You deep cleaned your space only last Sunday. However, it’s been just a few days and your living space is back to its messy appearance already. You feel exasperated with yourself and your living habits. More than that, you feel demotivated. You wonder, what’s the use of cleaning ever, if all of it has to get back to its untidy state anyways?&nbsp; If the above resonates with you, then you are not alone. Your living space consists of the place where you sleep, eat, work, study, and freshen up. And the desire for constantly maintaining a clean living space is shared by many — students, working professionals, homemakers, laboratory assistants, parents to toddlers, hostellers, shopkeepers, so on and so forth. However, having a living space that always appears clean is not as complicated a task as it seems. While there are a lot of extra activities that can be done, constantly maintaining cleanliness boils down to some simple habits that integrate smoothly into your daily routine and make all the difference. Out of the various routines, there are 3 essentials that summarize the whole process. These essentials are as given below :&nbsp; <h2>Keep What You Need</h2> Human beings are no less than magpies or crows. We have an inherent fondness for collecting trinkets, often as a way to express personal interests, preserve memories, or simply for the pleasure of acquiring and arranging objects pleasurable to us.&nbsp; However, there is a sad downside to this beautiful human trait, now being exploited by the current marketing landscape. People are now bombarded with advertisements that offer products with an emphasis on immediate gratification, thus leading to self-indulgent consumerism in the form of impulse buying. The long-term effect of this is a focus on material possessions and a general dissatisfaction among people with what they have.&nbsp; A possible antidote to this is the lifestyle philosophy of minimalism.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But how will this help you in maintaining a clean living space? Minimalism promotes mindful consumption. It encourages us to prioritize quality over quantity, to make thoughtful purchasing decisions, and bring fewer items into our living spaces. This promotes a simplified and clutter-free environment. When you have less to clean and organize, it is easier to maintain a tidy space. Overall, minimalism not only results in a cleaner and more organized living space but also promotes mental clarity and a sense of peace by reducing stress and anxiety associated with clutter. <h2>Clean As You Go</h2> As a child, you must have heard it enough from your mom to put back your toys in their respective places after you are done playing with them. Now it's your turn to apply this same logic to your living habits.&nbsp; The first step is to ensure that everything being used in your living space has a home to be returned to as soon as its work is done. This “home” can be a shelf, a cupboard, some drawers, or even a hook on the wall. Places articles of daily use in convenient locations. If you are packing rarely-used articles in opaque boxes or cloth sacks or containers, then make a list of all the items within that specific container and paste it on the lid or on the box or cloth itself. This will make it quite easier for you to look for those articles later on without having to upset all other containers. Now that our foundations are ready, given below are some more steps that can be carried out under the “clean as you go” mantra. Make your bed as soon as you wake up. It takes barely 2 minutes and kick starts your day with a dose of positivity, productivity and organization.&nbsp; Put your shower and skin care products back in their respective drawers or shelves after use. Throw used clothes in the correct laundry pile instead of throwing them on the floor or the bed.&nbsp; Clean up right after breakfast, put the bottles back in their shelves, put the washed dishes back in their stands, and throw all trash in the bin instead of leaving anything on the counter. Declutter your workspace ASAP after a day’s work. Put everything back where it belongs. Plug in your devices to be charged. Keep a to-do list for the next day’s work ready. To read more about workspace optimization, read <a href="https://philomathiq.com/post/workspace-optimization-productivity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this article</a>. After work outs, place your yoga mat and workout equipment back in their designated place. Handle your workout clothes as you see fit, the point being that you don’t leave them at any random place in your room. At night, make sure that every article that you used throughout the day is back in its “home” (not considering special conditions, of course). Tuck yourself in bed with the satisfaction of knowing that your living space is a blissful and clean abode for you right now. As a beginner, the above might seem quite a tedious list of tasks for you. However, I recommend you to stick to it consistently for a few weeks. Practice this mantra of putting things back where they belong once every three days initially. With time, transition to once every alternate day. From there, it won’t be long before cleaning as you go comes naturally to you. That’s all you need to form a new life-changing habit that will help you maintain a constantly clean living space.&nbsp; <h2>A Must-Have Mindset</h2> You have been hearing this since your childhood that your environment has a profound impact on your well-being and quality of life — not just your physical health but your mental and emotional well-being too.&nbsp; A clean and organized space reduces the presence of allergens, dust and germs. It reduces stress, improves focus, and promotes a sense of calm and productivity. It teaches us how to take responsibility for our living spaces, and how to be mindful with our consumption and waste. It also reflects our sense of respect for those sharing our living spaces with us.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As such, cleanliness is not just a matter of aesthetics, but of health and dignity too. By valuing cleanliness, you affirm your self-worth and respect for yourself and others, creating a positive and nurturing environment in which to live. And this is why you should view cleanliness as a privilege, rather than a chore.&nbsp; You will certainly enjoy a clean living space. And you will reap many physical, mental, and emotional benefits from it too. Once a fortnight deep cleaning sessions are good, but not if it means that you will spend the rest of the days in a disorderly and demotivated state.&nbsp; So why not go ahead and make cleanliness an intentional part of your everyday routine? Start slow. Gradually, you will find yourself enjoying a consistently clean living space. All the best!&nbsp;

