Monthly Features
Voi As Seen on TV! By Tiffany Liew - Monday, July 12, 2010
A Secret of the successful By Brittany West - Saturday, March 06, 2010
How to Become an early riser…
Think of some of the most successful people Henry Ford, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison. What do they all have in common? They rise with the sun and this is no coincidence! One reason why waking up early is correlated with success is that you get more work done in the morning and that’s just one benefit.
Sounds good in theory right? But how do you build the habbit of waking up early without feeling like oscar the grouch or at best desperately wanting to hit the snooze button? Well aside from waving a steaming hot cup of java under your nose, this post will give you 12 simple tips that will start you on your way to becoming part of the early riser club.
1. "Wake up At the Same Time Daily. Like any good routine you must commit to a schedule. You’ll become an early riser by waking up at the exact same time for 30 days on. You’ll be less likely to sleep in and might even wake up right before your alarm goes off. Here’s how to get started:
- Wake Up At The Same Time. If you have problems catching sleep, lying awake at night while feeling tired, start by waking up at the same time daily. Even if it’s late. This will stabilize your circadian rhythm.
- Wake Up Earlier. I recommend at least 2 hours before leaving for work. I wake up at 6am to start working at 8am. Many early risers wake up at 5am or even 4am. Nap for 30mins around noon if you’re tired.
- Don’t Gradually Wake Up Earlier. You’re body gets used to waking up early fast. Don’t wake up 15mins earlier every couple of days until you wake up when you want to. Go directly for your goal wake up time.
2. Set Your Alarm. Use something loud, but not annoying. I use the alarm on my cellular phone (off at night) because I don’t like music, a radio or a buzzer. Use whatever works for you.
Put your alarm out of arm reach so you can’t hit the snooze to sleep in. You must have to get out of bed to stop your alarm.
3. Jump Out of Bed When Your Alarm Goes Off. The longer it takes you to get up, the more likely you’ll try to sleep in. And hitting the snooze to lay in your bed longer only makes it harder. Get up the first time your alarm goes off.
Stop Rationalizing. Don’t lay in bed thinking of reasons to sleep longer. Get out of bed even if you feel tired. You need consistency to build the habit of waking up early. Don’t make exceptions.
Stop Snoozing. Sleeping in for 10mins leads to another 10mins. Before you know it you’ve slept 2h more. And because you broke your sleep any extras are low quality and can make you even more tired.
Leave The Room. Have a warm sweater or a bathrobe ready if it’s cold season. Then leave the room and don’t come back. Ignore the voice in your head that tells you to go back to sleep in.
4. Get Light Exposure. Light stimulates dopamine production which increases energy, motivation & productivity. Lack of light causes winter blues & tiredness. Unfortunately home/office lights aren’t bright enough. You need sunlight.
Open Window Blinds. This gets you sunlight exposure when you wake up and during the day. If you work in an office: open the window blinds and place your desk so your eyes get sunlight exposure.
Walk Outside. A 30 min walk in the morning sunlight will stimulate the production of dopamine. Do not wear sunglasses: UV is low at sunset. Your eyes will be safe unless you look directly into the sun.
Use a Sun Box. If your place doesn’t have big windows to let sunlight in or if it’s winter/cloudy or if you can’t get outside in the morning, then use a light box like this one for 30mins after you wake up.
"All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast."
~John Gunther
~John Gunther
5. Have a Reason To Wake Up Early. Use your extra time in the morning to do things that matter. Not for surfing the Internet or doing other tasks that won’t make a difference in the long-term. Here’s what I recommend:
Eat Breakfast. Key to building healthy eating habits: you’ll be less likely to eat junk food the rest of the day if you eat a healthy breakfast. Read the benefits of breakfast and build the habit of eating on waking up.
Cook Food. Preparing your own meals gives you total control over their ingredients and thus over your results. Prepare breakfast and your food for the day on waking up. This takes about 1 hour.
Exercise. You won’t miss workouts if you train in the morning: whatever comes up, you’ve already trained. Wait 1hour before lifting weights. This gives your spine time to dehydrate and lowers risks of lower back injury.
6. Write Your Goals Daily. Most people don’t have goals. And those who set some forget about them within weeks. By writing down your goals daily, you’ll never forget them and they’ll be your reason for waking up early.
Set Goals. If you don’t know what you want: start with what you don’t want. Your goal is the opposite. Aim high, choose 1 goal and be specific. Example: “I don’t want to be fat” “I choose to have 10% body fat”.
Know Why You Want It. Avoiding pain/frustration is the best motivator. Compare the pain of waking up early to staying fat/skinny, experiencing humiliation as a result and dying young because of your unhealthy diet.
