10 ways to follow your soul

10 ways to follow your soul

Feel like your life has become routine and lacks depth? Tap into the secrets of your soul to increase creativity, heighten intuition and follow your bliss.

Work with what you love. Idealistic though it may sound in hard economic times, Kalil Gibran’s tenet “work is love made visible” is a soulful sinecure held sacred by many in search of a more spiritual life. Adds Teresa Franklyn, author of online inspirational publication The-Not-So-Daily-Dose, “When you forget about everything else related to it, when you quiet all the ruckus and offer pure, uncluttered thought about the thing you want, it finds its way to you quickly. Let the Universe handle all the details. Your only work is to clear out all the debris and create a clear pathway for the thing you desire by simply and solely focusing on what you want.”

Socialise with creative thinkers. While everyone has different soul dreams, exchanging ideas with people who think differently to you is a major key in unlocking your creativity. Says Vera John-Steiner, author of Creative Collaborations, who studied famous duos like Pierre and Marie Curie and Albert Einstein and Niles Bohr, “Social interactions are crucial. They provide a non-judgmental ear for emerging ideas.” While the current global recession may be financially crippling, tough times can create great opportunities for collaboration to rise above negative circumstances. During the Great Depression, creativity, in terms of both theatre and physics, flourished.

Trust the darkness. “Creativity – like human life itself – begins in darkness,” says Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way. “Mystery is at the heart of creativity. That, and surprise.” However, while insights often come as blinding flashes, they are usually preceded by a gestation period that is interior, murky, and completely necessary, adds Cameron, who likens their growth to that of yeast in a dark cupboard.

Harness your imagination. Trivial though it may sound, the greatest creative force, said Albert Einstein, is imagination. Without the vision, there would have been no Disneyland for the world to see, said Walt Disney. “Imagination is the most marvellous, miraculous, inconceivably powerful force the world has ever known,” says Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich (Filquarian Publishing, 2005) who helped Andrew Carnegie and two US presidents to tap into theirs to come up with far-reaching solutions. By exercising it daily, you not only transform mundane events into opportunities, but can tune into your soul essence to manifest your dreams.

Live overseas. Besides opening your soul to new experiences, the challenge of living in a foreign country, say researchers Adam Galinsky and Willam Maddux, teaches you how to think more creatively. “Just thinking about your time as an expat before engaging in a task can boost your creativity, the researchers found,” says a recent article in New Scientist. “They primed volunteers, all of whom had lived abroad, by asking them to write about their time spent either in a foreign country, travelling, at home or in the supermarket. They found that the first group did significantly better than the others on a subsequent word-based creativity task. “Experiencing a different culture may make you less fixed in your thinking and more able to accept and recombine novel ideas,” conclude Galinsky and Maddux.

Dance to your own drum. When Fenella Barnes went on a trip to Skyros, Greece about 10 years ago, she had little idea that it would send her soul down a new path. “One of the workshops was African drumming, which I thought I’d give a go, and just got hooked. By pure chance the teacher lived about 20 miles away from me in the UK, so I started going to his weekly classes when I got back,” says Barnes, who is now part of a network of drummers who visit Senegal and Gambia once a year, and has witnessed how it calms autistic patients. “It was the key to following my bliss.” While drumming may not be your choice, music of any sort has been shown to help people think more laterally and come up with more novel ideas than non-musicians who only use their left frontal cortex ro solve problems.

Trust your higher self. Because your ego is only concerned with gratifying itself in the present, it fights with your higher knowing or guidance, says Barbara Rose, author of Individual Power: Reclaiming your core, your Truth and your Life. Once you tune into higher faculties like visions, psychic messages and intuition where you just know something is right, “you find your life to be so much easier, far less painful; because it comes form your higher self, so it knows exactly from where you are at this moment to wherever or whatever your goal is.”

Daydream. Touted by a recent study as a crucial key to problem-solving, daydreaming is an easily accessible way to stay in touch with your soul and intuitive faculties. “When your mind wanders, a different kind of thinking occurs,” said Professor Kalina Christoff, the study’s lead author. “When you aren’t trying to solve problems deliberately, it provides more mental space, you make connections and let your mind go wherever it wants.”
“Driving is the perfect activity for letting your mind wander because it is highly automatized and requires only a small part of our attention,” she adds.

Take charge. While tuning into the flow of intuition is vital for reaching your soul, directing its flow may need more focus. A firm believer in the Law of Attraction, life coach Martha Beck likens her life to riding a horse, which has a mind of its own. “While waiting for external circumstances to make my decision for me, I’ve found myself utterly frustrated. But by creating plans and acting on them they create an energy zone of clarity and power. That alone will get the horse moving,” says Beck. “I still can’t ride worth a darn. But now when I ride I know that failure to move forward is not her fault, it’s mine. And I know that my life, like my obliging mare, cannot take me to wonderful places unless I hold the energy of leadership the whole time I’m on her. Your life is a horse. Lead it,” she asserts.

Open the door. “The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door,” says Clarissa Pinkola Estes, author of Women who run with wolves (Random House, 1992), whose Jungian take on the soul centres on telling stories in order to keep the past and instinctual self alive. “If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door.” Open it, explore your past, connect with the present, listen to your soul. Or, as mythologist Joseph Campbell once wrote, “Follow your bliss and doors will open where there were no doors before.”

Published in Aquarius. Copyright held by the author.

 

10 ways to seize the day

Whether you want to put a dent in the universe or live a fulfilling life which resonates with your soul, you need to get out there and just do it! We spoke to 10 professionals who live their dreams.

Take baby steps. Whether it’s trying a food you’ve always wanted to try or learning a new language, the secret is actively taking that step, says novelist Christopher Hope. “Look at your life, look for regrets, look for hopes, look for small dreams, even the ones that are completely out of reach, and start taking steps to get to them. You may never, but remember, sometimes the journey is more important than the destination,” says the author of Brothers under the Skin: Travels in Tyranny (2003). “Start from the beginning, stop reading this article, and do something bold, or meek, flamboyant or minimalist, just do something.”

Variety the spice. Says Viv Gordon, who besides owning a specialist recruitment agency, mentors four previously disadvantaged students, the key is balance, “I believe in the trilogy of looking after your heart, head and body in equal parts.” For her heart, she does Bio Danza, a dance form which has opened her heart to love, appreciate and respect her children beyond all expectations. For her head, she sees a trusting therapist and for her body, and self-esteem, she goes to gym and walks, which culminated in a recent trip to Peru where she climbed Salkantay at 4600 metres. “I now believe there is nothing in the world that I cannot do.”

Get off your butt. For straight-talking motivational speaker and team building trainer Mark Berger the way to seize the day is dramatic. “Move on. Let it go. Get a life. Or make a big sign and go picket against whatever is freaking you out. Just don’t waste your precious energy agonizing over stuff you can do nothing about. And if you can do something, then do it. Get involved. Play the game. Stop sniping from the sidelines. It serves no purpose, other than to increase your blood pressure, stress levels and the sales of alcohol and antidepressants. Erase the word BUT from your daily dialogue and watch how your outlook on life will change. Dramatically.”

Let go to grow. While seizing the day for some means literally that, for others it means letting go of past mistakes and making constructive choices to grow. Says Derek Davey, drummer for Them Particles, a Johannesburg-based country and blues band, every morning he starts out with a yoga session and a light-hearted mantra which helps him tune out any inner chaos, “May I shut up, cheer up and not repeat my mess-ups. Grace and humour, be my wings.” As a sub-editor for a busy daily newspaper during the day, his nightly band practice is both his meditation and his muse and his lifelong dream of an overseas road trip is always in the wings.

Feed the well. Life coach Laura Young believes the secret to managing her full life is by constantly filling the inner well. “It takes a considerable amount of discipline to remember that we have a whole inner aspect to our lives,” she says. The most effective way to do this is to turn seemingly menial, functional tasks into internal ‘feeders’. “Hiring someone to do the weeding so that I can make time to read a book on building my business, for example, might look sensible thing, but it’s like farming out my own meditation. Gardening, for me, isn’t an external task. It’s an INTERNAL one. And, believe it or not, cleaning is, too,” says Young.

Set a time. “For years I didn’t seem to have the self-discipline to write. Eventually it occurred to me that I always felt at my best first thing in the morning, so I made a decision that I would work between breakfast and lunch,” says author of The Wild (2000), Esther Freud. “Instead of sweeping the floor, putting the washing in and taking out the rubbish, I went straight to my desk. So now my house is much less tidy, but I have written four novels and I’ve stopped wondering how people have the discipline to sit down and write.”

Pay attention. For astrologer Tracy Shaw, the secret is in little acts of connectivity. “On waking I immediately open the blind, so I can see the world outside. Through the course of the day, when I notice something beautiful, I stop for a moment to take it in. When a friend calls, even if I can only speak for a few minutes, I give my full attention. That way I am left feeling really connected.”

Prioritise. Though she says she’s lucky to be able to be doing a job that reflects her heart desires, journalist Lauren Beukes says learning to say no in order to do proper justice to her work has been her biggest lesson. “I’m inspired by the world every day, from the whimsies and wonders to the wrenching atrocities that inflame me. It’s all inciting. All the things that make me happy and angry fuel my writing,” says Beukes, adding that discipline is paramount as there is no magic shiny inspirational energy to make it easy.

