Time management seems to be something just about everyone is talking about. I’ve written about various aspects of time management recently. Today, I’ll share one of my favorite tips on time management; that is to know what time of the day is your most effective time.

Anyone who knows me, knows my effective time is generally between 11pm and 3am. According to my parents even as a kid I was a night owl. They were constantly telling me to stop reading and to go to bed, I’m sure the fact that I was a real bear in the morning had absolutely nothing to do with it! If you don’t know when your effective time is ask yourself these questions:

• What time of day do you have the most mental energy?
• What time of day do you have the most physical energy?
• What time of day are you most creative?
• When are you most tired?

As you answer those questions, you’ll see a pattern relating to your body’s natural clock so you may want to think about re-scheduling some of your activities to the time you know you’re most effective at getting things accomplished. Many people are very effective first thing in the morning – so why not think about getting to work an hour early, imagine what you might get accomplished! Or if you find you have the most physical energy in the morning, maybe you want to start your day with some exercise before work… If you’re like me, I need time to wake up; I’m quiet and prefer to postpone any thinking first thing in the morning. I plan my more challenging and creative activities for later in the day when at all possible. The point is, we are all more productive at our individual peak performance times so it’s important to know when you’re at your best.

Coach’s challenge

We’re all too often prey to time wasters that steal our productivity. Do you spend too much time on the internet, Facebook, Twitter, reading email, making personal phone calls, etc…? The thing about having more control of your time is in understanding where you’re spending your time and then changing your behaviors. A great place to start is by reducing the amount of time spent on those time wasters. So your challenge this month is to figure out your preferred time waster, start reducing the time spent on that activity and increase the time spent on more productivity.

When is your most effective time and are you scheduling your days appropriately?

Organic Vegetables vs. Those Other Veggies

Organic grown vegetables are, any day, much better than the other vegetables that are grown with the help of chemicals. If you have always wanted to contribute positively to the environment, now’s your chance to make a difference. You can easily start growing organic groups of vegetables in your garden or farm if you are ready to update your knowledge about organic farming.

No pesticides – organic grown vegetables will never contain any pesticides in them, as organic farming never makes use of any pesticides or any other form of chemicals.

No use of chemical fertilizers – once again, organic group of vegetables are grown without using any sort of chemical fertilizers. This means that there is no chance of any dreadful chemicals seeping into the soil or the valuable source of groundwater that is below the soil.

Soil retains its quality – since there are no chemicals used for growing vegetables in organic farming, the soil will never become damaged. In normal farming, the soil turns totally infertile due to the excessive use of chemical fertilizers. Once this happens it is useless for farming for an innumerable number of years. Organic grown vegetables use compost and decaying organic matter for their growth.

What you see is what you get – organic groups of vegetables are always a better option as you can be sure that nothing that can harm your health has been added to them or to the soil where they grow.

Maintaining the food chain – since there is no use of any kind of harmful chemicals, the food chain in the area remains unaffected.

Helping the world – if you read the newspapers, you will realize that there is a growing shortage of food. When you produce organic grown vegetables on any plot of land that belongs to you, this helps, even in a small way, in reducing the food shortage problem that is faced by the world.

Personal savings – if you have always fancied organic groups of vegetables, but found their prices quite high, then the best way to tackle that would be to produce organic grown vegetables for yourself. By doing this, you can easily bring down your monthly food bill.

Great demand – there is a great demand for organic groups of vegetables. People have realized the benefits of consuming them. So, if you are able to produce more than what you require for your consumption, you will easily find buyers for your organic products. You can then earn some bucks for producing organic groups of vegetables.

 It may seem like a long ways a way, but back to school time is soon approaching! Before we know it, we will need to start the mad dash to frantically get everything ready for that much awaited, or dreaded, first day of school. Here are some ideas to help you save time, money, and potentially your sanity.