Write Your Goals 2x/Day. On waking up and before going to bed. Use them as affirmations (read Beyond Positive Thinking): “I choose to easily wake up at 6am”, “I choose to eat breakfast and exercise each morning”.
7. Build a Morning Ritual. This daily routine will get you strong for your day by setting the right context (read Power of Full Engagement) and is your reason to wake up early. Mix tips 1 to 6 and do them daily in the same order. Example:
Wake up at 6am. Drink water. Open window blinds & windows.
Eat breakfast and cook your food for day.
Review your goals and write them down.
Go the gym, come back, eat, shower, get ready for work.
8. Commit For 30 Days. It takes about 30 days to build a new habit. Commit yourself to wake up at the exact same time for at least 30 days — weekends included. Consistency is the only way to build a habit.
Use Willpower. You’ll meet lots of internal resistance during the first 10 days. Use willpower to get through these. It gets easier once you begin experiencing the benefits, which is after about 20 days.
Focus on 1 Habit. Changing many things at once usually leads nowhere. Start with waking up early, eating breakfast and exercising. Once you do this consistently for +30 days, you can build another habit.
Be Consistent. Self-discipline isn’t something you’re born with. You build it. Waking up early will build self-discipline which you’ll be able to use to build other habits. It starts here. Don’t skip a day. No matter what.
"The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night's sleep"
~E. Joseph Cossman
9. Go To Bed When You’re Sleepy. How much sleep you need depends on your activity levels, sleep quality, diet, … But you’ll most likely need 8h sleep/night on average. Which means some days 6h, some days 9h.
That’s why going to bed at the same time each day won’t work. Focus on wake up time, not bedtime. Listen to your body and go to bed when you feel sleepy. Avoid anything that prevents you to feel tiredness. Tips:
Get Downtime Pre-bed. Stop working, internet surfing & watching TV 1h before you go to bed. Read a book and go to sleep when you can’t read without losing concentration. Or do meditations and breathing exercises. If you think a lot in bed: write it all down so it gets out of your head.
Set Bedtime Deadline. Staying up late makes it hard to wake up early. You’ll usually end up sleeping in and quit. Set a bedtime deadline and go to bed at that time even if you’re not tired yet. No matter what.
Stop Trying to Sleep If You Can’t. If it takes you longer than 10mins to fall asleep, you’re not tired enough. Stop trying and keep yourself busy. Read a book or do some meditations. Don’t stress about it.
10. Get Quality Sleep. Deep sleep & REM are quality sleep. You’ll wake up more easily, need less sleep and have more energy if you have uninterrupted, quality sleep. Tips to improve your sleep quality:
Stop Stimulants. Coffee, alcohol & nicotine mess with your sleep. Drink green tea instead of coffee, water instead of alcohol. Stop smoking.
Avoid Big Meals Pre-bed. They’ll stress your digestive system and lower your sleep quality. Have a small pre-bed snack. Don’t wake up at night to eat: you won’t lose muscle, starvation mode is a myth.
Avoid Drinking Pre-bed. Waking up to go to the toilet interrupts your sleep and lowers its quality. Stop drinking water 2h prior bedtime.
Avoid Exercise Pre-bed. Exercising less than 3 hours prior bedtime can keep you awake. Schedule your workout earlier.
Set Right Conditions. Good mattrass & pillow. Cool, dark & silent room (wear ear plugs & a sleeping mask if you have to). No electronics.
Check the Power Sleep Program for a definitive guide on how to improve your sleep quality so you feel more energized & productive while sleeping less.
"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body."
~ Joseph Addison ~
~ Joseph Addison ~
11. Make Yourself Accountable. “If people commit orally or in writing, they’ll be more likely to honor that commitment. Even if motivation is removed after they’ve agreed, they’ll continue to honor the agreement.” – Robert Cialdini, Influence.
This is because you tend to care about other people’s opinion and don’t want to be embarassed for failing. Although I advise to stop caring about what people think, here’s where it can be useful.
Tell family or close friends you’re going to wake up early for 30 days.
Make a deal that if you don’t wake up early each day for 30 days you’ll do something you don’t want to do (like writing them a 1000$ check).
Report to them daily for 30 days: call, text or email them. And if you skip once, stick to the deal you’ve agreed on.
If you’re thinking: “I’d never do that”, that’s because you know that making this kind of commitment will force you to follow through. Proof this works.
"I love the sweet smell of dawn -
our unique daily opportunity to smell time,
to smell opportunity -
each morning being, a new beginning."
~Emme Woodhull-Bäche
our unique daily opportunity to smell time,
to smell opportunity -
each morning being, a new beginning."
