Ekweremadu PDP post-election panel meets Jonathan

Members of the Post-Election Review Committee set up by the Peoples Democratic Party to assess its performance in the last general elections and proffer the way forward met behind closed doors with President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday.

The committee members were led to the meeting, which was held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, by their chairman and Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu.

Ekweremadu told State House correspondents at the end of the parley that he and his members used the opportunity of the meeting to brief Jonathan of their work and seek his support.

He added that the President had assured them that he was committed to ensuring that the PDP returns to its lost glory.

He added that they had agreed that all internal bickering within the party should stop to allow them to move forward.

Ekweremadu said, “As you are aware, the PDP set up a committee to have an overview of our performance during 2015 election and possibly proffer a road map for the PDP to return to its past glory.

“This committee has since been inaugurated and we deemed it necessary to come back to the leader of the party to brief him on our appointment and to seek his support and cooperation.

“I would like to announce that Mr. President has given us his words that he will encourage and will support this process and that he is interested in the party returning to its past glory and that he is going to do everything to ensure that we remain intact and we also agreed that all bickering have to stop so that we have a position that will enable us to rebuild our party.”

Ekweremadu explained that the blame game among party chiefs was expected as the first reaction to the kind of situation the party found itself after the elections.

He however said the bickering had stopped as party chiefs had absorbed the shock and were now ready to build the PDP again.

Ekweremadu said, “When you have this kind of situation, the first reaction will be blame game. But I think we have been able to absorb that shock and right now I can assure you that all that bickering has stopped.

“We are now ready to rebuild our party and be able to present in a credible opposition for this country that will ensure us return to power in 2019.

“We are ready to hold the new government accountable and make sure that the promises they have made that we will be able to benchmark each of them appropriately so that it will not be that they have deceived Nigerians and got their votes.

“They are going to account for their statements, their promises. We will hold them accountable to all the promises.”

15 Sign To Know If You Are Dating A Covert P*rostitute (runs Girl).

There is still the danger of being conned by your beautiful girlfriend who could be a covert p*rostitute or have a history of indulging in it. There are certain signs that must be kept in mind to identify such women , because such women isn’t really the type you’d be looking for, especially when it comes to seeking loyalty within a relationship. Her loyalties are basically reserved for the highest bidder; and if you fail to bid consistently, you’ll lose her in the end.

Even women who haven’t p*rostituted themselves can exhibit these traits below. Technically they may not be pr*ostitutes, but they still have a pr*ostitute’s mind set. Essentially, they
p*rostitute themselves to their boyfriends or lovers for a period of time, as long as these men can afford them. This has led to the coinage of the term ‘covert
p*rostitution’ to such relationships where men are essentially indirectly paying for s*ex. So here are some signs you must observe: 


1. She despises poverty, and more so of men who have low paying jobs: 
She easily get annoyed and abusive while dealing with poor men ( taxi driver, barrow pusher, e.t.c ). Her h*atred of poverty reminds her of her own desperate circumstances at one time. Even though women are hypergamous by nature, most women don’t despise poor men as long as he is working to earn something. P*rostitutes however see no ‘customer’ potential in such men.

2. She makes it a routine to request for something (maybe monetary) before giving you s*ex: 
This type of girls are so cunning in their dealing, when they first starts a date with a potential costumer, they will give you frequent great s*ex(they are very good in bed) without requesting anything in return at least for a week or less. When she has succeeded in blowing off your mind in bed ( that period you starts behaving like a small pikin) ,then gradually she reduce the fun ( to make you beg for it) to a reluctant transactional chore she performs for you only when you have done something for her first (usually something of monetary value). S*ex now becomes a reward in the relationship. 

3. She frequently uses the word Ashawo, slut and LovePeddler to describe her friends or women she doesn’t like:
If you have been to a brothel and observe where p*rostitutes quarrel or fight, one word you always hear them call themselves is "Ashawo" . This is because what they does in their life relives in their mind. She’s simply projecting onto others what she has done and been called before by others.

4 . She openly tells you she doesn't trust her friends around you , but still doesn't want to leave them:
Birds of same feathers flies together. She gets upset and paranoid(ask a lot of questions) anytime you tell her you met one of her girlfriends. She is only trying to protect her money making machine from her fellow tigers (they are all in same business). To her friends she will be like "go get your own maga Dam". 

5. She boasts and prides herself of her s*exual skills and how men are attracted to her and also she is openly jealous of beautiful women:
She knew that the only thing she is good at is s*ex, and she will always brag about it , like how all her ex are still calling and begging her because of it. She says all this to upgrade her low self esteem and to make you feel jealous of losing her while she milks you dry. If you are observant enough you will also notice her envy against younger and more beautiful women whom she tries to demean.

6. She tends to be usually ‘busy’ within the week without explaining what ‘busy’ is. ‘Busy’ is the code word for booked or reserved, a term commonly used by p*rostitutes. A normal girl will rather tell
you directly what she’s doing to postpone plans, instead of using the ambiguous, business-like ‘busy’ , when we all know she doesn't work or go to school during the weekend. 

