<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863167823874004941</id><updated>2012-01-03T06:50:57.717+07:00</updated><category term='Increase Intelligence'/><category term='Self-Education Ideas'/><category term='Think and Grow Rich'/><category term='Teach Yourself'/><title type='text'>Success of Life by Self Education !</title><subtitle type='html'>| Formal Education | Imformal Education | e-Learning | Self Education |School | Life Skills | Courses |</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Self Education</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKoePHmvjYs/TapYOKvx-KI/AAAAAAAAAQo/5CccRfoPvV8/s220/Peugeot%2B206cc_1.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>9</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863167823874004941.post-9108887623200286524</id><published>2009-11-19T19:45:00.001+07:00</published><updated>2009-11-19T19:59:05.288+07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Think and Grow Rich'/><title type='text'>THINK &amp; GROW RICH</title><content type='html'>&lt;h2 style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:9;"  &gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;FREE E-BOOK 1&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/b&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;     &lt;b&gt;     &lt;span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;THINK &amp;amp; GROW RICH&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;     &lt;span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"  &gt;Napolean Hill&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;     &lt;div style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;"  &gt;Discover the single book (&lt;b&gt;FREE   HERE&lt;/b&gt;) which is responsible for starting the SELF age &amp;amp; a pioneer   coaching guide. Focusing on creating the life you want, human psychology and   much more. Described as the maker of more millionaires than all other books.   The book was originally written in 1937! The writer describes the contents   as revealing The &lt;u&gt;Secret of Success, which is similar to the Master Key   System&lt;/u&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:9;"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;     It is truly an incredible read. Enjoy...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:9;"  &gt;&lt;b&gt;    &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"  &gt;     &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource5.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;CONTENTS&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"  &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;     &lt;span style="font-weight: 700;font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"  &gt;     &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource6.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;FORWARD &amp;amp; PREFACE&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"  &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;     &lt;span style="font-family:Arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:black;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;     &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource7.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color:black;"&gt;     &lt;b&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource8.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;     &lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;CHAPTER 2 - DESIRE&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=";font-size:9;color:black;"  &gt;     &lt;b&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource9.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;     &lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;CHAPTER 3 - FAITH&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;     &lt;b&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource10.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;     &lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;CHAPTER 4 - AUTO-SUGGESTION&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;     &lt;b&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource11.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;     &lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;CHAPTER 5 - SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;     &lt;b&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource12.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;     &lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;CHAPTER 6 - IMAGINATION&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;     &lt;b&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource13.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;     &lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;CHAPTER 7 - ORGANIZED PLANNING&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;     &lt;b&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource14.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;     &lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;CHAPTER 8 - DECISION&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/u&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="color:black;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;     &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource15.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;     &lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;CHAPTER 9 - PERSISTENCE&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color:black;"&gt;     &lt;b&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource16.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;     &lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;CHAPTER 10 - POWER OF THE MASTER MIND&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;     &lt;span style=";font-size:9;color:black;"  &gt;     &lt;b&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource17.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;     &lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;CHAPTER 11 - THE MYSTERY OF SEX TRANSMUTATION&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;     &lt;b&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource18.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;     &lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;CHAPTER 12 - THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;     &lt;b&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource19.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;     &lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;CHAPTER 13 - THE BRAIN&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;     &lt;b&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource20.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;     &lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;CHAPTER 14 - THE SIXTH SENSE&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;     &lt;b&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource21.