Posts Tagged ‘Workaholics’
New Year’s Resolutions: Make ’em & Keep ’em!By Admin - January 1st, 2014 |
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Written By: Kayalvizhi J. A new Year is a time to make some life changes. We often set out new goals, plans and resolutions. However, most New Year’s resolutions fail – in fact almost 85% of resolutions fail. Here are some foolproof ways to help ensure that your resolutions stay active past January end. 1. Write it Down. Write down your New Year’s resolution somewhere visible. When’s it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind. The best place to put your resolution list is some place you look at daily. Beside your calendar or on your fridge. We often are very optimistic in the beginning of the year and believe we will do many things, but as the year moves on, we lose our motivation and forget our goals. That’s why it’s important to write down your goals somewhere visible and remind yourself often of them. 2. Go Public. Tell a few of your friends about your goals and help them keep tabs on your progress. You are more likely to complete a task when you feel accountable for it – and if you told all your friends you were going to something, chances are you would feel motivated to complete it to avoid shame. Plus, when your friends see you, if they keep asking you how your project to paint a portrait is going, you may actually start working on it! 3. Baby Steps. When making resolutions, we often write down unrealistic goals. The more realistic we make them, and the smaller we break the goal into, the more likely we can actually achieve our goals. Make your goals into workable and achievable goals. Don’t make “lose weight” a goal. Instead, a workable goal is “lose 0.5 lbs a week by working out X times a week.” It’s more defined and approachable than a general goal. Plus, it’s important to write out how you will achieve your goal. The more clearly defined your goal and method is, the more likely it will happen. 4. Give Deadlines. Give yourself a deadline of when you want to achieve something by. When you have a deadline, you are more likely to work toward it because it will seem more concrete. Without deadlines, your goal stays abstract and is always pushed to tomorrow’s to do list. Don’t set everything for January, spread them along the year so that you continue to work towards your goals. 5. Reward Yourself. Reward your success. Be proud of yourself and reward your successes. Everyone needs a pat on their back once in awhile – and why not be the one to give yourself one? If you feel good about your successes, you will be more likely to continue to succeed and be motivated. |
Thangachi’s Corner: Seven Steps to AcceptanceBy Admin - November 6th, 2013 |
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November 6, 2013 CTYA’s Blog has started a new Feature every other Wednesday called “Thangachi’s Corner”. “Thangachi’s Corner” is a comfortable space to discuss relatable topics and issues relevant to the Canadian Tamil youth of today. For more information about this feature or to suggest a topic, feel free to e-mail us at blogs@ctya.org! Written By: Keerthana Raveendran Well, it’s that time of year again. Applications. Maybe you’re applying to grad school. You’re rolling around your last year of undergrad and are considering further education. Maybe you’re applying to a professional program after a year of well-deserved break. Or maybe you’re still in high school considering your options and revelling in the notion that the world is still your oyster. But regardless of your position in the academic hierarchy, the application process is no fun. It’s long and tiresome, causing stress, inducing anxiety, and continuing to plague the mind until the moment you realize you’re sick of looking over your personal statement for the umpteenth time. Instead, you just send in the application before you change your mind or lose it, whichever comes first. But no fear, friend. Seeing as I’ve only filled out about twenty applications in the past two years, allow me to share my wisdom so that you may at least retain a fraction more sanity than I did when I went through the same process a while back. Ready? Here we go: 1) Start early. If your deadline is in December and you’re only now thinking that perhaps you’d like to see yourself in a Master’s program next September, you’re probably too late. Or at least, too late to have a reasonably calm and enjoyable application process (though, to be fair, you will be hard-pressed to find a calm and enjoyable application process anywhere). |
Thangachi’s Corner: Early Birds and Night OwlsBy Admin - October 23rd, 2013 |
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October 23, 2013 CTYA’s Blog has started a new Feature every other Wednesday called “Thangachi’s Corner”. “Thangachi’s Corner” is a comfortable space to discuss relatable topics and issues relevant to the Canadian Tamil youth of today. For more information about this feature or to suggest a topic, feel free to e-mail us at blogs@ctya.org! Written By: Keerthana Raveendran Yep. It’s that time of year again. Midterms. Ah, midterms, characterized by not only their long nights and early mornings, but by the dependency of coffee they force on us as well, reducing us to a state of sleep deprivation and binge study-eating to make up the difference. The midterm season has begun. Some of us, we’re night owls. We chug our caffeinated beverages and stay awake until the early hours of