Live like you are dying. Every day since the age of 17, Steven Jobs, inventor of Apple Computers, has asked himself whether he would do the same thing that day if it were his last day alive. “Whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.” Diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2004, his aspiration to put a dent in the universe was amplified. “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose,” he says. “You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

Give thanks. When Jaco Swart, a tubing guide on the Storms River, survived after being swept into a dangerous gorge by a flash flood, together with 14 clients, he made a vow to give thanks to God. “Only one client survived and I hung onto a log for 27 hours with a shattered knee before being rescued.” Nine years and six operations later Swart is living up to his promise and on January 15 set out on a barefoot walk around the borders of South Africa. Two months after leaving Cape Town, he crossed the 1000km mark and has high hopes of completing the 6500km stronger than ever.

(Published in Aquarius, Dubai, May 2009. Copyright held by the author.)

 

Wise up to solo travelling

Labelled WISE (Women who Insist on Single Experiences) by British travel agents, solo women travellers have come a long way since Mary Kingsley set out from England to live with indigenousl tribes in Angola in the late 1800s. Here’s how to explore and travel safely at the same time.

Once an unthinkable, and often taboo, way of broadening horizons, solo travel has become an increasingly popular pastime for intrepid women who have full and busy careers. Though most don’t go in search of their souls to the same degree as Elizabeth Gilbert, who describes her post-divorce travel stint of Europe and south-east Asia in Eat, Pray, Love (Bloomsbury, 2006), mid-life crisis is a common trigger for women to throw caution to the wind, make like Shirley Valentine and unleash their repressed gypsy souls.
However, while the motivation for travel is not always a major life change, many women find that annual vacations of a week or longer are just that, simply because they are on their own out of choice.
Luce Ritter, a 27-year-old Swiss teacher who gave up her job for a year to travel India, puts it in a nutshell: “As a solo traveller, you’re in charge. You need never have a definite plan, you don’t have to worry about co-ordinating agendas, or seeing things that you don’t like. You can sleep late, get up before the other tourists rise, meet people you wouldn’t meet if you were travelling with someone else. When I serendipitously bumped into a Buddhist woman in a post office in Nagpur, I had no idea that I would land up spending a life-changing month with her family in their humble home.”
While exercising a healthy amount of caution is essential, the last thing you want is for your holiday to turn into a chore. Says UK-based Susan Griffith, who has made solo travel substantially easier by writing travel guides including Work your Way around the World (Vacation Work Publications, 2008) and Gap Years for Grown-ups (Crimson, 2008), “Behave confidently even if you do not feel it or are a little lost. Anna’s advice from The King and I really works: ‘Whenever I feel afraid, I hold my head erect; And whistle a happy tune, So no-one will suspect, I’m afraid’.”
For Ritter, being afraid of doing new things often prompted her to treat it as a challenge which forced her to rise above the conservative social norms of Switzerland. “When I got to Syria, I was snubbed by a friend who thought watching football was more fun than exploring, so I ventured off on my own and landed up staying with a Bedouin family who treated me fantastically.”
Adds award-winning travel writer Sarah Woods, “I’ve camped in Indian villages in remote jungle settlements in the Amazon rainforest, stayed in wonderful 5-star hotels in the Middle East, stayed in rustic posadas right on a Panamanian beach and slept on boats in the Caribbean without any hassles. Nowhere should be off limits as a female traveller – but as in every situation, you need to apply common sense.”
Affirms Griffith: “Ever since some well-meaning professional people in Islamabad tried (unsuccessfully) to persuade me not to travel up the Karakoram Highway for fear of being attached by bandits and rebels, I have tried to avoid believing any lazy scaremongering clichés. However, there comes a point when local advice should be heeded. I once ignored advice in the hotel in the Swat Valley not to walk along the river by myself, met two youths who showed me a long-handled knife which I pretended I thought they had produced for me to admire, offered to take a photo of them posing with it, which they enjoyed, and then I meekly waved them good-bye and headed back in the direction I’d come.”
Whether or not you entertain the possibility of such risks, one of the joys of solo travelling is accumulation of inner strength.
“The rewards are worth the stress,” says Ritter. “Once you’ve survived a harrowing experience, like Delhi belly in the middle of nowhere or the eyes of a tiger 50 metres away from you in the dead of night, you’ll realize you can do just about anything. It’s very liberating.”

TIPS TO KEEP YOU ON YOUR TOES
Do your research. Says journalist Lakshmi Sharath (http://backpakker.blogspot.com/), who spends a lot of time travelling around rural India to escape urban chaos: “Because infrastructure is so bad, you need to read up on towns in the area and suss out the best accommodation beforehand. Knowing a bit about the local customs and language also goes a long way to establishing a connection with locals who are often wary of outsiders.” Adds Ritter, “When I get to a new place, I always take a few hours to observe how things are done, and plan my movements from there.”
Follow your gut. When you follow your intuition, things that previously seemed impossible you will suddenly just know, says Rima Morrell, author of Travelling Magically (Piatkus, 2008). “You will know whether a book is good for you to read or not, and your reading will become very quick. You will know if you need to go on holiday at a particular time or travel to a certain country. When you do go, you will find that your intuition not only leads you to the right places and people in the culture, your experiences will be far more intense. Like a butterfly you will always know where to fly. Your trip will be transformed.” Adds Ritter, “You’re more tuned into your sixth sense when you’re on your own, and trusting it is critical to having a safe journey. In Sri Lanka, where I went to ‘be alone’, I ignored the approaches of several strangers, but, after a spontaneous chat with a local restaurant owner, landed up staying a month, travelling over 1000 kilometres in his tuk tuk and making a good friend.”
Be assertive. When the airline with whom she had booked her flight from India to Thailand told her she needed a special visa or proof of a return ticket to Switzerland, Ritter dug her heels in. “It seemed unbelievable as I had recently travelled to Sri Lanka without either. After an unsuccessful argument with the agent, I phoned the consulate, who confirmed my doubts. A few hours later after consulting a travel agent who could not help, I headed back to the airline offices and demanded to see the manager. It took a fair amount of waiting, but once I had diplomatically stated my case, he phoned the consulate and I was on the flight the next day.”
Find creative ways to hide your possessions. For example, you can put some money in an elastic bandage around your knee or a hidden pocket in your trousers. When your bag is on a bus or a train, put a padlock with a long chain around them and attach them to an immovable object. If you spend time in the water, get a waterproof pouch on a string for your valuables so you can keep them with you.
Carry basic toiletries. If you’re travelling in the third world, make sure you stock up on tampons when you’re in a city, and always carry sachets of shampoo, toilet paper and soap.
Don’t put your address on your luggage tag. Name, initial and country is all you need, and will not encourage burglars to seek out your house.
Don’t drink alcohol. Or in any quantity that could cause loss of control or in an environment where you don’t feel secure.
Book accommodation in a central well-lit area. Ask for a room on the upper floors, to deter intruders, says Woods, who has travelled over 50 countries in the US, Caribbean and Latin America solo. “Check if they have designated floors for solo female guests, and be wary of a hotel check-in desk who announce your room number loudly at a full reception as your key is handed over. Ask for another room, and for the check-in desk to be discreet.”
Align mental attitude and dress. Be humble and inconspicuous in an unfamiliar environment, says travel blogger and writer Anja Mutic (www.everthenomad.com), who has travelled alone through Europe, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile and the Cayman Islands. “Have eyes in the back of your head without looking scared, befriend locals and travellers to create a mini social network, but be wary of letting your guard down in an unfamiliar environment. Act like you know what you are doing even when you don’t and read the unspoken signals.”
Don’t make eye contact with men. “In rural India, I was very careful not to be too friendly with taxi drivers and male strangers as it can lead to misconceptions, as social norms are more conservative than the west, and a smile can be conveyed as being a ‘come on’,” says Ritter.
Align yourself with other women. If you’re on a bus or train, sit next to women, or, if you sense danger in the street, walk with another woman or a group of people, advises Sharath. If you’re not keen to go it alone in the beginning, link up with a like-minded group through reputable tour operators like The Thelma and Louise Club (www.thelmandlouise.com) or Venus Adventures (http://www.venusadventures.travel/solotravelindia.php) who specialize in trips tailormade for women.

(Published in Aquarius, Dubai, June 2009. Copyright held by the author.)

 

A-Z of a perfect nursery

As endless as the permutations of genes on your child’s DNA strand, the possibilities for creating a nursery that is both tranquil and stimulating will keep you occupied for months. Start decorating a few months before your child is born and build up a lively stock of toys as you go.

 

A

Age-appropriate themes: Because children grow up so quickly and their developmental phases change rapidly, cut decorating stress by choosing a base theme that will suit a child of any age. Have a good stock of plain-coloured bed linen and towels, and complement with nursery themes for different ages. As they get older, children tend to interact more, which is reflected in the bed linen and curtains they choose. While younger children may be over-stimulated by too many noisy prints, cartoon characters and superheroes start to take centre stage as they near schoolgoing age.

 

B

Baby monitor: If your children are still at crib age, you need to keep a really close eye on them. Short of keeping them in your bedroom, buy a monitor which picks up every sound they make and link it to your lounge or bedroom, so you can race through at the sound of any squeak or squeal.

