The Truth About Using Personal Days and Taking Time Off

The Truth About Using Personal Days and Taking Time Off The Truth About Using Personal Days and Taking Time Off The Truth About Using Personal Days and Taking Time Off The whole truth and nothing but the truth about taking time off by using personal days.Every new job comes with its own benefits. Vacation time, sick time, personal time thats enough to make anyones head spin Each company has its own rules about taking time off, paid time off policy, manuals and ways in which they apply and enforce them. Would you like to get that sorted once and for all? Read on for the primer you need.The three types of paid time off.Think of paid time off as a set of three bucketsVacation timeSick timePersonal timeVacation time and sick time are easiest to understand, but what is personal time? In most companies, personal days are yours to use for time off from work however you like. You could use them for moving, longer medical appointments or a family emergency. Some companies will allow you to a dd personal days onto your vacation days, or official holidays, to get a longer stretch of time out of the office.Here are some additional things to keep in mind.Some companies split your paid time off from work into buckets. Others simply give you a pool of paid time off to use however you like. It is helpful to understand the companys paid time off policy on this as you are going through the hiring process, especially if you have a preference.Vacation time is typically accrued at a certain rate during the year so that you earn a fraction of a vacation day for every week you work. Sick time allotment is usually made available at the abflug of the year. Your companys rules may vary, so read the employee manual to understand the details. Its disappointing to find out that your 10 day vacation to the Caribbean a month after you start your new job will have to be mostly unpaid because you have not earned enough vacation time yet.Understand the companys policy on rolling unused vacation and personal days into the following year. Some companies allow you to bank unused vacation and personal time for one year and use it later, others require that you use it in the assigned year or risk losing it.If the companys standard split between vacation, sick time and personal time is not optimal for your needs, consider re-negotiating it. For example, if you typically dont need personal days and would prefer to have more vacation days, make the request.Employee manual is one thing, but your managers expectations and preferences around paid time off from work are equally important. How far in advance do you have to request time off? What criteria does the manager use to grant or deny it? This is a delicate subject to bring up during interviews, but if you know that you need paid time off for a specific non-negotiable purpose (honeymoon or a big surgery coming up) you may want to get some clarity before you sign the offer.Unpaid time off is a viable option that often gets overl ooked. Understand the companys policy for granting unpaid time off and what the maximum number of days is. A blueprint for making the most out of your personal days.Now that you understand the three big categories of paid time off from work, how do you make the most out of them specifically the mysterious personal days? Make sure youre actually taking time off.This should be obvious, and yet so many professionals feel guilty about taking time off. Sure, your team is busy all the time. However, paid time off is your earned benefit. It is a parte of your compensation package. You wouldnt feel guilty about cashing a payroll check, so why do the same about vacation or personal days?Communicate up front.I recommend giving as much advance notice as you can when you plan on taking time off. Your manager is in charge of making sure that the work gets done and will appreciate the lead time to plan and align resources accordingly. Vacation time typically calls for more advance notice than pe rsonal days. How much notice you give and how you explain the request is up to you a lot depends on your relationship with your manager and the cultural norms of your company.Be gracious and reasonable.Yes, vacation and personal time represent your earned benefits. However, your manager is not required or guaranteed to grant every request. Look at it from your managers perspective and work to find a solution that will satisfy you both. If there is a deadline that could be compromised by your absence, some flexibility on your part can earn extra credit.Think twice before lying about being sick.Did you wake up late? Is it a gorgeous day that you would rather spend at the lake than in the office? Are you just not feeling it today?Sorry to disappoint, but none of those are valid reasons for faking illness to get a day off. Sure, you could call your manager and claim stomach flu in a shaky voice. However, think about what this move will cost you in terms of integrity and professional re lationships.If you know there are no urgent deadlines and you would not be letting anyone down, you might consider asking for a personal day. However, I would caution you against doing this frequently and on short notice. If you establish a pattern of being flaky or unreliable, it will affect your career prospects. From special high-value projects to promotions, managers choose professionals they can count on.Dont use paid time off to avoid difficult tasks.We all zulauf into challenges at work. Whether you are dealing with a difficult client or a co-worker who wont collaborate, sometimes it might feel like avoiding the next interaction is the best strategy. Try to be present to your thinking I dont recommend asking for personal time off to avoid attending a tough meeting. After all, work responsibilities will catch up with you sooner or later.If youre taking time off, use it wisely. Spend at least a portion of the day unwinding in constructive and effective ways. Binge-watching Game of Thrones may not be the best thing you can do to get recharged Consider going for a walk, catching up on errands that will make your life easier, resting up and eating well. Enjoy the company of family and friends, or spend the day solo. The important part is knowing yourself and doing the things that will recharge your batteries.In summary, understand the rules and your managers preferences to make the most out of your paid time off. Think twice before lying, and dont use personal days as a means of avoiding a difficult task. Spend your time off in ways that boost your energy, nurture your spirit, and give you the space to recover and get back to work. Use these tips, and you will arrive at the office bright-eyed and brimming with fresh motivation to get things doneWant to see how your resume stacks up? Try out our free critique today

Learn About Being an Aquarist

Learn About Being an AquaristLearn About Being an AquaristAn aquarist is responsible for the care of fish and marine mammals kept in captivity. Aquarists have a wide variety of duties primarily focused on providing care for marine creatures and maintaining a quality environment for these animals to live in. Job Duties Primary duties for an aquarist include monitoring water quality and temperature, cleaning tanks, repairing equipment, designing exhibits, giving educational presentations to visitors, observing animal behavior, providing behavioral enrichment activities, and preparing and distributing food each day. Some positions may also involve restraining animals for veterinary treatments, capturing, and quarantining sick animals, or breeding replacement stock for the aquarium. In some cases, an aquarist may be required to travel to various locations (often both domestic and international destinations) to collect specimens from oceans, rivers, or lakes. These captured specimens must then be safely contained and transported back to the aquarium. Open water diving skills and certifications are necessary for this sort of work. A passport is also required for international travel. Aquarist careers often require strenuous physical activity, significant periods of time spent in the water while outfitted in scuba gear, and the use of tools and equipment to complete the required tank maintenance tasks. Career Options A variety of organizations may provide employment for aquarists including aquariums, zoos, theme parks, laboratories, and research facilities. Positions exist primarily with private businesses but may also be available with divisions of government. Experienced aquarists can advance to supervisory and managerial roles such as curator positions within the aquarium. It is also possible to branch out into other related positions such as marine mammal trainer, veterinary technician, or marine biologist. Education Training Aquarists must have (at m inimum) a Bachelor of Science degree in marine biology, zoology, aquaculture, or a closely related area. Scuba diving certification is also required, as is a certification course in first aid and CPR, to ensure that the aquarist can safely carry out their duties (which may involve a significant amount of time spent underwater). It is wise for aspiring aquarists to pursue marine internships to gain valuable hands-on experience in the field. There are many paid and unpaid opportunities to work with marine mammals, turtles, fish, and other marine life. Volunteer work at local aquariums and zoos will also lend strength to the career seekers resume. Professional Groups Many aquarists choose to become members of professional groups related to marine animals. These groups provide a variety of networking opportunities, educational information, and other support to the aquarist community. One of the most von rang groups for aquarists is the Association of Zoos Aquariums (AZA). The AZA i s an organization that also provides accreditation to zoological parks and aquariums that meet criteria related to conservation, science, and education. Individual memberships in the AZA are available to employees of zoos, aquariums, related facilities, or organizations designated as conservation partners. There are also many international, regional, and state groups that can provide information and support to aspiring aquarists at the professional and hobbyist levels. Salary The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not separate aquarist salary data into its own separate category in their salary survey, but they do include the career as a part of the more general category of nonfarm animal caretakers. In 2017, the BLS reported a median salary of $22,950 per year for nonfarm animal caretakers. Experienced aquarists in supervisory roles earn significantly higher salaries, often in the range of $40,000 to $50,000 per year. New aquarists should expect a starting salary more in the range of $18,000 to $20,000. Of course, total compensation may also vary due to the geographic area, the size of the aquarium, the aquarists area of specialization, and the specific duties the job entails. Career Outlook The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) survey indicated that careers for nonfarm animal caretakers would show a 22 percent increase over the decade from 2016 to 2026, a rate much faster than the average for all careers, and this should also be reflected in the growth rate for aquarist positions. There is also a particularly high turnover rate for aquarist positions, as they are frequently used as an entry-level stepping stone to other marine careers. Positions working with marine mammals tend to be the most difficult to obtain, as there is a particularly strong level of interest from individuals wishing to work with marine mammal species, such as dolphins, seals, and whales. Those interested in marine mammal aquarist positions should gain significant experience th rough internships to strengthen their resume, as there are usually many applicants for each available position.