An article on the three most fundamental tips for continually maintaining a clean living space in your day-to-day life.

The Only 3 Tips You Need To Maintain Cleanliness In Your Living Space

Self improvement is a never-ending journey, because as individuals, we are constantly evolving, facing new challenges, and encountering opportunities for learning and change. Each achievement and setback in our life serves as a stepping stone for further growth, leading to lifelong learning and personal development.&nbsp; Following that line of thought, we can conclude that there are few singular ideas or distinct experiences that will have an instant “turning point” effect on our lives, and that these will differ widely from one individual to the other depending on their personal story.&nbsp; However, this does not mean that you have hit a wall.&nbsp; There are profound concepts in the world out there that have the power to truly change your life, albeit gradually, one day at a time. These ideas are not quick fixes or crafty life hacks. Instead, they are like seeds that you sow in the garden of your mind and water regularly, that evolve and inspire positive change for years to come. They have the power to alter perspectives, behaviors, and life paths. These ideas are the true harbingers of a personal revolution. And this series of blog articles is going to be your key to that desired self transformation. Given below is Part 1 of a list of ideas, mindset shifts, and practices that I gleaned over years of being on the self improvement journey. Overtime, these have become a way of life for me. I hope this concise list helps you with your life journey. Happy reading! <h2>Ad Meliora</h2> "Ad Meliora" is a simple Latin phrase that translates to "towards better things" or "for the pursuit of better things". Ad Meliora is our reminder that the journey of personal development has no final destination to reach, albeit it is a lifelong process. This concept encourages individuals to continuously seek opportunities for growth and find happiness in the here and now, as there is no such “perfect tomorrow” to strive for. Instead, we should focus on embracing change, learning from experiences, and having an optimistic attitude to move forward with purpose, aiming for a brighter and more fulfilling future.&nbsp; <h2>Amor Fati</h2> “Amor Fati” is a Latin phrase which stands for “love of fate”. It succinctly portrays the Stoic mindset of making the best out of every moment — no matter how challenging. To accept the fact that all events occur for a reason, and while the event itself might not be positive, what we take away from it should always be good.&nbsp; The first step to implementing this practice is to distinguish what is within our control (internal) from what we cannot control (external). The next step is to direct our efforts and emotions where they can actually influence things, that is, the internals.&nbsp; Which is to say, when bad things happen to you, you don’t blame the world, you don't blame God, you don't blame yourself or your supposed bad luck. Instead, you embrace all of it. You honor your emotions by not suppressing them, but then you ask yourself — What might we learn from this unchosen experience? How can we mold things to our advantage? How can I not only be okay with this, but also become better because of this? And that is the true power of Amor Fati. <h2>Impermanence</h2> The impermanence of all existing things is a fundamental aspect of life that shapes the way we perceive and experience the world. From quarks at subatomic level, to the grass, the trees, the sky, the earth, the sun and the moon, even galaxies — all things are subject to the passage of time. Realizing this helps us put our own small life into perspective. A lost job? A declining grade? A surge of overwhelming good luck? An unexpected good friend? A bad day at work? Everything is insignificant before the power of time. While transience can be seen as a sobering reminder of life's fragility, it also brings a sense of beauty and meaning to our experiences. It instills us with humility before the grand scheme of things, and teaches us to appreciate the present moment, to let go of attachments, and to embrace the ever-changing nature of life.&nbsp;&nbsp; Acknowledging this might give rise to feelings of emptiness, insignificance, and lack of security. However, this is where the previously discussed concepts of Amor Fati and Ad Meliora come in — if change is inevitable, then we might as well make the best of it. This is how these profound philosophical concepts enrich our understanding of life. <h2>Interesting Failures</h2> Society views failure as a discouraging or negative experience, and it teaches school-going children to do the same. With time, these children grow up into adults whose sense of self-worth, self-esteem, and self-confidence are all tied to their failures and successes. A world that could have been full of excitement and experimentation gets divided into the black and white binaries of “failure” and “success”. However, this is not ideal. Children and adults alike should be taught that viewing our failures with interest helps us adopt a mindset that sees failure as an opportunity for learning and growth. By approaching failure with curiosity and interest, we can analyze what went wrong, identify areas for improvement, and make adjustments for future endeavors. This perspective allows us to reframe failure as a necessary and natural part of the learning process, rather than as a reflection of our abilities or worth.&nbsp; Ultimately, viewing our failures with interest can help us develop resilience, adaptability, and a growth mindset that serves us well in all areas of life. So the next time you fail at something, step back and think. There’s more to failures than meets the eye.&nbsp; <h2>Premeditatio Malorum</h2> A famous quote by Seneca goes as follows — “If you would not have a man flinch when the crisis comes, train him before it comes.” This sums up the essence of Premeditatio Malorum, a Latin phrase that directly translates to “premeditation of evils”. It is a Stoic philosophical practice of considering potential misfortunes in advance in order to mentally prepare oneself to face them with composure.&nbsp;&nbsp; Life is not always fair. The best people are sometimes afflicted with undeserving misfortunes. Which is why the wise ones prepare for them in advance, even if their present conditions are comfortable. Premeditatio Malorum is preparedness, not pessimism. It also leads to enduring self-confidence and resilience, which makes it a great gem of a concept to add to your collection on your personal development journey. However, a thing to note with Premeditatio Malorum is that it is not possible to consider every single technical or logical obstacle beforehand. This is where emotional fortitude comes in. Individuals with stronger emotional resilience stay calm and practical in the face of uncertainty. They keep their cool, and take logical decisions for the improvement of the situation. By preparing for adversity in this way, one can reduce fear and anxiety and cultivate a more peaceful state of mind. Thus, here ends the first part of this series. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this list of transformative ideas that can change your mind.

