25 ways to spend your day in a useful way

Nothing is worse than a day when you don't get anything done. About a day after that you go to bed and think "did I do something today?". Not very pleasant. Would you rather go to bed with the feeling that you have done a lot (even if it is not so bad)? Fortunately, there are a lot of small (or bigger) things you can do that make you feel that way. So today I am sharing 25 things you can do to spend a little bit of useful today!

Clean up your mail. Do you know that stack of letters that you have not yet figured out what to do with? You can get started with that today.
Clean up your email inbox. Nothing is more wonderful than seeing "no mail". Kick-ass feeling guaranteed!
Reply to other emails. Do you also have a folder with "e-mails that you should ever use again?" You can respond to that today. And yes - on everyone!
Make a budget plan. Do you always have a month left at the end? No more from now on! With a good overview you know exactly how much you can spend and you can avoid "but I must have that dress" expenses!
Play or cuddle with your pets. They also need attention.
Start a new hobby. Even if you only spend half an hour on it. Again, the beginning is half done.
Make a goal list for 2020. Includes an implementation plan. Good resolutions are nice, but without a good plan you will think "oh yes" again next year.
Make a to-do list. Avoid forgetting things and make an extensive to-do list. Whether for today, a whole week or perhaps a whole month. The beginning is half done.
Buy new notebooks. If you are a collector like me this is not necessary. But if you don't have a new one, buying and starting in a new notebook is the ideal way to have the feeling of a fresh start.
Take pictures. Beautiful photos always come in handy, especially if you have a blog. And besides that it is just a lot of fun!
If you don't have a blog yet, start a blog. Having a blog is fun, it can be an addition to your resume and you can learn a lot from it.
If you do have a blog, give your blog a facelift. Whether it is a major redesign or a few minor adjustments.
Turn your phone on airplane mode or off. The whole day. You will see that you have so much more time!
Keep track of how many hours you spend on social media per day. If being out of reach all day goes a bit too far, you can try this out. You can easily keep track of this on your phone (Android) via the QualityTime app. Want to bet at the end of the day?
Create a bucket list. Not everything can be cramped in the coming year. Make an extensive list of things you would like to have done (and possibly a step-by-step plan for how to do that).
Something broken? Fix it. That lamp that has not been working for weeks or that shelf that you still have to hang? Today is the day. Do you have two left hands yourself? Then arrange someone today to do it for you.
Clean your phone. Put photos in the cloud (such as on Drive or on Dropbox) and delete them, delete apps you no longer use, set a new background, etc.
Bake or cook something new. Tip: choose something that can not fail, so that you not only feel good, but also have something tasty.
Schedule all yet-to-be-scheduled appointments. From work appointments to a visit to the hairdresser or dentist.
Book a vacation. Every now and then you have to take a moment to relax. And don't you have anyone to take with you? Then you just go alone.
Clean up your space. Nothing works better than working in a clean environment.
Update your CV. You never know when you will find a great job.
Clean up your wardrobe. Sell or give away clothes that you no longer need and make some standard sets. Never stress your wardrobe again.
Read your favorite blogs. Entertainment is also important. And then you simultaneously empty your "to do" list!
Clean up your pantry. Throw out products that are past the date, come up with a new (more convenient) layout and clean everything with soapy water. The next morning, grabbing breakfast has never been better!

Good money management - The 4 most important tips

Good money management is easy if you live by these four basics. Find out what you can do now to handle money well.

“Too many people spend money they haven’t earned
to buy things they don’t want to impress people they don’t like.”
Will Rogers

What is good money management?

Handling money well means using your money to squeeze as much quality of life out of it as you can.

That does not mean that you buy a lot of stuff or that you have to be very rich. It mainly means that you use your money as a tool to experience more freedom, joy and meaning.

These four tips will help you do that step by step. So you can handle money in a way that makes your life more fun.

1. Live below your means and make a profit

This is such an important thought that I emphasize it again: live below your means and make a profit.

What does this mean? Simple - you spend less money than comes in. If you earn $ 1,500 you make sure that you spend a maximum of $ 1,499.99. That is the baseline. And from there, you do your best to increase the difference between income and expenses (your profit margin).

Make it your goal to:

Make your quality of life as high as possible.
While making the expenses as low as possible.

