Language: English

The secret of handling the pandemic times? To me, the „trick” was „Eat the frog first!”

Do you have to shop? Go early, be one of the first in the store.

Do you have to go to the bank? Go not only in the first hour but on Monday morning in the first hour.

Do you have anything to work on at home? Do the most difficult things in the first part of the day, the least in the second, and in the evening you can relax with a movie / reading.

Do you want to do sports? Do some exercise before breakfast (about 10 minutes), a few other movements before lunch, a 20-30 minute walk after lunch, and leave in the evening to relax.

I was pretty good with the above schedule.

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Regarding a story by Gala Galaction – there is a difference between a shepherd who does not act in a hurry and one who works quickly and efficiently.

I don’t agree that if I give you a task you have to think for 30 minutes. You may not be in a hurry, you may not be upset, you may not act tomorrow. You need to solve the task quickly.

Still, there are other situations:

• When you need to find the best way to negotiate an oral offer.
• Maybe when you make a promise, it’s good to assume that you can deliver, within certain limits, and if you don’t, make the effort to reach the target.
• When someone asks you to make a promise/commitment/complicated action, it’s best to think it over.

If someone asks you to buy a thing which you haven’t bought before and/or is an expensive product, think it over.

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There are no complex things, there are only simple things with lots of other small things.

When breaking a simple thing into lots of other simple things, there are no more complicated things.

I hope I haven’t complicated things too much.

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What is gossip?

• Can-can – it’s a form of trivializing things;
• Something you want to keep secret from a person;
• It is addressed to the person, not to the work;
• It’s an abandonment, a loss, an admission of failure – „I declare myself defeated, I have to say this, I have no other solution”. (although, usually, most often even, you have!)

For example the private life of a great author.

Another example: something someone tells you X said about you. It’s still gossip.

Another one: you say something about X, which you wouldn’t say in front of X, and which spoils his image.

It can be funny, but it’s a serious matter.

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Some books are better to consume over audio than over text. I find that conceptual books and biographies are better off consumed over audio than text. (via – 7 Reasons Why You Should Listen to Audiobooks – Asian Efficiency)

But a study conducted by the Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior (Reading and listening to high and low imagery sentences) found that our brains are actually more likely to create meaningful imagery when we listen to a story — as opposed to when it’s read in a traditional format — because it allows more room for our brain’s visual processes to kick into gear. (Are Audiobooks Good for the Brain?)

According to a study from University College London, people have a more emotional reaction when listening to a novel than they do when watching an adaptation. When we listen to a story, our brain has to create more content, such as imagery, to supplant the words. (Are Audiobooks Good for the Brain?)

Whether it’s household chores, your workout of choice, or your daily commute be it driving or headphones on mass transit, there’s no question that audiobooks help busy readers read more. When I’m multitasking, I find that audiobooks work best when the task doesn’t require you to pay too much attention to anything else. (via: Audiobooks vs Reading: The Rules Are, There Are No Rules | Book Riot)

Adult Americans spend more than seven hours a day looking at digital screens. This leads to blurred vision, eye strain, and nearsightedness.

When you read your book your eyes don’t relax. This can often lead to headaches due to reading! By listening to an audiobook you allow your eyes and mind to relax.

(via: Is An Audiobook Faster Than Reading? [Here’s the Truth!])

I have observed that I can’t listen to a non-fiction audiobook. This is because whenever I come across something particularly important, I like to highlight and make notes.

[…]

That is why I have stuck only to fiction for audiobooks of late. This was a conscious decision because I realised I wasn’t getting much out of non-fiction or self-help audiobooks when I was listening to them.

(via: 7 Tips to Effectively Listen to Audiobooks | by Anangsha Alammyan | Publishous | Medium)

Goodreads has an option to “like” a quote. Once you do that, it will be stored in your profile, and you can come back and read whenever you wish.

Sure, this does not compare to underlining and highlighting in a physical book. But, in a way, isn’t it wonderful that all the passages you found useful would be stored in a place where you can go back any time and re-visit?

(via: 7 Tips to Effectively Listen to Audiobooks | by Anangsha Alammyan | Publishous | Medium)

So, here’s my suggestion: pick a chore you hate doing and listen to audiobooks while you are at this. This way-

• Your mood won’t be affected thinking how much you hate what you are doing.
• You will be able to concentrate better on the audiobook because your brain wants an escape.
• You will find a magnificent way of multi-tasking, without actually investing too much time or effort.

(via: 5 Reasons Why Every Reader Should Listen to Audiobooks | by Anangsha Alammyan | Books Are Our Superpower)

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Former secretary of state Colin Powell: His 40-70 rule says that leaders should be taking decisions when they have between 40-70% of the information required for taking a decision. According to him, when you take a decision with less than 40% information, then you are shooting from the hip, which literally means to speak or act quickly based on first impressions, without carefully studying the background information.

(via: The 40-70 rule of decision-making | The Financial Express)

I like this rule a lot. You don’t need too many details, you also don’t want to make a decision by having too little data.

40-70%? That’s the sweet spot.

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I don’t agree with quiz contests – asking questions in order to receive a prize for the best question.

This motivates you not to ask something stupid. You’ll try your best to ask a „smart” question.

But what does a bad question look like?

And – If there are no bad questions, why not reward all of them?

If there are no bad questions, how do you separate a good from a bad question?

I don’t need the world to agree with me, it’s just a frustration I have.

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Who should raise kids?

Perhaps the people who think they are not worthy.

I see people saying „I would not be a good parent”.

So, who are the parents with lots of kids? The ones that believe in themselves.

As far as I see it, some of the people who doubt themselves would make good parents.

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