Do you drag yourself to work everyday? Are you doing the job that you want or are you settling for just any job? That’s understandable, after all not all of us have the luxury to do whatever we want to do especially when we are talking about survival. We need to first prioritize meeting our basic needs before anything else. However, staying in that state will be harmful for your overall well-being. Sooner or later, the fatigue will overwhelm you. That’s why it is advisable to slowly make some changes for the better. Here is how to improve your Occupational wellness.
What is Occupational Wellness?
Occupational wellness is being able to achieve a balance between work and leisure. It is having the freedom to make choices that promote personal satisfaction and career growth. Imagine being excited to go to work every morning because you love your work and you enjoy every minute of it. That’s occupational wellness. Having this kind of attitude will greatly affect your overall wellbeing.
How To Improve Your Occupational Wellness
Don’t worry if you are not there yet. You can actually do some little things to help improve your occupational wellness.
1.Don’t Settle
This does not necessarily mean resigning from your job to pursue whatever it is that you want. It simply means having a plan towards your transition. Instead of just settling, stay motivated and continue pursuing what you want.
2. Hone Your Skills
The best preparation that you can make is to increase your knowledge and skills towards your dream job. You can do this through education and experience. Reading books, having a mentor and enrolling in class are just some of the ways that you can hone your skills.
3. Aim for Financial Freedom
Let’s face it. It is difficult to pursue your dream job if your finances are not in place. You need to have money to at least cover the basics. It is fruitless to pursue what you want if you don’t have enough to feed yourself and your family and pay the bills.
4.Be Grateful
If you cannot be happy today, it will be difficult to be happy in the future. Happiness is a state of mind. Start by being grateful for what you have right now. Count your blessings. Focus on the positive.
5.Create Goals
You will be stuck with where you are now if you don’t know where you want to go. So, the best thing to do right now is to start creating your bucket list. Where do you want to go? What do you hope to achieve? And start making a plan based on your goals.
Need Christmas gift ideas for less? Just a short time before Christmas day is upon us. If you’re still not done with your gift list, you might be stressing out. But all is not lost yet. There are still some gifts that you can make for your loved ones and friends without having to splurge. Some of them you can make at home too.
Your gift doesn’t have to be expensive for it to be appreciated. Personalized gifts are always much appreciated. It gives the gift a sentimental value that commercial items cannot convey no matter how pricey. Here are some gift ideas for less that you can create at home for your loved ones.
Recipe Jars
This is a nice gift for friends and loved ones who love their pancake, waffle or brownies. Just pick a recipe, measure all the dry ingredients and place them in layers into the glass jar. Try to alternate the ingredients in such a way that the colors make an interesting pattern.
Print out the recipe on sticker paper and paste unto the side of the jar. Or print it on cardboard paper and tie to the neck of the jar as a gift tag. You can also use this for chocolate drink mixes or coffee blends.
DIY Kits
Got a family member who loves drawing and coloring? Gather different coloring and drawing materials; a sketchpad, pencils, erasers, a ruler and sharpener. Put everything in a handy file folder that they can conveniently carry with them.
For a friend who loves making her own jewelry, gift them with more beads and trinkets for their jewelry-making collection. You can get them the special beads, or a tool that they’ve been wanting to buy; but just can’t get their hands on. This is one of the Christmas gift ideas for less that’s always appreciated by young students. They are the ones who are passionate about their hobby but can’t afford all the materials.
You can also gift friends with a kit for getting rid of negative energy in their homes and work places. This gift does not only benefit them personally but the people in their space too.
Personal Coupons
If you’re broke but really want to make the effort; then gift your family members and friends with your time and energy instead. This is one of the Christmas gift ideas for less that doesn’t even cost you anything.
Design your own personal coupon stating a service that you will offer for a certain duration of time. For example, you can give your mom several coupons for a neck and shoulder massage for 20 minutes. You can give your dad coupons for washing the car and so on. Give the gift of a memorable experience that you will all recall with a smile later on.
For friends, you can give coupons for accompanying them to shopping errands. They can then claim these coupons any time of the year. Make sure that you state in the terms and conditions that they have to schedule these events with you first.
Use Your Talents
If you’re good at crocheting or knitting; make a scarf, or a beanie, or a pair of mittens, for a good friend or loved one. If you’re good at sketching, drawing or painting, then gift one of your creations to a valued friend.
