Think Tank: The Neuro Blog
3 Ways to Shift Your Mindset (because it matters!)
How many times have you counted yourself out of something because you feel, nay you think, you can’t do it? How many opportunities for promotion or job opportunities did you flat-out not apply for because you think you’re not qualified or good enough “yet”? How many times have you hesitated to volunteer an answer or opinion in fear that you may be thought of differently or be judged for it? In most of these scenarios, your mindset and how it is framed went in your way and influenced the majority of the decision-making process that happened. Mindset is defined as a “person’s world view and core assumptions”. It is the lens with which we see and assess that world outside of ourselves and how we relate ourselves to that world. It affects everything - our self-esteem, our self-worth, our careers, our relationships, our interactions and at a psychological level, even our health. Standford Psychologist Carol Dweck says that your mindset plays a huge role in whether or not you become successful. Your mindset, depending on whether it is “fixed” or “growth”, determines how you process and respond to situations. A fixed mindset lets you believe that your qualities and traits are definite and can no longer be changed. For people with fixed mindsets, success is usually measured against a fixed standard, and anything below that standard is considered a failure. A growth mindset fosters the idea that learning, development, growth and experience develops through time. It welcomes challenges and lets you see the value of the journey and how it relates to the destination. For example, you’re in a competition and you made it to the last round along with other competitors. You know you gave your absolute best in that last round, but someone else won instead of you. A fixed mindset will make you feel you’re a failure because you didn’t make it, you didn’t win and you didn’t get the title in spite of your hard work. A growth mindset, on the other hand, will let you look within yourself and reflect on what happened. You recognize that losing doesn’t make you a failure, it only gives you more insight as to what you can do better the next you want to try. Can you shift your mindset? Absolutely! But since your mindset is a product of decades worth of conditioning starting from the day you were a child, it would take a lot of willpower and effort to shift it. Here are 3 simple ways you can start doing today: Be Kind to yourself Most of the time and you may not even see it, you are your worst critic. You are too harsh at yourself for failing but you don’t stop and appreciate yourself for your wins. You forget to take care of your most important ally - yourself. Give yourself the grace to try new things and explore new and unfamiliar territories - even if it means failing a few times. Set aside a few minutes in your day to meditate and take stock of what’s happening in your life and how much room to grow you still have ahead of you. Adopt a healthy lifestyle A healthy body is essential to support a healthy mind. Being mindful with what you consume is one of the simplest steps to self-care. You already know the drill - eat healthier, get some exercise in your routine, aim to have better sleep, etc. You already know what to do and how to do it, what else is stopping you? Surround yourself with people who lift you up Depending on where you are in life right now, you may have already accumulated a lot of friends. It may not be obvious, but the people you spend most of your time with tend to affect your mindset and how you see things in general. It’s quite difficult to be a hopeful star in the midst of discouraging black holes. Should you have any friends like this, you don’t have to ditch them, just try to spend a little less time with them and more with your friends who lift you up and support you. It is not to be misinterpreted that having a growth mindset means anyone can become a super genius or break records in their field because they tried - no. Growth mindset puts more focus on living up to your own personal potential. If it is in your potential to become the next scientist to come up with the next world-defining invention, why not? The world is not all rainbows, butterflies, unicorns and cupcakes - you already know that. Adopting a growth mindset doesn’t necessarily mean that things will always go according to plan, it means being able to adapt even if things are not okay and don’t go your way. So what if you fail sometimes? Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and have another go - only you can stop you. So, don’t count yourself out before giving anything a good try. Your mindset can either be the bridge or the roadblock that stands between you and everything you are meant to be. Hero Image by Franciele da Silva on Unsplash.
