Y7Magazine
VITAMIN C PAGE 2
Issue 15 May 20172017
celebrity l luxury l healthl fashion
WHERE MASCULINITY PREVAILS What was Mr. Lebanon up to before he won the title? Find out on page 21!
HOT WEATHER TIPS RIGHT HERE!!! -->
Get Fit For the Summer X
Carla Al Haddad tells us how!!!!!
Vitamin C - A Beauty Secret! CARLA AL HADDAD
Vitamin C is one of the safest and most effective The risk of having a deficiency in collagen is common,
due to our lifestyle. When the skin is deficient in col-
nutrients, experts say. It may not be the cure for lagen, it becomes dull and lifeless. Having enough
Vitamin C is essential to ensure producing enough col-
the common cold, but the benefits of vitamin lagen for a perfectly plumped and healthy skin. C may include protection against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, pre-
No skin scars
natal health problems and eye disease.
The body uses Vitamin C to replace damaged tissue, helping to heal wounds such as cuts, bruises, and acne-related blemishes. Therefore, it is highly recomAlso, when people talk about Vitamin C, they tend to mended to clear your skin and reduce the redness by think about immune defense and beating those pesky consuming big quantities of vitamin C during the day. colds and flu. Yet, Vitamin C is an essential beauty nutrient too! Silky smooth skin Many of us have tried expensive cosmetics and skin- Lack of nutrients in the body can cause a rough and dry care for aging symptoms. In fact, one of the most skin. Creams containing Vitamin C improve the appeapowerful and inexpensive ways to maintain a healthy rance and texture of skin as it increases elastin formaglow is by consuming plenty of Vitamin C. tion which thickens, protects and heals skin cells. The thickening effect helps to retain moisture, increases It is a water-soluble vitamin, your body does not store skin circulation and plumps up the skin surface. it, therefore you need to consume it every day through what you eat! Superfoods such as acerola cherry, In the end, who said it is impossible to be young foreCamu Camu, and goji berries are some of the world's ver? Researchers have shown how can Vitamin C can most potent sources of vitamin C! affect positively on your skin and helps you stay young for a really long time… under one condition… Keep Do you seek to get more beautiful than you actually your body’s Vitamin C high at all time… And trust me… are? ... Ensure you get plenty of vitamin C each day to You will be happier about yourself naturally…. reap these benefits:
Longer Nails
Vitamin C helps maintain the integrity of our nails by strengthening them from the inside out by helping the body to produce collagen.
Anti-aging
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps to keep wrinkles and skin dryness at bay by fighting free radical damage.
Energy
A deficiency in iron can lead to anemia resulting in fatigue and weakness. Vitamin C helps you absorb iron from the food you eat which helps you feel and appear more energized!
Sun damage protection
Vitamin C not only helps to prevent UV damage, acting like a mild natural sunscreen, it also helps to fade sides of damage already done by the sun due to its powerful free radical fighting properties.
Stronger hair
Having enough Vitamin C can help prevent split ends and dry hair by strengthening the hair follicle and stimulating hair growth. In fact, low intake of Vitamin C may be a root cause for a number of hair related problems that affect our hair growth.
