This is exact time the average American first curses each day

This is exact time the average American first curses each dayThis is exact time the average American first curses each dayThere are a bunch of reasons why we like people who curse at work, but a new studyshows that the average American uses language like this due to stress before 11 a.m. - and actuallyutters their first curse word at 1054 a.m., more specifically.OnePoll surveyed 2,000 Americans for9Round Kickbox Fitness and found that cursing is the main way people show frustration, at 63%, followed by yelling at 49% and crying at 39%.People turn to music for stress relief most often at 50%.Heres why people are stressed outThese are the 10 most popular reasons behind Americans stress and frustrationFinancial worry 52.05%Not getting enough sleep 36%Health concerns 35.35%Work 29.5%My partner 25.9%My children 25.25%Home life 23.6%Family responsibilities 22.6%The news 20.8%Politics 16.6%Shannon Hudson, CEO and founder of 9Round Kickbox Fitness commented on the findings in a statementPeo ple of all ages face stress every day and it can be difficult to find effective and healthy ways to cope While listening to music or watching TV can be relaxing, one of the best ways to reduce spannung is through regular exercise because it improves both physical health and overall well-being. When you are physically and mentally strong, you are better equipped to handle lifes frustrations.While 47% of respondents say theyve hit the gym after a long, stressful, frustrating day, within that pool, nine in ten say that it helped them relieve stress. Sixty-four percent also say getting physical exercise helps them think more clearly.

Cool Companies With Work-From-Home Options

Cool Companies With Work-From-Home OptionsCool Companies With Work-From-Home Options Its no secret getting out of bed to go to work in the morning is hard. Traffic jams, metro delays, and the daily grind of an office bung can all seriously detract from our excitement to show up at the job every day. But what if you didnt have to show up at the job every day? What if you didnt even have to get out of bed in the morning in order to be a productive contributor to your company?This is not some faraway reality - because of the interconnectivity and vast information access allowed by the internet, a growing number of companies are offering partial or full work-at-home opportunities, in a variety of fields. The 13 companies on this list are hiring for roles from transcription to software engineering to athletic recruiting. So regardless of your skill set, one of these companies could be your ticket to never having to get out of bed to go to work again.What They Do We re on a mission to help people everywhere find a job and a company they love. In the process, were transforming an entire industry through the power of transparency. At Glassdoor, you have the chance to be amazing at work and amazing at life. We know that professional success depends on personal wellbeing. Thats why we empower you with the tools and services you need to succeed in every area of your lifeWhat Employees Say I truly love this company. There is a great culture and I love everyone from the CEO, to my VP, to the people who sit next to me everyday at the office.Great culture, great benefits, great work/life balance and workfrom home option (within reason), and a great kollektiv of people.. - Current ManagerWhat They Do Anthem, Inc. is one of the nations leading health benefits insurer and a Fortune Top 50 company. At Anthem, Inc., we are working to transform health care with trusted and caring solutions and meaningfully advance affordability and better health outcomes for our health plan members.What Employees Say I really like the people I work with and the flexibility of my schedule. If my children are sick, they are very understanding. - Current EmployeeWhat They Do As a weltumspannend leader in providing workforce solutions, Kelly offers a wide array of outsourcing and consulting services as well as staffing on a temporary, temporary-to-hire, and direct-hire basis.What Employees Say ProsWork from home. Ongoing professional development. Company values your individual growth and career path. Great team outlook. - Current Talent Acquisition ConsultantWhat They Do Varsity Tutors is a live learning platform that connects students with personalized instruction to accelerate academic achievement. To date, students have accessed mora than two million hours of live 11 instruction.What Employees Say Engineering and Operations are great at embracing new technologies and leveraging new tools. Very flexible work environment in terms of work-from-h ome opportunities and work hours. - Current Senior Software EngineerWhat They Do IXL Learning is a leading educational technology company on a big mission delivering an immersive learning experience to all students, in all grades and subjects, in schools and homes worldwide.What Employees Say Everyone at IXL is committed and hardworking and fun to work with. I work remotely and still really feel like Im part of a team. - Current Math Curriculum DesignerWhat They Do At Liberty Mutual, we embrace all that fulfills and inspires you. We create a workplace that gives you more room to stretch. To raise your voice. To be not just an employee, but a changemaker.What Employees Say Great benefits, lots of focus on work-life balance, good co-worker relationships, stimulating work opportunities. - Current EmployeeWhat They Do NCSA is the worlds largest and most successful collegiate athletic recruiting network.What Employees Say If you appreciate work-life balance, flexibility, the ab ility to work remotely, a diverse team, good people, and a generous number of vacation days (though this only applies to certain departments), you will be happy here. - Current EmployeeWhat They Do Simple is the whole idea of banking re-made with beautiful design, built-in tools for budgeting and saving, and genuine human goodness.What Employees Say Good health insurance, good people, really interesting work. - Current EmployeeWhat They Do Treehouse is an education technology company.What Employees Say Treehouse is a great place to work. The people are really nice, the culture is enjoyable, and the Work/Life balance is beyond what I would expect from any company. - Current EmployeeWhat They Do American Express is a global services company, providing customers with exceptional access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. What Employees Say The money is uncapped, and youre honestly in the driver seat of your bonus. This is the best (and easiest) incentive package Ive ever had in the work field There are also so many other perks that come with the job such as great benefits, fun culture, and TONS of room for growth. Amex really does believe in you. - Current EmployeeWhat They Do Funding Circle is the worlds leading lending platform for small businesses, and were looking for innovators, problem solvers and pioneers to help us revolutionize the way small businesses access fast, affordable and transparent financing.What Employees Say Clear vision, mission, and values. Very positive and supportive culture. Dynamic, global business. Lots of autonomy and ability to contribute towards building a lasting company. - Current EmployeeWhat They Do Global social-selling fashion accessories brand Stella & Dot expanded into a Family of Brands in August 2014, broadening their impact and mission to give every woman the means to style their own life.What Employees Say Company is comprised of hard-working individuals w ho are extremely passionate about what they do. We have done wonderful things for communities through foundations, IBOs and our own employees giving back. It is exciting to be part of a growing company that has allowed me to use my knowledge to help build my department. I am proud to see how far we have come.. - Current EmployeeWhat They Do Were a SaaS company dedicated to creating thoughtful solutions to real-world HR problems. Thanks to our talented team, our software- including performance management, applicant tracking, and mobile app- has received many kudos and awards over the years.What Employees Say They set you up with your needs to work from home which is good since over half of our individuals work from home. It is great to have that sense of community of people you can learn from. You also can work flexible hours- including swing shifts. - C urrent Account Manager