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3 Ways to Improve Your Home Office
Pre-pandemic, working from home seemed like a foreign idea to most people. It’s an idea we’re not very much familiar with - something that is not so much as inconceivable but an idea that more or less begs the questions “why” and “how”. We have been institutionally and traditionally programmed that work is meant to be done at the office. Then, not so many months ago (although feels like forever, to be honest), COVID-19 happened and we’re now navigating the “new normal”. Suddenly, the questions “why” and “how” should we work from home have been answered. Why - obviously, companies want to curb the spread of the virus and a hundred different people using the same office elevator daily isn’t exactly a good way to do that. How - except for some very specific jobs that require onsite presence (e.g. manufacturing, production, etc), majority of companies have found a way to successfully transition their employees to working from home. Working from home isn’t just a concept or an idea anymore, it has now become a reality for most of us. One of the requirements of this reality is having our “home office” - a place where we spend the majority of our day to accomplish work. If you already have a home office setup or you’re still in the process of making one, here are some tips to get you going: Location, location, location Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you should make every place in your house your work space. For your sanity and overall well-being, try to separate your workspace from the rest of your home activities. If you have the space, having a separate room dedicated as your home office is a good idea. It can still give you the feeling of “going to work”, minus the morning rush hour and commute. If you don’t have a spare room, a dedicated space or a corner in your place where you can be undisturbed is good enough for a home office space. It would be good if your space has lots of natural light, but if none, make sure to provide for adequate lighting. Bringing your laptop in the kitchen counter while you wait for your food to cook is okay, but as much as possible try to separate these activities so it doesn’t bleed into each other and you lose focus on the tasks you’re doing. Invest in the right tools and equipment You’re spending at least 8 hrs of your entire day in your home office - that’s more than enough reason to invest in items that will make your life easier and more comfortable. Investing in a sturdy, non-wobbly table is always a good idea because you don’t want to feel as if there is an earthquake while you type away your important report, right? As you will be sitting for long periods, investing in an ergonomic chair that supports your back is also recommended for better posture. Working on your laptop may also cause eye strain and stiff neck - you can try investing in a laptop stand to raise your monitor to eye level and getting an external mouse and keyboard as well. Making sure that all necessary items and gadgets are within reach like printers, papers, headphones (or coffee machine, anyone?), etc. will save you time and effort throughout the day. Having an excellent internet connection is an important, if not the most important component in making sure that your work-from-home life is smooth. Stressing over intermittent connection isn’t exactly anyone’s definition of smooth. Make sure that your internet provider is steady and reliable - investing in signal boosting gadgets may also work. If you have the space and the will for it, try putting indoor plants in your home office, too. They can help purify the air and counter irritants at the same time give you that much needed dash of green. Take disciplined breaks One common misconception about working from home is you constantly have to prove you’re working. Don’t panic if the last message on Slack for you was sent five minutes ago and you haven’t replied yet. You can’t be expected to be glued to your screen the entire office hours and you shouldn’t expect that from your workmates either. You’re entitled to breaks when you’re working in the office - what’s stopping you from taking the same breaks at home? One surefire way to get fed up with something is to keep on doing it over and over to the point of saturation. No matter how much you love coding, or writing and no matter how nice, light and airy your home office is, you’re going to be sick of it if you don’t step away from it from time to time. Schedule “disciplined” breaks throughout the day - that is to make sure that you strike a balance between just taking a break to clear your head and taking 1-hr Netflix breaks on the couch. Impose a “strictly-no-checking-of-laptop” day during the weekend to give you the mental space to draw a line between working and your actual life. Working from home and having a home office is meant to keep you safe from the virus while still being employed, it’s not meant to take over your life. You must be thinking “Why should I go through so much trouble for all these when this setup is temporary?”. While this sentiment is valid and may very well be true for some people, investing in a fully functional home office isn’t just good for your 9-5 job. It can also be a space in your house that you can dedicate for creating things, personal plans and projects. A place where you can sit down, bury your head in a project you’re personally passionate about. It might even give birth to that side hustle you’ve always wanted to do! No matter what or how you feel towards working from home, whether you’re living for it or you’re vehemently against it, there is no denying that for some people, it might just be the way moving forward, pandemic or not. Make the most of the opportunity while it’s here. Who knows? You might be positively surprised where it ends up taking you.
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Zoom Fatigue: What is it and what can you to do to ease it?