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;     &lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;CHAPTER 15 - HOW TO OUTWIT THE SIX GHOSTS OF FEAR     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"  &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;     &lt;span style="color: rgb(33, 156, 234);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"  &gt;     &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource22.htm" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: 700;"&gt;     THE FINAL OVERVIEW&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:Verdana;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;FREE E-BOOK   2&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Verdana;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);"&gt;THE MASTER KEY SYSTEM&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" &gt;Charles F Haanel &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;     &lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;"  &gt;Another   historical book (FREE here) written in 1909 and an excellent review of the   power of the mind. Also worth reading. Here Charles Haanel reveals '&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;The   Secret'&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;. A comprehensive review on mastering the capabilities of the   mind to achieve anything you want to achieve.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;     &lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;"  &gt;Originally set   out as a course conducted over numerous weeks. Here presented in book form   with each section followed by a completed question and answer section.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;     &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Verdana;"&gt;     &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource25.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;     &lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;Click here to access the complete e-book now&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-size:85%;" &gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(33, 156, 234);font-family:Verdana;" &gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource25.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;      Twenty Five full chapters . &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/resource25.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(33, 156, 234);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"  &gt;&lt;span style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: 700; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;Source from &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(33, 156, 234);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"  &gt;&lt;span style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: 700; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.alifecoaching.com/jobs.htm"&gt;http://www.alifecoaching.com/jobs.htm &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6863167823874004941-9108887623200286524?l=1st-education-center.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/feeds/9108887623200286524/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6863167823874004941&amp;postID=9108887623200286524' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/9108887623200286524'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/9108887623200286524'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/2009/11/think-grow-rich.html' title='THINK &amp; GROW RICH'/><author><name>Self Education</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKoePHmvjYs/TapYOKvx-KI/AAAAAAAAAQo/5CccRfoPvV8/s220/Peugeot%2B206cc_1.jpg'/></author><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863167823874004941.post-5711022276482443558</id><published>2008-09-09T23:51:00.001+07:00</published><updated>2008-09-09T23:51:50.179+07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Self-Education Ideas'/><title type='text'>SELF EDUCATION (Info)</title><content type='html'>&lt;span&gt;CPD Self Education Points for Fellows / Subspecialists&lt;br /&gt;Self-Education Ideas&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Fellows and Subspecialists can claim CPD points in the Self Education category (under General subcategory) as follows:&lt;br /&gt;O&amp;amp;G review article tests (1 point per completed article)&lt;br /&gt;For verification documentation, keep the test card itself, or feedback of your test score from the relevant body&lt;br /&gt;Professional reading (1 point per hour of reading)&lt;br /&gt;For verification documentation, keep a copy of your subscription to the nominated journal(s) or a reference list with a record of the date and duration of reading undertaken&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Download complete list&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This list of self-education ideas is also available as a PDF for ease of downloading and printing:&lt;br /&gt;(96KB)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target_blank="" href="http://www.ranzcog.edu.au/fellows/pdfs/SelfEducationSummary060124.pdf"&gt;Download Self-Education Ideas&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;From:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target_blank="" href="http://www.ranzcog.edu.au/fellows/cpdselfeducation.shtml"&gt;self-education ideas&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6863167823874004941-5711022276482443558?l=1st-education-center.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/feeds/5711022276482443558/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6863167823874004941&amp;postID=5711022276482443558' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/5711022276482443558'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/5711022276482443558'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/2008/09/self-education-info.html' title='SELF EDUCATION (Info)'/><author><name>Self Education</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKoePHmvjYs/TapYOKvx-KI/AAAAAAAAAQo/5CccRfoPvV8/s220/Peugeot%2B206cc_1.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863167823874004941.post-5857054032090203615</id><published>2008-09-09T23:50:00.001+07:00</published><updated>2008-09-09T23:50:51.084+07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Increase Intelligence'/><title type='text'>INCREASE YOUR INTELLIGENCE</title><content type='html'>Your brain needs exercise just like a muscle. If you use it often and in the right ways, you will become a more skilled thinker and increase your ability to focus. But if you never use your brain, or abuse it with harmful chemicals, your ability to think and learn will deteriorate.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here are 5 simple ways anyone can squeeze a bit more productivity out of the old gray matter.