Tag Archive for get organized

How to Stay Organized When the Going Gets Tough

February 12, 2024 John Uncategorized No comments

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How to Stay Organized When the Going Gets Tough

You’re an organized person for the most part. You have plans and schedules but sometimes life happens. Then your well planned life seems to crumble around you.

But there are things you can do to prevent that from happening. And GenuLines is here to help you stay in control.

Be Prepared

This is most important. By planning ahead you will know what to do when you’re snowed under. Like those everyday challenges from work and the family.

Get as much ready as you can for the next day before you go to bed. That includes clothes, work and school bags, your to do list and, if possible, breakfast and lunch.

Plan for the week ahead on a Sunday so that you know what the schedule is and have a meal plan in place.

Plan Your Meals

Meal planning may sound boring but it’ll save you time, stress and money. Plan meals in advance and do as much prep work as possible.

You’ll be less likely to head for the take out eateries.

Keep a selection of pre-prepared meals in your freezer. Freezer meals don’t have to be a chore. There are plenty of make it ahead dishes that can pop into a slow cooker.

Turn Off Technology

This includes the television, internet, Facebook, email or any other messaging service. You can chat with friends or catch your favorite show when you finish the work.

Prioritize

Don’t run yourself ragged trying to be a superhero and getting it all done. Instead take a look at your to do list and prioritize each item.

Cross off or move to another day anything that isn’t essential. Check off anything that you’ve already completed.

Delegate whatever tasks you can. Only do the things that need to be done and you’ll find you’ll feel more in control.

Remember: if it’s not important, ignore it.

Declutter

Clutter happens. Don’t let it become a problem.

Instead take a few minutes each day to put things away and toss the junk. Put the dishes into the dishwasher instead of leaving them on the counter.

Deal with the mail right away instead of letting it piling up.

Get Up Earlier

While getting up early may seem pointless it can provide a focused way to start your day. You’ll get going feeling both energized and organized.

Finish essential tasks to make sure that you and your family are ready for the day ahead.

Take Care of Yourself

Your good mental, physical, and emotional health will pay off when things don’t go as planned. And don’t forget to get enough sleep.

No matter how organized and well planned you are, you might worry that you won’t get everything done. Following these tips will help you to stay organized and in control.

JohnK 2-12-2024

chiforyourself.com

man gets organizedOverheard: “Organize your life around your dreams, and watch them come true”

~Unknown
 

 

disclaimer being organized

Overwhelm And A Hectic Life: 2 Key Sources Of Stress

June 27, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

It’s bad enough that life today can be loaded with stress. But stress often comes with an accomplice- overwhelm. 

Push back against these intruders with this GenuLines look at how they work.  

Overwhelm And A Hectic Life: 2 Key Sources Of Stress

Man feels stressWe all have our share of stresses in life, but some of them are within our ability to change. Overwhelm and living a hectic life are two of the biggest stressors.
 
Yet there’s a lot you can do about it!
 
 
 
We’re going to look at how these two things are skyrocketing your stress level and what you can do about it.
 
The Effects
Living a hectic life that causes overwhelm forces you to stay in a constant state of stress. You keep going and going with little to no break.
 
This isn’t good for the human body.
 
You need to take a break, allowing you to calm your mind and body, starting anew with fresh energy. Keeping yourself in a constant state of busyness is very bad for your stress level.
 
Of course, that, in turn, is bad for your health.
 
If your life seems too hectic, it’s time you do something about it. You don’t have to do everything yourself.
 
Start delegating. This will help you to reduce your stress and feel less overwhelmed.
 
More To-Do’s
There are some hectic and overwhelming things that are out of your control. But there are a few things you can do to help calm things down and reduce your stress.
 
First, get your priorities in order. Make a list of everything you have to do in descending order of importance.
 
When you’re done, see what you can cut out or delegate to someone else.
 
Organize
Next, get better organized. Keep a well-detailed calendar.
 
Divide your day into what you have to do and the time you’ve allotted in which to get it done.
 
This will help you to feel less overwhelmed.
 
Finally, ask for help. This is where your loved ones can help you.
 
Start delegating tasks and try to make your life less hectic.
 
