Think Tank: The Neuro Blog
Ace your next interview with these 3 tips
Whether you are fresh out of college, applying for a new job in the same industry, or transitioning in your career, doing an interview can be a nerve wracking experience. This may sound strange, but being “nervous” before an interview, may actually be a good thing for you. Being nervous is natural, it’s a part of your body’s response to stressful situations. It leads to a boost in the production of adrenaline which can actually be used to your advantage. This means your body has a built-in system to propel you forward and get you through difficult and stressful situations. All you need to do is to learn how to make the most out of it. Going in for your next big interview? Here are some tips to help you ace it. Shift your perspective It’s all about the mindset. Think of the interview as a conversation, and not an interrogation. They get to know you, just as much as you get to know them. They ask you questions to see whether you’re the perfect fit for the position they’re looking for, and you also ask them questions if their company is the environment you’re looking for. Think about this, if you get the job, you’re going to spend 8 (or more) hours of your entire day working for and with them, don’t you want to see this early if it’s worth it? You want them to like you, but ask yourself this question - do you like them too? Come Prepared The surest way to lose a war is to not bring any ammo. Enough said. It's very easy to say "be confident", but how in the world can you become confident if you don't even know what to say?! Confidence comes from knowing who you are, what your worth and what are the values and impact you can bring to the table. Speak from a place of knowing and believing that you are worth this job, and more. You may want and need the job like a glass of ice cold water on a hot summer's day, but you want to play it cool and confident without sounding cocky. You already know the basics of researching the company you're interviewing for. Cover the "About" page in their website and get to know more of what they do as a company and what people say about them. Try to find a connection between these things and your professional experience and your interests in relation to what you want to be doing if you get the job. Give them the “wow” factor by relating these to actual real life examples of scenarios and experiences you’ve had in the past. You can also draw them a picture of how you see these things help in realizing the company’s goals and targets. Practice Makes Perfect Never underestimate the power of practicing and rehearsing for an interview. You think all the good public speakers you know got good overnight? Nope. Public speaking is not just pure talent, it also requires a certain level of practice to master. If you're an introvert who naturally shies away from people, then all the more practicing will be beneficial, and necessary if you want to bag that interview. Ask a good friend to stand in for an interviewer for you. They don’t even need to have an HR experience, just anyone whom you know has your best interests at heart and can give you constructive comments and help you improve your content and delivery. Alternatively, record yourself on video so you can watch and critique yourself after. Get a list of possible interview questions and think about the best answers to them. DO NOT just copy answers off of the internet though! Always make sure to personalize it, own it, and make it sound organic. Also, DO NOT LIE! Sugar coating your experiences and making them “sound pretty” and very far from the actual truth may cause you trouble down the line. You probably heard it a million times over, but if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Do not be in the business of "winging things". Instead, be in the business of doing the work, coming prepared, and acing it. Ease the tension with Neuro You do things better when you're calm, there's no doubt about that. Before your interview, bring a couple of Neuro Calm and Clarity mints and pop one or two a few minutes before you need to go in. Every Neuro Calm and Clarity Mint is expertly developed and infused with GABA, Vitamin D3 and L-theanine. All these ingredients are known to ease tension and add focus - exactly what you need to get your head in the game! In conclusion, interviews, as scary as it is for most people, is not something to be feared but rather, something that needs to be prepared for. Conquer it by having the right mindset, coming prepared and getting the help you need. Who knows? Your dream job offer may just be on the other side of that interview you’re preparing for. Hero Image by Hunters Race on Unsplash
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Take a Break: 5 Ways Hobbies Can Improve Your Productivity and Creativity
When talking about improving productivity and focus at work, one particular piece of advice people would usually give you is to take a break. This way, you get to allow your mind and body to rest - to refresh - so that you don’t quickly get burned out. A lot of techniques are introduced for us to maximize our break from anything. One particular famous technique is the Pomodoro, where you take a few quick breaks between work hours. Some people use time blocking to give themselves a whole hour or two to rest. But, what most people forget to mention or emphasize is how you should spend your breaks. If you think about it, most people might probably take a power nap, browse on social media, or maybe watch a movie on Netflix. It’s the common way to chill just to have that release of dopamine that we need. It’s a good kind of break, but it doesn’t give you something more. And what usually happens is, once you’ve finished the movie or closed your social media, you are immediately forced back into reality, and you’re still burned out. So, what’s the best way to spend your break? It’s actually by spending it on something that really interests you - your hobby. Here are some ways how hobbies help improve your productivity and creativity: Reduce Your Stress Hobbies reduce your stress. It’s a perfect distraction from your hectic day. With a hobby, you get to spend more time for yourself, allowing you to release all that stress build-up. It