Dear Kirsten, It’s funny that you mention Getting Things Done, because my crash with that system is what initially prompted me to write. I’ve heard so many people rave about it and read so many good reviews, and when I picked up the book it was the most confusing thing I’d ever read! I had to pull out my sketchbook to try to visualize all the steps and even now I’m not sure I got them right....

But after a while I couldn’t ignore the high correlation between success and rising early, even in my own life. On those rare occasions where I did get up early, I noticed that my productivity was almost always higher, not just in the morning but all throughout the day. And I also noticed a significant feeling of well-being. So being the proactive goal-achiever I was, I set out to become a habitual early riser....

Professor Jean-Denis Rouillan, of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besancon in France, revealed that bras are not necessary for women’s breast health. According to his study, a bra is not necessary anatomically, medically, or physiologically. Instead, bras actually prevent breasts from growing or achieving their natural lift. Research Background and Results In the study, 330 volunteers aged 18 to 35 had their breasts measured over 15 years. The results showed that women who did not wear a bra had a 7-millimeter lift in their nipples each year....

Now, science is backing up this hygienic practice and revealing that what you pick up on your shoes is not just a few germs and dirt, but rather nasty customers who should never be allowed into your home! This is particularly important when you have toddlers rolling around the floor. Which nasty bacteria are you bringing home? Researchers at the University of Houston found that about 40% of shoes were carrying the nasty “C....

I wasn’t 100% sold on the idea of this gadget until I watched the video. Not only does it really make you want to try out Sensibo for yourself, but it’s also very entertaining. You’re probably wondering why you would want to have a smart air conditioner. Wouldn’t it be nice to cool down your home before arriving from work? Instead of leaving the AC on all day, you can save money by turning it off or at least to a higher temperature until it’s time to go home....

If you are receiving employee options, what is the number of fully-diluted outstanding shares? Has there ever been a down round, a flat round, or a CEO change? What is the burn rate and how much cash is in the bank now? What is the plan for exit strategy and its timeframe? Could you meet the CEO, the founder(s), and those on the management team? Are there plans in the next six months to hire anyone along the chain-in-command between your position and the CEO?...

Want to separate your photos from the rest of the world? Try shooting at high speeds. The problem is getting the right shots. Due to the difficulty level of precision shooting (nearly impossible), most people don’t even try it. With the help of the MIOPS controller, you can take stunning high speed shots with your camera without spending hours on calibration and timing. The add-on works by using a smartphone app and bluetooth to control the shots from a short distance....

There are a few varying opinions on googling somebody, most of which revolve around being a ‘creep’ or ‘stalker’. To be fair, it is a little bit invasive but hey, why not google somebody if they willingly put their information online? Well, there are a few scenarios where you maybe shouldn’t google somebody. For example, if they’re stood right next to you, you’re looking for an address so you can stand outside they’re house or you’re not employed by the NSA: that’s creepy....

What is a Will? A will is a legal document. It contains a plan regarding the distribution of your assets should you pass away. Essentially, it allows you to have some final input into how your estate should be managed, even if you cannot make the said changes yourself. Your will includes a designated executor. An executor is a person you select to help distribute your assets as set forth in your will....

Give It a Cleaning Never underestimate what a good physical clean can do for a computer. Computers get full of dust and lint, and fans and vents can get clogged. If a computer is suffering from overheating, random shut-downs or noisy whirring, it may not need repairing as the culprit could simply be an abundance of dust. Use short bursts of compressed air to displace dust in hard to reach places and give the rest a wipe with lint-free, anti-static cloths....

These are the tips that helped me to work effectively from home but you may find other tricks or ideas that help you to improve your efficiency and productivity while working from home. The important thing to remember is that your home based job deserves the same attention and dedication as an office position. Following the tips that I have provided will help you to become a lucrative and productive home based worker....

1. Health Certification Before doing anything else, you have to establish your pet’s health by paying a visit to the veterinarian. Most airlines demand that the health certificate for your pet be issued no more than ten days before flying. Rabies has been a matter of concern in most places so your pet should be healthy. The state authorities are always keen to ensure that your pet has had all required vaccinations....

Leadership. Okay. But why slow? What does it really mean? Adrian has released a ChangeThis manifesto to review what are the common brute force and short-term approach in corporations and introduces his idea, slow leadership, and how it affects the environment and success of a business: Slow Leadership: Creating Civilized Organizations – [ChangeThis]

I have a confession to make – I’m an introvert, but I like meeting new people. That may sound contradictory, but hear me out. Unlike extroverts, meeting lots of new people all the time is tiring for me – it doesn’t energize me the way running, playing guitar, or even writing does. I love social contact with close friends though, and I enjoy meeting new people … in limited quantities....

Some Amazing Facts you Didn’t Know About your Brain (Infographic)

Getting/Staying Organized: my Moleskine PDA – [Creating Passionate Users]

Experiencing stomach pain during pregnancy is almost guaranteed. Your uterus has to grow and stretch to accommodate the baby, or multiple babies. You will experience round ligament pain and possibly have false labor contractions called Braxton Hicks towards the end of your pregnancy. You may become full much sooner as your stomach and digestive organs compete for room and you may become sensitive to some foods, which may cause you to have gas or indigestion....

1. Envisioner The Envisioner is always dreaming up big things for his team. He isn’t limited by conventions. When others say we can’t do things that way, the Envisioner asks, “Why not?” He approaches each problem with a unique perspective, and will think outside the box when given an especially difficult task. The Envisioner rarely meets a problem he can’t solve with his creativity. However, problems can arise when the Envisioner thinks too big....

It may have been a personal relationship that wasn’t going well, a job that you weren’t happy in, or life in general not giving you the sense of fulfillment that you’d like… Often, when we’re faced with a setback, it’s easy for us to look only on the negatives and dwell on the bad. Everything suddenly seems bleak and it’s hard to see that silver lining. But, here’s what separates the successful from the average… they are always able to recognize and dig deep within these setbacks, to find hidden opportunities–opportunities can allow them to get back on their feet, and out of their rut....

Ten Mac tools for Getting Things Done – [Hawk Wings] Email clients, where most of the stuff that needs to get done arrives in the first place, tweaked to do the job. Dedicated GTD apps like kGTD or Easy Task Manager provide more focussed collection and processing buckets. Web-based solutions offer platform-independent tools for getting things done, especially good if you use a Mac at home and a PC at work....