Better skin condition
Dr. Angie Kassabie (A Diet Specialist)
Welcome Summer Right with These Healthy Hot-Weather Tips! DRINK, DRINK, DRINK Everybody wants to lose weight and be fit for the summer with zero cellulite and a toned figure. That all starts with drinking a minimum of 2 to 2.5 liters of water depending on their weight. If they happen to weigh more than a 100 kg, they need to drink more than that average. EAT LOTS OF FRUIT AND VEGGIES Kick start your day with a mixture of a cucumber, half a grapefruit, half a lemon, half a kiwi and green tea to detox all the toxins. Breakfast is taken two hours later, and small snacks must be consumed every couple of hours. Make sure there are plenty of fibers, fruits, and vegetables. Any processed or fried foods must be avoided as well as cutting down any sugar and salts to combat cellulite. INCREASE ACTIVITY It's essential that you start becoming more active to complement this diet and Cardio workouts help achieve that especially if done within intervals. Any workout involving weight must use low weights with more repetitions. Breaks between each set should not exceed 30 to 40 seconds. ADD SUPER FOODS Grapefruits and pineapples burn a lot of calories, so consider having them exclusively as snacks two days each week. Grapefruit also cleanses the body from all toxins. Ginko Bulova is advised for enhancing the circulation especially for women that suffer varesetic veins and need lymphatic draining. CATCH SOME Z'S Never underestimate the importance of having 8 hours of restful sleep each night. Quality sleep means doing so in a dark and quiet room with no disturbances. The less sleep you get, the slower the metabolism is meaning it's much more difficult to shed weight. COUNT YOUR CALORIES Counting calories is an exercise in futility, so focus instead on the quality and quantity of the meals ingested and the timeframe in which they are consumed. Stay away from gaseous fizzy drinks and alcohol. Substitute that with water and make sure your drink 3 glasses of green tea each day. It might sound daunting to do all of that, but you will get into the rhythm of things in just a few days. Your body will thank you for it and you will feel more energized.
When an Angel Becomes a Stranger Carla Al-Haddad
Eight months ago We were so happy Loving each other Caring for one another Our goal? Happiness You were an angel Sent from above You helped me a lot I got over my sadness And you were always around When I needed you the most Eight months later You became a stranger You don’t care less about me My life doesn’t matter to you anymore You found another Hope she will make you happy I will admire you From a distance I will watch you Achieving greatness You will always be my king You will always have my heart FOREVER It is yours to keep Keep it safe In a dear place As for your heart I will keep it in my soul Treasured Deep inside Your voice Will remain In my head Guiding me through life Your picture Will remain In my mind Making me smile and happy I will always love you My angel Even if you became At the end Just a stranger
Stop Being a Scapego Dr. Toufic Ajaka It’s important to know what our job descriptions entitles and make sure you do not take on more load than required. Clear boundaries must be set for others; anything beyond that requirement needs to be politely refused. A simple formula will help the assessment: if the yeses greatly outweigh the nos, then it’s time to put your foot down on the brakes and stop this train. Be clear when talking to your boss about the negative effects of piling up too many tasks. Being forced to keep more deadlines and quotas will only serve to compromise the quality of the work done. These issues must be clearly explained for those responsible for reaching a new balance and understanding. When turning down a task, make sure you explain it in the overall grand scheme of things. After all, each worker has their own list of priorities they must pursue and hence can only afford to invest little outside that sphere. It could also be that your set of skills is incompatible with the proposed task, and you would end up exerting too much effort only to come out with a poorly-executed product.
If you were not in the habit of refusing and setting boundaries before, your changed attitude might upset plenty of those around you. Take it in stride and don’t go back on your decisions. The slackers will resent you because you were a scapegoat, but other dedicated coworkers will come to appreciate your new attitude.
oat!
One or Two Income Family? DR. RANDA SALIBA CHIDIAC Nowadays, life presents us with changing difficulties and challenges, and the possibility of the "conventional" Lebanese family has likewise changed. It has become normal to have a two-income family, with a couple each having a career and adding to the budgetary accomplishment of the family unit. Financial responsibilities and commitments require two earnings to meet the general costs of the family. Sometimes we ask ourselves the following questions “How can we save money for the education of our children, how can we help our old parents and how can we save for our own retirement?� First of all, having double income families offer the opportunities to the partners to pursue their careers and to earn a good salary to pay for their expenses. Nonetheless, despite the fact that double wage families may have extra money to pay for their necessities, and for the extravagances of life, extra day by day costs can lead to paying an extra cost. When both partners work, additional cost related to work is accumulated, for instance extra transportation costs, mortgage, car payments, insurances, health care, more taxes on revenues, buying suitable clothes for work, eating out more often in addition to paying for a babysitter or sending the children to childcare, as working parents always say that the cost of care has influenced their career decisions, because high-quality childcare usually ranks right after housing, food, as one of the biggest costs of the double wage family.