7. She is known by multiple names among people. Her guy friends call her with different names, or she asks you
to address her by a name which is not her real name. Also: she has multiple cell numbers.
If your "Chizzy" is called as "Rossy" by
some other guy and called as jessy by another, it means that those names are her work alias. Runs girls doesn’t want to be known by their real name to protect their identity. Multiple cell numbers are obvious: one is for personal or casual use, the other one is for official or ‘work’ (p*rostitution) use. 

8. you happen to find stuff like wigs of several colours, length and styles in her wardrobe:
Who carries or keeps stuff like that? Only experienced professionals. Wigs are to camouflage her identity when in club house or other places she normally hangout to catch potential clients.

9. You observe she has some tiny (razor-like) markings close to her v*agina:
Professional runs girl ( just like professional armed robbers) often seek spiritual protections and prosperity in their work. This diabolical protection is mostly done by cutting a slight fresh close to the v*agina, through which concoctions are insert. Some of this works like a charm in a man once you get in, you can't leave until you are milked dry, while some maybe for protection from ritualist , occultist e.t.c 

10. She has a poor or average income, but she manages to afford a comparatively affluent lifestyle without family support.
Who pays for it? Is she surviving on a financial loan? 

11. She constantly reminds you of the things that she’s done for you: 
Especially of the s*ex she provided for you. What else can she do for you except provide her ‘special’ orifices for you
on demand? For her you should be grateful for the skilled services she provided for you, since she has done a better job than what her competitors would her given you.

12. She berates and criticizes girls who date men below them in social and economic status:
You hear them say things like 'why on earth will a fine girl like that be dating that small ratchet boy'. Ask her what's her business, her business is that it's a waste of resources to see a poor guy digging that money making pot for free, when their are big men out there ready to pay for it.

13. She rates men on their income, social status and influence (disregarding character):
If she idolizes rich and ‘successful’ men of questionable character, it shows where her priorities lie. A little attention from such men is enough for her to pull down her panties for them.

14. In public even when she is with you, she still keep staring at other men:
Just as some guys (even when with their babes) still stares at other women butt (especially when it's bigger than their babes), that's same way a covert p*rostitute even when with her so called boyfriend stares at other guy she think are richer. The only different is that the she stares the potential maga straight into his eyes, and hoping the dude catches the gaze (signal) 

15. She’s obsessed about money and excessively materialistic:
The classic p*rostitute mind set: she talks money, thinks money, eats money, sleeps money. This woman can easily be
seduced with offers of money, and sometimes even asks for it. She never refuses offers of cash gifts. Money will open her legs and give her gina tingles faster than any other thing.

10 Signs You’re an Escapist (Both Good and Bad)

If you have a tendency to avoid reality by fantasizing about your dream scenario, then chances are you are an escapist. But it is not all bad being an escapist; like everything else in life, it does have its good and bad traits.

But believe it or not, there’s an escapist in all of us. But some of us tend to take escapism to the next level and this can be quite bad. In this article, I will identify 5 good and 5 bad signs of being an escapist. So if you want to know whether you are an escapist, check these 10 signs below.

The Good Signs

1. You daydream (a lot).

If you have a tendency to daydream (a lot), then you could be an escapist. Escapists are people who want to create their own reality whilst they go about their daily routine. And these day dreams don’t tend to happen purposefully; they actually happen quite naturally when you don’t expect it. And when they do occur, you welcome them. A lot these dream tend to revolve around your deepest desires, like being a rock star, celebrity or being able to stand up for yourself.

2. You are very creative.

If you are capable of making your own alternate reality in your mind, then you must be one imaginative and creative person. And because you developed this habit of imagining, you regularly exercise your creative muscles so you come up with new ideas all the time. If you think about it, some of the most creative works of literature or art (like Stars Wars, Batman—you name it) are all set in a dystopian universe.

3. You want to live life on your own terms.

If you are an escapist, chances are you are working in a job that you don’t really like. And you probably have this burning desire to quit your job. But being an escapist is not just about wishing to quit your job; there could be many things in your life that you wish weren’t there. They could be finance or family-related, and things which you don’t have control over. Escapists like yourself are longing to free from their shackles and live life on their own terms.

4. You love to travel the world.

You’re quick to be bitten by the travel bug. And by travelling, it is not your usual going to a beach and partying type of vacation (although you won’t mind doing that now and then). Your idea of travelling is to explore and to embrace the vibrant cultures that the world would has to offer. And since you are an escapist, you’ll be easily drawn to pictures being posted on Facebook where your friends are showing off their latest travelling adventures and you can’t help but to feel slightly envious.

