Everyone wants to be happy. There is no argument about that. The question is, what will make you happy? If happiness is your ultimate life goal, where will you spend most of your time and energy? Will you focus on gaining financial abundance, good health, strong relationship, successful career or prestige and power? What do you need to achieve to have a good life? A Harvard Study that started in the late 1930s has been examining this question for years now. It is the longest study that has ever been done. So, what makes a good life?
The Harvard Study of Adult Development otherwise known as the Grant Study, had followed 724 men, year after year, from the time they were teenagers, to their marriage and career life all the way to their old age. While the original 268 men were from Harvard University, the remaining 456 men were from Boston’s poorest neighborhood. For years, the men agreed to have regular extensive interviews, together with a series of physical and physiological examinations to determine their physical, mental and emotional well being.
Some of these men became workers and bricklayers. Others became alcoholic and developed schizophrenia. At the same time, a great number of them achieved great success and became doctors and lawyers. One of them even became a US President.
So, what makes a good life? If you think that money, fame and success are the answers, think again. After almost 75 years of research, here are the three big lessons they have learned according to Robert Waldinger, the fourth director of the study:
1. Social Connections are Important to our Well Being
People who have deep connections with their family, friends and community lived happier, healthier and longer lives. Social connections improved one’s physical, mental and emotional well being. People who live in isolation and are lonely often live shorter lives.
2. Quality of your Relationship Matters
When it comes to relationships, it is quality over quantity. It is not a matter of how many friends you have or if you are married or not, but rather it is all about whether you have a healthy relationship with the people around you. The quality of your relationship will determine your quality of life. In the study, the people who are happy and satisfied with their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80.
3. Happy Relationships Protect Both the Body and the Brain
Happy relationships not just protect our physical body but also our mental and brain health. The people who are secure and happy in their relationships remained sharp while the others who don’t have meaningful relationships suffered from memory decline.
Check out this Ted talk by Robert Waldinger for more insights:
Do you want to have a good life? Then improve on your social wellness. Invest in the quality of your relationships with the people who are dear to you. Make this your first step towards a better life.
First published May 7, 2020.
Feature Image by Posted by A.L. Jonas in Social, 0 comments
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The little things that destroy relationships are often not always clear to the parties involved. Couples, friends or family members end up angry and confused; not knowing what actually happened. Sometimes after the relationship has ended or become stagnant; we still don’t know exactly why the situation became worse. We still wonder how things could have ended up better. The specific details of maintaining a relationship always depends on the personalities involved. Just like in setting any goal; it’s the little things that accumulate over time, that create or results in success or failure. In relationships, little things and annoyances can add up subtly without us being aware of them. These can destroy a relationship if not addressed in time. We are usually extra caring and act extra nice to the people who are most important to us. It sounds selfish to say but we expect them to reciprocate in the same way too. What they do for us becomes part of our daily routine. We become so familiar with what they keep doing for us that we end up taking their actions for granted. We forget to acknowledge their efforts. The other person then ends up feeling being taken for granted and unloved. This is one of the little things that destroy a lot of relationships. From being in love; the couple break up or end up filing for legal separation because one person didn’t feel loved enough in the relationship. So don’t forget to appreciate the other person’s efforts as much as you can. Make efforts of your own to show them you care too. Being the center of someone’s universe sounds romantic. In reality, this situation is actually suffocating to both individuals involved. Some people even disappear from their friends and family’s lives when they are in a romantic relationship. They have turned their focus solely on their special someone. People sometimes grow out of love because the person they fell in love with has changed. The bright and interesting person became clingy, dependent on them, too possessive of them, even jealous of other people in their partner’s life. Remember that your friends and family were there before this person ever showed up in your life. These are the people who can actually help you decide if you are indeed falling in love, or not. So don’t forget about them and make time to enjoy their company too. Any relationship you have should be a part of your universe, your life. Cultivating your relationships with other people in your lives help both of you to grow as individuals which benefits your romantic relationship. This is one annoying little thing that destroy relationships that most people often take for granted. Respect is the