Over the last 6 months of this “new normal”, many of us have transitioned to working and/or studying in the comforts of their homes. Part and parcel of this transition is the continuous exposure to what has become a common household name that is “zoom”. Zoom, although only one of the many video conferencing softwares in the market, has gained popularity as the video conferencing choice of many because of its accessibility and abundance in features. How many minutes did you spend choosing the perfect virtual background? Whether you’re working or studying at home, did you ever feel that you’re more exhausted than you were when you were in your office/school? If your answer is yes, join the club because you’re not alone. Countless hours spent in front of your laptop or phone, either watching webinars or attending meetings, is not only physically exhausting, it can also be mentally draining. With more and more people experiencing “zoom fatigue”, let’s try to break down why it happens and what you should do to get your energy (and sanity) back. Why is it draining? National Geographic explains that since humans communicate through a mix of verbal and non verbal cues, and most often non verbal cues like eye contact, hand gestures, and other subtle body languages are not entirely expressed and understood through a zoom meeting, it makes the process harder than it’s supposed to. These nonverbal cues help emphasize your point, however, they don’t always translate well on video calls, making you exert more effort, therefore making you more tired. Being on a zoom meeting requires that you’re properly dressed, at least from the waist up, and in a well lit area. Add this preparation and effort to the number of zoom calls you have to have in a week and multiply with the number of times you’ve had to troubleshoot because someone can’t find the unmute button, well you get the idea. Help! How do you ease zoom fatigue? You’re tired because being on video calls requires you to exert more energy in getting your point across. Since speaking louder or doing bigger gestures might be unavoidable if you want the people on screen to understand your presentation, what other things can you do to ease zoom fatigue? 1. Avoid Multitasking Admit it or not, we’re all guilty of this at some point. Multitasking is something we enjoy, it’s something we’re proud of! Doing and accomplishing multiple things at the same time makes our adrenalines pump, our prides swell and our brains run. Ask yourself how many times have you checked your email while in a zoom meeting? Or how many times did you check your social media account while someone else is presenting? Harvard Business Review relates that in fact, multitasking while you are on your zoom meeting can make you less productive. Because your brain is scattered and working on a lot of different things, you tend to lose focus. When you don’t get to finish a task on time, you have to keep working on it making the process inefficient. No matter how much of a superhero we think we are, our multitasking abilities have limits too. 2. Take a break and stretch Wherever you are, whether in the office, school or at home, you need to rest and recharge. Not because you’re working at home doesn't mean you constantly have to work all the time. Breaks are there for a reason, so use them and thank yourself later. As much as you can, try not to schedule your meetings one after the other, or else you won’t just be physically drained, you also won’t be able to perform at your best mentally . A 20 to 30-min gap in between meetings should be enough to allow you to stretch your tired muscles and eyes for a little bit. Take a break so you can reload, recharge and ready your mental guns for the next battle. 3. Switch to emails and phone calls How many meetings have you attended while thinking to yourself “this could have been discussed in an email”? Now that you know how annoying that feels, the next time you’re setting up a zoom meeting, ask yourself the most important question of all: is a meeting really needed for this? Do yourself, and the rest of the meeting attendees, a favor and make sure that all things requisite for a productive meeting are there before you actually set it up. Also, whoever said phone calls aren’t a thing anymore? If it’s a one-on-one meeting, just have a phone call, not all meetings need to be on video! A phone call will allow you to be more relaxed, concentrating your efforts and energy to your volume and intonation instead. 4. Build boundaries Not because you’re at home doesn’t mean you constantly have to keep working. Repeat that three times until you’ve internalized it. Majority of people at home have this flawed mentality that they constantly have to prove they’re working and not just sitting around binging on Netflix and chips. Long hours doesn’t always translate to productivity in the same manner that longer meetings doesn’t mean more work is accomplished. In fact, the shorter the meeting, the better. Concise and direct-to-the-point meetings should be the standard, especially for zoom meetings. There is a reason why meetings have time limits, so stick to it. Set the boundaries and expectations and very respectfully make sure that everyone is aware. Zoom meetings are already part of our routine, there is no denying that. It is an amazing thing because even in this situation, it allows us to continue being employed, it gives us the platform to study and connect with people and get things done! It’s now up to you to set the limits and take control of the platform and make it something that will help you make things happen.