~Emme Woodhull-Bäche
12. Stop Believing The Myths. I always thought I was an evening person. As a student I woke up past noon unless it was school. Then I started to wake up earlier to go the gym, but anything before 8AM was still killing me.
About a year ago I built the habit of waking up at 6AM because I realized that you get more done if you wake up early. I’ve been waking up consistently at 6AM since. And now I see that the whole “morning person” thing is a myth.
There’s nothing like a “morning” or “night person”. Human bodies can adapt to anything. You just have to be consistent to get used to waking up early.
Start tomorrow. Don’t deviate. You’ll become an early riser within 30 days."
Event: Breakfast on the Bridge By Brittany West - Wednesday, October 21, 2009
“Get ready to pack your rug and picnic basket as the bridge deck is transformed into a dazzling and unique picnic location. Regardless of whether you're one of the 6,000 take this opportunity to picnic with friends and family and enjoy Sydney's great lifestyle.”
Melbourne Cup events in Sydney! By Brittany West - Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The Grace Hotel
Melbourne Cup 2009 at The Grace Hotel
From 12 noon. Price $79.
Enjoy a 3 hour, 3 course buffet luncheon with prizes for the best dressed man and woman.
Royal Randwick Racecourse
Dracon Melbourne Cup Day.
Gates open 9am. Price: $35.
Giant screens, trackside marquees and bookmakers make this a very popular annual party. Splash out for a bar spot, terrace or dining room.
Rosehill Gardens
Gates open 11am. Price: $12.
There will be picnic races, live entertainment, and you can book your own spot on the lawn.
Newport Arms Hotel
From 10am. Price: $85.
The hotel overlooks the pristine waters of Pittwater. They'll crank up the outdoor cinema, and the annual Ravish Fashion Parade runs until the horses set off at 3pm.
Wildfire Restaurant
Melbourne Cup Lunch.
12 noon-4pm. Price: $149.
Moet & Chandon Garden Party.
12 noon-4pm. Price: $99.
Grab a cocktail and laze on the Harbour Terrace at the Garden Party before catching the event live on a big screen, or opt for a lavish sit-down lunch.
The Ivy
From 11am. Price: $0-$95.
Downstairs is open-house with $6 beers, sausage sizzle, sweeps and screens, while the den will offer canapés, bubbles and beer on the lawn. Stay back for the post-race party.
Café Sydney
From 12 noon. Price: $150.
Melbourne has the race, but it doesn't have views like this. The charming and always fashionable Deborah Hutton will host.
Mosaic Restaurant, Westin Sydney
From 12 noon. Price: $55-$129.
Mosaic is on the level one balcony under the glass atrium of GPO. A seafood buffet, large flat screens, sweeps and lucky table prizes will make this one a winner.
The Dolphin Hotel
From 12.30pm.
The race will be projected on an entire wall, viewable from the dining room and the mezzanine.
Astral Bar & Restaurant
From 12 noon. Price: $125-$135.
Slip upstairs from the betting action of the casino to Astral to experience views of the city and a specially designed menu by Sean Connolly.
Rockpool Bar and Grill
From 12 noon.
Named Time Out Sydney's best new restaurant for 2009, Neil Perry's new venture is set in an old 1930s art deco bank with sky-high ceilings and marble columns.
Exchange Hotel
Melbourne Cup at The Exchange.
Price: $30-$65. The Members Enclosure upstairs will host a sumptuous 3 course lunch, while the Lawn Party downstairs will offer a tasty BBQ.
Cargo Bar
Melbourne Cup Luncheon and Official AJC After Party.
3 course lunch overlooking the harbour with race coverage, TAB facilities, fashion and sweepstakes prizes and The Cuban Brothers live.
Glass Brasserie
Melbourne Cup Lunch.
From 12 noon. Price: $145. Comedian Adam Spencer hosts the event with an elegant 3 course lunch designed by Luke Mangan, a fashion parade from Fernando Frisoni and lots of prizes to be won.
The Sebel Pier One
Melbourne Cup Lunch.
1-4pm. Price: $89. Seafood buffet lunch at the Front Restaurant with race coverage, sweepstakes and prizes for best dressed.
Quadrant Restaurant
Melbourne Cup 2009.
From 12.30pm. Price: $119. 5 course degustation menu with wines from Domaine Chandon. Private group bookings also welcome in the ECQ Bar.
GPO Sydney
2009 Melbourne Cup at GPO Sydney.
From 12 noon. GPO’s biggest ever Melbourne Cup with 5 dining options, fashion parades from top designers, sweeps, prizes and a big screen.