foundation of any relationship. It builds trust and provides individuals with assurance that you have their support and vice versa. Part of showing respect is to be tactful when in public. Whining about your partner’s habits to your other friends or family members; embarrassing them or making jokes about them in front of other people are some of the worst ways to disrespect your partner. Being disrespectful of the other person is one of the little things that destroy many relationships in a very short period of time. This applies to non-romantic relationships as well. Dissing a colleague in front of the boss is a big no-no if you want a happy work place. This will just make your colleagues think that you are a toxic person. Respecting each other’s personal space is also showing respect to the other person. Saying sorry when you know you need to, shows respect. Not touching other people’s belongings and asking permission to borrow stuff and giving them back is showing respect too. Most relationships end up in a bad way because both parties don’t communicate honestly and regularly. Communication is the best way to understand each other. Regular, honest communication ensures that you know what both of you expect in the relationship. It helps you get to understand each other better. You learn how to make the other person feel appreciated by learning what their love language is, for example. It’s easier to recognize when they make special effort to do something for you because you know their personality well enough. You will know how best to make them feel special too. Lack of communication is a major cause why people destroy their relationships. Communication helps both of you to avoid the drama that you see on most TV and movie relationships. You don’t have to always get into a bad argument, pile on negative emotions, hold grudges, doubt the other person, or play the blame game when issues come up. If you can talk with each other honestly and regularly; you can sort things out more peacefully. Plus, it is fun to plan quality time with each other just to do stuff you’re both interested in and to talk about anything you want. These are some of the little things that are often the cause of how people destroy their relationships. The actual reasons of relationship failures are quite specific to the people involved. So stop wondering “where do broken hearts go?” Instead, start asking “what should broken hearts do?” These scenarios should help you pinpoint areas of improvement that you need to work on in your relationships. Have you ever wondered to yourself: who are the best options among us? Who are going to be successful in their careers, their relationships, and in life in general? Which among my family members or friends are helpful to my own life journey? We all move around different social circles. In this way, we get to interact with different types of people. Some of us have family members that we love but are difficult to get along with. Others, have that one friend that always annoys the other members but they remain friends with that person, anyway The people that we surround ourselves with and the situations we put ourselves into makeup our reality. However, not everyone in our social circles are who we perceive them to be. This is not because they want to deceive others. This is only because, people present themselves in different ways to different people. Unless we have known someone more deeply; we will never be able to realize their true character. Are they a part of the best options among us? There are many monsters among us, it’s true. But there are heroes too. There are situations that we keep coming back to, even if they are unpleasant. We do it for various reasons; because we need to or because the familiarity is somehow comforting. They are not necessarily the best options among the scenarios. We find comfort among those who agree with us and growth among those who don’t. The situations you choose to put yourself in will change with time. Everyone and everything around you can change along with your personal growth. You will find that you need to leave some relationships behind that have served their purpose in your life. You realize that you will have to stay away from situations that don’t contribute to your goals. In your current place in life, ask yourself – Who among us are going in the same direction in life? Who have similar goals? Which of us understand each other the most? Are there any among us in the same situation right now? Which are the best options among us right now? We may wish to embrace everyone who comes into our lives. But who among us are truly helpful to be around with? Most of us want to engage in situations that we are comfortable in and familiar with. However, it is important that we learn to differentiate who and what benefits us and which may potentially harm us. Just trying to get along with others is not enough. You need to be aware who among the others will your time be most productively spent with. Being aware of your surroundings is also important in creating an environment that is conducive for your personal growth and success. Among us, who are those that can serve as role models? Who are the best options to choose? Among us, who are those that we can look up to? These are the people that we should try to learn from. From these examples, we will also learn to differentiate the persons and situations that will best help us overcome our challenges and get closer to our goals. Feature Images: Original Photo by mauro mora on Unsplash. Maintaining healthy relationships during a time of uncertainty is quite stressful. Each person is under different kinds of stress which takes its toll on relationships. So it is important that we learn our way in managing relationship stress in the new normal. With many individuals facing unemployment and families grappling with financial instability, stress build-up is a common occurrence in this new normal. Relationships are important as they provide meaning to person’s lives. Social ties also provide individuals with a sense of hope and a circle of support during tough times. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you navigate through relationship stress not only in this new normal, but in the times ahead. No two relationships are the same because each person has unique needs and expectations. Thus, there is no one method that fits all types of managing relationships. It is more helpful to first figure out what each person’s unique character is and how you are different from them. This way, you have a better idea of how to communicate with them about challenges. One way to look into is to figure out what love language each of you has. This way, you already have an idea of how to comfort the other person when they are stressed out. When you see that the other person is under great stress, cut them some slack. Give them breathing room to think and vent out. You may be feeling just as stressed but getting into a verbal fight won’t help things. The best thing to do is to walk away from each other until both of you have calmed down and are not as emotional about the issue. Give each other some time to think things through. Giving the other person time to manage their emotions is also being kind to yourself as you don’t stress yourself even more. After all, you can’t calm someone down if you aren’t calm yourself. Most importantly, remember that this situation is just a phase and it will also pass. So there is no need to dwell in it too long. Talk only when both of you feel that you are ready. Trust that in the end, everything will go well. Only talk when both of you feel that you are ready to sort things out and be honest when doing so. Don’t go into the conversation with the intention of winning the argument. Your main goal should be to understand the situation as a whole, which means understanding the other person’s point of view. This means that you have to listen actively. Listening actively involves letting the person finish their thoughts instead of butting in. Asking them questions to clarify what they mean instead of explaining your own point of view. This is key to a deeper understanding of the other person’s feelings and perspective. Take turns to listen and express your feelings and perspectives. Pause to think when you need to. Clarify when you need to by asking questions. Be honest and sincere so that the other person will do the same. It may seem like the wrong approach but taking some “alone time” or “me time” is important during challenging times. Even if we crave for social interaction so we can talk out our issues, alone time provides us with the breathing space to vent out and to truly understand how we feel about the situation and how we hope things will turn out. So if someone suddenly doesn’t return your messages or calls, don’t send them an angry text or make incessant calls. Instead, send them an encouraging message and tell them that you look forward to talk with them again as soon as they have time or when they are ready. In the same way, taking time out for yourself to process the thoughts and emotions that stress you out. This will also help with your mental health. This gives you the space to clarify things in your own head and heart so you can talk about it with honesty and sincerity. There is no magic recipe for how to make relationships work. There is certainly no guide book in managing relationship stress in the new normal. However, maintaining healthy relationships is an important part of every person’s life. Stress caused by challenges is also a part of each person’s reality and in every relationship. It will help you grow individually and help your relationship develop even further. It is important to give each other time and space to do what they need and maintain an attitude of understanding when conflicts and problems arise. In this way, you are able to resolve conflicts and manage stress so you can maintain your relationships. Featured Image: Original Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash. Do you know what your love language is? We all enjoy romantic movies with happy endings. In real life, this is not always the case. There are many reasons why relationships work or don’t work. One factor is that the couple did not take the time to understand each other’s love language. If you feel unappreciated by your friends then it might just be a misunderstanding of their love language. A love language is the language we speak or show when we express our love. Love languages are the ways we show our love to other people. This is also the same way we want people to show their love back to us. Each person has a different way of showing their love. That’s why it’s important that you know and understand what your love language is so you can talk to your partner about it. It is also important that you learn the other person’s love language so you can show your love for them in their own love language. There are 5 love languages but each person is inclined to have 1 primary one and 1 or 2 other ways in which they express and appreciate their love. Try to identify what yours is and what your partner’s love language is. If you love hearing compliments from the person you love, then this is definitely one of your love languages. You feel loved when you get messages that say how much they love you or that they miss you. Getting a