Tag Archives: Twitter

A Personal Bloggers Are Us Challenge – What Is The Post We Are Most Proud Of?

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The blogging challenge we set for the Personal Bloggers Are Us (#PBAU on Twitter) group this week was this:

Share with the group the post you are most proud of / the post you have written that is your favourite?

Easier said then done. Does one go with the most meaningful post, the well-written one, the most popular one, or the hardest one to write and share with the blogosphere?

Since we are sharing 2 of our favourite posts this week, I though I’d firstly go with my most popular all time post with 754 hits – which surprised me incredibly! Aside from the popularity, the subject is extremely close to my heart. I do hope you can get something from it again.

How Do You Maintain Your Mental Health?

I’ve battled with depression for over half of my life, therefore maintaining my mental health is incredibly important to me.

Statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) show that:

  • Depression is common, affecting about 121 million people worldwide.
  • Depression is among the leading causes of disability worldwide.
  • Fewer than 25 % of those affected have access to effective treatments.

These numbers are disturbing, so with the increasing prevalence of depression in society, how one deals with their mental health is becoming integral to daily living. I’ve tried a whole load of things to help me get through, some previously tried and tested, some things that worked, some that failed dismally.

Here are some things I’ve done, or presently do, to help maintain a balance:

  • Burn incense and natural oils when at home. I find certain fragrances such as Sandalwood, Musk and Lavender are relaxing.
  • Listen to music. Late last year I started listening to jazz and chants. I also started to rediscover some of the music I used to listen to – but had stopped through sheer laziness. I find it helps to take the edge off.
  • Don’t take drugs. Most are a depressant – after the initial buzz and high are followed by the lowest of the low. I learn’t this – not by choice – one night after my drink was spiked whilst out with friends at a club. I have never felt so low before in my life then I did after that night. The memory loss did not help things. It took me over a week to start feeling normal again.
  • Get a pet. Before doing so though, you need to realise it is a commitment, and they do require love and care. My dog was given to me as a present, and at times dragging myself out of the house to take her for a walk has been hard, but without her I would have been lost.
  • Write lists. This helps to get stuff out of your head and onto paper. I have many journals with copious amounts of lists on all kinds of things from what makes me happy, to what I want to do in life, to why I hated my job or felt so sad. This is also good to look back on years later – to see how far you have progressed, or to really ‘see’ your patterns of thinking throughout the years.
  • Allow yourself to rest. I have moved between the extremes. I have either rested too much, or I have gone like a bull at a gate, and ended up exhausted, sick and depressed. Allow yourself time to recoup, but try not to just sleep your life away. It’s a very easy habit to slip into.
  • Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga is the more relaxed, slower paced yoga style focussing on relaxation and breathing. I didn’t actually expect to be able to relax, as I had tried other types of yoga such as Ashtanga, and ended up stressed! But alas! The effects from Hatha Yoga were instantaneous, and I really must take it up again.
  • Say no. I still struggle with this, but you must learn to say no, and realise that it is okay to do so. Dealing with the guilt you feel from doing it is not easy, but you must remember that if you are exhausted, you are really no good to anyone (Note to self).
  • Don’t drink too much alcohol. I should be saying ‘don’t drink alcohol’, but I can’t do that as a few drinks relax me. You just need to remember to not let it become a habit, and to avoid binge drinking, as like drugs, the high is followed by a real low.
  • Exercise. Easier said than done when you are sad, tired and frustrated. I struggle with this as I’m either all of nothing. I become obsessed with something, such as weight training at the gym, but then I become so reliant on it for the way it makes me feel, that it turns into a type of addiction. And then I force myself to stop. And then I just don’t exercise.
  • Get out and spend time with friends and family. Sometimes it takes a lot to get out, but when you do it’s worth it. Even if you just sit in silence with someone. Knowing they are just there really helps.
  • Read. There is a wealth of literature on depression, on self-help, on writing and art therapy to help with depression, and of course comedic fiction, or really whatever you fancy reading. It takes your mind off of the seemingly never-ending internal battle within your mind.
  • Talk to a professional. You may need to try a few first – councillors, psychologists, your GP, and so on, but once you find the right person, major breakthroughs can be made. Most countries have organisations or initiatives that can help with the cost these days also – so hit google and don’t let money, or the lack of, be an excuse.
  • Take anti-depressants. From experience you are either pro or con anti-depressants. I have moved between the two, but as someone explained to me once, it’s like taking medication for diabetes, or cholesterol. Sometimes you just need to do it to have a better quality of life. It’s important to note here that not all types will agree with you. I tookZoloft many years ago, and weened myself off of it as the side-effects freaked me out. I managed okay for a few years, but then ended up in the lowest of the low of my depressive states, and after trying everything – diet, counseling, exercise, mediation, Pilates, yoga, and so on, I realised I could not do it myself anymore. After being open and honest with my doctor of years, we decided to try Luvox (Movox) and thankfully it has helped dramatically. The thought of possibly being on them for the rest of my life terrifies me when I think about it, but I would rather take a pill every day, then not live.