 

C

Crib rails: Remember that your baby will be monopolosing at least one of your arms most of the time, so get a side rail that can be lifted and lowered using one hand. These days, most cribs use a knee-release mechanism; it’s generally quieter to use and the basic design usually requires that less hardware be exposed.

 

D

DVDs and CDs player: Home movies and videos are great for keeping your child out of mischief and entertained at the same time. Try to include a good selection of educational material as well to ensure your child doesn’t treat the TV as a substitute for more meaningful and interactive activities. Be vigilant about television you select, if any, too, and screen cartoon networks and other children’s channels before you turn them on. Besides tapes and CDs with age-appropriate children’s songs, it is a good idea to keep music filtering softly through your child’s sleeping place during the night. Repetitive though it may seem, the sound of familiar tunes provide a soothing sense of security, and many a parent has found that golden oldies or contemporary perennials like Abba provide a light and pleasant sleep environment night after night.

 

E

Exterior influences: If you have a bright light or electric pole outside the nursery window, eliminate negative energy by keeping curtains closed or use a reflective film on the glass pane to deflect negative energy back to the source.

 

F

Furniture and floors: A primary concern here is safety; make sure there are no protruding nails or edge guards and that all planks are in place. Avoid furniture made with plywood, particle board, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) because they often contain formaldehyde in their glues. Used furniture more than a few years old, however, is likely to have released all its harmful chemical fumes by the time it’s ready for baby, so those are fine (and affordable) options next to buying furniture made from solid wood, wicker or rattan. Buy secondhand furniture, paint it the same colour as the walls and add a few transfers if you like.

In the floor department, go for hardwood floors made from sustainably managed forests and finish them with a non-toxic or natural sealant. Consider discarding any wall-to-wall carpeting because they trap mould, dust mites, and other allergens.

 

G

Gender-neutral design: Studies show that girls and boys don’t necessarily have different colour preferences, so go for colours and motifs that are not gender-specific, like gingham checks, stripes, plaids and solids in bright, lively colours. Stars, sun and moon can inspire both sexes equally well.

 

H

Hamper for clothes: Rather than a cupboard, which can be cumbersome and costly, invest in a few attractive hampers or baskets for children’s clothes. Label them accordingly and keep one for dirty laundry.

 

I

Interactive toys: Besides keeping your child’s mind active and questioning, interactive toys are a great substitute when there are no other children around. Store them in a fun toy box which itself can be a focal point of the room. Digital games, if your child is old enough, are also a good way of keeping the brain ticking over.

 

J

Jam jars: Gather old preserve jars and coffee tins, jazz them up with paint and labels and keep them handy for everything from loose toys to keys and toiletries. Frame old greeting cards to give your nursery a unique, contemporary feel.

 

 

K

Koki pens: Keep a good supply of erasable felt-tipped pens at hand, together with a noticeboard and/or plastic-coated colouring-in books at hand. Make sure you keep the pens in a mug or tin to prevent them lying around and leaking on the floor. Always encourage your children to put the lids on, keep them out of their mouths and make sure the brand you choose is non-toxic.

 

L

Lighting: Whatever lighting you choose for the nursery, make sure you install it on a dimmer so that you can lower the light for a baby. Because babies are attracted to light sources, chose ones that will shade your baby’s eyes from the glare of a bare bulb. Never install a lamp within your baby’s reach; a wall-mounted fixture is best from a safety point of view as your child gets older, as is a table lamp beside the nursing chair.

 

M

Mattresses and bedding: Besides ensuring that the bed or cot you choose is safe, try to be as eco-friendly as possible. Pick a baby mattress made with wool casings or organic cotton filling. Regular mattresses contain harmful and potentially cancer-causing fire retardants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in addition to equally suspect stain- and moisture-resistant chemicals. Rest your baby’s head on pillows that are stuffed with natural stuffing such as kapok, buckwheat hulls, untreated wool, organic cotton or synthetic-free latex. Dress the crib with organic all-cotton bedding. Conventional cotton is one of the most heavily pesticide-sprayed crops in the world and the chemicals could irritate your baby’s sensitive skin.

 

N

Nappy bin: Possibly the most essential functional item in the nursery, a bin exclusively for nappies should be constantly kept at hand. Line it with disposable, plastic liners and always keep a good supply in stock.

 

O

Overlooked orange: Vibrant and lively, orange is often considered to be too outrageous for a nursery. If you and your child have an adventurous streak, there’s no harm in going a tad over the top or adding a few streaks of orange to the nursery. It’s not called the new pink for nothing!

P

Protective plastic sheeting: Create a specially designated area for painting and other messy pursuits. Cover it with a plastic sheet which can be wiped down and re-used. Keep plenty of sponges at hand in a bucket which can also be used for other activities and cleaning.

 

Q

Quiet and peace: If the room of a neighbouring apartment or house is someone’s living room, the noise may distract concentration or a good night’s sleep. Cover the wall with a heavy fabric or artistic décor which will absorb the noise.

 

R

Rocking chair: Because you will use it to feed your child, it should be comfortable and support your lower back. Cover it with padded cushions covered in a fabric that washes easily and doesn’t stain. Besides being functional, your rocking chair could be a main feature of the

 

S

Shelves and side rails: Possibly the most important item in the whole nursery, shelves are absolutely essential for packing everything from books and CDs to toys and stuffed animals. Besides keeping the floor space clear and adding a sense of order to a potentially chaotic room, they are also a good incentive for your child to learn to pack away afterwards. Add a toy box to keep the really untidy bits out of sight decoratively.

 

T

Table: Essential for changing nappies, a well-placed table is also useful for storing baby’s toiletries and other goods related to day-to-day care. To double up on space, try to get one that has a shelf underneath for storing linen and nappies. Make sure there is space for a wash basin too.

 

U

Under budget: Draw up a very basic budget and scout around secondhand shops for items that are both unusual and not likely to break the bank. Ditch your credit card and ransack bargain bins and garage sales. You’ll be surprised at how much more fun you can make your nursery at a lower cost.

 

V

VOC-free paint: Paint the walls of the nursery with environmentally friendly paint that doesn’t release poisonous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. Look for VOC-free paint made from all-natural ingredients such as mineral pigments, beeswax, plant oils, crushed limestone, soy resins and buttermilk. Paint the walls in one colour and decorate with bright, self-adhesive transfers that can be removed when baby gets older.

 

W

Waterproofing: Most children wet their beds at some stage of their lives and it is wise to get waterproof underblankets to ensure there is a back-up plan in this event. Always keep spare waterproof underclothes at hand as well as waterproof bibs or disposable potty mitts. In short, anything waterproof is better than not.

 

X

Xylophone: While drums and cymbals provide endless fascination for children, they can also be a nightmare for parents. If your child must vent and explore his/her musical prowess, settle on a xylophone instead. There is a wide range of sizes and colours available and the muffled sound will keep your ears safe.

 

Y

Yellow is mellow: Whether you go for a buttercup shade, or a bright dollop of sun, yellow can transform your baby’s nursery into a tranquil imaginary garden. Complement it with pastel shades if you want a soft look, or go for rainbow colours if you’re into something more bright and exciting. Either way, yellow creates an inspiring and crisp, clean atmosphere.

 

Z

Zoo creatures: Whether they’re plastic or wooden, domestic, farm or wild animals, there’s nothing quite like a set of animals to keep children of both sexes occupied when moments of boredom set in. Add new animals on a regular basis to expand the collection and add variety to your child’s menagerie. An inexpensive gift idea too!

 

(Published in Aquarius, Dubai. Copyright owned by the author.)

 

How to prevent computer pains

While our laptops have almost become an extension of our personalities – a virtual office and easy window on any aspect of the world we choose – plugging in 18/7 can adversely affect our physical health. Here’s how to recognise negative habits and know when to switch off.

REPETITION BREEDS INFLAMMATION
Repeating the same motion (typing on the keyboard, moving the wrist from one side to the other when using the mouse) can lead to serious inflammation of muscles and joints. Both Repetitive Stress Injury and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome tend to affect over 30-year-olds, and occur when too much pressure is placed on a joint, causing pain and swelling in the tendons, muscles and bursa.
SOLUTION: Make sure your wrists slightly lower than your elbows, position your knees so that they are slightly higher than your hips and keep your feet flat on the floor (or on a stool or platform). Take regular breaks (you could set your PC alarm to remind you) – at least a five-minute stroll every hour and stretch occasionally. Make small changes like walking up to your colleague to talk rather than e.mailing or electronically chatting to him/her. Get into a simple exercise routine, as too much or the wrong kind, can worsen the condition: hold a book in each hand and raise your arms in an arc over your head 10 times an hour. Consider getting a splint to hold to decrease pain, swelling and stiffness both during the day and at night.

PAIN IN THE NECK?
Computer neck, shooting pains caused by long hours at the computer and poor posture is not an isolated phenomenon, says Paul Linden, author of Comfort at Your Computer: Body Awareness Training for Pain-Free Computer Use (North Atlantic Books). “It has to do with how you use your arms, spinal column, pelvis and legs.”
SOLUTION: Reorganize your workspace, get an ergonomic chair, and adjust your workstation to your body, not the other way round, says Kermit Pattison, a journalist for Experience Life. Set your chair at a height that allows your feet to rest comfortably on the floor, with knees slightly lower than hips. Your back should be straight, thighs should be parallel to the floor or sloping down very slightly. Both your keyboard and mouse should be at a height that allows your forearms to be level with the floor and your screen should rest directly in front of you at, or just below, eye level, to avoid craning, which triggers posture dysfunctions and chronic muscle tension in the back and neck.