Call Center Interview Questions and Best Answers

Call Center Interview Questions and Best AnswersCall Center Interview Questions and Best AnswersOne of the best ways toprepare for a job interviewis to review common questions you might be asked. By reviewingquestions and answersrelating to work at a call center, you will be ready to ace yur interview. Try to personalize your answers with examples from your previous experience at work, school, and volunteer positions. Call Center Interview Questions and the Best Answers Here are some answers to the call center job interview question Do you have good people skills? Examples of the Best Answers I like working with people, and I have been told that I have good people skills. My previous manager rated my communication skills at a 9 out of 10 in my last performance review. I think I communicate effectively and in a pleasant way.I get along well with fruchtwein people I meet, and people find me easy to talk to, so I think I have good people skills. When I was in college, I volunteered with the alumni association to make calls for donations. I got along well with the alums I talked to and was very effective at obtaining donations. Throughout my career, I have always worked in customer service, and been known as a people person. I enjoy working with others toward a common goal. In one of my first jobs, I learned how effective it could be to work as a team when I was in a group that was handling calls on a recalled item. We were able to share our strategies and improve customer satisfaction by 30% in a 3-month period.Good people skills include the ability to relate to others, and to problem-solve. I was able to use both of ansicht skills effectively during my internship at XYZ Company. Part of my job was to greet clients upon arrival at our offices and determine which sales associate would be the best fit for their needs. Another frequently-asked question you may be posed is, How do you handle difficult or escalated customers? Examples of the Best Answers When clie nts have issues, I use a calm tone of voice to gently educate them about our companys services and policies. I also know not to take their anger personally, even if they are verbally abusive. Instead, I sympathize with their position and assure them that well come up with an effective solution for them.I begin our discussion with an apology something like, Im sorry to hear about this issue. If you will please answer a few questions for me, Im sure that we can resolve it to your satisfaction. Nine times out of ten, this immediate apology serves to quickly defuse their temper so that we can work out a solution together. I use active listening strategies to gather as much information as I can from escalated customers, letting them have their say without interrupting them. Then I summarize and repeat back the details theyve told me so that theyll know Ive fully understood them and am eager to assist them.I let them know from the very beginning of our conversation that they have my full attention and I try very hard not to put them on hold, since this will only frustrate them more. If it turns out that Ill need to research their issue with another department, I ask their permission to put them on hold, telling them that I very much appreciate their patience while I work to resolve their issue. Finally, a general question that almost always comes up in any interview is, Why should we hire you? Try to emphasize your people skills when answering this question. Examples of the Best Answers My people skills have allowed me to excel in call center work. I can empathize with my callers, and I listen carefully and try to resolve issues as simply and effectively as possible. At my last position, I received recognition for my work with customers which made me even more excited about providing excellent customer service.Some people burn out quickly in call center customer service jobs, but Ive been doing this successfully for five years and wouldnt want to work in any oth er field. Maybe its just because I really enjoy talking and listening to people, but I find that its personally rewarding, at the end of the day, to know that Ive actually helped people while providing a positive image of our company. You should hire me because Im a born problem-solver I love the intellectual challenge of figuring out how to fix issues. Part of this is being able to calmly communicate with clients to gather information about problems. Successfully resolving trouble tickets makes me as happy as when Ive finished a Sudoku puzzle in record time.One of the things that has helped me the most in customer service is that Im bilingual in English and Spanish. This allows me to serve a wider range of customers than call center representatives who are monolingual. Important Soft Skills for Call Center Representatives In addition to possessing strong people skills, rockstar call center representatives also need soft skills such as patience, organization, effective time ma nagement, a solid work ethic, and creative thinking. If you pride yourself on having these skills, your job outlook as a Call Center Representative is excellent the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that hiring in this field will grow by 5% by 2026.