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Minimize Television Watching - This is a hard sell. People love vegetating in front of the television, myself included more often than I’d like. The problem is watching television doesn’t use your mental capacity OR allow it to recharge. It’s like having the energy sapped out of a muscle without the health benefits of exercise.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don’t you feel drained after a couple hours of TV? Your eyes are sore and tired from being focused on the light box for so long. You don’t even have the energy to read a book.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you feel like relaxing, try reading a book instead. If you’re too tired, listen to some music. When you’re with your friends or family, leave the tube off and have a conversation. All of these things use your mind more than television and allow you to relax.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Exercise - I used to think that I’d learn more by not exercising and using the time to read a book instead. But I realized that time spent exercising always leads to greater learning because it improves productivity during the time afterwards. Using your body clears your head and creates a wave of energy. Afterwards, you feel invigorated and can concentrate more easily.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Read Challenging Books - Many people like to read popular suspense fiction, but generally these books aren’t mentally stimulating. If you want to improve your thinking and writing ability you should read books that make you focus. Reading a classic novel can change your view of the world and will make you think in more precise, elegant English. Don’t be afraid to look up a word if you don’t know it, and don’t be afraid of dense passages. Take your time, re-read when necessary, and you’ll soon grow accustomed to the author’s style.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Once you get used to reading challenging books, I think you’ll find that you aren’t tempted to go back to page-turners. The challenge of learning new ideas is far more exciting than any tacky suspense-thriller.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. Early to Bed, Early to Rise - Nothing makes it harder to concentrate than sleep deprivation. You’ll be most rejuvenated if you go to bed early and don’t sleep more than 8 hours. If you stay up late and compensate by sleeping late, you’ll wake up lethargic and have trouble focusing. In my experience the early morning hours are the most tranquil and productive. Waking up early gives you more productive hours and maximizes your mental acuity all day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you have the opportunity, take 10-20 minute naps when you are hit with a wave of drowsiness. Anything longer will make you lethargic, but a short nap will refresh you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5. Take Time to Reflect - Often our lives get so hectic that we become overwhelmed without even realizing it. It becomes difficult to concentrate because nagging thoughts keep interrupting. Spending some time alone in reflection gives you a chance organize your thoughts and prioritize your responsibilities. Afterwards, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s important and what isn’t. The unimportant stuff won’t bother you anymore and your mind will feel less encumbered.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I’m not saying you need to sit on the floor cross-legged and chant ‘ommm’. Anything that allows a bit of prolonged solitude will do. One of my personal favorites is taking a solitary walk. Someone famous said, “All the best ideas occur while walking.” I think he was on to something. Experiment to find the activity that works best for you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Conclusion - I hope you aren’t disappointed that none of the techniques I’ve proposed are revolutionary. But simple, unexciting answers are often the most valid. The challenge is having the will to adhere to them. If you succeed in following these 5 tips, you’ll be rewarded with increased mental acuity and retention of knowledge.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;If you’re still hungry for more, check out the follow up post:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-more-ways-to-make-the-most-of-your-intelligence/"&gt;5 More Ways to Make the Most of Your Intelligence.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Related Articles:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-more-ways-to-make-the-most-of-your-intelligence/"&gt;5 More Ways to Increase Your Intelligence&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/learn-to-understand-your-own-intelligence/"&gt;Learn to Understand Your Own Intelligence&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/focus-better-by-listening-to-music/"&gt;Focus Better by Listening to Music&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/improve-your-personal-effectiveness-by-working-less/"&gt;Improve Your Personal Effectiveness by Finding Balance&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;--------------------------------------&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/improve-your-personal-effectiveness-by-working-less/"&gt;February 15th,  2007 by John Wesley&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6863167823874004941-5857054032090203615?l=1st-education-center.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/feeds/5857054032090203615/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6863167823874004941&amp;postID=5857054032090203615' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/5857054032090203615'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/5857054032090203615'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/2008/09/increase-your-intelligence.html' title='INCREASE YOUR INTELLIGENCE'/><author><name>Self Education</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKoePHmvjYs/TapYOKvx-KI/AAAAAAAAAQo/5CccRfoPvV8/s220/Peugeot%2B206cc_1.