Got a talent for writing poems? Create one for a special friend and print or write by hand on special paper. It would be great to present this gift by reading it to them aloud. Preparing this kind of gift is a fun process too. Plus, the result can be a very memorable experience.
Are you good with a camera? Take candid photos of your friend, select the best ones and display in a special picture frame. You can also put these in a scrapbook. Label each photo to tell a story about your friendship. Or just showcase your friend’s endearing character or unique personality. You get the idea, so go ahead and start planning for your next creative gift.
Use Available Resources
If you’re not too confident about your talents yet; then the next best thing that you can do is to use your resources to create a personalized gift. Get on your computer and go online.
For a friend who loves their tunes, download them a collection of their favorite songs. Transfer to a USB so they can load it on their laptops and mobile phones. Got a friend or relative who is too busy to take care of putting together a business card? Get your design skills to work and gift them with a simple calling card. Now, they don’t have to write their contact details on a piece of paper whenever they meet clients.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
You know the saying that one man’s trash can be another man’s treasure? If you’ve got stuff just lying around and gathering dust; think of who these might be of more use to and give that item to that person as a gift. Not only will you reduce your clutter, you get to reuse stuff and recycle them for a purpose.
You might have a friend who’s been pining to have a jacket or bag just like what you have. If you’re planning to buy a new one anyway, why not give your old jacket or bag to this friend? You might have a friend who loves your sense of style. If you’ve got a top that you already have several iterations of; why not give away the one you don’t use most often to your friend?
Got an old lamp that you’ve never even used? Check if the bulb still works and replace if necessary. Give to a friend who has just moved into a new house; or who has been wanting to make-over their bedroom. This is another one of the Christmas gift ideas for less that will definitely be appreciated by the receiver.
Give with Love, Receive with Gratitude
These are just examples of what you can do with your skills and talents. Some creative thinking is needed to make a personalized gift that your loved ones and close friends can appreciate. But before rushing for supplies; set aside some time to do some writing. Make a list of what gifts you can create or find in your own home. Think of what gift would suit the tastes and personalities of certain friends and loved ones.
As a last note, some of your friends and relatives might be giving you these kinds of gifts too. Remember to be grateful and appreciative of all their efforts. After all, it’s the thought that counts. Bonus! You can add gift-planning to the list of things you can do for fun.
DIY gifts take time and effort. Because of this, they truly communicate your appreciation for the person you are giving them to. So go ahead and give these DIY gift ideas a try.
Updated. Republished 2020.12.03. First published on Pinoy Smart Living on 2018.12.17. Featured Image: Original Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash.
How do you make your day good? Everyone of us have certain conditions that can “make or break” our day. Some of these may or may not be under our control. Usually, the things that happen to us upon waking up tells us how the rest of our day will go. How do you increase the possibility of having a good day instead of a bad one? The choice is up to you.
Make Your Self Feel Good
Choosing to make your day good, or not, is completely up to you. You can still decide that you will have a good day even if it didn’t start out particularly great. The choice is yours on how to change a not-so-great morning into something good. The challenge here is to decide to start your day by doing something good, as soon as possible.
There are many things you can do to improve a bad morning so it doesn’t get worse. Focus on doing things that can help you improve your mood. Remember that even if you will have a hectic day at work; your personal time can be just the opposite. Do something to calm your mind and body first thing in the morning.
If you feel that a 10-minute soak in the early morning sunshine is what you need, then go for it. You can even close your eyes and breath your way to relaxation. If meditation is your thing, then sit and just be. Put aside your worries for a few minutes and just enjoy being yourself, by yourself. When you have relaxed yourself; then you will have more energy to focus on all your tasks and To Dos. You will also notice that you become more appreciative of the good things that you see around you.
Similarly, try to end the day by doing something good. This can be cooking your favorite food; writing in your diary or gratitude journal; or engaging in a hobby like playing the guitar, doodling, painting, etc.. At this time, you should be trying to wind down to prepare for sleep. So try to choose activities that are relaxing and enjoyable to help you ease your thoughts and body. A good example is a relaxing night time beauty routine while listening to soft music. What other ideas do you have to turn your day into a “good day”?