Delegating Is a Difference Maker
It can be hard to let certain things go, but sometimes, when it comes to your health, you have to.
 
Delegating is a great way to turn off your feelings of overwhelm.
 
Delegating means allowing others to do some of the work for you so you have time to do other important things. To help with your stress, you can delegate chores to others in your household.
 
Have someone else drive your kids to their extracurriculars. You may even be able to let someone else help with some of the responsibilities in your life.
 
Why You Should Bother
It’s no secret-stress kills. Stress can cause heart attacks, strokes, and several other life-threatening conditions.
 
Minimizing your stress can help you think clearer, sleep better, and be healthier. It can help lessen your anxiety, as well.
 
So why, given an easy way to lessen your stress, would you not try it? It could mean a life and death difference for you.
 
We all deal with stress daily, but that stress builds up and could cause some serious health problems. Being overwhelmed and living a hectic life are two of the biggest stresses in life.
 
But it’s good to know that with practice and some patience you can manage them.
 
JohnK 6-27-2022
 
Stick figure hears about stressOverheard: “Times of stress are also times that are signals for growth, and if we use adversity properly, we can grow through adversity.”
                            ~Abraham Twerski
 
 
 
disclaimer for stress
 

Kick Your Procrastination to The Curb

February 8, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

Procrastination leaves you with questions. Maybe you wonder where the time went, and eventually where the years went. 

So today GenuLines looks at how time and opportunities slip away, and some ways you can change this. 

(Listen to this article by clicking here)

Kick Your Procrastination to The Curb

Procrastination is a thief. It will rob you of precious minutes and hours before you realize they’re gone.
 
You put off the task you intended to complete today. There was good reason to do it, but right now you can’t remember why.
 
Procrastination comes in many disguises. Sometimes it’s called rationalization.
 
You didn’t get started on that project because the weather was too hot. Or you didn’t have all the parts to finish the job.
 
You can always come up with good reasons to delay a project.
 
Procrastination as a habit
When you put off correcting this it becomes your constant companion. You find ways to delay a task because there are other things more important to do.
 
bee doing procrastinationThere are lots of excuses.
 
Like checking your email. Playing an on-line game.
 
Or turning on the TV to see if you’re missing something interesting.
 
 
 
 
You have to recognize a real reason you delay as opposed to an excuse not to do something you don’t want to do. Ask yourself if that job needs to get done. and if your answer is yes then get it done and then reward yourself for a victory over procrastination.
 
When the job is complete, step back and assess what you’ve done to see if it was worth the time and effort. Could be you were procrastinating for good reason, but that’s rarely the case.
 
Lack of direction can cause you to procrastinate because you’re not sure what to do next.

Disorganization

This could be the father of procrastination. Get organized with a to-do list, putting the most urgent at the top.
 
Make a deal with yourself that you cannot do anything else until you finish at least one thing on the list. You can make giant strides with tiny steps.
 
Big projects can be daunting whether you’re writing a book or building a house. Break them into sections.
 
A small manageable task is much more palatable than trying to swallow the entire project. No matter how small the success it’s another step toward completion.
 
Decide what needs done and do it. Even if it’s done wrong at least you’ve done something.
 
Indecision
Indecision can cause major delays in both your business and personal life. It’s easier to make a decision if you make a list of project pros and cons.
 
Once you have a clear direction, your mind clears and the way opens up.
 
Fear of failure can cause procrastination. But, the failure lies in never getting started.
 
Difficult and dreaded tasks are rarely as bad as they seem at the beginning. Stop procrastinating today.
 
Don’t put it off until tomorrow.
 
JohnK 1-8-2021
 
stick figure man hears about procrastinationOverheard:  “Life, as it is called, is for most of us one long postponement”
                                  .~ Henry Miller
 
 
 
Article image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay 
 
disclaimer for talking about procrastination
 

Find the Source of Your Motivation

February 1, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

Lack of motivation can throw cold water on the best of plans. So let GenuLines help keep you on the path toward realizing exactly what you want in life. 

(Listen to this article by clicking here)

Find the Source of Your Motivation

You get your work assignment. You know what you have to do.
 
You’ve got to get started – but somehow, you lack the motivation to get off square one.
 