• MAKE A LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE – Yes, play Santa Claus for a little bit. Sit with all the separate lists they give your kids, and consolidate them into three master lists: one for uniforms and clothing, one for textbooks, and one for materials. Check and make sure that in rewriting an consolidating your lists you have not accidentally left anything out.
• START EARLY – Starting early will probably not save you a whole lot of money. In fact, you might miss out on some of the season’s most impressive sales. But, it WILL save you time, and a bit of sanity. So, think of it as a bit of a trade off. Yes, you might end up spending a bit more money, but you’ll avoid the long lines, madness and sold-out items that come with waiting for the big sales to come.
• DON’T CHASE AFTER SALES – I know this sounds contradictory, but two things typically come out of chasing sales: you either spend more on gas than you save with the sale, or you end up buying more than you first intended. See, when we chase around sales, it becomes very difficult to remain organized. When you have all of your shopping in one cart, you can always double check the items on your list. My advice is to pick one place that you know offers good value for each of your three master lists and where you know you can find most of the things you need. Go there, and stay there. Move to another store ONLY if you cannot find specific items, and make a separate list of those items before moing on to the next store.
• ORGANIZE A COMMUNITY BOOK SWAP – Text books are expensive, and some can be very hard to find. So, be a leader in your community and organize a day or two in which everyone gathers at a central location, like the public library or the community center, with their used textbooks. You can either organize it like an auction in shich one person or team is responsible for selling or trading the books, or you can set up tables for each person to negotiate their sales and/or trades with other interested parties.
• ESTABLISH A ONE VANITY ITEM LIMIT – The designer jeans, the trendy backpack, the in-brand tennis shoes,… Kids, especially teenagers, can really spend your entire back to school budget in one shopping trip to the clothing store. My suggestion: negotiate, in advance, a one vanity item limit. Have them decide which of the “in,” trendy items in their wish list they really cannot do without. Offer to get it for them, as long as they understand that everything else will be replaced with less expensive alternatives.

Hope these ideas help bring the end of your Summer, and the transition into the new school year to a happy and peaceful resolution. Enjoy what’s left of the Summer and take the time to enjoy each other and bask in the sun!

The summer months make it easier than ever to enjoy healthy eating habits. This is due to the amazing array of fresh fruits and vegetables available in almost any location. Naturally, it isn’t actually healthy to exist strictly on a diet of only fruits or vegetables, and this is an interesting point to ponder when about to start a diet.

Many dieters make the mistake of thinking that they can consume only low calorie and low fat foods like fresh fruits and vegetables in order to quickly lose weight. This might work for a short period of time, but the body automatically responds to deprivation of any kind and usually begins storing fat to prevent serious problems later on. This is why strict dieters will hit the proverbial “plateau” and stop losing pounds altogether.

So, the first step to healthy dieting is to accept that you actually must eat a wide array of foods, and all in a balanced manner, in order to begin losing weight. You must also exercise regularly in order to burn up some calories as well.

Fortunately, there are many excellent resources for healthy diet recipes, and this is where summer’s bounty can be put to excellent use. For example, you can eat tons of fresh salad, you can roast or grill sturdier vegetables to be used as meat substitutes in sandwiches or other dishes, and you can dine on snacks of fresh produce of all kinds.

If healthy cooking is a major goal, it is important to store and treat all of the fresh fruits and vegetables properly too. For instance, some fruits should not be rinsed with water until just before they are used. Some fruits don’t do well when stored in the refrigerator, and most fresh fruits should be eaten as soon as possible. Vegetables can be just as finicky, and some should be consumed almost immediately after purchase. For example, fresh corn and green peas will both convert natural sugars to less flavorful starch as soon as they are harvested, and this is a reason to eat them fresh from the field.

Luckily, there are just as many quick diet recipes as there are “standard” recipes. These are often great resources for using large amounts of fresh produce, and will usually present someone with options for no-cook or low-cook recipes that let summer’s flavors really shine through. These recipes are also a great approach to keeping the kitchen nice and cool throughout the heat of the summer season.

Here are some easy summer appetizers that are quick to prepare. Summer is a great time for entertaining at all kinds of events from 4th of July parties, family functions, graduations, to just relaxing and spending time with your friends. These quick and flavorful appetizers are perfect summer party recipes and will make all your get-togethers easy, delicious, and fun.

Fruity Salsa Dip: Take one-half cup diced of each of the following and combine in a bowl: fresh or frozen (thawed and drained) peaches, jicama (peeled), celery, red onion, and tomatoes. Add fresh squeezed lemon juice to taste and toss again to combine. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for an hour and serve with your favorite chips for dipping.

Bacon Shrimp Cocktail: In a bowl combine cooked, shelled shrimp (cut into chunks), some thinly sliced scallions, a couple of slices of crispy cooked bacon (crumbled), some sour cream (enough to moisten), some fresh squeezed lemon juice and mix well. Serve this flavorful summer appetizer chilled in prepared baked puff pastry shells with a slice of lemon on the side.

Olive Spread Stackers: Take some crispbread crackers and spread a layer of olive tapenade on each cracker then top with sliced fresh mozzarella cheese, a couple of roasted red pepper strips, and a sprinkling of fresh chopped basil.