Feeling lost in life? Do you feel isolated from the rest of the world? It is painful and lonely. But if it is any consolation, know that you are not alone. Everyone goes through that feeling more so if you are at a crossroad in life. There are really days when you will feel like you have lost it. The good news is that there is a greater power out there whom you can rely on. And if you are searching for answers, the universe will send you messages to guide you and lead you to the right path. The real challenge lies on how to identify the messages. It is quite tricky but if you will really pay attention, you will realize that the signs are everywhere. You just need to be aware of them. Here are some ways the universe sends messages:
Only those who can see such signs of life are able to find treasure.
You have heard stories from ancient times on how certain animals are actually signs from the universe.They are very sensitive and can sense the energy around them. For example, many cultures around the world associate butterflies with souls from departed loved ones. If you see one, it is said that it is time to let go and start anew. Cats on the other hand are a symbol of mysticism. Since it is all a mystery, cats are both loved and feared throughout history. Meanwhile, sightings of hawks indicate courage and opportunity. It means you are now ready to take on new responsibilities.
2. Dreams
Do you remember the last time you had a dream? What was it about? Dreams are actually bridges that connect us to the spiritual realm. It is a clear way for the universe to interact with us and send us messages. That’s why since ancient times, you have heard of dream interpreters. It is difficult to remember our dreams, much more to interpret them. For example, try to recall. Have you ever dreamt of a deposed loved one? What was the person trying to tell you? What was the message? So, if you ever dreamt of something at night; try to recall and write down your dream before you forget.
3. Illnesses
Most of the time, illnesses indicate that you are sick physically. But there are times that illnesses are actually a way of the universe trying to tell you that you have unresolved spiritual or emotional issues in your life. Have you ever experienced feeling sick and the doctor can’t seem to pinpoint what is wrong with you? Then, the doctor will end up telling you that your sickness is caused by stress. Well, the pain that you are feeling is but a physical manifestation of the unresolved spiritual and emotional issues.
4. People
The most common way the universe sends messages is through other people. That’s why it is important to listen to what other people are saying; regardless of who they are. The messages can come from people who are younger, less successful and less smart than you are. Obviously, not everything you hear is a sign. The key here is to pray or to ask the universe first your question. In this way, you will be able to recognize it right away if another person talks about it. For example, you are contemplating on whether to have a baby or not. You suddenly bumped into an old classmate who is pushing a stroller with a cute and adorable baby on it. You had a quick chat and she talks on and on about how she felt happier and fulfilled to become a mom. That is actually the answer to your question. It is the way of the universe giving you a glimpse of what your life will be if you push through with your decision.
5. Random Thought
Have you ever experienced a random thought suddenly popping into your head? This is what is called your intuition. It is any information that suddenly appears in our thought without conscious effort. It is when you are thinking about something else, and then suddenly, a brilliant idea pops into your head that is totally off-tangent. More of an “a-ha” moment. If this ever happens to you, do remember that the idea will disappear as soon as it pops out. That is why there is such a thing as the 5-second rule. This means that you only have 5-seconds to act on the idea. If it is not possible, it helps to have a small notebook handy so that you can keep a diary of your random thoughts and act on them later.
6. Repeating Numbers
Do you keep on seeing repeating numbers? For example, you woke up in the middle of the night and the time was 1:11 am. The next day as you drive yourself to work, you have noticed the plate number of the car in front of you is 111. At lunchtime, you met a long time friend. You asked for his number. The last three digits of his phone number are 111. Coincidence? No, it’s not. Those are angel numbers. It means that the universe is sending you a message. If you see repeating numbers, research what it means to find out what the universe is trying to tell you.
7. Recurring Problems
Have you ever felt like you kept on encountering the same problem over and over again? For example, you have a pain in your back that never disappears or you keep on having issues with your direct supervisor. It can also be money problems or relationship problems. If problems keep on recurring, it is the universe telling you that you have not learned your lesson and have not solved the root of the problem.
8. Setbacks
Lost your job? Did not get the promotion? Failed an examination? Rejected by your loved one? Detours, roadblocks and setbacks are common in life. Even if we did our best, there are just some things beyond our control. If this happens to you, know that it is a sign that the universe is telling you something. It is either redirecting you to the correct path or telling you that now is not yet the time.
Be thankful for closed doors, detours and roadblocks. They protect you from paths and places not meant for you.
– Suzanne Heyn
9.Songs
Have you been hearing the same songs over and over again? Or did a song just pop out of your head for no reason? If this ever happens to you, check the lyrics of the song. What is the song’s message? The universe is trying to send you the message through the song. If it is not in the lyrics, maybe it is in the time the song was released. Like if the song was popular in your younger years, the universe may be telling you to go back to the time when you were young, innocent and at peace with yourself.