12 habits you dont realize are losing you respect at work

12 habits you dont realize are losing you respect at work12 habits you dont realize are losing you respect at workLets face it we all have bad workplace habits. In some cases, we may not even be aware that were annoying our coworkers. However, its worth the effort to keep yourself in check. After all, everyone shares the same (sometimes cramped) office and stressful work, and the actions of one can affect the entire culture. AndIm not just talking about gum-popping or colleagues who never wash their own dishes.Here are 12 are bad habits that Ive experienced with a number of employees over the years. In some cases, ansicht behaviors cost them their job. The first step to solving these habits is realizing you have them, so read on.1. Complaining.If theres one thing that plummets your reputation quickly, its complaining. We all have more work than we can do, weve all been working late, and no, the project may not be part of your job but I dont care. Be solution-oriented, roll up your sl eeves, and contribute meaningfully to the workplace.2. Lack of punctuality.The occasional terrible commute or an alarm that didnt go off is a legitimate reason for being late. Whats not ok is consistently rolling in 15 to 30 minutes after everyone else has started aproductiveday. The same goes for meetings. Be on time. Its that simple.3. Skipping out early.The end of the day is no different than the start. Chances are, your boss is paying you for an eight-hour day and expects you to be present.4. notlage owning up.Listen, were all doing the best we can, but that doesnt mean we arent going to make mistakes at some point or another. Just dont play the blame game. Worse, dont try to hide the mistake, thinking your boss wont find out. The best way to handle this situation is to be direct and apologetic, and to bring a solution that will help prevent it from happening again.5. Not asking questions.Whether youre unsure whats being asked of you on a specific project, or dont know how to us e a certain piece of equipment, speak up. That old saying, Theres no such thing as a stupid question is true. Seek clarity to avoid wasted time and disappointing results.6. Not accepting assistance.Hoarding work or refusing to let go of something sends the message that youre not a team player. Whats important is that the work gets done, and if people are offering to assist, its probably because you look like you need it.7. Conducting personal business at work.While the occasional personal appointment or call is perfectly fine, trawling through Instagram or shopping on Amazon is akin to stealing. Because, as noted in points 2 and 3, your company expects you in the office and working. Dont be in the office doing your own unnecessaryonline shopping.8. Lack of enthusiasm.Everyone has days where they feel less than motivated. But if you are consistently sullen and withdrawn, it will show in your work product and in how others perceive you. As hard as it might be sometimes, try proactivel y looking for something you can get excited about. Your boss will appreciate your eagerness to take on new things.9. Badmouthing the company, a coworker or your boss.Just dont. It will always come back around. That doesnt mean you have to like everyone, but you do need to get along with them.10. Lack of follow-through.If you promise to meet a deadline, keep it. If for some reason you need an extension, let people know in advance rather than after the fact.11. Having a potty mouth.In some businesses, cursing is severely frowned upon. For most, though, the occasional bad word is acceptable. However, if your stories and observations are sprinkled with four-letterwords, it sends the message that you are not only an unprofessional communicator, but that you arentself-awareenough to know that kind of language may be offensive to your colleagues. Get out the dictionary and find new ways to express yourself.12. Lack of focus.Most of us are accustomed to multi-tasking. But if youre checking your phone or working on something else during a meeting, its not only rude, it shows your colleagues you dont care.A version of this post previously appeared onFairygodboss, the largest career community that helps women get the inside scoop on pay, corporate culture, benefits, and work flexibility. Founded in 2015, Fairygodboss offers company ratings, job listings, discussion boards, and career advice.

Happiness hacks to reinvigorate your workday

