Chilling Out at the Office

I get it, work can be really stressful. There could be a lot on your plate in the way of projects whether it be web development or doing tons of experiments on the same protein that is rather elusive. There are ways to make life a bit better, aside from changing careers, of course. In that case though, you might need to reconsider a lot of things. A great way to learn to relax at the office is to be able to set the tone for the day. Instead of reading all the news on your way to work, read a great book that is hard to put down or listen to some music that will leave you jamming. While at work, use your breaks to get some fresh air and not to check on your social media sites. Even if the weather is bad, take a walk inside the building, you will be much happier for it. Lastly, be realistic about what you can accomplish in a day, week or month and work towards those goals. It is fine to be ambitious but keep those feet on the ground.

Food for Office Work

First for the basics, pasta and sugary drinks will give you some energy for a bit but then you will crash. If you go with something more fatty, it will give you sustained energy but your stomach will be working harder. When you are hungry, it is already too late to decide what you will be eating for lunch. Make sure that you decide well before lunch what you are going to eat in several hours. You should also graze throughout the day and make it easier to have some healthier snacks around. Place some nuts and raisins on the desk while you are working on your software development project instead of the candy bars. These better habits are cultivated over time but in the long run they will definitely pay off.

Technology and Chores

Chores. Sometimes they can be therapeutic but other times, it is just another hassle that is getting in the way. Enter technology. If you really hate cleaning, there are plenty of really cool gadgets that can help in that regard. There is the Roomba that can clean your floors. Dyson has also been making a vacuum that can clean your floors but it is planned for release in 2015. Throw away the Windex, because the ECOVACS Winbot does for windows what the Roomba does for floors. This robot can navigate the windows and leave them spotless and shiny. There are platforms that are useful for pairing people who have the money (but no time) for their daily workload, with errand-runners who have the time to take on miscellaneous chores for a few extra bucks. Finally software development is heading down the right direction.

A Great Tomorrow

With global warming, the rise of technology, and lack of human interaction, it is no wonder why people like wallow in the notion that we are doomed and the end is near. What if we listen to a different perspective that is told and turn our attention away from the train wreck that we love to watch. Progress in artificial intelligence, robotics, infinite computing, cloud computing, ubiquitous broadband networks, digital manufacturing, nanotechnology, synthetic biology, and many other revolutionary fields will enable us to make greater gains in the next two decades than we've made in the previous 200 years. We will soon have the ability to meet and exceed the basic needs of every man, woman, and child on the planet. Abundance for all is actually within our grasp. You might be thinking wait a minute, what? Are all those Miss America speeches about ending world hunger really for naught? During the past century, child mortality decreased by 90 percent, and maternal mortality by 99 percent, while the average human lifespan increased by 100 percent. Food is cheaper and more plentiful than ever before. Groceries cost 13 times less today than in 1870.) Poverty has declined more the in the past 50 years than in the previous 500. Just some things to mull over.

Unified Communication

I bet you have heard this phrase thrown around but do you really understand what it means? it describes a technology that enables messages and data to be delivered to a point as quickly as possible in real time. Features can allow for one number to be assigned to a person’s mobile device, home office or other locations, and have calls follow the person or push/pull between devices without having to disconnect and then reconnect the call. Another feature, known as voicemail-to-email, allows voice messages to reach managers or employees when they’re away from the office or working remotely by sending an audio file of the voicemail to the recipient’s email. The recipient can then listen the voice via email without having to dial into voicemail. One of the best features about this technology is that it is able to integrate many different communication services to get the message to the person in the fastest time possible. It is important to businesses because it will save you a lot of time and improve productivity.

Keeping Fit

It is important to keep your mind in tip top shape. Other than those mobile applications that claim to improve your psychological well being, there are many other ways to help with keeping that mind young. First of all, exercise has shown to improve the health of your brain. One of the best parts is that it is never too late to start. It can even be as much as a walk three times a week and you will be able to see improvement. Secondly, what you put in your body matters. Foods rich in omega threes have shown to help with brain function. In addition to the omega three, it is important to eat B12 and folic acid, both of which lower homocysteine. You might also want to reduce stress levels. This might sound obvious and something that we would like to do but completely out of reach. Most people do not realize just how much stress affects us and we try to just live with it. Meditating would be a great option and it only takes a couple minutes a day but the rewards will last a lifetime.

Be Likeable: Life Will Thank You

No one wants to be the Scrooge of the work place but sometimes circumstances can leave you in that position where you are just plain bitter. If it is the job or your boss, think about moving on. Most of the time we do not realize that people do not like us because of the way we are so we respond to that attitude. Change your attitude first and then your peers might do the same. Consider it trailblazing in your name. You can even come up with a mobile application for it. Empathy is one of the best life skills to have. It means that you do not necessarily has to agree with the other person but be aware of their situation and put yourself in their shoes. This requires a listening ear, find it and quick. Also, be reliable and cultivate that reputation for consistency. This will win many battles for you. If you cannot fulfill part of the responsibilities, let the client know because an unavoidable hiccup is forgivable; blatant misjudgment or deception is not. Lastly, have integrity and do the right thing when no one else is watching, stand up for what you believe in and have the courage to speak up. This does not come overnight but working on it will get you one step closer each day.