Readers,
I have not posted for quite a long time for two main reasons:
i) I fell sick around 2 and a bit weeks ago when i was due to post and as a result couldnt even maintain the majority of the habits i had already formed or gone some way to forming let alone think about which new habit i want to take on.
ii) shortly after recovering, i took a 10 day vacation to my motherland - India. Being an indian meant i always intended to visit one day and as the way life works out - it proved an excellent vacation because i also found that special person over there, visited the site of my grandmothers grave and got my teeth cleaned for the average price of a haircut a barber in london would charge - probably even less.
again while on vacation, due to the nature of my accomodation and personal circumstances - i was unable to maintain the habits as strictly as i would have liked - and some were ignored altogether.
However, i am back in london.... back healthy (to a reasonable enough degree) - and i thought it is as good a time as any to revitalise my blog.
the first thing i would like to say is that even though the last three weeks or so have seen me fail to perform these habits precisely in terms of time and even doing... i still consider all the things gone through as my habits and will work tirelessly to keep them embedded into my life.
secondly, it is unrealistic to go through life without failing in some routines on occasion when the unexpected happens... it is life - we are not robots... and i have learnt to become a lot more forgiving of my perfectionist nature.
finally... the next habit i will incorporate is mild weight training three times a week - this will be done on tuesdays thursdays and saturdays.
this will complement my abs training on mon, weds and fris.
sunday is day of rest. :-)
this will keep me healthy and happy.... health is wealth after all right... and looking good is feeling good.
ok finally... since i have been out the loop for so long, im going to make a quick list of habits previously mentioned so i have a checklist without having to read every post to remember..
i) prioritising subh namaz over sleep
ii) prioritising zuhr and asr namaz over television and internet usage
iii) prioritising maghrib and isha namaz over television and internet usage
iv) hoovering the house when necessary up to twice a week (wednesdays and sundays)
v) sunnat wudhoo instead of only obligatory one
vi) quran and translation - 10 verses a day
vii) brush twice a day
viii) shower before breakfast
ix)shave three times a week (mons, weds, sats)
x) polish shoes on tuesdays
xi) gather clothes and wash on fridays
xii) abs exercise on mons, weds, fris
xiii) reading every day (try at least 15 mins or one chapter)
xiv) eat an apple every day
xv) weight training
scrapped ones:
i) sleeping before midnight - one day :-)
ii) revising for theory driving test - passed it so can focus on the practical.
ok that is all from me for today
peace
probably wont post till the 11th august
watch this space.
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Apples
Readers,
For a long time i have intended to incorporate the habit of eating five portions of fruit a day. However, i have always been too lazy to actually do it. It is for this reason that i am going to incorporate the eating of a single fruit a day.
I am going to start with the apple.
After all - an apple a day keeps the doctor away right? :-)
We will see how that works out.
My habit for the next 10 days is to eat one apple every day.
That is all
Peace
For a long time i have intended to incorporate the habit of eating five portions of fruit a day. However, i have always been too lazy to actually do it. It is for this reason that i am going to incorporate the eating of a single fruit a day.
I am going to start with the apple.
After all - an apple a day keeps the doctor away right? :-)
We will see how that works out.
My habit for the next 10 days is to eat one apple every day.
That is all
Peace
Friday, 26 June 2009
'Bonus Post'
Readers,
I am pleased to inform you that i passed my theory driving test today.
I would also like to say that it was not using the advice previously offered up... although most of it was pretty spot on.
As usual i blitzed the multiple choice element of the test securing 49 out of the 50 marks on offer... and scored 58 out of the 75 on offer for the hazard perception.
The main purpose of this post is to make two points:
i) we never fail at anything. we may succeed in discovering several more ways not to do something than we would have liked in an ideal world but we never fail - not in the truest sense of the word - unless of course we give up.
ii) if any of my readers are going to undertake the theory driving test in the UK and are unsure of what to expect in the hazard perception element of the driving test - feel free to contact me and i will try to do my bit to help you through.