One vital thing to take into consideration for couples dependent on two wages is the danger of losing income due to a handicap or death, which can really strain the family's budgetary security. Therefore, two income family must ensure a life and disability income insurance that is also added to their expenses. On the other hand, when both couple work, they have more things in common to share, more to discuss, and can better relate to each other's problems and feelings, instead of saying that "my partner doesn't understand my workloads and needs to relax when I return home" or "my husband doesn't perceive all the work I do throughout the day and that I require a break when he returns home."
This second job doesn't need to be similarly profitable or requesting to bring many advantages. A 20-hour seven days low maintenance work conveys additional pay and psychic advantages to the couple. Truth be told, adjusting one high-salary, requesting profession work, with another occupation that is all the more family and way of life agreeable, is by all accounts the best match, Second, hiring a housekeeper to help particularly if the second the working woman as she does not job has medical coverage. have any more time to do the house chores herself or too tired to tidy up the In conclusion, beyond place after a long day at work, also may financial concerns, it is become paramount. important to stress on making a balance between At this point, when these extra personal and professioeveryday expenses are figured nal lives. Work options, into the family spending plan, it is for example, working anything but difficult to perceive from home or occuhow another paycheck may not pation sharing, have give as much as initially expecrisen as adequate ted to help in fund education and approaches to acretirement objectives. complish this balance, often taking
into account more adaptable roles for offering consideration to children as well as to our old parents. As the trend toward double salary families increases, so do the issues, concerns, and needs regarding the changing face of our everyday life.
The Effect of
Divorce
on Children
Dr. Randa Saliba Chidiac
Divorce brings a gigantic change into the life of just encouraging him to dream and delay his/her children regardless of the age group they belong life modification. to. Perceiving the loss of love between their parents, witnessing the break of their parents’ mar- Millions of questions will come up to the child’s riage, trying to adjust between two distinct families, head, such as: “Who is going to take care of me and the absence of one parent while living with the now?”, "Are they both going to keep on loving me other, all these changes create a new family situa- as before?” “What if the other parent refuses to see tion that makes it hard for children to cope with. me anymore?” And much more scary questions. Children, whether boys or girls, live in a critical situation and their life after divorce will change fore- The child needs to feel more connected in a faver.
mily circumstance where a notable detachment has happened. The parent with whom the child is
To some degree distinctive reactions to this excru- staying, is now busier and more distracted and the ciating unforeseen development happen if the boy absent parent is just less accessible due to being or the girl is still young or has entered adolescence. less around. In fact, the divorce makes the children feel that they are more dependable of their parents, as for
For the parents who decide to divorce while ha-
adolescents it makes them grow fast and become ving kids, the need is building up a feeling of family more independent. Why does this happen?
request and consistency. This means they should work on reestablishing a kid's trust in security, reco-
Parents are considered the favored friends to the gnition, and reliance. In this manner, parents build children; therefore, they rely on them as they are up family unit and routines so the child is aware their center of attraction. While the adolescent lives of what is waiting for him. Furthermore, they give in a more free word, more isolated and inacces- nonstop reassurance that the parents are as affecsible from parents, he/she is more independent, tionately associated with the child as before, and and their friends are their center rather than their are focused on the making this new family course parents.
of action work.