allows you to disconnect yourself from work. But aside from just mainly disconnecting yourself, you are still keeping your mind active by doing something. And the best part is, what you’re doing won’t get you bored. So, if you have plotted an extra time in your day to take a break, spend it on something that will help keep you in motion but will also not give you stress. You Get to Experience Eustress Eustress is a healthy kind of stress that somehow gives excitement. So, instead of the usual stress that makes you worry, eustress keeps you happy and very active. If you think that work is getting boring, there’s no growth, or it’s no longer interesting, a hobby can help you with that. This way, you can have a break from your dull day. And the best part about this is that even if you’re done working on your art or reading a book, you get to bring this happy momentum to work. It’s the perfect way to counteract burnout. On top of that, it gives you a better perspective on what work-life balance means to you. Because now, your days will not only be about work but also about yourself. Helps You Recover from Demanding Days The very purpose of rest or taking a break is to help you recover. You’ve been using your mind a lot at work, and without that chance to escape, your productivity will just get lower and lower. You should always have some time for yourself and work. You should always have this invisible boundary between the two, which is why you should block time for your hobby. And if your hobby is something that interests you or it’s something you love, you will spend more time with it. Let’s say your hobby is writing, and you have this goal to finish a fiction book in two months. In order to do that, you want to give yourself an hour a day to write. So, whatever it is you’re working on, outside your hobby, you’re going to stop that even for just an hour so you can write your book. So what happens is, your hobby forces you to take a break to do something you want. And it doesn’t have to be work-related, as long as it keeps you happy and active. Exercises a New Part of Your Brain Another great thing about hobbies is that you can try a lot of them. You want to make reading a hobby now, or painting next, then try out knitting, etc. Your choices are endless. The only important thing is you get to enjoy. And since you can try new things, you get to exercise some parts of your brain that you don’t utilize often. If you prefer doing something physical like dancing, music, theater, and sports, your brain trains your executive functions. Mind games and strategic games like chess open a different part of your brain. If you try to play an instrument, that also enhances another area. And if you learn a foreign language, you get to boost cognitive functions. In other words, your hobbies can improve your brain, making it healthier and more active. It makes you creative at work. And you even get to learn things that may help you with work, although it might seem unrelated. Enters You in Flow State Finally, hobbies can help you enter the flow state. Flow state refers to being “in the zone.” It’s a state when you are fully immersed in doing something. Have you ever wondered why it feels like time flies FASTER when you’re doing something you love? An hour doesn’t even feel like an hour. This is because your mind is in that state of intense focus. What’s good about this is that it helps restore your mind and energy, improves your concentration, and enhances your creativity. The best part about this is that the flow doesn’t stop after you do the hobby. Sometimes, you even bring this flow to your work environment. Effects can also last longer and will improve your overall performance. Final Say Taking breaks is essential in our day-to-day lives. After all, we’re humans, not robots. So, think about how you want to make your life better by thinking about how to spend your breaks better. If you want that temporary surge of dopamine, go and scroll through your social media or binge-watch some series. But if it’s the mental improvement you’re looking for, creating hobbies is the start. You can also supplement your hobbies with Neuro Energy & Focus gum and mints. With nothing but functional ingredients, this product will help you focus the whole day, whether you’re doing work or play - or both. Hero Image by Ross Sneddon on Unsplash
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Making the Most of Your July 4th Celebrations
Ah, yes. Summer has arrived! (And so has the COVID-19 vaccine!) This must mean that the day marked by sparks of red, white, and blue is around the corner. The smell of grilled hamburgers will soon be wafting through the air. Fireworks will be dancing among the stars. But most importantly, family and friends will once again come together to safely celebrate. Though, let’s be honest. Preparing for and hosting a Fourth of July party can be a struggle. While juggling your full-time job and the kids’ summer agendas, shopping for USA-themed decorations may not be your top priority. (In fact, tonight’s dinner is still a mystery.) The grill is likely low on propane. You’ll need to head to the store before the rush of last-minute shoppers floods the aisles. And don’t forget about the sparklers and sidewalk chalk. Failing to make those purchases is cause for an uprising from the little ones. It’s safe to say that there’s never a dull moment! Organizing a July 4th celebration is daunting. Yet, there are ways to reduce unwarranted stress. Continue reading for tips and tricks on how to have a hassle-free holiday party. Make A List First, choose your weapon: pen and paper or virtual notepad. When you're out and about, it’s easy to let one of those mental notes slip your mind. There’s nothing worse than getting home and realizing you forgot the ingredients for s’mores! Making a list will allow you to organize your thoughts in one place. It’s easy and efficient! With a working to-do list in front of you, sequence your tasks. Ideally, you should send invites and determine headcount before you buy food and drinks. If possible, try to be mindful of your guests’ allergies and dietary restrictions. Asking your family and friends to note such things when they RSVP will allow you to plan accordingly. You may also find it helpful