I dont charge for this 'service' mainly because other than my own experience... i dont know how well it will work.. but also.. because theres a credit crunch.. and the government is stealing peoples money by making them sit the stupid hazard perception element of the test in the first place... and i would like to do the humane thing and save people money - not make them pay a little more now to potentially save money later!
That is all.
Peace be with you all.
I am pleased to inform you that i passed my theory driving test today.
I would also like to say that it was not using the advice previously offered up... although most of it was pretty spot on.
As usual i blitzed the multiple choice element of the test securing 49 out of the 50 marks on offer... and scored 58 out of the 75 on offer for the hazard perception.
The main purpose of this post is to make two points:
i) we never fail at anything. we may succeed in discovering several more ways not to do something than we would have liked in an ideal world but we never fail - not in the truest sense of the word - unless of course we give up.
ii) if any of my readers are going to undertake the theory driving test in the UK and are unsure of what to expect in the hazard perception element of the driving test - feel free to contact me and i will try to do my bit to help you through.
I dont charge for this 'service' mainly because other than my own experience... i dont know how well it will work.. but also.. because theres a credit crunch.. and the government is stealing peoples money by making them sit the stupid hazard perception element of the test in the first place... and i would like to do the humane thing and save people money - not make them pay a little more now to potentially save money later!
That is all.
Peace be with you all.
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Washing
Readers,
Another 10 days have passed by seamlessly quickly and it is time to incorporate a new habit into my life.
What i have come to find is that i have added around 4 habits which i have not published in the last two weeks or so and for fear of them fading out and disrupting the whole progress made thus far - i will formalise them even though they are not necessarily starting from the moment they are published on this site.
The next habit i am formalising is the habit to collect my vests and socks every day and wash them together on friday to ensure that they do not go missing, are always clean and in plentiful supply.
The last habit I incorporated was a 'religious habit'.
This one i would classify as a 'hygeine based habit'.
The next one in 10 days will be a 'health/diet based habit'.
I have already incorporated a habit to spend 15 mins every day reading and not sure if i can commit to any further 'education' based habits which will not burden me beyond what i can do without breaking down and may wait a few months before adding something to that front.
As for random miscellaneous habits - they will be added as and when a need arises for them at no pre set regular intervals...
That is all for today
Peace
Another 10 days have passed by seamlessly quickly and it is time to incorporate a new habit into my life.
What i have come to find is that i have added around 4 habits which i have not published in the last two weeks or so and for fear of them fading out and disrupting the whole progress made thus far - i will formalise them even though they are not necessarily starting from the moment they are published on this site.
The next habit i am formalising is the habit to collect my vests and socks every day and wash them together on friday to ensure that they do not go missing, are always clean and in plentiful supply.
The last habit I incorporated was a 'religious habit'.
This one i would classify as a 'hygeine based habit'.
The next one in 10 days will be a 'health/diet based habit'.
I have already incorporated a habit to spend 15 mins every day reading and not sure if i can commit to any further 'education' based habits which will not burden me beyond what i can do without breaking down and may wait a few months before adding something to that front.
As for random miscellaneous habits - they will be added as and when a need arises for them at no pre set regular intervals...
That is all for today
Peace
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Quran Recitation
Readers,
I am pleased to say i have successfully managed to incorporate 15 minutes of reading every day for the last 10 days and intend to maintain this habit.
I have also discovered in the last 10 days that exercising my abs 7 days a week is counterproductive and that it is better to exercise them three times a week with at least a day rest between days of exercise to allow them to recover and build muscle.
Therefore i am also amending my habit of performing 10 push ups as well as abs exercises every day to doing these exercises on mondays, wednesdays and fridays.
I will stick with this for one month and assess my progress then.
The next habit i want to incorporate into my life is the habit of reading ten verses of the arabic text of the holy quran each and every day along with the translation.
I pray to God i have the strength, perserverance, patience and determination to follow this through and make this a habit and can return in ten days to incorporate a new habit into my life.
That is all for today.
Peace
I am pleased to say i have successfully managed to incorporate 15 minutes of reading every day for the last 10 days and intend to maintain this habit.