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Our Top 5 Episodes of the Joe Rogan Podcast: Part 2
In 2016, we released a list of Our Top Five Episodes of the Joe Rogan Podcast. Now, we're back with a list of our top 5 (more recent) Rogan episodes recommended by a member of our very own Neuro team. Check out some of our new favorite episodes below: JRE #1480 Kevin Hart - Comedian, Actor and Producer Many of us have a love/hate relationship with Kevin Hart, but his work ethic and determination is undeniable. He’s also entertaining as hell and does a great impression of Dave Chapelle, which will make this episode worth listening to. His intensity is extremely contagious as he dives into his journey to recovery with a fractured spine and shares how his priorities immediately shifted when he realized that he was married to his job and dating his family.Kevin explains how his go-getter attitude is based on his game-like view of life and how he’s constantly challenging himself to open new levels and adopt new mindsets. He says that the grind comes from a balance of discipline and enthusiasm, and you can really grasp that feeling in everything he does. In the episode, Joe and Hart discuss the greatness of Michael Jordan and Mike Tyson and even chat about an epic dinner among comedic greatness. The show ends with a clip of Eddie Murphy slamming Bill Cosby while accepting his Mark Twain trophy in hopes that he’s going to make a comeback and obviously a plug to Kevin Hart’s new audiobook: The Decision. I haven’t listened to it yet, but it’s on my list!JRE #1368 Edward Snowden - An American Whistleblower AKA President of Secrets If you’ve watched the movie Snowden, you’ve heard about how the protagonist leaked classified information from the NSA while he was working for the CIA. But that’s just a glimpse of what went on, and this episode goes into more of what happened. In this episode, Snowden goes through his story in depth with minimal interruptions, and it’s great to hear about his journey and how he came to his position at such a young age. His perspective and insight on 9/11 as an 18 year old kid is eye opening. Snowden shares how he went on to go undercover as a diplomat in Geneva as part of the CIA, was part of the NSA in Tokyo and back to the CIA with higher ups at Dell. If you’re a fan of hearing about corrupt intelligence communities and lack of privacy, then run it! JRE #1227 Mike Tyson - Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion The boxer who bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear might ring a bell or maybe the crazy guy with tigers and a face tat in The Hangover, but he’s much more than just these epic highlights!I’ve never been let down by an article or interview on Mike Tyson. His story always gets more bizarre and yet increasingly impressive. He doesn’t mention his pet pigeons or much of his childhood story in this podcast episode, but dabbles on his early exposure to drugs and alcohol. I was surprisingly shocked to find out that Joe Rogan has never tried cocaine and Mike Tyson has never had a cup of coffee.He has never ending stories that seem short of a movie script, but if you want to hear about how he gave one of his Bentleys to a cop to get out of a crash or how he ordered his tigers from prison, then this is the episode to jump on.JRE #1213 Dr. Andrew Weil - An American doctor who advocates for alternative medicine Dr. Weil is a fountain of wisdom when it comes to this subject of natural healing. He also isn’t a snooze sesh if you’re interested in this stuff. Dr. Weil is fascinated with the body’s ability to heal itself and says that medicine should start right there and that’s the only way out of the healthcare crisis. He also discusses the many health benefits of matcha including cancer fighting antioxidants and the calming alertness effect of L-Theanine, which is naturally found in green and black tea leaves. Weil and Rogan dive into the bullshit trend of detoxing and colonics and reveal the true power of the liver. It was crazy to hear how counteractive medications could be and how they intensify depression, become highly addictive and mess with your mind. Don’t sleep on this episode if you’re into integrative health and wellness! JRE #946 Dennis McKenna - Ethnopharmacologist AKA Mr. Psychedelics My grandpa has been wanting to do Ayahuasca for ages and if it’s his dying wish, I need to give it to him, right? I’ve now dove into the deep end of psychedelics because I need to know everything before I let my old man wild out in a forest with a shaman. If you have a few hours to spare and are in the mood to listen to some far out theories that may make sense, then this is the episode for you. What if we learned that psychedelics were the answer to addictive behaviors, bridged the gap between us and nature, and is the answer to helping us love ourselves, each other, and make us better human beings.In this episode, Rogan and McKenna discuss ayahuasca, DMT, and how psychedelics open the mind. They’re some wild concepts, but you’re onto something Dennis McKenna and I’m here for it!
