Productivity Begins Where Procrastination Ends Part II

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You might be wondering, "Is there really a need for part II?" For three valid reasons, yes.

First, the original post was a surprise hit. Yay!

Second, so much has happened since then and I haven't blogged about any personal thoughts for a long time.

Third, and most important reason of all, this is my blog. So if you can't deal with it, better GTFO.

So a lot has happened since I decided to "officially quit" procrastination, "straighten out" my writing career, and be serious in earning money. Well, for the most part, I did lay low on procrastinating. Since I easily burn out in writing articles, I thought, "Hey, why not outsource these boring articles to other writers?"

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And so I enlisted the help of oDesk and hired different writers to do the job for me. At the time, all I did was apply for jobs, get interviewed, hire writers and assign them to write different articles, check them for errors, then finally submit them to clients. If you think the job was easy, boy, you're hell of a lot wrong.

Surprisingly, it was even more stressful than writing the articles myself. Why? Well, lousy writers + demanding clients + looming deadlines + limited time = STRESS. What's more, I lost more than $100 because of a fly-by-night client. Either I'm not good at outsourcing or I'm not just good at outsourcing.

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So I finally got tired of all the stress and pressure and decided to get only high paying articles and write them myself. That and a proofreading and formatting job are enough to make me earn serious cash. But, as usual, I'm never contented with a "minimum" income. Heck, if I want to get rich, a mere P10,000-P30,000 per month is never enough.

Anyway, though outsourcing promises a hefty sum of money, doing the writing tasks myself and outsourcing just to one writer is a lot less than stressful. What's more, I even find time to blog, relax, and have fun with my friends. Besides, I think it's about time that I rely on my writing skills alone.

College Friends: L to R: Lee, Yves, Norlyn, Roselle, Wjoemark, and ME!

Highschool Friends: L to R: ME, Malen, Joy, Nipe

I know that time will come that I will run out of writing gigs. So while I'm getting busy with writing for clients, I also find time to write on my very first eBook novel. At first, I wanted to write a romantic-comedy plot. But then, I found it suddenly boring and dull. Probably because, I still haven't found any inspiration for that. So I resorted to suspense/fantasy/thriller. Why? Because this genre really captivates and entertains the readers well, given that it's written with great taste like these books. 

Angels & Demons by Dan Brown

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When The Wind Blows by James Patterson

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The Donovan Creed Series by John Locke

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I've finished reading Angels & Demons and When the Wind Blows. And both novels had me wanting for more. I wanted to read the whole Donovan Creed Series. I've just read some excerpts and as expected, it totally had me clamoring for more. Sadly, I can't purchase the series yet as I haven't gotten around the payment method yet since Amazon doesn't allow Paypal.

Anyway, the authors of these books inspire me to explore my writing skills more, to learn what needs to be learned, and to go after what I really wanted from the start - to be a full-pledged writer and take credit for everything that I've written. Someday, I know I'll get there.

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Plus, I intend to take an online Psychology course. In fact, I just enrolled in a free ten-week course. After I finish this, I'll take up a paid course. I'm sure it will fire up my writing career even more and provide  spice on my internet marketing efforts...:)

With that, I end this post with a couple of productivity quotes that both you and I can use...

"Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort." - Paul J. Meyer

"If you love life, don't waste time, for time is what life is made up of." - Bruce Lee 

"Words may show a man's wit, but actions, his meaning." - Benjamin Franklin 

"The path to success is to take massive determined action." - Tony Robbins 

"Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year, and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade!" - Tony Robbins

Unforgiving Swimsuits? Here Are A Few Great Alternatives to the Two-Piece

How many of us ladies have tried their best at shunning away from water not because of fear of it but because of the shame that comes with the unforgiving swimsuit we have to wear?

So we have curves, stretch marks, and cellulites. Isn’t that one thing we should celebrate? We’re not photoshopped; we’re as real as it gets. Here’s a secret that I want you, my dear ladies, to know. In fact, it’s one secret that every woman should know: That with the right clothing you can make yourself look like a diva. Kim Kardashian, and Mrs. Beckham know what I’m talking about because you know, even celebrities have something to hide as well.

For swimwear, there are tons of trendy new styles that you can try out to enhance your assets and hide your flaws. Here’s some of them:

Retro 

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Remember how pinup girls used to be front and center in the boy’s locker room and in bedside of the army’s cabins? There’s the ever famous Betty Garble who showed skin in the most conservative yet sexy way. Admit it, she was more curvy than what we call sexy by our standards today, but her picture is a classic sultry number. It’s because her swimsuit showed and emphasized all the right curves. By that, we mean her behind. So for those of you who’re gifted with an all-curvy body, structured one-piece swimsuits or a high waist, low cut bottom would do your figure wonders.