TAKE THE BLINKERS OFF
Our eyes are not designed to concentrate on something at such a short distance and perform best when looking at something six metres away. Staring at a computer means we blink a lot less than usual, our eyes get less lubrication than they need, and eyestrain maladies ranging from blurred vision and headaches to poor refocusing and double vision result.
SOLUTION: Start the day with simple eye exercises and make a conscious effort to blink periodically. Try to place your PC in front of an open space (not a window, as this could cause a glare) as far away from your eyes as is comfortably possible and follow the 20/20 rule (see computer mini-workout). Buy an anti-glare screen, clean dust regularly and adjust screen brightness so that character illumination is 10 times brighter than the background, and room illumination three times brighter than the screen background, says optometrist Dr Marc Grossman, who recommends the following exercise. Hold your thumb 15 centimetres from your nose, and focus on your thumb. Take one deep breath and exhale slowly; then focus on an object about 25 centimetres away; take another deep breath and exhale slowly. Repeat 15 times.
Treat your eyes to an occasional drop of rose water, or get a solution containing polyvinol alcohol or methylcellulose.

FOLLOW FLIGHT INSTRUCTIONS
Sitting at your PC for hours is not unlike taking long flights and may cause blood clots to form in your legs and move to your lungs like Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), say New Zealand researchers who suggested coining the condition eThrombosis. Though not common, the condition was first observed in 2003 when a 32-year-old man lost consciousness through a pulmonary embolism after sitting at his computer regularly for 12 hours at a time without getting up.
SOLUTION: Periodically rotate the ankles and wiggle the toes while sitting at your computer. If you feel soreness or tightness in your legs, do light exercise to get the blood flowing. “I would advise everybody to think about exercising every 15 minutes, even if it’s just pushing up to tip toes to work the calf muscles, because this can make all the difference. Drinking lots of water is also important,” says exercise scientist Steve Hunter, who researched DVT at London’s South Bank University in 2006.

CUT OUT LAZY HABITS
Sitting at a desk for six hours every day doubles the chances of becoming overweight and weakens muscle tone, which decreases with age anyway.
SOLUTION: In your chair, regularly stretch your arms and legs as if you were trying to grasp something just beyond your reach. Contract, hold and release abdominal and gluteus muscle groups repeatedly to maintain muscle tone. Once an hour or so, get up from your chair and do a full body stretch. Try to go to gym often, turn household chores into opportunities for exercise: take the dog for a walk, walk up the stairs instead of taking the lift, walk instead of driving for short distances. If you can’t manage a lunch hour break, eat six small meals every day, and get up to eat them – besides aiding your digestion, this will cut chances of contaminating your PC. From a mental point of view, read the newspaper, do calculations in your head and exercise your imagination instead of surfing the web for answers.

BREATHE EASY
Another offshoot of prolonged computer concentration is what Dinah Morrison, author of Hyperventilation Syndrome/Breathing Disorders (Tandem Press), calls occupational overuse syndrome. “Most people become so engrossed in what they are doing they lose perspective of all time, and worst of all their bodies. Intense or long concentration spans can cause adrenalin to pump, muscles to tense and breath holding,” says Morrison, who maintains most computer-inflicted muscoskeletal damage is exacerbated by poor breathing and/or hyperventilation.
SOLUTION: Whenever you can (every five minutes is preferable), says Morrison, stop, breathe out, drop your shoulders down, but not to a slouch. “Breathe in through your nose as you expand your waist; breathe out through your nose, drop your shoulders, relax the jaw and shake or rattle your hands.” This stops you breathing too quickly, which burns up energy unnecessarily. After hours, meditation, prayer, deep breathing exercises and relaxation tapes all help to relax the mind and body and eliminate back ache, stiff necks, tight jaw and achy hands.

SWITCH TO SLEEP MODE
A study at the University of Maryland Medical Centre shows that too many hours at the computer can cause insomnia. Apart from interfering with the biological sleep clock, exposure to certain light rays from the computer screen interferes with the body’s production of melatonin, which is necessary for a good night’s sleep, says American sleep specialist Michael Breus.
SOLUTION: Stop working at least two hours before going to sleep. Rather wake up early and finish the assignment you are trying to finish and don’t play computer games as they over-stimulate the brain. If you have to keep your computer in the bedroom, make sure it is switched off, advises Breus.

MINI COMPUTER WORKOUT
Before work: Half hour yoga, meditation or jog.
Start your day: Eye exercises, set alarm to ping every hour, check your workstation and chair are correctly positioned.
Throughout the day: Check and adjust breathing rate, stare into the distance, blink often, drink lots of water.
Every 15 minutes: Do calf, ankle exercises.
Every 20 minutes: Look 20 feet away for 20 seconds; replace an e.mail or SMS with a stroll and conversation.
Every hour: Do repetition exercises, full body stretch, take a five-minute stroll.
After work: Gym or exercise routine, pack your laptop in a backpack that divides the weight evenly between the shoulders.
Two hours before bed: Switch off your PC.
Once a month: Go for a head, neck and shoulder massage.

Published in Aquarius, Dubai, 2008.

 

10 ways to make a difference

You may not be able to change the world, but every act of kindness, random or planned, is a step towards constructive engagement with the planet. Here are some ideas to kickstart your mind.

Plant a tree. The most effective way to reduce your carbon footprint and help cool and beautify our suffering planet, planting a tree in your garden, if you have one, or sponsoring a programme that promotes city or district greening can heal your soul too. Join an environmental initiative like the ‘Stand Up Take Action 2008 Campaign’ to plant endangered ghat trees around the UAE, or log on to www.missiongreenearth.ae to order free seeds. As eco-feminist writer Alice Walker says in her famous tree poem, we all have a responsibility to rise up and resist suffering imposed by fellow human beings. “When they torture your family, plant a tree…when they begin to torture the trees and the forests they have made, start another.”
Clean up your neighbourhood. Besides getting to know your neighbours, starting a group in your area to recycle plastic, glass and cardboard or even a neighbourhood watch to keep an eye out for intruders can snowball into a warm environment or part of a bigger action group. Motivate for recycle bins, alternative ways and uses for plastic mineral water bottles or glean new ideas from foreign cultures. “Though I’m not sure what to do about it, it struck me when I was visiting India that the biodegradable leaves fashioned as take-away plates for food sold from street stalls would not only cut down on costs but also help the environment,” says European traveller Sue Mills.
Volunteer your time. Whether it’s for the underprivileged, an environmental or human rights concern, giving up some of your time is often more precious than forking out money by way of support. Contact the India Consulate in Dubai to help out with their Amnesty programme, join a non-governmental organization at the Dubai Humanitarian City or teach English at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre. Take inspiration from individuals like Ashwani Gogia, 49, who, after a 12-hour shift, seven nights a week between 10.30pm and 1.30am, teaches English and “life skills” to labourers. “I try to help these men, some of whom are illiterate and do not have very much, to improve their thinking. I want them to be like lotus flowers that manage to bloom despite their surroundings,” says Gogia, who says nothing helps give him more pleasure than helping others.
Walk or cycle; don’t drive. If your destination is too far to walk to, ensure you reduce your carbon impact by doing regular maintenance checks and taking cautionary measures like accelerating and braking more gently, switching the engine off if you’re going to be stationary for longer than two minutes and avoiding carrying extra weight in the boot. Make sure, that, at the very least, you use unleaded petrol.
Sponsor an endangered animal. Sponsor endangered animals, and get feedback, by sending money to the World Wildlife Fund via the internet, or, if you’re more adventurous, join a foreign volunteer programme and give back something to the country you’re travelling in. Or send your children on a reputable foreign hike like the Snow Leopard trek in Nepal (http://www.snowleopardschooltreks.co.uk/) which donates money to the Snow Leopard Trust for every child that participates. Start a fundraiser like one child who put up a poster of a leopard at a fete and raised money by getting people to buy ‘spots’ on the cat.
Petition for change. Feel about something strongly but think it’s too petty to be noticed by the powers that be? Though they don’t all work, history shows that major changes have been brought about by petitions like the mammoth 1893 Suffrage for Women petition which resulted in New Zealand being the world’s first country to give women the vote. These days, websites like www.care2.com and www.petitiononline.com make standing up for your rights easier to formulate and distribute as well as being accessible to most of the population.
Go to charity concerts. Besides giving a local artist a chance to prove themselves, you also often get to broaden your horizons. For example, when Rob White, of the Tibetan Music Trust in Dharamsala, arranged an informal concert recently for refugee Doyee Tsering, he told the audience that though they could buy the CD, a donation to the entire project, which aims to help preserve their musical culture while in exile, would be more beneficial. A small act for one person can easily become a giant leap for mankind. Contact tibetanmusictrust@gmail.com if you think you can help from outside India.
Promote education. Moulded on Nelson Mandela’s contention that education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world, South African rugby player Francois Pienaar and a circle of friends came up with MAD (Make a Difference) to provide educational opportunities for less fortunate children. Go to www.themadbunch.com if you would like to make a donation or start your own trust in your area.
Go to the mountain. If, as the saying goes, the mountain won’t come to Mohammed, you can always go to it. Which is what Stacy and Lorena Townsend did when they discovered their dad had Alzheimer’s. Joining a team of eight mountaineers, the sisters climbed Africa’s highest peak, Kilimanjaro, in 2007 to raise over $10 000 each for the Action for Alzheimer’s cause. “My dad was diagnosed more than eight years ago and I stood by and watched helplessly as he slipped further away from us. I don’t want to feel helpless,” she says. “I want to feel hopeful!”
Start where you are. The biggest step to moving in a meaningful new direction is awakening the heart, says Pema Chodron, author of Start where you are (Element, 1994). “Rather than seeing the unwanted aspects of life as obstacles, Jamgon Kongtrul, a 19th century Tibetan teacher, presented them as the raw material necessary for awakening genuine uncontrived compassion: we can start where we are,” says Chodron. Whether it’s a spiritual revamp you’re after or a minor change, the first step to creating a mini-revolution is being kind to yourself and the rest will follow.
Do a good deed every day. “Even though it probably makes me feel better than the person I am helping, I still do it,” says call centre manager Martin Liefeldt, who keeps the acts to himself unless pressurised. “Yesterday I bought a magazine from a street vendor for double the price and took one of my disadvantaged employees for a ride in my expensive sports car. I played Bob Marley and she was ecstatic as she usually only gets to ride in a bus.”

