I just have to tell you how a recent investment in four smallish whiteboards from Geant has transformed my life.
I am not exaggerating.
For a start, they're great for doodling on. It's amazing how being able to freely make shapes, lines and colourful creations can focus the mind and give us great insight. The current thinking is that this simple activity has major health benefits too. Look it up.
So one of the boards is set aside for just this purpose.
But here is the more important revelation: the whiteboards are making me more efficient.
The upshot is that massive chunks of time and mental capacity are being freed up. Priceless.
Let me first share how they're being used and the practical impact they're having, and then I'll go into a bit about science.
Last night I was up writing down my meal plan for the week. I use a different colour for each day. I can see, instantly, whether we are getting too much or too little of any one type of food or food group. And because it's a whiteboard, I can easily swap and change things if I want to.
I use another board to write down our snacks for each day of the week. As well as snacks to be munched at school, I write down my own - I always carry home-created food and cannot remember the last time I had to buy lunch. I find this to be much more convenient and yummy.
What's the big deal you might be thinking.
Well, it's the knock-on effect that's the biggie.
After setting out the plan, I check that I have all the ingredients needed; the right amounts of everything for each meal of the week.
On my third board I write out what's missing and where to get it from.
This board is used to chart up errands linking what's needed and by when with my schedule and movements across town. Some items can be bought only at certain places, and if I'm close by I can factor that in.
You see, it's all about clarity - of thoughts, of needs, of priorities, of timelines - and how to achieve them.
When you have all these elements written down and staring back at you - multicolour helps, I believe - it becomes glaringly obvious what needs to be done, when and where. It becomes obvious what preparation can take place to make life easier, more efficient. It could be as simple as creating a marinade and have food drinking it in overnight or using one base for more than a meal.
Do you see what this means? What starts out as a way of knowing exactly what we will be eating each day, throughout the day, has become a map for what needs to be done where and when by for the whole week. My very own life-manager. Or week-manager at the very least. As a result, money and time are used optimally. But most important of all is this: with the mundane sorted, I am free. Free to think, focus, achieve and simply enjoy other things. Be it work, reading, really listening or anything.
Now for the science: this is why writing things down longhand is better than typing things out on a laptop.
I am simplifying: writing stimulates cells at the base of the brain called the reticular activating system (RAS). These cells act as a filter for things your brain needs to process. They give more importance to the stuff you are actively focusing on at any given moment. When you are writing, your RAS sends a message to other parts of the brain saying "pay attention". This is one reason why it's said that writing (realistic) goals down gives us a better chance of achieving them.
Sure you could write it out on a piece of paper, but where's the fun in that?
There's a lot to be said about seeing your life, even if it's just the basic building blocks of food and errands, mapped out in technicolour before you. It makes things jump out, puts your mind at ease, and gives you a sense of safety - or at the very least a sense of calm. it's the feeling that you really do have a grip on your life.
Get a whiteboard. It'll be the best Dh18 you've spent in a long time. Then write things down and make them happen.
Nima Abu Wardeh is the founder of the personal finance website cashy.me. You can reach her at nima@cashy.me
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Federer's 19 grand slam titles
Australian Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Marat Safin; 2006 bt Marcos Baghdatis; 2007 bt Fernando Gonzalez; 2010 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Rafael Nadal
French Open (1 title) - 2009 bt Robin Soderling
Wimbledon (8 titles) - 2003 bt Mark Philippoussis; 2004 bt Andy Roddick; 2005 bt Andy Roddick; 2006 bt Rafael Nadal; 2007 bt Rafael Nadal; 2009 bt Andy Roddick; 2012 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Marin Cilic
US Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Lleyton Hewitt; 2005 bt Andre Agassi; 2006 bt Andy Roddick; 2007 bt Novak Djokovic; 2008 bt Andy Murray
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EXPATS
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
MATCH INFO
Day 2 at the Gabba
Australia 312-1
Warner 151 not out, Burns 97, Labuschagne 55 not out
Pakistan 240
Shafiq 76, Starc 4-52
MATCH INFO
Day 2 at Mount Maunganui
England 353
Stokes 91, Denly 74, Southee 4-88
New Zealand 144-4
Williamson 51, S Curran 2-28
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
WandaVision
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany
Directed by: Matt Shakman
Rating: Four stars
Bharat
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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Scores:
Day 4
England 290 & 346
Sri Lanka 336 & 226-7 (target 301)
Sri Lanka require another 75 runs with three wickets remaining