Valentine’s Day is complicated.While we love writing about self-love and loving family, showing that you love is not easy. Gifts are lovely.But people remember how you make them feel.

If you make your wife feel loved, according to Newton’s law you should automatically loved! Self-help books which were a staple in my life since I was 14.Together with all the Mills And Boons hid behind the brown paper wrappers, they shaped my views about life, love and what it takes to form a loving relationship.

All relationships need investment.You need an investment of time( most important), emotions and your will. For the next few days, I will be sharing my unique gift ideas for the woman you love!

Home is where the heart is #VDay gifts for the house proud woman

The book love the home you have will be perfect. It talks about how while searching for the perfect house with stop making our memories in the home we have.

Gift her original art

You can draw and paint yourself, frame and gift your wife’s artwork with a little note engraved.You can buy from sites like Amazon, or pay a commission to someone to make a couple sketch.

Gift her a low maintenance vertical Garden or  balcony Garden starter kit.

Maybe you could gift her an Aquarium with a DIY aquaponics gardening kit for an extra challenge?

The garden and aquarium will give a new dimension to the living room decor!

Get a  new rocking chair or lounging chair for reading a book or for unwinding!

If you are really feeling generous and have a deep pocket how about a second home next to the sea or the mountains? No harm  in  wishing right ?f

Maybe you could decorate the entire home with flowers and surprise her!\

---

Congratulations!

The supermoms who won the January #MondayMommyMoments challenge are Shipra and Surbhi Congratulations to both of you.Your prizes will reach you soon!

---

Prompt this week 

#Valentines day post.Share your gift ideas, thoughts and memories!

Read our rules here and link up using the button below.

MondayMommyMoments Rules  : Must follow!

 

---

 

Tools of Titans by Tim Ferris is not a book.It’s distilled wisdom

Today on  #MondayMommyMoments I want to talk about productivity as a blogging mom.I will tell you about what I love and what helps me most.I will tell you about the apps, the Google Chrome extensions and The Book which made my life easier.

The post is divided into 3 parts :

• The list of apps, resources and habits which help me blog regularly while managing a home and work.
• The Book Tools of Titan: Book Summary, distilled wisdom and titbits to notch up your productivity.Plus inspiration
• My take on the book to help moms use this book to start their journey to make their first million /billion /zillion.No harm in believing and praying right?

What I use to make my Blogging and life easier!

Number one on this list is the Gmail app on my phone.I can check my email anytime and get all my work done on my phone itself without opening the laptop.When I open laptop its writing time!No more distractions!

The Google doc app is also very useful.It is synced to all my devices.I use it to write notes, blog post ideas, make my to do list, edit my books rough draft everything.

The best part about the Google doc Chrome extension is it has a voice to text typing feature.if your Wi-fi is good you can type using voice typing that special useful when your fingers are paining after a long day this post was written using voice typing there are some errors which needs to be checked also the voice typing tool doesn’t work if the net is slow it doesn’t work on phone so you are stuck with the laptop but even then it’s a cool free additive to the Google Chrome extension this free voice to text apps on the phone have a much higher rate of mistakes than the one with the Google doc

The next thing that makes life easier for me is the add-on feature in Google doc.With the add on feature you can add WordPress.com.This is a super cool way of directly saving all your drafts in your wordpress dashboard. This is possible only from the Google Chrome Extension.

Another super productivity tool is the Pinterest app .Just scroll through your feed and do your organic pinning for the day when you are traveling.

Canva app on the phone saving when I am in a hurry and really need to make a quick update for insta on my blog I just need to look at my previous drops or graphics user as a template change the text and  I am set.

PayTm is another app which has made my life very easy it.It helps in easy transfer of money.Plus you can use it for the Facebook ads.

Creativemarket free goodies for many of my Graphic goods needs.They have free downloads every week and I love them.

What helps me boost up my productivity?

Drinking water.Yes, it helps me concentrate.On days I don’t enough water I get irritable and high strung.Not good at all.

Walking and playing with the exercise ball.Nothing is as relaxing as a  fun workout .

How do I waste my time?

Okay you don’t need to know this I am sure you have plenty of ways.

Way to find Zen:

Remind yourself of your wh.I cuddle with my daughter and ask myself

What is the most important thing I should get done now?

That helps, me decide .

Also when the worst comes to worst I remember one thing

[bctt tweet=”In the end nothing matters !” username=”misra_amrita”]

Absolutely nothing. Dust to dust is the biggest truth .

What matters is the work you do today, now, should help someone.Even if that is you .

