Friday, May 27, 2022

Creativity And Self-Development: Why We Need To Keep A Diary And 5 Creative Ways To Do It

From kdrtv.co.ke

Although everyone has a smartphone that stores all the notes, keeping a diary is still helpful. There are many reasons why paper notebooks are superior to electronic ones. But most importantly, a day planner is more reliable and interesting, it develops a person creatively and gives emotional peace of mind. Here’s how you can get creative with a day planner and why it’s worth keeping it in the first place.


Bullet Journal

Designer Ryder Carroll created this planning system almost 10 years ago. Thanks to it, you can keep all your most important notes in one place and not get confused. It’s a mix of a day planner, to-do list, and personal diary. Not only is it handy to take notes but also to draw and even to sketch. Here’s how to design Bullet Journal better. 

The first pages are the place for the table of contents. The spread after it contains a six-month plan of the main things to do. Divide the page into three sectors with the names of the months. Then, the planning for the month’s events comes. On the left, write the numbers and days of the week in columns, events, and appointments. On the next page, write goals and plans for which you don’t know the exact dates yet. 

Next, add your daily activities. Under each date, write your important tasks, using a special notation system:

  • A black dot is a current task.
  • A blank circle is an event or meeting.
  • A long dash is a note.
  • An asterisk is an urgent task.
  • An exclamation mark is something important you should remember. 

In Bullet Journal, you can create collections (for example, interesting books or articles you would like to read), keep track of your expenses or track your habits. You can jot down anything you want in here, you can draw and sketch. Just be sure to number the pages and put each section in the table of contents.

The “Autofocus” System

This technique will help you to cope with the chaos in the notes, with it, you will never lose important events and ideas. Any notebook will do for such a diary. Write down all the tasks that first came to your mind. If some are tied to dates, indicate them. Once all the urgent tasks are done, open the notebook and look for the items on the list that you feel most passionate about. Cross off what has already been done. 

You can use this technique to write down your plans, dreams, interesting ideas, and so on. Keeping a diary doesn’t require much time, you don’t have to divide something into categories or memorize different designations. The “autofocus” methodology is suitable for chaotic people whose moods change rapidly, and planning isn’t their best trait.

Diary for Freelancers

This system is designed for freelancers and creative people. Each hour is divided into blocks: 45 minutes for creative work, and the rest of the time is allotted for chores, like washing dishes, cleaning, and laundry. If you work in an office, sort papers or make copies of important documents in these 15 minutes. 

Many tasks are subject to planning, then no extra time will be spent thinking. Mark not just “become a pro in a particular betting strategy”, but as follows: “Monday – gather general information about live betting in Tanzania, Tuesday – pick a particular strategy, Wednesday – watch how experts use it, Thursday – try implementing it yourself in a demo mode”. You should write down the activities that you should devote time to each day. The entries can be supplemented with drawings, colourful strips, or plant ornaments.

List of Things Not to Do

This method will help not to be dispersed on a lot of small ideas and choose only the most important ones. Divide tasks into three lists: important to-do’s, completed, and “not to-do’s.” Include no more than three items in the first section, less important items go to the “not-to-do” list. Write the completed tasks from the first section into the second one. This psychologically increases your productivity. You will see how your tasks are completed. 

This system allows you to figure out which tasks are important and which can be done later. This simple and convenient method is suitable even for beginners. But for those who like to structure everything, this methodology may seem chaotic. The diary can also be supplemented with stickers and pictures.

The 1-3-5 System

In such a diary, you can plan for the day a total of nine things. In the first place, there is the main task of the day (a mandatory one). The next three tasks are placed in order of importance. The remaining five tasks are small tasks to begin with, but only if there is some free time. What is not done is carried over to the next day. 

The advantage of this system is that it is convenient, as such a diary is quick to keep and easy to arrange in any notebook. So you learn to prioritise, even if you have never kept a diary before. This methodology will not suit too busy people. The limit of nine tasks will be too small, they will have to choose for themselves another system.