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Ways to Improve Work Performance
Whether you’re a freelancer or a working stiff, you’re probably interested in upping your performance at work. The advantages of taking a deliberate look at your working habits include increases in productivity, general happiness at work, and the ability to enjoy your downtime at home. Generally, the basic positive ways to improve work performance include staying organized, optimizing habits, and maintaining a healthy balance between sleep and caffeine consumption.
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How to Focus on Studying
One thing that many students struggle with during the course of their academic years is staying focused when studying. Distractions are everywhere – iPhones, video games, friends, parties - you name it. To improve your concentration and motivation to study, follow these 11 strategies for how to focus on studying, all backed by research. 1. Study in a Group If you’re looking for ways on how to motivate yourself to study, forming a study group is a very effective strategy that enhances learning. In fact, more than 20 years of academic research has consistently demonstrated that fact. Groups share unique insights and learn from each other. The benefits of group study include: Externalizes thoughts better Keeps study sessions stimulating and fun Maintains accountability Provides support and motivation to study Helps clarify any questions Tests comprehension 2. Create the Right Setting Where you study is almost as important as what you study. Studies have found that the place in which you study affects how you’ll remember that information. Pick one place and stick with it – over time, your brain will catch on and you’ll enter “study mode” much sooner. Get comfortable, but not too comfortable. Change out of your pajamas before you open your books to give your mind a signal that it’s time to get down to business and study, not lounge. You’ll remember something more in the place where you first learned it, so you may want to consider re-creating the environment in which you will be tested in. Look for natural light to bring real warmth and vitality to the space. Keep your space sacred. If you’ve created a space you truly love, you may be tempted to do everything there – watch Netflix, chat with friends, eat dinner – but whenever possible, keep your study space reserved only for studying. When you finally sit down in your designated study spot, the last thing you want to be doing is getting up multiple times to go grab an item. When you get up too much, you often lose the momentum or the “study bubble” that was so hard to reach. Making the right efforts to make sure you have everything around you will minimize the need to get up. Consider setting up your space with the following items: Water bottle Post-it notes Tissues Pens, pencils and erasers Non-messy snacks Chapstick Essential oils 3. Listen to Calming Music Music produces several positive effects on a human’s body and brain. Enhancing your studying with music activates both the left and right brain simultaneously. The activation of both hemispheres can maximize learning and improve memory. Music is effective at reducing stress, decreasing blood pressure and anxiety and lowering heart rate. It’s a great way to strengthen your resolve with being overwhelmed. So, when you’re looking for ways on how to get motivated to study, turn on relaxing music to get your mindset in the right place and keep stress at bay. 4. Limit Distracting Apps and Websites The goal of a study space is to maximize the attention you can devote to studying while minimizing the amount of effort necessary to do so. It can be extremely difficult to achieve this if your space is full of distractions. It’s useful to start with what to leave out and then add things from there. Getting in the mood to study will differ from person to person. However, here are some things you should probably avoid in your space if you want to remain productive: Cell Phone Video Games Lots of Open Tabs Messy Food Distractions threaten your study output. In fact, research shows that it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to refocus after being distracted. Considering this research, those seemingly small interruptions can really add up throughout the day, making it much harder to get back into your groove. 5. Exercise One of the top tips we can recommend how to motivate yourself to study is through regular exercise. A recent study suggests that what we do physically plays an important role in long-term memory. In the study, it is mentioned: “The benefits of exercise come directly from its ability to reduce insulin resistance, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the release of growth factors—chemicals in the brain that affect the health of brain cells, the growth of new blood vessels in the brain, and even the abundance and survival of new brain cells.” A workout session as little as 30 minutes long pumps extra blood to your brain, delivering oxygen and nutrients it needs to perform at max efficiency. Cardio exercises are especially known to flood the brain with chemicals that enhance memory function, including problem solving and decision making. Benefits of exercise for students include: Increased energy levels Increased brain function Increased attentiveness Increased alertness 6. Meditate Your brain is a trainable “muscle” that needs daily exercise. For instance, meditation is like weight lifting for your attention span. When you practice meditation consistently, you’re flexing your cerebral cortex, which increases your ability to absorb and understand new information and adapt to any situation, making this a reliable method to use when you can’t focus on studying. The most extensive study to date on how meditation improves your ability to focus suggests that meditating could prevent age-related mental decline. It is the first study of its kind to offer evidence that intensive and continued meditation practice is associated with enduring improvements in sustained attention. YouTube