NaBloPoMo

Happy Sunday :Rejuvenation is good for your soul

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on March 25, 2018 12

Happiness optimism and positivity has a great effect on your mind.Since not choosing is a choice I like to have my Sunday open-ended.

No agenda .

A little drawing with Rai a lot of cuddling. Wishing time would stand still and rush at the same time.

Creating something makes your brain relax.As yout concentrate more on drawing your mind breathes easier.Until yout relax you can't recharge. — Creating something makes your brain relax.As you concentrate more on drawing, your mind breathes easier.Until yout relax you can’t recharge.

A little housework.A tiny bit of decluttering.External chaos is after all a sign of inner chaos

Folding and keeping away the clothes(really hate this).At least some of them.Staring at my baby mustard leaves.

Baby mustard leaves .When they grow a little older they have very pretty yellow flowers.Plus the leaves smell and taste amazing.

Thinking about the naughty sparrow that broke a few branches of my jasmine.

Trying to cook creamy matar masala without messing it up.

Not really doing a lot .

The brain needs a break. Making it a point to have the Indian soldiers in my prayers.

Hoping to go watch a movie like Gumnaami.

Indoor gardening can't battle the city pollution. But youcan improve the air you breathe indoor — Indoor gardening can’t battle the city pollution. But you can improve the air you breathe indoor

Hoping India and Delhi wakes up.to the idea of vertical gardening and green walls on all buildings to stay healthy and improve the countries lungs.

At this rate we won’t survive.

I wondered today at the news.

It’s only Bad news that makes the cut.

What about good news?

Why don’t these politicians work towards decreasing pollution ?

Why didn’t the Delhi government take preventive steps ?

Why didn’t they insist on growing green walls with every new building projects ?

Why do we always have to work backwards?

Why can’t we prevent?

Maybe we can.If you and me want to do something we can.

This studyfound that blogging about a relative suffering from cancer Helps in coping mechanism.

Can blogging help us fight this battle?

I think it’s not too late.We can still do a lot .

Can we give our children fresh air?

Can we give them sunshine?

Can we them a healthy life?

I am stuck in a small town in West Bengal .Not much here but the pollution is still there.

My home has 80 plants .That helps me .

1 to 3 per 100 square feet is said to be adequate.

Will you promise yourself to do a little for the environment ?

That will make this a very #Happy Sunday.

Let me know in the comment below,what your plan to do to help the environment and yourself?

Power of Storytelling :Fridayfotofiction (1)

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on March 25, 2018 13

When the Storm came

Clear blue sky and the azure sea looked perfect.
The water calmed her down.Sania really didn’t want to do this .But there really was no other way.

The other way was too difficult .
Taking the last swig from the bottle ,she stood up
Walking slowly towards the edge .
Not noticing the knot of angry clouds.
With one feet balanced on the platform she let her robe fall .
The last swim.

“Sania…..where are you?”
Ayushman’s voice jolted her
She turned .
Almost falling into the suddenly choppy waterfront!
Ayushman caught her.
“A storm is coming , don’t go swimming now!
Have you been drinking?”
A drop rolled off Sania’s eyes.

You don’t know when your loved one’s may be needing you.The problem with depression is , outwardly things may look perfect.Only one thing ,may be needed to topple the balance. Take care of yourself and those who need you.

Alcohol and other substance abuse can make situations worse.There’s always help .Don’t give up.

Danger signs for people at risk:

Depression.
Loss of interest.
Rage.
Irritability.
Humiliation.
Anxiety.

Don’t walk that path.Life is too beautiful .

Stories have the power of transforming lives . Of explaining difficult issues easily.

Depression and suicide is unfortunately commonplace nowadays.What’s it common is giving and getting help.

Be kind to yourself and others.You don’t know when you may be saving someone’s life .

I am writing all through November with

#NaBloPoMo Day 4

I am linking this up with

#Fridayfotofiction hosted by Mayuri and Tina.

Don’t forget to catch the other stories.

Thankful Thursday :My mental health

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on March 25, 2018 42

Thankful Thursday is the beginning of a link party ,I am Co-hosting with Tina .

The link parties are a great way to make new friends and have a great collection of themed stories for readers to read.

Why Thankful Thursday?

Wherever you are whatever you do , things ,people events in your life has made you what you are .

When you remember each one of them, you open up yourself to receive more such blessings .

Today I am grateful for having my mental health intact.A chip or two happens. I worry,get anxious , cry .I also rant and have mini breakdowns.

But overall I survive.

I wake up with a smile everyday.

Mental health and physical health goes hand in hand.Probably that’s why my fitness routine is such a mood elevator.

My family is the other factor which help keep my brain humming happily.

Gardening ,reading books,painting and blogging are the other tools I use for making my mind glow .

The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.

Henry Ward Beecher

Do you have a thankful heart.Work on it, it’s there inside everyone.

Plants purify indoor air ,helps keep you fit and are creativity boosters.They also have a way of making you smile.

I am reading “The Intelligent Investor ” and diving into the Genius bloggers toolkit (I will tell you about the good ,bad and ugly ).I am thankful for Ryan and Kelly (of the Ultimate bundles )for giving me this opportunity .

What are you thankful for this Thursday?

Rules of the linky ?

Just comment on this post and my cohosts post and any two of the posts in the linkup.

I deeply believe in community spirit.Eagerly looking forward to visiting your blogs.

Follow @twinklingtina and @misra_amrita on Twitter
Prompts will be announced every Wed 20:00 hrs IST
Write the post and Link Up with Tina or Amrita
Read, comment, share on host and co-hosts posts and at least two more posts linked in the party Pro Tip – Networking and commenting is good for your blog’s health and ranks.
Comment rules: 2 sentence atleast 15 words and should be relevant to the main post.
Use #ThankfulThursdays in your post and share in social media using the same hashtag.
Every week we will have one featured blogger who is the best reflection of this community spirit

Looking forward to all your posts.

