Defeat the Grind – Weekly Ezine – 1/11/08

In today’s article •
Self Improvement – Understand and accept separate realities •
Health: Benefits of Flax Lilies •
Parenting: 5 things you need to know about being a parent


Self Improvement: Understand and accept separate realities (Andrew Collings)

One of the biggest problems we often face in our lives is trying to reach equal ground with other people, and come to simple agreements. This has been a complex issue, and is one of the main reasons why mediators and counsellors are so well employed. Today, we are going to look at this from a slightly different perspective. Rather than try to convenience other people of your points of view, or correct them with your interpretation of events, ask yourself, “is this really an important issue?”. If its not, then you might what to accept that you have difference views and move on.

The bottom line is that everyone views reality from a different perspective. I might think that we provide interesting articles – you might suffer through them (ok a bad example!!!) The point is simple: Different views of reality can be very taxing. They can suck time, energy, money and even your positive emotions, all thinks you should be using to help achieve your goals. Different views of reality can also lead to arguments between friends, co-workers and partners. So if the issue is not an important one, let it go. You can use your time far more valuably – and probably more successfully - than trying to correct someone else’s view. Cheers Andrew Collings

Healthy: Benefits of Flax Seeds (Yow Woon)

Flax Seeds are one of nature’s most nutritious foods. The more we learn about them, the more benefits we derive. At first glance they look like sesame seeds on hamburger buns, but there is much more than meets the eye. Benefits include: • Cardiovascular benefits and reduction in heart disease • Cholesterol lowering properties • Relief from constipation Just to name a few. You can buy flax seeds from any normal health care shop. Three teaspoons a few times a week will do the trick to make you happier and healthier. You can mix it up in food, or eat it by itself. So next time you are at the shops add it to your grocery list!!!


 Parenting – 5 things parents should know (Marcia Mead)

 You may often feel like you are rushed off your feet and fighting a losing battle. You may also feel like you are failing as parent – it is common for a lot of parents to feel like this (we know we sometimes do). So today, we provide five things you should know about being a parent.

1. You are more influential than you think. Most children (including teenagers) still list their parents as a major influence on their actions. Most children vote the same way and even support the same football team. You can use this to your advantage, and create positive thoughts in your children’s lives.

2. Forget the talk. You can’t just talk the talk with your kids, you have to walk the walk as well. Do what you say you are going to do, or at least explain why you may have had to change your mind. Become involved in your kids lives as best as you can.

3. Kids need you. You may feel like they don’t appreciate you sometimes, but the simple fact is your children (even teenagers) need you. They need you to be there for them, and to give positive complements, and help them when they slip up.

 4. Kids watch you. This goes back to point two. Don’t say one thing and then do the opposite you have to talk the talk and walk the walk!!!

5. Relationships work. Period. Develop relationships with your children, and get to know them on a one to one basis. This will make you easier to approach when they are older.



In other views

We are keen to improve our ezine here at Defeat the Grind and would like to ask our dear readers for advice. We generally look at self help, health and parenting, and write short articles around these topics each week. If you have any feedback or input you would like to add please send an email to enquiry@defeatthegrind.com One lucky entry will receive a brand new 2gb Ipod Nano! So put your thinking caps on! Also a big thank you to all the well wishes after last weeks “other views” where we talked about our hospital experience with our kids! They are all on the mend! Cheers Andrew Collings

To subscribe to our ezine please send an email to ezine@defeatthegrind.com or visit our website at www.defeatthegrind.com

 

 

Time Management – 7 Time Management Tips

 

The purpose of this article is to provide you dear reader, with 7 simple time management tips that will help you organise your life, and stay in control of one of your most important assets, time.

 

• Use a diary:  Simple, people who correctly use diary’s are successful people and in control.  By ruthless, highlight space where you want to get work done, include everything that you do.  If you don’t plan your diary well, your time will plan you.
• Sort out time:  List every activity that you do on your to-do-list, and the list will be your friend.  If you don’t list everything, you won’t be in control and the list will run you.
• List your life:  Don’t just limited to your work or goals, think of everything that you do (within reason!!!).  Most people fail to stick to plans because they don’t allow for everything that they do.
• Organise files:  If you are like me you don’t like filing.  However good filing saves times and limits stress – make it a habit to organise your files.
• Be ruthless:  It is your time, sometimes you can’t please everyone.  Don’t feel bad if you have to occasionally say no.  It is better to do a few tasks well, than to do a lot mediocre.
• Plan calls:  The amount of time you can save if you plan a phone call is huge – you limit your need for follow up calls.
• Attend select meetings:  Lets face it, meetings can zap your time, work out what meetings you really need to attend, and politely decline the others if you are to busy.