5. You enjoying reading fiction like fantasy and sci-fi.

As mentioned in one of the previous signs, escapist are incredibly creative and they’re responsible for creating the greatest works of fiction, especially in the fantasy and sci-fi genre. And as a fellow escapist, you admire their work because it allows you be a part of their imaginary universe. It gives you a chance to escape.

The Bad Signs

6. Your desire to quit your job may lead you to under-perform in your job.

This is a classic sign for anyone who is an escapist. Chances are, if you are an escapist, then you may hate your job. There’s a part of you who wants to go on to achieve greater things, perhaps a better career, or you want to do something that you love. So you continue to daydream and lose focus of what you should be doing. And because of this, you are at risk of under-performing in your job.

7. You may be addicted to video games.

Video games have evolved so much recently that you actually feel as if you are a part of their pixelated world. Like many escapists, you are probably addicted to playing video games, and that is because these games allow you to escape into an imaginary reality. Games like the SIMs are becoming more popular because it allows you to create your own alternative version of yourself where you are living your dream world. And because you are so submersed in your universe that you have created, you don’t want to let it go.

8. You realise the world is a harsh place.

This is very common characteristic of all escapists, and it should be seen as a sign. As an escapist, you will have probably imagined this amazing future where you will be living the life of your dream. But when you go and pursue this dream, the shock of what the world is really like disappoints you. You will quickly realise this so go back to just imagining your dream world, where you feel happy.

9. You tend to procrastinate.

Although you may have all these aspirations to live your dream life, the truth is something is holding you back and it is preventing you from pursuing passion. The one thing that is holding you back is your fear of failure. In fact, you’re petrified of failure. You keeping asking all these “what ifs” and they all revolve around failure (e.g. “what if people all mock me because I want to be a writer?!”). And because of this, you end up staying where you are and you start procrastinating.

10. You can’t face uncertainty.

Similar to the last point, another sign which coincides with procrastination is your inability to face uncertainty. Your alternate dream world is where you go to escape the actual reality that you find difficult to accept. When you face uncertain situations, you tend to start procrastinating and start to fantasize. And that’s because you find certainty and security in your dream.

Conclusion

There good and bad signs when it comes to being an escapist. The good signs tend to lead to creativity and exploration, but the bad signs lead to procrastination and not being able to accept reality. If you do have difficulty in accepting reality and pursuing your passion, you could benefit from seeking professional help. But hopefully, this article has made you familiar with signs that are usually associated with being an escapist.

iPhone 6 vs Galaxy S6

iPhone vs Galaxy S. Galaxy S vs iPhone. It’s a battle that has been raging since 2010, though it really only started to heat up with the release of the Galaxy S3 in 2012. These two lines of phones have often represented the peak of the smartphone industry, not because they are always the “best” phone available, but because of their popularity among consumers. This hasn’t changed in recent history, as both the iPhone 6 and the Galaxy S6 have shattered sales records. With each phone being as popular as they are, which should you buy?

In this article, I’m going to compare these two phones in a number of ways, and in the process you will hopefully get a better idea of which phone will suit you better. Let’s jump right in.

Design

Both the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6 are beautiful devices. Indeed, they both seem to draw on similar design motifs (I doubt that was an accident on Samsung’s part). The main difference between each is that the S6 uses a glass back, not unlike the iPhone 4 or 4S, while the 6 is encased in aluminum. Your mileage may vary, but some might not like the smudges and potential for shattering associated with the S6′s glass backing.

All in all though, the 6 is far more of a departure from previous designs than the S6 is. Comparing it to the iPhone 5S, the 6 is nearly unrecognizable, whereas the S6 looks very much like previous iterations when looking at it head on. That’s not a bad thing though, as there was nothing inherently wrong with Samsung’s design. They just had to spruce it up a bit with higher quality materials, which they accomplished with the S6.

Each device has a prominent home button that comes equipped with an advanced fingerprint scanner (Samsung greatly improved upon the technology used in the S5′s home button). While many won’t like how much space they take up, there’s no denying how useful they are.

The Galaxy S6 also comes in another variant, dubbed the S6 “Edge.” The only difference is that he screen bends around the sides of the device’s chassis, giving it a sleeker and more unique look. There isn’t much practical use for it yet, but it sure does look amazing (though it will set you back another $100).

What’s funny about the designs of these phones is that both Apple and Samsung seem to have pulled a page out of each other’s books. Apple increased the screen size of their device, while Samsung improved upon build quality. Both were trying to address perceived deficiencies, and I think that they each accomplished what they set out to do in that department.

Size

Both phones are fairly similar in size. The S6 is slightly larger, but it also comes with a bigger screen (5.1″ vs 4.7″ on the iPhone). The iPhone is a tiny bit thinner than the S6, not including the camera bulge on either one.

Either way, you shouldn’t have too much of a problem carrying either phone around in your pocket or purse. Additionally, the screens on each phone are large enough for pretty much anything you would want to do, including reading and watching videos.