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863167823874004941.post-6948523372367597250</id><published>2008-07-19T22:32:00.001+07:00</published><updated>2008-07-19T22:32:46.189+07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Self-Education Ideas'/><title type='text'>Self-Education Ideas  Info</title><content type='html'>&lt;span&gt;CPD Self Education Points for Fellows / Subspecialists&lt;br /&gt;Self-Education Ideas&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Fellows and Subspecialists can claim CPD points in the Self Education category (under General subcategory) as follows:&lt;br /&gt;O&amp;amp;G review article tests (1 point per completed article)&lt;br /&gt;For verification documentation, keep the test card itself, or feedback of your test score from the relevant body&lt;br /&gt;Professional reading (1 point per hour of reading)&lt;br /&gt;For verification documentation, keep a copy of your subscription to the nominated journal(s) or a reference list with a record of the date and duration of reading undertaken&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Download complete list&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This list of self-education ideas is also available as a PDF for ease of downloading and printing:&lt;br /&gt;(96KB)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target_blank="" href="http://www.ranzcog.edu.au/fellows/pdfs/SelfEducationSummary060124.pdf"&gt;Download Self-Education Ideas&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;From:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target_blank="" href="http://www.ranzcog.edu.au/fellows/cpdselfeducation.shtml"&gt;self-education ideas&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6863167823874004941-6948523372367597250?l=1st-education-center.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/feeds/6948523372367597250/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6863167823874004941&amp;postID=6948523372367597250' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/6948523372367597250'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/6948523372367597250'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/2008/07/self-education-ideas-info.html' title='Self-Education Ideas  Info'/><author><name>Self Education</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKoePHmvjYs/TapYOKvx-KI/AAAAAAAAAQo/5CccRfoPvV8/s220/Peugeot%2B206cc_1.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863167823874004941.post-4277335639831821765</id><published>2008-07-19T22:30:00.000+07:00</published><updated>2008-07-19T22:31:46.936+07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Increase Intelligence'/><title type='text'>Increase Your Intelligence</title><content type='html'>Your brain needs exercise just like a muscle. If you use it often and in the right ways, you will become a more skilled thinker and increase your ability to focus. But if you never use your brain, or abuse it with harmful chemicals, your ability to think and learn will deteriorate.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here are 5 simple ways anyone can squeeze a bit more productivity out of the old gray matter.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Minimize Television Watching - This is a hard sell. People love vegetating in front of the television, myself included more often than I’d like. The problem is watching television doesn’t use your mental capacity OR allow it to recharge. It’s like having the energy sapped out of a muscle without the health benefits of exercise.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don’t you feel drained after a couple hours of TV? Your eyes are sore and tired from being focused on the light box for so long. You don’t even have the energy to read a book.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you feel like relaxing, try reading a book instead. If you’re too tired, listen to some music. When you’re with your friends or family, leave the tube off and have a conversation. All of these things use your mind more than television and allow you to relax.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Exercise - I used to think that I’d learn more by not exercising and using the time to read a book instead. But I realized that time spent exercising always leads to greater learning because it improves productivity during the time afterwards. Using your body clears your head and creates a wave of energy. Afterwards, you feel invigorated and can concentrate more easily.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Read Challenging Books - Many people like to read popular suspense fiction, but generally these books aren’t mentally stimulating. If you want to improve your thinking and writing ability you should read books that make you focus. Reading a classic novel can change your view of the world and will make you think in more precise, elegant English. Don’t be afraid to look up a word if you don’t know it, and don’t be afraid of dense passages. Take your time, re-read when necessary, and you’ll soon grow accustomed to the author’s style.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Once you get used to reading challenging books, I think you’ll find that you aren’t tempted to go back to page-turners. The challenge of learning new ideas is far more exciting than any tacky suspense-thriller.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. Early to Bed, Early to Rise - Nothing makes it harder to concentrate than sleep deprivation. You’ll be most rejuvenated if you go to bed early and don’t sleep more than 8 hours. If you stay up late and compensate by sleeping late, you’ll wake up lethargic and have trouble focusing. In my experience the early morning hours are the most tranquil and productive. Waking up early gives you more productive hours and maximizes your mental acuity all day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you have the opportunity, take 10-20 minute naps when you are hit with a wave of drowsiness. Anything longer will make you lethargic, but a short nap will refresh you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5. Take Time to Reflect - Often our lives get so hectic that we become overwhelmed without even realizing it. It becomes difficult to concentrate because nagging thoughts keep interrupting. Spending some time alone in reflection gives you a chance organize your thoughts and prioritize your responsibilities. Afterwards, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s important and what isn’t. The unimportant stuff won’t bother you anymore and your mind will feel less encumbered.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I’m not saying you need to sit on the floor cross-legged and chant ‘ommm’. Anything that allows a bit of prolonged solitude will do. One of my personal favorites is taking a solitary walk. Someone famous said, “All the best ideas occur while walking.” I think he was on to something. Experiment to find the activity that works best for you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Conclusion - I hope you aren’t disappointed that none of the techniques I’ve proposed are revolutionary. But simple, unexciting answers are often the most valid. The challenge is having the will to adhere to them. If you succeed in following these 5 tips, you’ll be rewarded with increased mental acuity and retention of knowledge.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;If you’re still hungry for more, check out the follow up post:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-more-ways-to-make-the-most-of-your-intelligence/"&gt;5 More Ways to Make the Most of Your Intelligence.