thoughtful note from them puts a smile on your face and you like doing the same. However, you might end up annoyed with your partner, or annoying them, if you express your love in this way but they don’t speak this love language. So try to moderate yourself and spend time to find out what their love language is. Maybe you don’t like complimenting or sending thoughtful messages that much but you always give your full attention to the one you love. This doesn’t mean just making an effort to spend time together. Your way of showing love is by giving the person you love your full, undivided attention whenever you are together. You might like scheduling movie nights at home together with just the 2 of you. When you are talking, you are attentive and actively listening. This also means that you get annoyed when your partner is spending more time checking their phone than paying attention to you. Know what your partner’s love language is. This will help you appreciate how they express their love for you even if you don’t speak the same love language. Most people assume that this way of feeling loved is materialistic but this is not so. The gifts don’t have to be big and luxurious. In fact, it’s the frequency that’s important so even the little things count. Receiving flowers make you smile. Getting a new basketball or a new exercise band from your loved one makes you feel loved. You also like giving gifts to your loved one even when there’s no special occasion. The gift doesn’t have to be expensive; it can even be silly. It’s just the way you express and appreciate love. If you’re a very tactile person then this is one of your love languages. You show your love by physically touching your loved one. Stroking your partner’s back while you’re watching a movie, giving them a hug when saying goodbye or welcoming them back home are just some of the ways you physically express your love. In the same way, you feel loved when your partner offers to give your legs a massage after a long day at work. You feel loved and you express your love with PDA (public display of affection) when you’re out and about. If you find your partner squirming whenever you hug them, then this may not be their love language. You express your love by doing something for someone. You’re the type who volunteers to wash the dishes if your partner cooked for you. Going to the grocery store, taking out the garbage, doing the laundry are some of the ways you show your love. So when your partner volunteers to run your errands for you or drives you somewhere during their day off, then you feel very much loved. In the same way, you may feel unappreciated and unloved when your partner doesn’t show acts of service for you. You may think that you do show your love in many ways but you should also learn and know what your partner’s love language is. This way you can show them your love in the way they can understand and appreciate it the most. Don’t use your love languages as an excuse to not expand your knowledge and skills. You can always learn a new love language so you can express your love in more ways. Don’t wait until it’s too late to express your love for someone. Learning new love languages will definitely open up a whole new world to you. When you’ve mastered all the 5 love languages, then you can speak fluent love. This means you can express your love to more people who speak other love languages. The phrase “moving on” is familiar to anyone who has ever experienced heartaches and hardships in life. You may need to move on from a romantic break-up, a job that didn’t work out, or a falling out with a friend. Any situation that requires you to let go of someone or something is hurtful. Moving on from the experience is a challenge. We all have our own ways of moving on. Some of us bounce back quickly while others take longer to process their feelings and set themselves right again. Depending on the circumstances and the depth of the relationship between the individuals involved; moving on can shape our personalities and affect our outlook on life in a very profound way. Example, whether it be good or bad, has a powerful influence. We have relationships we have moved on from, are still moving on from, people who have moved on from us, and people we still keep with us. All have a huge impact in how we live our lives today. So it is important to look back and reflect on how these people contributed to our current outlook in life. Let us review our relationships. Reflect on the things we can learn from the persons who were around us back then and those who are still with us now. In the process of making the list, think about why you chose the person. Try to remember the worst but also the best about each person. What has changed in your life for the better or for the worse after meeting them? Who did you have an easier time moving on from and who did you have a hard time letting go? The people you choose to keep or let go, reflect the kind of life you have been living until now. The positive and negative traits they embody are also the same traits that you have been exhibiting and/or struggling with. They affect you mentally, emotionally, physically and greatly influence your overall quality of life. There may be some past relationships that you have moved on from. You may realize that you are still carrying with you their negative influences. Your challenge then is to learn how to be grateful for the experience; be thankful for the lessons so you can finally let it go. Not all relationships can be categorized as purely negative or positive. There are always shades of the other in each relationship. You may choose to stay in a relationship with a person who negatively influences