10. When Everything Falls into Place
The opposite of setbacks is when everything seems to fall into place. You are inspired, happy and good things keep on coming your way. People and opportunities kept on presenting themselves to you. It is a sign that you are on the right path.
11. Words
You are riding on a bus and the person beside you is reading a newspaper. You caught a glimpse of a line on the newspaper. What is it saying? You ate at a Chinese restaurant and they give free fortune cookies. There is a message inside the cookie, what does it say? Sometimes, the universe sends us messages through words or phrases that suddenly caught our attention.
The point is signs are everywhere around us. It is just that we are so caught up in our world that we failed to notice the messages that our spirit guides are telling us. Be fluid and follow the signs in your life to find your purpose in life.
It is important to track our spending so we know how to adjust our budget. Sticking to a budget takes a lot of discipline and determination. It will also help us reach our financial goals faster. With this description, budgeting may sound like a dreary process. With mostly people’s budget going to expenses, is there a more rewarding way to budget our money? Actually, there is!
While most of our income goes to our living expenses, we should also make a budget for fun and play. A “play fund” or “fun money” is what you use to indulge in things that you enjoy. This includes purchases that you do on impulse without ruining your monthly budget for the important things.
We Shouldn’t Deprive Ourselves
Sticking to a budget can be difficult at first. You may feel like you’re just working to pay off bills and life is no fun at all. Have you experienced craving for a specific food item but you can’t find it anywhere? Then you ended up overeating on other food items instead? The same thing will happen if you deprive yourself of some fun; you will feel so deprived that you end up over indulging in whatever takes your fancy at the moment. Setting aside fun money in your budget ensures that you don’t go overboard with indulging yourself. Think of it as a little reward for sticking to your major budget goals.
Guilt-Free Spending
Another advantage of having fun money or play money in your budget is that you don’t feel guilty about it. This is because you know that you’ve taken care of the major, more important stuff already.
Most of the time, we regret buying something on impulse. We know we have to make up for it on our next paycheck. We end up having to scrimp on the other items on our budget to seal the money leak. If you’re spending on what you like without the guilt, then you can truly enjoy the experience to the fullest.
Setting a Limit, Encouraging Discipline
Having a budget for everything means that you also set a limit on your spending. That’s why it is important to put everything in your budget including fun money. It makes it easier to track your spending. It also ensures that you don’t spend over what you can actually afford to pay with your actual income.
There is a saying that goes, “If you can’t buy it twice, then you can’t afford it.” So if that favorite pair of sneakers (even though you already have several pairs) has a price tag that’s way beyond your fun budget, then you need to discipline yourself to assess if you really need it or to save this month’s budget and add it to next month’s fun budget so you can afford the price.
Remember though that fun money in your budget is not your emergency fund. Household items that you actually need at home do not go under this budget. A fun budget is for things that you don’t indulge in regularly; things that you only do when the mood strikes you. These include experiences that you want to enjoy from time to time. Your fun budget can include a manicure and pedicure, a massage, trying out a new restaurant, or getting yourself coffee from your favorite cafe.
Of course, not everybody’s budget is the same. For some people, their fun money may be used for travel or gadgets to supplement a hobby. Your fun budget should just be enough to allow you to have fun experiences without living beyond your means.
Do you have fun money in your budget? What would you like to spend it on?
Updated. First published on Pinoy Smart Living on 2019.10.23. Feature Image: Original Image by StockSnap from Pixabay.
The fashion industry is one of the biggest hit industries by COVID-19. The lifestyle of people changed. And this in turn led to a shift in consumer buying preferences. Many fashion brands already closed stores. But this does not mean that people have stopped buying clothes altogether. There are still fashion items that are still worth your money even during a pandemic. Let’s face it. Fashion is still a part of life even though many people prefer to stay at home. So, what are the fashion items to buy during this pandemic?
1. Activewear
People used to buy activewear to work out. But almost a year and half into the pandemic, people are now using it for everyday activities from going to the grocery, ordering take-out or even just by simply lounging at home. It is now the favorite work-from-home outfit by many.
