How to Increase Your Productivity with the Right Kind of Breaks

Everyone has that person in the office. You know, the one who always seems to get way more done than everybody else, but who never seems stressed or frantically trying to finish an assignment. How does he or she get it done? And can you steal those secrets to improve your own productivity?
Yes. Yes you can.

Using time-tracking and productivity app DeskTime, we've been able to study the habits of the most productive employees — and pinpoint the working flow that leads to that incredible ability to get things done.

And the trick might surprise you. Turns out, what the most productive 10% of our users have in common is their ability to take effective breaks. Specifically, the most productive people work for 52 minutes at a time, then break for 17 minutes before getting back to it.

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How Successful People Start the Day

Whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, we all start our day at some point. And we all seem to start it differently.
Some of us hop online to check social media, others dive in to email, still others eat breakfast, exercise, or pack lunches for the kids. There’re a million different ways a morning could go.

Which morning routine might be best?
While there’s probably not an ideal morning routine that fits everyone, we can learn a lot from the morning routines of successful people as well as from the research and inspiration behind starting a morning on the right foot.
I collected a wide range of opinions on how best to start a day, from the scientific to the successful. Here’s the best of what I found—maybe it’ll help you get a little more productivity, creativity, and enjoyment out of your morning.

Science says: Willpower is highest in the morning, so start strong

You’ve maybe heard the advice that your first work of the day should be something meaningful and significant, a task that might take a lot of focus, will, and determination to accomplish. The reason: We’re limited with our self-control.

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Its Never Too Late to Start Over

It’s never too late to start over. To hit the pause button. Breathe. Then begin again.

 

You don’t need to lose yourself in the shuffle, get caught up in your mistakes and your fears and your anxieties. You don’t have to hold onto your anger or your sadness and carry it with you in a little jar. You are more than a little jar, waiting to be filled by unsatisfying things—material things, superficial love, addictions and vices and so many other negatives that leave you feeling emptier than before. You are more than that little jar you feel defines the person you are, so much so that you try to fit yourself in its glass walls, try to keep contained within the edges and not overflow.

Life is imperfect.

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5 Survival Tips for Working the Night Shift

Being the night shift nurse is a grueling job. Though, it is the shift many nurses start on in their career. I have worked as a labor and delivery nurse for the last 10 years, 8 of them on the night shift. I have come up with these 5 tips that helped me get through it with two kids, a husband, and a dog.

Schedule It Right

Many nurses, like me, are mothers. As a mother, you have many responsibilities and sleep is never a priority, especially on the night shift. No one will understand. You can tell your mother that you worked last night, and she will still want to go shopping at noon, thinking that was enough sleep. Let me tell you, it is not. I tried to explain it to my husband one time by saying, “OK, so if you go to bed at 10, can you get up and start your day at 2 am, or even worse, make dinner, check homework, and chase the toddler? He tried to understand.

When I worked my twelve-hour shifts, I would ALWAYS schedule myself three shifts in a row. Was that a lot? My goodness, it was. Was I exhausted? Of course! Then why three twelve hour shifts in a row?

Your body, at least in my case, never adapts to night shift. Three in a row made it easier because my body got “used” to the schedule on the second night, and even though it was so hard to get motivated for the third night, I knew after that I would be done. Though, you have to find what works best for you.

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Health Care Worker: In Danger of Not Practicing Self-Care?

On every airline flight, a flight attendant gives directions to those on board so they know what to do if there is an emergency. One line always stands out for me; “If you are traveling with a child or someone who requires assistance, secure your mask on first, and then assist the other person”. I think this line speaks volumes about the importance of self-care.

If nurses don’t take care of themselves, how can they take care of others?

Today, most nurses are responsible for taking care of their families, aging parents, patients and their caregivers, other members of the healthcare team and others depending on their circumstances. As a result, self-care is often tossed out the window due to time restraints, work schedules, and responsibilities. Yet, most of us know that making room for our own needs is critical to enabling us to care for others and keep going with calm and inner strength.

Self-care only works when you listen to your body and do what you want without resistance.

- See more at: http://www.nursetogether.com/8-ways-all-nurses-can-practice-self-care#sthash.3di2g3Ks.dpuf 

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What are the Signs That You Have a Good Boss?