Success won’t be had without motivation.

Where’s the source of your motivation?

man thinking about motivationWhere can you turn for the inspiration that will propel you forward? We’re all different and we’re all motivated by different things.
 
You may get motivated by visualizing completion of the task and reaching the goal. There may be a job promotion in it for you and a bigger paycheck.
 
 
Or you want to finish another chapter in the book you’re writing, or you look to lose five pounds by the end of the week. Seeing the goal in your mind could motivate you toward success.

Visualize completion

Never lose sight of your ultimate goal. Know you’re going to get what you deserve and push forward with renewed motivation.
 
You know that success is not only an option but is a real fact. Keep this in mind and motivation comes easier.
 
Preparation 
Motivation without the skills to achieve your goals is not enough. If you know you’re lacking something to move forward motivation is hard to summon.
 
Knowledge fuels motivation, and to a lesser extent, so does persistence.
 
Change your environment
New surroundings often give you a renewed outlook on your life. It can be something simple.
 
Put a new plant in your home or office, hang a new picture or open the curtains and let in the light.
 
This also includes surrounding yourself with positive people. When you’re around positive and successful friends their attitude rubs off on you.
 
You absorb their energy. But you’ll also absorb the energy of negative people or depressing surroundings.
 
Other methods
Find the source of your motivation and re-evaluate your tasks. Brainstorm and look for new information.
 
You can do this by taking a break. Go for a walk, exercise, work in the yard or relax with an inspirational book.
 
Using your brain in different ways will stimulate it. And stimulation leads to motivation.
 
Do something for others
When we do for others we find motivation within ourselves. Many times the way to achieve your goal is to assist others in reaching theirs.
 
Seek to serve and you’ll become energized and motivated when people rely on you. Disappoint them and you disappoint yourself – and you’re not going to let that happen, are you?
 
Listen
Some find a motivational source by talking or reading aloud to themselves. Keep an inspirational book handy at all times.
 
When you actually hear the positive affirmations they become more effective.
 
Motivation comes from many different sources. Look within and find what works for you.
 
Believe in yourself. Look forward to the good that will come into your life.
 
Do these things and expect motivation to come your way..
 
JohnK 2-1-2021
 
Stick figure hears about motivationOverheard: “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great”
                                    ~Zig Ziglar
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for talking about motivation
 

Clutter Does a Number On Your Mind And Body

December 21, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Is clutter just a bothersome part of your life? Something you’ll get to someday?

Today GenuLines points out that clutter can be a physical and mental problem, too.

(You can hear this article by clicking here)

Clutter Does a Number On Your Mind And Body

Clutter is a real nuisance for millions of us. What you may not realize is that it can affect your mind and body.
 
How does your living space make you feel when you walk in the door at the end of the day? Do you feel peaceful and glad to be at home because it’s your sanctuary?
 
desk with clutter
 
Or, do you feel dread because there’s a mountain of unfolded laundry on the chair? Or there’s a stack of magazines spread all over the floor and a sink full of this morning’s dishes?
 
 
 
 
 
Mind Control
Research finds that the state of your house reflects the state of your mind. Disorganization tells you that there’s something out of balance.
 
The trick is learning what’s off-kilter and how to set it straight.
 
Living in a cluttered home is stressful – for everyone. Mom’s pulled away from what she needs to do to help someone find their homework.
 
Dad’s late for work because he can’t find his car keys. As the pressure to find those misplaced things mounts, so does the tension.
 
Before long, something or someone snaps.
 
Lost And Found
Think about how you feel when you’ve misplaced something. You may berate yourself for being careless.
 
You may feel frustrated and ready to give up. When your child comes in to ask a question, you may not respond in a loving manner and feelings get hurt.
 
Clutter drains you of energy and makes you feel tired. And that can leave you feeling overwhelmed.
 
You know you need to do something but you don’t have the energy.
 
Take time to clear the mess from one small area. It can help you and your family feel more energetic.
 
And they’ll be more inspired to work on decluttering in other areas.
 
Body Of Clutter
Did you know clutter could be making you physically sick? No one wants to think about it, but clutter can be the breeding ground for germs, dust, mold, and mildew.
 