is a great resource for individuals getting started with meditation. Calm is also a popular go-to mobile app that is recommended by top psychologists, therapists and mental health experts for beginner, intermediate and advanced meditators. Benefits of Meditation for Students include: Better focus Reduced academic stress Rise in IQ levels Brain integrity and efficiency Reduction in depression and anxiety Reduction in destructive behavior (i.e. drugs/alcohol) Happiness and increased confidence 7. Eat a Nutritious Meal The old saying, “You are what you eat” has never been more true. Science tells us that some foods increase awareness and mental sharpness, while other foods make us lethargic and give us brain fog. If you are wondering how to concentrate on studying, choosing foods to eat beforehand that are packed with vitamins and minerals, good fats, and rich in antioxidants, is a great way to provide the energy needed to keep your brain sharp. Foods that help boost memory and concentration include: Broccoli: Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Choline to keep memory sharp Avocado: Mono-saturated fats to keep blood sugar levels in the right range Blueberries: Gallic acid to protect brain from degeneration and stress Bone Broth: Collagen to help boost your immune system Dark Chocolate: Flavonoids to improve blood flow to the brain and heart Walnuts: Antioxidants to improve your cognitive health 8. Take an Energy Supplement If you’re a student, chances are you’ve tried using caffeine to help you study at least once. But you’re probably more familiar with caffeine sources such as an energy drink or coffee. While the above do a good job at providing immediate energy, the negative effects can often far outweigh the benefits for students. For starters, coffee, energy drinks and tea provide many individuals with long bursts of energy that interrupt their regular habits like sleeping and can even give them heart palpitations or jitters. That in and of itself is enough to cause students to become distracted or sleep deprived. Luckily, there’s an alternative for students seeking a quick energy boost without the lasting negative effects associated with most common caffeine sources. Neuro’s energy caffeine gum contains vitamins B6 and B12, which have been scientifically shown to boost focus and cognition. Neuro’s products include 40mg of caffeine, which is just the right amount to kick-start your study session without giving you that dreaded crash or jitters. 9. Stop Eye Strain After Late-Night Study Sessions Sleep is crucial to keeping your brain in prime condition for effective learning. But we all have important tests, jobs and families to attend to, which can keep us up late trying to fit as much as we can into our day. If you’re someone who studies at night, whether by choice or not, you’re likely no stranger to eye strain, blurry vision and headaches. Even worse, the blue light from your screen can make it challenging to fall asleep. Fortunately, there is a solution to relieve your tired eyes. Software apps like f.lux and Twilight automatically change the brightness and color temperature throughout the day, depending on the sun outside. The blue light of a bright screen tricks our brains into thinking it’s still daylight, which messes up our internal circadian rhythms. Once you get used to the orange hue of the software, you’ll be more focused and have better sleep. 10. Practice Desk De-Stress Ear Massage: Medical studies have shown that a brief ear massage relieves stress and anxiety. Start by applying light pressure to your earlobes using your thumb and index finger. Next, rub your earlobes and move up the outer rim of the ear to the top of your ear. Gently apply pressure and then work your way back down the ear. You can do this for about 2-3 minutes until you feel at ease. Hand Trick: Constant typing or writing notes/flash cards can cause your hands and wrists to become sore, which could ultimately distract you from studying. Lightly pinch the muscle between your thumb and index finger and massage in small circles. Eventually, you’ll begin to feel your hands, shoulders and neck start to relax and you will be back to studying in no time! Breathing Technique: Our breath is not something we ordinarily pay much attention to. It’s second nature, and something we do without even noticing. When feeling overwhelmed and looking for ways on how to focus on studying, sometimes all you need to do is regroup and focus on your breath. Try the 4-7-8 breathing method: Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds and then exhale for 8 seconds. 11. Build a Routine In a perfect world, studying would come natural to all of us. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case and for many of us, it can be hard to develop a consistent study routine. Step 1: Figure out your learning style Visual Learner: Images help you get a grip on things Aural Learner: Hearing and listening closely helps you retain information Verbal Learner: Reading and speaking helps your memory best Physical Learner: Prefer to use your body and touch things with your hands Logical Learner: Creating systems and sorting things logically Step 2: Plan what you are going to do and put it on a calendar Limit your time spent studying and allow for some fun to keep your spirits up. Share your calendar with important people in your life so they can see when it is and isn’t a good time to contact you. Start by planning one event a week and scale up from there – don’t try to plan your whole life right away. Step 3: Set a “Cue, Routine, Reward” Loop Cue: The moment that triggers the action (Set phone alarm to notify you to study) Routine: The action you are performing (Begin studying) Reward: A positive outcome that encourages you to continue on. (Reward yourself with a piece of chocolate) BONUS: Follow the 5 more rule: When you are in the middle of a task or study session and tempted to give up – just do five more!! If you’ve found these tips on how to stay focused while studying useful, leave us a comment and let us know what worked best for you.
