them. One of the most annoying things is having a connection who only reaches out when they want something. Even if you stand to gain absolutely nothing, be the person who sends a job opportunity to someone who sounds like a perfect fit, offers to introduce them to a hiring manager if they decide to apply to a role at your company, or even just invites them to join an industry event you think they’ll like. All of that good karma is not just so that they’ll potentially help you down the road, it also helps you build a shining reputation as someone that everyone wants to know.

    If it’s not working, don’t force it
    As much as this strategy has a 95% chance of success (my own data, of course), there’s always a handful of people who you won’t mesh with no matter what. If you’ve tried the above strategies and aren’t seeing any traction in the form of replies to your messages or an equal showing of interest, it’s OK to just let it go. I’ve had this happen a handful of times, and while it’s not fun being left on read, I don’t sweat it. As long as you aren’t burning bridges or only reaching out to people because you need something, trust that the other connections you have will help you out when you need it. That person you never quite connected with might even circle back around years later for a random reason. This is where trusting things to play out as they should in your career is super valuable!

    Play the long game
    We all wish fostering weak ties was one of those one-and-done things, but it’s unfortunately not. Having friends and connections to lean on whenever you need them takes work, but it is SO worth it. Since I befriended my work colleague five years ago, she introduced me to a future manager at a cocktail party and then invited me into a Slack group where everyone shares the inside scoop on jobs and events before they’re public. Everyone knows that applying through a portal is the absolute last way that you want to apply for a role, so having these kinds of resources and a network that wants you to succeed is truly priceless. Remember that you never know where life will take you, so it’s important to be nice to everyone you meet along the way (ugh, mom is right again) and trust that everything in your career happens for a reason!

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    Everything to know about Emirati Women’s Day 2022

    Lifestyle

    by Olivia Morris
    1 minute ago

    This August will mark the seventh annual Emirati Women’s Day which was launched by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, the wife of the late Sheikh Zayed and Mother of the Nation, in 2015.
    With the day fast approaching, here’s everything you need to know about Emirati Women’s Day for 2022.
    When is Emirati Women’s Day?
    Emirati Women’s Day is a reoccurring event on August 28 every year. This year it will fall on Sunday, August 28, 2022.
    When was the day launched?
    Emirati Women’s Day was first launched by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, known as the Mother of the Nation, in 2015. The choice of August 28 as the date coincides with the founding of the UAE’s General Women’s Union which launched in 1975, on August 28.
    [embedded content]
    What is this year’s theme?
    Back in April, Sheikha Fatima announced the theme of this year’s Emirati Women’s Day would be ‘Inspiring Reality… Sustainable Future’.
    Upon announcing the theme for 2022, Sheikha Fatima praised the women of the UAE saying “Emirati women have proven that there is no task that is impossible, due to their hard work and innovation”, per WAM.
    Since the inception of the UAE in 1971 under the leadership and guidance of the late Sheikh Zayed, women’s empowerment continues across the nation and this year’s Emirati Women’s Day will highlight this.
    The prosperous and bright future of Emirati women will also be exemplified this Emirati Women’s Day.
    Take a look at some of the incredible women we championed to mark Emirati Women’s Day last year here.
    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images/Media: Supplied More

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    Abu Dhabi & Dubai voted the most liveable cities in the MENA region for 2022

    Lifestyle

    by Olivia Morris
    1 minute ago

    The UAE’s biggest cities have topped the rankings for the best places to live in the MENA region for 2022.
    In a list compiled from the Economist Intelligence Unit’s global survey which includes 173 global cities ranked based on their liveability.
    The rankings are calculated based on five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
    Out of the 173 cities, Abu Dhabi was the highest-ranking city in the Middle East placing number 77, with Dubai closely following at 79.
    It’s the fifth year in a row that these UAE cities have been ranked as the most liveable cities in the MENA region.
    However, as for the top 10 cities, most of the highest-ranking ones were based in Europe. See the top 10 most liveable cities in the world below.

    Vienna, Austria
    Copenhagen, Denmark
    Zurich, Switzerland
    Calgary, Canada
    Vancouver, Canada
    Geneva, Switzerland
    Frankfurt, Germany
    Toronto, Canada
    Amsterdam, Netherlands
    Osaka, Japan and Melbourne, Australia

    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram

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    12 Things Healthy Women Do Before 8 A.M.