Happiness hacks to reinvigorate your workdayHappiness hacks to reinvigorate your workdayGallup defines engaged employees as those who are involved in, enthusiastic about, and committed to their workplace. A whopping 51% of American workers are actively looking for a new job or watching for new job openings. Many site a work culture that is not inviting, stimulating, or designed to foster community amongst employees.Since the State of the Global Workplace Report indicates 85% of employees are not engaged or actively disengaged at work, I am eager to share some easy to implement workplace happiness hacks. The goal is to break the monotony of a typical work day to reinvigorate and dare I say it, bring a bit of fun into the workplacePuppy LoveThere is mounting research that shows the value of therapy dogs at work and how the practice reduces stress levels. Look to pet therapy organizations to have supervised visits or playtime with dogs trained for this kind of interaction.Some animal sh elters and Humane Societies also have visiting dog programs where staff and animals visit workplaces to reduce stress, boost morale, and encourage team work in the workplace.According to the Alliance of Therapy DogsDogs are communication energizers and tend to spark conversations between employees. Staff who typically did not talk to one another before, were more engaged when a therapy dog was present.Therapy dog visits offer employees the opportunity to increase productivity and also create a relaxed atmosphere.Ring a Success BellRecognition drives engagement for many at work. Some workplaces are so decentralized that its rare to hear about the success of other teams throughout the organization.Consider setting up a Success Bell (chime, tone, etc.) in an accessible space of the workplace. When someone in the office helps a client, makes a new sale, or achieves a tangible success they ring a bell and everyone cheers. This group-win mindset is a great morale booster and also generate s cross-communication between teams and departments to break down silos.Stock the Professional Toy BoxSavvy presenters know there are 3 ways of learning visual, auditory and kinesthetic. I bring pipe cleaners, mini Slinkys, Koosh balls, fidget spinners and tactile toys to encourage play during staff meetings and presentations as well as informal gatherings.The physical act of playing with a toy releases stress and brings comfort. It also functions as a way to engage the brain for the kinesthetic learners who do best while touching or moving. The stimulus of the tactile toy interaction increases focus and leads to better retention.Having these toys accessible regularly encourages play, active learning, and promote stress relief.Top of the Hour PlanksWellness in the workplace is all the rage. From standing desks to fitness trackers, the modern day professional is concerned about their health. We know that sitting is the new smoking so consider this voluntary group movement interaction in your workplace.At the top of every hour, an audible sound announces a 2 minute exercise break throughout the workplace. Colleagues can choose from a variety of exercises to suit their fitness level, wardrobe of the day, or strength training/cardio focus. Think about how you can leverage 2 minutes of every hour you spend at work with jumping jacks, squats, planks, stair intervals or any other creative physical activity to get your body moving and your brain rebooted.This group culture shift not only reinforces wellness but gives you a minimum of 18 minutes of motion activity for the typical 9 hour day to add to your personal workout regimen.18 Minutes of halbstarker InspirationThere is a reason that iconic TED Talks are limited to 18 minutes. TED curator, Chris Anderson explained that 18 minutes is long enough to be serious and to short enough to hold peoples attention. Its the perfect duration for a coffee break with interesting content.Gather with colleagues to listen to an 18 minute TED Talk on a regular basis. These thought provoking presentations cover a myriad of topics and can get you revved up to do just about anything.Grab some brain-boosting snacks to nibble on. Blueberries, black currents, and nuts have all been shown to help your brain function better. TED breaks are a great way to feed your mind and inspire you to act.Dream TimeBusy does not equate with being productive. Give yourself permission to daydream for a few minutes each day. Think about where your career might take you two, five, even 10 years from now. Do you want to be in a more creative role? Have a job that lets you travel? Start your own business? Dont focus on whats possible or what you might have to do to get there- just allow your mind to wander.If being still is a challenge, enlist the help of donothingfor2minutes.com.This accountability tool will help you relax and clear your head 120 seconds at a time. You deserve the time to dream.Dont wait for your employer to engage you at work. Consider how you can implement play and unexpected activities into your wissen to relieve stress and create space for happiness.Caroline Dowd-Higginsauthored the book This Is Not the Career I Ordered now in the 2ndedition, and maintains the career reinvention blog of the same name. She is Executive Director of Career Professional Development at theIndiana University Alumni Associationand contributes toMedium,Huffington Post,Thrive Global,Ellevate Network, and The Chronicle newspaper in Indiana.This article was originally published on BossedUp.org.