to categorize your list by location (i.e., grocery store, bakery, liquor store, dollar store, gas station) or type of product (i.e., food, desserts, beverages, decorations and games, propane). If you’re sticking to a budget, sweep the house for any essentials you already have. These may include paper plates, plasticware, condiments, and decorations. Check the forecast to determine whether your guests will gather on the patio or in the kitchen. With sun and clear skies, an outdoor party is the way to go. And you can even decorate the night before. Play Music that Fits the Vibe What’s a party without some good tunes? Music is sure to elevate the mood! There’s a quick and easy way to create a playlist suitable for you and your guests. Spotify allows users to create collaborative playlists. And guess what? It’s free! Once you download the Spotify app on your device and make a profile, the rest is a breeze. Create a new playlist, add a relevant title, and select “make collaborative.” You can now encourage your guests to add songs from their favorite artists and genres. With the music under control, that’s one thing you can check off the to-do list! Maybe some of your guests are musically inclined. A fun alternative to a collaborative playlist is live music. Invite your gifted family members and friends to sing and play instruments at your gathering. This could turn into a fun karaoke night! Educate Yourself Picture this… You have a near-completed to-do list and a sense of accomplishment. The party is tomorrow, and your guests couldn’t be more excited. You remembered the graham crackers and chocolate bars, as well as the sparklers and sidewalk chalk. You foresee the kids’ smiling faces as they hold their sparklers up against the night sky. After you dust and decorate, the couch is calling your name! A much-deserved break awaits. Instead of spending the next 30 minutes searching for the ideal TV show or movie, consider a history lesson. There’s no time like the present to learn something new. Start by understanding more about the different aspects of Independence Day. Search for what most history books do not include: Black history. You may be surprised about what you find. In a video created by NPR, the descendants of abolitionist Frederick Douglass deliver a powerful message. They read and reflect on one of his famous speeches titled, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” Douglass’ young relatives highlight a Black person’s ongoing fight for equal rights. When the United States achieved freedom, Black men and women remained enslaved. To this day, Black Americans are still disadvantaged. VIDEO: Frederick Douglass' Descendants Deliver His ‘Fourth Of July’ Speech Last Words Make a list, play your favorite music, and learn some history. These are great ways to have a productive and enjoyable July 4th celebration. Before you go, check this out. To put that much-needed pep in your step when you’re shopping and decorating, try Neuro Energy & Focus Gum. Created to foster a healthy balance between body and mind, this product helps you hone in on the task at hand. That boost of energy is what you need to organize the best party for you and your guests. But, wait! With some spare time on your hands, you find time for a history lesson. Neuro comes to you with its Calm & Clarity Mints. This product is designed to put your mind at ease, allowing you to shake away any impending stressors. With Neuro Gum and Mints, you got this!
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“That Stuff in Tea": What Is L-Theanine, Exactly?
There are only 24 hours in a day, and even with only those 24 hours, there are lots of things we want to accomplish. Whether it’s personal or career goals, we want something. But, one thing that has always been stopping us is burnout and stress. Sometimes, no matter how much our mind wants to continue, our body is tired. And in cases where our body feels alive, our minds don’t want to think about anything. There’s always this sort of imbalance that we can’t always get ourselves into that flow. For years, researchers have been looking for ways for people to cope with everyday stress triggers. And there’s one particular amino acid that they have found to help with these problems - and that is L-theanine. In this article, we’re going to talk more about this substance: what it is, how it works, its benefits, and why it’s an essential ingredient. This way, you’ll have a better understanding of why it’s included in both our Energy & Focus and Calm & Clarity formulas. What is L-theanine? So, what is L-theanine? L-theanine is an amino acid typically found in tea leaves and some mushrooms. It was discovered around 1949, and the scientists’ initial thought was that it only adds flavor to the tea. However, further research proved that there’s more to this substance than just getting rid of the tea’s bitterness. It has been found that L-theanine also has a significant effect on our cognitive function, making us achieve a “wakeful relaxation” or the ideal state of mind. But, how does this work? How does L-theanine Work? If you are drinking tea, have you noticed how it helps calm you down? That it somehow releases any tension you’ve been feeling? Well, this is mainly because of the L-theanine substance. It has been found that L-theanine decreases the chemicals in your brain that contribute to your stress and anxiety. And at almost the same time, it sends signals to your brain to stay calm. Here’s how that happens: The first thing L-theanine does is it increases the levels of GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid), serotonin, and dopamine. These are calming brain chemicals or neurotransmitters that help regulate your cognitive skills. By increasing these chemicals’ levels, you feel more relaxed, and it even promotes better sleep. Then, at almost the same time, L-theanine decreases “excitatory” brain chemical levels. These are chemicals in your brain that make you stressed and anxious. So, by doing this, L-theanine is protecting your brain cells from suffering those effects. And lastly, L-theanine gets to enhance alpha brain waves. Since your mind is now in a calm state, it’s easier for you to get to that “wakeful relaxation” or that state where you’re just in that flow - relaxed, creative, and active. Therefore, L-theanine brings you to that ideal state where you’re neither tired nor overly energetic. L-theanine Benefits With only the three steps enumerated above, L-theanine can already do a lot to your mind. And if you’re going to think about it, there are so many benefits that this simple substance can bring to you every day. Improved SleepBecause your mind and body are now more relaxed, it’s a guarantee that your sleeping experience is improved. You’ll be able to sleep faster and throughout the night.Now, it’s best to note that this substance is not putting you to sleep. Instead, it’s just making you fully relaxed so that sleeping is no longer a problem. Anxiety and Stress Relief Another significant benefit brought by L-theanine is that it relieves you from stress and anxiety. Your mind just feels clear of any problems, and it’s what makes you function better. Increased Focus L-theanine also helps increase your focus. Your mind is clearer now, so you’re no longer worrying a lot because you’re getting a lot of things done in a day. Enhanced Attention, Memory, and Learning As mentioned earlier, L-theanine helps boost levels of the calming brain chemicals that regulate your cognitive skills. Because of this, you become more alert, you have better energy levels, you absorb knowledge better, and more. There’s no longer anything there that can interrupt your memory and learning functions. Healthy Weight Maintained L-theanine has always been found to affect weight loss. But the real reason for this is that it makes you less stressed and allows you to sleep well. Thus, helping you maintain a healthy weight. Better Immunity Finally, since you’re already functioning better, you’re getting enough sleep, and you’re no longer pushing yourself to the point of burnout, you become healthier and happier. But other than that, it has also been found that L-theanine decreases infections in the upper respiratory tract and even helps prevent flu. Why It Is An Essential Ingredient At Neuro, the main goal is to help you achieve that ideal state of mind. The state wherein you’re not suffering from jitters because of extraordinary energy levels, and you do not also slump because of the low energy levels. The ideal state is that balance where you are energetic yet calm. How is this achieved? When we want high energy levels, the first thought typically is to get some caffeine into our system. It’s that energizer that keeps you awake so you can do more. However, too much caffeine will lead to caffeine jitters, which is no longer good. And this is where L-theanine comes in. It’s the best support caffeine needs to combat the adverse side effects it brings to the body. The result is an ‘energetic you’ that can function and think clearly. Final Say L-theanine alone is a great substance that already offers excellent benefits to the mind. And it’s the perfect substance that can balance out the effects of caffeine, which is why we found it necessary to include this ingredient. Caffeine and L-theanine are two of the most essential ingredients on our Neuro Calm &Clarity and Neuro Energy & Focus products. One is formulated to harness and improve mental clarity, while the other helps you elevate your energy levels and sustain mental endurance to stay focused. By combining the Neuro Calm & Clarity and Neuro Energy & Focus, achieving that ideal state of mind is easier. Hero Image by Matcha & CO on Unsplash
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Self-Care: 3 Ways Yoga Can Improve Your Mental Health
Yoga is a very popular physical activity that is always known to improve mental health. The combination of breathing, meditation, stretching, and poses are all designed to give anyone that practices it a sense of relief. When it comes to self-care and taking care of mental health, yoga is always recommended. It already has this image that can somehow turn your negative feelings in your surroundings into something positive. But have you ever wondered how yoga makes this possible? And in what ways can it improve your mental health? This article will explain how doing this activity can improve your state of mind in three ways. But before we go there, let us first go deeper into what yoga is. What Is Yoga? Yoga is best described as a full mind and body exercise. So unlike workouts that can make you lose weight or gain muscle, yoga goes beyond by giving your mind the exercise it needs, too. This practice has already existed for thousands of years and was passed on from generation to generation. It was said to be originally a meditation practice only. However, it has been found that as you meditate, you get to recognize parts of your body that need something, and that’s when stretching and the physical aspect were added. Added to that, it even teaches you breathing techniques that help you focus and relax. What’s good about learning these techniques is that you can even apply them any time when you’re stressed out. As you can see, yoga involves two of the main things we need to relax our mind: meditation and breathing. Here are some ways how these two improve our mental health. Yoga Combats Negative Emotions When you’re experiencing a lot of stress, negative emotions flow in your body - anger, anxiety, worry, etc. This is mainly because your body reacts to stress by activating the sympathetic nervous system, which increases our blood pressure and heart rate. It will take a lot of time before you get this down. But with the correct breathing, you can reserve your body’s reaction. As you already know, yoga involves a lot of breathing. Combine this with meditation, and you can learn how to focus on your breathing. This immediately sets you into a relaxed state, lowered heart rate and lowered blood pressure. Now, combine that again with physical exercise, and it will help boost circulation and release of dopamine and other good brain hormones. This is what makes you happier and have a more positive outlook. Yoga Promotes Productivity Yoga also helps you perform better by promoting productivity. Sometimes, you might be unproductive because you’re tired. Your mind might not have gotten enough rest, and this is what yoga can help you achieve. On top of that, it helps reduce stress which prevents you from being your best, creative