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13 Unique Gifts for New Moms
Newborns need a lot of stuff, which makes it easy to forget about mom. In this exciting new chapter, a first time mom can feel stuck on what feels like a never-ending emotional roller coaster. If you’re looking to help her relax, adjust to sleepless nights and around-the-clock feedings, and make her feel absolutely loved and supported, below are some unique gifts for new moms. New Mom Gifts for Nourishment 1. Instant Pot The Instant Pot is one of the most beloved kitchen appliances. While it functions as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker and steamer, it can also whip up baby food and even sterilize bottles. Its versatility and efficiency make it a great go-to gift idea for new moms. Easy Instant Pot Recipes: Pot Roast Mac and Cheese Pulled Pork Tacos Tomato Soup Sloppy Joes Baked Potatoes Spaghetti Squash 2. Home-Cooked Meal The first few weeks after having a baby is a whirlwind of highs and lows. The last thing a new parent wants or needs to worry about is dinner. Having a home-cooked meal delivered to her house is a lifeline, especially on those harder days. Meals are simple yet meaningful first-time mom gifts. Meals for New Moms: Chicken and Green Bean Casserole Chicken Noodle Soup Lasagna Pasta and Meatballs Baked Oatmeal with Fruit Chicken Salad Vegetable Stir-fry Pulled Pork Sandwiches Turkey Chili Breakfast Muffins 3. Meal Delivery Subscription Nothing beats a home-cooked meal, but the new, sleep-deprived mom may not have the time in the early stages to look for healthy recipes, do the grocery shopping to pick up all the ingredients, and spend long hours in the kitchen. Meal delivery services take the pressure off putting healthy food on the table. They send you a simple recipe with all of the ingredients, and you simply throw everything together. Top Meal Delivery Services: Blue Apron HelloFresh Plated Home Chef Freshly 4. NeuroGum With a new baby who wakes up every two hours all night long (or more), the mom will need all the help she can get in order to function during the day. While coffee is effective at increasing energy levels, consuming too much can have the reverse effect, and end up keeping her awake during times when she could be getting rest. Neuro gum and mints are unique gifts for new moms that offer a great alternative to coffee. Neuro’s products contain a proprietary nootropic caffeine + L theanine blend with B6 and B12 vitamins. With just 40mg of caffeine per piece, it provides just the right amount of energy needed to push through the day. New Mom Gifts for Self-Care 5. Fleece Slippers Broken nights are a common feature of parenthood. Make getting up in the night a little less onerous by gifting a pair of cute fleece slippers that are as practical as they are fun. She’ll appreciate having something to kick her feet up in while nursing or rocking the baby back to sleep! 6. Gift Card for a Massage New moms are constantly being pulled in a million directions. Between breastfeeding, changing diapers, keeping the house in order and figuring out what to eat for dinner, it can take an emotional toll on her body. With so much going on, the last thing she is probably concerned about is self care. Some moms feel guilty setting up a spa service for themselves, so give her a guilt-free experience she’ll love with a gift certificate for a massage. If you want to go the extra mile, make your new mom gift even more special by offering to come over to babysit! 7. Luxurious Bathrobe With no regular routine in those first few weeks, new moms sometimes just want to feel comfortable. There will be various times when even putting on clothes seems like the most exhausting task on the planet. Get her a nice comfortable and luxurious robe that she will look forward to throwing on everyday. 