Here, then, are five ways to keep on the “productive” side of that line and avoid the “time-sink” factor. I’ve focused here on practices and attitudes, not technical details — it pays, though, to make sure your system is optimized, your hardware is up to snuff, and your software is as good as it can be. 1. Use scripting There was a time when using a computer meant programming the computer....

Prepare for the pressure. If you know you’re going to have a high pressure situation coming up, get ready for it so you can go into it with the right mindset and tackle issues as quickly and efficiently as possible. Know when to say “no.” Taking on too many tasks is a surefire way to stress yourself out and ensure you do a medoicre job on many projects rather than a great job on a few....

1. Updating a Dresser A solidly built dresser can provide a lot of function. However, the look can become unappealing in time. Before you donate the dresser to charity, consider giving it a makeover. The easiest way to give it a whole new look is with paint. Whether the surface is already painted, natural wood, or even laminate, there are paints that will work for you. You can add designs to highlight your personal aesthetic....

There are some movies that give great business advice. And there are some movies that give, shall we say, questionable advice for the sake of advancing the plot. If you’ve been taking your business advice from movies, you’re probably already in rough shape. But if you’ve been taking guidance from these quotes in particular, then you’re really in trouble. Here are some of the worst pieces of business advice from movies....

5min works because of the time restriction and categorization. Tagging, embedding and voting are features also. Also check out VideoJug and About.com’s video section. Life Videopedia – [5min]

Additionally, if you are more into relaxing and living large, then the stunning Middle-Eastern cities would be a great travel choice. From mountains, across the sands, to the seas, the Middle East has it all. Moreover, these places are interlaced with different cultures and people, which only make it more exotic. This is why you should definitely visit this part of the world, at least once. In case you do not know where to go, here are six great cities of the Middle East, that should satisfy your travel taste:...

Since you’re here, it’s safe to say that you lost the battle and are in need of help. I am sure we all know that eating late at night has its repercussions on health and weight. So, what do you do when you’re super hungry and can no longer take it? The answer is to find healthy snacks to eat at night. It’s important to choose a healthy snack because research shows that poor food choices are usually made at night, which leads to the overconsumption of calories....

Depriving ourselves of sleep leaves us feeling both mentally and physically drained. Worse yet, poor sleeping habits have demonstrates some of the strongest links to obesity. As sufferers of insomnia know all too well, it’s not simply a case of getting to bed earlier. Modern lifestyles can disturb our body’s clock and natural sleep cycles. Before we know it, we are totally out of whack and struggling to sleep at a reasonable time....

You are not only at risk during holidays abroad–scammers can try to take advantage of you online, on the street and at your very own doorstep. It is important to learn about the common ploys used by these immoral individuals so that you can stay safe. What follows is a more detailed look at the biggest scams people usually fall for and tips on avoiding them. 1. Doorstep scams These include any scam where the con artist strikes when you are most relaxed and vulnerable–at home....

Negative energy can begin to permeate your entire life. Removing that energy from your life is one of the best things you can ever do for yourself. Sometimes it can be hard to pinpoint where the problem is, or even that there is a problem. Sometimes the energy is palpable, sometimes it just hangs around. The first step is recognising that it is there, then you can continue to find out how can you rid yourself, and your home, of these negative vibes....

If one of your first thoughts are “What time is it? I’m getting late for work” you need to take a little break and refresh your routine. Sometimes we are so busy living our lives and following our established routines that we do not stop and realize how the fact of making some changes in our lifestyles and incorporating new experiences can benefit our lifetime (and especially, our mood). To avoid the situation of being stuck in a rut, here are some simple changes we can make to let benefits come with a big change:...

Here are some signs to prove you are not ready for a new relationship since you have not fully recovered from the former. 1. You are still distorted You still can’t figure out why your ex left you, or if you want to get back with your ex. You still value and cherish the moments you had so you find it hard to let go. You are seriously considering some breakup sex....

Here are some things you can learn and experience through traveling. 1. Leaving Your Comfort Zone Traveling means abandoning the comfort of your home and familiar environment to take a leap of faith. You pack your bags and leave a familiar environment and go to a place that is entirely new to you. It is essential for expanding your horizons. Once you take the plunge and go to a new location, you will find no better feeling....

As your first line of defense against the Zika virus, it’s important to eliminate any standing water left around the outside of your house. The next thing to do is to effectively call a pest control technician to put up a barrier treatment for mosquito control. But naturally, these aren’t the only things you can do. Take a look at this handy infographic explaining exactly what the Zika virus is and what you can do to protect yourself and your family....

Shower at work If your office has shower facilities, consider using them! Just pack a gym bag for yourself with the next day’s clothes and other items before you go to bed. When you wake up in the morning, pull on comfortable loungewear so that you can quickly and conveniently get your kids ready. Drop them off at school or day care while not worrying about spills or having to go back home to change your clothes....

1. Network with a purpose. Do not go to a networking meeting aimlessly. Have a purpose. Your goal is to meet people that you can help and people who can help you. You do not know who they are yet, so you have to mix with a fair number to improve your chances. But you must have an overall goal. It helps other people to help you if they know what you are looking for....

Being in charge of your emotions will definitely help reduce interracial tension, however, it’s best to put preventative measures in place so you don’t find yourself overreacting unnecessarily. This article details 6 of the true struggles experienced by interracial couples and what you can do to prevent them. How would your life change if it was easy to enjoy your choice of partner? 1. Your interracial relationship is very likely to involve two different value systems....

Considering that we spend almost 1/3 of our lives at our working place, it is so satisfying to work with people who make you feel inspired by being in their company. If you want to be productive, fulfilled and feeling happy at your workplace, look for (or become one of) the people who make teamwork great. Who are these types of people? 1. Resourceful people Resourceful people have the amazing ability to see a solution in just about every problem they encounter....

1. Website Testing Sites like UserTesting give you the opportunity to review new and upcoming websites, giving the creators feedback as you explore them. It’s possible to make a pretty decent hourly rate testing and reviewing websites, as a single task usually takes less than a half hour and pays around $10 per gig. However, sites like UserTesting often have a large pool of candidates, and you’ll only be asked to review sites that fit your interests, so the workload may not be steady enough to create a consistent cashflow....

1. Create Something Every Single Day Persistence is key when it comes to creativity. Every day you create, you are exercising your creative muscles and becoming bigger, better and more confident with what you do. You’re also keeping the momentum going which is essential to living the creative life. Create something every single day and you’ll quickly see your creativity flourish. 2. Always Have Your Basic Tools at Hand Always have your most basic creative tools at hand and you’ll never be stuck with an idea and no way to express it....