Published in Aquarius, Dubai, 2009.

 

How to organise a move

Turn the chore of packing up your house into an organized adventure. By being systematic and creative, you can take the stress out of your shift and make your dream house just that.

Classify and unclutter. Use moving house as an excuse to sort out your belongings and get rid of superfluous items that take up space. Give useful items to charity shops or friends and family in need, have a car boot sale or auction them online.
Take stock of your possessions. Decide how you are going to move everything from house to house. If you’re doing it all yourself, make sure the van you use is the right size. If it’s too small, you may find yourself doing too many journeys, whereas too large can mean problems with parking. Remember to factor in potplants and outdoor furniture which take up more space than you realize.
Choosing professional movers. If you have lots of possessions, hire a professional company. Whether you pay them to do everything from packing to moving, or pack yourself and leave the heavy stuff to them, it’s worth reducing the stress. Before you decide whom to use, get at least three quotes, check the fine print in your moving insurance and note when they have discount rates. Book the movers at least two weeks before you move, and make a list of everything that will be moved. Tell them how much furniture you have so they can factor in numbers of boxes and journeys, what time you expect them, clear directions and what furniture won’t fit through the door. Make sure you are covered for potential breakages and damages.
Make a priority packing list. Don’t leave everything to the day before. Get boxes, in a variety of sizes, well in advance from local shops or supermarkets, and save newspapers for wrapping breakables. Buy strong tape, bubble wrap, and self-seal bags for packing small bits and pieces and save old newspapers for lining boxes.
Box clever. Use sturdy packing boxes, particularly for more cumbersome items. Get corrugated cardboard boxes from supermarkets, bottle stores or large retail stores, and make sure they are clean before packing. Don’t completely fill large boxes, and ensure the boxes containing items you need the least are loaded up first. Begin at the top of the house and move downwards.
Plan ahead. Pack an ‘essentials’ box for your first night in your new home, with at least a kettle, coffee, cups, plates, cutlery and a kitchen cloth. Prepare an overnight bag for every member of the family, as well as toiletries and toilet paper. Other items to keep at hand are a torch, first-aid kit, mini tool kit, pencil and paper, and sealable plastic bags. Finish doing any laundry long before you move to avoid packing damp clothes and keep a separate bag for dirty washing.
Wrap wise. Keep box weight to a minimum and pack heaviest items in the smallest boxes to make carrying easier. Pack the heaviest items on the bottom. Pack important documents, like birth and marriage certificates, together and store in a safe place. Put toxic substances, like paint, bleach and aerosols, into a separate box and keep them away from the rest of your stuff. Wrap each item individually, using tissue or wrapping paper for first layer, and bubble wrap for breakables. Line each box with layers of newspaper and bubble wrap. Use pillows and blankets for added padding for valuables and protecting furniture.
Label logically. Pack one room at a time, labelling each box with a list of contents and the room where it will be unpacked. Label fragile boxes and keep boxes for each room together to save time unpacking. Draw up a plan of where the furniture needs to go in your new home so that you don’t spend your time moving it from room to room.
Activate lights and water. Check a month before that all utilities in the new house are in place and that necessary agreements with service providers have been signed. In the same vein, make sure that all bonds and rental agreements have been finalized.
Notify change of address. Let everyone – from friends and family to official and business contacts – know when and where you are moving. Make a checklist of healthcare providers, financial institutions, service providers, schools, library, sports club, home deliveries, subscriptions and anything else you can think of that will need your address. Let them know at least a month before you actually move, and make sure that you have an arrangement with new tenants to forward old mail.
Stay on the same page. Because moving is high on the Rahe scale of stress, try to allay disagreements and misunderstandings by having mini meetings with the whole family to keep frayed nerves to a minimum.

HOW TO ORGANISE A MOVE
Turn the chore of packing up your house into an organized adventure. By being systematic and creative, you can take the stress out of your shift and make your dream house just that.
By Sharon Marshall

Classify and unclutter. Use moving house as an excuse to sort out your belongings and get rid of superfluous items that take up space. Give useful items to charity shops or friends and family in need, have a car boot sale or auction them online.
Take stock of your possessions. Decide how you are going to move everything from house to house. If you’re doing it all yourself, make sure the van you use is the right size. If it’s too small, you may find yourself doing too many journeys, whereas too large can mean problems with parking. Remember to factor in potplants and outdoor furniture which take up more space than you realize.
Choosing professional movers. If you have lots of possessions, hire a professional company. Whether you pay them to do everything from packing to moving, or pack yourself and leave the heavy stuff to them, it’s worth reducing the stress. Before you decide whom to use, get at least three quotes, check the fine print in your moving insurance and note when they have discount rates. Book the movers at least two weeks before you move, and make a list of everything that will be moved. Tell them how much furniture you have so they can factor in numbers of boxes and journeys, what time you expect them, clear directions and what furniture won’t fit through the door. Make sure you are covered for potential breakages and damages.
Make a priority packing list. Don’t leave everything to the day before. Get boxes, in a variety of sizes, well in advance from local shops or supermarkets, and save newspapers for wrapping breakables. Buy strong tape, bubble wrap, and self-seal bags for packing small bits and pieces and save old newspapers for lining boxes.
Box clever. Use sturdy packing boxes, particularly for more cumbersome items. Get corrugated cardboard boxes from supermarkets, bottle stores or large retail stores, and make sure they are clean before packing. Don’t completely fill large boxes, and ensure the boxes containing items you need the least are loaded up first. Begin at the top of the house and move downwards.
Plan ahead. Pack an ‘essentials’ box for your first night in your new home, with at least a kettle, coffee, cups, plates, cutlery and a kitchen cloth. Prepare an overnight bag for every member of the family, as well as toiletries and toilet paper. Other items to keep at hand are a torch, first-aid kit, mini tool kit, pencil and paper, and sealable plastic bags. Finish doing any laundry long before you move to avoid packing damp clothes and keep a separate bag for dirty washing.
Wrap wise. Keep box weight to a minimum and pack heaviest items in the smallest boxes to make carrying easier. Pack the heaviest items on the bottom. Pack important documents, like birth and marriage certificates, together and store in a safe place. Put toxic substances, like paint, bleach and aerosols, into a separate box and keep them away from the rest of your stuff. Wrap each item individually, using tissue or wrapping paper for first layer, and bubble wrap for breakables. Line each box with layers of newspaper and bubble wrap. Use pillows and blankets for added padding for valuables and protecting furniture.
Label logically. Pack one room at a time, labelling each box with a list of contents and the room where it will be unpacked. Label fragile boxes and keep boxes for each room together to save time unpacking. Draw up a plan of where the furniture needs to go in your new home so that you don’t spend your time moving it from room to room.
Activate lights and water. Check a month before that all utilities in the new house are in place and that necessary agreements with service providers have been signed. In the same vein, make sure that all bonds and rental agreements have been finalized.
Notify change of address. Let everyone – from friends and family to official and business contacts – know when and where you are moving. Make a checklist of healthcare providers, financial institutions, service providers, schools, library, sports club, home deliveries, subscriptions and anything else you can think of that will need your address. Let them know at least a month before you actually move, and make sure that you have an arrangement with new tenants to forward old mail.
Stay on the same page. Because moving is high on the Rahe scale of stress, try to allay disagreements and misunderstandings by having mini meetings with the whole family to keep frayed nerves to a minimum.