10 stupid ways you are wasting money and how to fix it

10 stupid ways you are wasting money and how to fix it10 stupid ways you are wasting money and how to fix itI consider myself to be one of the cheapest people on the planet. I wear socks until they are threadbare and undies until the elastic is completely shot. Wasting money physically hurts me. But even the cheapest people on the planet have moments of stark stupidity.And sohonigweinimes that stupidity costs so much money. 10 ways I waste so much money1. Not measuring laundry detergentI do a lot of laundry. Like, a whollllee lot. All too often, I go downstairs to find the laundry pile leaning like the Tower of Pisa. I also dont have a lot of time. So because Im lazy, and in an effort to save time, I end up just dumping laundry detergent into the washer willy nilly - no measuring. For some reason, Ive told myself that Im the one really special person on the planet that can accurately eyeball the amount of laundry detergent that needs to go into each load.Follow Ladders on FlipboardF ollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraBut sadly, Im not. Thats just my inflated ego talking, trying to justify being super duper lazy.I dont know how much laundry detergent Ive wasted over the years by eyeballing, but Im sure its probably a lot. And laundry detergent is expensive, yall. Especially if you buy the fancy stuff like Tide, I dont buy Tide (because Id like to retire someday), but even the cheap laundry detergent is expensive. Dont be like me - measure your detergent, folks.2. Throwing away bottles/Tubes without getting the last bit of product outYou know what Im talking about, right? Those squeeze tubes of lotion that no amount of squeezing will get that last little bit out of. Or those bottles of cleaning spray that never have an internal sprayer tube long enough to get the last few drops out of the bottom of the bottle.Doesnt that just fry your egg? There has to be a better design to allow you to use 100% of a product that you paid good money for. I think unterstellung manufacturers do it on purpose because they know suckers like me exist in the world.Yep, suckers like me who will just throw the bottle of shampoo in the trash rather than try to squeeze that slippery little bastard to death in the middle of my shower. Thats the old me, though. Nowadays, I cut, rip, squeeze, unscrew, and shake as much as I need to get every last drop out of those bottles. Sucker no mora.3. Throwing away leftover foodMy husband and I have a tendency to forget leftovers are in the refrigerator. I also like to make lots of different meals during the week because I get sick of eating the same food every day. Combined, behauptung two things make for a high risk of food waste because I either dont feel like eating it or I forget it even exists.This is sohonigweinhing that Im still trying to improve upon. We throw away way too much food. Im definitely a food lover (Food Network is my jam), so its har d for me to just view food as a fuel source and eat whatever is in the fridge if I dont actually want to eat it. Our grocery bill is way outrageous right now, so Im really going to have to work harder on this. Its just food, right?4. Using too many paper towelsThis is mora of a convenience thing. Also a laziness thing, which seems to be a recurring theme in this list.Lately, I have started grabbing an actual towel in the morning and using it to clean up messes throughout the day. This is the alternative to using a new paper towel each time one of my kids spills milk, water, or whatever else he may be eating/drinking at the time. It all seems to end up on the floor eventually. Using a towel has worked out really well for me because it cleans and absorbs a lot better than some flimsy piece of dead tree. Im not sure why doing this didnt occur to me sooner. Habit, I guess? (Saves money and the environment)5. Forgetting to return items that dont fit/workHeres a perfect example of this. I bought a pair of shorts at Old Navy a while back that I took home, tried on, and didnt like. They had these weird netted undies in them that were just NOT going to work. I dont need a net all up in my business while Im trying to lift weights or jog or whathaveyou. No thanksInstead of returning them to Old Navy immediately, like I should have, I plopped them in the back seat of my car. It may as well be a Poorly Constructed Shorts graveyard back there, because I promptly forgot about them. Months later, when I found them again and tried to return them, they would only refund me for the last known price of the item (I didnt have the receipt), which was something like 99 cents.Um, scuse me? 99 cents? It cost me mora in gas money to GET HERE than you are going to refund me for these shorts.So anyway, I ended up selling them oneBayfor a lot less than I paid for them. Waste of money. Completely my fault.6. Failing to compare pricesThis mostly happens at the grocery store, because I dont shop a lot otherwise. Sometimes, when I am at the store, I just grab the first thing I see off the shelf, which is usually the generic brand. However, theres been times where Ive gone back to look and the name brand is actually CHEAPER than the generic due to a sale. I really wonder how many times I have done this and not noticed. Probably a lot.Especially at a grocery store where everything is grouped together in one spot, price comparison takes literally seconds. Why wasnt I doing it? Who knows. Who knows why I do anything sometimes? Not me.7. Buying things Ill never useI have really high hopes for myself sometimes. I really do. Especially when it comes to my health and all the amazing things Im going to do to improve it.One of the amazing things that I like to do is hit up the grocery store to buy all these superfoods (readsuper expensive foods) like quinoa, spinach, flax seeds, and organic protein powder. Then I come up with all these recipes on the way home from the store like flax protein smoothies and quinoa and spinach stir-fry. After that, I get back to my house, carry all my groceries inside, put them in their designated cabinet spots, marvel at how healthy Im going to beand never, ever look at them again.Until they are expired, that is. Thats when I watch them pile up in the garbage can as I curse myself for doing this to myself and my bank account for the bajillionth time. Youd think Id learn. Youdreallythink Id learn.8. Buying expensive body wash/lotions/soapsNow, if I were a person who had allergies or skin that dries up like the Sahara without the use of certain products, I could justify a high expenditure in this category of the household budget. Fortunately for me, I am not.So its really kind of silly of me when Im buying a $15 bottle of body wash just because it smells pretty or makes nice bubbles. All I actually need to get clean is a good ol bar of Dial soap, which is a fraction of the cost of those fancy washes. It may not smell as nice, b ut it gets the job done.I do still buy these things from time to time, but only when I have a gift card and the things I want are on sale. I find that it makes using these products all the more luxurious and I really feel like Im getting pampered - when all Im doing is showering.9. Gym memberships/personal trainingIm not knocking agym membership. I loved going to the gym back when I belonged to one, and I know I worked out a lot harder there than I do at home. However, when you have no furniture in your apartment, no microwave, and barely enough money to eat - you shouldnt have a gym membership. Or a personal training package. But I did.When I was in college, and for a few years after, I was B-R-O-K-E. But I also wanted to get in shape. I thought that the extreme sacrifice in order to pay for the gym and training package, along with motivation from an outside source (the trainer) would finally get me into the best shape of my life.As it turns out, motivation comes from within (who knew?), and all I ended up with was a fat ass and a fine for canceling the training package early. I started jogging outside for free instead and lost more weight than I ever did working out with the trainer. Go figure. (learn how to stick with your resolutions)10. Trying to keep up with othersKeeping up with the Joneses, as they say. Except the Joneses were actually a group of spoiled rich kids that I met at a bar in college and befriended for a very short period of time before I realized that there was no way I was ever going to be able to hang with these people.I spent a few months going out to bars with expensive cover charges to buy drinks that I couldnt afford because thats what this particular set of Joneses were doing. I bought shots, drank beers, ate expensive sushi, and just generally lived outside of my meansall for the sake of fitting in. It got so bad that one night I actually had to walk home from the bars in the middle of the night (about a 1-2 mile walk) in high hee ls and a dress because I couldnt afford the taxi ride home.My only excuse for this whole debacle is that I was living in a big city 3 hours from my hometown and had virtually no friends. I was desperate to find people to hang out with, and I was desperate for those people not to find out that I was barely paying my bills. They were either older and/or more well off than I was, and I simply could not keep up with their lifestyle. (See,what I learned from being broke)Eventually, I had a falling out with one of the group members and the stress of keeping up the ruse became too much for me. I slowly phased myself out of the group. At the time, I was pretty bummed about it because I had to go back to having barely any friends. But looking back, I was certainly better off. Im not sure why I wanted to hang out with a bunch of 35-year-olds who were still spending all their time in college bars, anyway.ConclusionClearly, Ive done a lot of dumb things that have cost me money. I am absolutely certain that this list doesnt even cover half of the way I so waste much money, but its a good start for now.The good thing is, once you realize you are doing dumb things, you can stop doing them. A little self-awareness goes a long way with your checkbook.This article was originally published on Your Money Geek.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people10 stupid ways you are wasting money and how to fix itI consider myself to be one of the cheapest people on the planet. I wear socks until they are threadbare and undies until the elastic is completely shot. Wasting money physically hurts me. But even the cheapest people on the planet have moments of stark stupidity.And sometimes that s tupidity costs so much money. 10 ways I waste so much money1. Not measuring laundry detergentI do a lot of laundry. Like, a whollllee lot. All too often, I go downstairs to find the laundry pile leaning like the Tower of Pisa. I also dont have a lot of time. So because Im lazy, and in an effort to save time, I end up just dumping laundry detergent into the washer willy nilly - no measuring. For some reason, Ive told myself that Im the one really special person on the planet that can accurately eyeball the amount of laundry detergent that needs to go into each load.But sadly, Im not. Thats just my inflated ego talking, trying to justify being super duper lazy.I dont know how much laundry detergent Ive wasted over the years by eyeballing, but Im sure its probably a lot. And laundry detergent is expensive, yall. Especially if you buy the fancy stuff like Tide, I dont buy Tide (because Id like to retire someday), but even the cheap laundry detergent is expensive. Dont be like me - mea sure your detergent, folks.2. Throwing away bottles/Tubes without getting the last bit of product outYou know what Im talking about, right? Those squeeze tubes of lotion that no amount of squeezing will get that last little bit out of. Or those bottles of cleaning spray that never have an internal sprayer tube long enough to get the last few drops out of the bottom of the bottle.Doesnt that just fry your egg? There has to be a better design to allow you to use 100% of a product that you paid good money for. I think these manufacturers do it on purpose because they know suckers like me exist in the world.Yep, suckers like me who will just throw the bottle of shampoo in the trash rather than try to squeeze that slippery little bastard to death in the middle of my shower. Thats the old me, though. Nowadays, I cut, rip, squeeze, unscrew, and shake as much as I need to get every last drop out of those bottles. Sucker no more.3. Throwing away leftover foodMy husband and I have a tendency to forget leftovers are in the refrigerator. I also like to make lots of different meals during the week because I get sick of eating the same food every day. Combined, these two things make for a high risk of food waste because I either dont feel like eating it or I forget it even exists.This is something that Im still trying to improve upon. We throw away way too much food. Im definitely a food lover (Food Network is my jam), so its hard for me to just view food as a fuel source and eat whatever is in the fridge if I dont actually want to eat it. Our grocery bill is way outrageous right now, so Im really going to have to work harder on this. Its just food, right?4. Using too many paper towelsThis is more of a convenience thing. Also a laziness thing, which seems to be a recurring theme in this list.Lately, I have started grabbing an actual towel in the morning and using it to clean up messes throughout the day. This is the alternative to using a new paper towel each time one of my kids spills milk, water, or whatever else he may be eating/drinking at the time. It all seems to end up on the floor eventually. Using a towel has worked out really well for me because it cleans and absorbs a lot better than some flimsy piece of dead tree. Im not sure why doing this didnt occur to me sooner. Habit, I guess? (Saves money and the environment)5. Forgetting to return items that dont fit/workHeres a perfect example of this. I bought a pair of shorts at Old Navy a while back that I took home, tried on, and didnt like. They had these weird netted undies in them that were just NOT going to work. I dont need a net all up in my business while Im trying to lift weights or jog or whathaveyou. No thanksInstead of returning them to Old Navy immediately, like I should have, I plopped them in the back seat of my car. It may as well be a Poorly Constructed Shorts graveyard back there, because I promptly forgot about them. Months later, when I found them again and tried to return th em, they would only refund me for the last known price of the item (I didnt have the receipt), which was something like 99 cents.Um, scuse me? 99 cents? It cost me more in gas money to GET HERE than you are going to refund me for these shorts.So anyway, I ended up selling them oneBayfor a lot less than I paid for them. Waste of money. Completely my fault.6. Failing to compare pricesThis mostly happens at the grocery store, because I dont shop a lot otherwise. Sometimes, when I am at the store, I just grab the first thing I see off the shelf, which is usually the generic brand. However, theres been times where Ive gone back to look and the name brand is actually CHEAPER than the generic due to a sale. I really wonder how many times I have done this and not noticed. Probably a lot.Especially at a grocery store where everything is grouped together in one spot, price comparison takes literally seconds. Why wasnt I doing it? Who knows. Who knows why I do anything sometimes? Not me.7. Buy ing things Ill never useI have really high hopes for myself sometimes. I really do. Especially when it comes to my health and all the amazing things Im going to do to improve it.One of the amazing things that I like to do is hit up the grocery store to buy all these superfoods (readsuper expensive foods) like quinoa, spinach, flax seeds, and organic protein powder. Then I come up with all these recipes on the way home from the store like flax protein smoothies and quinoa and spinach stir-fry. After that, I get back to my house, carry all my groceries inside, put them in their designated cabinet spots, marvel at how healthy Im going to beand never, ever look at them again.Until they are expired, that is. Thats when I watch them pile up in the garbage can as I curse myself for doing this to myself and my bank account for the bajillionth time. Youd think Id learn. Youdreallythink Id learn.8. Buying expensive body wash/lotions/soapsNow, if I were a person who had allergies or skin that dries up like the Sahara without the use of certain products, I could justify a high expenditure in this category of the household budget. Fortunately for me, I am not.So its really kind of silly of me when Im buying a $15 bottle of body wash just because it smells pretty or makes nice bubbles. All I actually need to get clean is a good ol bar of Dial soap, which is a fraction of the cost of those fancy washes. It may not smell as nice, but it gets the job done.I do still buy these things from time to time, but only when I have a gift card and the things I want are on sale. I find that it makes using these products all the more luxurious and I really feel like Im getting pampered - when all Im doing is showering.9. Gym memberships/personal trainingIm not knocking agym membership. I loved going to the gym back when I belonged to one, and I know I worked out a lot harder there than I do at home. However, when you have no furniture in your apartment, no microwave, and barely enough mo ney to eat - you shouldnt have a gym membership. Or a personal training package. But I did.When I was in college, and for a few years after, I was B-R-O-K-E. But I also wanted to get in shape. I thought that the extreme sacrifice in order to pay for the gym and training package, along with motivation from an outside source (the trainer) would finally get me into the best shape of my life.As it turns out, motivation comes from within (who knew?), and all I ended up with was a fat ass and a fine for canceling the training package early. I started jogging outside for free instead and lost more weight than I ever did working out with the trainer. Go figure. (learn how to stick with your resolutions)10. Trying to keep up with othersKeeping up with the Joneses, as they say. Except the Joneses were actually a group of spoiled rich kids that I met at a bar in college and befriended for a very short period of time before I realized that there was no way I was ever going to be able to hang w ith these people.I spent a few months going out to bars with expensive cover charges to buy drinks that I couldnt afford because thats what this particular set of Joneses were doing. I bought shots, drank beers, ate expensive sushi, and just generally lived outside of my meansall for the sake of fitting in. It got so bad that one night I actually had to walk home from the bars in the middle of the night (about a 1-2 mile walk) in high heels and a dress because I couldnt afford the taxi ride home.My only excuse for this whole debacle is that I was living in a big city 3 hours from my hometown and had virtually no friends. I was desperate to find people to hang out with, and I was desperate for those people not to find out that I was barely paying my bills. They were either older and/or more well off than I was, and I simply could not keep up with their lifestyle. (See,what I learned from being broke)Eventually, I had a falling out with one of the group members and the stress of keepi ng up the ruse became too much for me. I slowly phased myself out of the group. At the time, I was pretty bummed about it because I had to go back to having barely any friends. But looking back, I was certainly better off. Im not sure why I wanted to hang out with a bunch of 35-year-olds who were still spending all their time in college bars, anyway.ConclusionClearly, Ive done a lot of dumb things that have cost me money. I am absolutely certain that this list doesnt even cover half of the way I so waste much money, but its a good start for now.The good thing is, once you realize you are doing dumb things, you can stop doing them. A little self-awareness goes a long way with your checkbook.This article was originally published on Your Money Geek.