Display

The displays on each phone are magnificent, though the Galaxy S6 just might “edge” the iPhone out in this department. Not only is it slightly larger, but its resolution is much better. We’re talking 2560 x 1440 pixels for the S6′s screen versus a mere 1334 x 750 pixels for the iPhone 6. Having played around with both, there’s not really as much of a difference as the numbers would suggest. But there is a difference. The flip side to this is that having a lower resolution means the iPhone 6 won’t have to work as hard to power certain apps and games, which might mean greater battery life and overall longevity down the road.

Performance

I won’t get too technical on you here, as numbers really don’t tell you much when it comes to smartphone performance. Here are the essentials: the S6 comes with an eight-core processor and 3GB of ram, while the iPhone 6 comes with a dual-core processor and 1GB of ram. The S6 wins handily in certain benchmarks like Geekbench 3, but falls short in tests that measure browser speed. When it comes to the actual fluidity of the device, and overall user experience, the iPhone wins out (though just barely).

Samsung’s TouchWiz software continues to hold back the S6, as despite its powerful hardware it suffers from the occasional stutter or freeze that you won’t find on an iPhone. They do deserve some credit though, as the S6 runs far smoother than previous Galaxy S phones.

That said, power users should probably opt for the Galaxy S6. If you are tech savvy, you’ll be able to find ways to get the most out of that device’s impressive technical capabilities. Though the iPhone might “feel” smoother, it’s still outclassed from a hardware perspective.

You’ll have to decide on your priorities yourself. Those who want a smooth, streamlined experience should probably pick the iPhone. Those who want more raw power and potential for customization should opt for the S6.

Battery Life and Overall Longevity

Both of these phones are top-of-the-line right now, but in just a few months that will no longer be the case. Which of these can you rely upon to get you through the next few years?

They each come with non-removable batteries, meaning you need to take care of the one you have so that it lasts the entirety of the time you have the device. Often times, batteries begin to lose their charge over the course of a two year contract, and if they aren’t replaced, you’ll notice. Since the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6 both have sealed batteries, you’re going to see degrading battery performance no matter which you choose.

Indeed, both the S6 and iPhone 6 have average to poor battery life as it is. The S6 actually has a smaller battery than its predecessor, and Apple opted to slim its device down rather than give it more juice to work with. No matter which you choose, you’ll be forced to charge once or maybe even twice a day, depending on use.

What about software updates? There’s no question that Apple is better about supporting their older devices. Any iPhone 6 user should expect to get iOS updates all the up until they hit iOS 11, at the very least. That’s about three years of support, which is better than what most Android phones offer.

But is that a good thing? Often times, iOS updates will hurt your older phone more than they help, leading to battery drain and performance slowdowns. So even if the Galaxy S6 isn’t supported by software updates for as long as the iPhone 6 is, it probably won’t matter since installing new software on old hardware has diminishing returns anyways.

Bottom line is that you can safely assume each of these devices will last you through your two year contract, and then some. Beyond that, it’s your choice if you want to upgrade (I doubt smartphones will be all that different in 2016, so it might just be better to save your money and wait a bit longer…)

Value

The Galaxy S6 is unquestionably the better value right now. At $199 on contract, it’s the same price as the iPhone 6, while being around six months newer. Additionally, the entry level version of the S6 comes with 32GB of storage as opposed to 16GB on the iPhone, meaning you’re getting more for your dollar.

If you are fully invested into the iOS ecosystem, then the iPhone would likely be the better choice. For anyone not tied to a particular operating system though, the S6 will give you more for your money.

Final Thoughts

You really can’t go wrong with either of these phones. Both are beautifully crafted devices with enough computing power to get you through the next several years. In a way, Apple and Samsung drew upon each other’s strengths with these two phones. The iPhone 6′s enlarged screen size is clearly a nod to the success of the Galaxy S line, and the S6′s immaculate build quality is undoubtedly a nod to the success of iPhones.

This can only mean good things for you, the consumer. Indeed, the success of both of these phones has me excited for what will be released in the years to come. In just a few short months, we’ll see how Apple responds to the S6 when they release the iPhone 6S. (Are these names getting confusing or is it just me?)

To learn more about these phones from their manufacturers, and to purchase one if you so choose, check out these links:

(iPhone 6)

(Galaxy S6)

Do you own an iPhone 6 or Galaxy S6? What are your thoughts on this subject? Share your comments below!

10 Ways A Boss Makes The Employees Unproductive WORK

Your unproductive ways at work may not be entirely your fault.

The way your boss manages you and the rest of the staff can directly affect output. Most workers do not consider this because it is not a common issue that is highlighted. Furthermore, the unproductive delegation methods of a manager can only be corrected by his or her superiors.

As an employee it is important to be able to distinguish a well-organized manager from one who can be the downfall of the team. This infographic highlights 10 clues about how your boss could be damaging your ability to work.

There are also solutions for each weak point, allowing you to raise the issue with your boss directly instead of talking about it with other members of the staff.