I have just made a mental list of all the bosses I have had in my forty years of work. Some were pretty good; others were simply awful. Nowadays, the latter are also in the majority. One survey has found that 77% of employees are stressed out at some point, because their bosses are bad!
Then, suddenly I found that I was a manger myself, so I became acutely aware of what makes a good boss. The greatest challenge was in managing staff and using my people skills effectively.
Here are 20 signs that you got a good boss.

1. Your boss reassures you

This may take the form of encouragement and stimulation to do even better. They both go hand-in-hand and the results from employees can be impressive. Once you are reassured that you are on the right track, then you can achieve anything.

2. Your boss does not micromanage

 “Hire well, manage little.” —Warren Buffett

If a boss ignores the above quote, the likelihood is that he will not get much done. Employees’ reactions to micromanagement can range from demotivation to a feeling that they will never be allowed to work on their own. The boss who indulges in this feels he knows best and cannot trust the employee fully.

3. Your boss appreciates your skills

A great boss will soon become familiar with people’s talents and skills. It is a great asset when delegation has to be done.

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What Successful People Do Right Before Bed

The very last thing you do before bed tends to have a significant impact on your mood and energy level the next day, as it often determines how well and how much you sleep.
Successful people understand that their success starts and ends with their mental and physical health, which is almost entirely dependent upon their getting enough sleep.
That is why bedtime routines are a key ritual for so many of them — and why the very last thing most successful people do before bed is read.

1. They read.

Experts agree that reading is the very last thing most successful people do before going to sleep.
Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "You Can't Be Serious! Putting Humor to Work," says he knows numerous business leaders who block off time just before bed for reading, going so far as to schedule it as a "non-negotiable item" on their calendar. "This isn't necessarily reserved just for business reading or inspirational reading. Many successful people find value in being browsers of information from a variety of sources, believing it helps fuel greater creativity and passion in their lives."
For example, while some successful people use this time catch up on news stories from the day, skim tech blogs, or browse Reddit and Twitter, others enjoy reading fiction novels and ancient philosophy just before bed.

2. They make a to-do list.

"Clearing the mind for a good night sleep is critical for a lot of successful people," Kerr says. "Often they will take this time to write down a list of any unattended items to address the following day, so these thoughts don't end up invading their head space during the night."

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How To Really Pack a Healthy Lunch the Kids Will Love

As summer vacation winds down in August, millions of children nationwide are gearing up to head back to school. Among the many things parents worry about – such as immunizations, sports physicals, school supplies and playground safety – packing a healthy, nutritious lunch (that kids will actually eat!) is at the top of the list.

Combating Childhood Obesity: It Begins With School Lunches
With the rising tide of obesity in the nation over the last 30 years and subsequent rise in related morbidities, it's not only extremely important that children eat healthy, balanced meals throughout the day – it's imperative. And eating a nutritious school lunch is key to helping minimize the child obesity epidemic. There's clear evidence that inception of good eating habits in childhood not only leads to better eating habits as adults, but also less risk of obesity. Because of this, it's critical that parents stay involved with the nutritional choices children make as they grow into their teens.

The National School Lunch Program provides guidelines regarding the nutritional content of meals offered through schools, including the caloric content, fat content and micronutrients such as calcium, iron and vitamin A.

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Will Your Interview Answers Get You Hired?

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and founder of Facebook, describes his hiring process this way: "I will only hire someone to work directly for me if I would work directly for that person."

Zuckerberg's comment illustrates an overlooked, yet fundamental, truth about hiring--people are ultimately looking for someone they want to work with.

This is why companies of all types will ask you the same five questions.
Human nature ensures interviewers return to these questions time and again to find out if you're someone they want to have down the hall.

Your ability to wow the interviewer and land the job hinges on how well you answer these questions.
Fear not! I've provided perfect answers to the five questions you will be asked every time you interview.

1. "Why are you leaving your current job?"

This question trips a lot of people up because . . .

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Today: Change Your Life With Healthy Eating Habits

Eat the rainbow
Nutrition experts dole out a ton of advice about how to eat well—and, most importantly, not lose your mind doing it. But there are some tips that stand the test of time, and that experts themselves follow. (Because, yes, they’re human, too.) Here are 10 habits they live by and that will change the way you eat.

Don’t give anything up
Eat all the foods you enjoy—but the key is to do it in smaller quantities, says Elisa Zied, RDN, who has lost and kept off more than 30 pounds since her highest weight in high school. In fact, she says it’s the number-one change she made that’s helped her maintain her smaller frame. “I didn’t want to feel deprived as I had in previous attempts to lose weight,” she says. The worst thing you can do is be too strict, then rebound by overeating because you’re not satisfied.