Vital Pieces of Ms Word Resume

Vital Pieces of Ms Word Resume So, youve got all the strategies and tricks to acquire your preferred job. Youre offering a solution. Additionally, the built-in strategies and expert advice will allow you to compose the perfect resume. There are lots of such on-line sites which help you produce a customized resume according to your liking. You ought to make sure your resume looks exactly the direction you would like it to look, which means you should send it to some friends or family first and ask them to forward it back to you to observe how it appears. Also make sure you tailor the document to the job youre applying for. Each resume format was made to boost your odds to find the job in 2018. The Benefits of Ms Word Resume Make certain that you have replaced all the information from the template with your own, personalized details. By making use of a template, you receive a feeling of what information to include in your resume and the way to arrange it. The crucial thing is to locate unique templates. Theres a funkfernsprecher search box in which you put in your keyword and it pulls up every appropriate template on the site. Due to the use of the 2 columns, all entries are scannable and extremely very clear. A good resume template word will help you do this. The absolute most hard step here is to determine which resume format is appropriate for you. Ms Word Resume Features Zetys resume templates are made with the aid of recruiters and stick to the best practices in HR. It is possible to download as many resumes as you desire. You are able to say thats quite opposite of functional resumes that are very traditional. Both may be used to create chronological or functional resumes. The way that your cover letter is presented makes you stick out from the other candidates. In truth, its not that hard as it might appear to be. Actually, there are lots of techniques to recoup deleted word files Its possible to leave every one of them as is or cu stomize a small bit so as to bring a personal andeutung to the presentation of your candidacy. What Does Ms Word Resume Mean? Whats also cool about our hand-picked selection is the simple fact that numerous packages include bonuses like cover letters or company cards. For landing the ideal job which you will want to use the very best free resume templates out there Once you have selected your perfect resume template from our selection, follow our completely free expert guidance about ways to craft the ideal modern resume. There are lots of free resume templates readily available on the web but sometimes it can be quite tough to select the best one that is most suited to you. A template can spare you plenty of time. Each template offers structure, examples and tips so you dont need to start from scratch when creating your resume. Utilizing a resume template is now an acceptable and smart practice for quite a few factors. Each one of our creative style templates provide a perfec tly balanced mixture of personality, professionalism and a little style. Each time a file becomes corrupted or damaged we will need to repair it. Fortunately, there are various publishers around whove created incredible resume templates for fehlte nicht viel editing and formatting in Word. You are going to learn how to code better in the future and youll avoid unpleasant surprises. If you understand how to utilize Microsoft Word, then it is possible to whip up a striking resume If your computer balks, you can discover sources on the Web to assist. Be aware our templates are a lot less difficult to edit than all the resume maker program online. Ensure you save the file in a place it is simple to remember. With this kind of a highly effective tool available, now you can recover deleted word files easily A resume builder will allow you to rectify any errors and supply you with a working vision of the resume although you edit. Possessing a three to five sentence summary at the very top of your resume is far more powerful than having an objective. Any resume template word you pick is a sensible distribution of your professional and individual experiences made to maximize the impacts of the page to highlight your finest traits. Imagine that youre taking a look at a table of information.

The Pain of Teaching Resume

The Pain of Teaching Resume Whats Truly Going on with Teaching Resume A lot of them remind me of myself, and that is the reason why I decided to apply to your excellent business. Possessing a crystal clear and professional resume is essential in the medical field. Transportation jobs involve a great deal of responsibility and your resume will want to reflect you can deal with that. If so, your resume can nevertheless be quantified, and provide the hiring manager a concrete idea of the reach of your abilities and abilities. In the competitive area of education, youll want your resume to be noticed, and highlight your capacity to learn and grow in the present atmosphere. Your commitment to the teaching field needs to be highlighted through a resume. Verbal communication skills are very important in teaching. Its also essential to recognize the teaching techniques it is possible to execute. The Downside Risk of Teaching Resume The major issue is to comprehend what the school s are searching for, and you ought to create a cover letter for each application you send. On the flip side, you may use the bulletined list in the event you do have something that substantial, which should be showcased. Should you need an example to examine, make aya that you have a look at the sample teacher resume at the close of the short article The most significant thing you should remember when writing your teacher resume is that it needs to be clear and simple with a good structure. Best wishes, Samantha Bee There are a couple of requirements that each resume should not have any matter the position or kind of job. Each bullet point needs to be relevant to the job which youre applying for. The very last thing you wish to do is apply for work in education with a subpar resume. Use the search box to find just what you want. ESL employers will also need to register on the exact same website. Education and credentials are quite important in the teaching profession, whic h is the reason they are also on the very first page. It is crucial to draft an exceptional Education Resume which will enable you to receive a dream job. Among the ideal teacher resume tips is to tailor your work search documents to the particular teaching position youre applying for. To be a teacher, you are going to require the correct gemisch of experience, knowledge, and education. You will also find a good example of a resume written particularly for an early childhood education job. You dont need to have teaching experience, but you will need a Bachelors degree to be eligible for a teaching post. For instance, its wise to list the true classroom experience you got as a student teacher when working on your degree together with the certificates you have gotten to teach in your individual jurisdiction. The Dirty Truth on Teaching Resume You shouldnt ignore the importance of resumes. Its easy and convenient to post your resumes on the website. Therefore dont be shocked if you discover plenty of the very same information listed for both resumes and CVs When writing a resume make sure its structured so that the absolute most important information is on the very first page. Putting yourself in the shoes of a recruiter will be able to help you construct your teaching resume much better. Ensure your resume is very clear and informative and targeted to the particular teacher job prospect. For additional information on the best way to structure a graduate school resume, take a look at our guide about how to compose a graduate school resume. An appreciable portion of their work is to serve as a mentor to their students to be certain they are well ready for the world outside school. You didnt choose to be a teacher as you wished to turn into rich, you did it since you have passion for education. If youre a school teacher resume, take into consideration that being a great school teacher professional is a lot more than having recognized certificates, in addition, it depends a great deal about how youre, how it is possible to enhance employers institution and enrich the lives of the students. The Importance of Teaching Resume Infographic resumes seem nice, but you also have to be concerned about applicant tracking system computer software. If your work search is broad, you might need a number of versions of your resume. Now-a-days many such resume templates can be found the world wide web to use. The templates offer you a sense of presenting the info in a different sequence, which is intended to offer due value to the relevant things. You will also need to highlight any abilities or awards applicable to the job. Resumes can be quite vital since it will help your employers find out more about your backgroundthe skills youve got, educational attainments, and previous work experiences. Awards are proof of your abilities and ought to be showcased. The Hidden Treasure of Teaching Resume In order to acquire the best chance s of landing your teacher job, you have to make sure youre making the best resume that you are able to. There are a few of the best features which are going to assist you in that aspect, and that may be achieved through a well-knitted teaching resume. Mainly because the competition in the current world can be very tough, consider taking some moments to have a look at the important credential, skills and expertise in the best manner. If youre thinking about applying to be a teacher, then the very first step you will need is a resume to assist you. There are not any strict rules and guidelines that are needed in developing a teaching resume. Its possible to include the information regarding the teaching licenses and certifications in a different section. Together with meeting all their requirements, you also need to include what differentiates you from different teachers. Most teachers should list all their certifications, or whenever they anticipate receiving them. The Litt le-Known Secrets to Teaching Resume You might want to highlight various sides of your experience, based on the particular demands of the position available. Keep in mind, your resume or CV should emphasize your own personal strengths. If you choose to include a number of positions, as its applicable to the precise teaching job youre applying for, then you could always elaborate on three experiences and just list the rest of the positions. Last, you wish to make sure youve got an objective that lines up with the goals of the school and job.