you because it has positive results. Attitude is greatly shaped by influence and association. For example, you may dislike your best friend’s nagging most of the time. However, you admire the fact that they are able to speak their mind openly. You appreciate that they always tell you the things that you need to hear. They don’t always agree with you when they think you’re wrong. You label them a “kill joy”. Most of the time, their actions help prevent you from doing something foolish that you may regret later on. Or you may sometimes think of wanting to move far away from a friend who is socially awkward. It’s hard to be with them at a party. They don’t talk that much and you have to keep inserting them into the conversation. You have to keep talking to them so as not to make them feel left out. Their behavior frustrates you but you still keep in touch with them. They are always ready to lend a shoulder for you to cry on when you need it. They also listen to your woes and petty complaints without judgement. They’re also the friend who gives you the best advice. You can consider these aspects of yourself and your relationships the wind beneath your wings. Each person is your wingman for different circumstances. Some of them help keep you afloat and rise up in tough times. Others may seem like they are dragging you down most of the time. Yet, they are still able to help you in different ways. How you balance these different aspects of your relationships with others and within yourself, will help sustain you through your life experiences. The people you surround yourself with influence your behaviors, so choose friends who have healthy habits. Once you have identified these aspects that you wish to move on from and those you want to keep; then you can truly move on and move forward for the better. When you have clarity on the things you like or dislike and what you can tolerate; then you have identified the things that you value the most. This will make it easier for you to make decisions in life that are aligned with your values. This also makes it easier to choose which friends to keep. Feature Image: Original Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash. Many people dream of becoming wealthy. However, the road to wealth and success is long, hard and winding. This is the reason why only a few made it big. Most people gave up along the way. Unknown to many, there is a shorter way to success and that is through leverage. It is possible but very difficult to make it on your own. After all, we are all humans and we all have limitations. But building wealth and success through leverage will allow you to use resources that is beyond what you can offer making the journey a lot easier and faster. The Cambridge dictionary defines leverage as to use something that you already have in order to achieve something new or better. In short, leverage is using something to achieve something with less effort. Think of it as a lever. A lever is a bar that you use to make your work easier. It allows you to use less force to lift or move objects. Items such as scissors, nail clippers, hammer, staplers, bottle openers, brooms and gym equipments are all examples of levers. They are machines or equipments that you use on a daily basis to make your life easier. Just as you use leverage to make your life easier on a daily basis, you can also use leverage on your journey towards building wealth and success. Using leverage is the same as working smarter rather than harder. The hours that ordinary people waste, extraordinary people leverage. There are many forms of leverage that you can use on your journey to wealth and success. Here are some of them: In finance / economics, leverage is defined as to use money to get more money. In short, it is using other people’s money to start a business, buy an asset or finance an investment. Examples are borrowing money from a bank to purchase real estate or looking for an investor to your business. Did you know that the wealthy thinks that time is more valuable than money? Why? It is is simple you can use time to buy more money but you cannot use money to buy more time. Even if you lose all you money, you can still get it back but with time, you cannot do that. Whether you are rich or poor, successful or struggling, we all have 24 hours in a day, no more no less. So, stop doing everything on your own. Delegate some of the work to others so that you can focus on doing the important tasks. No one is a master in everything. Let’s face it, there are other people who are more talented than you. They have more experienced and have greater skills than you in a particular field. Why not use them to have an organizational advantage? Make them a member of your team and a part of your support group. Networking is important in our lives especially if you have a business or you are into sales. However, humans have limitations as far as connections and social relationships are concern. That’s why you need to tap into other people’s network to expand your own. If you are a business owner, a blogger or a social media influencer, you know that it is hard to establish a brand especially if you are a start-up. Through marketing leverage, you utilize other people’s audiences through their magazines, newsletters, etc. to communicate your message and build awareness of your product or service. In short, what matter your goals in life are or what industry you are in, leverage can multiply your efficiency. You can use just one form or you can use all at the same time. The point is, you accelerate your growth through leverage. Remember, work smarter not harder. Feature Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Images