You are looking for the sweet spot between price / quality. For example, owning a car can improve your quality of life. You choose a car that meets your practical requirements, requires little maintenance and has a low consumption. This gives you freedom and possibilities that make you happy.

But suppose you choose a car that has exactly the same practical value, but that (because of the brand, engine or design) costs four times as much in purchase and consumption. Does such a car make your life four times more fun? Probably not. It makes it four times more expensive.

Make your profit. And optimize your quality of life within that limitation. That requires creativity and that is perfect. Because designing your life creatively contributes greatly to your quality of life.

2. Think of money as a tool, not as chocolate

Money is like a hammer, not like a bar of chocolate. You can use money to get things done. It is much less effective if you consume it directly as a bar of Snickers.

If you spend your money directly on goods, it is gone. Then it gives you a temporary endorphin boost and you feel happy. You have a pair of extra shoes and that feels nice. But then this money does nothing for your quality of life.

A smarter way is to give the money you've saved a very clear destination. Look for strategic places where you can use your money as a tool to experience more freedom, happiness and meaning.

For example:

Pay off a loan so that you pay less interest and therefore have more money left over in the future.
Invest in yourself through a course, training or educational books.
Spend a little more on quality products that you can last longer and enjoy more.
Invest your money so that it works for you.
Use your money to save money in the future. Put solar panels on your roof, pay your health insurance every year for an extra discount or buy a museum card so that you can go on a cheap trip all year round.

If you let money disappear as soon as it comes into your possession, it won't do much for you. If you see money as a tool, you can do many nice things with it.

3. Build a freedom buffer

Make sure to put part of your "earnings" aside in a savings account. And build a freedom buffer. A freedom buffer is a saved amount that is about the size of six months of your expenses.

So suppose you spend $ 1,200 monthly to maintain your lifestyle, then you want to build up a savings buffer of at least $ 7,200.

Why? Because this gives you a wonderfully free feeling. You always have enough money to solve emergencies. You do not have to buy expensive insurance policies - such as a smartphone insurance - because you can cover the risk yourself (saving you a lot of money).

Moreover, you feel more confident when it comes to your income. Should your income decrease or disappear, you know that you can move forward for at least six months without income. But probably even longer. Because if you are really in need, you always have the option to scale your expenses further so that you can do longer with your buffer.

A freedom buffer is like the crumple zone on a car: it prevents you from getting injured when your financial blows continue. It increases your resilience and ensures that you never get into financial problems again.

How do you start building a freedom buffer? Simple: you deposit a few dollars in a savings account. And you continue to deposit money into this account until you reach your goal. It may take a few years, but it doesn't matter. With every dollar you save you make yourself freer.

And realize that all those little bits add up to an impressive amount.

4. Don't be fooled

Many people feel that they will finally be happy when they make that one purchase. That new smartphone, that dress, that bag, that house, that car, that beautiful interior.

But do you know the problem with this? If you always feel that happiness is just around the corner, then happiness will always remain there. For the simple reason that your purchases cannot and will not make you happy.

Of course you already knew that. Otherwise you would still be happy with your Nokia 3310. But as with everything in life - like getting used to a Nokia 3310 - once you get used to it, you want something new again.

This cycle of materialism costs a lot of money, it is a lot of waste and it does not bring you any closer feelings of happiness and satisfaction.

So - if a better life is your goal, break this cycle. Do not be fooled by materialism. Don't fall into the trap. Stuff is a means to an end, not an end in itself. You need much less than you think. Less stuff, less services.

Move towards a simpler life. One in which not stuff but people are central. Relationships, personal growth, mindfulness and - very important - satisfaction.

If you want to experience satisfaction, you can move there immediately. You don't have to do that through shops. You do that by working on yourself. Much cheaper, much more sustainable and much more fun.

Home Decluttering - 22 tips you can do right away

Decluttering provides more peace and space at home and in your head. Therefore, in this article i will show you 22 simple tips you can do right away to declutter your home.

Decluttering provides more peace

To declutter is to delete misery. Really. Every time you throw unnecessary stuff out of your life, your future days will become a little lighter, more peaceful and calmer.

I label unnecessary stuff as misery because they keep you grounded. They form ballast. You want to move up towards more freedom and happiness. And unnecessary ballast keeps you on the ground. That full attic, that bulging wardrobe, that exhausted bookshelf full of unread books and unsolicited dust.