    Even if you wouldn’t call yourself a “morning person,” the wee hours before the day begins can serve as a great opportunity for self-care, wellness, creativity, reflection, and productivity. Your morning routine and what you do when you first wake up matter because how you spend your morning can set you up for success for the rest of the day. So stop scrolling through TikTok or hitting snooze, and try these 12 things right when you wake up.
    FYI, you don’t need to check every item off the list every day to be considered “healthy” (no one has time for that!). The goal is to offer inspiration for you to prioritize your health, turn happiness into a routine, and make the most of your mornings—whatever that looks like to you. Use these 12 things as inspo to experiment with or adapt to your morning routine in whatever way feels best, but above all, make your mornings work for you (yes, even before 8 a.m.). 

    1. Drink a big glass of water
    Drinking more water is one of the best things you can do for your body. Especially after sleeping all night, it’s important to rehydrate as soon as you wake up as a part of your morning routine to feel more energized. Make it a goal to drink a big glass of water in the morning right after you get out of bed (or before—no judgment). Before downing a cup of coffee, grabbing a bite to eat, or taking a shower, make it a part of your usual morning repertoire to rehydrate your body as soon as possible to avoid feeling sluggish or tired.

    2. Establish a skincare routine and stick to it
    So you work out, eat well, and drink water, but don’t forget to take care of your skin too. All you need is a quick routine, but if you have extra time or you love extra indulgence, put on a face mask or massage in oil while you brush your teeth. You’ll be taking care of your skin for the long term while reaping serious instant-glow benefits for the rest of the day. And remember that it’s not just the skin above your neckline that’s important. Take care of the rest of your body with hydrating body lotion or oil, and apply the same care as you would to your face on your neck and décolletage.

    3. Set your alarm a few minutes earlier than you need to
    If your mornings feel like a race against the clock, consider waking up a litter earlier to have a slow, calm start to your day. You might have limited control over your mornings (like an early work start time or a child to take care of), so waking up just 10-15 minutes earlier than you need to will help you feel more in control and calm throughout the entire day. Whether you spend your time meditating, indulging in a luxurious skincare routine, or simply listening to the quiet and satisfying sound of your coffee brewing, you will not miss the few extra minutes of sleep.

    4. Don’t look at your phone
    If the first thing you do after your alarm goes off is check your email or answer text messages, we need to talk. You’re starting your day off reacting to what others need from you instead of giving yourself time to focus on what you need. Give yourself a little time to be fully present instead of falling prey to a reactive, response mode from all of your notifications and alerts. Stay off social media, don’t check your email, and ignore text message alerts for at least 30 minutes after waking up.

    5. Make your bed
    Not only will it feel good to get into a made bed later at night, but it’s also important for the success of your day. Making your bed first thing every morning means one small win before you even have a cup of coffee, which subconsciously will motivate you to achieve thousands of small wins throughout the day (and you know what they say about small wins: They lead up to really big ones). Plus, Gretchen Rubin found in her research that it’s the easiest and most common daily habit you can do to boost happiness.

    6. Carve out 15-30 minutes for yourself
    Maybe you’re used to getting straight to work tasks or your to-do list, and you tell yourself you’ll meditate, move your body, or sit and read later in the day, but how often does that really happen? Place “me time” at the top of your to-do list instead of hoping you’ll have time later by setting aside 15-30 minutes every morning to do something just for you. Write, draw, paint, listen to your favorite playlist, practice French—whatever it is, make sure it’s something you’re excited to do. Another option is to spend a few minutes reflecting before beginning your day by journaling or meditating.

    7. Connect with someone you love
    We’re all about some alone time, but connecting with the people you love is a crucial part of your self-care routine too. Connecting first thing during your morning routine will give you the warm and fuzzies all day long and help you remember that the point of life is to enjoy it. Pause for a minute to pet your dog, smile at your roommate, call your mom, kiss your significant other, or write a thank you card to a coworker. All it takes is 60 seconds to check in and reconnect with the people you love most. 

    8. Eat (or prep) a healthy breakfast
    PSA for those of you who claim to not have time for breakfast: Breakfast is a crucial opportunity to fit in more nutrients and give your body energy to get through the day. If you don’t feel like eating when you first wake up, no worries. You can always eat something later in the morning when you are hungry—just try not to skip straight to lunch altogether. Not sure what to make? Try these breakfast bowls, healthy breakfast ideas, and sweet or savory options. If your mornings are usually rushed, prep your breakfast the night before to make your morning routine a little quicker.

    9. Clean one area of your home
    Ugh, we get it. Who wants to do chores before a long day of work? We’re not suggesting you pull out the mop bucket or deep clean an entire room first thing in the morning (we can’t all be Monica Gellar!). You can truly make a huge impact in less than 15 minutes by putting away laundry, wiping the counters, or unloading the dishwasher. You’ll be able to enjoy your day and feel less scattered when your space is clean. Plus, you won’t be pushing off more chores to do later. 