self. By doing yoga first thing in the morning, you get to set the mood for the day. Again, you’re releasing dopamine, which helps make you happy. And the happier you can perform better than the grumpy, angry version of yourself. Now that you’re in the mood, it also gives you confidence that you can accomplish anything. Yoga can sometimes bring this feeling of empowerment that you start to feel good and believe in yourself. But the best part is, this physical activity stretches out most parts of your body, from your back to your shoulders and neck. It allows you to release any stiffness, which helps make you focus on your work better. Yoga Helps Clear Your Mind Yoga allows you to focus on the present, on your breathing, and on your body. Therefore, whatever problems you have at work or any troubles in the past, yoga pushes that away from your mind. Instead, the practice pushes you to feel and listen to your body at the moment, helping you understand what your body needs. This practice stills your thoughts, so your focus is only on what you’re doing at the moment. Nothing else matters. And this is what puts you in a state of flow. Yoga Poses To Clear Your Mind If you haven’t done yoga yet and want to try, you can start with these five poses: Mountain Pose: Stand up straight, your toes facing forward, your hands together in front of the chest, and you bow your head. Then, hold your breath for 30 seconds when doing the practice. Butterfly Pose: For this one, you need to sit on the floor, your knees out to the side, then bring your bottoms of the feet together. Your hands can hold your feet to ensure they stay together. Then, breathe. Eagle Pose: This requires more concentration. Stand up straight. Cross one leg over the other, sink your hips (it depends how low you want), wrap your one arm to the other, and press your palms together (fingertips should be towards the ceiling). Standing Split: Stand straight, bend down to put your hands on the floor, then lift one foot towards the ceiling. Child’s Pose: Kneel on your mat (knees together or wide apart), bend over, let your forehead touch the mat, and stretch your arms forward. With continuous practice, everything will become natural, and you can improve your concentration a lot by focusing on the moment. It will allow you to finish tasks faster because you’re not thinking about what other things you need to do. Final Say Yoga has always been related to stress relief and improving quality of mind. However, there’s also no denying that familiarizing yourself with the practice is not easy. Significant changes won’t be felt overnight, but yoga can get you in a flow state as long as you do things consistently. You can then supplement with Neuro Gum and Mints, and create a balance between your relaxed and active self. Yoga is best described as a full mind and body exercise. Usual workouts can make you lose weight or gain muscle but not necessarily make your mind healthy. That's why Total Shape emphasized the balance of that with its fitness plans that even include yoga. Yoga goes beyond by giving your mind the exercise it needs, too. Hero Image by kike vega on Unsplash
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Make Working From Home More Productive With These Three Hacks
With many businesses forced to transition to remote working due to the global health crisis, productivity has been a major issue for most working from home employees. This is not surprising because remote working is not that easy. Yes, you no longer have to commute every day to go to work. You can finally wake up 30 minutes before work and not be late. You can do a lot more things because your hobbies are just right around the corner. However, for most people, creating a boundary between work and personal life is the biggest challenge. Working parents have to take care of children without nannies or babysitters to help them because of the pandemic. The TV is just right beside you, and social media platforms are easily accessible. And these are only a few of the many reasons why staying productive is so hard. It’s 2021, and working from home isn’t going away sooner. Fortunately, there are still productive employees out there and expert remote workers who are happy to share a few of their productivity hacks. Below are three of them: Design Your Workspace First and foremost, you should establish a workspace to create that boundary or line between being at home and working. Three important things to consider: Work Location Comfort Design When you’re at home, it’s easy to get tempted to work anywhere because that’s the idea, right? You can work on your bed the first hour, the dining area the next hour, outside the patio in the afternoon, etc. Although this might sound fine, it can affect your productivity badly. So, instead of changing work locations, stick to one and make that your working space. This way, you can get your body to recognize that you have something important to do when you’re sitting there. When choosing a location, regardless if it’s a whole room or just a corner of a room, there must be very few distractions .e.g., away from the TV, less traffic, less noise. Once you’ve found a good location, make sure that you’re comfortable there. It’s also wise to invest in a good working table, working chair, and good lighting. Because the more comfortable you are, the more productive you can be. It will also help if you keep everything organized and mess-free. If you’re feeling fancy, you can also work on how your working space would look. Try to put some designs that would inspire you. Probably a desk plant, a small wall frame with your family’s picture, some motivational quotes, or paint the walls of your favorite color. Create A Routine How you go about your day greatly affects your productivity. So, you should establish a routine that you can consistently follow until it becomes a part of your system. The best way to do this is to start your day early. Never wake up 30 minutes before work because that will only stress you out more. Instead, wake up early so you can prepare your mind better. Create a morning routine like doing some exercise or meditation, making yourself some coffee, going out for a walk, etc. Don’t start your day by checking emails or news or even checking out social media. It’s important to just keep your mind relaxed. By the time you get to work, make sure to keep any distractions away. Put your phone away and block social media sites so you won’t get tempted to check them out while working. Time-blocking is also very effective in accomplishing what you need to do, be it for yourself or for work. For example, block 9-11 am as working hours. Then, 11-12 am would be meant for lunch preparation. 