Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Decluttering is good therapy

To continue my quest for getting organised, i decided to re-organise my storeroom. there were so many files of manuscripts of my books which have been published but i still keep them, just in case. then, there are newspapers' cuttings, advertisements, brochures, etc which i thought i might need one day. so difficult to throw but something got to be done because i am running out of space. Then, there are keepsakes like cards and letters, etc, even little gifts from my students.
i used to think that if i spent time re-organising, i would be wasting time cos there's so much to do and i still have some writing assignments to do. But i could not write either with all the clutter. I could not find anything i want and i wasted a lot of time searching. So, it was time to throw. And after doing just a quarter of it, i feel so motivated to write again.
I sorted the piles of papers into a few categories, to be read, to be filed, to throw and to do. I threw out articles and clippings that i knew i could get from the internet. It took me the whole afternoon and i filled up a lot of garbage bags. But at least my store is a bit orderly now. I found many 'lost' papers and things. And you know what, at least i have space to walk and look around. And the mosquitoes do not have a place to hide anymore. Sigh, teachers are natural hoarders. Does anyone out there have this problem too? Try decluttering a corner at a time, at least it is not so overwhelming. And it is therapeutic too. You will feel good.

Monday, September 18, 2006

10 Things I Enjoy Doing

1. gardening - this is what i enjoy when i have the chance, just to be with my plants, potter around the garden. i am privileged to be surrounded with greens and flowers all my life.

2. blogging - definitely one of my favourite activity. it is cathartic, it helps record my life and most of all, helps me see things in new perspective in retrospect.
3. surfing the internet - i could surf for hours, just for ideas for my journals, or my vocation, or for my hobbies.

4. shopping with my hubby - i look forward to the relaxed mode - not particularly shopping for anything, just window-shopping, hanging out at a mall, pointing out things to one another and in no hurry to buy anything, feeling contented just to be together.,hmmmm

5. having tea with my friends - this is my 'yam cha' hour with good friends. we invite one another or we meet, fellow teachers, at our chapati corner, lament and complain, sympathise and leave feeling better.

6. furnishing an empty house - i always love arranging furniture or doing up a house. and i have had the privilege to do up more than five bungalows that i have stayed in the estates. should have been an interior decorator. but i love the challenge of doing up nooks and corners. i got rid of my swing and replace with a set of garden chairs yesterday... throw in some plants and a fountain full of guppies...eric chia's partner...

7. arranging flowers - this is one activity which will surely bring a smile to my face. i just love arranging flowers, using colourful flowers and vases. never found it a chore. once, i did ten flower arrangements for a pskpp dinner in one hour...but still smiling...

8. playing my guitar and singing all the oldies - ah, i miss this. it's been so long since my last jamming session. love playing the old love songs or pour my heartaches through songs.

9. throwing a party for friends and family - this is something i do well and something that i enjoy but i am afraid people tend to expect it all the time and i would find it a chore if i cannot keep up to my standard. once a year, i throw a few big parties and cook up a storm. i love creating the ambience, putting candles, lamps, flowers, etc. it is all a fusion of what i love to do.

10.watching a sob-sob movie
- once in a while you get this good movie and have a good cry.. for example, all-time favourite is My Stepmum.

The 7 Habits of Very Organized People

I struggle with this issue all the time. I tend to be very disorganized
and I waste a lot of time searching for things.

Have you ever wondered how some people could be so very
organized, when you're struggling on a daily basis just to
get your home looking halfway presentable and to get at
least a few items checked off of your To Do list?

Most organized people follow a few simple rules. Here are
the 7 habits of very organized people.

1. They have a place for everything. Every item they have
has a consistent, assigned home. The home for books is on
the book shelf. The home for toys is in the toy room on
the toy shelves. The home for blank greeting cards is in
the greeting card organizer in the office.

2. They put things back. Whenever an item has been removed
from its assigned home, it is used for whatever reason and
then immediately returned to its home when no longer in
use. There are no temporary holding places. It's just put
back where it belongs, right away.

3. They write things down. Organized people make lists and
notes, and keep these in one consistent place such as a
planner, notebook or calendar. They don't try to remember
things in their heads. They let the pen and paper (or the
computer) work for them. They reference their lists and
notes on a daily basis. Many use the Get Organized Now!
Easy Organizer as a tool:
http://www.getorganizednow.com/ezorganizer.html

4. They don't allow papers to pile up. Papers to file are
filed each day, not left to grow into mountains. Mail is
opened over the recycle container so papers not needed
don't even have a chance to multiply. Kids permission slips
are signed right away and sent back to school with the
kids. Bills are tucked into a bill paying system until bill
paying day, and then paid bill statements are filed away
that day. Magazines are read within a week or two and then
recycled or donated.

5. They don't procrastinate. When something has to be done,
organized people schedule time to do it and then they keep
that scheduled appointment. They know that the more they
delay, the more likely deadlines will be missed or
opportunities will pass.

6. They set goals and assign deadlines. They know if they
want to get things done, they need to know exactly what
they want the end result to be, and by what date. They
review these goals often, and set aside time each day to
work on achieving them. They review what they've
accomplished and never forget to reap the rewards.

7. They only keep what they use and/or they enjoy. They
can't stand anything taking up space that doesn't have a
useful or pleasurable purpose in their lives. They're big
believers in simplicity. They breathe easier knowing
they've lightened their loads and can move easily without
having to climb over boxes and piles of clutter.

P.S. If you enjoyed these tips, get over 1,300 more quick
and simple ways to get organized! Visit:

http://www.getorganizednow.com/newbook.html

Bagaimana mendidik seorang anak cemerlang?

Bagaimana mendidik seorang anak cemerlang?

Wow, my friend asked me that question since i have produced one. Well, let me share with you some great ideas.....????

1 spend time with him when he does his homework, right from the
primary school days. you need not check everything, just go through his
book once in a while. Read the newspaper or something, just to give some moral support.
2 make sure he understands that going to school is not an option; but a must.
make friends with his teachers and make sure they are on your side. ensure that your kid respect his teachers; do not talk bad about his teachers in front of him.
3 reward him when he does well but do not replace your time and love with expensive gifts. My friends tend to shower their sons with a motorbike and expensive handphones. We gave him hand-me-downs until he was older. Tell him that sometimes, we can say yes, no or wait to whatever he asks.

4 help him to plan his timetable, especially when his exam is near. encourage him to pick up the pieces and help him carry on.

5 do not nag at him but get involved. Look at his exam papers and see where
his weaknesses are. Try to get him to practise past year questions and trust him to check the answers himself. Set him a few exercises to do each night. i encourage him to keep a journal although he hardly has time towards secondary school days.
6 listen to him. give him a chance to tell you his fears and feelings. talk to him about your younger days, share your ups and downs too.
7 do not use dinner time as lecture time. make it a pleasant time to ask about school and share jokes. Make sure you switch off the tv after a certain time at night. do not allow them to watch everything. set limits or ask the kids to choose the programmes.
8 set limits and make it clear to him. when he misused the handphone, i took it back and he was not allowed to use it. do not be afraid to discipline him when he has done wrong but do not punish him out of anger.
9 pray together. we make sure we pray at least once a week together asking God to help in matters that were out of our hands.
10 respect his privacy. sometimes a little neglect is ok. get to know his close friends, invite them over but you don't need to know every single girlfriend of his or who he was calling. make sure the night curfew is on, no going out at night except for the occasional harmless birthday party in your neighbourhood.

Supermoms out there, do take some time out to add to his list. Who knows, i might publish a book, 1001 ways to produce an excellent child......