Four Seasons Hotel
Variety’s 24th Melbourne Cup Lunch.
From 12 noon. Price: $195. Watch the race on the big screens, place a bet in the private TAB, try your luck at the Casino Royale and enjoy a 3 course lunch with live entertainment.
Q Station
Melbourne Cup Lunch.
From 12 noon. Price: $99. Enjoy an exclusive buffet lunch in the Governor Bourke Ballroom with live music, fashion and sweepstakes.
Sir Stamford Circular Quay
Melbourne Cup Lunch.
From 12 noon. Price: $125. Seafood buffet lunch with specially priced drinks, fashion parades, fun sweepstakes, jazz music and live race coverage.
Rydges Parramatta
Melbourne Cup Function.
Extensive seafood buffet in the Triple Crown Ballroom or restaurants with TAB facilities, big screens, sweepstakes, live music and Fashions on the Field.
Sydney Glass Island cruises and events.
Sydney Glass Island
Melbourne Cup 09.
12.30-4.30pm. Price: $130. Cruise around the harbour with all the glitz and glamour of the races with a buffet, drinks package, sweepstakes, Calcutta and fashion prizes.
Vagabond Cruises
Melbourne Cup Day Sydney Harbour Cruise.
1-4pm. Price: $70. 3 hour cruise with buffet lunch, live race coverage, sweepstakes and prizes for the best and most outrageously dressed.
Bundeena Bowling Club
Melbourne Cup Day Luncheon.
From 12 noon. Champagne on arrival and a buffet lunch with sweeps, prizes and raffles for the glamorously dressed.
Hughendon Hotel
Melbourne Cup Lunch.
12 noon-3pm. Price: $60. The champagne will be flowing on arrival with a delicious 3 course lunch, sweeps, prizes, mystery trifecta tickets and TAB facilities available at the Light Brigade around the corner.
Sydney Glass Island
Melbourne Cup 09.
12.30-4.30pm. Price: $130. Cruise around the harbour with all the glitz and glamour of the races with a buffet, drinks package, sweepstakes, Calcutta and fashion prizes.
Vagabond Cruises
Melbourne Cup Day Sydney Harbour Cruise.
1-4pm. Price: $70. 3 hour cruise with buffet lunch, live race coverage, sweepstakes and prizes for the best and most outrageously dressed.
Bundeena Bowling Club
Melbourne Cup Day Luncheon.
From 12 noon. Champagne on arrival and a buffet lunch with sweeps, prizes and raffles for the glamorously dressed.
Hughendon Hotel
Melbourne Cup Lunch.
12 noon-3pm. Price: $60. The champagne will be flowing on arrival with a delicious 3 course lunch, sweeps, prizes, mystery trifecta tickets and TAB facilities available at the Light Brigade around the corner.
Not sure what to wear for the big day click here for tips and tricks on how to look your best this Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Look your best this Melbourne Cup Carnival By Brittany West - Wednesday, October 14, 2009
And they’re racing! As we gallop towards one of the biggest events of the year, it becomes increasingly more important to secure that perfect Carnival outfit.
Events kick off this coming Saturday, Oct 3 with the Melbourne cup carnival preview day featuring the turnbull stakes, with the main event to follow on the first Tuesday of November. This event has become a highlight of the year for all Australians and visitors alike since 1861, with race day becoming a public holiday in Victoria in 1877.
Hundreds of thousands of people gather at the track in excited anticipation of the finish. Not to mention the prizes for Australia’s most affluent horse-race, with the owner of the winning horse receiving AUD $5.5 million for last years race, and the 18 carat gold cup itself carrying a wopping value of AUD $125,000.
Not everyone comes for the racing though, many people attend for the carnival atmosphere and women flock for the chance to see and be seen in their one-off carnival outfit. “Fashions on the Field” has become one of, if not thee most important fashion event of the year, definitely accomplishing it’s job of attracting women to the sport of racing. Due to the overwhelming success of the event, it has also become a national fashion competition between the states of Australia, awarding winners with large cash prizes in many categories including “best dressed man” and “best dressed women.”
Look your best by the track or at your Melbourne Cup luncheon with unique fashions from Italy and rest assured you will be the only one in that beautiful Armani dress, Cavalli suit or sleek Gucci shoes!
Dress in Dreams, bringing Italy to Australia! By Brittany West - Friday, October 02, 2009
Dress in Dreams is happy to present the “Make up me a star” event opening October 13 at this years fourth Edition of the Rome International Film Festival. The exhibition focuses attention on a world left unexplored yet so important, delving into the role make-up artist’s play in the worlds classic films. “This project has not only the ambition to create a glamorous moment in Rome. Its mission is to point out the importance of an essential profession of the silver screen: the make-up artist. The one that turns a beautiful woman into a diva.”