No. That could be better. Decluttering your home helps you move towards more freedom, happiness and meaning. Decluttering makes your life simpler and calmer and your head peaceful.

Whenever you say goodbye to an unnecessary thing in your life, you make yourself a little freer.

Decluttering is always a fun ride

Decluttering is done in waves. One moment I feel like I have thrown all unnecessary stuff out of my house. And after a few months I look at that cupboard and I think: wow, it is full of unnecessary mess!

How is that possible? Simple: if you have very consciously decided not to put something away, it will be extra noticeable if you have not used it after a while. I then think: I am going to read this book, so I keep it. And then a year later I look at that bookshelf and realize that another year has passed in which I have not touched that book.

Exactly, just get rid of it.

Decluttering in 22 simple tips

Today I would like to give you 22 tips that you can immediately implement when Decluttering your house. So you can get started quickly to make your life more lighter and more peaceful. Are you ready to participate?

You want to declutter but you don't have the energy to start? Then start small and ask yourself: "what can I do right away?" and take that step immediately. Don't think about big projects, think the next step you can take.
Prepare a crate, box or crate in which you can put away unnecessary crap during the unloading: your disposable box. You don't have to think about what you want to do with those things. But you can already put them there.
Later you can find out which things you want to sell or give away, which can be recycled and which cannot be recycled.
Make decluttering a regular part of your day. If you throw ballast overboard every day, you will make rapid progress. You can get everything done in a lot of small steps.
You can also declutter your computer or your smartphone. With fewer apps, unnecessary emails, unused playlists and bad photos, you can lighten your digital life.
Remove all items from your kitchen drawer and place them on the counter. Now put only the utensils back in the drawer that you have used in the past year. Take the rest to your disposal box.
Do the same with your bathroom cabinet. Get everything out, and only put back the stuff you used in the past year. Check whether products are overdue and throw them away immediately.
Do you encounter rubbish or things that nobody ever would like to have? Throw them away immediately, preferably in the correct container. It is tempting to pour everything into bulky waste. But it is worthwhile to take the time to recycle, because you are bringing so much stuff away.
Collect all your books in one place and sort them critically. Ask yourself, "Do I keep this book because I think I "have to" read it?" - if so, get rid of it. Let go of that ballast. You don't have to do anything, free yourself from those expectations!
Get started with your pantry. Take everything out, clean the cupboard and only replace the products that are still good and that you are actually going to eat. Put similar products next to each other, so that you immediately see how many packs of pasta you already have, so that you will not buy any more.
Use January to declutter. Your Christmas items are now out of the storage! Check in your storage room if you have any unused Christmas items. Get rid of the things that don't make you happy, and keep only the Christmas items that are essential to you. I only keep a few balls and lights for the Christmas tree, the rest I have put away. That saves a lot of space!
How often do you serve dinners for ten people? Exactly, never. Then why do you have so much crockery? Maybe because you tell yourself that you will be having dinner parties in the future. But if you don't do it now, why suddenly next year? Minimize your crockery, and keep only the things you use that make you happy. Easy.
Do you really need six bottles of shower products in your shower? You may - just like me - manage with less. For example, I use a block of Aleppo soap and facial cleanser.
You will never read a pile of magazines you've never read. The more painful it feels to get rid of that pile, the freer you will feel once you've taken the step.
Why do you have four different mediocre bags? Why not choose one fantastic bag that you use every day?
Find out if you can do more with less kitchen appliances. Some good kitchen machines replace four devices in one fell swoop. That gives a lot of space on the counter.
Do you place that decoration in your house because that corner really needs decoration, or because you don't know where to leave that mess? Place decoration with intention, then you can declutter the rest.
Do you keep that Pokémon collection because it makes you so happy, or because you think it is a waste of the time you used to spend on it if you were to get rid of it? The same goes for other collections. Collecting can be fun - keeping a collection is much less fun. Tidy up that bite. Let go of the past and make room for the future!
Have you already taken some steps to declutter your home? Then write down for yourself which 5 benefits you experience most at the moment. This motivation will inspire you to keep decluttering your home even when the going gets tough.
Do you come across things that may have some sentimental value? Then collect it in a special box and keep it for later.
Realize that letting go of things is not the same as letting go of memories. include photos while decluttering, you don't necessarily need them as you can always remember those memories.
Know that you can declutter at any rate. And that you can go as far as you feel comfortable with. You don't do that for others, you do that for yourself. Because you want to give yourself a quieter, lighter house.