Business Insider Honors the 43 Most Powerful Female Engineers of 2017

Business Insider Honors the 43 Most Powerful Female Engineers of 2017 We salute ur friends at Business Insider for celebrating the 43 most powerful female engineers in U.S. tech, just in time for National Engineers Week (February 19-25). While we can all agree that attracting and retaining female top tech-talent is challenging, to say the least, praising our community trailblazers takes on even greater importance in helping to change the tide, and ultimately, history, for future generations of female engineers.So, hats off to Business Insider for their commendation of these amazing women take a peek below at this years honorees and get ready to feel ALL the feels.43. Selina Tobaccowala, Founder, Gixo42. Kamilah Taylor, Senior Software Engineer, LinkedIn41. Casey Edgeton, Senior Product Designer, Forward40. Julia Collignon, Senior Manager, Renewable Energy Development, Tesla39. Raylene Yung, Engineering Lead, Stripe38. Stephanie Butler, Technology Innovation Architect, Texas Instrumen ts37. Natalia Burina, Director of Product Management, Community Cloud, Salesforce36. Surabhi Gupta, Engineering Manager, Airbnb35. April Underwood, VP of Product, Slack34. Cheryl Porro, SVP, Technology and Products, Salesforce.org33. Alyssa Henry, Head of Engineering, Square32. Anne Aaron, Director of Video Algorithms, Netflix31. Lili Cheng, Engineer, AI Research, Microsoft30. Joyce Tung, VP of Research, 23andMe29. Bear Douglas, Developer Advocacy Lead, Slack28. Raji Arasu, SVP of Platform and Services, Intuit27. Deb Liu, VP of Platform and Marketplace, Facebook26. Melody Meckfessel, Senior Engineering Director, Cloud Platform, Google25. Kate Bergeron, VP, Hardware Engineering, Apple24. Myra Haggerty, VP, Sensor Software and UX Prototyping, Apple23. Aparna Ramani, Director of Engineering, Realtime Data, Facebook22. Sophia Velastegui, Head of Product Architecture Roadmap, Nest21. Jill Wetzler, Director of Engineering, Lyft20. Komal Mangtani, Head of Business Intelligence, Uber19. Cl ara Liang, Director of Product, Airbnb18. Joy Dunn, New Product Innovation Lead, SpaceX17. Tamar Bercovici, Director of Engineering, Box16. Marianna Tessel, SVP of Engineering, Docker15. Isabel Mahe, VP, Wireless Technologies, Apple14. Susie Armstrong, SVP, Engineering, Qualcomm13. Sarah Clatterbuck, Director of Engineering, Application Infrastructure, LinkedIn12. Anjali Joshi, VP of Product Management, Google11. Nandini Ramani, VP of Engineering, Twitter10. Jana Messerschmidt, VP of Global Business Development Platform, Twitter9. Jocelyn Goldfein, General Partner, Zetta Ventures8. Rosa Ramos-Kwok, Managing Director, Shared Services Operations Technology, Bank of America7. Yanbing Li, SVP and General Manager, Storage and Availability, VMware6. Regina Dugan, VP of Engineering, Building 8, Facebook5. Priya Balasubramaniam, VP of iPhone Operations, Apple4. Reates Curry, Technical Expert, Research Innovation, Ford3. Barbara Rusinko, VP of Nuclear, Security Environmental, Bechtel2. Ji ll Hruby, Director, Sandia National Laboratories1.Peggy Johnson, EVP, Business Development, Microsoft