Why Keep a Diary

Keeping a diary is useful, it calms, and adjusts in a creative way. With it, a person has no fear that all the information will suddenly disappear. After all, gadgets can break, hang up, run out of power, and the information on paper remains unchanged. Knowing this, a person stops being nervous. He knows that important notes are always available to him. 

Affairs, dreams, plans, and even passwords are safer to record on paper. They are kept that way for decades, you can find everything you need even after a long time. It also calms you down and relieves your brain considerably. There’s no overabundance of information, you can easily focus on what’s important. It has been proven that people absorb handwritten information better. 

But one of the main pros of a paper diary is creative development, and room for imagination. In the electronic version, you can’t put a sticker, draw a funny picture or make thematic spreads. In a written diary, you can create and relax.


https://www.kdrtv.co.ke/entertainment/creativity-and-self-development-why-we-need-to-keep-a-diary-and-5-creative-ways-to-do-it/ 

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

I’m a gardening expert – here are ten easy steps to take right now to prep for summer

From thescottishsun.co.uk 

By Anita Markoff

GETTING your garden ready for summer might seem like a daunting task.

But it doesn't have to be, according to an expert.

There are some easy steps you can take right now to make sure your plants are blooming by the time the warmer weather arrives.

And May is the month to make that happen.

Chris Bonnett, founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk, said: "May is the ideal time to begin planting vegetables and mulch your existing plants for their longevity. You can also start to plant the last of your summer bulbs, carry on deadheading and create some natural pest deterrents.

"By aiming to get this prep done now, you can make sure your garden is ready for you to enjoy throughout the summer."

Here are 10 tricks which will make sure your green space is looking in the pink.

Keep a gardening diary

Write down what seeds you are sowing and planting this summer, so you are prepared when autumn rolls around.

Summer is a busy month for jobs around the garden, so keeping notes on what new plants you are growing will help you keep track.

Collect rainwater

Take advantage of any late spring showers by placing a large bucket or water barrel in your garden.

This way you will be able to water your garden easily during the hot months, even if a hosepipe ban gets put in place.

Tidy plant beds

Make sure to deadhead your spring flowers and keep them well watered.

This will mean your flower beds look fresh and have the longest possible life span.

Pansies, for example, can last until midsummer if they are properly maintained.

The expert says it's good to keep a diary of the seeds you're showing
3
The expert says it's good to keep a diary of the seeds you're showing

Grow some tomatoes

Keep some young tomato plants in the sunniest corners of your house before planting them in your garden at the end of May.

They will ripen just in time for the first barbecue of summer.

Quirky looking ones like the Costoluto Fiorentino can add some variety to your views.

Mow the lawn

If you have not started taking care of the grass yet, May is a good opportunity to tackle it before the hotter months.

Patience is key though, and it is best to gradually lower your blades of grass over the summer to give the garden a smooth finish.

If you attempt to cut it all in one go, it may turn out uneven.

Plant hanging baskets

If you want to add a spot of colour to your garden in time for summer, May is an ideal time to pick out types of flowers to compliment your space.

This is also a good solution if you have a limited amount of space to grow your blooms.

Open your greenhouse on warm days

Let some fresh air in to your crops to prevent them from suffocating on days when the sun is shining and greenhouse temperatures start to rise.

Make natural deterrents for pests

If you want pest deterrent that is poison free, there are two good natural solutions which will protect your growing plants.

You can scoop the flesh out of a melon or grapefruit, and leave it near your buds.

Slugs will be more attracted to the fruit than the flora, and you will be able to spot them munching the next day and remove them from your garden.

You can also buy natural wool pellets and place them around your plants as a barrier.

After they are watered they will expand and become an itchy deterrent insects will not want to go near.

Plant bulbs

May is the last chance to plant any bulbs, with warmer weather so close by.

If you want to have summer flowering plants in your garden, like gladioli, then prioritise planting these at the start of the month so they bloom in time.

Plant vegetables

May is a perfect month for sowing.

The expert suggests planting radish, cabbage, broad beans, beetroots, or swedes.

This should produce some excellent salads that you can enjoy in your little paradise in the sun.

It's the last chance to get bulbs planted
3
It's the last chance to get bulbs planted
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/fabulous/8826190/ten-tips-garden-before-summer/