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Related Articles:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-more-ways-to-make-the-most-of-your-intelligence/"&gt;5 More Ways to Increase Your Intelligence&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/learn-to-understand-your-own-intelligence/"&gt;Learn to Understand Your Own Intelligence&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/focus-better-by-listening-to-music/"&gt;Focus Better by Listening to Music&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/improve-your-personal-effectiveness-by-working-less/"&gt;Improve Your Personal Effectiveness by Finding Balance&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;--------------------------------------&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/improve-your-personal-effectiveness-by-working-less/"&gt;February 15th,  2007 by John Wesley&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6863167823874004941-4277335639831821765?l=1st-education-center.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/feeds/4277335639831821765/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6863167823874004941&amp;postID=4277335639831821765' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/4277335639831821765'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/4277335639831821765'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/2008/07/increase-your-intelligence.html' title='Increase Your Intelligence'/><author><name>Self Education</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKoePHmvjYs/TapYOKvx-KI/AAAAAAAAAQo/5CccRfoPvV8/s220/Peugeot%2B206cc_1.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863167823874004941.post-6884169768690536530</id><published>2008-07-19T22:29:00.001+07:00</published><updated>2008-07-19T22:29:50.514+07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Teach Yourself'/><title type='text'>Teach Your Self  Info</title><content type='html'>Education is touted as the greatest way to get ahead in this world. And, in general, it’s a great strategy. Maybe you have the perfect idea for an invention and you need a little engineering know-how, or maybe you just need to get ahead of the guy in the next cubicle over. No matter what plan you have for getting ahead, odds are a little learning will help. The problem, as I see it, is that education is also an industry. You want a string of fancy letters behind your name? Prepare to pay for it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;While you may need a certificate in order to be a licensed professional of some sort, however, you don’t need to attend an expensive class for many of your other learning needs. There are plenty of stunning examples of people who have gotten ahead based on their self-education — enough that there is a fancy term for them; they’re called autodidacts. Step up and join the likes of Benjamin Franklin, Stanley Kubrick and Frank Zappa.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Resources — Getting Started&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.sfu.ca/independentscholars/ISbook.pdf"&gt;The Independent Scholar’s Handbook — PDF&lt;/a&gt;: The Canadian Academy of Independent Scholars has made The Independent Scholar’s Handbook available as a free download. It’s a full book (322 pages) of information on how to study on your own, as well as tips on finding resources on the topics you want to study.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.autodidactproject.org/"&gt;The Autodidact Project:&lt;/a&gt; Ralph Dumain has put together information about autodidactism — self-education at the Autodidact Project, including a number of study guides.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Resources — Learning Materials&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://howto.lifehack.org/"&gt;The LifeHack How-To Wiki&lt;/a&gt;: Consider starting your self-education right here with LifeHack. There’s even an article on self-education on the wiki that you might find useful.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.fathom.com/"&gt;Fathom&lt;/a&gt;: A number of universities, led by Columbia University, have put together a whole host of free resources at Fathom. The information is arranged into courses, making it possible to take short classes from the American Film Institute, the London School of Economics and other prestigious institutes for free.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikiversity.org/"&gt;Wikiversity&lt;/a&gt;: While there are some pretty significant gaps in the do-it-yourself courses Wikiversity offers, I’ve found some great resources on science and business subjects — two areas that my college major just didn’t emphasize.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mentoring and Interviewing: Just sitting down and talking with someone who is more of an expert on a topic than you are can introduce you to new areas of learning that you hadn’t even considered. You can set up formal interviews with experts or have more casual conversations.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.apple.com/education/itunesu_mobilelearning/itunesu.html"&gt;iTunes U&lt;/a&gt;: Through iTunes, a huge number of schools offer recordings of lectures in every subject. Currently, I’m working through Stanford’s course on the Future of the Internet, and after that, I’m thinking about listening in on an evolutionary biology class.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your Local Library: Most libraries offer far more learning resources than simple how-to books. My boyfriend is currently working his way through our local library’s collection of Chinese lessons on CD. And if you aren’t familiar with your local library, I recommend &lt;a href="http://www.publiclibraries.com/"&gt;PublicLibraries.com&lt;/a&gt; — it’s a huge directory of public libraries, mostly U.S. with some international listings.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/"&gt;TheHomeSchoolMom.com&lt;/a&gt;: TheHomeSchoolMom.com, along with thousands of other homeschooling websites offer up all sorts of free educational resources from curriculums to texts. While these sites rarely have advanced coverage of a topic, if you’re looking to start with the basics, you’re likely to find exactly what you need.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/"&gt;Project Gutenberg&lt;/a&gt;: While there are a number of websites where you can get free e-books, Project Gutenberg is one of the best known, and seems to have one of the widest selections. You may not be able to find many technical works there, but if you’re interested in the classics or history, Project Gutenberg is the place to go.&lt;br /&gt;Staying on Track&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Anyone can read a book. Most people can even report back on the pertinent information that book contained. But it can be much harder to synthesize information together from multiple sources, especially if those sources have been picked out without a clear plan of attack. I’ve been known to do this — I pick up random books at the library and start in on new topics with no plan whatsoever. Learn from my mistake — trying to put together ideas on the fly can be extremely difficult.