HOW TO ORGANISE A MOVE
Turn the chore of packing up your house into an organized adventure. By being systematic and creative, you can take the stress out of your shift and make your dream house just that.
By Sharon Marshall

Classify and unclutter. Use moving house as an excuse to sort out your belongings and get rid of superfluous items that take up space. Give useful items to charity shops or friends and family in need, have a car boot sale or auction them online.
Take stock of your possessions. Decide how you are going to move everything from house to house. If you’re doing it all yourself, make sure the van you use is the right size. If it’s too small, you may find yourself doing too many journeys, whereas too large can mean problems with parking. Remember to factor in potplants and outdoor furniture which take up more space than you realize.
Choosing professional movers. If you have lots of possessions, hire a professional company. Whether you pay them to do everything from packing to moving, or pack yourself and leave the heavy stuff to them, it’s worth reducing the stress. Before you decide whom to use, get at least three quotes, check the fine print in your moving insurance and note when they have discount rates. Book the movers at least two weeks before you move, and make a list of everything that will be moved. Tell them how much furniture you have so they can factor in numbers of boxes and journeys, what time you expect them, clear directions and what furniture won’t fit through the door. Make sure you are covered for potential breakages and damages.
Make a priority packing list. Don’t leave everything to the day before. Get boxes, in a variety of sizes, well in advance from local shops or supermarkets, and save newspapers for wrapping breakables. Buy strong tape, bubble wrap, and self-seal bags for packing small bits and pieces and save old newspapers for lining boxes.
Box clever. Use sturdy packing boxes, particularly for more cumbersome items. Get corrugated cardboard boxes from supermarkets, bottle stores or large retail stores, and make sure they are clean before packing. Don’t completely fill large boxes, and ensure the boxes containing items you need the least are loaded up first. Begin at the top of the house and move downwards.
Plan ahead. Pack an ‘essentials’ box for your first night in your new home, with at least a kettle, coffee, cups, plates, cutlery and a kitchen cloth. Prepare an overnight bag for every member of the family, as well as toiletries and toilet paper. Other items to keep at hand are a torch, first-aid kit, mini tool kit, pencil and paper, and sealable plastic bags. Finish doing any laundry long before you move to avoid packing damp clothes and keep a separate bag for dirty washing.
Wrap wise. Keep box weight to a minimum and pack heaviest items in the smallest boxes to make carrying easier. Pack the heaviest items on the bottom. Pack important documents, like birth and marriage certificates, together and store in a safe place. Put toxic substances, like paint, bleach and aerosols, into a separate box and keep them away from the rest of your stuff. Wrap each item individually, using tissue or wrapping paper for first layer, and bubble wrap for breakables. Line each box with layers of newspaper and bubble wrap. Use pillows and blankets for added padding for valuables and protecting furniture.
Label logically. Pack one room at a time, labelling each box with a list of contents and the room where it will be unpacked. Label fragile boxes and keep boxes for each room together to save time unpacking. Draw up a plan of where the furniture needs to go in your new home so that you don’t spend your time moving it from room to room.
Activate lights and water. Check a month before that all utilities in the new house are in place and that necessary agreements with service providers have been signed. In the same vein, make sure that all bonds and rental agreements have been finalized.
Notify change of address. Let everyone – from friends and family to official and business contacts – know when and where you are moving. Make a checklist of healthcare providers, financial institutions, service providers, schools, library, sports club, home deliveries, subscriptions and anything else you can think of that will need your address. Let them know at least a month before you actually move, and make sure that you have an arrangement with new tenants to forward old mail.
Stay on the same page. Because moving is high on the Rahe scale of stress, try to allay disagreements and misunderstandings by having mini meetings with the whole family to keep frayed nerves to a minimum.

 

15 cheap tricks to slash holiday costs

It sounds too good to be true, but by using a bit of thrifty common sense, you can double your fun by cutting your holiday expenses in half.

 

 

1. Travel off-peak

Plan ahead around children’s school holidays if you want the whole family to get the most out of their vacation. Flying on week days rather than over weekends can save you as much as ??%: for example, some flights from Dubai cost ?? on the weekend, and ?? for the same flight on a weekday. Most holiday resorts also up their prices in season by 30 percent or more, so try to strike a package deal at a less popular place well in advance or opt to travel in the off-season.

 

2. Book flights in advance

If you’re flying, book your tickets as far as possible ahead of the departure date. The longer in advance you book, the cheaper the rates. For example, a flight from Dubai to ?? will cost you only ?? if you book two days before, compared with ?? one month before.

Use an internet search engine to find cheap flights and lowest-fare airlines to suss out the competition, as airlines can differ by over 50 percent.

 “Collecting frequent flyer miles can also lead to a free upgrade, savings on hotels, and much more, which is a major bonus as many cards, like Nectar, don’t require the user to fly to collect miles,” adds Ola Fagbohun, founder and editor of women’s online travel magazine Diverse Traveller (www.diversetraveller.com).

 

3. Track fares on the internet

Sign up for travel and restaurant newsletters, and take advantage of last-minute deals and discount coupons. Check visitors’ bureau websites for tips on getting discounted rates at tourist attractions or popular events. Booking flights and accommodation online is another great stress-buster, and, if you are willing to pay on a non-refundable basis, online car rentals offer a range of vehicles to suit every traveller.

“I subscribe to consolidation websites like Travelzoo.com, which gives travel deals from all over the world, as well as their top 20 deals of the week,” says Fagbohun, who says the early hours of the morning are best for on-line booking as air fares are lower when fewer people are bidding.

“Use e.mail to save money on long distance phone calls to Europe when booking accommodations,” adds Rick Steves, whose travel website (www.ricksteves.com) e.mails subscribers regular newsletters on cutting costs in Europe. “If you’re concerned about e.mailing your credit card number, confirm your reservation by faxing a printed copy of your e.mail correspondence with the number.”

 

4. Go on a road trip

While travel a la Jack Kerouac is hardly at the top of any concerned mother’s wish list, anyone who has done a family holiday by car will attest that the happy memories of adventure and togetherness far outweigh the stresses of fighting over the window seat, if the destination is not too far away. Besides drastically cutting costs (compare costs of a flight/train trip with petrol), two drivers ensure that driving fatigue is shared, you won’t have to fork out for expensive taxis on the other side or spend hours of precious time organizing transport. If you have children, make sure you have plenty of magazines, games, cellphone or laptop games and music, DVDs (if you have a portable DVD player), mineral water and snacks on hand before you leave. Max the mileage on your journey by checking tyre pressure, wheel alignment and air filters, all of which will turn pennies into pounds.

 

5. Stay on the beaten track

While travelling far from the madding crowd is a great way to avoid paying exorbitant prices geared towards foreign tourists, you could land up spending all your cash (and time) on transport to get to monuments, galleries and night clubs you want to visit. Try to stay in mid-range accommodation which doesn’t skimp on comfort and is no more than half an hour from major tourist centres. Cheaper still, if self-sufficiency is not a major issue, stay at a guesthouse or with someone you know. An added benefit of choosing this route is that you get to pick up tips and tricks from the locals.

 

6. Book tours locally

Avoid paying travel agents’ commissions by planning your trip beforehand. If you’re going to be near a city, check out availability of bus, coach and train trips in the area on the internet or in travel guide books. If you don’t need to book in advance, it’s often better to wait until you get there and cut costs on hiring a driver if you’re not in your own car. Though hotels often arrange sightseeing tours with a days’ notice, it’s usually cheaper to organize them through a tourist office, advises Steves, and, if it’s not too far, don your hiking shoes and take a walking tour instead of a bus or coach.

 

7. Pack light

If you’re flying, extra kilos mean extra pennies. Also, leaving extra space in your suitcase gives you more room for valuable holiday purchases, while restricting you from indulging in whimsical shopping sprees.

Pack light clothes that don’t take up too much space and can be worn in layers, hard-wearing denims that don’t require frequent washing (which you should try to do yourself to avoid laundry costs) and avoid garments that need to be ironed. “I always take a few pashminas, instead of a cardigan, which doubles up as a wrap on the beach, and covers my head and shoulders when visiting religious places.”

Walking shoes are an absolute must, and besides saving you on taxi bills, could take you on healthy hikes which could ultimately reduce medical costs. Make sure you know the weather predictions for your holiday destination to avoid going into debit over a useless item that may never be used again.

“Remembering the old adage ‘pack half as much as you think you need’ really helps me to keep my luggage to the bare minimum,” explains travel author Sarah Woods. “I pack at around 20kg max and often manage 12-15kg – it gives me the freedom to move around easily with luggage in tow without the stress and strain of a struggle.”

 

8. Drink and eat local

Avoid touristy restaurants with “We speak English signs” and multilingual menus, advises Steves. “Those that are filled with locals serve better food for less money. I look for a short, handwritten menu in the local language only. Go with the daily specials.”

Regardless of where you are, the most expensive item on the menu is usually the booze. And the price escalates according to the quality and distance of the importation. If you can, choose a restaurant that allows you to bring your own alcohol; even if they charge a corkage fee for opening a bottle of wine, this precaution could more than halve your bill, and double your pleasure. In Europe, it is also cheaper to drink at the bar than at the table, says Steves.

Likewise, it makes no sense to order Mozambique prawns or buy Danish cheese if you’re in the middle of Bangalore. Rather expand your cultural horizons by savouring the local delicacies and snack on the seasonal produce of the area.

 

9.  Monitor exchange rates

Possibly the biggest unknown factor when travelling to a foreign destination is the local currency. Though you can’t foresee comparisons in price to your own until you or someone you know has been there, try to monitor exchange rates at least three months before you get there.