12-1 pm is a time for you to rest; you can probably nap or read a book. And the list goes on. It’s up to you. The key to building a routine is consistency. Stick to the routine you’ve made, and you’ll notice that soon, your body will simply automate these actions. Optimize Your Flow State Last but not least, optimize your flow state. Flow state refers to your being “in the zone”. This means you’re too focused on what you’re doing, you can’t be distracted, and you’re just feeling this drive. In other words, you’re performing at your best. Imagine having to be in that flow state every day, right? Surely, there will be so many things that you’ll get to accomplish, even the things that you consider boring. Unfortunately, the flow state doesn’t come every day. There will be days when you don’t want to get up or do anything, and this can be a big problem because you’ll definitely get your task delayed. But, don’t worry, because there are ways you can get yourself in a flow state. First, work on that morning routine because that will set your mood for the day. Meditate, exercise, or go out for long walks - anything that gets your body moving. Second, create a to-do-list and know what to prioritize. And third, identify your peak creative and productive time, and do the challenging tasks around these hours. Now, staying in that constant “flow state” doesn’t happen overnight, even after doing these three things. This is why, as mentioned above, you need to stay consistent, which is also not easy to do. To help you get that right balance, you can take Neuro Gum and Mints to get you to your ideal state of mind. A zone where you are energized, calm, and focused at the same time. No more jitters or slump, just a better version of yourself who is productive and motivated. This 2021, there will be a lot more challenges to come, whether it’s work or personal life. So, you should get ready and condition your mind and body to tackle everyday challenges. Surely, you have more goals to accomplish other than just your work task. But you can achieve that all if you’re always in your zone, and Neuro can help you get there every day. Photo by Corinne Kutz on Unsplash
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3 Ways to Calm Your Nerves
2020 was undeniably a challenging year for everyone. With the pandemic forcing everyone to stay at home and without an outlet to release stress and anxiety, everything became harder. Many people lost their jobs, lost their loved ones, and lost some hobbies - there have been many kinds of losses, big and small. Now, here comes a new year, but the anxieties from last year continue. But if you really think about it, life can be very stressful in general no matter what year it is. With so many obligations to take care of, from work to family and yourself, maintaining that balance to handle everything can just be tiring. Your mind and body need to release that stress so you can function better. That’s why today we are writing about the three best ways to calm your nerves and release all the negative energy you have inside you. Breathe Have you noticed how when someone is having an anxiety attack, the first thing people usually say is to “breathe”? This is because breathing and stress management has always been related. But why is this so? Anxiety and stress cause irregular and shallow breathing. This is why you become dizzy, confused, parts of your body are numb, and your breath feels short. However, by doing deep and long breaths, you encourage better airflow, and your focus is shifted to the rise and fall of your stomach. It is beneficial to learn some breathing techniques or exercises such as: 4-7-8 Breathing: Start by exhaling completely through your mouth, letting out a soft sound. Then, close your lips and inhale through your nose while counting to four. Hold your breath for seven seconds. And exhale from your mouth for eight seconds. Roll Breathing: Start by breathing in silently through your nose and exhaling (with a whooshing sound) through your mouth. Repeat continuously until you get the rhythm. You can also start by placing your hand in your belly to feel its rise and fall. Alternate Nostril Breathing: Start by lifting your hand up to your nose and exhale completely. Using your right thumb, close your right nostril. Then inhale through your left nostril and close it with another finger. Open the right nostril and exhale. Then inhale here, close it, and exhale to the left. Repeat the cycle and do this for 5 minutes. While doing these, it’s also helpful to close your eyes and visualize the calm version of yourself. Let your body relax, concentrate on your breathing, and release all the anxiety and anger every time you breathe out. Some activities you could try that really encourage effective breathing are meditation and yoga. So, if you have extra time to spend, it’s something worth trying. The best part about these activities is that it doesn’t just relax your mind, but also your body. If you’re feeling any tension in your shoulders and neck, breathing helps put you back at ease. It also helps in making sure that your posture doesn’t suffer due to what you’re feeling. Change Your Focus If you’re getting stressed because of a job task you can’t finish or because of an argument, try to shift your focus to something different, even just for a couple of minutes. This will help greatly in freshening up your mind. Just think about positive things for a while. Here are some things you can try: Listen to music: Set aside negative vibes, grab your headphones, and drown your mind in beautiful music first. It’s also nice if you have a go-to playlist that you’ve customized just to calm yourself. Get some fresh air: Now, normally, you might want to walk around the neighborhood, but if your area is still on lockdown, that may not be possible. So, try to open up