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you’re starting in on a new topic, it makes sense to make a plan of some sort. Your plan doesn’t need to be much more formal than “I’m going to read the Wikipedia article on Topic X, and then check if the library has any of the books Wikipedia cites.” That much of a plan, though, keeps you from coming up with a book list with fifty books that you won’t be able to finish. (Once again, I speak from experience.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;From there, your self-education can be as simple as reading and taking a few notes. I generally try to write up some sort of report or article on a new topic, just because information seems to stick a bit better when I explain it to someone else. I can just about always find a new home for such a report, as well — a blog post, an article, etc. Occasionally, I even manage to get paid for all that learning I’ve done.&lt;br /&gt;Lastly…&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I don’t have anything against formalized learning — I really enjoy lecture-format classes, actually — but if I took all the classes I wanted to, my student loans would be equal to the national debt. Studying on my own has made continuing my education far less expensive and potentially more interesting. I never know what my new learning might suggest for the next topic of study.&lt;br /&gt;About Author: Thursday Bram is a freelance journalist of over five years experience. She studied Communications at the University of Tulsa and is currently working on her MA in Communication Design. Her work has focused primarily on entrepreneurial topics. More information about Thursday is available at thursdaybram.com.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Author: &lt;strong&gt;Thursday Bram&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Posted: Thursday, March 27th, 2008 at 9:30 am&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;From:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/diy-education-teach-yourself.html"&gt;Lifehack.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6863167823874004941-6884169768690536530?l=1st-education-center.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/feeds/6884169768690536530/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6863167823874004941&amp;postID=6884169768690536530' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/6884169768690536530'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/6884169768690536530'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/2008/07/teach-your-self-info.html' title='Teach Your Self  Info'/><author><name>Self Education</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKoePHmvjYs/TapYOKvx-KI/AAAAAAAAAQo/5CccRfoPvV8/s220/Peugeot%2B206cc_1.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863167823874004941.post-586568229676825635</id><published>2008-04-20T00:01:00.000+07:00</published><updated>2008-04-20T00:04:58.217+07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Self-Education Ideas'/><title type='text'>Self-Education Ideas</title><content type='html'>&lt;span&gt;CPD Self Education Points for Fellows / Subspecialists&lt;br /&gt;Self-Education Ideas&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Fellows and Subspecialists can claim CPD points in the Self Education category (under General subcategory) as follows:&lt;br /&gt;O&amp;amp;G review article tests (1 point per completed article)&lt;br /&gt;For verification documentation, keep the test card itself, or feedback of your test score from the relevant body&lt;br /&gt;Professional reading (1 point per hour of reading)&lt;br /&gt;For verification documentation, keep a copy of your subscription to the nominated journal(s) or a reference list with a record of the date and duration of reading undertaken&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Download complete list&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This list of self-education ideas is also available as a PDF for ease of downloading and printing:&lt;br /&gt;(96KB)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target_blank="" href="http://www.ranzcog.edu.au/fellows/pdfs/SelfEducationSummary060124.pdf"&gt;Download Self-Education Ideas&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;From:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target_blank="" href="http://www.ranzcog.edu.au/fellows/cpdselfeducation.shtml"&gt;self-education ideas&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6863167823874004941-586568229676825635?l=1st-education-center.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/feeds/586568229676825635/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6863167823874004941&amp;postID=586568229676825635' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/586568229676825635'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/586568229676825635'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/2008/04/self-education-ideas.html' title='Self-Education Ideas'/><author><name>Self Education</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKoePHmvjYs/TapYOKvx-KI/AAAAAAAAAQo/5CccRfoPvV8/s220/Peugeot%2B206cc_1.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863167823874004941.post-4661930612430057970</id><published>2008-04-19T23:49:00.000+07:00</published><updated>2008-04-19T23:55:22.720+07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Increase Intelligence'/><title type='text'>5 Simple Ways to Increase Your Intelligence</title><content type='html'>&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/improve-your-personal-effectiveness-by-working-less/"&gt;February 15th,  2007 by John Wesley&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your brain needs exercise just like a muscle. If you use it often and in the right ways, you will become a more skilled thinker and increase your ability to focus. But if you never use your brain, or abuse it with harmful chemicals, your ability to think and learn will deteriorate.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here are 5 simple ways anyone can squeeze a bit more productivity out of the old gray matter.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Minimize Television Watching - This is a hard sell. People love vegetating in front of the television, myself included more often than I’d like. The problem is watching television doesn’t use your mental capacity OR allow it to recharge. It’s like having the energy sapped out of a muscle without the health benefits of exercise.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don’t you feel drained after a couple hours of TV? Your eyes are sore and tired from being focused on the light box for so long. You don’t even have the energy to read a book.