Buy foreign exchange on your credit card. “But beware of credit cards that levy heavy fees for using your card abroad, particularly when withdrawing money from an ATM. If you’re in the UK, check out credit cards from the Post Office and Nationwide; they regularly top the charts of the best cards to use abroad,” advises Fagbohun, who uses moneyexpert.com.

 

10. Don’t buy at the airport/train station

Everything from food and magazines to mineral water and foreign exchange costs more here. And while it’s tempting to quaff coffee and crisps while you’re waiting, you could lop off 90 percent of your bill by taking an apple or two and a bottle of water with you. Waiting for the complimentary meals on most flights is well worth it, and no-one will stop you if you stash a bread roll or fruit juice or two from your in-flight meal in your handbag to tide you over. While in-flight travel magazines keep you occupied for short trips, it is wise to stock up on books or magazines (try your local secondhand book store; you can always find interesting exchanges at your destination and leave your books behind for local readers) before you leave. Also, try to get someone to take you to the airport rather than spoiling a wonderful holiday with a costly airport parking tariff.

 

11. Know the bargaining rate

While the prices in western shops are generally fixed, bargaining in eastern or third-world countries is par for the course. The trick is to know the market and set yourself a ceiling. Get an idea from fixed-price shops of what the going price of an item generally is (in India, all goods are required by law to have a Maximum Required Payment), then start bargaining at about a third of the vendor’s asking price. In places like Morocco and Turkey, you can often knock carpet prices down to a quarter of the asking price.

 

12. Save on cellphone costs

If you’re travelling overseas and know you will need to make a lot of calls, invest in a local SIM card rather than paying exorbitant fees for a roaming facility from your own country. When you arrive at your destination, activate an option for selecting a network on your cellphone and choose the network which gives you the best reception in built-up areas.

Instead of countless SMSes and MMSes each time you feel a pang of homesickness or high adventure, delay the gratification until you can download pics at home and send postcards – your granny will love you forever!

 

13. Map your territory

While the GPS has revolutionized motor travel, it is a little more costly than a good, old-fashioned map. Try to get a durable, portable book map than a flimsy paper spread which is a mission to unfold and consult in the middle of a bustling tourist hub. Depending on the exchange rate, it may also be cheaper to buy your maps at your destination.

 

14. Shop smart

Human nature being as illogical as it is, many travellers make the mistake of decking themselves out in appropriate gear before getting anywhere near their destination. If you’re heading for Phuket beaches, there’s no point in buying a Thai-style kekoi from a designer shopping emporium when you can get the real thing at a tenth of the price in Thailand. Set up a tentative budget for specialities of the area before you leave, but steer clear of touristy markets and avoid hawkers selling ancient ornaments outside monuments, and stick to local bazaars or craft markets; not only will you get the real thing, but you’re likely to spend less money on something that will last longer.

 

15. Swap homes

If you’re prepared to take a risk, join thousands who have saved costs on their holidays by swapping homes. The web is teeming with agencies, so try to ensure you choose a reputable one. Says Canadian Dennis Chobater, who has used Global Home Exchange (www.4homex.com) for 15 years, “We jumped into our first home exchange experience with both feet. We not only traded homes for a year with a couple from Australia but also swapped cars, jobs and bills. Since then we have discovered different parts of the world with swaps ranging from two to 22 days – from New York and California to New York.” 

To ensure you don’t make a bad choice, demand loads of photographs and make sure you don’t pay anything before you have a signed confirmation of who is responsible for maintenance and damage and gives you a right to refund if the property isn’t as expected.

Published in Aquarius, Dubai, 2008.

 

Are you ready to join the vegetarian revolution?

 

While giving up meat may seem like a major sacrifice, an increasing number of people are adopting vegetarianism as a healthier, more conscientious way of life. Far from being a boring routine of soy milk and lettuce leaves, a chiefly vegetarian diet can be an adventure for body, mind and soul. Here’s how to follow your gut instincts and help save the planet.

 

When Indian spiritual guru Mahatma Gandhi refused to eat meat in the west, he was reinforcing centuries of traditional belief that meat is impure. While many modern Indians eschew such strict religious codes, individuals from all cultures are embracing vegetarianism as a healthier, more ethical style of eating, regardless of religion.

Why the shift? Though scientific debate centres around whether humans are designed to eat meat at all, many vegetarians simply believe meat is murder, given the amount of suffering involved when an animal is killed, while others are health- or environment-related. Those on the health wagon feel that meat, while it provides plenty of protein, also proves tons of fat, and contributes to heart disease. (See Plant Power)

Others believe food poisoning is more prevalent in meat eaters, and cutting out eggs and dairy provides an even lower risk. In addition, studies show that vegetarians are less likely to be obese, and though it is possible to subsist on cakes and pizzas, an all-vegetarian diet is more likely to help shed kilos.

An added motivation is that the meat industry harms the environment in a number of ways, from a waste of resources (animals raised for food eat enough grain to feed the world) and fuel to the pollution caused by their waste matter. They believe, like Albert Einstein, that evolving to vegetarianism is the only way to sustain the planet.

“At the bottom line,” says Rod Suskin, author of Soul Life (Double Storey 2006), “vegetarianism is a spiritual issue. If you’re eating consciously you will quickly begin to discern the energetic difference between living food such as fruit and vegetables and dead food such as meat, however fresh. While vegetable matter retains life for a few days after it has been removed from the source of its life, animal matter dies immediately and thus begins the process of decay. Ancient wisdom teaches that the more we use dead matter as a source of life, the more we incline to dark, low states of consciousness.”

Like any major lifestyle change, switching to a vegetarian diet takes time and preparation, and being dogmatic about it is only likely to discourage you:

1. Read all about it. Check out comprehensive websites like GoVeg.com, Post Punk Kitchen (www.theppk.com), Savvy Vegetarian (www.savvyvegetarian.com), borrow books from the library or from vegetarian friends. “Since the advent of the Internet, answers to questions which at once seemed elusive are now exposed in a click. We cannot plead we are uninformed consumers, unless we wish to remain so,” says Ingrid van Heslinga, who chose the vegetarian option a year ago. “Animal welfare groups such as PETA provide factual literature and video footage of the inhumane conditions in which large scale farms and slaughter houses operate. The documentary Earthlings (www.earthlings.com) fully clinched my decision. I knew intrinsically that I could no longer say that I loved animals and continue to support the meat industry.”
2. Make gradual changes. Says nutritionist Ginny Messina, who became a vegan after 28 years of eating meat and has since co-authored books like The Convenient Vegetarian (MacMillan Press,1999), “Most people say they cannot imagine completely giving up meat, fish, dairy and eggs. And I always tell them that that’s okay. You can choose meals with fewer animal foods right now in some pretty painless ways.” She adds, “Start reducing your consumption by replacing simple things. Use vegetarian mayonnaise, replace creamy dressings with oil and vinegar, use non-dairy coffee creamer, buy vegetarian baked beans, serve mushroom- instead of meat-based gravy on potatoes.”
3. Tell friends and family. Keeping your nearest and dearest in the loop about your decision and the reasons for it can allay much anxiety and ensure that you aren’t tempted into carnivorous delights at dinner parties. “Though it was the most natural thing for me to do, you do need to be strong to stick by your guns,” says Stacy Adendorff, who has been a vegetarian ever since she left her meat-eating home 12 years ago. “People often seem offended when I tell them I’m a veggie. It’s like they need to tease me and question my decision to make themselves feel better. In general, I just get on and do it.” Says Messina, “Show your friends that vegans love and eat good food and that vegan cuisine is not about deprivation. Everything doesn’t have to be low-fat, whole grain, and sugar-free.”
4. Get exciting recipes. Plunder recipe files (ask your veggie friends for first-hand knowledge) and try one new recipe every week. Use meatless substitutes in the dishes you usually eat with meat, e.g. vegetable instead of chicken stock, or non-meat packet spaghetti mixes, says Messina. Once you have 7-10 that you use over and over because you like the, you’re well on your way. Testifies Adelle Horler, who has eaten a mainly vegetarian diet for the last six years: “Make an effort to learn a whole new way of cooking and eating, rather than making the same stuff just without the meat. That way you have a new culinary experience without feeling like you’re denying yourself something.”
5. Prioritise protein. While protein is essential, most people overdose on it by eating meat. If you eat a variety of foods containing protein from vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, seeds, soy protein and the like, you’ll get more than your share, which is 46 grams per day for women and 56 grams for men, says Messina. This will also ensure that you don’t overdose on junk food and become an unhealthy vegetarian, adds Adendorff,
6. Experiment. Suss out ethnic cultures that are mainly vegetarian, from Chinese and Moroccan to South American and Inidan, and entertain your taste buds. Ditch the illusion that tofu is tedious, and tuck into dietary delicacies like chickpeas, couscous, haloumi and hummus. Not only do they present endless opportunities for restaurant meals, but they can be prepared at home in advance.
7. Supplement where necessary. Those who do not eat dairy and cheese often use Vitamin B12 supplements or a plant food fortified with it like breakfast cereal or soymilk. This is a wise decision as B12 deficiency can lead to mental decline, says Messina. Go for a chewable variety as it is absorbed better. Make sure you get enough calcium, from varied sources to ensure absorption, to maintain bone health. If you don’t get your 1000mg from leafy greens, fortified orange juice and fortified soymilk and tofu, invest in a supplement.
8. Find veggie restaurants and plunder health stores. Though vegetarian restaurants are becoming increasingly popular, a big hurdle for many is finding a meal that provides adequate sustenance when they dine out. You could also expand your omnivorous friends’ horizons with a purely vegetarian meal. Though free range eggs and vegetarian cheese are generally available in supermarkets, health food stores offer a huge and interesting range of supplements, meat alternatives and tinned pulses. Read the labels, and be on the lookout for pointers like the vegetarian society’s Seedling Symbol.