When we think of going on a vacation, the first thing on our mind is traveling to a destination. But what if you don’t have enough in your budget to travel far from home? Then a staycation is the answer! A staycation is a budget-friendly way to spend quality time with your loved ones. Here are 5 ideas on how you can enjoy a cheap family staycation: Ask everyone to bring their favorite games and everyone select which ones to play and the playing order. Depending on the game, this is a good way to exercise physically and challenge everyone mentally while having lots of fun. Make sure the games can be enjoyed by family members of all ages. Got a favorite movie series or TV show you’ve all wanted to rewatch? Or if you have a list of dramas or TV shows you haven’t watched, this is the time to indulge. Make yourself some popcorn and a cold drink or get food delivered and enjoy the shows. Got kids? Watch their favorite cartoon or anime series or their most favorite movies together. Instead of doing a weekly meal prep, why not let the whole family help in cooking all your favorite recipes? Everyone gets to eat afterwards and you can even cook a big batch to be enjoyed throughout the week. You can also choose to try out new recipes based on a theme. For example, you can search for recipes of Japanese food items; lay down a mat and a low table and add chopsticks and fancy bowls to complete the Japanese theme for your meal. Cleaning can be a therapeutic activity and gives everyone a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day too. Assign tasks or rooms to everyone for a general house cleaning or select a room in the house to redecorate or to rearrange furniture. You can also use the day to do small, DIY repairs around the house. Be sure to take breaks and reward the whole family with a delicious dinner which you can order from your favorite food place. Let everyone help with some gardening. Whether it be indoor gardening with these herbs, or outdoor gardening, family members of all ages can be assigned some task to help with the activity. Kids can pick up weeds or sweep the yard or count seeds and place them in pots. Spend some time to teach kids what to do to help the plants grow better. A book with pictures that they can refer to repeatedly would be a great help. You won’t only be growing plants, you’ll be cultivating yours and your kid’s patience and interest for learning and doing and maybe develop a green thumb in the process. These are just some quick ways to bond with the whole family while you’re all staying at home. The trick is to prepare for it like you would prepare for traveling so everyone in the family gets involved and they will feel the specialness of the staycation even more. Try these out next time you’re strapped for cash, don’t want to wander around the mall or just too tired to brave the daily traffic that travel entails. Edited version. First published in Pinoy Smart Living 04.04.2019. Here are 10 movies you can watch at home with the kids to starve off boredom and increase your quality time together. These are listed from oldest to newest. Just select one that you think the kids will like, or let the kids decide. Some of these movies are quite old but they should be easily accessible via online sources. Rated G Rated G Rated G Rated PG Rated PG Rated PG You may also want to check out the more modern version with Dwayne Johnson which has a different set of characters but still promises the same humor, fun and adventure. Rated PG Rated PG You may want to watch all 3 movies of the franchise just to get more of the 2 main characters’ cute and funny interactions and to learn more about the world of dragons and world beyond Hiccup’s Viking clan. Rated PG Rated PG There are many more popular movies that are not mentioned here such as the Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Toy Story and Frozen movies because these would obviously be on your movie list. Try out the movies listed above to experience and reminisce the charm of these oldies but goodies and stave off boredom and anxiety while spending quality, family time. Be sure to have snacks around to complete the full movie experience. Having a movie date with the whole family is a good way to spend time with kids while staying at home. You will learn more about your kid’s personalities and also help them expand their insights and learn important life lessons. You may be reminded of these life lessons yourself. Original image from The Telegraph.
Christmas Gift Ideas for Less
Recipe Jars
DIY Kits
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
Use Your Talents
Use Available Resources
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Give with Love, Receive with Gratitude
Featured Image: Original Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash.
Little Things That Destroy Relationships
Taking people for granted
Not having a life of your own
Being disrespectful to other people
Not communicating honestly and regularly
The Best Options Among Us
The People We Surround Ourselves With
Even the people that you think you know deeply may surprise you sometimes. This is because people can, and do change as they grow from their life experiences. Those who do not grow or are unwilling, will be left behind as others move on to pursue new goals and nurture new relationships.The Situations We Choose to Engage In
The Best Options Among Us
Managing Relationship Stress in The New Normal
Tips to Managing Relationship Stress in The New Normal
Understand each other’s unique needs
Stay on their side when things get stressful
Take the time to listen to each other
Give and respect each other’s alone time
Know Your Love Language
What is A Love Language?