It could even hide a problem with mice. If you don’t believe clutter can make you sick, think of the stress mentioned above.
 
If you have too much stress, you may develop high blood pressure. Dust and mold can cause allergies or worse.
 
Clutter can also affect your body weight. People with clutter are usually sedentary.
 
In an uncluttered home they’re more active. Part of this may be because the clutter in the home makes it hard for you to move.
 
You may also be using clutter, like being overweight, as a means to protect yourself. Clutter keeps people at bay and so there’s less chance of getting hurt.
 
Get Started
Now you understand some of the ways clutter can affect your mind and body Consider what you’re going to do about it.
 
Will you take a step forward and begin decluttering? Or will you let it continue to ruin the lives of you and your family members?
 
JohnK 12-21-2020
 
stick figure man hears about clutterOverheard: “Good order is the foundation of all things”
                              ~Edmund Burke
 
 
 
Article image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay 
 
 
disclaimer for clutter
 
 
 
 

Declutter Your Mind In 5 Steps

November 30, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments
It’s common to declutter in the spring. Throwing away stuff that’s outlived its usefulness feels good. 
 
GenuLines has some ideas on decluttering your mind that will feel pretty good, too. 
 
 

Declutter Your Mind In 5 Steps

When it comes to decluttering your home, you might decide to put everything you throw
out on eBay. But decluttering your mind is a little trickier.
 
declutter sign
 
 
Here are a few ways to declutter your mind.
 
 
 
 

#1: Declutter your space

This one is pretty obvious. With fewer things in your field of vision, you have less garbage to stew over and worry about.
 
This frees up space in your mind.
 

#2: Declutter your schedule

Another thing that can drive you crazy is the constant rush from one activity to another. Take a look at your schedule and start eliminating things that aren’t necessary.
 
With fewer ingredients in your stressful stew, you’ll make your day a little calmer.
 

#3: Unplug from the party

Would you be able to get any rest if you were attending a party of several thousand people? I’m talking, like Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
 
That’s pretty much what’s going on with your smartphone, tapped in as you no doubt are to social media networks. The pings, dings, and rings from your contacts are all adding small but unhealthy doses of stress to your day.
 

#4: Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness is all about engaging with the present in a fully, alive way. There are lots of ways to practice mindfulness.
 
One is meditation. Another could be fixing your stare at an object (like a candle) and noticing your thoughts.
 
Mindfulness can contribute to increased concentration and a decluttered mind.
 

#5: Let go

Sometimes it’s best to let old memories die. These can range from broken relationships to diabolical bosses.
 
We tend to have a whole lot of backstory spinning in the recesses of our minds. Let it all go, and like a faster-operating computer, you’ll find your mind in a much more free and easy state.
 
JohnK 11-30-2020
 
stick man talks declutterOverheard: “For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned“
                                          ~Benjamin Franklin
 
 
 
 
 
Article image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 
 
 
disclaimer for declutter

Overwhelm And Your Hectic, Stressful Life

October 26, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments
Overwhelm and living a hectic life are two of the most common stresses. But it just so happens that you can control them!!
 
GenuLines looks at how these two things skyrocket your stress level and what you can do about it.

Overwhelm And Your Hectic, Stressful Life

A hectic life forces you to stay in a constant state of stress. You go and go with little to no break.
 
This is not good for the human body.
 
Time out
man showing overwhelmYou need to take a break, allowing you to calm your mind and body, starting anew with fresh energy. Keeping yourself in a constant state of busyness is horrendous for your stress level.
 
This, in turn, is bad for your health.
 
If your life seems too hectic you can start delegating. This will help you to reduce your stress and feel less overwhelmed.
 
 
 
What to do about it
There are some hectic and overwhelming things that are out of your control. Yet there are things you can do to help calm things down and reduce your stress.
 
First, get your priorities in order. Make a list of everything you have to do in descending order of importance.
 
When you’re done, see what you can cut out or delegate to someone else.
 
Get better organized
Organization can help reduce your stress. Keep a well-detailed calendar.
 
Divide your day into what you have to do and the time you’ve allotted in which to get it done. This will help you to feel less overwhelmed.
 
Finally, ask for help. It might surprise you to know how much your loved ones want to help you.
 