    10. Prep lunch or dinner
    Eating healthy requires thought and preparation. If you wait until you’re starving to think about your next meal, you’re more likely to go get fast food or heat up something from the freezer. If you only have a minute, plan what you’re going to eat for the rest of the day, much like you plan out your calendar and to-do list. It can either be a recipe based on what you’re craving or what you’re going to order from the restaurant down the road. If you have 10-20 minutes, start chopping veggies or even throw ingredients into your instant pot. It will save you time later and ensure you’re making the healthiest decisions possible. 

    11. Make a to-do list
    It’s easy to start the day with your head swimming with everything you need to do. Stop, take a breath, and start writing. Writing everything down on paper will make it easier for you to focus on one task and feel less overwhelmed. Don’t forget to also prioritize life goals. Of course, you’ll always have to do the mundane house chores or tedious tasks, but figure out where you can outsource those items and prioritize what will get you closer to your goals first.

    12. Move your body
    Aside from helping you feel accomplished, adding a workout to your morning routine will help your body feel more awake, energized, and productive throughout the day. But don’t worry: If you don’t have the time (or energy) to go on a run, do a fitness class, or get to the gym before 8 a.m., you don’t need a full workout to reap the benefits. Try going on a walk to get outside, doing a quick yoga flow to move your body, or stretching to warm up your muscles. No matter what type of movement your body craves in the morning, it will help wake you up and keep you energized all day.

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    5 Easy Things I Do to Prioritize My Mental Health on a Daily Basis

    When I graduated college a few (OK, a little more than a few) years ago, I suddenly found myself plunged into adulthood with no direction. Up until that point, every step in my life had been laid out for me. But now, the next steps were up to me and I had no clue where to go. I started just going through the motions and hoped to fake it ‘til I made it, but it didn’t take long for that plan to completely fall apart. The days grew monotonous, I had no idea what I was doing with my life, and I started becoming incredibly anxious about the future. I overthought every decision and let my mind run away with my deepest fears. I started trying to control every aspect of my life, even though I knew deep down that was a fool’s mission. My mental health had truly never been worse—I just didn’t realize I was on a downward spiral until I was already fully in it.
    When I finally realized what was happening, it took a ton of work to get out of it. But now, I’m in a better place than I ever was before and know exactly what I need to do if I ever catch those anxious thoughts and feelings worming their way back into my mind. The key to keeping my mental health where it needs to be is consistency, but I’m not about elaborate routines that I have to build my entire life around. Instead, I focus on five simple things to make sure I prioritize my mental health on a daily basis. This is what works for me:

    1. Stick to my treatment plan
    Source: Social Squares
    I know I’m not alone in this, but I used to feel a ton of shame talking about my anxiety. I hid the fact that I went to therapy and heaven forbid anyone knew I was taking medication to help with it. But truthfully, there’s no shame in putting your mental health first. Now, I’ll be the first to recommend someone seek therapy and will happily share my experience with SSRIs (common medications used for anxiety and depression) with anyone wondering or curious. This kind of treatment only works if you stick to it, and having worked with my doctor to figure out what’s best for me, I’m now settled into a medication that actually eases my anxiety. To make it super easy for myself, I leave my prescription right on my desk so I never forget to take it in the morning. For anyone hoping to do the same, I recommend turning to Hers, a one-stop solution for all of your personalized mental health needs.

    When I first started on this journey, I had to go to a bunch of different doctors for various parts of the process: the initial referral, the prescription, talk therapy. It was so much to juggle while also not being in the best place mentally. I love that Hers offers personalized anxiety and depression treatment plans that include both counseling and prescriptions—all online. With Hers, hours spent on the phone trying to find an in-network provider and driving all over town to pick up prescriptions or sit in waiting rooms are a thing of the past. Access to care is a huge barrier when it comes to seeking help; Hers makes it so easy by providing patients treatment plans that work with their needs and schedule rather than the other way around.
    Interested in trying Hers for yourself? Click here for 70% off your first month of treatment!

    2. Move my body
    Source: Pavel Danilyuk | Pexels
    I have terrible news: Exercising regularly is good for your mental health. Prior to beginning therapy, I didn’t really have an exercise routine. Sure, I would work out here and there, but I was one of those lifelong athletes who suddenly didn’t have a clue how to stay in shape after quitting sports. When my therapist recommended I try to get a routine going, it gave me the push I needed to finally do it. I knew my body needed it physically, and setting aside the fact that exercising produces endorphins, which, thanks to Elle Woods, we know make people happy, my therapist provided this logical explanation: When you’re exercising, you can’t really focus on anything else, and afterwards, you’re too tired to.
    I try to work out at least four days a week and absolutely notice a difference in my mental health when I fall off this routine. Whenever I’m feeling particularly down or anxious, even just a little bit of movement is enough to make me start to feel better. And sticking to a consistent routine has allowed me to manage my anxiety so much better overall.