8. New Mom Care Packages New mom care packages are the perfect tokens of support - after all, she won’t have much spare time to go out and pick up items on her own, and she’ll be so wrapped up in caring for her little one, she may forget to care for herself. Putting together a DIY package of thoughtful gifts is a simple gesture that’ll make her busy life easier, and her downtime a little more relaxing. Essentials for New Mom Care Package: Face Masks Dry Shampoo Neck Massager Fuzzy Socks Lip Moisturizer Advil Organic Bath Soak Nail Polish Sleep Mask Adult Coloring Book New Mom Gifts for Comfort 9. Himalayan Pink Salt Lamp Himalayan Pink Salt Lamps are one of the most unique gifts for new moms, as it’s not only something they probably didn’t expect to receive, but also something they probably never knew they needed! For those unfamiliar, Himalayan salt has several surprisinging and significant benefits, that can benefit both mom and baby. Benefits of Himalayan Pink Salt Lamps: Promotes negative ions, which purify and improve air quality Neutralizes the pollution of electronic devices Helps alleviate allergies Helps increase mood and reduces stress Creates beautiful ambient lighting 10. Weighted Blanket As a woman new to motherhood, it can be difficult to fall asleep, which is why weighted blankets makes for great first time mom gifts. These heavy blankets are designed to trigger the body to relax by simulating the feeling of being hugged or held, as well as reduce anxiety. Key Features: 300 Thread-Count 100% Cotton Plush, Soft, Mink-Like Fur Machine Washable Lead-Free Glass Bead Fill 11. Essential Oils Essential oils work exceptionally well at relieving various physical elements and also offer emotional support. They are also very easy to use. Simple is important for new moms who are figuring out life with a baby. There are so many ways to use essential oils: rubbed on the bottom of the feet, smelled straight from the bottle, diffused in a diffuser and much more. Best Essential Oils for New Moms: Fatigue: Rosemary Oil, Peppermint Oil Anxiety: Rose Oil Energy: Peppermint Oil Immune Support: Lemon Oil Rest: Lavender Oil New Mom Gifts Just for Fun 12. Subscription Box Moms work hard, and getting some TLC and beauty motivation delivered right to her door is exactly what she needs to brighten those difficult days. A beauty or self-care subscription box not only surprises her, but helps her out too. With boxes for almost every occasion, there’s sure to be one that’s perfect for the new mom in your life. Subscription Box Ideas: FabFitFun Stitch Fix Fit Snack Book of the Month Club Ritual Vitamins The Boxy Momma Co. 13. Fitness App Subscription Exercise is one of those things that make moms feel better whether indoors or out. Even a simple walk pushing the baby in the stroller can be great to her overall mental and physical health. Fitness Apps are useful because they’re able to be used them at home with limited time. She’ll be happy to have an outlet where she can achieve and maintain fitness and balance - both in mind and body. BONUS Gift Ideas for New Moms Wine Box Subscription Stylish Pajamas House Cleaner Date Night Gift Certificate Memory Foam Pillow Headbands and Hair Accessories Comfortable T-Shirts A Basket of Her Favorite Snacks Yoga Class Package
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How to Stay Motivated at Work - 5 Unique Tips
No motivation to work? It’s easy to fall into a rut and get stuck in the same daily routine. Some days you feel you can conquer the world, when others it’s a struggle to answer emails. However, consistently following and practicing these tips on how to stay motivated at work will help you experience: Increased energy levels to get tasks done Better sustained results in the long run More enthusiasm to attack challenges
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Why It’s Important to Take Risks to Find Success in Life
The path to success presents many challenges that can only be met by taking a risk. We’ve all read stories about nervy entrepreneurs who met this challenge and became wildly successful. In order to reap big rewards in any area of life, you’ve got to be willing to leave your comfort zone once in awhile and take those calculated risks.
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