Do you think your boss is making you unproductive? Share your experience with us.

Three die, 10 injured in Ogun road crash

Three persons died while 10 others were injured in an road crash which at Onipepeye village, along  the Sagamu-Siun-Abeokuta Expressway in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.

Two commercial vehicles, a Nissan Primera, with number plate LSD 770 BZ, and a Space Wagon marked GGE 950 CQ were involved in the crash.

The vehicles were travelling in the opposite direction, before one of them lost control, swerved to the lane of the oncoming car before colliding with another car.

One of the lucky survivors, narrating how the accident happened, said the Primera car was heading to Sagamu from Abeokuta when the driver suddenly lost control and swerved to the other side of the dual carriage road, and collided with the Space wagon heading for Abeokuta.

He said the casualty figure was high because both vehicles were on top speed at the time of the incident.

The injured were rushed to the hospital in Abeokuta while the corpses were deposited at the morgue.

The Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the crash but promised to get to our correspondent to confirm the number of casualties.

He had yet to call as of the time of filing this report

Deadly Issues That No One Ever Told You About Sitting

People always equate relaxing with sitting. Probably most of you agree, but the problem is if you sit for most of your waking hours, you’re slowly killing yourself. At least, that’s what four experts say in a detailed infographic presented here.

About the serious health issue mentioned earlier, one of my friends heeded the warning. He’s a freelance writer like me, and he had developed a bad habit of sitting for long periods of time. Back then, most of the time, he was chained to a chair hitting keys on his keyboard. Every day, his wife would urge him to go out and go walking. She would push him to step out of his office and move around so he won’t develop some dreadful disease. He did. Today, he is thankful he listened to his wife, because more and more materials pop out from different sources covering deadly issues associated with sitting for extended hours.

Reporting by Bonnie Berkowitz; Graphic by Patterson Clark

THE EXPERTS | Scientists interviewed for this report

James A. Levine, inventor of the treadmill desk and director of Obesity Solutions at Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University.
Charles E. Matthews, National Cancer Institute investigator and author of several studies on sedentary behavior.
Jay Dicharry, director of the REP Biomechanics Lab in Bend, Ore., and author of “Anatomy for Runners.”
Tal Amasay, biomechanist at Barry University’s Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences.

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12 Weekend Habits of Highly Successful People

I’ve read countless articles about what successful people do on their weekends. Do you want to know the secret? It’s the same thing that they do every other day. As Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Here are 12 weekend habits of highly successful people:

1. Robert Iger: Get up early

This Disney CEO is not the only executive claiming to rise at 4:30 every morning. Successful people do not stay in bed until 2 p.m. on a Sunday. Or even 11 a.m. Research shows that our brains are sharpest two and a half to four hours after waking. Get up early on a weekend and you’ve got a head start on the rest of the world.

2. Benjamin Franklin: Have a plan

Apparently, this founding father asked himself every morning, “What good shall I do today?” Successful people know the importance of even daily goals — the weekends are no exception. Sure, they can be a time for (planned and purposeful) rejuvenation, but you don’t have to be President to know that general slacking off is not an option.

3. Timothy Ferris: Don’t multi-task

Multi-tasking is so 2005. It may be tempting to maximize your weekend productivity by running on the treadmill while calling your mother and trolling your newsfeed, but successful people know that this just reduces efficiency and effectiveness. Instead, be present for each single activity. Ferris recommends a maximum of two goals or tasks per day to ensure productivity and accomplishments align.

4. Anna Wintour: Stay active

Vogue’s editor-in-chief commits to playing tennis for one hour every day. And she’s not the only big-shot making time for exercise. Richard Branson stays active with kite surfing and India’s fourth-richest billionaire is a serial marathon runner. Successful people know the importance of an active body for an active mind — weekends included. If nothing else, it will also counteract that glass of wine and cheese platter from Saturday night.

5. Steve Jobs: Prioritize what’s important

“Things don’t have to change the world to be important.” Weekends are the time to remind yourself of the forgotten little things — to keep your work-life harmony (the new ‘balance’) in check and reset if needed. Spending time with your friends, children or partner might not directly increase profits that day or propel you into the limelight, but that doesn’t make it any less important. Even the current US President famously makes time to sit down for dinner with his family.

6. Warren Buffet: Make time for hobbies

He may be considered the most successful investor of the 20th century, but in his “spare” time Buffett likes to play the ukulele. Successful people are often interesting people — and their hobbies have a lot to do with that. Sure, golfing on Saturdays can be a great way to network and source business opportunities. But, even solo hobbies — knitting like Meryl Streep or oil painting like George W. Bush — can aid success through fostering creativity and relieving stress.