Buying 2017 Resume Format

Buying 2017 Resume Format The End of 2017 Resume Format Getting the most of a resource that wont only help save you time, but is demonstrated to elevate your odds of scoring a work simply is logical. Theres no doubt that a resume which is both cohesive and professional will have a much better prospect of standing from the crowd even supposing its made utilizing a template. Each one needs a different strategy and what works for one wont do the job for one more. When you format your resume you need to be certain your leave enough margin space to permit for printing. Deciding on the most suitable font can look to be an impossible endeavor, especially since there are dozens and dozens of choices out there. Once youve reviewed resumes in your field, peruse resumes across fields to know how to vary the usage of action verbs and receive a feel for what makes a potent accomplishment statement. Instead, youve got two options. Therefore, their career options are extremely varied and th ey are able to choose which area to concentrate on. Speaking of unique, the main purpose of your resume is to make you stick out from the remainder of the folks applying for exactly the same job and another means to create that happen is to use action verbs and power words (also called resume verbs). Once it does, its still true that you should hold their focus to make it to the following steps. It is possible to communicate you have the most suitable experience utilizing challenge, action, result statements. Your earliest job experiences are likely well taken out of the level and kind of work you do today. Make certain if theres a watermark on the paper that its facing the appropriate way and no matter what you do, ensure it remains readable. Just make sure, whichever format you opt for, which youre targeting it for the job that youre applying to. LiveCareer delivers a range of tools that could help you dont just settle on the best resume format for your individual needs, but al so build the resume from the bottom up. Do not incorporate a picture for a conventional North American application. Your purpose is to find the job. While all resumes should offer info in your work and education experience, and your abilities and achievements, there are unique techniques to deliver this info. If it comes to best resume format, know that reverse chronological is almost always a good bet, due to how its among the most common and well-known resume formats. Dont neglect to specify your responsibilities and duties and attempt to set them into numbers. Your resume needs to address an issue for employers (which is the reason why theyre hiring). Employers know your goal is to find the job. After that, go past the work listing to look for related terms the employer could have inadvertently left out. Let your possible employer know about doing it. In reality, you ought to be aware that a great deal of companies these days are using Applicant Tracking Systems to help them screen resumes and get the best candidates. Ultimately, you will end up with a fairly extensive collection of keywords that are relevant to the job and your suitability for it. Most men and women look at writing a resume as just something youve got to do to have a job. Take a look at our article on the way to use your job references strategically in the event that you need more info. A Startling Fact about 2017 Resume Format Uncovered Meanwhile, here are our very best practices to follow when it has to do with formatting your resume. If your resume contains errors, it is going to show that youre careless. For that reason, its strongly advisable to select an easy, short and to-the-point resume template in 2019. Dont sacrifice legibility in buchen to acquire everything on the webpage.Her CV wasnt evidence based. You may also download totally free templates from our Resume Library to get going on your best resume. Resume templates that you locate on the internet may do the j ob. Therefore, pick a plain and easy template.