Part 1 of a list of mindset shifts and practices that can change your life and help you on your self improvement journey.

Transformative Ideas That Can Change Your Life Part 1

In the previous article, we delved into understanding the root causes for our dislike towards a particular subject that holds us back from giving it our best. Along with that, we also learned about some small but considerable mindset shifts and techniques to adapt towards the subjects you dislike. This is the second part of the series where I will share with you some more tips on how to study a subject you dislike for your 2024 board exams. Studying a subject you dislike is a formidable challenge. There are several prejudices and obstacles that we need to overcome to start with a clean slate. However, no matter how difficult, studying a disliked subject is not impossible. We can surely conquer this challenge with the right approach.&nbsp; From breaking down the material into manageable chunks to finding personal connections and incorporating innovative study techniques, given below are some more basic but often overlooked study tips that students can practice to cultivate a more positive and productive learning experience with a subject they dislike :&nbsp; <h2>Change Your Mindset</h2> Having to study something you dislike is a little tough. Students often view this as an impossible challenge or as a personal fault. However, you should immediately let go of such negative mindset. Start thinking of this as an opportunity for growth and development. Embrace a positive attitude. Study the subject with a mindset of getting to know it better rather than to score better marks at it (the latter is a by-product of the former which comes with time). By embracing a mindset of curiosity, resilience, and continuous improvement, even the most disliked subject can become a gateway to valuable skills and knowledge.&nbsp; <h2>Start Early</h2> Starting early is a crucial step when it comes to studying a subject you dislike. Begin the learning process well in advance of a deadline, such as an examination or assignment due date. Starting early gives you ample time to become familiar with the course material, understand key concepts, strengthen your foundation, review the material multiple times, and spend sufficient time applying the knowledge with beginner or intermediate topics. By starting early, you can avoid last-minute cramming, which can be stressful and less effective for long-term retention. This is going to help you feel more prepared for all the important internal tests, projects, presentations, and examinations. <h2>Understand the Importance</h2> School curriculums are diverse to provide a well-rounded education to students that encompasses a wide range of subjects, including languages, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, as well as physical education. This is to cater to the varying needs, interests, and abilities of the students. This also helps you explore your potential in various fields to realize what suits you best. Diversity in the curriculum also reflects the changing needs of society and the workforce, ensuring that students are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the modern world. Naturally, any subject that you dislike was included in your curriculum because it contributes to your overall education in some way or the other. Recognize the relevance of that subject in your academic and future career goals. This will help you to reduce your dislike against that subject. <h2>Break it Down</h2> Large amounts of material can be intimidating. Breaking it down into smaller, manageable sections makes it feel less overwhelming, thereby significantly improving your ability to study effectively. Breaking down the course material has multiple other advantages. It helps you define realistic and achievable goals for each study session. It also allows you to focus on one concept at a time, reducing cognitive overload. Segmenting the material also helps you organize your study plan. You can create a schedule to cover each part thoroughly, ensuring nothing is overlooked. You can also easily identify your weak areas, then focus more time and effort on these areas to improve your understanding. Breaking down the material also makes regular practice more feasible. This is quite important, especially with numericals or application oriented topics. <h2>Use Visual Aids</h2> Visual aids such as flowcharts, graphs, diagrams, and flashcards are invaluable tools in navigating and understanding subjects we may initially dislike. They help simplify complex concepts, enhance comprehension, and improve memory retention. Visual aids break down dense material into digestible segments, making the learning process less overwhelming. They clarify abstract concepts and make studying more engaging and interactive, leading to increased interest and motivation. Whether it's a flowchart simplifying a process or a graph illustrating data trends, these aids transform abstract ideas into tangible, relatable images. They