So let them. Start delegating tasks and try to make your life less hectic.
 
Delegating can help make all the difference
It can be hard to let certain things go, but sometimes, when it comes to your health, you have to. Delegating can help you keep a handle on the hectic parts of your life.
 
It can help you to reduce stress and prevent you from feeling so overwhelmed.
 
Delegating means allowing others to do some of the work for you so you have time to do other important things. You can delegate chores to others in your household.
 
You can have someone else drive your kids to their extracurriculars. These can take some weight off your shoulders.
 
Why you should bother
You need to know that stress kills. It can cause heart attacks, strokes, and other life-threatening conditions.
 
Minimizing your stress can help you think clearer, sleep better, and be healthier. It can help lessen your anxiety, as well.
 
So why, given an easy way to lessen your stress, would you not try it? It could mean a life and death difference for you.
 
Final Thoughts
We all deal with stress daily. But that stress builds up and could cause some serious health problems.
 
Being overwhelmed and living a hectic life are two of the biggest stresses in a lot of people’s lives. It’s good to know that with some practice you can manage them.
 
JohnK 10-26-2020
 
Stick figure hears about overwhelmOverheard: “If I cannot overwhelm with my quality, I will overwhelm with my quantity”
                                 ~Emile Zola
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for overwhelm

5 Simple Ways to Avoid Daily Distractions

October 12, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments
No matter how focused you are, some days, it’s hard not to get distracted. And, in a time of societal upheaval, those distractions can get out of hand.
 
Let GenuLines help you with this list of points to bring back your focus.
 
(You can listen to this article by clicking here)
 

5 Simple Ways to Avoid Daily Distractions

 
 
Life can sometimes get in the way of meeting your goals, but it doesn’t have to derail you.man endangered by distractions
 
Here are some expert tips on how to stay on track, no matter what else is happening around you.
 

 

 

 

1. Get Organized

 
It’s easier to focus if you’re not distracted by the small, daily tasks. Commit to a nightly practice of preparing for the next day.
 
Decide what to wear, what to have for lunch and the other necessary things that are part of your routine. Have your gym bag ready and packed so you can just pick it up and go.
 
It can help to get organized for your week on a Sunday evening. For example, have all your work clothes clean and pressed and ready to wear.
 
You might even consider a minimalist work wardrobe of similar garments to mix and match. You can also bulk cook and freeze meals so that you don’t even think about dinner during the week.
 

2. Do the Tough Things First

 
You can free up a lot of mental energy by putting the difficult tasks and decisions at the top of your to-do list. Do the hardest tasks when your brain is still fresh first thing in the morning.
 
This way you can get on with your day without a nagging dread at the back of your mind.
 

3. Keep Your Energy High

 
It might surprise you to hear that fatigue can be a distraction. If your energy is low, you won’t be performing at your best, so make sure you take regular breaks.
 
Get out of the office and get some fresh air. Eat your lunch in the park and give your eyes a break from looking at a screen.
 
Eat lots of fresh foods and stay hydrated by keeping a water pitcher on your desk.

4. Manage Your Priorities

 
Chances are, many of the requests you get during the day don’t deserve to be your top priority. Instead of responding straight away, decide on how urgent the request is.
 
Do you really need to answer that email now? Learn to focus on requests and respond as you see fit.

 

5. Keep Your Eye on the Prize

 There are so many distractions in modern life that it can be easy to lose sight of what you want to achieve. Have a visual reminder of what you’re working toward.

 
This could be a mission statement or a post-it note on your computer. Check-in every day to see how you’re tracking and make sure you keep a line of sight on your big goal.
 
JohnK 10-12-2020
 
stick man hears about distractionsOverheard: “Creation is in part merely the business of forgoing the great and small distractions”
                                        ~E. B. White
 
 
 
Article Image by by Cristofer Jeschke on Unsplash
 
disclaimer for distractions
 

Does Your To-Do List Work For You?

November 19, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
A to-do list can help keep order in your life. But does your list make the grade?
 
This GenuLines overview will help you get up to speed.
 
Banner helps make to-do lists

Does Your To-Do List Work For You?

picture of to-do list
 
The to-do list is a helpful tool. Something is satisfying about checking off an item when completed.
 