Always have a plan
It’s easy to get sucked into the lure of the restaurant menu when you’re hungry and everything looks good.

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6 Creative Activities That Will Make Senior Residents Smile

The best assisted living communities make it a priority to have an energetic and creative activities director on their staff.  This individual is tasked with keeping residents busy and happy and stimulated. A good activities director will continually ask residents and their loved ones for input so that the calendar is filled with a well-rounded range of assisted living activities designed to engage residents of all different abilities and interests and to reflect their own interests as community members. Assisted living activities are important for more than just fun and games, though. One study of more than 5,500 participants aged 65 years or older concluded that stimulating leisure activities were significantly associated with a reduced risk of dementia.

Putting a smile on resident’s faces is not too hard with a fun mix of activities. They don’t have to be expensive or complicated. Here are five ideas for creative assisted living activities.

1.      Barbeque  Throw a southern barbeque party. Tell the women and men to dress in vacation resort clothes. Fire up the Bubba barbeque pit and serve your best barbeque ribs, pork shoulders and whole hog.

2.      Concert under the stars Beautiful summer weather brings the ability to invite residents outside to a common area and put on a live music concert. Hire a duo that plays music most residents will recognize and enjoy. Serve snacks, cookies, punch and wine –if allowed in the assisted living residence – and let the music flow and the dancing go.


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Quick and Easy Weeknight Meals

Convenience and health don’t always go together on our plates. So much convenience food is highly processed and loaded with salt, fat, and added sugars. Coming up with quick, easy, healthy meals doesn’t have to be daunting, though. These are some of my favorite weeknight eats, plus tips to make your time in the kitchen more efficient.

Convenience is good.  Convenience is great.  I’m a very, very big fan of convenience.  I have two kids, a full-time job, and a deep, deep love of pie.

5 Tips for Quick, Easy, Healthy Meals

1. The secret to easy pasta or rice with veggies. Throw extra veggies into pasta water or in to steam with your rice every. Single. Chance.
2. Meet my family’s favorite recipe: their Falafel Pie.  I make use of pre-made foods for the crust and hummus filling and add delicious cucumber, tomatoes, yogurt, and olives to top it.  Works like a charm.
3. Double batches are your friend. I double-batch as much as humanly possible. Bean burritos work fabulously when doubled. Instead of making just enough for tonight, double or triple the recipe. Throw the rest in the freezer and reheat in the oven or microwave for a convenience meal that’s totally healthy.
4. Prep, prep, prep. When you get seasonal veggies, prep and freeze them. 
5. When in doubt, make a sandwich. 

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How to Safeguard Your Emotional Wellbeing

Emotional wellness is just one of the seven dimensions of wellness. Emotional wellbeing is the ability to know your feelings, accept limitations in yourself, gain emotional stability, and be comfortable with your emotions. It implies that you are able to express appropriate emotions, cope with stress, adjust to change, and enjoy life despite difficulty.


Achieving emotional wellness can be a difficult thing to balance. However, here are some tips to help you work towards being emotionally healthy.

Be self aware. It is very important to be aware of yourself. This includes knowing your strengths and weaknesses, understanding your emotions, and knowing your abilities. When you learn all these things about yourself, you are able to accept yourself and put limits on what you do. Then you are able to appreciate those limits, and you no longer have to compete with others strengths. You can also be better prepared for the roller coaster that the many changes of life bring.

Physical health. Taking care of your physical health is very important. Plenty of rest and a good diet can help to increase emotional stability. A good night's sleep requires 7 to 8 hours of sleep. Not getting enough sleep is the cause of many major health issues like heart disease and depression. 

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Appetite Stimulants for the Elderly

Older adults sometimes experience a loss of appetite that may adversely affect their health. Even foods they once loved no longer seem appealing. Caregivers of seniors with this problem will certainly want to explore ways to stimulate their loved ones’ appetites and get them eating again.

Causes of Loss of Appetite

There are several causes for loss of appetite in the elderly. One may be a poorer sense of taste due to a diminishing number of taste buds as we age. Our sense of smell also diminishes, and with it, potentially, our enjoyment of food.
Disinterest in food also can be caused by physical or cognitive maladies. Those with multiple medical conditions may be particularly vulnerable to poor appetite. If they are taking medications, they may experience loss of appetite as a side effect.