Zeno of Citium Being stoic, resiliant and strong

Zeno of Citium Being stoic, resiliant and strongZeno of Citium Being stoic, resiliant and strongAs influential as Zeno of Citium has been, nothing that he wrote has survived to modern day.Around 300 BC in Athens, he was one of the fruchtwein revered teachers. His claim to fame is that he founded Stoicism, a school of philosophy chiefly interested in how we ought to live.Our understanding of his approach to Stoicism, then, comes from second-hand surces. While the philosophy has continued to evolve, with popular interpretations coming from great Romans like Seneca and Marcus Aurelius, much of it grew on the roots Zeno nurtured.He divided his thinking into three categories logic, which he equated with the study of things like knowledge, perception, and thought physics, which was his approach to nature and science and ethics, which concerned itself with the daily conduct of living and being.Out of these three, however, it was ethics that he was primarily interested in, seeing the other t wo categories as means a framework to support and carry his conclusions.Zenos ideas were built on older methodologies of the Cynics and the thinking of Socrates, but rather than texas tea toward one side or the other, he mixed and matched as he saw fit.Naturally, there is some disagreement about what exactly Zenos system laid out and the finer details of his approach, but in broad strokes, we can paint a fairly accurate picture.1Its easy to get caught in the deeper mysteries of reality, and in the process, we sometimes forget to pay attention to what it actually means to live as a matter of daily conduct. The Stoics, like Zeno, showed how we can close this gap byLiving in accordance with ur natureSeeing virtue as the surce of goodnessHaving a neutral valuation of the worldToday, the word stoic connotates resilience and fortitude, but there is more to it than that.Living in Accordance With Our NatureCurrently, science studies the natural world and tries to pinpoint it as either a me ans to other ends, like controlling and predicting our surroundings, or simply as a thing of value in itself.In a Stoic worldview, these reasons may be good enough, and they can fit into the broader framework, but they stop short of the primary reason for studying nature and its phenomena to better understand ourselves and how our personal actions fit into the cosmic dance.As beings of evolution, we have aspects of nature embedded into us. We have inclinations toward both change and harmony, competition and cooperation, pursuits and comforts.Now, of course, certain traits have a stronger pull in some people than others, and when we are young, many of these traits are raw, but as we age and as we experience, we can use reason to move us away from instinct toward an understanding that accords with the world.If we follow this path of reason, what we are often left with are core motivations that drive us to pursue our interests, core motivations that move us to take care of those around us, and core motivations to overcome different challenges that life throws our way.The key thing to note here is that the Stoics were against blind romanticism, where feelings and pleasures guide what we do. No, Zeno taught that we use experience and then refine it with reason as a way to harmonize with the world and thats what should guide us.Once a certain refinement has been reached, then its pull works like a compass, one we shouldnt fight if its telling us that we should go in the other direction when we are stuck.At any point in life, there is a larger wave around our body that gives gestalt to many of our characteristics, and its on us to both ride this wave and to let it flow through us as we do.Seeing Virtue as the Source of GoodnessOnce we have a clear understanding of our relationship to both our nature and the broader nature, we are absolved from all of the uncertainties that we are likely to face but one.This brings us to the core of the Stoic worldview their ethics. A t the end of the day, very little of this matters unless, in some way, we change our actions, conducts, and ways of being.While using reason and experience to align ourselves with our surroundings is a start, its not the end. There are still conflicts that we are likely to face, namely those that challenge us, where the broader nature is putting undue stress on our own personal experience.When, for example, we get hurt, or when reality fails to meet our expectations, or when we lose people we care about, there is clearly a conflict, and harmonizing things isnt easy.Here Zeno would say that any action or conduct is right if it is simply good. And what does he mean by good? Well, something is good if it is virtuous when you use your reason to change what it is in your control (which is your reaction) and let go of what isnt (a problem).When you put virtue at the center, as the most meaningful thing to strive toward, you take full responsibility for how you experience reality because v irtue is born within you not in the outside world. If something is wrong, its because you are not matching your responsibility.It may be true that people are treating you unfairly, or that it wasnt your fault, or that life in general is just hard, but once a non-reversible event has occurred, you can do one of two things fight it or harmonize with it. And if you cant change the world, the only way to harmonize with it is to change your reaction to create goodness by doing the virtuous thing.The better your reaction, the more virtuous of a life you live, and the more good you create.Having A Neutral Valuation of the WorldThe importance of virtue highlights the value of managing our internal reality that what is good and true comes from looking inward. Fair enough, but what about the outside world?If the only source of goodness is the parte of us in charge of managing our reaction to outside events, then what exactly is the point of caring about anything in the world surrounding us?Th is question is where Zeno and his followers diverged away from the Cynics, a different brand of philosophers, who Zeno built his ideas on. The Cynics claimed that the outside world didnt matter at all. As long as you kept your internal world in check, you were fine.The Stoics, however, argued that it does matter. The objects we experience and live around may not carry positive or negative values in themselves, but they play an important role.Everything in the outside world is neutral. In itself, its neither good nor bad it simply is. That said, the way our internal virtue and goodness interacts with this world is of consequence. For example, its more preferable to avoid sickness by being cautious than to walk into it.Striving for health and wealth and community, things that help to preserve us, are natural and preferable, as long as we dont confuse them as the source of our virtue and goodness.Once we have refined our innate reason, and once we pursue the core motivations that it ha s imbued in us, not interacting with this world of external objects would be an act against the harmony. It would be creating a conflict where there otherwise would not be one.Many Stoics that lived after Zeno had a different relationship with the external reality and its demands, making a case for things like duty, but they all agreed that it plays a key role.All You Need to KnowIts a simple idea control what you can and let go of what you cant. But it takes more than just saying it and knowing it for it to truly kick into effect in the day to day business of living.Zeno of Citium, the first Stoic, may not have left behind a perfectly clear system for us to study, but there is enough there to guide us toward our own variations of the framework.There are three key things we can learn from himLive in accordance with nature. By using our experience to study nature and then refining this experience with reason, we can harmonize our drives with the broader reality around us. We are a ve ry small part of the cosmic dance, one that moves through us, and its our job to ensure that we are living in ways that are honest to it.See virtue as the source of goodness. If there is a conflict between our experience and the broader nature, we can either fight against it or seek to harmonize with it. Its our responsibility to adjust our reactions to things once they have occurred and once they are outside our control. Virtue and goodness are born from how well we do this.Have a neutral valuation of the world. Things that exist externally arent good or bad in themselves they are neutral. Nonetheless, even though virtue is born within and goodness can only be created internally, the external world does have a role to play. Health and wealth and community are preferable to the alternatives.We may have our own terminology for it, but something like virtue is inherent in all of our conceptual model of reality. Our job is simply to remember what we already know.Being stoic has a lot t o do with being resilient and strong, yes, but its also a way of life.Want to think and live smarter? Zat Rana publishes a free weekly newsletter for 30,000+ readers atDesign Luck.Thisarticlewas originally published onDesign Luck.

How to Speak Slowly During a Job Interview

How to Speak Slowly During a Job InterviewHow to Speak Slowly During a Job InterviewReaders of a certain age will remember those humorous commercials of our childhoods when an impossibly fast narrator would pitch the wonders amassing your very own fleet of miniature toy cars. If your gray hairs and memories dont quite reach that far back, then most of us can at least pinpoint that one friend or acquaintance that rambles on at breakneck speed through even the most relaxed of conversations. While unterstellung scenarios may come off as amusing at the time, rapid speaking is hard to understand and makes it difficult to maintain a multi-sided discussion. During an interview, speaking too quickly can also create the appearance of nervousness, undermining much-needed confidence on the part of both candidates and interviewers.Confident, clear and well-paced conversation is an essential skill to master before entering any interview room. If youre one of the many that get a case of the jitter s or has a bad habit of speaking too quickly, weve got a few tips and tricks to help slow things down.Practice Pacing Your Rate of SpeechSimilar to the way that you would review the job description, perform due diligence on the prospective employer, or prep your resume, practicing your speech is an essential part of preparing for your in person or telephone interview. Studies show that the ideal rate of conversational speech is 130 to 150 words per minute. Trust us, this is much fewer than it sounds. Using a word count feature, type up around 300 words of your choice. While your favorite song, poem, or high school speech and debate presentation are more than acceptable, a personal description of your work experience may be a bit more applicable and true to life. With a digital timer in hand, recite your 300-ish words, stopping the time when youve wrapped the entire diatribe. If you schliff too early, practice slowing down your verbiage. Run over, consider hurrying things up a bit. A fter a few tries, youll develop an ear for proper pacing.Be an Active ListenerIn addition to practicing your rate of speech, developing active listening skills is another handy method to pace both your individual speech and the speed of the conversation itself. In typical social situations with friends or family, familiarity with individuals speech patterns often leads us to run over, interrupt or anticipate others comments. In an interview, however, candidates should make a concerted effort to listen to the interviewers full questions and explanations without adding in extraneous comments or interjecting. In addition to helping the conversation develop a more natural and engaging pace, learning to listen to your interviewer can help you identify key facts to use at a later date to show youre capable of collecting and applying facts, figures and critical information which are key soft skills employers look for in quality candidates. Remember to Relaxand BreatheMany candidates have p erfectly normal, slow pacing of their speech in social situations but find themselves running their mouths a mile a minute in an interview. This often has less to do with actual skills and more to do with a serious case of interview-induced jitters.While weve espoused on techniques to reduce interview nervousness previously, its worth a quick recap of speech and verbal pacing in mind. If you feel your nerves starting to act up during an interview, try taking a few deep breaths to collect yourself. Limit the amount of caffeine you take in prior to the interview as this can spike blood pressure and cause artificially induced jitteriness. If you find yourself doubting your ability to remember, try bringing a notepad into your interview. Your prospective employer will appreciate both your preparedness and attention to detail while youll have a crutch to lean on for a quick self-confidence.As the last word of advice, the best way to combat nerves, slow your speech and increase your chanc es at landing a lucrative job offer is to show up prepared with plenty of practice under your belt. Plenty of practice prior to your interview will serve a variety of important functions, all of which will help you move that much closer to landing the job of your dreams.