Small steps take little effort. And with a lot of small steps you can quickly make great progress. So ask yourself, which of these 22 steps am I going to take today?

Meditation for beginners - 7 Meditation tips

Meditation - you know you should actually do it. For more calm, love and perspective. But you can't. Until now - so get started with our meditation for beginner roadmap!

“Meditation can help us embrace our worries,
our fear, our anger; and that is very healing.
We let our own natural capacity of healing do the work.”
Thich Nhat Hanh

Okay - But this is not going to work...

Meditation - especially for beginners - is a confusing experience. You hear tons of great stories about it, so you decide to try it. But when you sit down to meditate, everything happens - except what you expect.

Your head just doesn't go empty. Thoughts keep coming.
You get itchy everywhere, or your leg starts to get numb.
You think things like "this is not working, I better quit, I have more to do today".
You love to quit, and sometimes you do.
You feel that you are not doing something right, that you cannot do it.
You may even believe that meditation is not for you.
You do not experience enlightenment, no spiritual visions. No intense sense of calm or bubbling sense of love.

The pros and cons of meditating

The advantages are clear:

Meditation reduces stress, anxiety and haste.
You get the feeling that you have more time.
You feel more loving, calm and happier.
Setbacks feel less heavy.
You realize that you are not your thoughts, but that you have thoughts.
Life proceeds with less effort, less resistance.
You feel freer, more carefree and happier.
It becomes easier to live in the moment.

The disadvantages are also clear:

It takes time and a little discipline.
Sometimes it feels like you're doing it wrong, which can make you doubt yourself.
You will feel so calm that you will have nothing to whine about when you drink coffee with a friend.

And the latter is actually quite cheeky...

Now its time to show you the 7 Meditation tips if you are a beginner

So let's get started!

1. Meditate without expectations

Meditation is not a magical activity. Don't expect spiritual enlightenment, great insights, or overwhelming calm. Certainly not if you are just starting out.

It can happen that your meditation becomes a special experience - and sometimes it will. But most of the time, it is simply a moment for yourself. You are quiet and calm. You then carry that calm with you into your day.

At the end of a meditation I often have the thought: "okay, that was useless." But if I don't meditate for a while, I quickly conclude that my daily meditation was anything but useless.

2. Just sit down

In which position can you meditate best? In every position. You can meditate sitting, lying and even standing or walking. What you like best.

I usually meditate sitting on a yoga block, with my legs back or cross-legged. I keep my back straight and put my hands on my legs.

It can be nice for beginners to meditate in a chair. In a straight chair, or in a comfortable armchair. You can also lie flat on a mat. What feels best for you.

There is no right or wrong. There is only meditation and no meditation. And if you don't do it then you are shorting yourself. So just do what suits you.

3. Set a timer or use an app

Yes. Meditating without a timer is always a lot of fun. Sometimes it feels like I have only been sitting for five minutes, but I have turned out to be fifteen minutes further. Or am I sure that I have been meditating for ten minutes and have only been busy for four minutes.

During your meditation you will notice how relative time can be. Therefore, always set a timer before you start, so that you can meditate without any worries. I usually just put a timer on my iPhone.

Set your smartphone to "do not disturb".
Set a timer, or select a guided meditation in an app or on YouTube.
Stay put until your timer runs out. Resist the urge to interrupt your meditation in the meantime.

Notice how the sabotaging thoughts emerge. "I better stop, this is boring", "this makes no sense", "I can now check whether I have mail".

Observe these thoughts and let them pass you by quietly. You can do nothing for ten minutes. If you did not worry about that project before your meditation, you can also let it go during your meditation.

4. Build your meditation habit

Meditation works best if you make it a daily habit.

I prefer to meditate in the morning or afternoon. When I meditate in the evening I often notice that I sleep less well. That sounds strange, but I always get a lot of energy and a sense of life after a meditation. Then I don't want to sleep.

Find out which time of the day suits you. Both in your daily schedule and in your emotional world. Experiment a little. Maybe you enjoy meditating in the evening.

If you have found a good window of time for meditation, do your best to stick to it daily. For example, sit down for at least 3 minutes every day after work. Set the bar low for yourself so you don't delay your meditation.