foster a deeper understanding and stimulate creativity, ultimately, making the disliked subject more approachable and even enjoyable to study. Make sure that you employ these powerful tools in your learning process. <h2>Teach the Wall</h2> Teaching the material can be a highly effective way to enhance your own learning. When you teach a concept to someone else, you need to understand it thoroughly yourself. Thereby, this process reveals knowledge gaps and forces you to clarify your own thoughts regarding the topic. You could be teaching a friend, an imaginary audience, even the bare wall. This makes the process more interactive, reinforces your own learning, and helps you strike up an active engagement with the course material. It will also prompt you to seek out more information to avoid misconceptions. Overall, teaching the material can be a powerful tool for enhancing your own learning and mastery of a subject. <h2>Find Interesting Resources</h2> Finding better and more interesting resources can enrich your learning experience, improve your understanding of the material, and enhance your overall academic performance. More interesting resources make the learning more enjoyable and engaging. Better resources provide you with different approaches to understanding the same topic, which leads to a better understanding of the material and encourages you to think critically about the material.&nbsp;Look for learning resources such as videos, documentaries, or podcasts related to the subject and its applications. Visit libraries or online platforms to obtain better workbooks or question banks for subjects involving problem-solving or application-oriented questions. Use these for regular practice. If you're struggling with specific concepts, don't hesitate to seek help from teachers, classmates, or online resources. Finding better and more interesting resources can significantly enhance your learning experiences with a disliked subject. <h2>Change Study Environment</h2> Studying in the same place every day can become monotonous. A strategic change of environment can break this monotony and make studying your disliked subject more enjoyable. It can have several other benefits as well. Choosing a new environment that has lesser distractions than your usual study space can help improve your focus on the material at hand. Sometimes a change of scenery, such as a park or a balcony, can make studying more enjoyable. A subject that makes you drowsy in your study room with its artificial light might be memorized better when you are walking in a park and explaining concepts to yourself with elaborate hand gestures. Overall, changing your study environment can provide a range of benefits that can help you study a tough subject or a subject you dislike more effectively. <h2>Milestone-Centric Study Schedule&nbsp;</h2> Consistency is key when it comes to mastering a tough subject. This is where study schedules come in. A milestone-oriented study schedule can help you approach a tough subject in a systematic and manageable way, leading to a more effective and rewarding learning experience. It helps you break down the course material into smaller, manageable milestones, and it makes progress tracking more efficient. This method of tackling the subject also makes it easier to identify weak areas and address them effectively with focus, which protects you from feeling overwhelmed by the entire breadth of the subject. Moreover, each milestone achieved is a small victory that boosts your confidence and motivates you to continue studying. Celebrate small victories with a break, or a snack, or any other activity that you enjoy.&nbsp; <h2>Take it Easy</h2> Taking it easy when learning a subject you dislike means approaching the subject with a relaxed and open mindset, without putting too much pressure on yourself. It involves acknowledging that you may not enjoy the subject as much as others, and that subject might never become your cup of tea, but recognizing that it's still important to try your best and make an effort to understand the material. Instead of expecting to master the subject overnight, set realistic and achievable goals for your learning progress. Look for aspects of the subject that you find interesting or relevant, and try to incorporate these into your learning to make it more enjoyable. Don't hesitate to ask for help from teachers, classmates, or tutors if you're struggling with certain concepts. Give yourself regular breaks to rest and recharge, especially when studying a subject you dislike, to avoid burnout.&nbsp; Remember that a positive attitude and a proactive approach can make a significant difference in how you perceive and tackle a subject you don't particularly like. Remember that it's okay to find some subjects challenging or uninteresting. Be kind to yourself and don't be too hard on yourself for not enjoying every subject equally. That being said, I hope you enjoyed this article.

An article with more study tips on how to begin studying a subject you dislike for your exams.