How to make your marriage awesome 6 secrets from a top divorce lawyer

How to make your marriage awesome 6 secrets from a top divorce lawyer How to make your marriage awesome 6 secrets from a top divorce lawyer Actually, I lied. This is  not  a “how-to.”Good god, there are so many “how-to” posts about relationships, it’s exhausting. (I’m tired of them and I’m responsible for  plenty  of them  myself.)  So let’s mix it up, shall we?Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!This is a “how-not-to.”How  not  to make the mistakes that destroy relationships, marriages, and happiness. I’m the guy who loves looking at academic research, but I also feel we gain a lot from  non-academic experts. I’ve talked to FBI hostage negotiators about  lowering your cable bill, Navy SEALs on  how to be more resilient, and bomb disposal experts on  how to stay calm under pressure.So what can a top divorce attorney tell you about how to make sure you never, ever have to step foot in his office? A lot, actually.James Sexton has handled more than 1000 divorces. He doesn’t claim to know what makes a relationship work… but he sure knows what  doesn’t.From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:I’ve had a ringside seat to countless ruined or doomed-from-the-start relationships. After two decades of performing this profoundly intimate service for so many ex-spouses-to-be, as well as for people in myriad other relationship permutations (e.g., living together; having a child in common), the sheer bulk of these observations has turned into wisdom of sorts.His book is “If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late.” Given that divorce is one of the few things that can put a  permanent dent  in your happiness levels, we should let James play Virgil to our Dante and tour us through this netherworld so we never have to take up residence there.Learning lessons from the successful is great, but sometimes we get more from looking at those who didn’t fare as well - so we can avoid their mistakes.Time for the not-so-happy to show us how to be happier. Let ’s get to it…Define “A Good Marriage”Go ahead â€" I dare you. No vague platitudes, either.sound of cricketsIt’s not easy, is it? Honestly, it’s not even a fair question because  every person’s definition would be different. In fact, your own definition would almost certainly change at different points in your life: before kids, after kids, during retirement, etc.But we rarely answer this question. And rarer still is getting clear on the answer with your spouse. Does tying your happiness to the achievement of an undefined goal seem like a very good strategy to you?From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:If you’ve thought long and hard about what marriage means, congratulations: You’re different from many of my clients… What roles, specifically, will you play in this person’s life, and they in yours? What do you get in exchange for doing this? What’s the job description of marriage?This is a big problem. James says marriages fail for only two re asons.From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:I have learned, over and over, that marriages and other committed relationships fail for two fundamental reasons. 1) You don’t know what you want. 2) You can’t express what you want. End of story.So what’s your definition of a happy marriage? What responsibilities does that entail? What are you entitled to and what are you not? And is your spouse on the same page?Truth is, people  do  answer these questions eventually…But, unfortunately, it’s often once they’re already sitting in James’ office.From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:It’s strange to me- sad, actually- that the first time people ask themselves these questions is, quite often, in my office, when they’re in the process of crumpling up the future that wasn’t. Isn’t this inquiry something that married people should be doing on a regular basis? Individually, and especially together? In simply talking things out with me- oft en brutally, but clearly and in detail- my clients gain a real sense of how they define generic, vague terms such as “success,” “happiness,” and “security,” often for the first time in their adult life. When is the last time you and your spouse discussed what it specifically means to be “happy” and how you each define that term?Have this conversation with yourself. And have it with your spouse. That way you don’t have to have it with James.(To learn more about how you can lead a successful life, check out my bestselling book  here.)Okay, we’ve covered the big picture. So what else is vital when it comes to communicating with your spouse?Be Hyper-Honest With Your PartnerYeah, I know: sounds cliche. “Be honest with your partner.” But we’re going way past polite honesty here. We’re going to Stage-4-Cringe-Level-Honesty.The kind where you start to grimace in pain at just the  idea  of saying that thing out loud.We assume far too many things are obvious. And i t’s often very self-serving. It prevents us from having uncomfortable conversations or having to ask for things that are scary. But we still want to be able to call our partner out if they don’t do-the-thing-we-never-actually-mentioned. I’m not a lawyer but  last time I checked, contracts that only one person has signed aren’t enforceable.Of course, James hears people complain about their spouses  a lot. But when he asks, “Did you tell them that?” the most common response is, “Well, they should have known.”People can’t hear what you don’t say.From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:No one- not even individuals in really happy couples, or with exceptional hearing- can hear what the other person isn’t saying. It’s easy to look at couples on the verge of a breakup and nod about their lack of communication: “Well, of course they broke up- they long ago stopped communicating frequently and effectively.” But that could also be Monday-morning-qua rterbacking. Flip the sentiment and it makes just as much sense: “They don’t communicate frequently and effectively, so of course they’re bound to break up.”If you don’t tell them, they can’t address it. So you stay irritated. And resentment festers. And that leads to arguments that reach  call-911-levels  because the argument isn’t about what the argument is about.So communicate early and often. Say that thing, even if it makes you uncomfortable.  Especially  if it makes you uncomfortable. Because grievances that go unspoken accumulate compound interest at a faster rate than your 401K.You wouldn’t ignore your bank balance for a month. Don’t ignore the state of your relationship for that long either. Fix the small cavity so it’s not a root canal later.From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:Everything comes out eventually- everything… One reason to get it all out is to make things unpleasant sooner rather than later, because the later unpleasant is way more unpleasant…The other reason is so that the real problem can be discovered before it gets buried. We try so hard not to chip the glass that we shatter it. We try so hard not to cause our spouse mild irritation with a difficult conversation that we inadvertently create a major issue in our relationship that never gets fixed and that leads to much larger problems.Have your spouse read this post. And then when something comes up, you can say, “Can we have a hyper-honesty moment?” Timing is important. Yes, sooner beats later but you don’t want to have serious relationship discussions when someone is late for work or operating a bandsaw.Focus on talking about your feelings. Avoid blame and accusations.From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:…share how you’re feeling without attempting to explain it. You feel how you feel. And those feelings have repercussions both short- and long-term. They inform how we relate to our spouse or partner on a day-to- day basis. They create habits that build intimacy or distance. We owe it to ourselves and our partners to share the building blocks of our inner lives before those little blocks create a wall that separates us from them.(To learn the four most common relationship problems and how to fix them, click  here.)Okay, we’ve gotten past the honesty issue…Oops, sorry. No, we haven’t. Because we’ve neglected the person you’re often the least honest with…Be Hyper-Honest With  YourselfPeople lie to James constantly. And there’s no reason to. He’s legally bound by confidentiality. And he’s seen it all - so he’s not judging. And, most importantly, he needs to know the facts to help his client get the best resolution. But they lie anyway. Why?Because they’re not really lying to  him. They’ve been lying to themselves for so long they don’t even know it’s not the truth.From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:The most dangerous lies are the ones we tell ou rselves. The unexamined life may not be worth living, but it appears to be incredibly popular, at least from where I’m sitting.Everybody has a pretty good idea of what they want from their spouse. But the question that’s rarely asked is what  you’re  really capable of. How much are you truly willing to give and do on a daily basis without being nagged to death or having a gun to your head?From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:Why wait until you’re getting divorced (or heading in that direction) to be honest with yourself about what you’re capable of in your relationship with your spouse and/or your children? …be honest with yourself, right now, about how far you really think you would be willing to go for your partner.At what point does your response to marital adversity go from “We’ll find a way, dear” to “Whoa, I didn’t sign on for this crap”?Know your weaknesses. You can’t address them if you don’t admit them to yourself.From  If Youâ €™re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:Be honest with yourself, deeply and painfully honest. Admit to yourself what you’re good at and what you’re not good at. Admit to yourself how much time you have to devote to the goals you’re trying to achieve as a parent or partner, and what you’re doing with that time. Be honest about the aspects of partnership and/or parenting that you enjoy and the ones that you loathe (or maybe could take or leave).And on a semi-regular basis, give yourself an honest progress report. Are you doing your part? Are you putting as much effort into the marriage as you did planning the wedding?Realistic, achievable goals in terms of improving your marriage come from brutal honesty with yourself and clear, actionable steps you can take.From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:Why not look closely at certain key areas in your marriage and give yourself an unflinchingly honest progress report as to what you’re actually doing? While youâ €™re at it, maybe you can compare that totally candid report against an equally honest, tangible set of goals that aren’t made up of conclusory statements lacking in measurable meaning. “I want to be more present in my marriage.” What the hell does that mean? It’s a conclusion. It’s a destination, not a path to get there. How about something more tangible, like “I want to stop playing with my phone when my spouse is talking to me” or “I want to do more activities on the weekends with my spouse.”It’s very easy to express commitment to a principle. It’s much harder to consistently take actions that demonstrate that commitment.(To learn the two-word morning ritual that will make you happy all day, click  here.)Okay, lots of honesty flying around. And in the long term, that’s great. In the short term, uh, it might lead to a little bit of conflict…A Divorce Lawyer’s Guide To ArguingJames argues for a living. (He tells his kids he won’t argue with them for fr ee because it wouldn’t be fair to his paying clients.)  Luckily, this means he has learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t in dispute resolution - especially in the marriage sphere.Here are a few of his key principles gleaned from all too many conversations with people who were ending their unions:1) Don’t be obsessed with being right or winningIf you try to win every single point your reward will be a bonus round where you try to win as much as you can in the divorce proceedings.From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:Shoot for resolution rather than full satisfaction… When it comes to the person you love, you can concede once in a while. Which is more important: having your perspective on an issue validated and the ego gratification of being right, or the feeling of connection that comes with being both understood and understanding? Which is more important: the feeling that you won the argument or the feeling that you’re winning at the larger gam e of love and companionship?2) Keep the discussion focused on the topic at handThis prevents “you left the lights on” from spiraling into “why you are a subhuman troll not worthy of my love.”From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:Keep disputes focused; don’t take current behavior and start extrapolating larger trends in the relationship because, in the moment, it might seem like a good idea to “get them out in the open” and “hash them out.” Such leaps are dangerous, and they’re dirty pool…3) For the love of god, don’t start arguments over things that cannot be changedDo you have a time machine? I doubt your spouse has a time machine. So don’t get into arguments over things that can only be resolved with a time machine.From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:Sure, there are times when your spouse did or said something stupid and they’re likely to do it or say it again if the behavior is left unchecked. In those circumstance s, it might be worth having the argument… If you’re just holding a grudge and upset with your spouse about something unrelated and it’s impossible to change or undo, tread lightly.So what  should  you do during a marital spat?Before you open your mouth, think about the part of them that you fell in love with. And then imagine that the next thing they’re going to do is pay a visit to James.From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:Imagine you’re going to lose your spouse later today- that they’re going to leave you today because of something you’ve done to them. How would you treat them then? Exactly as you think they would want to be treated, right? By the time I see couples, they’ve reached the point where it’s almost impossible for them to remember that the person they’re about to divorce was once the person they loved more than anyone in the world, the person whose happiness they would do anything to bring about. Solid couples who have hit a roug h patch sometimes suffer a similar amnesia. If you conjure an image of your partner’s best self and address that person, you can often defuse a fight or break an impasse.We remember the cruel remarks better than the compliments, so be careful when emotions flare.(To learn the secret to never being frustrated again, click  here.)So what will improve your marriage that has nothing to do with your marriage?Get A Life (Outside Of Your Partner)Make time for you. Yourself. As an individual. Yeah, you’ve heard it before, I know. But I’m here to confirm that neglecting this  really  does lead to bad things. James sees it all the time.From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:Don’t lose your identity in your marriage or in becoming a parent. I’m not here to regurgitate the obvious. But I would like to point out just how often this issue, in one form or another, is at the root of so many divorces… The marriage vows ask us to forsake all others. They do not demand tha t we forsake all the other good things we can be.Don’t become boring. Not that anyone wants to be boring, but it happens. A lot. And it’s a sad irony that a 110% focus on your marriage can make you boring which can then end your marriage. (I don’t make the rules, okay? I’m here to help. Seriously.)The Facebook-fueled competition to have the perfect life combined with helicopter parenting can leave you a hollowed out shell that is no longer human. You can become little more than a life support system for a family unit.This won’t make you happy and it won’t make your spouse happy either.From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:You stay interesting to your partner by staying interested in things outside your life together. You stay interesting to yourself- therefore better equipped to stay interesting to your partner- by stepping outside the marriage, from time to time, to find satisfaction. Your spouse can be a lot of things for you without being everything. Why the hell did we start trying to have one person be everything? Who thought that was a good idea?I know, you’re busy with the kids. Here’s where James has some very unconventional advice:Pretend you’re divorced.No, don’t download Tinder and buy a Porsche. Engage in  informal  â€œcustodial rotation.” Have days where “your spouse gets the kids” and where “you get the kids.” To allow each of you to have time to recharge and be an individual.Kids can harm a marriage. (Yeah, I said it.) Kids can turn your passionate lover into a neutered business partner in a new venture called “Kids, Inc.” But it doesn’t have to be that way.“Rotate custody.” Stay an individual. Stay interesting to yourself and your partner.Added bonus: an occasional day away will make you appreciate your family all the more.(To learn the science behind a *good* marriage, click  here.)We’ve covered a lot of big picture stuff. What about the day-to-day?Remember: “Love” Is A VerbThe ch ild’s game is called “show and tell.” In that game, showing is easy and telling is the hard part. With marriage it’s the reverse. Saying you love someone is easy. Putting in the effort every day to make them feel loved can be hard.What does James say is the biggest threat to any long-term relationship? Slippage. We get lazy. We take things for granted. We take our partner for granted.Marriages end gradually. And then suddenly.From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:The biggest danger in a long-term relationship: slippage. Because- again- no one raindrop causes the flood… It’s trite to say, but nothing that you don’t focus on- your abs, your stamp collection- will magically thrive. It will stagnate, then wither. Eventually. Why should your marriage be different? So many of my clients misspent their emotional resources on things around the marriage, until they became so depleted, there was nothing left for the marriage. They had stopped paying attention.H ow do we resist this? You need to zap yourself with the gratitude defibrillator every now and then.We can take our partner for granted and get resentful. It’s all too easy to weave a victim narrative where you do everything and they do nothing. And then we feel entitled and do less and then they do less and it’s a sprint to absolute zero and the heat death of the relationship.So sit down and make a list of the good things your spouse does for you. (We all seem to be pretty good at remembering what we do for them, oddly.)From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:For partners who’ve been together a while, how do you guard against slipping into the entitlement mindset? Sit down and write a list of all the things your spouse does for you. Is it hard to do? Did you ever stop and think about it? You can go big or small. You can start with the big ones, such as companionship, conversation, sex, or you can get more logistical- “picks up the kids,” “takes out the tr ash.” Hopefully, the list isn’t limited to “takes out the trash.” I bet you’ll be surprised at how much your spouse does. What would you miss if they were suddenly gone from your life or from the home you share together?Zap yourself with the gratitude defibrillator. It can restart your heart.(To learn how to deal with passive aggressive people, click  here.)We’ve completed our tour of Hades. Please unbuckle your seat belt and exit through the gift shop.Time to round up the takeaways and learn the real reason why most people end up divorced - so that you won’t…Sum UpHere’s how to stay out of James’ office: Define “good marriage”: If you don’t know what your goal is, how can you achieve it? Be hyper-honest with your spouse: Say it in a conversation or a deposition. Your choice. Be hyper-honest with yourself: Know your weaknesses and you can prevent them. If you don’t, bad “luck” will follow you forever. Argue well: As James likes to say,  â€œMake the holes you dig shallow because the deep ones are hard to climb out of.” Get a life: Rotate custody so you never  really  have to rotate custody. “Love” is a verb: Gratitude defibrillator - STAT! Why do marriages end? Because they lost the thing that is most important. The core of marriage:Meaningful connection.From  If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late:Ask most people to name the two top reasons for divorce, and they’ll almost always guess correctly: cheating and ruinous money issues. But those are never the reasons for divorce- rather, they’re the symptoms of a bad marriage. Lack of meaningful connection and proper attention and enduring affection led to those lapses,Enough scary divorce talk. Start with the last tip: “Love” is a verb.Think of something kind your spouse does for you. Text them right now and let them know how much you appreciate it.Yes, you may sound a little crazy. That’s okay - being romantic is, by definition, a little crazy.The best kind of crazy there is.Join over 330,000 readers.  Get a free weekly update via email  here.This article first appeared on Bakadesuyo.com.  You might also enjoy… New neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happy Strangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds 10 lessons from Benjamin Franklin’s daily schedule that will double your productivity The worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs 10 habits of mentally strong people