A Startling Fact about Resume with No Experience Uncovered

A Startling Fact about Resume with No Experience Uncovered Resume with No Experience Fundamentals Explained Everyone that has a work right now has, sooner or later, had a very first job. Finding it can be hard for anyone, even a highly experienced professional who has successfully navigated several job changes. Even if youre cynical concerning the work search procedure and about employers, we should see that the work search method is every bit as difficult for them as it is for us. The work search process can be exceedingly cruel. Get the Scoop on Resume with No Experience Before Youre Too Late Adhere to the tips above, and youll have a resume that compensates for the absence of expertise and gets you the interview. For example, as a waitress youre guaranteed to create skills in customer support, sales, and multi-tasking, all which may be very valuable to a prospective employer. For instance, if youre asking for a job as an administrative assistant, you dont will need to d iscuss the way your position for a babysitter helped improve your childcare skills, but you might share the way the experience helped you cultivate time management abilities and the capacity to juggle a number of tasks simultaneously. Its possible to showcase your work history, but in addition fill in more space by talking about your abilities and other knowledge youve got. Learning how to do a resume when dont have any work experience is far easier if youre able to demonstrate some seasonal or short-term work experience. With some essential info in the perfect order, everyone can create one. What you would like to avoid is having an experience section thats almost empty, or one which is full of experience thats not related to your targeted position. Many times youll be able to secure that practical experience and become paid at the exact same time. You might also have extra-curricular activities which you didnt list below the Experience section that could be included in a sub -section. You may also have a skills section in which you list soft skills together with any programs, languages, or certifications youve got. You should employ your networking skills as a way to learn about them. Skills a lot of the skills listed here were pulled from work description.