Persuading a child that the divorce is going to be
Finally, whatever people might think about divorce,
forever can be hard when his extreme yearning the fact remains that divorce is always painful for fantasizes that by one means or another, some children. way, mother, and father will live back together again someday. The child depends on wishful thinking to help alleviate the agony of loss, putting high hopes in the parental get-together, dreaming that by getting together on family festivities and occasions may keep the family close; however, this is
Best Summer Workout Ideas! Carla Al-Haddad
Ahh ‌ SUMMER! Say hello to the great outdoors with warm weather and longer days. Make the most of the season by turning your tired indoor fitness routine into a creative outdoor workout wherever you are at home or on a vacation with the family. Whether you are at the lake, in the mountains, on the beach, or at the pool, here is how to stay fit this summer. Fitness by the lake Take your family to the lake this summer. Water activities are to exercise in the heat and humidity of summer. A lot of people go to the lake and get motor boats. It is a fun idea but that does not make your body move. Try to go out to an area, stop the boat and anchor, and have a swim, because swimming or treading water is a great way to work the cardiovascular system. It is recommended to do some canoeing for an all-over body workout. Many lakeside facilities offer rentals and lessons because it is great for the shoulders and the back and legs work as stabilizers. Be conscious of muscle balance, she says. Do not always turn the canoe in the same direction. If you are circling the lake, reverse the circle. Row on alternate sides of the boat, or use a longer, double-sided paddle, which makes balancing even easier. Mountain workout Want a whole-body workout in rocky and mountainous terrain? Try pole hiking. What you will need are a set of aluminum, rubber-tipped poles and a good pair of hiking shoes.
Using the poles allows you to involve the upper body in an activity that normally works mainly the legs and glutes. You move with quicker, smaller steps, your arms are pumping and it's almost like race-walking. The upper body motion really gets the heart rate going. It's a great way to add some intensity to your hiking. It's also great for a beginner because using the poles reduces stress on the knees and distributes the body's weight more evenly. The mountains are a great summer workout location because they are usually shadier and cooler. Wherever your mountains are, exploring them is a great way to take a workout outdoors. To take advantage of the mountains, power walk for a specific amount of time, then rest and repeat. If you have a mountain bike, many areas have miles of dirt trails great for the fat, nubby tires of a mountain bike. Even moderate trail cycling is a great whole-body workout that does not feel like exercise. Beach exercise If you're going to the beach this summer, pack a mask and some fins and snorkel. It's not going to be this highend cardiovascular workout, but it does keep the body moving. You're using big muscle groups and the fins add increased resistance. It's great to work for the back extensors, the lower limbs, and the trunk. If getting in the water is not your thing, put up a net and get a friendly game of volleyball going. Or throw the Frisbee or a football around. Throw far and go long,
you'll be surprised how winded you can get. How about building a sand castle? Can that be a workout? I can assure you that it is. Just start moving the sand around the beach, kneel with an empty bucket. Reach in front of you and dig out a full bucket of sand and twist to toss it behind you, alternating sides for a great oblique workout. You may not feel it then, but you may be sore the next morning, so don't overdo it. No buckets? Try getting on your feet. Walking in the soft sand of the beach alone is a workout. Sand gives you the extra resistance that you wouldn't have on a treadmill or on asphalt. "You can do it barefooted and you'll feel a great workout in your feet, shins, and calves. Alternate walking, jogging, and sprinting to work the lower body and get the heart rate elevated. The beach can be so tranquil and yet so energizing. Start out by walking, and all of a sudden you get the energy from the earth and you start to jog a little. Do then some walking lunges or stationary lunges the length of your beach towel. Work the upper body with push-ups and reverse planks and the abdominals with crunches on the towel. Finish with some stretching, deep breathing, and meditation. Here are some workout ideas for you to enjoy this summer. It is a two ways benefits, you are having fun and burning calories at the same time.