Ham and Cheese Roll-Up Appetizers: Take a slice of deli ham and place a thin slice of Swiss Cheese on top of the ham. Spread the cheese with a combination of sour cream and spicy mustard and a sprinkling of dried or fresh dill. Then place a thin breadstick (your favorite flavor – plain, garlic, cheese, etc.) on top of the cheese near the edge and roll up tightly.

Creamy Potato Toppers: Take small red potatoes and cut into one-quarter inch thick slices. Steam until tender but not mushy, carefully remove from steamer, and place in ice water for a few minutes to stop the cooking process. Remove from water, pat dry, and allow to cool completely, being careful to keep each slice intact (refrigerate until ready to serve). In a bowl, combine some ricotta cheese with some sour cream, a little spicy mustard, chopped fresh chives, fresh grated lemon zest, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix until well combined and chill until ready to serve. Assemble this summer appetizer at serving time by spooning a mound of cheese mixture on top of each potato slice, sprinkle a little more chopped chives on top, and place on a serving plate.

For more easy summer appetizers and flavorful, healthy, and uncomplicated recipes, visit http://www.quick-salad-recipes.com.  This free recipe site is filled with easy solutions for everyday meal planning from breakfast through dessert. Enjoy budget friendly meals created with quick recipes that use natural food, short lists of ingredients, and simple preparation with menu planners that provide a wide variety of ideas for simple, delicious, and quick meals for every day of the week throughout the year.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Cockerell

A well-manicured lawn is the highlight of any summer. It’s the backdrop for barbeques and where kids can run barefooted. With a little bit of extra care, your lawn can be healthy and as plush as carpet.

Here are a few summer care tips that will help your home gain that extra bit of curb appeal this summer.

1. Water Carefully. As the weather heats up, your lawn will need extra attention. Your lawn will need at least one inch of water a week. If you’re going through a heat wave, imagine what your lawn is going through. Give your lawn a bit of extra water when the temperature hits the triple digits.

2. Water Early and Deeply. The best time of day to water your lawn is in the wee hours of the morning. If you have automatic sprinklers, set them to an early hour. This helps make sure that the water does not evaporate in the intense heat or have the potential to grow fungus overnight.

Additionally, make sure to water your lawn deeply. This means watering it thoroughly a few times and letting it soak in, rather than watering it briefly and often. When it comes to your lawn’s health think quality over quantity.

3. Avoid Fertilizing. Especially when the temperatures are soaring, it is best to avoid fertilizing your lawn. The chemical in the fertilizer can burn your lawn, causing discoloration. If possible, try using an organic fertilizer. It contains fewer chemicals and is less likely to burn since it is slow release. Again, try to avoid this in the summer months. Any fresh growth that you get will struggle in the intense heat.

4. Weeding. This is probably the least enjoyable part of landscaping, but it must be done. The summer months are the ideal weeding season, since the weeds will bloom and release seeds for the next year. It is best to nip this in the bud, so to speak.

Hand pulling weeds is the ideal option, since it causes minimum stress to the lawn. If you are going to use a chemical spray, be sure that it is organic or non-harmful for your grass.

5. Insects and Bugs. If you life in any city with high humidity, you know how big of an annoyance they can be. Insects are common in lawns that are extremely dry. Grubs start hatching during this season. If they are a severe problem, try using a grub remover around mid-summer.

Landscaping can be a lot of hard work, but it certainly pays off. If you give your lawn the proper care, whether it means regular landscaping or finally installing that new sprinkler system, it will flourish.

With summer in full effect, everyone is looking to cool off! People flock to the pool every summer, but before you do, make sure you know these 5 things!

1.) CPR – Take a CPR class in case the worst happens. CPR can double a victim’s chance of survival. Anyone watching children in the pool should know adult, child, and infant CPR. Babysitters should always be CPR certified.

2.) Never Leave a Child Unattended – Drowning happens without a sound. It is extremely important to keep a close eye on swimming children. Designate a “water watcher” whose sole job is to watch kids in the pool. No TV, no books, just watching.

3.) Swim Lessons – Every child should take swim lessons. There are lessons available for infants as well that teach infants how to roll on their back and float in case of an accident.

4.) Install Pool Fences and Covers – Pool fences should lock securely and self close. Pool covers add an additional aspect of safety. Just remember to remove the cover completely when it is time to swim.