High cut

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Yes, I’m aware that the 80’s and the 90’s aren’t exactly the best eras for fashion, but let’s give it credit for giving us the high cut swimsuit. One of the most recognizable swimsuits for this style is none other than the ones worn by the ladies of Baywatch. High cut swimsuits give you more leg, and boy do they make you look like you can go for miles.

Dresses and skirts

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Don’t believe me? Suit yourself! But lo and behold, there really is a line of swimwear that imitates dresses and skirts to hide that extra junk in the trunk. These cute little ensembles resemble full clothing but are most definitely good enough to soak in chlorine and saltwater. This is the best alternative for those who are thinking of donning a rash guard to distract the eyes from the jiggling body parts.

There are plenty of ways in which you can enhance your figure through swimsuits. Your suit shouldn’t wear you; it’s the other way around. It all depends on what you choose to wear how you wear it.

How Do You Define Style?

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Being fashionable is not just about having designer clothes, shoes, and bags. Neither is it all about following the latest trends. It may be focused on trends, clothing and accessories, but there is something more to it. It’s an art- a façade of a mountain of creativity and the ability to play tricks with the eyes to turn something plain into an aesthetically pleasing work.

What bothers me is that people who have no idea on how to define style defines it simply as wearing what’s hot off the racks and off the editorials. Believe me, it takes more than a pretty face to pull those things off. So, how exactly is style defined in the world of fashion?

It’s you

First, style is what defines you. Your persona is reflected on the things you don. Conservative, classic, wild, understated, punk, boho- this categorization describes the identity of the wearer. It’s not stereotypical, I beg to differ. It’s not a precursor to discrimination. It’s a character that people embody and emulate through their wardrobe decisions. It’s something you own, to say the least.

It transcends through time

Style is not simply thrown out the next season. It is a part of you that evolves with each fashion week and with each sale. Simply put, it’s not as dispensable as your colored tights or your leopard skin coat. No. Like high fashion, it’s iconic in the way that it presents you to the world. It’s about making people say “That is so her” instead of “That is so last fall.”

It’s defined, refined, and polished

No, this doesn’t mean it has to be all preppy and clean. What it means is that as time progresses, your style defines itself, slowly evolving through different trends, Vogue editorials, and Project Runway seasons. It gets polished no matter what category  you embody. Bottom line is you get to see just how your take on fashion gradually matures as you get more and more exposed to it.

Where am I getting at here, you ask? Well, high fashion will not resemble itself when taken out of context. The same statement applies to your style. 

Tips for a Healthier, Happier You

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At some point or another, you’ve probably heard someone say that “happiness is a choice.” While genetics, hormones, and outlying circumstances can and will have an effect, at the end of the day, there is a choice that only you can make—will you let the situation get you down, or will you find a way to work around it?

Be Your Number One Fan

No, this does not mean that you have to toot your own horn. All it means is that for others to realize your worth, you’re going to have to be the first person to do so. If you are your own biggest detractor or naysayer, then how can you expect other people to see and believe otherwise?

It’s All a Matter of Perspective

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Learn to distance yourself from the things that make you see red but have no real control over, say, a bad traffic jam. Will your seething through the pile-up make things go any faster, or clear the roads sooner? Take a deep breath, count to five, ten, or even a hundred. After that, do your best to find a way to turn things around to your advantage, and see how much better things will be.

Focus on the Solution, Not the Problem

Again, will dwelling on the problem make it go away? Not really, right? If anything you’re only making it worse by digging an even bigger hole for yourself by wallowing in it. Remember that you can and always will have the ability to change things, even if the only thing you can do is how you look at it. If you’re at a loss to deal with a particularly tricky situation, seek help. Talk to a friend, colleague, or family member, depending on what the situation is. If anything, having someone to vent to will make you feel better.

Venture Away from Your Comfort Zone

Are you down in the doldrums because you think you’re stuck in a rut? Don’t just sit around waiting for things to happen—instead, make them happen. Try to do something you’ve never thought of doing before, even if it’s as simple as trying out a new shade of nail polish, or a different kind of cuisine.

Remind Yourself of What Truly Matters

Whether it’s finding a new job, buying that car, moving out of your parents’ house, you have to find something that you want to work towards to. Never lose sight of your dreams, your goals, and your ideals. You can even set up what some life coaches call “vision boards,” which are visual representations of the things you’re aspiring for. Seeing them and being reminded of them on a regular basis will help pump you up and motivate you into working towards them even more.