Work Efficiency: List of Five

Work in the office continuously pour in. When one task is done, another one comes along. Some colleagues of mine get stressed with this never ending workflow.

I already resigned to the fact that tasks in the office never stop. I have found a new but simple way of making life efficient at work: to create my own List of Five Things to Do for the day! I've already practiced this for 3 days and I hope to continue this for 3 weeks more since I've heard that it will take about this time of consistent implementation to make one exercise a habit.

Creating my own List of Five Things to Do enables me to focus and gives me a sense of fulfillment after marking them as done. The List of Five also makes me flexible enough to prioritize tasks not in the list such as within the day "urgent" requests from my boss or other important emails that needs to be addressed. I also use the "extra" time to organize my email outlook once I've done all items in the list.

As I shut down from work, I get a sense of pride finishing my tasks for the day and put on a happy smile on my face as I go on my way to take my Wellness Group Classes or Gym Exercises.

Pregnancy Tips

My bestfriend recenty told me that she is already a few weeks pregnant!! Great news as I would like to call it a honeymoon baby... =)

I've been to 2 pregnancies already. I was able to produce 2 consecutive gifts in my own baby factory - now a handsome toddler and a lovely princess ages 2 and 1 respectively.. 

I wrote before tips on wedding preparations.. I now feel like sharing my own maternity tips as well.. This list does not entail on how to get pregnant as I was quite lucky that producing babies was never a problem in my "factory". 

Here's my own version of pregnancy tips:

NEVER keep the pregnancy to yourself! If you find out that you are pregnant, share the news to those closest to you or whom you feel should be shared the news with or whom you feel could help you in a way.. You should have at least 1 person who knows about the news. Pregnancy is such a delicate condition that you should have a support partner/group whatever happens to you and your baby. At the very least, one person will do, a meaningful group composed of your family or friends is even better.

You have the right to announce it or not especially during the first few months of your pregnancy. Everybody else has the right to speculate as well just be ready on whatever people say - either nice or bad or both.

Take good care of yourself the moment you FEEL that you are pregnant. Be more careful the moment your feeling is confirmed.

Eat right! Remember you are feeding yourself and your baby.. Minimize sweet intake as this will make you and your baby bigger. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables just be careful that these are thoroughly cleaned though.

Learn more about pregnancy stuff - whether through books, in the internet, thru support groups or pre-natal classes. I used to attend Rome Kanapi's childbirth class, read what to expect when you are expecting, and frequently visit the site of babycenter.com for updates on my pregnancy (even until now I check updates relevant for my kids' age). You will be surprised that there are a lot of things/information waiting to unfold..

Once you are aware that you are pregnant, moisturize your tummy!! Who knows you will be one of the chosen few who missed out having stretchmarks during and after their pregnancy. Use shea butter or olive oil..I tried Body Shop and an anti-stretchmark oil from Maxwell and Cassey (hope I got the name of the store right). To be honest, avoiding stretchmarks after pregnancy is a hit and miss part. Find the product that gently suits you or one that you are comfortable with - oil type, body butter type or lotion type. Gently rub on your tummy area, back hip area as well as upper leg area (both front and back) to avoid stretchmarks! I was fortunate that I did not have stretchmarks during my first pregnancy as I was able to moisturize early since my first month. Unfortunately, I got stretchmarks after giving birth to my second child since I was late in recognizing the fact that I was pregnant thus I wasn't able to moisturize in my first trimester.

Be sure you have a trusted doctor or a doctor whom you are comfortable with in the course of your pregnancy..

Ask for OB-Gyne referrals if possible and make sure you are comfortable with her. If you feel some discomfort, then shift to another doctor that suits your needs and can answer your concern the soonest possible time.

Be diligent about pre-natal check ups! Always follow what your doctor says.. Remember her intentions are both for you and your baby.  

Do not be afraid to ask questions with your doctor! If she cannot or is not willing to answer your concerns/queries, then shift to another doctor!

Watch your weight! Unless you don't care if you go caesarean, then do whatever you want to do.. The ideal weight gain is between 20-35 pounds until pre-delivery if I remember right what I've read on pregnancy weight gain.