your window or step out on your patio and breathe in some fresh air.By simply removing yourself from the environment where the stress is centered, your office space, for example, will help you calm down. On top of that, you get to see something different that may bring some positive vibes to you. Write it down: Writing your thoughts out in a journal helps release that stress and anxiety. It’s a great outlet, especially if you have no one to talk to about what you’re going through at the moment. Have a centering object: If you’re bothered by your thoughts, assign an item that you can touch or hug when you’re experiencing anxiety. This can be your stuffed animal, your locket, a ball, anything that you think you can connect with and trigger you to calm down. Fuel your body: Sometimes, you might just be too tired or hungry to stay calm. So, grab something to eat or to drink to fuel your body and give it some energy. Because honestly, being stressed and anxious can be tiring. Don’t limit yourself only to these suggestions. If you want to try other ways to shift your focus on something else, do so. After all, we each have different ways of coping up. Identify Pressure Points Finally, identify your pressure points to help yourself calm down. Our body has many pressure points, which is why going for a massage or acupuncture feels nice because they release tension from those pressure points. However, not everyone has the time to go out, especially during this time. So, it will really help if you know where your pressure points are. For anxiety, there are mainly six pressure points you need to know: Third eye: Between your eyebrows Ear: Upper shell of your ear Shoulders: Shoulder muscle Hand: Between thumb and index finger Feet: Three fingers wide below the intersection of your big tow and second toe Wrist: Three fingers wide below your wrist As you can see, there are different pressure points all over your body. Just pinching these areas and massaging them repeatedly every 5-10 seconds can give you relief. So, the next time you feel stressed and anxious, release some pressure in these areas. It’s something you should try. What makes this activity nicer is that it also allows you to practice your breathing while massaging yourself. Final Say Breathe, change your focus, and identify your pressure points. These are three great ways you can calm your nerves. However, if you want better results, it’s highly recommended to add Neuro Calm and Clarity Mints over these techniques. Designed to give your body the building blocks it needs to regulate your mood, ease your tension, and add focus, this product helps you find that balance. It helps you function well every day, even with all the stress triggers around you. Take full control of your life. Each and everyone has different ways to cope with everyday problems. But whatever problems it may be, starting your day right is always the key - so why not start it with Neuro Calm and Clarity Mints? Hero Image by Eli DeFaria on Unsplash
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The Powerful Ingredient that Offsets Caffeine Jitters
In the modern era, we’re tuned in to the fact that every person’s diet needs to be tuned to their own individual metabolism and body. Just as we find ourselves looking for health combinations, researchers exploring the foods we eat are out for proper blends. An area of research in which we’ve made progress are in the class of drugs, supplements, and other substances known as nootropics. Nootropics are a class of supplements that have been shown to have the ability to improve cognitive function. Such improvements can relate to memory, creativity, motivation, intelligence, and beyond. Inserting combinations of Nootropics can have beneficial relationships. The formulations of ingredients in a nootropic stack can augment not only the ingredients’ effects but also the total cognitive benefits you can expect. Of the several nootropics that expand cognitive function and may balance one another, none are a better knownmatch than L-theanine and caffeine, and for good reason. Before discussing the benefits of caffeine and L-theanine combined, however, let’s look at their finest qualities as individuals. What is Caffeine and L-theanine? Caffeine is a crystalline compound that occurs naturally and can be synthesized in a laboratory. Caffeine is a tonic and the most frequently used drug in the world. Every day, people consume it to up their wakefulness, ease fatigue, and increase concentration and focus. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers caffeine to be both a drug and a food additive. They recommend a maximum intake of 400 mg a day. Coffee is known to have a collection of biologically active compounds, and that includes caffeine. Too much of it sometimes can cause jitters. L-theanine is a non-protein amino acid that supplies the flavor of green tea and black tea. It is also obtainable in supplement form. L-theanine can lessen our physiological stress responses by emulating the actions of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter that wedges excitatory responses in the brain. L-theanine can also suppress receptors in the brain that are responsible for excited or anxious physical responses. Most importantly, L-theanine curbs these adrenal responses without making us tired. This makes it a powerful tool for being able to maintain focus and productivity in the face of stress. The perfect nootropic combination. While caffeine is America’s most popular drug, it's more unpleasant side effects can introduce restlessness, anxiety, and increased blood pressure.L-theanine does its best to correct these qualities for everybody to appreciate caffeine’s side effects without losing the ability to be productive. L-theanine has been shown to permit caffeine to boost and sustain energy while curbing side effects that elevate your blood pressure or induce anxiety. The L-theanine and caffeine combination can enhance both speed and accuracy of those individuals performing tasks. It can decrease susceptibility to distracting stimuli in the memory tasks of the brain. These outcomes repeat previous evidence which suggest that L-theanine and caffeine in combination are useful for improving performance on cognitively demanding tasks. It is