7. Oprah: Practice stillness

Forbes’ most powerful celebrity of 2013 still finds time to sit in stillness for 20 minutes — twice a day! This once-best-kept secret of the yogis is now common knowledge. Even the corporate world is acknowledging the benefits of meditation and mindfulness for reducing stress, improving productivity, facilitating creativity and maintaining general well-being. The weekends can often be busier than week days with attempting to cram in chores, exercise, family commitments, social engagements and more into a 48-hour period. The most successful people take daily time out for stillness, weekends included. They don’t call it a meditation “practice” for nothing.

8. Randi Zuckerberg: Forget FOMO, Embrace JOMO

We’ve all done it — posted a tastefully filtered snap of our weekend antics or checked in on social media to elicit “likes” and envy from our friends/followers (#bragging). Enter, the era of FOMO (fear of missing out). On weekends, we’re even more prone to FOMO. But the founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media (and, you guessed it, the sister to Facebook’s creator) says people should be focusing on JOMO (the joy of missing out) — the mantra that “there is nowhere I’d rather be than exactly where I am.” Successful people are often competitive, high achievers by nature — practicing an attitude of gratitude and resisting social-media-induced FOMO is key for a happy weekend. And isn’t happiness the real marker of success?

9. Bill Gates: Take time to reflect

The founder of Microsoft famously said, “It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.” Reflection should be a daily practice but the weekends are a perfect opportunity to step back and reflect on the lessons of the previous week and to make improvements for the next. Author of “The Happiness Project,” Gretchen Rubin, suggests starting a “one sentence journal” to encourage daily reflection. Make Saturday or Sunday your day to flick back through the week’s entries!

10. Richard Branson: Give back

This billionaire entrepreneur says that “it is amazing how focusing your mind on issues like health, poverty, conservation and climate change can help to re-energize your thinking in other areas.” Successful people agree with Anne Frank: “No one has ever become poor from giving.” Tom Corley studied the rich for five years before writing his book “Wealthy Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals.” He found that 73% of wealthy people volunteer for five or more hours per month. Nothing helps put things in perspective and reduce stress more than helping those less fortunate. Weekends are a great time to get involved in local and community volunteer events.

11. Jack Dorsey: Get ready for the rest of the week

The Twitter and Square co-founder is notorious for 16-hour work days from Monday to Friday but says, “Saturday I take off. I hike. And then Sunday is reflections, feedback, strategy and getting ready for the rest of the week.” Forget Sunday blues, let’s call it “Sort-Your-Life-Out Sunday.” Laura Vanderkam, author of “What the Most Successful People Do on the Weekend,” says successful people know that weekends are actually the secret weapon in professional success: “You need to hit Monday ready to go.”

12. Jay Z: Keep up the momentum

He’s made an empire as a highly successful rap artist and entrepreneur, and the secret is right there in his lyrics: “You can want success all you want, but to get it, you can’t falter. You can’t slip. You can’t sleep. One eye open, for real, and forever.” (Decoded) Jay Z didn’t become worth $520 million by only wanting it five out of seven days of the week. If you want to eventually spend your weekends on a luxury yacht in the Caribbean with Beyoncé, unrelenting grit and persistence might just get you there. Well, we can always dream, right?

It’s settled then. Success is a 24/7 lifestyle choice — weekends included!

More 15 Things Only People Who Do Shift Work Will Understand

                          

At one time or another, you’ve probably had to work at a company that provides service 24/7. If you’ve done shift work you know it’s not fun: your schedule changes every week and you can never sleep or eat when you want.

The good thing is, you’re not alone. Millions of people out there are doing shift work, too. No doubt you’re probably reading this at 2 AM—but it’s okay. I feel you!

1. You don’t understand the joy of a weekend

Weekends are rarely a time for celebration as you are usually working the most painfully awkward shift. Instead you have free time when everyone else is busy.

2. You also don’t get that “Friday feeling”

If you do shift work, chances are you’ll have to work on Saturday at 8 AM. So either you go in for your 8-hour shift with a hangover, or you miss out on Friday fun altogether.

3. You can’t make plans more than a week in advance

Your boss might promise that the rotations will be up at least three weeks in advance, but they never are. Which means every Facebook event you’re invited to has you under “Maybe.” Usually this is the case until the day before when you realize they’ve switched your shift and you can’t go. Yet again. Thanks, shift work!

4. Your friends don’t understand that changing shifts isn’t easy

Oh, you want me to get someone with their first Saturday off in a month to work my 10-hour shift? I don’t think so. You must really not understand shift work. Only a cruel person would do that.

5. You have to wish on a shooting star to escape Christmas Eve

We all know how busy the Christmas period is. But while most companies shut down for the year, if you do shift work you can’t escape it. Shift workers know that even Christmas doesn’t stop you working.

6. Your sleeping pattern is synced with people on the other side of the planet

You’ve forgotten what it’s like to sleep with the rest of your country. No doubt you’ll be online and the only other people awake are on completely opposite sides of the world!

7. You haven’t seen your friends in months

They’re usually working while you’re sleeping, and you’re working while they’re partying. Your schedules rarely sync up, but when they do it couldn’t be better.