morning, finding progress in the still quiet of the dark once everyone is asleep. We set goals for ourselves and use sleep as a bribery tool, taunting our tired consciousness with the claim that the eyes can finally rest after one more chapter. Progress is a path to blissful reward. And then there are early birds. We rise with the sun, or at least we claim to; we’re usually awake well before that golden orb makes its way across the horizon. We too work in the still quiet of the dark, but effective studying usually comes as a result of the sleep already sacrificed—If I’m going to wake up at this ungodly hour, I cannot let my precious sleep die in vain. Progress is then a valiant gesture avenging lost rest. There is much controversy regarding whether it is more effective to be a night owl or an early bird, and while I can’t speak accurately to that, I can say this: seven to eight hours of sleep is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. And it’s probably in your best interest to claim them. While it may seem more productive to lay a few hours of sleep to the wayside in favour of memorizing another chapter, you’re actually missing out on a great deal of potential for consolidation. Let’s take a look at why that is. The sleep cycle is divided into two chunks—a period of non-REM sleep that is subsequently divided into four stages; and a period of REM, or Random Eye Movement sleep—this is when all of our dreams are constructed. While all stages of the sleep cycle have a role in the development of our brains, Stage II of that non-REM sleep is the one you’re going to want to get. It effectively puts all those hours you spent cramming to use. As it turns out, this stage consolidates long term declarative memories—that is, it reinforces the memorization of facts and figures. This way, when you wake up, you actually remember everything you learnt the night before, rather than feel as though your learning memory slipped away into unconsciousness the moment you opened your eyes. So subjecting yourself to three hours of sleep before an exam? Probably not a good idea. You may find yourself waking up in a panic and reviewing your notes yet again. Sleep gives you an edge in that it helps you rely more on your long-term memory than your short-term memory, which is only going to help you in the long run. During midterms, and the period of finals that follow all too soon, you are going to be doing a lot of studying. You will read a lot. You will have no social life. You will probably cry a little. But try not to sacrifice sleep if it can be avoided. After all, it is the furthest from being a waste of time. Now that that’s over with, go ahead and take that as an excuse to take a nap. Stage II of the sleep cycle and all. About the Author: Keerthana Raveendran, known by her flock as Thangachi, is an aspiring author with an eye for the eccentricities of the Tamil Canadian culture. As an unemployed student with a mountain load of student debt, she is currently broke, so you will probably be able to relate to her. As a writer, she has a special kind of wit that is present on the page and absent during the awkward conversations you tend have with her in person. Thangachi is currently a Masters student studying English at York University. Read More by Keerthana! |
Senthamil Things: Correlation Between Wealth and Behavioural EthicsBy Admin - July 30th, 2013 |
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By: Senthamil Stefi A collaborative series of studies done by the University of California, Berkley and the University of Toronto revealed an undeniable truth that many may consider to be common sense. However, when looking deeper, the conclusion definitely does not appear to be that easily conclusive as one would assume, as there are two angles to look at. The upper and lower classes of society have quite the significant differences that are notably showcased openly. The lower class have far less resources, higher threats and more uncertainty in comparison to the higher class of people. Thus, it can be assumed that the lower class would practice higher unethical behaviour in order to adapt to the society and overcome their distinct disadvantages. On the other hand it can be perceived that the higher class practice a sense of disposable ethics as they have an abundance of resources and freedom, and due to their general self-centered tendencies. Having both perspectives laid out, studies were carried out by both universities. It was found that laws were more likely to be broken by the upper class than the lower class. They also had a higher tendency to make unethical choices such as lying in negotiations, cheating to win, and endorsing unethical behaviour in the workplace. It was concluded by the mediators of these studies that the unethical behaviour by the upper class can be accounted for by their favourable attitude towards greed, the root of their self-centered nature. Now lets look at the context of greed a little bit deeper. The teachings of philosophers, Plato and Aristotle can be pulled up. They outline how greed can actually be perceived to allow for immortality… to be invincible. This means that the self-centered nature is a way to preserve one’s life. This desire seems to be like the “survival of the fittest” if you ask me – Charles Darwin’s natural selection theory. But instead of it being “natural”, it is a selection theory that is manipulated by mankind in order to allow for the wealthiest and most powerful beings to survive beyond the far less fortunate. This is actually pretty sad, but very true. To come to think of it…it’s as if movies that display such nature are just mocking the poignant reality… the undeniable truths behind Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby… But remember… this is just a generalization… so there are many that lie as exceptions to this so-called theory of reality. |