30 days to a better brain How to rapidly improve how you think

30 days to a better brain How to rapidly improve how you think30 days to a better brain How to rapidly improve how you thinkEveryone wants a better, and smarter brain to process information faster and have better memory recall.The most brilliant minds dont have more brain power than the average person, they just use their brains more efficiently.Your brains health is a product of your daily habits.To optimize your brain, all you have to do is make slight adjustments to your routine.30 days offer just enough time to realistically adopt new habits that can help you get smarter and think better, yet long enough to be challenging.In 30 days or less, you can adopt some of these habits to boost your brain power, improve your mental clarity and build a better brain.Start mind focus exercisesEmbrace meditation.Theres plenty of research that shows meditation increases the grey matter in your brain.Meditation can increase the thickness of regions that control attention and process sensory sign als from the outside world.Yes, meditation makes your brain bigger (literally).Meditation is the art of silencing the mind.When the mind is silent, concentration is increased and we experience inner peace and more.But concentration requires a great amount of effort and time.In less time than it takes you to have lunch, you could be expanding your brain - literally.Just like building muscles, you can beneficially build the strength and even the size of your brain in the healthiest and most natural of ways.Meditation has been proven to benefit the brain.Although the practice of meditation is associated with a sense of peacefulness and physical relaxation, practitioners have long claimed that meditation also provides cognitive and psychological benefits that persist throughout the day, says study senior author Sara Lazar of the MGH Psychiatric Neuroimaging Research Program and a Harvard Medical School instructor in psychology.The problem is getting started.Its kind of like going to th e gym. We all know we should do it, but ..If you do decide to give it a try, you can use Headspace, an app that bills itself as a gym membership for your mind.Stop feeding your comfortComfort provides a state of mental security.When youre comfortable and life is good, your brain can release chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which lead to happy feelings.But in the long-term, comfort is bad for your brain.Without mental stimulation dendrites, connections between brain neurons that keep information flowing, shrink or disappear altogether.An active life increases dendrite networks and also increase the brains regenerating capacity, known as plasticity.Neglect of intense learning leads plasticity systems to waste away, says Norman Doidge in his book, The Brain That Changes Itself.Michael Merzenich, a pioneer of plasticity research, and author of Soft-wired How the New Science of Brain Plasticity Can Change Your Life says that going beyond the familiar is essential to brain health.It s the willingness to leave the comfort zone that is the key to keeping the brain new, he says.Seeking new experiences, learning new skills, and opening the door to new ideas inspire us and educate us in a way improves mental clarity.Anything that makes you really comfortable is not really good for your brainWhen you are inside your comfort zone you may be outside of the enhancement zone.Your brain needs novelty to grow, says Jones. Stepping out of your comfort zone literally stretches your brain by allowing the dendrites to become like big trees with full branches rather than little shrubsYour brain needs you to read every dayReading heightens brain connectivityOur brains change and develop in some fascinating ways when we read.As you read these words, your brain is decoding a series of abstract symbols and synthesizing the results into complex ideas.Its an amazing process.The reading brain can be likened to the real-time collaborative effort of a symphony orchestra, with various pa rts of the brain working together, like sections of instruments, to maximize our ability to decode the written text in front of us.Reading rewires parts of your brain. Maryanne Wolf explains in her book, Proust and the Squid The Story and Science of the Reading BrainHuman beings invented reading only a few thousand years ago. And with this invention, we rearranged the very organization of our brain, which in turn expanded the ways we were able to think, which altered the intellectual evolution of our species. . . . Our ancestors invention could come about only because of the human brains extraordinary ability to make new connections among its existing structures, a process made possible by the brains ability to be reshaped by experience.Reading involves several brain functions, including visual and auditory processes, phonemic awareness, fluency, comprehension, and more.The same neurological regions of the brain are stimulated by reading about something as by experiencing it.Accordi ng to the ongoing research at Haskins Laboratories for the Science of the Spoken and Written Word, reading, unlike watching or listening to media, gives the brain more time to stop, think, process, and imagine the narrative in from of us.Reading every day can slow down late-life cognitive decline and keeps the brains healthier.Exhaust your brainChallenge yourself with a whole new experience.Do more of what exhausts your brain.Your brain needs exhaustion to grow.Take up new, cognitively demanding activity - something new youve never done before dancing, piano lessons, a foreign language - is more likely to boost brain processing speed, strengthen synapses, and expand or create functional networks.When youre learning something new, and your brain is feeling like it wants to take a nap, thats when you know youre doing things that are growing your brain neurologically, not just maintaining it, says Dr. Jennifer Jones, a psychologist, and expert in the science of success.Every time you learn something, you create new connections, and the more connections you can maintain, the easier it will be to retain new information in the future.Start a journaling habitGetting a full night of sleep, going for a run, maintaining a healthy diet, and keeping up with family and friends all have well-documented and significant impacts on overall cognitive function.Whats even more important for your total well-being is journaling.Journaling helps you prioritize, clarify thinking, and accomplish your most important tasks, over urgent busy work.Numerous studies (of the scientifically rigorous variety) have shown that personal writing can help people better cope with stressful events, relieve anxiety, boost immune cell activity.Judy Willis MD, a neurologist, and former classroom teacher explains, The practice of writing can enhance the brains intake, processing, retaining, and retrieving of information it promotes the brains attentive focus boosts long-term memory, illuminates patter ns, gives the brain time for reflection, and when well-guided, is a source of conceptual development and stimulus of the brains highest cognition.Dont sit stillSitting still all day, every day is dangerous.Love it or hate it, physical activity can have potent effects on your brain and mood.The brain is often described as being like a muscle. Its needs to be exercised for better performance.Research shows that moving your body can improve your cognitive function.What you do with your body impinges on your mental faculties.Find something you enjoy, then get up and do it. And most importantly, make it a habit.Build a better exercise routine, and maintain it.Simple aerobic exercise such as walking 3045 minutes of brisk walking, three times a week, can help fend off the mental wear and tear, and improve episodic memory and executive-control functions by about 20 percent, according to Art Kramer of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.Take a good and undisturbed sleepA good slee p reduces both physical and mental stress.The brain accomplishes reorganization of information during sleep.Importantly, a short afternoon nap (called the power nap) serves as an energy booster for the brainScientists have known for decades that the brain requires sleep to consolidate learning and memory.Far from being lazy, napping is scientifically proven to help improve concentration and boost productivity when you reach a brain power plateau.Studies on napping suggest that it increases reaction speed and helps with learning - provided naps are no longer than 20 minutes.Do nothing for a changeDoing nothing is a skill.Busyness can be counterproductive.Its hard, we know, but doing nothing is a good way to refocus your brain and help you pay attention to the present time.Spending time unplugged, disconnected, and in silence can improve your focus, productivity, and creativity. learning to do nothing will help you retake control of your attention at other times, too. One trick sche dule do nothing time, like youd schedule tasks. Just dont expect others to understand when you decline some social event on the grounds that youre busy not being busy, says Oliver Burkeman.Neuroscience also reveals that silence has nourishing benefits for your brain.The neuroscientist Marcus Raichle says his best thinking happens in quiet places. For Raichle, silence was shorthand for thoughtful solitude.The brain is actively internalizing and evaluating information during silence.A study by Duke University regenerative biologist, Imke Kirste, found that two hours of silence per day prompted cell development in the hippocampus, the brain region related to the formation of memory, involving the senses.Exceptional creativity often happens in solitude.Thisarticlefirst appeared on Medium.