worth noting that Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor. These momentarily make blood vessels smaller, which elevates your blood pressure to account for reduced blood flow. L-theanine mitigates caffeine’s vasoconstrictive tendencies so you can concentrate on something and not worry on increased blood pressure. L-theanine helps mitigate the negative effects of caffeine to help reduce its adverse effects on your sleep schedule. Conclusion Whether you're into increasing your cognitive performance or just calming your caffeine nerves and jitters, getting a hold of these supplements may help you find a means to dial in your physical and mental performance. Caffeine's stimulatory and L-theanine's calming support can put you in the ideal state of mind, a feeling like you can get anything done. At Neuro, some of our best testimonials have come from high level athletes who find our clean energy formulation to be preferable to overloaded ‘pre-workout’ blends, and few like to consume drinkable forms of caffeine such as coffee or energy drinks before a workout which can damage hydration and metabolism with sweeteners. Many nootropics work better together. With Neuro, our Energy & Focus specially formulated gum and mints consist of natural caffeine, L-theanine and B-vitamins to sustain the mental endurance necessary to maintain your focus. Take some time to understand in what way these nootropics work within the body, seek out proper medical professionals, and reap the benefits of your research. When the stimulating effects of caffeine are matched by the calming support of L-theanine, a productive and rich day is on the way. Never run out of Neuro with a monthly subscription. Members get 10% off and free shipping straight to your door.
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Warning: Don’t bring these 4 toxic things to 2021!
It’s 2021! Out with the old and in with the new, as they say. What goals are you working on this year? What steps are you taking to turn those goals into a reality 12 months from now? Make sure to spend some time to sit yourself down, think them through and actually write them down. As you work on yourself and your goals for this year, make sure to not allow toxic things to piggyback on your journey. Identify them and cut them out from your life as soon as you can as they stop your growth and hinder your greatness. What are some of these toxic things? Here are 4 of the most common: Unrealistic expectations Expectation in itself is not wrong, it is normal to expect and be hopeful of something especially if you’ve put considerable effort into it. You’ve worked very hard in your job, you therefore expect to get paid for the services you’ve rendered. However, expecting something will happen is not enough to actually make it happen. When you expect something, you don’t just declare it into the world and hope it falls in your lap - you get and do something to make it happen. An important thing you have to remember in terms of expectations is that you can’t control everything around you. The only thing you can control is yourself, and how you react to things happening around you. How do you then reconcile expectations and your self-worth? You can be hopeful, but try to avoid being controlling. Never let your self-worth hinge on other people meeting your expectations of them. Protect your self-worth by being self-sufficient and knowing that no amount of unmet expectations can dampen your day. Guilt There may be a thing or two that you did in the past that you’re not particularly proud of. You may have hurt yourself, or other people in process and you haven’t forgotten that or forgiven yourself for it. Guilt, or the “emotion that relates to a person’s sense of right and wrong”, is a very powerful emotion to feel and it’s not necessarily good or bad in itself, but rather depending on how it’s affecting the person who’s feeling it. If you think you have wronged someone, give them a sincere apology and try your best to make sure that whatever it is you did wrong won’t happen again. There may not be instant forgiveness, especially if something as precarious as trust has been broken, but sincerely apologizing can make way for healing - not just for you but for the other person as well. Along with acknowledging the fact that you are human, look back on your past actions and see where you can genuinely effect change for the better. Forgive yourself and strive to be better in the aspect that you were at fault. Being human doesn’t just expose you to the propensity of making mistakes, it also makes you capable of learning from them and doing better. Self-Sabotage Negative self-talk is like having a debilitating disease that you don’t know you have. It eats you from the inside and affects how you see yourself, the abilities that you have and how you project yourself into the world. How do you talk to yourself? What messages are you sending internally? Pay close attention to these messages because they shape your thoughts, your beliefs and your mindset. They greatly influence the words you say to the world, the way you communicate your value, and the relationships and the company you choose to keep. Every time you’re about to make a decision, whether trivial or important, ask yourself: am I doing this for me? Is this truly good for me? Do I want this? Do I deserve this? Is this getting me closer to my goal? Fear of failure The new year is literally the start of something new. It holds a promise that you can try again, and this time, it will be better. Only you have the power to turn that promise into a reality by actually trying, or trying again. How can you try, or try again, if you are immobilized by your fear of failure? Gather your strengths, capitalize on your aces and identify your weak points but do not ignore your fear. Use it, speak to it, ask it why, and use it as fuel to your fire. Your fear is there for a reason so use it to your advantage. What are you afraid of? What can you do to prepare and plan? Ditch these toxic things and leave them in 2020. Start your year with positivity and take stock of all the good things to add more pep in your step. 2021 is upon you, go ahead and get started! Hero Image by Kai Pilger on Unsplash
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