The important thing to note is that these may not work for you. Just because it works for someone, does not mean it will translate to others easily. It’s a matter of trying, and then watching yourself closely to see what the effects are.

It is also important to stress that there is nothing wrong with seeking help from medical practitioners, or in taking medication to ease things. From personal experience I have gone through this. I have avoided speaking to my doctor or seeing a psychologist, and battled with the thoughts of taking anti-depressants. But, sometimes that added assistance helps. It doesn’t mean you are a lesser human being. It just means that you are human.

Starting Out Blogging

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#PBAU

A good blogging buddy (and partner in crime) – Hajra Khatoon – and I recently started a 3 month blogging challenge. The aim of our challenge was to gather together an intimate group of personal bloggers to help shine the focus on the awesome-ness of personal bloggers for we felt that they weren’t getting the attention they deserved. We decided to call the group ‘Personal Bloggers Are Us (#PBAU)’ after struggling to come up with a name for it (finding a Twitter hash tag that hasn’t been used is really hard!). Just 2 weeks into the challenge, our expectations have already been exceeded.

This week we posed a challenge to the 24 participants:

‘Share with the PBAU group your FIRST EVER blog post’. 

We thought it would be interesting for every one to see how they started out blogging and how everyone had ‘developed’ in their blogging life – be it a short or long one.

In light of that, here is the first ever blog post of mine on this blog - Beginnings, published on 26 September 2010.

And here is my first EVER blog post, of which I wrote for an online community called Emergen (of which I’m now the Blogging Coordinator for), published 9 June 2010:

Learning From Past Mistakes

We can all learn from the ‘leaders’ we happen to come across throughout our lives, be it in politics, our families, work, university, church, etc.

Whether it be from the good they do, or the mistakes they make, some valuable insights can be picked up by merely observing and taking note. These things we observe can then be used to help ourselves grow as future leaders, and succeed in being the best we can be.

I’ve pondered my own experiences lately, and here are some tips that I’ve picked up over the years which may be useful to you are:

  1. Listen…and acknowledge that you have heard. Clear up any misinterpretations right then and there. It also makes people take note that you understood (you were listening!);
  2. Lack of communication can destroy a team and derail a project. It’s not brain science. Communication is key – and it needs to be clear! Less room for those pesky rumours and conspiracy theories then, or the good old ‘he said, she said’ scenario. In a day an age with phones, email, and all the gadgets, there really is no excuse (although face to face is best!);
  3. Pushing people till they break can get the best out of people, but take heed – it can also run people into the ground, and lead to stress, burn out, sick leave and resignations. When I started out in the workforce I didn’t know what I had in me until I was pushed, and when I discovered what I could do I was amazed! But I’ve also seen the other side of the scenario with too many colleagues, myself included, suffering from exhaustion. A sense of balance is good…
  4. A little bit of praise goes a long way. Even if it’s for a small accomplishment – everyone has to start somewhere, and sometimes a kind word and boost to the confidence is all someone needs;
  5. Don’t reallocate tasks without first communicating to the relevant parties about ‘why’. Did you know that taking work off of someone and giving it to someone else with no explanation can be considered as bullying – situation specific of course. If you ever need to re-delegate, just take a second and think ‘How would I feel if I was in X persons shoes.’ Sometimes there are time constraints, but there is email, there are phones…how you manage this situation could save a whole lot of heartache, gossip and dissatisfaction in the long run;
  6. Pitting people against each other does not work. Seen it time and time again, and in the end it always ends badly;
  7. Stay true to yourself…(now that’s not a quote from Marcia from Australian Idol ok!). We all encounter this at some stage in our lives – faced with being told to do something that just doesn’t feel right. Go with your gut. If you don’t agree with something, challenge it! Don’t just go with the pack. In the end you need to live with yourself. Sometimes you might feel that it backfires…but any good friend, colleague or organisation should be open to suggestions. If they aren’t, then you really need to consider whether their values match your own – and whether you belong in that situation;
  8. Don’t always provide the answers…a bit of guidance and encouragement to think outside the box and come up with a solution goes a long way;
  9. You aren’t always right. There’s nothing wrong with that – no one is infallible;
  10. Delegation is important. Don’t do everything yourself, even though at times you think you are the only one who can do it. How often I have been in this place!. Others need to learn what you do, and you need learn to let go. It also helps as a backup plan (leaders need to take time out and go on leave every now and then too!);
  11. Say thankyou.

And remember –

“The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humour, but without folly.”

- Jim Rohn

Note: To check out the amazing posts from the Personal Bloggers Are Us crew, search #PBAU on Twitter, and enjoy : )

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A side effect of the ‘blogging journey’

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My smile

Image via Wikipedia

I’ve been a bit down lately, as something I was hopeful of didn’t exactly turn out as expected.  After the initial thoughts of ‘It could be worse’, ‘Everything happens for a reason’ and ‘This will give me an opportunity to focus on what I really want to do’, my thinking slipped into the negative – a lot quicker than I had planned.

I think that’s why I’ve tried to inject a lot of positivity and love into this blog over the last few weeks – as knowing that I can share something with you and possibly bring some lightness to your day makes me feel all warm and fuzzy feeling. And when you choose to share something with me – I, more often than not, catch myself smiling.

In fact, I’ve never felt as connected to people as I do right now. It is an unexpected, but welcome, ‘side effect’ of the ‘blogging journey’.

What has pleasantly surprised you about your ‘blogging journey’?

As Blogging for a Cause day nears…

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As the inaugural Emergen Blogging for a Cause day nears, I have butterflies in my stomach due to the anticipation of the brilliance that is to come (no pressure!).

Seriously though, I’m looking forward to it, and I hope you are too!

I know that the topic - International Women’s Day – may not immediately jump out at everyone (especially the men) but i think it’s important to realise that all of us have a part to play on this day.

  • Be it through celebrating the women who gave us life – our mothers, or the women who gave them life – our grandmothers.
  • Or by supporting our sisters, wives, girlfriends, cousins or friends.
  • Or through acknowledging certain facts, such those provided by the World Health Organisation:

‘At least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime – with the abuser usually someone known to her’. LEE Jong-Wook, Director-General, World Health Organization.

Therefore I urge you to get involved! And don’t let the anxiety of ‘I’ve never posted before’ or ‘I don’t write well’ get in the way, for:

  • We all start off like that; and
  • This is probably the perfect time to start!

So please, join us by composing a blog post using the theme ‘International Women’s Day‘ and posting on March 8. We can all then get on board and share the posts via Twitter (#IWD and #Emergen), Facebook, LinkedIn and so on to spread our words and inspire!