 

So there you have it.  Follow these tips and you will be on your way to successful time management.

 

 

 

Health:  Benefits of Broccoli

 

If you have been a long time Defeat the Grind sufferer, you will know that we rave on about the benefits of eating organic greens.  The health benefits – a lot you may not even notice (eg they stop you getting sick) are huge, so it is only natural that we promote them.

 

In this weeks article we are going to focus on the mother load of greens – broccoli.  On a per gram basis, broccoli just about wins hands down against any other vegetable of fruit.  Below are some of the key reasons to enjoy it as often as you can,

 

Key benefits of broccoli

Broccoli has many benefits as it both builds health and has the potential to prevent cancer.  If this isn’t enough, tt also helps to lower the risk of stroke and heart diseases and research is show it also reduce the risk of cataracts as well. It is rich in nutrients, helps fight anaemia and also lessens the risk of spina bifida.

Our favour reason to use broccoli is that it activates the body's own detoxifying enzyme systems.  This means it helps get rid of the bad stuff you have been eating (or smoking).

 

How much broccoli should you eat?

This vegetable is low in calories and can be eaten freely. 170g a day provides over half the daily recommended intake of folate.  So if you can manage it, try and eat it daily.

 

Maximising the benefits of broccoli

Broccoli should only be boiled or steamed very briefly, otherwise it can lose a major portion of its beneficial components (we recommend serving it with lemon juice, olive oil, and a small amount of sea salt and pepper.

 

Nutritional values of broccoli

 

 

So there you have it, one of nature’s super foods…so what are you waiting for?  Go down to the market and get some now!

 

In other Views…

 

Your editor is marveling over the ability of one of the family cats this week.

 

We recently had family move into a new house, who wanted a pet cat.  As we have three cats – one of them not ours – we offered to oblige.

 

We drove the cat around to their house, and carried it to the door.  As the door opened, the cat, obviously very tense, got a huge fright and bolted.  For four days we searched high and low, knocking on doors, and calling out its name all to no avail.

 

At around 11:00pm on Sunday night, the cat turned up back on our doorstep.  We were amazed that it had found its way back – needless to say, we won’t be giving it away anytime soon.

 

It reminded us just how much ability cats have.

 

Last Christmas, one of your editor’s cats managed to catch a Tiger Snake – and bring it into the house! – All without been bitten.

 

For those dear readers outside Australia (which is the majority), we will give you some information about local snakes.  Snakes are generally rated in terms of how venomous they are, as set out below.

·         Brown Snakes and Tiapans (most venomous – you have about one to two hours to live if you don’t get anti venom)

·         Tiger Snake (moderate:  you have around three to four hours)

·         Black Snake (minor – you have around six hours – practically harmless!)

 

The cat caught the snake right behind the head and was carrying it around – it came as quite a surprise to us when we realized that the snake was still alive!

 

Cheers

 

Andrew

 

Hello all,

We have just published our latest ezine at www.defeatthegrind.com and include an article on the importance of musical instruments.

Check out our site and subscribe to our ezine for free to find out more.

Cheers

Andrew Collings

Summary of Ezine

 

Take 10 minutes of your time every week to read Defeat the Grind, and achieve a more successful, healthier and happier you!  We guarantee it!

 

Defeat the Grind provides success orientated people with free weekly self help information on topics which include: goal setting, time management, improving your physical health, nutrition and parenting.

 

The ezine is written and contributed by experts in their field, many of whom have had their work extensively published.  Defeat the Grind also occasionally has guest contributors such as politicians and sports people, who provide us with their views on self-help topics.

 

 

Author’s Bio

 

Andrew Collings is the founder of www.defeatthegrind.com and has over 10 years experience in self help, health and parenting.  Andrew has a Degree and Masters in social science and has also completed post graduate management studies.  During the day, Andrew works as a principal in a consulting firm, and has had numerous pieces of planning work published.  He is married with three children, and currently resides in Melbourne, Australia.  As a hobby he is a juggler and magician.

To subscribe to our free weekly ezine please visit www.defeatthegrind.com or send an email to ezine@defeatthegrind.com

Cheers

Andrew

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.