This is part of a Siimon Reynolds series – When They Zig You Zag

Listen to Classical Music, not modern

Much research has been done on how a lot of rock music agitates the human nervous system. You may perhaps have heard of the research test where scientists played hard rock to plants for hours. The plants actually turned away from the speakers!

When played soothing classical music they turned to face the sound, evidently getting strength from it. In a recent US research study, it was found that most people performed better in IQ tests after listening to classical music, and Sheila Oestrander, the renowned expert on accelerated learning, says students can remember far more when listening to baroque classical pieces.

Switch from rock to classical and both your body and mind will thank you.

This is part of a Siimon Reynolds series – When They Zig You Zag

Put health before work and you’ll be more successful

Most people in business put health last. By devoting all their time to work they get ahead faster at first, but after a decade or so their body begins to rebel against all the strain, and sickness and mental lethargy slowly build up.

By the time the average person hits 50, they’ve lost most of their energy and their motivation. The very few people who put their health as their number one priority not only have much more spark in the second half of their careers, they also enjoy their first half a lot more because, being healthy, they’re much less prone to stress.

This is part of a Siimon Reynolds series – When They Zig You Zag

Do your most important job first each day

It seems so simple but hardly anyone does it! But doing this one thing will make you so much more effective.

There’s an interesting story about this. In the 1930s the steel magnate Charles Schwabb had a meeting with a young entrepreneur. This young man offered to teach Schwabb a way to increase his entire company’s productivity. All he asked in return was that Schwabb pay him what he thought it was worth.

The idea? Just write down the six most important things you should do each day and do number one first, before going on to number two. After trying this incredibly basic technique for a few weeks Schwab sent the young man a cheque for $25,000.

This is part of a Siimon Reynolds series – When They Zig You Zag

To stay young drink more water

Dehydration is believed by experts to be one of the major causes of ageing. Not only will you look old if you don’t drink much water (your skin becomes wrinkled), your kidneys will be less able to eliminate impurities efficiently.

Even brain cells are affected by dehydration. According to longevity expert, Professor Stanislaw Talalas, the average person loses about three litres of water a day. So drink at least two litres of water – the rest can come from water rich foods like vegetables and fruit.

This is part of a Siimon Reynolds series – When They Zig You Zag

Be clear about what you value in life
Do you value health over success? Family over career? Business over friendship? Spirituality over social life? What are your values? Most people don’t have a clue.

As a result they live wishy-washy lives, devoid of clear direction and power. As Confucius once said, ‘He who aims at nothing… is sure to hit it!’

Take half an hour to think about these areas of your life, and then list them in order of importance: Business, family life, social life, health, spirituality. Which is number one in importance? Which is number five? Once you’ve worked out what you value most, ask yourself whether you are currently living your life in accordance with that values ladder. If not, change your life.

Living a life according to your values is truly one of the great secrets to happiness.