If what you are doing helps no one then think again.

---

To top these insights into my productivity tools , I am sharing with you the Book Summary of the famous Tim Ferris book Tools of Titans .

Its an amazing book.

The tactics, routines, habits of biliionaires icons and world class performers .

Tim ferris is #1 New York Times best seller author for a reason.

My thought after I read this book :

When you stand on the shoulders of giants you can see further .Sometimes you will not have the vision or the time to look beyond your own perimeter thats when books like these help.

Book genre: Nonfiction

What you will learn in this book:

• Tony Robbin’s priming routine.
• How to unblock your creative potential.
• How to push through fear and increase self-confidence.
• How to overcome setbacks and challenges.

What did I love about the book?

Everything!

His Publisher has given a legal disclaimer

Tim’s disclaimer:

Please don’t do anything stupid and kill yourself.It would make us both unhappy.Consult a doctor, lawyer and a common sense specialist before doing anything in this book.

This man has a way with words.I have rarely read a more entertaining disclaimer.

Next comes the Forward by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

It’s profound. One sentence that stays even after you close the book

[bctt tweet=”Like everyone, to go to where I am I stood on the shoulders of Giants: Arnold Schwarzenegger.Check out Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines and Habits of Billionaire  by Timothy Ferriss http://amzn.to/2nnsCoM ” username=”misra_amrita”]

Tim gives a handy guide to help the reader read and understand the wisdom stored in the 600 plus pages of the book.

It’s divided into healthy, wealthy and wise.

With tips, thoughts life lessons, book suggestions, and distilled wisdom from 111 wise men and women.

Now if you rarely like heeding to good advice ignore this book.But if you like to learn from others wisdom (and cut short many pains)go buy this book

The best part I loved the non-profile chapters a lot too.They are Tim’s quick hack tips for healthier wealthier and wiser you.

From the Health part

• The slow carb diet cheat sheet
• 5 Morning rituals that Help me win the day is a must read.
• Also, Mind training 101

In the Wealth part

• Tim gives productivity tricks (my favorite)
• How to say No when it matters most

Wise

• The jar of Awesome.This is something like my ThankfulThursdays Thank you notes.
• Writing prompts from Chery Strayed
• 8 tactics for dealing with Haters (interesting tips )

Did you know in India only 3 women billionaires exist .Of these two have family wealth handed down .

Thats why I am sharing the book summary of this book Tools of Titan to help you understand the mechanism, self-discipline, and mindset you need to make your first billion.Okay, first million harm in wishing , right?

If you do even half of what this book inspires you to do, you will be better off.

After the Go-Giver, this has become one of my favorite books.The other one is the money book

Life gives you finite time to make mistakes, learn and grow.So  choose with care.

Tim asks a valid question?

What makes these people different?

Tim advises

Borrow liberally from the book, combine uniquely and create your own bespoke blueprint.

Just remember

Success is achievable if you use the right set of mindsets, habits, and skills.

The people whom you admire are all flawed.Everyone really is a fighting a battle you and me know zero about.

Everyone is born struggling.Life is meant to be a struggle.The fun in climbing the mountain.Thats why people try the Everest!

Honest book: Guess why?

He advises you to skip liberally and intelligently.Unique advice but I get it.The entire book may not help you now , you can pick, choose skip and use what you need help with most .

What I loved

The look at the minds of the people who battled odds and made a place for themselves.It helped focus on the truth

[bctt tweet=”We all go through darkness before we can see light #Healthwealthbridge ” username=”misra_amrita”]

I loved Tim’s 5-morning rituals

• Make your bed(Even Melissa in Love the Home you have stressed on this!)
• Meditate
• 5 to 10 Reps of something

Grab the book to know more about his other morning rituals.

Mind Training 101

Pro tip: Use an app like Headspace or Calm with background sounds of nature that will soothe you .

Favourite Tip from the book

• Be your unapologetically weird self .By Chris Sacca
• Strong views loosely held by Marc Andreessen
• Never Audition -own or create a unique niche.Arnold Schwarzenegger .Can you imagine anyone elsese as the Terminator?

One habit I plan to use right away

Arnold tips on meditation to fight overwhelm.He advices two times a day, 20 minutes each for one year and you will be ready to battle the worries which come from living a full life.

Interestingly he says weight training is a form of meditation too because you can concentrate on the muscle.Epic advise!

Productivity and happiness for me go together.

I am happy  I am more productive.When I am happy ,work gets done quicker.