2. Flats, Sandals and Slippers
Since work-from-home is the new trend, there has been a shift to casual dressing. Dress shoes, heels and stilettos are now taking a back sit as people prefer wearing comfortable footwear. Flat heels, sandals, slip ons and of course the slippers are now the fashion essentials when it comes to footwear.
3. Masks
Whether vaccinated or not, masks offer an added layer of protection in the new normal. Yes, you can choose to wear a regular surgical mask but you can also opt to use the face mask as a statement piece. By choosing to wear a non-disposable mask, you are not only making yourself fashionable but also doing your share in helping the environment.
4. Sleepwear
Gone were the days where sleep wears are used solely for sleeping. Thanks to the pandemic, pajamas and other forms of sleepwear have been part of the new normal. What was used to be considered a luxury item has now become an essential item as more and more people use pajamas at home.
5. Sling Bags
Aside from wearing face masks, a hand sanitizer has become an essential item in the new normal. Because of this, we need to have a type of bag wherein we can easily access our hand sanitizer, tissue or wallet without touching too many surfaces. Sling bags are the perfect accessories. They are practical, ergonomic and user-friendly.
6. White Sneakers
A pair of white sneakers is one of the must-have items in any person’s closet. It is chic, simple, classic and goes well with anything. It is a closet staple for every fashionable celebrity, fashion icon and stylish person. During this pandemic where people prefer wearing casual clothes, the white sneakers are your go-to shoes.
7. Zoom Tops
With so many travel restrictions in place, video conferencing has been the new norm. Companies now resort to virtual meetings. However, as much as we are comfortable with our pajamas and loungewear, they do not exactly complete our “professional image”. Thus, we need tops that will give us that polish and professional look yet at the same time comfortable enough to wear at home.
Have you been busy with some decluttering? Thinking of redecorating your home? Aside from re-arranging your furniture; you can use items that bring positive energy to your home as decoration. Here are some of them:
Bamboo
There are different indoor bamboo plants that you can use as ornaments around your home. They also help in keeping your space look fresh and lively. Make sure to put them in areas with adequate lighting to showcase their natural beauty and also to ensure that they continue to thrive. Bamboo is known to bend but not break even in the harshest storms. If you want this kind of stability in your home; then brining in bamboo inside as well as in your garden can help you enhance this kind of enduring energy.
Buddha
Ornaments featuring the buddha are usually placed in the main part of the house to bring in good vibes. The most popular ornament is the Laughing Buddha. It is said that rubbing its belly attracts good luck and prosperity. Aside from a statue or pottery; you can also decorate using a poster, print or tapestry. You can dedicate a wall or nook in your home where you can display and highlight your buddha ornament.
Crystals
A variety of crystals also enhance and invite different types of positive energy into your home. They are also visually unique and interesting to look at. You can use different small crystals or a large crystal as a center piece for a wall or nook in your living space. You can even choose a crystal that fits your theme or the kind of energy you want to attract. If you’re just starting with crystals, then check out some must have crystals you can consider for your home.
Dream Catcher
A dream catcher is a popular decor for the bedroom. The dream catcher is designed to catch nightmares and evil spirits. This way, you don’t get nightmares anymore; you also become a happier home owner. Depending on the size; you can hang them on one wall of your bedroom to serve as an accent piece. They usually come with beads and feathers in different designs and colors. Most dream catchers are round but some are woven to look like the crescent moon or even in more elaborate shapes.
Elephant
Ornaments of elephants can help you attract good luck. They are also a symbol of wealth, wisdom and strength. Elephants are known to have great wisdom. They are even worshipped as sacred animals in some cultures. You can use a small elephant figurine or vase, an elephant-shaped cushion, painting or tapestry on your wall. Depending on where you put them; they can also serve as interesting conversation starters when you have guests over.
Fish
Fish ornaments are also widely used to attract luck and prosperity. For even better energy in your home; why not keep a fish or more as pets? Having an aquarium with fish swimming in it helps to circulate the energy in the room. As water is cleansing; it’s constant movement helps to enhance the balance of energy in your living space; creating a sense of harmony. Just make sure to properly take care of your fish pets so you maintain the positive energy in your home.
Incense
Burning incense is one of the easiest ways to get rid of negative energy in your home. Use sage or any of your favorites. Try burning some incense in every room of your house. You can also use a smudge stick or wand and go all around the house to clear old and stale energy away. Make sure to open the windows so the smoke can go out. You might want to check if you can have the smoke detector in your place turned off, if applicable.