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you feel like relaxing, try reading a book instead. If you’re too tired, listen to some music. When you’re with your friends or family, leave the tube off and have a conversation. All of these things use your mind more than television and allow you to relax.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Exercise - I used to think that I’d learn more by not exercising and using the time to read a book instead. But I realized that time spent exercising always leads to greater learning because it improves productivity during the time afterwards. Using your body clears your head and creates a wave of energy. Afterwards, you feel invigorated and can concentrate more easily.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Read Challenging Books - Many people like to read popular suspense fiction, but generally these books aren’t mentally stimulating. If you want to improve your thinking and writing ability you should read books that make you focus. Reading a classic novel can change your view of the world and will make you think in more precise, elegant English. Don’t be afraid to look up a word if you don’t know it, and don’t be afraid of dense passages. Take your time, re-read when necessary, and you’ll soon grow accustomed to the author’s style.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Once you get used to reading challenging books, I think you’ll find that you aren’t tempted to go back to page-turners. The challenge of learning new ideas is far more exciting than any tacky suspense-thriller.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. Early to Bed, Early to Rise - Nothing makes it harder to concentrate than sleep deprivation. You’ll be most rejuvenated if you go to bed early and don’t sleep more than 8 hours. If you stay up late and compensate by sleeping late, you’ll wake up lethargic and have trouble focusing. In my experience the early morning hours are the most tranquil and productive. Waking up early gives you more productive hours and maximizes your mental acuity all day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you have the opportunity, take 10-20 minute naps when you are hit with a wave of drowsiness. Anything longer will make you lethargic, but a short nap will refresh you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5. Take Time to Reflect - Often our lives get so hectic that we become overwhelmed without even realizing it. It becomes difficult to concentrate because nagging thoughts keep interrupting. Spending some time alone in reflection gives you a chance organize your thoughts and prioritize your responsibilities. Afterwards, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s important and what isn’t. The unimportant stuff won’t bother you anymore and your mind will feel less encumbered.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I’m not saying you need to sit on the floor cross-legged and chant ‘ommm’. Anything that allows a bit of prolonged solitude will do. One of my personal favorites is taking a solitary walk. Someone famous said, “All the best ideas occur while walking.” I think he was on to something. Experiment to find the activity that works best for you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Conclusion - I hope you aren’t disappointed that none of the techniques I’ve proposed are revolutionary. But simple, unexciting answers are often the most valid. The challenge is having the will to adhere to them. If you succeed in following these 5 tips, you’ll be rewarded with increased mental acuity and retention of knowledge.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;If you’re still hungry for more, check out the follow up post:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-more-ways-to-make-the-most-of-your-intelligence/"&gt;5 More Ways to Make the Most of Your Intelligence.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Related Articles:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-more-ways-to-make-the-most-of-your-intelligence/"&gt;5 More Ways to Increase Your Intelligence&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/learn-to-understand-your-own-intelligence/"&gt;Learn to Understand Your Own Intelligence&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/focus-better-by-listening-to-music/"&gt;Focus Better by Listening to Music&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/improve-your-personal-effectiveness-by-working-less/"&gt;Improve Your Personal Effectiveness by Finding Balance&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6863167823874004941-4661930612430057970?l=1st-education-center.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/feeds/4661930612430057970/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6863167823874004941&amp;postID=4661930612430057970' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/4661930612430057970'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/4661930612430057970'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/2008/04/5-simple-ways-to-increase-your.html' title='5 Simple Ways to Increase Your Intelligence'/><author><name>Self Education</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKoePHmvjYs/TapYOKvx-KI/AAAAAAAAAQo/5CccRfoPvV8/s220/Peugeot%2B206cc_1.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863167823874004941.post-7139165842616598713</id><published>2008-04-19T23:26:00.000+07:00</published><updated>2008-04-19T23:38:55.200+07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Teach Yourself'/><title type='text'>Teach Yourself</title><content type='html'>Education is touted as the greatest way to get ahead in this world. And, in general, it’s a great strategy. Maybe you have the perfect idea for an invention and you need a little engineering know-how, or maybe you just need to get ahead of the guy in the next cubicle over. No matter what plan you have for getting ahead, odds are a little learning will help. The problem, as I see it, is that education is also an industry. You want a string of fancy letters behind your name? Prepare to pay for it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;While you may need a certificate in order to be a licensed professional of some sort, however, you don’t need to attend an expensive class for many of your other learning needs. There are plenty of stunning examples of people who have gotten ahead based on their self-education — enough that there is a fancy term for them; they’re called autodidacts. Step up and join the likes of Benjamin Franklin, Stanley Kubrick and Frank Zappa.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Resources — Getting Started&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.sfu.ca/independentscholars/ISbook.pdf"&gt;The Independent Scholar’s Handbook — PDF&lt;/a&gt;: The Canadian Academy of Independent Scholars has made The Independent Scholar’s Handbook available as a free download. It’s a full book (322 pages) of information on how to study on your own, as well as tips on finding resources on the topics you want to study.