As a mom who works, writes, gardens and loves to travel I will tell you one secret.

Believe .

Yes, believe that you can do it and you will become more productive.You set your own goals and timeline.Don’t let others benchmarks and stats weigh you down.They are important but in their own place.

About the author: Tim Ferris is the author of the Four hour work week.He is one of the most innovative Business people and Forbes Names You need to know.He is an early investor /advisor of Uber /Facebook /Alibaba and more.Check out his podcast the Tim Ferris show.

---

Takeaway: Why Mom Bloggers should read this book

You are multitasker struggling against all odds, you need help.

You need to remember you are not alone.

You need to learn the hacks to make most of your time

You need to know how to be healthy even when you get wealthier.Writing sitting down the entire day is horrible for your body.Get fitter, write better.

You need help with motivation

You need to know that

[bctt tweet=”When things get tough moms get going!” username=”misra_amrita”]

Go buy this book.Read the parts you want.Come back and tell me what you loved most and we will discuss more stuff.

Writing this for #MondayMommyMoments a very long post but hopefully, this will help you.

---

Prompt this week:

Productivity Tips to help moms

Rules :

RULES OF LINKY:

Write the post and Link Up with Healthwealthbridge by Dr.Amrita and Deepa.Follow on Twitter @Deepagandhi1 & @misra_amrita.

span style="font-size: 12pt;">Copy the badge code and put it at the end of your post.

<br />
</p>
<p>
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://healthwealthbridge.com" rel="nofollow" title="Healthwealthbridge"><img src="https://healthwealthbridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/IMG_20161211_223327.jpg" alt="Healthwealthbridge" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
<p></p>
<p>

Self-love is a favorite topic.I once read

If you find someone to love you as much as you love yourself you will live happy.Anon

So the first step is to love yourself deeply madly crazily.

If that sounds crazy, be crazy.Do not let your self-love dry up.

Be your own bestie, be kind to yourself.Forgive yourself and let yourself live.When one thinks about the different types of love their trials and tribulations, the easiest should be self-love right?According to psychologists, it’s not that simple.

Selfish self-centered and narcissistic are all siblings.They are the different clones of the same self or ego.The one you will feed more will grow (wisdom alert!)

Narcissism by definition(Wikipedia)

Narcissism is the pursuit of gratification from vanity or egotistic admiration of one’s own attributes.

But healthy balanced positive narcissism or self-love is needed to develop self-esteem and self-love?This is Dr.Jekyll!

This concept was not researched in detail by Freud but by Paul Federn.

Psychologists suggest that healthy self-love is an essential part of the self or ego.

It is needed for self-preservation.

Even when you love with all your being try to keep a part of yourself deep within your soul.This is the protection that preserves your soul from all outside evil disruptive forces.This fragment of your self is the narcisstic part of us which wants to survive, to flourish to grow.

Children need this sense of self-preservation groomed into their childhood.Otherwise it tough.

But what if you love yourself too much?

If your quest for fame fortune and starshine outshines normal social norms and is at the cost of other relationships, maybe its time to pause.

While its impossible to go forward in life without self-love, self-confidence and a good dose of self-esteem, it’s equally important to have empathy and feeling of social inclusion.

When we focus too much on me we may actually lose we.

[bctt tweet=”Tending to a tree is good .But overlooking the forest for the tree is not good.” username=”misra_amrita”]

The important thing to remember hardcore narcissism is according to Freud one of the three dark triadic personality traits.The other two are psychopathy and Machiavellianism.Meet Mr.Hyde!

Food for thought anyone?

The only answer to this question from me.It’s complicated.

A balance is needed .Just like everything else in life.

Writing this to start off #MondayMommyMoments this week.Do check out my Republic Day post on the 26th.

This blog is a link up with Zainab for #WhatILove”

---

The Prompt this week for #MondayMommyMoments

Read the Rules of Linking with #MondayMommyMoments here.

Read all the posts written last week.

---

 

RULES OF LINKY:

Write the post and Link Up with Healthwealthbridge by Dr.Amrita or Deepa.Follow on Twitter @Deepagandhi1 & @misra_amrita.

Copy the badge code and put it at the end of your post.

<br />
</p>
<p>
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://healthwealthbridge.com" rel="nofollow" title="Healthwealthbridge"><img src="https://healthwealthbridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/IMG_20161211_223327.jpg" alt="Healthwealthbridge" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
<p></p>
<p>

To be eligible for the Supermom contests you must be following all rules.Read carefully as each will carry weight.