I have also discovered in the last 10 days that exercising my abs 7 days a week is counterproductive and that it is better to exercise them three times a week with at least a day rest between days of exercise to allow them to recover and build muscle.
Therefore i am also amending my habit of performing 10 push ups as well as abs exercises every day to doing these exercises on mondays, wednesdays and fridays.
I will stick with this for one month and assess my progress then.
The next habit i want to incorporate into my life is the habit of reading ten verses of the arabic text of the holy quran each and every day along with the translation.
I pray to God i have the strength, perserverance, patience and determination to follow this through and make this a habit and can return in ten days to incorporate a new habit into my life.
That is all for today.
Peace
Sunday, 31 May 2009
Reading
Readers,
Ten more days have passed since the introduction of my last habit.
thankfully i have managed to fulfil my latest commitment of daily exercise through press ups and a five minute abs work out i found on youtube.
i cant really see any physical change yet but its only been 10 days and i havent changed my diet as well so theres a lot more progress to be made in terms of health, fitness and physique but its a good start.
The next habit i am going to strive to incorporate is 15 mins reading as a bare minimum every day. This does not include newspapers, websites, magazines, post or teletext. It must be a book. i am not going to try to incorporate a habit of reading non fiction only... as i just want to incorporate the habit of actually reading and can refocus my efforts into what i want to be reading later.
I feel this is an important habit because it will keep my mind sharp, keep my vocabulary constantly improving and evolving and most importantly - reading is probably the greatest source of gaining knowledge.
I wont bother documenting what i read on this blog but if i come across any particularly fantastic books, i will let you know. I also welcome suggestions for reading material of all genres.
Although i am writing about the attempt of my new habit now, i actually have already done my readng for today. Most likely i will do my reading for the day after the morning prayer and exercise. Again it is not important when i fit it in as long as i do and every single day to make it a habit which i must do before i can sleep at night.
i havent spent any more time revising for my theory driving test because i feel it is a game of luck... will do a mock hazard perception and a coupla practise quesiton tests on my days off between now and the theory test.... but dont go in with any great conviction that *i will pass* because i consider it the same as roling a dice.
having said that, i will keep rolling till it lands right :)
thats all for today. i will be back in 10 days to let you all know how the addition of this new habit is going and what my next habit will be.
peace
Ten more days have passed since the introduction of my last habit.
thankfully i have managed to fulfil my latest commitment of daily exercise through press ups and a five minute abs work out i found on youtube.
i cant really see any physical change yet but its only been 10 days and i havent changed my diet as well so theres a lot more progress to be made in terms of health, fitness and physique but its a good start.
The next habit i am going to strive to incorporate is 15 mins reading as a bare minimum every day. This does not include newspapers, websites, magazines, post or teletext. It must be a book. i am not going to try to incorporate a habit of reading non fiction only... as i just want to incorporate the habit of actually reading and can refocus my efforts into what i want to be reading later.
I feel this is an important habit because it will keep my mind sharp, keep my vocabulary constantly improving and evolving and most importantly - reading is probably the greatest source of gaining knowledge.
I wont bother documenting what i read on this blog but if i come across any particularly fantastic books, i will let you know. I also welcome suggestions for reading material of all genres.
Although i am writing about the attempt of my new habit now, i actually have already done my readng for today. Most likely i will do my reading for the day after the morning prayer and exercise. Again it is not important when i fit it in as long as i do and every single day to make it a habit which i must do before i can sleep at night.
i havent spent any more time revising for my theory driving test because i feel it is a game of luck... will do a mock hazard perception and a coupla practise quesiton tests on my days off between now and the theory test.... but dont go in with any great conviction that *i will pass* because i consider it the same as roling a dice.
having said that, i will keep rolling till it lands right :)
thats all for today. i will be back in 10 days to let you all know how the addition of this new habit is going and what my next habit will be.
peace
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
theory test
Readers,
This is a post just to let off some steam... rather than reflect on habits as per usual.
I failed my theory test yesterday having scored 50/50 on the multiple choice aspect of the question but only 38/75 on the hazard perception element of the test.