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.autodidactproject.org/"&gt;The Autodidact Project:&lt;/a&gt; Ralph Dumain has put together information about autodidactism — self-education at the Autodidact Project, including a number of study guides.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Resources — Learning Materials&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://howto.lifehack.org/"&gt;The LifeHack How-To Wiki&lt;/a&gt;: Consider starting your self-education right here with LifeHack. There’s even an article on self-education on the wiki that you might find useful.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.fathom.com/"&gt;Fathom&lt;/a&gt;: A number of universities, led by Columbia University, have put together a whole host of free resources at Fathom. The information is arranged into courses, making it possible to take short classes from the American Film Institute, the London School of Economics and other prestigious institutes for free.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikiversity.org/"&gt;Wikiversity&lt;/a&gt;: While there are some pretty significant gaps in the do-it-yourself courses Wikiversity offers, I’ve found some great resources on science and business subjects — two areas that my college major just didn’t emphasize.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mentoring and Interviewing: Just sitting down and talking with someone who is more of an expert on a topic than you are can introduce you to new areas of learning that you hadn’t even considered. You can set up formal interviews with experts or have more casual conversations.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.apple.com/education/itunesu_mobilelearning/itunesu.html"&gt;iTunes U&lt;/a&gt;: Through iTunes, a huge number of schools offer recordings of lectures in every subject. Currently, I’m working through Stanford’s course on the Future of the Internet, and after that, I’m thinking about listening in on an evolutionary biology class.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your Local Library: Most libraries offer far more learning resources than simple how-to books. My boyfriend is currently working his way through our local library’s collection of Chinese lessons on CD. And if you aren’t familiar with your local library, I recommend &lt;a href="http://www.publiclibraries.com/"&gt;PublicLibraries.com&lt;/a&gt; — it’s a huge directory of public libraries, mostly U.S. with some international listings.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/"&gt;TheHomeSchoolMom.com&lt;/a&gt;: TheHomeSchoolMom.com, along with thousands of other homeschooling websites offer up all sorts of free educational resources from curriculums to texts. While these sites rarely have advanced coverage of a topic, if you’re looking to start with the basics, you’re likely to find exactly what you need.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/"&gt;Project Gutenberg&lt;/a&gt;: While there are a number of websites where you can get free e-books, Project Gutenberg is one of the best known, and seems to have one of the widest selections. You may not be able to find many technical works there, but if you’re interested in the classics or history, Project Gutenberg is the place to go.&lt;br /&gt;Staying on Track&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Anyone can read a book. Most people can even report back on the pertinent information that book contained. But it can be much harder to synthesize information together from multiple sources, especially if those sources have been picked out without a clear plan of attack. I’ve been known to do this — I pick up random books at the library and start in on new topics with no plan whatsoever. Learn from my mistake — trying to put together ideas on the fly can be extremely difficult.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you’re starting in on a new topic, it makes sense to make a plan of some sort. Your plan doesn’t need to be much more formal than “I’m going to read the Wikipedia article on Topic X, and then check if the library has any of the books Wikipedia cites.” That much of a plan, though, keeps you from coming up with a book list with fifty books that you won’t be able to finish. (Once again, I speak from experience.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;From there, your self-education can be as simple as reading and taking a few notes. I generally try to write up some sort of report or article on a new topic, just because information seems to stick a bit better when I explain it to someone else. I can just about always find a new home for such a report, as well — a blog post, an article, etc. Occasionally, I even manage to get paid for all that learning I’ve done.&lt;br /&gt;Lastly…&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I don’t have anything against formalized learning — I really enjoy lecture-format classes, actually — but if I took all the classes I wanted to, my student loans would be equal to the national debt. Studying on my own has made continuing my education far less expensive and potentially more interesting. I never know what my new learning might suggest for the next topic of study.&lt;br /&gt;About Author: Thursday Bram is a freelance journalist of over five years experience. She studied Communications at the University of Tulsa and is currently working on her MA in Communication Design. Her work has focused primarily on entrepreneurial topics. More information about Thursday is available at thursdaybram.com.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Author: &lt;strong&gt;Thursday Bram&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Posted: Thursday, March 27th, 2008 at 9:30 am&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;From:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/diy-education-teach-yourself.html"&gt;Lifehack.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6863167823874004941-7139165842616598713?l=1st-education-center.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/feeds/7139165842616598713/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6863167823874004941&amp;postID=7139165842616598713' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/7139165842616598713'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6863167823874004941/posts/default/7139165842616598713'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://1st-education-center.blogspot.com/2008/04/teach-yourself.html' title='Teach Yourself'/><author><name>Self Education</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKoePHmvjYs/TapYOKvx-KI/AAAAAAAAAQo/5CccRfoPvV8/s220/Peugeot%2B206cc_1.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