SUPERMOM RULES :

1. You must write each week.
2. Share on 2 social media the supermom promo pic with links to our posts.
3. You must share on Twitter. The second one can be Facebook or Insta
4. Always tag hosts while sharing.
5. Comment on both posts of hosts.
6. Comment and share on  atleast 2 other posts linked up.
7. Tag at least 2 more mom bloggers(must ).More the merrier.Extra points if tagged friends link up.
8. Fill up this form telling us the posts you have commented on and the links of the social share links
9. By entering this contest you give us(Amrita and Deepa) your permission to tag you on social media and email you regarding contest updates, results and more such in the future.
10. At least 10  unique linkups are needed every week for Supermom contest to be viable so don’t forget to tag friends and inspire them to write!

Don’t forget to submit all your social media links through this  Google form.

 

---

 

Motherhood a profession?A job? A vocation?A blessing?
It’s all and some more.Mothers have the most profound effect on the child.It’s not me, but psychologists who say this.Children need their moms.
But families need to sustain themselves too.
SAHM is a luxury many can’t afford.

What society forgets is that everyone has a mother.Mother’s bring up nations, their leaders, their army men, their entrepreneur’s, everyone!If a nation continues to ignore the sacrifice women make to bring up the future citizen of the world you are missing the point.

My story 

When I became a mommy my life underwent a 180 degree reset.I wanted to do everything I always wanted to do, but my first priority shifted from own happiness to baby’s health and happiness.

It’s a miracle how mothers across time and geographical borders want the same for their child

But I had another little bug to take care of.This bug was inside my brain.The weird nonstop talking part which wouldn’t let me give up trying.
The education and learning I have received.What kind of example will I set if I dont practice what I talked about ?
About being able to support me financially and socially.

It seemed impossible that I could continue having a career while I brought up the little one.

God intervened.
My Job as a medical teacher was God sent.
It’s flexible and helps both of us juggle baby work housework and professional duties without hair tearing worries.

When my baby was born, I was not in a Government service.I received no paid maternity leave.In fact at a job interview, an interviewer asked me about my plans for family planning!That gave me a jolt.That’s strange and discriminatory but stranger things happen.

Now things hopefully are changing.Laws are being made but are you aware of them?

I share a few of the key changes in the Indian Maternity Benefit Amendment  bill and how it will affect you.

Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India 
Key points in the MB Amendment Acts 

• Increased paid maternity leave  (from the existing 12 weeks to 26 weeks).But for third or more pregnancy it is still 12 weeks
• Work from home options.After the 26 weeks leave and depend on nature of work an agreement with the employer.
• Option for adoptive mothers.Up to 12 weeks of leave from the day of adoption.
• Creche benefits.Mandatory with up to 4 visits allowed during work hours.
• The responsibility of the employer to educate the employee about her rights.

Some other countries with good Maternity benefits are:

• Germany: Has sensible and kind rules for pregnant, nursing, mothers and also for child care benefits.
• Canada and Norway allow  50 weeks and 44 weeks respectively as paid maternity leave.
• The United Kingdom has excellent maternity benefits with up to 52 weeks leave.
• But not so good in the USA.I was surprised to know they have the lowest levels of leave for mothers in the industrialized part of the world!

My thoughts :

Why would any country want a brain drain of successful, hardworking creative sincere women workforce ?

Women bring essential soft skills to a workplace which no man can.

A society which doesn’t appreciate women can never truly progress.

How can governments across the world deprive such a large section of the population to the right to a livelihood?

Do not think you cannot be financially independent without a job.You can do the same as an entrepreneur.

[bctt tweet=”When the going gets tough, you will discover superpowers!” username=”misra_amrita”]

You just have to believe.That’s  my Word of the year.

You may have to work harder but you will be stronger.

---

Additional ideas and resources(will be updated)

Have a skill?Use Skillshare Udemy, Teachable, Etsy, Instamojo, to share your course, class and digital products.  LinkedIn to network and create a professional circle.

Check out Inkwellteam an extraorservice force  for global flexible work options connecting businesses with accomplished women !

---

Did you get maternity benefits?How do you think the Government can help families more?

Write in the comments below!

Writing this for #MondayMommyMoments.

---

This week the  #MondayMommyMoments prompt is :

A Mother deserves the highest salary !-Manushi Chhillar (Miss India 2017)

Your thoughts on this. Tell us the good, bad and the ugly.We want to know!

 

---

Read our rules: MondayMommyMoments and Supermom rules

Link up by submitting your URL  through the button below.