 

(maybe add a box on veggie restaurants and health stores in Dubai)

 

LEARNING TO VEG OUT

While vegetarian implies no meat in any form, it does not necessarily exclude dairy or eggs. Strict vegetarians from strict religious sects like the Jains (which bases its philosophy on non-violence) also don’t eat non-fertilised eggs, honey or root vegetables like ginger, garlic, onions, carrots, potatoes and radishes. Veganism, the most extreme form of non-violence, includes no dairy, and excludes all forms of exploitation of animals for clothing or any other purpose.

While most veggies strive for this ideal, the transition is not easy. Perseverance, says vegan nutritionist Ginny Messina, is the key. “Make the changes that are easiest for you — and feel good about them! Remember, every time you choose a plant food instead of an animal food, you’ve made a difference.”

Says Adelle Horler, who stopped eating red meat six years ago, “I didn’t like lamb or chicken, and ate beef only when I went out, but grew to dislike the heavy, toxic heavy feeling in my stomach. Now I only eat fish, eggs and dairy. I eat fish as it’s an easy source of protein, but that will have to stop soon if I stick to my motto of “nothing with a mother”.

“Emotionally I feel better because I know nothing suffers through me; physically I feel healthier, and my system feels ‘clean’. I hate the idea of animal grease.”

Her only regret? “Sometimes I wish bacon was an honorary vegetable!”

Like Adelle, Robert Krzisnik occasionally eats fish after his decision to give up meat 22 years ago. “I had been reading about the negative affects of eating meat on the human body, was worried about the ethics of killing animals for food, and slowly began to realize that I did not really like eating meat. Now eating meat is just as appealing to me as eating wood or mud, so I don’t do it.”

“About 10 years ago I started to feel my body was lacking something and since then I have been eating fish about bi-monthly or so, primarily sushi or smoked salmon. And I do eat eggs and some dairy products,” adds Krzisnik, who was also inspired by the Earthlings documentary.

His advice to omnivores? “I do not think that it is bad to eat meat. But I really wish people were more conscious of the quality of meat they buy. All the preservatives, colours, hormones and steroids, along with the awful energy of living beings, being held in zero space and tortured, is something that I believe affects meat-eating people very much and should be avoided.”

For Adelle, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (available in downloadable format at http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com), about a US farming family who eat only produce they’ve they’ve grown or buy within 50km for a year, including only free range meat, was the inspiration..

The rationale? “If you’re going to eat meat, make sure it had a happy life and was killed humanely.”

 

(Suggest cutting below if necessary)

 

PLANT POWER

While documenting every last animal-derived ingredient in your diet is only likely to make you neurotic, says Messina, following a plant-based diet makes health sense. Plant foods:

• provide phytochemicals, which reduces risk for heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.
• contain fibre, which is associated with a lower risk for cancer, heart disease, and obesity, and no cholesterol, which even lean meats like shrimp and white chicken meat are high in.
• are low in saturated fat, which is linked to a heart disease risk. Though olives and nuts are high in total fat, they contain healthful types of fat.
• have a type of iron which is regulated by the body in a way that guards against iron overload, which may be linked to chronic disease.
• are excellent sources of nutrients, such as folate, potassium, and chromium, which help fight chronic disease.

(Published in Aquarius 2008. Copyright owned by the writer.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20 ways to sleep better

Tired of being sleep-deprived? Simply improving daytime and eating habits, creating a peaceful haven and developing a bedtime routine will set you on the path to consistently good sleep – and good health.

 

 

Size does count. Whether you have a sleeping partner or not, you should have enough room to stretch out and turn over comfortably, especially if you’re a restless sleeper. If you find yourself arguing over space, consider getting a bigger bed. If one partner is more restless than the other, push two twin mattresses together to create better boundaries.

The bottom line. Back cramps, neck pains and head aches are often the result of poor support. “You may want to experiment with different levels of mattress firmness and pillows that provide more support. If your mattress is too hard, you can add a foam topper for additional softness,” says sleep expert Joanna Saisan (www.helpguide.org). Ensure your bed linen is soft and that duvets don’t make you too hot or too cold. While cotton sheets provide aeration in summer, flannel sheets are the best choice for winter.

Declutter. The most intimate room in the house, the appearance of your bedroom is essential to your sense of wellbeing. More than any other room, it should be as neat and clutter-free as possible. Always have a wastepaper basket at hand, keep a chair for clothes and items you need quick access to and always tidy up before you go to bed and leave for work in the morning.

Dress for the occasion. Wear loose-fitting pyjamas, preferably in a lightweight fabric like cotton or linen.

Break the sound barrier. If you can’t get rid of loud traffic, barking dogs or blaring televisions, get earplugs, or use a fan, white noise machine or recordings of natural sounds to block out noise pollution. Discussing the issue diplomatically with noisy neighbours can go a long way to reducing unnecessary stress.

Enhance the environment. Paint the walls a soothing or spiritual colour like lilac, blue or green. Use shades of loving pink to add passion, says colour consultant Tiziana Giradini

See the light. While a ray of light can spring you into action in the morning, too much too early can activate your body clock before it is ready to wake up. Get an eye mask or heavy or dark curtains or blinds to block out extraneous light.

Feel the heat. Control the room temperature. An air conditioner setting that is too cold can be as detrimental to your wellbeing as one that is not cool enough. Use a fan to keep air moving and ensure any open windows or doors don’t cause unnecessary drafts.

Unlock your locks. While it is an old wive’s tale that wet hair will make your blind or give you a smelly nose, there are perfectly good haircare reasons for drying your hair before bedtime. In its wet state, hair is at its most fragile and breakable, and could also lead to developing a cold if you have an air conditioner or open window.

Feed your soul. Don’t take work or chore lists to bed. If your computer must be in your bedroom, make sure it is turned off. “If you associate your bed with events like work or errands, it will only make it harder to wind down at night. Use your bed only for sleep and sex,” says Saisan. While relaxing books on the bedside table are an optional extra, a television is a no-no. Get into relaxation techniques or listen to meditation tapes.

Put the pets out. While many animal lovers can’t imagine sleeping without their source of unconditional love, it is unhygienic to risk sharing the bed with ticks, fleas and other unsavouries that thrive on animal fur. If you feel they must be in the bedroom, try to make them a powdered pet bed on the floor.

Banish bugs. Rather than mosquito nets, which get tatty and can be claustrophobic, get an electronic or plug-in mosquito repellant, burn mosquito coils or buy a diffuser.

Soothe away stress. Have a warm bath with a relaxing essential oil before you get into bed, place several drops of lavender oil onto your pillow or burn a lavender-scented candle before you head to the Land of Nod.

Get into a routine. Try to go to bed at the same time every day and set your alarm for the same time. Ideally, adults should get seven to eight hours’ sleep, says Dr K Jayarajan, chief medical officer for the Bangalore Ayurvedagram Heritage Wellness Centre. Though napping during the day can make it more difficult to sleep, sometimes a power nap is beneficial. Make sure it is in the early afternoon, for no longer than 30 minutes and that you don’t go into the third deep level of sleep, he adds.

Exercise. “Regular exercise, aside from many other wonderful health benefits, usually makes it easier to fall asleep and sleep better,” says Saisan. As little as 20 to 30 minutes a day is all you need, and morning or early afternoon are best.

Keep a dream journal. A powerful tool for solving problems, dreams can be tapped into by preparing your mind before you go to sleep, says Rod Suskin, author of Soul Life (Double Storey, 2008). Before you go to sleep, ask for guidance about anything that’s worrying you, and keep a notebook beside your bed. “Say to yourself, ‘I will remember my dreams and write them here in the morning,” adds Suskin.

Cut out stimulants. Contrary to the traditional English habit of having a nightcap, alcohol can hamper sleep quality and should be avoided the last few hours before bed. In the same vein, caffeine can cause sleep problems 10 to 12 hours after drinking it, says Saisan. Because nicotine is a stimulant, smoking, too, can disrupt sleep and lead to snoring and shortness of breath.

Watch your diet. Eat a light supper at least two hours before going to sleep. If you must have a pre-sleep snack, have one which contains sleep-inducing tryptophan, like warm milk, banana or chamomile tea.

Give off good vibes. While avoiding arguments before bed is not always possible, try at least to agree to discuss the worrying matter in the morning, especially if the argument is with your sleeping partner. Worry and anxiety can wake you up feeling unrested and sleep-deprived for days at a time.

Seize the day. As important as a night-time routine, waking up with a spiritual reading and approaching your ablutions mindfully is the very least you should do to ensure you function at peak awareness, says Suskin. “In the ten minutes before you start, wash your hands and face and brush your teeth; we approach the Divine only after we have cleansed ourselves.”

 

(Published in Aquarius, Dubai. Copyright owned by the writer.)