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This is my day 3 of #NaBloPoMo

—

52 Weeks saving money challenge in India with your children

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on March 22, 2018 13

I believe saving money is great.

Earning is better.When you do both, its best.

Saving and earning are two sides of your coin.If one or the other is missing in your personal finance plan, it’s not good.Following your gut feeling should not be your only plan for financial freedom.

3 Things I like about saving money with children:

They learn the value of money.It’s not easy to earn.

It’s fun when the family participates.It helps build up excitement.

Its easier to be frugal when no one cribs.

How to do the challenge?

Save 10 rupees the first week.

20 rupees 2nd week

30 rupees 3rd week

Increase the amount by 10 every week

At the end of 52 weeks, you have 13640 rupees!

This 52-week challenge started in 2013 through a Facebook group called “Kassondra’s 52-Week Money Challenge”. It was created by personal finance enthusiast Kassondra Perry-Moreland.

The 52 weeks helps make saving a habit for people who don’t like saving.It’s also good for budget planning.

If I don’t have that much amount to save every week ?

Since the greatest amount you have to keep aside is 520 rupees , I am sure you will do it.

But if you feel its difficult, just break it up by 7 days If you save roughly 75 rupees per day the last week then you are good to go!This might not look like a lot, but over time you can increase the amount and see your nest egg grow.

Money management is not taught in any school or college.Most of the world’s problem is because of too many expenses and too little money.

Want to buy something expensive?

Calculate how much you have to save.How much time you have.Start a Recurrent Deposit in the bank.Don’t want the hassle of going to the bank?Use a piggy bank.

52 Week money saving challenge is more fun when you do it as a family

Want to do the challenge?Click to download the 52-week money saving challenge checklist (no opt in required).

What will you buy after saving money for 52 weeks?Will you reinvest or go on a shopping spree?

Whatever you do,its going to be very useful.I have also shared other methods of saving money,the way we do it as a family.You can save this image on your pinterest board.Tick off each item as it happens.

10 Simple Money Saving Tips from a Middle Class Doctor mommy in India

1)Savings account with three to six months emergency fund
2)Insurance with death benefits only is a must .The other kind has higher premium.
3)Health insurance
3)PPF
4)NPS both tier 1 and 2
5)Fixed deposit
6)Mutual fund one or two at most.If you are already NPS tier 2
7)Sukanya Samriddhi
8)No personal debts .Pay them off quickly
9)No credit card debts
10)Extra source of earnings.

Let me know in the comments below.

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By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on March 18, 2018 9

Email services ,list building & mompreneurs blogging journey(part 11)

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on November 7, 2017 16

Are you a blogger ?Do you have an email list?

I had a list.

Had to severely mutilate it , to get rid of unresponsive subscribers.I hear everywhere that growing the email subscriber list, is your real blog goal.They are the people who find you so awesome, that they sign up for your newsletter.

Yes I know it sounds like a dream.You make awesome products.Your wonderful subscribers can’t stop buying.

This can happen.But you have 3 problems to solve, before you reach that sweet spot.

Content upgrade subscribe 1

1)How will you collect the emails?

In India which email service provider works .

Which allows NET banking (I don’t have a credit card)

If you have a credit card, do you know, which are the really cool options?

2)Where will you place your sign up forms?

3)How will you make your raving readers become super subscribers?

This mompreneur’s blogging journey has been full of wonderful surprises.

But this pesky problem is making my hair grey.

The solution :

Break it down into nuggets.

How will you collect emails?

Once upon a time in 2014 when I started blogging I had MailChimp as my email service provider.

MailChimp gives 2000 free subscriber plan, which is awesome.But the user interface didn’t make me comfortable. Plus the spam emails in my list made Mailchimp pretty mad.I was a green newbie and made uncool mistakes.

Next step Madmimi

Yes it’s called madmimi and it’s super cute.

The free plan allows up to 100 subscribers.

10 dollars per month.Basic plan.Payment by credit card only.No Indian version.My favorite platform but can’t use it.

It’s also mobile friendly.

Octanego

Free plan present.

Monthly plans are affordable.

NET banking present.

The user interfaces not very friendly.

Mobile use is very difficult.

Web forms are not pretty.

Convertkit

On my wishlist.

They often offer free first month.

Biggest problem:

Credit card needed, even for the free plan.What’s with that?

I really don’t get it.Obviously a very smart marketing plan.

That’s a deal breaker for me.

Mailmarketer.in

A basic Indian version of email service.
Works on mobile.
NET banking possible.
FREE plan present.
The user interfaces easy.
Customization of webform possible.
List segregation and setting up Autoresponders easy.
Integration with Google analytics is present.
Captcha helps to clean up your list by automatically blocking spam.

Cons: It’s not as pretty as madmimi .

Many of my emails end up in the spam folder.Very poor open rate (maybe I am doing something wrong )

I have been mailmarketer.in for the last 1 month.I have a list of 36 new people.Some of them are friends.

Now the question, is it good enough to help me build a nice list?

Because the money is not really in the list. The money happens, when your subscribers love your work so much, that they wait eagerly to open your emails and take action.

Update: November 2017

I am using madmimi for the last one year approximately and also using Google forms.
30% open rate approximately.
I try to send a mix of my own contents and curated posts useful for my audience.
I am also checking out sendinblue!

Do you have an email list?

Can you suggest one which doesn’t need a credit card, plus is awesome?Comment below to let me know.

Don’t forget to subscribe and get the result of my experiments with list building (in India), in your inbox!

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Happy Sunday :Rejuvenation is good for your soul

Power of Storytelling :Fridayfotofiction (1)