Have loads of comfortable shoes... I stopped wearing high heels the moment I found out I was pregnant. I kept my wedge sandals during my late second trimester. My feet's bestfriends during the course of my pregnancy were Havaianas and Crocs. For office shoes, I normally wear open-toed shoes mostly with 1/2 inch heels while some were closed flat shoes - the ballerina type. I still wear them to this day. =)

Check out clothes that are latest in fashion and apply as necessary to your condition. Fortunately for me, loose dresses/clothings were so in during the time I got pregnant! If it's not loose, I got the wrap-around types which were the latest trends back then... For pants,searching for the right pair can be compared to a treasure hunt! Most of the shops offer pants in escalated prices that's why I wait for sale season to maximize my purchases.

Pray that your husband or close relatives or close friends organize a baby shower for you. Don't be in panic mode or rather control your excitement when buying newborn stuff as there a few essentials for newborns. To enumerate are the following: diapers, tie-wrap shirt, baby bag, wash cloth and breastpump (if you are into storing breastmilk) and a crib to name a few.

Have everything ready during the last trimester of your pregnancy: from the hospital bag, birth plan, necessary documents that needs to be brought in the hospital and funds as payment for maternity and newborn hospital expenses.

Pregnancy may be costly thus know which ones can be charged to your company health benefits/health card/health insurance. If you don't have any of this, better start saving up for the cost of a CS operation to ensure you have enough money at hand. Check out various maternity package of various hospitals to get an idea on the cost.

Always Pray!! Include your baby in your prayers. Pray for good health , safe pregnancy&delivery,and for a healthy normal baby.

After giving birth, breastfeed your baby. By breastfeed I mean exclusively. Babies get optimal nutrition from breastmilk. It is difficult at the start to exclusively breastfeed but you will eventually get the hang of it. Expect sore nipples.. Just take the pain and let your baby suck and always remember that breastmilk is the best for babies.

Enjoy the moment! Enjoy your pregnancy, childbirth and taking care of your newborn. It will be taxing for a time I tell you but once you see the smile and twinkle in the eyes of your newborn - you will soon realize that everything is worth it!

Wedding Preparation Tips

I want to create my own version of wedding preparation tips.. Feel free to add up if you wish..

1. Always have someone to prepare for your wedding on top of yourself. Enlist the support of other people - be it be your husband-to-be, your sister or any relative/best friend willing to volunteer or better yet hire a wedding coordinator.

2. If you don't have time to prepare your wedding and have the money to splurge on, hire a wedding coordinator - full time or just on the wedding day itself. Another option is to welcome any offers for voluntary work or "sponsorhips" from relatives or friends(i.e. sponsor the dress/gowns, cakes, flowers, flower arrangement, bridal car, etc..)

3. Expect that guest list will add up than originally planned

4. Finalize your wedding budget and try your best to stick with your budget.

5. Have a notebook at hand for all the wedding prep notes..

6. Draft the list of entourage with your fiancee. You can also consult with both your parents if you wish.

7. Scout for the best deals if possible from wedding coordinators, wedding gowns and dresses, to caterers, florists, church and reception venue, cake, giveaways, photographers, video etc!

8. Always mind the location, Location Location!! Do you love the locations (both church and the reception), does it fit your budget? is it accessible to your closest family members/guests? if you answer yes to these, then go for it!

9. Always insist that your fiancee and your decision is final in the wedding preparations

10. A few months before the wedding consult your dermatologist and avail of treatments necessary to make your skin glow even more during your wedding day.

11. A few weeks before the wedding have a lunch or dinner with your entourage, principal and secondary sponsors - this will allow them to get to know each other before the wedding and discuss matters that concerns your wedding if necessary.

12. Enlist the help of your entourage if need be prior to your wedding day. Meet up with them (a lunch or coffee will do) or let your wedding coordinator handle this since you need someone to man the entrance at the reception, someone to let others sign your guestbook/montage frame, someone to distribute the giveaways..

13. Make sure you have the necessary accessories for your wedding: tiara ( if necessary) comfortable shoes, jewelries, etc.. always remember to have the following worn by you on your wedding day: "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue"

14. A day or 2 before the wedding, indulge yourself to spa treatments. A must is to get a manicure for both you and your husband to be (for a better hand picture when exchanging rings or showing your rings). For yourself, get a pedicure and a good massage..

15. Don't forget to get enough sleep and rest the day before your wedding day. Leave everything to your wedding coordinator or planners.

16. On your wedding day, smile, don't be distracted by minor glitches and let it go as is.. Let the photographer take lots and lots of pictures and be ready with your smile always!

* While doing your wedding preparations, you might encounter some disagreements either between your fiancee, your family/his family, your wedding coordinator etc.. but please make an effort to meet halfway and apologize if necessary once you've regained your cool.