Philip Viana

Philip Viana is hard at work developing the formula to a meaningful, mindful and happy life. He writes about productivity, financial advice, technology, and lifestyle at Burnthenegative.com

December 1 BY in Uncategorized

How to Stop the Negative Spin of Thoughts, Emotions and Actions

269 Shares People have a distorted view of the world when they are in a negative state of mind. It becomes a cycle where negative thoughts reinforce negative emotions, which in turn produces negative actions. If the cycle is not broken, and left to run uninterrupted, it inevitably has a detrimental physical and mental effect on the person experiencing the spin. In addition, if these cycles spin often enough, they can lead to clinical depression and anxiety. The key to avoiding this negative distortion and stopping the mental spin is to understand what initiates... More »

November 15 BY in Productivity, Technology, Uncategorized

Focus on Art, Not on Features: Simple Online Tools for Writers

1.2K Shares As computer applications mature and its base of users grow, companies tend to continually tweak their functions and add features so that the programs can meet everyone’s needs. Sometimes, the changes are universally accepted, but other times it marginalizes users looking for a specialized and lightweight program. Some writers believe that modern word processors have so many features and options that it interrupts their focus and actually hinders their creative efforts. Because of this hindrance, some writers have forsaken the computer and instead use typewriters or pen and paper. That said, using... More »

October 25 BY in Uncategorized

“Peace One Day” at Work

70 Shares In a recent TED talk, activist Jeremy Gilley discusses his inspiring mission of “Persuading the world to try living in peace for just one day.” Adhering to a single day of peace allows for the immunization of rural populations, aid to be distributed, freedom to travel and the transmission of information. Most importantly, it relieves a person of the stress and anxiety that comes with continuous violence and hate. This mission should inspire people to dedicate themselves to peace on a global, local and emotional level. Perhaps, people can take the initiative... More »

September 27 BY in Lifestyle

Mastering a Moment of Purposeful Peace

78 Shares Our minds are always preoccupied with inconsequential thoughts and pending tasks. We create a facade of constant motion to fool ourselves and others that we have a purpose in life. Instead, it is actually a purgatory of limitless wanting, made up of over shopping, eating, traveling and working. All of it used to alleviate the guilt of being aimless. There is no time to think, just forward momentum and a false hope that things will improve on their own. Ultimately, it results in a jarring collision with reality, and questions like, “Am... More »

September 14 BY in Uncategorized

How to Create Emergency Kits for your Average Workday

179 Shares People create emergency kits for car problems and bad weather, but few create kits to deal with more common but less urgent situations. In particular, misplacing a wallet or forgetting a work laptop at home can play havoc with a person’s workday. With a little bit of planning, you can create emergency kits that will let you deal with these types of situations in a calm and productive manner. Creating a backup kit for your wallet Besides your keys, your wallet is probably your most important daily companion. Without it, you lack... More »

August 31 BY in Communication, Lifestyle

Use Compassion and Understanding to Achieve Family Harmony

78 Shares Every family encounters a situation where the actions or inaction of a particular family member has a negative effect on the rest of the group. These issues are difficult to resolve because families are a fragile and complex unit. Because of the complexity, people have to be sensitive and compassionate when dealing with family issues. The family has to come together, discuss the issues and come up with a solution that takes into account the needs of the family member at the center of the issue and the needs of the rest... More »

August 23 BY in Technology

A Googly Job Search

87 Shares Even at the best of times, starting a focused job search is a complicated process that includes research, deadlines, preparation and follow-up. Luckily, Google offers many services and applications that help you manage the job search project and plan your next action steps. Start fresh, eliminate the distractions of your existing Google profile and create an account dedicated to your project. Gmail The first task is to pick a professional sounding  name for your email address. Gmail has been around for a long time, so getting an address that incorporates your name... More »

August 19 BY in Productivity

Achieve Success by Stepping out of Your Comfort Zone

278 Shares You have two choices when taking on a project that you feel is beyond your expertise. You can succumb to the fear of failure and walk away or see it as an opportunity to challenge yourself and develop new skills. Overcome your doubts by focusing on a successful outcome, developing a positive attitude and following a structured plan. Here is a guideline to help you take on any task or project. Get a firm understanding of what you are trying to achieve Define the goal of the project and condense it to... More »

August 17 BY in Productivity

Start a Productive Workday With the Right Websites

75 Shares Your peak performance period is that space of time during the day where you maximize your focus, productivity and energy for two to three hours.Make the most of this period by prepping your workspace for instant action. Close the door and create a routine that both relaxes and motivates you. A step in the right direction is to create a GTD bookmark folder with a short list of essential websites Current news website Choose one website that you can quickly scan and easily pick out important headlines. Then spend five to ten... More »

August 3 BY in Money

Five Reasons Students Might Consider Using Credit

54 Shares In North America, students can apply for credit when they attend a post-secondary institution, even without verifiable income. The credit available to them ranges from low limit credit cards to education loans that can reach into the tens of thousands. A person can use this to their advantage, credit decisions made as a student can make a considerable contribution towards the amount of capital and assets they can obtain after graduation. You can leverage the benefits of a credit card without succumbing to high interest rates.The high interest rates charged by credit card companies are a result of... More »