“Fake it ‘til you make it”By Admin - July 18th, 2013 |
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Written By: Senthamil Stefi I came across a very interesting article yesterday that heavily contradicted the ideologies I built over the course of time while growing up. Who would have thought that being boastful was actually a good thing? According to researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, the art of bragging can actually bring you farther in life than others. Basically, the whole notion of “fake it ‘til you make it” can ironically work in your favour. You would think that being humble would make you a more likeable person and further you in a corporate ladder… however, being humble may also cause people to over look your skill sets and choose another candidate that “seems” to be more skilled than yourself. Overconfidence essentially gives you a rise in social stature, an image that you attain through a figment of imagination or the perception you have of yourself or of your future self. This in turn causes those around you to believe that perception and believe that you are far more than what you actually are. Not only will this put your competition at a disadvantage but will also shine light on you and cause a superior to notice you out of a flock of sheep. Goals that in any ordinary case that would be unattainable would become within arm’s reach. So in conclusion, cockiness actually interestingly has quite the high return. |
Dear Younger SelfBy Admin - July 17th, 2013 |
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Written By: Dhabisha Kohilanathan As the two hands on the clock tick away slowly and steadily, we cannot help but utter the infamous “time flies by fast” phrase. One day, we find ourselves working long hours and being oblivious of time. The next day, we find our lonely selves staring straight into a wall, suddenly conscious of time. During this reflective moment, we lose our ignorance towards time and ponder over our future, our minds becoming filled with tasks, goals, and dreams. However, the other side of our brain also dozes off to the past, pondering over memories and replaying the good old days. Sometimes, when I reflect upon my past and compare it to my present time, I cannot help but mutter to myself: “I wish I had known/did this when I was younger.” As much as we cannot go back and change our past, the change we wish to become lies in our very own hands. Over the past years, I have grasped onto five ideal principles that have allowed my mind and my soul to become more wise and appreciative of life. 1) Do not give your ear to others’ negative words As cliché as it may sound, do not care about what others think about you. 2) Always be strong Life is not simple. In fact, it is a long learning process that is filled with spontaneous smiles and tears. However, even if your feet slip into large potholes, it is important to always help yourselves up. As soon as you let your guard down, there are people who are ready to take advantage of your weak state. Being brave in your mind and soul will allow you to feel more positive and will scare your enemies away! 3) Be true to those who are true to you As you grow with age, you realize that it is not about how many friends you have, but how genuine your friends are. |
Ace that Exam!By Editor - December 3rd, 2012 |
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Written By: Education and Career Development Council of Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance Stress is a huge part of university and college life, especially during exam time. But it is something that we all have to learn to deal with in life. This may shock some, but stress does NOT have to take over your life during finals. Here are just a few tips that may help you ace all your exams without you dreading your life: |
Recommended Read: ‘Five top tips to starting a successful business’By Editor - October 4th, 2012 |
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In a world that is constantly changing, entrepreneurship is something that is much needed. Many of our Tamil youth have started their own businesses, and continue to come out with creative business ideas. We found an article written by Richard Branson, Founder at Virgin Group on Linken to help the latter: Five top tips to starting a successful business. |
Eat That Frog!By Editor - March 29th, 2012 |
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Written by: CTYA Blogs Team With such beautiful weather, and exams, it’s very easy to be distracted and procrastinate. Brian Tracy’s book, Eat That Frog provides some great lessons to stop procrastinating and get more done in less time. To help you, we’ve pulled together some tips from his book to help you stop procrastinating and start producing! |
Love Life. Be Happy.By Editor - February 12th, 2012 |
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Written by: Sahana K. Happiness depends on ourselves, we owe it to ourselves to make ourselves happy because we all deserve happiness. I hope these tips will help you be happier all around. 🙂 |