Plants & Fresh Flowers
Indoor plants and herbs are a great way to liven up your space. Fresh flowers in an elegant flower vase are also eye catching and a good way to bring some color to your room. Be sure to place plants in a space with adequate sunlight. If you love flowers; then make sure to replace them with fresh ones regularly so as not to keep stale energy in your home. If possible, bring indoor plants outside for more sunshine once in a while to keep them healthy and looking fresh and positive.
It is now normal to feel down these days with all the negative things happening around us. It is okay to not be okay every once in a while but we cannot allow the negative emotions to control our lives. We have to do our part in turning our day into a good day. If you are a Korean drama fan, what better way to do it than watching lighthearted feel good Korean Dramas.
1. Crash Landing on You (2019)
Crash Landing on You is about a South Korean heiress who crash landed in North Korea. She was paragliding when a sudden storm blew her over towards the other side of the Korean Demilitarized Zone. She was then captured by a North Korean captain with his subordinates who were assigned to patrol the area. The story revolves around their adventure as the group tries to return her to South Korea without alarming local authorities.
Although the storyline sounds heavy because it touches a very sensitive topic. the relationship between North and South Korea; the drama proved to be quite the opposite. It is one of the few dramas wherein you will laugh so hard yet also cry so hard. The story is so good that it will be hard not to binge-watch. And then put two good-looking veteran actors with superb chemistry on the cast. They have the perfect formula for good Korean drama. No wonder, it is one of the most viewed Korean dramas of all time.
2. Full House (2004)
Based on a manhwa, it is about an inspiring scriptwriter who was tricked by her friends and lost her house named “Full House”, which was built by her father. The house was sold to a celebrity. In her desire to get the house back, she entered into a contractual relationship and they ended up living together. Initially, they don’t get along well but they later fall in love with one another.
This one is a classic romantic comedy. Although compared to dramas of today, this might seem a bit dated for some, the actors did a good job in making their actingMr Q believable. It is light, funny and romantic to see the leads finally give in to one another’s feelings after so much bickering. This is one of the first dramas responsible for starting the whole Korean wave thing.
3. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)
The story is about a dentist who lost her job in the city and decided to move to a seaside village in the country. There she met a mysterious man, who is well-loved by the town people. He helps everyone around the town including the new dentist.
As of this writing, the drama is still showing but it has already become the highest-rated drama in cable television history. Although the whole story is yet to be revealed; so far, it is a simple heartwarming romantic story of ordinary people away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.
4. Lie to Me (2011)
Lie to me is about a nice, beautiful and single since birth civil servant. In order to not lose face with her friend who she felt betrayed her after the latter married her long-term crush; she lied to she is already happily married. After another friend saw her with the male lead, a rich heir to a hotel conglomerate, rumors started circulating that she is married to the chaebol. One lie led to another and another which led to the two agreeing to pretend to be married.
The story is a classic old-fashioned type of romance that is just light and sweet. With a charming female actress, great chemistry among the leads and a simple plot, it is one of those dramas that you can rewatch again and again.
5. Mr. Queen (2020)
The story is about an overconfident male chef in the Blue House who got transported back in time. He suddenly found himself in the body of a queen during the Joseon period. He did his best to get out of the chaos but had no choice but to make the most of the situation. It is all about his struggle with his identity and at the same time his discovery of the power struggle happening around him during that time.
Mr. Queen is not just your typical time travel romantic comedy. It has an intense historical plot but at the same time very hilarious. Some scenes will make you laugh uncontrollably. It succeeded in making the viewers feel a roller coaster of emotions.
6. My Love From Another Star (2017)
This drama is about an actress who fell in love with her next-door neighbor who happens to be from another star. Yes, literally an alien who has been in Korea since Joseon dynasty who is finally completing his mission on earth and is set to go back to his planet in 3 months’ time. The self-absorbed, beautiful and crazy actress kept on getting involved with his neighbor that he was forced to save her multiple times using his supernatural powers. And before they knew it, sparks began to fly.
The drama is sweet, silly and very funny. The lead actress is very beautiful yet outrageous and very hilarious. The lead actor is handsome, cold yet very knowledgeable. He has all the characteristics of an ideal man plus more given his extraterrestrial vision, hearing, speed and strength. The drama became so popular that even luxury fashion items worn in the drama got sold out because of high demand. Even sales of food and restaurants that were featured in the drama also reported increased in demand.