5.) Remove Toys from the Pool After Swimming – Floating toys can tempt children to reach into the water and fall into the pool unattended.Pool fun can easily be the highlight of any child’s summer. By following these 5 steps, you will be armed to deal with any emergencies that may occur. Assigning a water watcher, obtaining a CPR certification, and safeguarding your pool will ensure a great summer for everyone. Happy swimming!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zack_Zarrilli

When the temperature starts soaring in the summer months, you start noticing your energy bills soaring right along with the thermometer. You and your family need to keep cool, but the rising energy costs may be stressful to an already stretched personal budget.

This is a great time to remember all the ways you can make your home more energy efficient. There are small things you can do to help, such as:

• keeping the house a degree or two warmer,
• maintaining a consistent temperature on the thermostat,
• making sure all lights and fans are turned off when not in use,
• replacing traditional light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs,
• keeping windows and doors shut tight,
• and closing the blinds or curtains during the daytime.

There are also bigger investments you can make to help your home become more energy efficient. These investments can provide a bigger payoff in the long run. A few of these improvements include:

• installing new energy efficient windows and doors
• installing solar panels
• using energy efficient appliances
• following the ENERGY STAR’s recommendations for Heating and Cooling Efficiently

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Kenton

Homeowners in need of a lower price on their homeowner’s insurance policies should consider raising the deductible on their current policy. They should not short themselves on coverage. The last thing that should be done is to lower the coverage on a homeowners insurance policy to save money. The proper amount of coverage needed on a homeowner’s insurance policy is just that, the proper amount of coverage.

If homeowners are not able to find a rate that is within their budget they could also consider increasing the deductible on the policy. Many insurance companies offer higher deductible options. The exposure that the insured would have with a higher deductible would be significantly less than if you were to lower your coverage. Raising the deductible on your policy could save your hundreds of dollars per year.

The amount of personal exposure from raising the deductible on homeowners insurance is, simply, the amount of the increase. A policy that was written with a $1000 deductible and raised to a $2500 deductible exposes the homeowner to a potential of an increased $1500 out of pocket. This is a minimal expense when compared to lower the dwelling coverage or personal property coverage by tens of thousands of dollars. The decrease in premium would be close to the same between raising the deductible and significantly lowering the coverage.If policyholders find that you are still in need of additional savings, they should shop their auto and homeowner insurance policies together. They would receive a discount on both policies. Generally, the discount for having multiple insurance policies with the same company will be around 10 percent per policy. If you pay $1000 per year on your auto insurance and are able to get the same rate with your homeowners insurance company, you would save $100 per year on your auto insurance.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_R_Woodward

In the modern day both men and woman are increasingly purchasing jewelry. Although the price of certain types of jewelry has come down, these items remain quite valuable. If you have home contents insurance, you may think that you are fully covered if something happens to your jewelry. This is often not the case, or if you are covered, it will only be up to a certain amount. Very often the amount the insurance policy covers is not the full value of the jewelry lost. Another possible concern is that the policy may only cover your jewelry if it is stolen out of your home as a result of a burglary. Sit down with your insurance broker and establish whether covering your jewelry under your home insurance policy is sufficient or whether you require a specialized jewelry insurance policy.

In addition to only being covered for a certain amount or only if the jewelry is stolen, you may realize often too late, that you need a valuation certificate for your jewelry before your insurance company will pay out a claim. It is therefore imperative that you read the fine print in your insurance policy very carefully and ensure that you understand exactly what is covered and what documentation you require in order to submit a claim. If you own a lot of jewelry, especially fine or antique jewelry, it may be wise to add additional cover to your existing policy.

Insuring your jewelry against theft outside your home is also a wise step, especially if you like to go out in public adorned with your finest jewels. You are more likely to lose a ring, necklace or earrings outside your home instead of as a result of a burglary. These items have a habit of fall Therefore, it is important to have this possibility covered. To save some money on your monthly insurance premiums, you can usually adjust your deductible. Having a higher deductible in the event of a claim will lower your premium, but make sure that you will be able to afford the increased deductible. Setting your deductible to work on a percentile of the value of the claim rather than a fixed deductible could also lower the premium.

Ask your insurance agent if you need to have your jewelry appraised before they are willing to insure the jewelry for the value you specify. If they do, store the certificates in a safe place and have your jewelry re-valued frequently. Doing this annually or bi-annually should be sufficient. Also, enquire about which possible losses your policy covers. Consider adding additional cover against damage with options for repair or cash settlement.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dylan_S._Barrett