‘So make a difference, think globally and act locally.’


For more information about the Emergen Blogging for a Cause – International Women’s Day – check out the event on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129221043814551

You can find more information about International Women’s Day at the following link: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/about.asp

 

Why do people blog?

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Why do people blog? Good question.

I initially took up blogging to try to get back into writing, and to see if I was actually any good (at writing and blogging). It was a test to push my own boundaries and see what I could achieve, as I was stuck in a rut to be honest.

My aim was to write, to try to have a bit of fun, and to share my experiences in the hope that in doing so I could help just one person. Pretty simple. I didn’t expect to get many readers. In fact, I was told I wouldn’t.

I started blogging on a website called Emergen (at the time it was called yGen Club - it’s a community that was created to give young professionals the knowledge, skills and connections to stand out from the crowd) ) mid-2010. Thinking back to my first post, I was terrified to press the ‘publish’ button, and when I did I found myself stressing about getting negative feedback, or worse – having no one read my posts! But, there was no reason to worry, as I couldn’t have found a more supportive bunch of people, who were open to ideas and concepts (or at times ramblings).

So after a few months of blogging on Emergen, I thought to myself ‘Why not take the plunge and start my own blog?’

Hesitantly – I registered with WordPress (after painstakingly trying to come up with a name for my blog!). And then there was no looking back.

I was lucky enough to kick off my own blog when ProBlogger was running a free ‘Intro to Blogging’ online course. This provided me with a wealth of info, and convinced me to straight away register my domain name (so instead of having a .com/wordpress address I have a .com). I haven’t taken the next step of getting my site hosted though – I have to take some things slowly!

I then somehow stumbled on the Groups facility in LinkedIn. Having only been on LinkedIn for a few months, I had discovered some groups related to Blogging and writing. So I took the plunge and joined. Initially, I was freaked out as all of the members looked so professional. They blogged about marketing, logo design, freelancing, using social media to promote your business, blogging as a career, and so forth. I had no business. I had no product. I was only just starting to blog. I just had me. But they welcomed me with open arms – and have been excellent teachers and support from all over the world. Special thanks to Keyuri Joshi, Susan Oakes, Rosanne Dingli and Patricia Weber to name but a few.

I’m now incredibly active on Twitter, and have connected with many more inspiring and informative people. I’ve also made many new friends (although I’ve never met them). Thanks to one of the people I have ‘met’ (Hajra – check out her awesome blog!) I now have a Facebook page for my blog, and have joined the Ultimate Blog Challenge.  The Ultimate Blog Challenge is a challenge to blog every day for the month of January (If I achieve January – I’ll continue into February and so forth). From there, I’ve joined the Ultimate Blog Challenge Facebook group, and made more friends who are really supportive. We comment on each others blogs, or offer support when struggling with writer’s block, or personal issues. As a side challenge, I’ve also taken on WordPress’s challenge to ‘Post every day in 2011.’ Let’s see how we go with that one!

At times I feel like I’m on this out of control train, which is heading faster and faster to somewhere…I just have no idea where it is going. I just know, that as every day goes on, I hold no regrets on pushing that button to publish my first blog post.

Questions to the bloggers out there:

  • What made you start?
  • Why do you blog?
  • What do you enjoy about it?

And if you don’t blog -

  • Have you ever thought about giving it a shot?
  • Is there anything that is stopping you?

New found appreciation for Twitter

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Up until August this year, I had resisted all things Twitter.

I had way too many accounts for online things – I had suddenly gained 2 more email addresses due to joining some volunteer agencies, each coming with their own Google docs pages, and other various online tools such as Basecamp.  This was on top of my existing work and personal email accounts, obligatory Facebook account, LinkedIn account, and memberships to other online networking sites such as www.ygenclub.com, of which I had taken up blogging for, and so forth.

I was drowning in a sea of social media.