Out and out Oscar sets, will captivate guests, while having the opportunity to watch the unpublished videos and backstage photos. They will see how famous actors/actresses are turned into the characters of movies like the recent success Australia and Moulin Rouge, directed by renowned Buz Luhrmann.
Just imagine making your way back stage at the Hotel Bernini Bristol where renowned make-up artists work their magic on you, before attending the gala dinner on the terrace of Museo Carlo Bilotti, for the exhibition’s inauguration. Being welcomed by Vice-Mayor Mauro Cutrufo, who is reviving Rome through cinema with renowned director Franco Zeffirelli. Zeffirelli, has teamed with world acclaimed tenor, Andrea Boccelli and screen siren, Monica Belluci to present: a beautiful video featuring the eternal city’s best-loved tourist spots. The Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona while also, showing contemporary Rome at its best.
Elisabetta Cantone of Dress in Dreams in Association with “assessorato comunale al turismo di Roma” (local Rome tourist board) and Gennaro Autore of Voi, are planning to present a little piece of Rome right here in Australia.
Stay tuned for more information or visit www.dressindreams.com
A Library in Your Pocket By Brittany West - Sunday, July 19, 2009
How do you store 1,500 books in your pocket?
I didn’t think it was possible until, I met the “Kindle”.
It is easy to see how our technological world is constantly evolving, TV’s are getting thinner, computers are getting smaller and walkmans are the equivalent to a tie-dyed t-shirt and the ever notorious, “mullet”.
Every day there is a new gadget or must have and we slowly become dependent on these creature comforts. I recently came face to face with just how reliant, when the power went out for a few hours. I was unable to get ready, make breakfast, check my emails, and watch the morning news. I was literally left in the dark, so I turned to the only thing that didn’t need power to occupy my time, my collection of novels.
I have always loved reading and one of my favorite aspects is that old book smell. There is nothing better than, curling up by the fire, listening to the rain with warm tea and comforting scent. So I am a little bit torn when it comes to Amazon’s “Kindle” which quickly become a world phenomenon after Oprah raved about her favorite new toy.
The Kindle hands down has an array of amazing features. First off, you can have a whole library of books in one small little gadget (up to 1500), doing for books what PC’s have done for filing. Second you can have nearly any title in your hands within 60 seconds, for a fraction of what it would cost you in book stores.
So this possess the question will novels, magazines and the “old book smell” soon be extinct along with walkmans, VHS videos and T.V antennas? And can we get used to curling up with a kindle and a good e-book in front of the fire?
Free the Children By Brittany West - Sunday, July 19, 2009
Have you ever wondered, how your lifestyle, the way you vote, shop and think effects your community, your society and your world as a whole? Can one small act today create something much more meaningful tomorrow? Is there a way you can connect with others who have the same desire to make a difference and turn your thoughts of a brighter future into a reality?
For those of you whom like myself are avid “Oprah” watchers have no doubt heard the names Craig and Marc Kielburger. These two young men have accomplished something extraordinary in a relatively short period of time, with the creation of “Me to We” and “Free the Children. Me to We encourages youth worldwide to rally together, taking action at home to reach out to their peers in impoverished Countries.
With the realization that the youth of the world possessed awe-inspiring passion to help those less fortunate, but often lacked the practical tools to turn their desires into a reality. The Kielburger brothers, Formed “Leaders Today.” Providing education, training, curriculum, overseas trips and resources to empower youth to take action and band together to bring to life their idealistic vision for a better tomorrow. In no time, schools and health care have been brought to life, meanwhile offering volunteers an eye opening experience and opportunity to connect with communities overseas in places like Kenya, Ecuador, China and more.
The efforts of “Me to We,” go to benefit Marc and Craig’s “Free the Children” foundation bringing the wonders of education to over 50,000 children every day, through over 500 new schools. Hundreds of communities have benefited from its water and sanitation projects, medical resources and alternative income programs.
Free the Children’s success is fuelled by the passion and dedication of millions of youth all around the globe, teaching us that one person can make a vast difference when given the right tools and the inspiration of like minded individuals. It is so incredible to think that by a small donation from so many people all around the world, a school was built, an actual building. What a feeling it would be to have a hands on roll in building that school, be able to touch the dirt, see the children that would attend and the way your efforts would change their lives. “Me to We” offers the chance to not only financially, but physically assist in the building of new schools and water projects.
For more information on “Me to We” and how you can become a part of this international movement, visit www.metowee.com
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