When Talent Becomes a Gift‌ By Dr. Laurence Ajaka George Chidiac, a dynamic young architect and designer, heads “Constravisionâ€?, a design and contract company that is already cementing a reputation for luxury and refinement. His journey so far has had three major influences: family, travel, and music. When he was young, George used to spend his summer vacations in the breathtaking mountain region of Lebanon where his grandfather, a fellow contractor, resided. He used to trot faithfully after his grandfather during his work. Ever the innovator, his grandfather was a very renowned architect responsible for designing some of the biggest projects in his region and the owner of a very diverse work portfolio. During his teens, George shifted from a casual observer to a fellow worker granting him the opportunity to see the practical aspect of his career early on while working for his grandfather. It also happened that his father was constructing a house for the family during that period enabling George to immerse himself in the work hands on. Incidentally, all of his cousins at that time were majoring as architects in universities further strengthening the love he had for this domain. When he was just 11, his parents sent him to a monastery in Italy for three months. The nuns would take the children sightseeing, so he saw firsthand the work of giants at an early age. Music is the third influence and it has been George's companion since infancy. His attachment to music triggered his creativity. He actually credits as much as 70% of all his designs to his still ongoing love affair with music. He supplemented all of that by studying in Europe, specifically in Belgium and Italy, which had a major influence on his style. In the end, all those factors came together in one cauldron that is George Chidiac. His passion and flair led him into the business of building dreams for masses.
Where Masculinity Prevails DR. LAURENCE AJAKA Rabih Al Zein was a student of theater and journalism in his young college years, but he went on to immerse himself in all three forms of journalism. He wrote for many newspapers and went on to host several television programs. One of these programs was on Al Jazeera network called "Shasha Tech" dealing with the latest technological innovations and social media. Rabih even managed to score an exclusive interview with none other than Bill Gates to become the only Arabian host to do so. After his return to Lebanon, he heard about the Mr. Lebanon contest, and he decided to participate securely in the knowledge that he had managed to retain his inner beauty by his diligence in bettering himself and remaining humble. Rabih explains that he wouldn't have ventured into such a step had he not found the essential elements on the inside and outside believing both to complement and supplement one another.
He was voted Mr. Lebanon for 20142015 and went on to be the first runner-up in Mr. World that took place in Korea at that time. Not stopping there, he was also voted the second runner-up in Mr. Model in Miami of the same year. He used his elevated status to become an ambassador for several humanitarian causes under his mission of raising awareness for proper parenting of every child about the mistakes and misconceptions they have about parenting as a focus. Accordingly, he launched a campaign that collaborated with numerous NGOs in Lebanon and abroad. He also starred in a combined Turkish-Arabian production where he was the only Lebanese starring with the cast. He is also in the works of shooting a movie after the end of the month of Ramadan.
Today, Rabih is an advocate for sports as a means of living a healthy lifestyle and aging gracefully. Regular exercise at an early age is a great way for boosting the immunity and protecting from several diseases down the line. Rabih has big dreams of infecting every person in Lebanon with sportsmanship conduct and driving them further into the best shape they can be. He intends to pursue his Ph.D. because he doesn't believe in staying put and meekly accepting, and instead, he advocates going outside your comfort zone and into the world.
The Importance of Fun Summer Act Carla Al Haddad
tivities for Kids
Once parents hear the word ‘summer’, they start stressing over which fun activities to choose to keep their children busy for 3 months. It is a hard thing to do because children get bored and become unmotivated very quickly. The key takeaway here is to emphasize the word “fun”. Many parents look for activities that not only keep their child busy but also utilize skills that the child already has. While practicing specific skill-sets is important, brain growth actually happens more-so with free play rather than with any other activity, especially during preschool and elementary school years. Therefore allowing a child to engage in daily, safe, adult-supervised free play will encourage the development of creative skills, resulting in better brain function. For children struggling with academics, such activities may be required, however allowing those children to also have a free play will result in a better attitude and improved academic per formance altogether. Finding the right summer activities can also help to improve your child’s emotions. Summer is a time to help a shy child feel more comfortable with peers; to encourage a fair athlete to become better; to encourage an interest in theater; to help an obese child to lose weight. If all of these can be done with enjoyment and while creating new friendships, what more can we ask for? While looking for summer activities for your child, consider the following suggestions: – For young school-aged children: Sports camps or mixed activities camps with a strong social component. Focus on social skills more than a competition. – For ages 9-12: choose camping, woodworking, canoeing camps, which are activities that strengthen self-direction and independence. – For ages 13-15: Choose camps that focus on a single area of interest. This will improve the child’s ability to better evaluate his skills – For ages 16-19: Consider experiences such as living with a family in another country, learning a language, or a residential work experience such as on a cooperative farm. – For College students: Most students want to rest during the summer, but they should also consider a summer internship to help with career decision-making. “ Enjoyment is the fuel that drives the developmental engine, and may be what distinguishes it from children’s experiences at school”.