Never forget your passwords again with these genius tips

Never forget your passwords again with these genius tipsNever forget your passwords again with these genius tipsLast weekend, I forgot four sets of passwords and usernames over a 48-hour period. Collectively, I wasted a miserable - anddeeply frustrating- hour failing to figure them out, getting locked out, and eventually resetting them. And the sad thing is they are all a variation of the same thing - a security no-no - meant tomake recall especially easy. My usual practice of jotting down my account credentials on a random piece of paper or in tiny notebooks that I idiotically think Ill magically rediscover when mymemoryfails me is no longer working. I decided it was time for an intervention and discovered two foolproof methods to help me - and you - stop squandering time, energy, and productivity on forgotten passwords.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreTake a high-tech app roachThe easiest - and best option as far as security goes - is to use an app likeKeeperorDashlane, which allow you to securely store super complex passwords all in one place across all your devices. The latter service is free for up to 50 passwords, but given that the average user in the United States has130 accounts, according to research conducted by Dashlane - and will have to reset a forgotten password at least37 times each year- the $4.99 option that provides space for unlimited passwords might be the better option.Go old-schoolWhile using the latest tech to improve our lives is a sensible move, theres a good case to be made for taking an old-fashioned approach to better remember and organize our credentials on our own.Research going as far back as the 60sshows that organization is crucial to recall andrecent studieseven suggest that our use of digital technology interferes with our capacity to form memories, so designing your own plan of recall is a good opportunity. Try this.Pick three unrelated words that matter to youWhile fruchtwein of us are inclined to use passwords tethered to our lives and histories, its critical theyre not obvious and that each one is distinct. Im a big fan of using three unrelated words, such as apple-staircase-mutton, Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Maryland and co-author ofADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life. The three words, ideally, would be meaningful to the individual to make them super easy to recall.Jot them down in codeWhether its a spreadsheet or a notebook you keep under your mattress, be sure youve not written the actual password down. Write clues that will activate your memory. For example, if my password is downey-shirley-converse, Id write in my log book, hometown, best friend, favorite sneakers. An unusual but highly effective way to remember your password is to make a picture of it, according to Tracy Alloway, Ph.D., author of theThe Working Memory Advantage. Arecent studycame out th at when you draw, youre more likely to remember it because it engages multiple sources, she says, emphasizing that it doesnt matter whether youre a good artist or not. umgebung your password to the music of a favorite song is another handy way of reinforcing your memory, Alloway says. Dont pick an esoteric song. Choose one of your favorites, she cautions.Its not that any of us have a bad memory, Alloway adds, Its all about putting the information in properly by using adeeper encoding process to help you remember.This article originally appeared on Thrive Global.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

