New year, new me. Is this the thought doing the rounds in your head?
If it is, great, although I would suggest "new focus on me" as your mantra. Why? Because I believe that you are your greatest asset, and anything that will keep you functioning, healthy and happy is worth every dirham spent - as long as you clearly define what it is you're investing in and how you are measuring returns.
Here's what I mean. Chances are if you ask anyone what they're investing in, they'll rattle off all manner of things - property, stocks, bonds, start-ups - but I bet they won't say the single most important thing: themselves. Saying it is one thing and living by it is another - and it's so very important.
If I don't work, I don't earn. Plus, I'm becoming less valuable with time - my earning years are declining, and I'm at greater risk of various health problems. So anything that will keep me functioning well is a good thing.
This is one reason I invested in time with a personal trainer a few months ago. Unfortunately my fitness regime didn't last - a change in my family's routine means that I'd need to spend an additional hour and a half on the road each day if I want to hit the gym I joined.
This is self-defeating - I can't justify the additional stress of driving that much and the hours lost to my life to see my paid-up trainer, who hasn't seen me for months now. Instead, I'm justifying joining a different gym that fits into my current daily circuit - and writing off the money at the previous one. Ouch. But if that's what I need to do to keep myself in tip-top shape for decades to come, then I need to bite that bullet.
To be clear, there is a giant difference between real investment in your own human capital and justifying expenses. Going on a trip for some downtime or to explore a new part of the world can count as an investment in your well-being and continuous learning, but opting for 5-star luxury all the way is an expense. Or in my case, paying for time with a private trainer is an investment, but kitting myself out in the latest fitness apparel is an expense.
You don't need to spend big or make giant changes to take better care of yourself. Self-care is mostly about adopting great habits.
Here are other ways you can invest in yourself:
. Build your human capital by developing your knowledge base. Taking courses is one way of doing this. Another is simply setting time aside to read, learn and explore ideas and concepts. To get yourself excited, watch the video on the home page of the Oxford University Summer School for Adults. I want to do all their courses on offer.
. Adopt healthy habits. Include flossing. Here's one reason why: scientists believe that gum disease releases potentially harmful bacteria into the bloodstream, which significantly increases the risk of heart disease.
We each have our own life, aspirations and talents. Spend time looking at your habits - your way of living, eating, and being - and figure out how you can work towards a better you by improving your self-care. Do you sleep well? Does your diet include green vegetables and fruit? Something as simple as steamed broccoli is thought to prolong life, or at least help have a better quality of life, because it's packed with nutrients that stave off cancer, tackle chronic inflammation and have many other benefits too. Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable, and luckily for me, brussels sprouts are too - I love them and eat them any time of year. What about avocado? Again, it's packed full of health and self-help.
Going back to your human capital, it's not only about learning. It's also about being able to earn more, or earn for longer. For many this is a must, as retiring at 60 or 65 is no longer an option. The good news is that studies find people who work into their twilight years are happier and have more disposable cash at hand.
The bottom line is that investing in yourself is your most profitable venture. You reap future returns and get a payoff right now.
Plus, your well-being will ensure the well-being of those who depend on you.
One of my brothers recently recorded a version of "What a wonderful life". You can hear it on my blog, finding-nima.com, and it's just perfect for this time of year. And just like the human body's journey through life, his version wasn't smooth and perfect. It gets off to a wobbly start before hitting its stride and then falters towards the end.
Invest in yourself now, today and every day, and keep the wobbliness at bay.
Nima Abu Wardeh is the founder of the personal finance website cashy.me. You can reach her at nima@cashy.me and find her on Twitter at @nimaabuwardeh.
Follow us on Twitter @TheNationalPF
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Sweet%20Tooth
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The specs: 2019 Subaru Forester
Price, base: Dh105,900 (Premium); Dh115,900 (Sport)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 182hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 239Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.1L / 100km (estimated)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
Chatham House Rule
A mark of Chatham House’s influence 100 years on since its founding, was Moscow’s formal declaration last month that it was an “undesirable
organisation”.
The depth of knowledge and academics that it drew on
following the Ukraine invasion had broadcast Mr Putin’s chicanery.
The institute is more used to accommodating world leaders,
with Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher among those helping it provide
authoritative commentary on world events.
Chatham House was formally founded as the Royal Institute of
International Affairs following the peace conferences of World War One. Its
founder, Lionel Curtis, wanted a more scientific examination of international affairs
with a transparent exchange of information and ideas.
That arena of debate and analysis was enhanced by the “Chatham
House Rule” states that the contents of any meeting can be discussed outside Chatham
House but no mention can be made identifying individuals who commented.
This has enabled some candid exchanges on difficult subjects
allowing a greater degree of free speech from high-ranking figures.
These meetings are highly valued, so much so that
ambassadors reported them in secret diplomatic cables that – when they were
revealed in the Wikileaks reporting – were thus found to have broken the rule. However,
most speeches are held on the record.
Its research and debate has offered fresh ideas to
policymakers enabling them to more coherently address troubling issues from climate
change to health and food security.
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Dubai Creek Open in numbers
- The Dubai Creek Open is the 10th tournament on this year's Mena Tour
- It is the first of five events before the season-concluding Mena Tour Championship
- This week's field comprises 120 players, 21 of which are amateurs
- 15 previous Mena Tour winners are competing at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
KINGDOM%20OF%20THE%20PLANET%20OF%20THE%20APES
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The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal
Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.
School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.
“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.
“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
Stage 3 results
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 4:42:33
2 Tadej Pocagar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:03
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana 0:01:30
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ
5 Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:56
General Classification after Stage 3:
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 12:30:02
2 Tadej Pocagar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:07
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana 0:01:35
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:40
5 Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Wilco Kelderman (NED) Team Sunweb) 0:02:06
Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes
Cheat’s nigiri
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.
Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.
Deconstructed sushi salad platter
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.
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