Farewell to Your Oily Skin! Carla Al-Haddad
Oily skin can be a pain to deal with especially for teenagers. The accumulation of excess oil on the outer skin layer often leads to whiteheads, blackheads, blind pimples and other skin irritations. But there is one big advantage. Oily skin tends to age better and develop fewer wrinkles than dry or normal skin. So, it’s not all bad. Oily skin can be difficult to manage, but there are many things you can do to solve this common problem. There is no need to use expensive, chemical-based skin care products. Many people have found simple home remedies to be equally effective. Here are some home remedies for oily skin. Egg Whites Egg whites are high in vitamin A and can dry out skin blemishes, tone and tighten up oily skin. • Whip one egg white and spread it on your skin. Allow it to dry and then wash it off with warm water. Do this twice a week. • Whip one egg white, add the juice from half a lemon and mix it well. Apply the mixture on your face, leave it on for 15 minutes and then rinse it off with warm water. This will tighten the skin and soak up excess oil. Tomatoes Tomatoes are rich in vitamin c and help your acne-prone skin. They cool, clarify and astringe. The natural oil-absorbing acids in tomatoes help get rid of excess oil. 1. Cut a tomato in half and rub it on your skin. 2. Allow the juice to soak into your skin for at least 15 minutes. 3. Rinse your skin with cold water, pat it dry and apply a light oil-free moisturizer. Yogurt Yogurt contains lactic acid that helps gently exfoliate the skin and absorbs excess oil from the face. • Apply one tablespoon of plain yogurt thoroughly over your face and leave it on for 15 minutes. Then rinse it off with cool water. Do this once daily. • Alternatively, mix one tablespoon each of organic yogurt and finely ground oatmeal. Then stir in one teaspoon of warm honey. Apply the mixture on your face. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse with warm water. Cucumbers Cucumbers are beneficial for oily skin due to their cooling, astringent, and soothing properties. They are high in vitamin and mineral content, including vitamins A and E, magnesium, and potassium, which are good for oily skin. • Cut a fresh organic cucumber into thick slices, and rub them thoroughly on your face. Leave it on overnight and rinse with warm water in the morning. Do this daily before going to bed. • Alternatively, mix a one-half teaspoon each of cucumber juice and lime juice. Apply this mixture to your skin, let it dry, and then wash it off with warm water. Do this daily. This remedy can also be used to lighten freckles and reduce sunburn. In the end, who says foods at home can’t be used as remedies for your oily skin. Since summer is just around the corner, creams can contain chemical products that are harmful for the skin, therefore, it Is better to make your own creams at home.
Life's Smack Down Dr. Laurence Ajaka Life has its way of smacking us right in the face when least expected. We would be going on with our convictions and moral high ground, strutting with pride when all of the sudden, a mighty tide of self-doubt and insecurity hits us smack in the face. We fear it because it often comes in the form of adversities, addiction, loss and pain. It requires an inordinate amount of inner strength to overcome the mountain that falls into our paths. What we need to keep in mind is that these are not punishments but trials that God send our way to make us stronger. In His infinite wisdom, he sends us down a path of self-improvement and empowerment. Trials are proof that God exists and cares about each and every one of us. You do not need to search the four corners of the world to find ourselves because life’s meaning is within us waiting to be unearthed. All the negative people and events that occur are God’s guiding hand helping to polish the shining gem we all are underneath this physical coat. Be grateful for every trial because they are precious gifts.