The 5 Love Languages
1. Words of Affirmation
2. Quality Time
3. Receiving Gifts
4. Physical Touch
5. Acts of Service
Know and Develop Your Love Languages
The Moving On Challenge
Challenge Yourself to Move On
The Wind Beneath Your Wings
Moving On and Moving Forward
Building Wealth and Success Through Leverage
What is Leverage?
Image Credit: OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay ImagesWhat are the different forms of leverage?
1. Financial Leverage (Other People’s Money)
2. Time Leverage (Other People’s Time)
3. Talent Leverage (Other People’s Knowledge)
4. Network Leverage (Other People’s Connections)
5. Marketing Leverage (Other People’s Audiences)
5 Family Staycation Ideas For a Tight Budget
1. Make it A Game Day
2. Enjoy a Movie or TV Marathon
3. Do a Cooking Marathon
4. Refresh a Room or the Entire House
5. Start a Garden
Feature Image: Original Photo by cottonbro from Pexels.
10 Movies to Watch At Home With the Kids
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
If you want to go far, far away, let an imaginary tornado take you away. Dorothy dreams of a more exciting life somewhere over the rainbow. She gets her wish when a tornado takes her and her little dog Toto. They were taken from their farm in Kansas to a wonderland. There, she begins her magical adventures with new friends to find the Wizard of Oz.The Sound of Music (1965)
So many songs in this movie will stay with you long after the movie ends. This movie explores many themes such as family dynamics, different parenting methods, love in time of war and the love of music that binds the whole family together. The sceneries are also beautiful everyone sings quite well in this movie so feel free to sing along.The Muppet Movie (1979)
Kermit the Frog and company are beloved characters by folks aged 5 to 95. In this movie, they not only entertain with musical numbers while avoiding danger, they even have a moment where they check the movie script for what happens next. If you want to teach your kids how to sing “The Rainbow Connection”, this is a good movie to watch together.E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982)
This simple movie of a boy befriending an alien who needs to go back home has its teary moments but it does drive home a poignant lesson about friendship and understanding. The story telling is also quite magical and the scene of E.T. and Elliott biking past the moon is something to inspire everyone’s sense of awe.Home Alone (1990)
It may not be Christmas yet but everyone can use a feel-good adventure movie. Kevin McCallister shows you how to be a hero, even as he was left alone at home while his family is vacationing in Florida. He reunites with his family but not before he gives a couple of thieves a wacky lesson in mayhem.Jumanji (1995)
Robin Williams always makes kid-friendly movies not only an enjoyable ride but also drives home important life lessons. This movie starts out with 2 siblings who discover an old game where the boy Alan (Williams) was sucked into 26 years ago. He guides the kids through the game as they overcome obstacles together in order to go back home.Up (2009)
This movie has its teary-eyed moments but still manages to take the viewer on a cute and fun journey. When salesman Carl Fredricksen’s wife dies, he decides to tie balloons to his house and lift off to South America – a destination that he and his adventure-loving wife had always wanted to go. On the way, he realizes that he has an enthusiastic Boy Scout traveling with him. They also meet interesting characters and exciting adventures along the way.How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
Dragons can be both magical and terrifying. In this movie, we get some doses of both but a lot of fun and cuteness as well. The friendship of Hiccup and Toothless is a fun watch but the family dynamics among members of the Viking clan also provides a rich source of important relationship lessons. That’s not the only thing that makes this movie fun however, and you and the kids will surely enjoy the whole ride.Despicable Me (2010)
If you and your kids love the Minions, then it’s time to rewatch this movie and the next ones too. Supervillain Gru and his hordes of Minions change their villainous goals when they adopt 3 orphans who melt Gru’s cold heart and turns him to work for good instead.Coco (2017)
Some family traditions need to be kept and some need to be let go if they are for the wrong reasons. Here, Miguel’s family doesn’t allow him to listen to music or play his guitar so he must learn in secret. He gets the opportunity to meet his ancestors and uncover the real reason why his family discourages him from appreciating music. Pursuing one’s dream, honoring traditions and forgiveness are real life lessons that are magically tackled in this movie.