What i have come to realise is that the hazard perception test was created entirely to extort more money out of would be motorists. After all, it is impossible to pass the practical test which is ultra strict (with only a 43% nationwide pass rate) if you have not got hazard perception skills!
Therefore having this 'computer game' like test which is a lot harder to pass than it should be due to ridiculous rules and the refusal of the government to properly explain how the software works makes me frustrated and angry but no longer embarassed about it.
After all, the pass mark for the theory is 63%. Thats right only 63%!!! for a theory!! but there you go.
i was hoping to be able to officially give up the whole revising for the theory test thing.. but as i have rebooked it - i need to continue to revise.. however im gonna stop revising for the multiple choice element till 4 or 5 days before the test and focus entirely on the hazard perception. Having been penalised twice for clicking too much i am determined to not let this happen again. Therefore I am introducing how i will handle my next test to prevent this:
i) maximum 8 clicks per clip
ii) wait at least two seconds between clicks
iii) wait approx 1.5 seconds after you have spotted 'developing hazard' before clicking and avoid clicking for it again as it develops further.. unless further 'clues' pop up and remember the two second rule - v. v. important!
iv) a developing hazard can be one of the following:
a) cyclists
b) pedestrians
c) children
d) motorcycles
e) disabled cars
f) zebra crossings
g) red lights
h) roadworks
i) lollipop man
j) animals (horses, sheep)
k) cars joing main road from side streets
l) cars indicating
m) car doors opening
n) cars performing maneouvres
o) cars slowing down
v) Do not click because the driver has changed lane because of parked cars when there is no sign of the above - its waaasting clicks!
vi) do not click because a driver has taken a left or right turn. Only if they have to slow down or change direction because of the 15 odd points mentioned above.
I could be wrong with my assessment above so please nobody use it as though it is 'proven advice' on how to pass the hazard perception... but once i retake my test in three weeks and hopefully pass... i will let you know how well it worked/didnt!
that is all.
be back in a few days with details of my new habit.
peace
This is a post just to let off some steam... rather than reflect on habits as per usual.
I failed my theory test yesterday having scored 50/50 on the multiple choice aspect of the question but only 38/75 on the hazard perception element of the test.
What i have come to realise is that the hazard perception test was created entirely to extort more money out of would be motorists. After all, it is impossible to pass the practical test which is ultra strict (with only a 43% nationwide pass rate) if you have not got hazard perception skills!
Therefore having this 'computer game' like test which is a lot harder to pass than it should be due to ridiculous rules and the refusal of the government to properly explain how the software works makes me frustrated and angry but no longer embarassed about it.
After all, the pass mark for the theory is 63%. Thats right only 63%!!! for a theory!! but there you go.
i was hoping to be able to officially give up the whole revising for the theory test thing.. but as i have rebooked it - i need to continue to revise.. however im gonna stop revising for the multiple choice element till 4 or 5 days before the test and focus entirely on the hazard perception. Having been penalised twice for clicking too much i am determined to not let this happen again. Therefore I am introducing how i will handle my next test to prevent this:
i) maximum 8 clicks per clip
ii) wait at least two seconds between clicks
iii) wait approx 1.5 seconds after you have spotted 'developing hazard' before clicking and avoid clicking for it again as it develops further.. unless further 'clues' pop up and remember the two second rule - v. v. important!
iv) a developing hazard can be one of the following:
a) cyclists
b) pedestrians
c) children
d) motorcycles
e) disabled cars
f) zebra crossings
g) red lights
h) roadworks
i) lollipop man
j) animals (horses, sheep)
k) cars joing main road from side streets
l) cars indicating
m) car doors opening
n) cars performing maneouvres
o) cars slowing down
v) Do not click because the driver has changed lane because of parked cars when there is no sign of the above - its waaasting clicks!
vi) do not click because a driver has taken a left or right turn. Only if they have to slow down or change direction because of the 15 odd points mentioned above.
I could be wrong with my assessment above so please nobody use it as though it is 'proven advice' on how to pass the hazard perception... but once i retake my test in three weeks and hopefully pass... i will let you know how well it worked/didnt!
that is all.
be back in a few days with details of my new habit.
peace
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