The Ugly Truth DR. LAURENCE AJAKA
Stop running away from yourself. Your flaws, wrinkles, curves and scars are a testament to the life you have led and the hardship you have endured. They mark the wisdom you have gained and the beauty you have blossomed into. Even when you stop looking like a former version of yourself, you are still you on the inside no matter how much weight you lose or gain, how many outfits you change and how much cosmetic alterations you make. You are flawless as long as you remain true to yourself because you came from God, and that makes you special. As long as you are healthy, the rest is just details. When you try to change what the Maker decreed, you lose the essence that made you special and becomes nothing more than carbon conformity with no flair or beauty. You cannot immerse yourself in an endless cycle of body shaming and self-loathing! Those who are remembered for their beauty are forgotten as soon as another swan flutters through. Those remembered for their kindness and passion engrave a memory in the minds and hearts of all those they meet. Remember that even if the whole world thinks you breathtaking, you have nothing if you cannot get yourself to love every imperfection within and without.
It is Already Within!! DR. LAURENCE AJAKA
We futilely sear notion of the c ning of love. Th Divine encased an awakening finds in others. lings of lust an justify the aban
rch for love in all the wrong places. We are enslaved by the fairytale charming prince and the beautiful princess heedless of the real meahe truth is that love is to be found in each of our souls, a gift of the d momentarily in this corporal form. What we perceive as love is often of what is already within us as it resonates with the same entity it We fancy ourselves in love when all it is actually a mask for baser feend desire. We cloak them with the name of love to elevate them and ndonment we feel.
Reducing Stress MISHA YAKOBI
How many of us have stopped and pondered about what makes us stressed? And what are the ramifications of not pausing to determine the root cause of this stress? Since work occupies a lion share of our daily life, it is safe to assume that most of the time it is our work that stresses us and wears us down. While there are many reasons to be stressed at work, such as relationships with supervisors or colleagues, some stress is related to the actual workload. So, what are some of the practical ways to reduce the stress related to the workload? Time management is a key to achieve goal and reduce stress. Time, unfortunately, is finite. Each day is filled with 24 hours and each week has 5 business days. Conversely, the energy devoted to daily tasks and productivity is variable within every day. Everyone has experienced the natural rhythm of the day in which energy ebbs and flows and the question of how to remain productive and maintain focus at the low end of these oscillations looms large. The clichĂŠ of time management strategies has been taught since grade school with little variation. However, all of these strategies boil down to working smarter, not harder. Working harder is the verbal illustration of a stressed student inhaling caffeine the night before an exam. Conversely, the student who planned the week leading up the exam and realistically allotted time has instead worked smarter. Ultimately, the time spent on preparation for the upcoming deadline is the same. However, the individual who worked smarter and set goals and priorities has conserved much more energy and allotted time more efficiently. Working smarter, not harder culminates in decreased levels of perceived stress and increased levels of perceived control and is achieved simply by setting realistic goals and assigning appropriate priorities to tasks.
TENDAE EST EXPE
The characteristic of working smarter, not harder is not accomplished with one extreme change. Rather, it is the result of reaso-
nable and sustainable alterations. Beginning by setting goals and priorities for projects and gradually incorporating more strategies to increase productivity may result in less risk of future burnout. Over time, one realizes that if a weakness is identified, a strength must be applied to balance out that weakness. As such, accept your weakness, learn from past experiences where that weakness bore you down, and introduce discipline to goal-setting to allow your strengths to shine! The conscious decision to work smarter, not harder yields more conservation of energy which yields a more productive 24 hour day. When faced with the early Monday morning pile of work, do not be stricken and paralyzed by the amount of work. Rather plan ahead! Adapt a strategy that if you cannot do everything, do what you can, start doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible and suddenly you are doing what initially seemed impossible.
" Don't ever say sweet words, because your tongue never tasted the honey...ever " --- Dr. H Farhat