How to Pitch Yourself as an Expert to the Media

How to Pitch Yourself as an Expert to the MediaHow to Pitch Yourself as an Expert to the MediaA friend of mine recently called and said she was about to draft a pitch promoting herself as a food expert to several broadcast outlets. She asked if I would take a look once she was done. Several days later, her email popped up. The subject? This feels so weird.You dont need to be a PR expert to know that its much easier to tout a product than it is to tout yourself. But if youre just getting your company, business, or blog up and running, you likely dont have the resources to recruit a full-time PR person or agency support. Which leaves the PRing (along with fruchtwein other things) to you.As a PR professional who has happily pitched clients products and uncomfortably pitched my own brain, I can tell you It doesnt ever stop feeling weird. But it does get easier. If youre struggling with how to promote yourself, keep these tips in mind.1.Be ProfessionalPitching yourself will likely evoke a whole spectrum of emotions, but when it comes to the actual pitch, keep it business-appropriate. Most importantly Dont be overly casual (or no one will take you seriously), dont be too verbose (or no one will read your email), and dont be rude, arrogant, or obnoxiously self-promotional.This may sound obvious, but theres an important differentiation between pitching yourself and pitching a product When youre pitching yourself, the booking producer elend only needs to like what you have to say. He also needs to like you.2.Back it UpIf youre new on the speaking circuit or just looking to book your first interview, youre going to need to really convince the booking producer or journalist that youve got the smarts theyre looking for. So beyond introducing yourself and your expertise, include relevant stats, articles, and anecdotes to support your narrative. Explain what differentiates your expertise from other people talking about a similar subject- maybe its the research youve recently conducted or the access you have to key influencers in the industry- as well as why your expertise is especially relevant to the outlet youre pitching.Each pitch differs, but heres a general framework to consider In 2 -3 sentences, introduce who you are, your expertise and what youre pitching (e.g., to be considered for future food segments on the Today Show). Add 2-5 bullet points about why your narrative is relevant, compelling, and timely. Add 1-2 sentences about why youre perfectly positioned to be talking about this subject to this specific outlet. Add a brief bio with your high-level accomplishments, your availability, and ways for people to reach you.3.Be ConfidentNo matter what your expertise, there are likely topics or themes within that industry that youre not as well-versed on as others. If youre a food expert, like my friend, you may not be as knowledgeable about French cuisine as you are about Italian. Maybe your vegetarian recipes are lacking. But heres the deal No on e needs to know that but you.When pitching yourself as an expert, you need to convince whomever youre pitching that you are, actually, an expert. So tell your various and wide-ranging insecurities to shush, and put forward your smartest, most confident self.4.But Dont OversellRemember that confirming an interview is not the end game- successfully promoting your brand is. So while you want to come across as confident and knowledgeable, you dont want to B.S. your whole pitch. If you do, youre only going to end up hurting your reputation- and future opportunities- by sounding silly on-air or getting blacklisted by the booking department. Instead, give yourself a bit more time to get up to speed on your industry.5. Be PreparedOnce you send that pitch out, consider yourself on-call- especially when pitching yourself to broadcast outlets. One way to not make friends with the booking department? Pitch yourself as an expert on a story, like the government shutdown, and then not make yoursel f available for interviews while the government is actually shut down.Also, make aya youre 110% comfortable and ready to speak to whatever information you include in your pitch. If there are stats you cite, make sure theyre legitimate. If youre offering up exclusive information to one outlet, dont talk to any other reporters about it. You want people to be impressed by what youre offering, and then more impressed once they meet you- not less so.Promoting yourself as an expert is a really effective way to raise your own profile and that of your brand. But theres no getting around it Its tricky, awkward, and, as my friend pointed out, totally weird. But dont let the icky feelings deter you You are uniquely positioned to share what you know. As long as you dont creep people out in the process, well be seeing you on the Today Show (or in the New York Times) soon enough.Photo of woman on phone courtesy of Shutterstock.