As it happens, I took the plunge.  I signed up to get a Twitter account.  The main, and now I think of it – the ONLY reason I signed up was to meet one of the ‘criteria’ for the Young Women’s Leadership Program I was taking part in.  One of the 9 challenges we needed to complete was to set up our online profile – which included a Twitter account.

Now, I didn’t know much about Twitter.  I knew that Ashton Kutcher was a bit of a tweeter – posting pictures of his wife Demi Moore up for all the world to see.  I knew that a few Australian sports personalities had landed themselves into trouble from tweeting some not-so-well thought out ramblings (who shall remain nameless).  I basically knew what the ‘news media’ told me – and it just sounded trashy!

But, if my mentor was ‘into it’ then it couldn’t be that bad.  I mean, she is an amazingly respectable, intelligent, gorgeous woman and I just couldn’t imagine her recommending anything dodgy (shout out to Alicia Curtis).

Retrospect is a beautiful thing.  I actually don’t know what I was so worried about!  To be completely honest, I have been introduced to a new ‘world’, many new ways of thinking, and so many amazing organisations and people – who are all across the world.

What I have discovered is this:

  • Twitter is an amazing marketing tool, especially for a novice blogger like me.  I didn’t have much of a hope for a large amount of hits to my blog – if that’s what you call it – but it has already surpassed my expectations by far!
  • Twitter connects in with all the other applications – or they connect into it.  Whichever way it works.  Yes, I know that’s not amazing – as most applications do that these days, but it’s cool!
  • It’s a great tool for spreading social awareness.  Since joining twitter I’ve learnt that 1 in 3 women across the world will experience violence in their lifetime (stats from the WHO) and I’ve been able to blog with other bloggers for World Kindness Day (thanks to Bloggers Unite – stats from the WHO).  I’ve also been able to learn by connecting with Amnesty International, and other organisations which seemingly remove the crap and the fluff that is on the news every night and say it how it is. Mainly, it’s confirmed for me our problems are worldwide – not localised – and we need to stand up and WORK TOGETHER;
  • I have ‘met’ some amazing people, who are creative and open-minded, have inspired and helped me in ways I cannot explain…and now we see the Twitter relationships flowing over into LinkedIn, supporting each others endeavours in blogging, art, marketing, etc (Dennis Salvatier, Susan Oakes;
  • I’ve learnt how to use Twitter (thanks mostly to info and retweets from @zerocl), and other things – some useful, some useless (but entertaining).

There’s a raft of other things I have learnt, and am still to learn.

As a final thought, I must say, I am extremely grateful for retweets, as every day I stumble upon articles and info so much so that I feel like I am in a constant state of learning, and I LOVE it!

It’s the small things that count

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It’s easy to get caught up in the fast lane – work, study, starting your own business, email, facebook, twitter, linkedin, text, kids, partners, family, friends – oh and don’t forget to exercise, eating, sleeping – and other people’s perceptions…It’s also easy to go with the flow and take all of the opportunities on offer, whatever comes to hand. There is so much to do in this world we live in, so much to experience, so many people to help. How can we possibly fit it all in?

We cant. We’re all human. Everyone has a limit.

But do you know what – it doesn’t matter. We can all make a difference, no matter how ‘small’ that is.

I look at it this way – How do you feel when you are walking down the street and someone smiles at you, possibly says hello, instead of looking at their feet, at the sky, at their watch, or through you? I feel good. It makes me feel like I’m not just going through the motions, one of the nameless masses going through my day to day business, seperate from everyone else around me.

I think everyone can make a difference, even if it’s just by smiling at someone as they walk down the street. I’ve been trying this out lately, more and more, and it FEELS good. Sure, I may get some weird looks…there’s that crazy lady again smiling for no reason – and yes, it is generally the older people who are more receptive. But there is just something about seeing someone like my Nan smiling back at me, or the Big Issue lady at the train station in the morning with that sparkle in her eye…