If you meditate sporadically, you hardly experience the benefits of meditation in your daily life.
Put a daily reminder on your phone at the time that works for you. For example, every day after work. That way you won't forget to sit down.
Meditating briefly is better than not meditating. Really. If you don't have time to sit for 10 minutes, take 5, 3, or even 1 minute for it.
Meditate every day. Especially for beginners, this is a great way to reap the benefits of this good habit.

The more you meditate, the more you benefit and the easier it becomes. Once a day is a good starting point. If you don't want to do it for a long time, do it short. But do it.

Before you know it you have built up the meditation habit, and you are getting used to that wonderful calm feeling. Then you no longer want to be without it, and from there it will be almost automatic. Just like brushing your teeth

5. Focus your attention on your breathing

"Okay - and what should I do if I'm meditating?" Good question. You can do several things. Let me tell you what I do first.

I usually meditate in the attic. If it is messy I clean it up first. And when it is cold I pack a cloth. Then I sit in my meditation pose and close my eyes:

I then breathe calmly from my stomach through my nose. Just a natural rhythm, nothing special.
With every inhalation I try to straighten my back. As if my crown is gently pulled up with a string. Not forced.
With every exhalation I try to relax my body further. Step by step I scan my body for tension and release the tension.
When I relax, I focus on my breathing. Sometimes that is easy. Sometimes I am a bit more distracted.
When I get distracted I say in my head "in ... out ..." and I follow my breathing. This keeps me in the moment.
Sometimes I get swept up in all kinds of thought streams. As soon as I realize that, I calmly bring my attention back to my breathing.

This idea of relaxing deeper on the exhale also helps me fall asleep quickly. With every exhalation I lower my body "deeper" into the mattress - after which it is suddenly morning.

Good. Maybe this form of meditation also suits you. But what if this doesn't work for you? Then there are other forms of meditation.

Count meditation. You count every exhalation gently in your head. You can continue counting until you have lost count, after which you start again at one. You can also count to ten continuously.
Zen meditation. Keep your eyes open, look down at an angle, focus on a fixed point and soften your focus. Meanwhile, breathe gently through your stomach. You can do this meditation anywhere, even on the train!
Body scan meditation. Scan your body from head to toe quietly, and let tension flow out where you encounter. This often works best when you meditate lying down.
Mindfulness meditation. Focus your attention on the world around you. Sit back and listen to the sounds. Feel the chair under your buttocks. Observe the smells around you. As soon as you notice thoughts, return your attention to your senses.
Guided meditation. Use an app, audio recording or YouTube video and simply follow the instructions. There are endless guided meditations of all kinds.

Experiment and find out what suits you best. There are many ways to meditate, even for beginners.

Tip: Do you want to meditate silently in a loud environment? Then use earplugs or headphones with active noise canceling. That often works even if you don't have music on.

6. Don't try to clear your head

Dirty story: just as the bladder continuously receives urine, your brain continuously receives thoughts. That is very natural, there is nothing to do with it.

Many people think that during a meditation you should clear your head. But that is impossible. What you do is shift your attention to the moment. As a result, you sometimes experience moments of silence. But that silence is quickly disturbed by new thoughts.

The trick is not to clear your head. The trick is to observe your thoughts. See them pass by like clouds in the sky. They come and go. And meanwhile you can observe them quietly.

When you meditate you realize that you are not your thoughts. And that helps you put your problems into perspective and feel better in your own skin.

If you meditate more often you will notice that your head becomes less full. But you will never be completely free of thoughts. Just like your bladder won't stay empty forever.

7. Meditate longer and more often

Do you enjoy meditating daily? Then challenge yourself to do it a little longer. Do you usually meditate for ten minutes now? Then try meditating for 15 minutes.

Do you only meditate in the morning? Try to sit down for a few minutes in the evening.

Find out what works for you and slowly stretch your comfort zone. At some point you will find a good balance between what is practical and what feels nice.

For most people, that amounts to 1-2 meditations a day of 5-20 minutes at a time.

Just meditate!

Meditation is easy and pleasant - even for beginners. As long as you realize you don't have to do it perfectly. Just sit down - don't make it hard on yourself.

Meditation makes your life a lot more fun - if you do it. Then it doesn't really matter how you do it. So just start - and experience how great it is to feel calm, loving and unhurried every day.