3 - Take The Easy Route

See if you can spot easy way to do everyday math sums.

For example, suppose you need to find: 7 + 8 + 3.

Instead of starting at left and adding as you go, you may notice that 7 and 3 make a nice round 10. Simply tag on 8 and you get 18 altogether.

The above technique - called "looking for 10s" - is a useful trick when adding numbers.

Try some for yourself:

a) 8 + 6 + 2 + 6 + 4

b) 9 + 3 + 7 + 5 + 1

c) 13 + 6 + 7 + 14

4 - Notice Patterns

Another thing to practice is seeing patterns in numbers. This makes them easier to remember and to work with.

For example, 23434 contains a simple pattern.

So does 9639.

And 51015 is a 'palindrome" - it's same backwards.

5 - Make Them 'Real'

Numbers may contain memorable digits like dates.

For example, 217761.

If you look carefully, you'll notice it contains year of signing of American Declaration of Independence.

A number could contain:

- birthday numbers of yourself, family, or friends

- figures from a telephone number or dial code

- numbers of a house you have lived in

Or some other kind of digit combination that you can relate to.

Once you can relate numbers to 'real world', you're fast on way to becoming familiar with them.

And when you get to know them, you and numbers can become best of friends for life!

That's right. Everyone tells you how busy and how little time they have, yet most people do nothing to learn skills that will have a dramatic impact on their work and personal lives.

Cats in Cradle For those of you old enough to remember, Harry Chapin recorded a song called "Cats in Cradle". It was about a young boy whose Dad was always busy working. He never seemed to be available when his son wanted to be with him. Over years this continued until boy became an adult. By then his Dad had retired and had time on his hands, however his son had now become too busy to see his Dad. He too was working and had kids. The tables had turned. All of a sudden Dad realised what he had done. He was too busy caught up in his work and missed out on his son growing up.

The Final Word Bringing up balanced, positive and well-adjusted children is most satisfying thing you can ever do. Whatever successes you have had in your life, nothing beats feeling when you look at your child knowing you have made a major contribution to way they’ve turned out. (Also opposite can be true…if you’re child has run off rails, you may have to take a look in mirror).

If you have kids and you seriously want to have more time with them, then take action today. There are many simple changes you can make that will free up your time. If you’re too bogged down and can’t see how, then get some help…contact us.

Whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Kids grow up very quickly. I know from personal experience.. My eldest child turned 21 last week and next year my son goes off to high school. I am so grateful that I have played a major role in their upbringing and regardless of how busy my schedule has been, I have always made my family highest priority.

You can have more work/life balance if you really want to. All it takes are a few changes to way you currently operate your life.

Remember, nothing changes, if nothing changes.

Lorraine specialises in working with businesspeople showing them how to dramatically boost their productivity, reduce the stress and the mess in their lives and have more time for enjoying their life.