It can also be a reference when a boss wants to know employees’ progress. But, are you doing the right tasks to meet your longer-term goals?
 
 
 
That can leave you feeling as though you aren’t progressing.
 
Worse, you’ll be going through the motions of “doing something.” This will make the process of not getting anywhere that much more frustrating.
 
To-do lists are a good idea. But, you need to make sure they’re in-line with your goals.
 
You should consider taking a top-down approach to your tasks rather than bottom-up.

Start with your long-term goals

picture of to-do listWhere do you see yourself in a few years from now? If you can’t answer that question, you need to do some soul-searching.
 
Find what you want to accomplish at a high-level. Then, you can use that to break it down into granular tasks.
 
 
Finally, you use the mid-level tasks to help define the to-do list that you use daily. People put off setting long-term goals because the time frame seems so far in the future.
 
How can you be expected to know what’s going to happen five to ten years from now? It’s much easier to choose the shorter-term time frames.
 
You can measure what happens two weeks from now as it’s going to happen soon.

Commitment

picture of to-do listSome people believe that declaring a long term goal and chiseling it in stone commits them to it. Remember that circumstances can change, and goal adjusting may be called for.
 
Don’t be afraid to commit to your goals. You may want to create a few long-term goals.
 
 
As you’re working on what it will take to reach those goals, you can decide which path makes the most sense. You can take into account both feasibility and costs.
 
Some goals become unattainable for one reason or another, so prepare to change course. In fact, if you can project these possibilities, you can put them on your list of goals.
 
Set your goals and break them down into sub-tasks. Creating your to-do lists will become easier.
 
And, they’ll get you closer to accomplishing your goals.
 
JohnK 11-19-2019
chiforyourself.com home
 
stick figure talking about to-do listsOverheard:  “The best cure for a sluggish mind is to disturb its routine”
                                             ~William H. Danforth
 
 

 

 

 

 

disclaimer to fit with to-do lists

 

 

Computer Code Uses Routine – And It Works

August 6, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments

Having a routine can help your life go a lot smoother. GenuLines borrows from computer science to give you a template for setting up your own routine.

call to action for routine

Computer Code Uses Routine – And It Works

Ever write computer code? It’s an effective way of creating routines. These snippets of code can repeat the running of certain functions or processes.
 
They prevent coders from having to write redundant code each time they need it. It’s an efficient way to code and saves countless hours for programmers.
 
binary code shows routine
 
From the machine’s perspective, it will run successfully every time you call it. This assumes the code is well-written and bug-free.
 
With the program loaded the device runs the routines on command.
 
Humans try to create routines for themselves. They write down processes that they handle on a frequent basis.
 
For instance, you might pay your bills on the same day every month.
 
You have a system for how you do it. You follow a step-by-step procedure to organize the eventual payment of bills.
 
The routines that you set up for yourself help you to keep an orderly flow to the work at hand. But unlike a machine, you are subject to error.
 
That’s part of the human equation.
 
You can’t help it, and this means that your routines are fallible. While it may be annoying, it’s reasonable because you’re human.
 
Sometimes, we try to use machines to automate as much of our routine as we can.
Routine and Your BIlls
Let’s take a closer look at bill paying. Rather than send checks you can automate your bank payments on a specified date.
 
In most cases, all goes well and your bills get paid on time. But, what if you forgot to deposit enough funds into your account?
 
Your automatic payment will fail.
 
This issue shouldn’t discourage you from automating your life. You need to realize that there is room for error.
 
Be ready when errors occur.
 
While the banking example is trivial, others may not. For instance, suppose someone in your company is leaving. and they transfer an automated process over to your control.
 
The process works well for a while, and then one day, it blows up on you.
 
Your company is depending on you to get the work done. You never learned the manual completion of the automated process.
 
And you don’t know anything about coding.
 
As you can see, routines are great. But they have their limitations.
 
Be aware of those limitations and make sure you have steps in place should your plan not work for you.
 
JohnK 8-6-2019
 
stick man hearing of routineOverheard:  “Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine”
                          ~Shunryu Suzuki
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer concerning routine
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