8. You often forget what day of the week it is

Now that your sleeping pattern is ruined you never know what day of the week it is, since you usually start work on a Monday and finish on a Tuesday morning.

9. You get annoyed when people complain about having to wake up before 10 a.m.

You were probably up at three in the morning to start your shift, and in the meantime all your friends are complaining about waking up at 8:30. It’s a mockery really!

10. You always miss family dinners

Everyone else has the weekend to slob around and meet up with the family, but you rarely get to see them. When you do your youngest cousins usually have no idea who you are!

11. You would be lost without Netflix

This way you can watch something other than the weird shows that are on at three in the morning.

12. You hate when customers tell you to “have a good day”

Isn’t it obvious that you’re spending your whole day standing behind the register? No, sir, you will not have a good day.

13. You never eat meals at a normal time

Eating dinner at 10 p.m. is standard practice. As is breakfast at 4 a.m. and lunch at 9 a.m. Your diet is probably really messed up because of this.

14. You have massive bags under your eyes

That lack of sleep catches up with you somehow and it decided to sit under your eyes for the world to see.

15. You rarely see your significant other when they’re awake

You’re so used to seeing them tucked up in bed it’s weird to hear their voice and see them active. On the plus side, you don’t miss out on cuddles.

20 Mini Money Hacks To Save You A Lot

Do you like to save money? Dumb question, right – you work hard for your money, so you want to keep as much of it as possible. There are plenty of ways to save money without spending hours to do so. Here are 20 simple mini money saving hacks that can help you save a lot. Let’s get straight to the point and start saving…

1. Put your savings on auto-pilot

You can automate just about everything; and you should. It takes a lot of weight off your shoulders and frees up your time. Saving is easy to automate with online banking – simply set up an automatic transfer from your checking to your savings each month… Or try Digit! Digit is a free tool that automatically transfers different amounts from your checking account to your savings. It’s an intelligent tool that knows when you can and can’t afford to save; but don’t worry, if for some reason Digit causes you to overdraft by taking too much, they will fully reimburse any fees and charges (though it’s so smart I’ve never even heard of it causing an overdraft).

2. Make a meal plan

When people ask how my wife and I feed our family of six for under $400/month, I have two words: “meal plan”. Planning your meals will save you a ton. It eliminates buying extra food that you don’t need. It also helps you plan ahead for making more affordable meals, rather than buying what looks good when you’re at the grocery store.  I’ll go over how we make our meal plans even cheaper in the next point.

3. Plan meals around sales

You don’t have to spend hours going through sale papers to find the best deals on everything. Just make your meal plan, but leave the specifics open. For example, one of your meals could be a stir-fry, so you need meat, veggies and a grain. When you get to the store, buy the best-priced meat and veggies. Then look for a grain, like rice or quinoa and buy whatever is the most cost-effective, weighing the price and health benefits.

4. Drink more water

This may seem obvious but the statistics show that it isn’t. You’ll save a lot of money if you stop buying the 24 packs of soda and bottles of juice. Bottled water is cheap – tap water is cheaper. There are many great options for filtering if you’re not a fan of the tap taste. Weigh the cost and see whether you prefer bottled or tap. When you’re eating out, a family of six can easily save $12-$20 per meal just by drinking water instead of soft drinks.

5. Set an automatic budget

There are plenty of free services like Mint and Personal Capital that allow you to link your accounts and automatically track your budget. If you’re not one for spreadsheets and inputting numbers, this is for you. You are able to view it and oversee the budget, but once you set your categories everything is automatically sorted for you. Occasionally something will go into the wrong category, but it’s easy to switch it and change the category for all future transactions.

6. Set a plan to pay off debt

If you want to get out of debt, you need a plan. There are a few options, but the two most common are the debt snowball and the debt avalanche. How do they work? For the debt snowball you simply write down all your debts from the smallest balance to the largest, then you use any extra money to pay off the smallest balance first. Once that’s paid off, take that payment plus any extra money, and put it on the next smallest balance until you’re debt free. With the debt avalanche it’s the same idea, except you sort by interest rate (highest to lowest) instead of by balance.  The debt avalanche will save you more money in interest, but you may prefer the small wins that the debt snowball provides in the beginning.

7. Get a second job

If you’re trying to reach a goal that seems to be taking longer than you’d like, you may want a second a job. It’s not forever; just a temporary job to get past whatever situation you’re in. If you’re in debt a second job is a great way to pay it off faster. If you’re building an emergency fund: get a second job to get it knocked out. The service industry is great for this, such as waiting tables or delivering pizzas. Service jobs are great for maximizing your extra working hours, since you’ll be getting tips and likely making more than you would at a regular hourly job.  If you aren’t able to get a second job then don’t worry!  There are plenty of other ways below to save money without working more.

