#vikaash

[artelris-blog]

I'm really into playing with the idea of cards :) @aerokiinesis

[day355-blog]

Day 1 : Get organized.

Clean your room. It's not your space until there's space to move around.

Here are 11 things we're going to do this year to make sure every drop counts:

Make the bed that you sleep in.

Remove clutter. 

If you haven't touched or thought about it in 6 months, it's probably time to say "goodbye".

Label your life. 

Lists are awesome. 

Finish what you start. 

If you don't finish, it's not the end of the world (yet). 

Spend what you can afford. 

They're called "life's little rewards" for a reason. 

Your body is a temple; start worshiping. 

Promise to love yourself.

It's the first day of 2012, the first day to kick your year off to a good start. What better way than to get organized? 

Make the bed that you sleep in. If you're not comfortable when you sleep, how are you going to get some good Zzz's?

Remove clutter. Yeah, messiness is an eyesore, but more importantly, it's a visual distraction. Don't let some week-old laundry or scattered make-up mess with your mojo. What you see is what you get.

If you haven't touched or thought about it in 6 months, it's probably time to say "goodbye". Give away or donate stuff that's collecting your dust but could be helping someone else -- the books you no longer read or need, the clothes that don't and won't fit.

Label your life. We're all about being spontaneous, but the less time you have to search for something trivial, the more time you can spend finding out about life's greater mysteries ... like why humans and animals alike absolutely love belly-rubs.

Lists are awesome. They're not just for groceries or the sexiest people alive (who, we might add, aren't just celebrities). Everyone successful uses them (who, we might add, we're not listing -- just trust us). The more you jot down what's on your mind, the less your mind is blocked from finishing the task at hand. List your goals. List your chores. List your bad habits and your good ones. List your next 2 days, your next 2 months. List your bucket list. The best thing about lists is the feeling you get crossing something off.

Finish what you start. It's a sense of accomplishment. Especially if you've got other people invested in what you're doing, it's good to complete a task or project. Time should age things gracefully, let ideas become clearer, not make you hate ever acting on your creativity again. Plus, the longer you wait, the more you'll forget (unless you've written it down, wink wink). It could be anything from fixing that pipe leak to getting a blood test to reconnecting with a feuding family member. Get it done so you can move forward.

If you don't finish, it's not the end of the world (yet). Life's full of pressures and deadlines. Know when you need to take a step back and revisit your task later. If you're running on fumes, get food and get sleep (but only rest 3 to 4 hours after eating). Your term paper or report always looks good enough when you can barely keep your eyes open; that is, until you look at it the next day. Next time, start earlier. Take a break. Be aware of your breathing. Don't be your own worst enemy.

Spend what you can afford. Why have a credit card when you don't or won't have the money to pay off the debt sooner than later? Educate yourself and understand your money. If you have to spend money to make more, do it knowing that you're actually making more money. Keep track of your spending and saving with the lost art of a checkbook or spreadsheet. Gamble when you have something to gamble with. Unless you're well-organized and know your finances, be smart about where you put your pennies. Think about need over want, but don't forget to reward yourself. Bills add up quickly for trigger-happy card-swipers.

They're called "life's little rewards" for a reason. You're going to feel good about yourself (and others) if you give smaller gifts or rewards or displays of appreciation more often. And you don't have to buy something -- just show the love, spend some quality time, be a pal. The big rewards or gestures make a big impact sooner (i.e. instant gratification), but they don't keep you happy forever. Make every bit of love count, and make it last longer.

Your body is a temple; start worshiping. Your mind and body are connected. Do good for your body (exercise, take walks, sit less) and your mind feels better. Do good for your mind (read, meditate, have conversations) and your body feels better. Feed yourself healthier and better quality food when you can, instead of more frequently the crappier and cheaper "food" (if you can call chemically- and biologically-engineered products that). Have snacks, get your fibre and vitamins. Drink water! Take care of what takes care of you. And for goodness sake, stretch. It's not sissy. Loosen up that tension.

Promise to love yourself. "You can't help others until you've helped yourself." Whatever your motivation is for the work you do, at least know that if you're first in appreciating what you do and who you are, you can make it to the next round. Beating yourself up is going to knock you out sooner. People are attracted to smiling, happy people who are confident and comfortable with themselves, not Spongeboob Grumpypants. Don't punish people who try to make you feel good. Also, try to help those who are having a crumby day because they could do the same for you. Be selfish and selfless at the same time.

So, that's it. We're sure there's more to add, but it's time to get busy.

Live till the last tock ~ Vikaash