7. Oh My Ghost (2015)
Imagine what happens when an ordinary, shy and timid girl gets possessed by a lustful, virgin ghost. The ghost died a virgin. She believes that the only way to move on to the afterlife is to lose her virginity. She then takes over the female lead’s body every now and then to seduce the male lead to sleep with her.
The drama is romantic, hilarious and very entertaining yet creepy at the same time. Although the show gets too dark for your typical romantic comedy; viewers will get a good laugh and definitely enjoy the show. Moreover, it is not just about the main leads; one will also enjoy the friendship developing between the ghost and the female lead. It is a must-watch for those who are seeking something new.
8. Oh My Venus (2015)
Oh My Venus is a story about a lawyer who was once considered Daegu’s Venus or the prettiest girl in her hometown. But she had became obese and unattractive causing her boyfriend of 15 years to break up with her. The male lead is a personal trainer to Hollywood stars who reluctantly agrees to help her lose weight.
It has a simple storyline but it deals with real issues on obesity and self-image. These are serious issues that can greatly affect an individual’s health and concept of one’s self. It is light, heartwarming and interesting enough to watch.
9. So, I Married An Anti-Fan (2021)
This is about a magazine reporter who unintentionally witnessed the rude behavior of a famous celebrity. She subsequently got fired from her job. After assuming that the celebrity was the one responsible for her dismissal, she later did some crazy things that made her infamous for being known as his number one “anti-fan”. A television production team saw this an opportunity to come up with a new show wherein the famous star will be forced to live with his anti-fan. After the two started to get to know each other, they begin to realize that their initial perception of one another is actually just a misunderstanding and they end up falling in love.
Although the storyline is generic and typical of romantic comedies, this drama is quite relaxing and funny. Its romantic scenes and little surprises along the way will keep you hooked. And before you know it, you are already binge-watching. The lead’s chemistry is real. Viewers will find themselves rooting for them.
10. Weightlifting Fairy Kim-Bok-Joo (2016)
Weightlifting Fairy is about a young college student who works on pursuing her dream into becoming a professional female weightlifter. As she navigates through college life, she falls in love with a handsome doctor and begins to question herself on whether she should pursue her dream or just be a regular girl.
Inspired by the life story of a Korean Olympic Gold Medalist, Weightlifting fairy is a good coming of age drama. It is heartwarming as you go through the character’s journey and discovery of herself. It is light but full of life lessons especially for those who are yet to discover their passion or calling in life.
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Special thanks to Pia Angelica Gabriel, Ma Ganda Yap, Anna Dolor Fernandez, Kit Andaya, Peachy Viniegra-Lin and Cha Flores Encina; members of the YLS Kdrama Group for their drama recommendations.
You can grow your small business with some helpful apps. Apps or applications are useful software that you can use on your computer and mobile phone. They can help you in different ways depending on your needs. Here are a few of them that you can consider to help you in planning, managing and growing your small business.
Canva
Create beautiful posters, calling cards, invitations, or social media posts using Canva. There are hundreds of templates to choose from which you can customize to suit your needs. Different fonts and designs are available so you can have fun and be as creative as you want. You can also design graphs and charts, logos and flyers, as well as presentations. This is a good application to start with if you don’t have the budget to pay for graphic design software or to hire a graphic designer. This is one of the most popular apps used by many small business owners.
Evernote
In taking down notes and in planning; Evernote has been a useful tool for students and business people too. With this app, you can categorize your notes into different notebooks and tag them for easy searching. This means that you can keep all your meeting notes with clients or customer orders as well as have a place for jotting down any new business ideas you have. All you need is your email address to register for an account and you can download it on your desktop, mobile phone or it on a browser. The FREE version allows you to use it one device. Use it on the device that you use most often.
Google Apps
If you have Gmail, then you have access to Google Apps. Here you can use Google Docs for documentation; Google Sheets for recording a database and Google Slides for your marketing presentations. You can also use Google Meet to schedule and conduct meetings and Google Calendar to track your schedules. Since everything is stored in the cloud, you don’t have to bring the documents with you. You only need to be online to be able to access all these applications for free.
Paypal
All businesses need a way to send and receive payments and PayPal is the most popular application for online transactions supported by over 10 million online stores and 200 markets worldwide. It has partnered with major banks and credit card companies. You can link your credit or debit cards to be able to send and receive payments for your orders and deliveries and other transactions. It has 24/7 transaction monitoring and anti-fraud technologies for your safety and protection.
