How to Get More Time: Don't Value Your Time as Much; In Fact Give it Away.

Check out this article from CNN: You have more time than you think

Feeling stressed for time? I turns out that even though, as a whole, Americans have more free time than ever, we paradoxically feel more pressed for time.

According to this article, if you want to feel less stressed about your time slipping away, don't apply a monetary value to the time you do have. In fact, use your free time to do good for and with others. Volunteer, cheer up a friend, or just have some face-to-face time. Turns out when you do, your perspective shifts, time slows down, and anxiety decreases.
Give it a try... for a time.

-P

Things to Do: Go To the Library.

I can't believe I am making a post about this. Going to the library should be common sense, but I see so many people that don't know what services their library offers.

Reasons the Library is Awesome:

1. Its practically free! Yeah, most libraries are paid with funds from your taxes, but hey you are paying for it anyway might as well use it.
   
2. Reading gives you and your children an edge. There are tons of studies on this. Just use your search engine, or better yet go to the library and look it up if you don't believe me.
3. How can you be a responsible and active citizen if you don't know what is going on in the world around you.
4. Hard Copies of media at the library tend to be reviewed more heavily than electronic sources. Therefor you won't be as easily lead astray.
5. Many types of media at your hand. One trip to most libraries can give the visitor access to books, movies, video games, cds, newspapers, journals, cassette tapes, etc.
   

There is no excuse for not visiting your library at least a few times a month. The librarians are there to help you, it hardly costs you anything, and its one of the easiest ways to learn to be active.

Things to Do: Join Meetup.com

Welcome to what will hopefully be the first of many posts about "Things to do". Bettering myself is why I started this blog, and I wish to share some tips with you. Some of these ideas will be common sense, and some will involve things I have done that are off the beaten path. Anyway, on to the Tip.

Create a Profile on Meetup.com

One reason people do not become active in an endeavour is not knowing where to start. There are so many interests, hobbies, and activities that furthering proficiency and knowledge can be overwhelming. Even a simple search on Google or Yahoo using an activity and a city name can turn up many more hits than can be sorted.

A second complaint people have, is they cannot find people that share their passion, and when someone does something alone, they are less likely to stick with it.

Yet another reason people do not get active, is the information that is most readily available is through advertising. Therefore, starting an interest or activity through these modes, usually will result in higher fees than just pursuing the interest with a group of friends.

Meetup.com is an excellent cheap way to navigate around these problems. Meetup.com is a social networking site, for groups that have a wide array of interests: from politics to sports, there is bound to be a meetup group.

Best of all, meetup.com does not charge to join a meetup group. There is a fee to run a group, but it is very small. All you need is to create a free profile.

Once you’ve joined meetup.com, you have no excuse that you can’t find like minded knowledgeable people to start your activity with. If there isn't a group that suits you, you can always start your own.

Now get out there and do it.