8. Challenge everything

Challenge every single expense you have. Do you really need cable? What about those magazine subscriptions that you don’t read? Both of them cost money on their own and the ads could possibly persuade you to spend even more. Odds are you can cut something out. Perhaps you’ve been paying for a service so long that it’s second nature? It’s time for a challenge and here’s how to do it:

1. Write down every single expense you have
2. Look for expenses you can fully cut out
3. Find ways to save money on the remaining expenses

9. Compare insurance rates

When was the last time you checked insurance rates? This is something you should be doing annually. The cheapest isn’t always the best, but usually you’ll find that you can get the same coverage for less money if you shop around. Once a year take a look at all your insurance policies. Call around or go online and see if you can find better rates. Most of the time you can!

10. Use coupons wisely

There are primarily two crowds when it comes to coupons: the first crowd says coupons aren’t worth the time you spend cutting them; the second crowd says coupons are always worth it because they save you money. However, there exists another crowd: the savvy couponers. Be discerning with coupons. It may not be practical for you to spend hours each week cutting them, but you should be on the lookout for coupons that save you a lot of money. Check out popular services like Groupon or Living Social to look for a coupon every time you’re about to spend money. It takes seconds and could save you a lot, especially on services like an oil change or a massage.

11. Review your card statements

Whether you use a credit card or a debit card, review your statements each month. It’s not uncommon for random or bogus charges to appear on your account. It’s easy to overlook these charges when you’re not checking your statement each month. If you have multiple cards, use a service like Personal Capital to link all your accounts. This way you can see all your transactions in one place for an easy review.

12. Start an emergency fund

Emergency funds are something you should set in place to avoid using a credit card in an emergency. When a crisis hits you don’t want to turn to a credit card and pile on the debt.  Debt can turn a crisis into a catastrophe.Dave Ramsey popularized the idea of having an emergency fund instead of a credit card. Dave recommends getting it to $1,000 quickly; however anything is better than nothing. Even if you can just put $50 or $100 in your emergency fund each month, you’re still making progress.

13. Use the 30-day rule

When you’re considering making a large purchase, use the 30-day rule. If you still want it just as much after 30 days, consider making the purchase. Often you’ll find that you no longer care about whatever it is you wanted. This eliminates spontaneous purchases made out of excitement or emotion.

14. Take it down a notch

Set your thermostat one degree cooler or warmer depending on the season you’re in. You will barely notice the difference and a month later you can do it again since you’ll be fully adjusted to the new temperature. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save as much as 1% on your yearly heating bill for each degree.

15. Don’t replace, repaint

If you’re planning to replace an item in your home, such as an appliance, cabinets or bathroom components; consider painting before replacing. If you’re only replacing it because of the appearance, painting may be your best bet. Anything from appliances and cabinets to sinks and bathtubs can be painted. You just have to buy the right paint. Always make this consideration before buying something new.

16. Know your options

Home Depot and Lowes aren’t the only places to buy home items, just like Best Buy isn’t the only place to buy electronics. Know your local and online options. We almost all know to look online before deciding on a purchase, but you may also be surprised at your local options. Overstock, wholesale and liquidation stores are a few of the places you should check out. Sure they’re hit or miss, but when you find some deals that save you hundreds or thousands it will all be worth it. We were able to buy ceramic tile for less than half the price we previously found, just by walking into a wholesale store that we passed by every day.

17. Keep up with maintenance

Maintaining your home and your vehicle can save you thousands down the road. Regular oil changes, replacing air filters and checking tire pressure will all lead to savings in the future. Likewise, replacing your home filters, being aware of issues and quickly making needed repairs will save you some serious cash. Be mindful and pay attention to general maintenance. Staying on top of maintenance will stop other problems before they happen.

18. Reduce your interest rate

If you have credit card debt, you know interest can be a killer. Call your credit card company and ask for a lower rate. You don’t need some amazing reason to convince them. Many companies will simply lower it because you asked. It’s easier than you may think to negotiate with credit card companies. Often times, they are just happy you’re paying instead of filing for bankruptcy.

19. Give up the expensive habits

If you’re trying to save money, your habits may be working against you. For example, the cost of cigarettes and alcohol can be insane. If you don’t want to completely cut it out, try cutting back. Smoking one less pack of cigarettes each week can save you as much as $40/month depending on the state you live in. When you count the costs of your habits, it may open your eyes to another benefit of quitting.

20. Get paid to spend

Maximize your credit card rewards by using the right card for your purchase. Some cards offer 5% cash back on gas, while others offer 6% cash back on groceries. Credit card rewards are a great way to earn while you spend, which in return, saves you money. It’s like putting a certain percentage of every purchase into a savings account.

That was quick! Now you’ve got 20 ways to save money so start saving today. Some of these require you to take action, while others mean you’ve got to stop doing something. Whether you’re adding or subtracting something from your life, stay mindful of your spending. You should always know where your money is going, since you should be the one telling it where to go. Stick to your budget, follow these tips and save some money!