Weight Loss in Elderly

Loss of appetite can lead to substantial weight loss, which is a major health concern.
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3 Healthy Behaviors for Working Moms

Working moms have to share their life with not just their family, but their career. A career outside of the home means more time to give and less time to spend on the things that allow us to be healthier. Regardless of why we work, whether if its' for the additional income or the professional career that is important to maintain, a healthy lifestyle is still foundational to being effective in our responsibilities.

Healthy living doesn't have to be another check list on the bottom of the to-do list but rather can be a mindset we adopt as we continue with our responsibilities. There are ways that we can be healthy as a working mom -- we just need to do things a little different.

Here are three habits that every working mom can be adopt to become healthier:

1. Use exercise as a means to be healthy, not as a punishment for bad behavior. There isn't any faster way to hate exercising than to use it as punishment. We are guilty of this behavior all the time, even in the littlest ways. Maybe you ate dessert at the office meeting and snagged a piece of candy off of a desk as you passed by. And as you took that last bite, you thought to yourself, "It's okay, I'll just hop on the treadmill tonight" or "I walked today at lunch." Or even worse -- using exercise as punishment for how you look or fit into your jeans.

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Better to Run a Mile Instead of a Marathon?

So you swore you'd run a marathon this year.
Good news: You can stop feeling guilty about not starting to train for it yet.
As it turns out, you can get some of the same benefits of long-distance running and other types of endurance training without ever passing the five-mile mark.

That's right. Running fast and hard for just five to 10 minutes a day can add years to your life, just as running for hours can. In fact, people who run for less than an hour a week — so long as they get in their few minutes of daily running — get similar benefits in terms of heart health compared with people who run more than three hours a week.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/is-short-intensity-exercise-better-than-endurance-training-2015-1#ixzz3VDpV46Hh

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March: Take time to thank a social worker

2015 marks a special year for the social work community.

The nation will commemorate National Social Work Month in March and the National Association of Social Workers will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2015.
NASW’s goal during Social Work Month and throughout 2015 will be to educate the public about how social workers and the association have brought about major positive social changes, improved the lives of individuals and families, and will continue to do so in the future.

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5 Lessons Moms Should Teach Their Boys

I am incredibly proud of my son. And aside from raising someone who is happy and healthy, I hope that my son is learning some special and invaluable lessons from me as a woman. Because one day, I hope he will be an amazing husband and father.

5 Lessons to Teach Boys

1. Women can have careers AND children.
Of course he knows that when he grows up he can have a career and a family, but I want to make sure he knows that about his female peers, too. I'm showing him by example. Every day I show him that even though I work full-time in a career that often takes me away at nights, weekends, and even some holidays, he is always my No. 1 priority. I am always plugged into his life and what he is doing. If we're working toward a world with gender equality, I want to make sure my son's point of view is part of the solution, not contributing to the problem.

2. Real men are in touch with their emotional sides.
I didn't have to try very hard to teach him this, since he naturally fell into the role of interpreting his sister's emotions whenever a big drama occurred at home.
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5 Tips for Talking with a Person with Alzheimer's

Yesterday afternoon, I walked into Mary's spacious room. Mary is a woman who has few visitors and whom I've volunteered to spend a little time with every week. I greeted her, complimented her on her beautiful turquoise sweater and shook her hand.

Then I sat down at her little table that was overflowing with books, photographs, the newspaper and other items she wants to keep close at hand. I started off by picking up a small framed photo of Mary with her husband and three children -- two sons and a daughter.

"Tell me about your daughter," I said, using an open-ended question because they have no right or wrong answers. That's a tip I picked up from The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer's Care by Virginia Bell and David Troxell.

"Oh, her name is Connie," she told me. "She has four children -- two boys and two girls."
She continued by giving me several details about Connie and her family.


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Best Jobs for 2015

As the country comes out of a recession, jobs are becoming increasingly common, though getting them can be a challenge. As time goes on, CNN Money notes that retraining seems to be the key.

This means that for many people, there is nothing more positive and promising than returning to school or getting increased training for jobs that they already have. What are some of the important facts that are going to be shaping the job market in 2015?

For example, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is indicates that most of the professions that are going to experience the most growth are related to the health and wellness field. For example, the growth rate for personal care aids is listed at an impressive 49% percent over the next ten years, while home health care aides are set to grow nearly as much. Occupational therapists are also set to grow at a similar rate.

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