Trello
Need a space to work with your team for a project? You can write down tasks and assign them to your team mates, as well as indicate deadlines on Trello. You can use it on your computer or mobile phone’s browser. It works like a kanban board where you can move tasks around to indicate whether they in progress, pending or completed. Or you can move tasks from one department to another if that applies to your business. Tasks can also be broken down into checkboxes or lists and can include links or files. You can also tag team mates in your messages.
Most of these apps are free but they do have options for upgrading to a paid subscription later on if your business needs it. Once you get to know your way around these applications, it will become easier for your to identify the specific things you need for your particular business. This will make it more convenient for you to decide whether to upgrade your app or look for another one that suits your business more. Being accessible online is now the norm so it helps to learn about these apps to digitize your business.
Anyone can be an expert on personal branding. We know ourselves well, having lived with ourselves every single day. The reason we brand ourselves is simple – we want to stand out. “Personal image” and personal brand” are often interchanged. Personal image is the public’s perception of you, whether or not you do anything to alter your image. Your personal brand, on the other hand, is how you want people to perceive you. It is about reinventing your current image and transforming it to your own personal brand. If you are successful with your branding efforts, what people see will be synonymous to what you consciously and deliberately project as your personal brand. So, how to build your authentic personal brand?
You have a distinct advantage that companies do not. You have the ability to get very up-close and personal while companies strive to make their brand look more personal so that they can establish a relationship with their customers. This is the reason why celebrity endorsers, company spokespersons, and brand ambassadors are a six-figure commodity – companies piggyback on their personal image.
Building Your Personal Brand Through An Elevator Pitch
You are the perfect endorser, spokesperson and ambassador to represent your brand. The 60-second “elevator pitch” should be at the top of your playbook. This is especially useful nowadays where many first meetings and interviews are happening online. From an etiquette standpoint, refrain from doing small talks. The idea of an “elevator pitch” is to have a personal brand statement that captivates your audience in a few words. It is a simple exercise to understand yourself better and decide what you want to project to the world.
Parts of an Elevator Pitch
First 30 seconds
In the first 30 seconds of the pitch, talk about the following:
the first 10 seconds is for talking about who you are
10 seconds about what you do
and the last 10 seconds is about why you do it.
Who you are is simple – you could be a chef, an artist, an engineer or a business owner. What you do is more specific and goes deeper into your interests, talents, and abilities. Why you do it breathes life to your personal brand statement. No two people will have the same answers because we all have different sets of experiences, beliefs and aspirations.
Traditional personal branding stresses on self-promotion and ends on the 30-second mark. The result is an artificial egocentric image. If your personal brand is all about you, no one is going to care. Now, here is the secret to building your authentic personal brand statement. Your personal brand is never about you. Your personal brand needs to answer the question: Why.
Last 30 seconds
Should they care? That accounts for the last 30 seconds of your pitch.To help you arrive at a strong statement, let’s break it down:
Who do you want to appeal to? Your personal brand is all about them. If you don’t identify your audience, your personal brand statement will lack focus. The more clear and specific you are, the more effective your statement will be.
How can you help them? Now that you have identified your audience, it’s important to find out what they want and what you can do that will benefit them. Identify their problem and other possible solutions.
What makes you different? Surely, you are not the only person in the world that holds the key to solving their problem.
Why does it have to be you? This is the capstone of your personal brand statement. For this part, it’s okay to talk about you. Give a unique and irresistible proposition. This is the right time to showcase your personality, past successes and innovations! This is the stuff that icons are made of.
Your Authentic Personal Brand Statement
I am [who you are, what you do and why you do it]. I help [target audience] solve or address [their problem or need] by [your unique proposition].
When you brand yourself using this approach, your personal brand statement becomes YOU – organic, authentic and holistic. Your image will be strong, distinct, relevant, meaningful, and memorable. Suddenly, outside competition disappears and all you need to compose with is yourself – or your best selves.
Written by Pauli Antoine, owner and founder of Etiquette de Manille and Red Archon. As an etiquette and protocol trainer, she addresses important areas on image and impressions, etiquette and customer relations skills, all vital to building every company’s most important asset – people.
Updated version with permission from Ms. Pauli Antoine. First published in F&B World Magazine, August-September 2012 issue.