    3. Take a sleep supplement
    Source: Ketut Subiyanto | Pexels
    One of the biggest ways my anxiety affects my daily life is in my sleep. To put it simply, I don’t sleep well. No matter what time I go to bed, I always find myself struggling to fall asleep and instead just chill with nothing but my thoughts for company. In addition to a strict wind-down routine (I’m talking skincare, no phone, a good book), taking a sleep supplement is a crucial part of lulling me to a restful sleep. I usually take a simple melatonin gummy I get from the drugstore, but I have recently tried Equilibria’s CBD sleep gummies and am a true convert. They help me relieve any lingering stress and fall into a gentle sleep—but they’re not so strong that I’m super groggy in the morning.

    4. Get out of bed right when the alarm goes off
    Source: Miriam Alonso | Pexels
    This is probably the hardest adjustment I’ve made to my daily routine, but the payoff has been huge. As someone who loves a good nap and looks forward to bedtime every single day, I relish the opportunity to hit snooze and steal a few extra minutes of sleep. Sometimes, I’d even hit snooze until the minute before I needed to be logged on for work, roll out of bed without properly waking up, and get right to work. Unfortunately for my sleep-loving self, that’s not sustainable and those few extra minutes of sleep actually make me feel worse rather than more rested. When I started foregoing the snooze button (one of the hardest breakups of my life, TBH) and getting out of bed right when my alarm went off, I found myself feeling more energized after going through my morning routine, allowing my mind and body to wake up, and then getting to work. On days I sleep in a little too late, I’m sluggish, irritable, and simply not my best self.

    5. Take breaks from work
    Source: Color Joy Stock
    Repeat after me: “I do not have to be glued to my monitor for eight straight hours every single day.” This one became absolutely crucial when I started working from home. It became so easy to sit at my desk for hours at a time without getting up to go anywhere. I didn’t have coworkers to chat with, have to head to a conference room for meetings, or go out to lunch—all things that used to be part of my daily life. Since I started working from home full time, it’s just me, my desk, and my computer for eight hours a day. The “bed to desk to couch and back to bed” cycle was so real and allowed me essentially no time to actually de-stress throughout the day. To help combat this, I try to take a few-minute brain break from the screen every hour or so. And I don’t mean I look away from my laptop and scroll on TikTok for a few minutes. I’m talking about a real break. Whether I stretch for a couple of minutes, play a quick game of fetch with one of my dogs, or go for a walk, I try to give my brain short breaks throughout the day to keep stress and anxiety at bay.

    The Best Life Lessons You Learn in Your 20s, According to a Therapist

    This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Hers, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board. More

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    This app enables residents across the UAE to recycle for free

    Lifestyle

    by Nicole Little
    1 minute ago

    With sustainability being a big priority for everyone nowadays, recycling has never been more important.
    However, when it comes to the UAE, finding where to recycle your waste sometimes proves to be a challenge.
    But we’ve found a free-of-charge app which is game-changing for recycling.
    RECAPP App, which is available in both the App store and Google Play, is the first free mobile app in Abu Dhabi and Dubai for on-demand door-to-door recyclables collection services.
    The service is available in the entire city of Abu Dhabi and in certain areas of Dubai. You can ensure that pick-up is available from your home address by downloading the app and registering.

    The initiative aims to support local communities as they strive to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle by providing the opportunity for individuals, businesses, and government entities to exchange recyclable and reusable material through an online platform. By donating your recycling to RECAPP, you will contribute to reducing the waste that ends in landfills.
    With the service, you can recycle all transparent plastic bottles (think water bottles), all opaque plastic bottles (think detergent and skincare bottles), and all-metal cans. While for now, they focus on plastic bottles and metal cans, they plan to gradually extend their service to cover other recyclables.
    Using the service is as simple as:

    Separate your recyclables from general waste
    Ensure your recyclables are empty and clean
    Download RECAPP and create your account
    Schedule a pick-up time.

    If contributing to sustainability isn’t enough to convince you to use RECAPP, they even offer a rewards program for recycling. You can collect more points the more you recycle and the points can be redeemed into gifts offered by their partners.
    So, will you be downloading it?
    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: Instagram, Feature Image: @emitaz Instagram  More