Training Session Offers Society Leaders Details on ONE ASME

Training Session Offers Society Leaders Details on ONE ASME Training Session Offers Society Leaders Details on ONE ASME Training Session Offers Society Leaders Details on ONE ASME On July 12, more than 100 volunteer leaders from ASMEs various technical divisions and Institutes took part in a training session during which they learned about ONE ASME - the Societys new organizational model that was approved by the Board of Governors during its meeting in April. The four-and-a-half hour meeting, which was held in Kansas City, Mo., was the first of three sessions designed to help Society volunteers better understand why the reorganization took place and how the new arrangement will operate. The training session, which volunteers could also attend via webinar, featured presentations by Board of Governors members Stacey Swisher Harnetty and Richard Laudenat, and three other ASME volunteers who were instrumental in the reorganization - Karen Ohland, former senior vice president, Knowledge and Community; Bobby Grimes, senior vice president of the new Technical Events and Content Sector; and Richard Marboe, vice president of the Programs and Activities Operating Board. In April, ASMEs Knowledge Community and Institutes Sectors were dissolved. A new Technical Events and Content (TEC) Sector was created to foster knowledge sharing between members, increase industry participation in ASME events, and make more efficient use of Society resources. Principal functions of the new sector include overseeing ASME technical conferences, events, webinars, and outreach programs, and managing all conference and event budgets. Copies of the brochure Engineering a Brighter Future, providing information on the new ONE ASME organizational model, were distributed at the training session in Kansas City. The brochure, pictured above, can now be downloaded from the ONE ASME Group page (https://community.asme.org/one_asme/default.aspx). The ONE ASME model also introduces a new Group Pathways and Support (GPS) system that is designed to encourage greater, more effective member engagement in ASME activities. The GPS consists of a network of volunteers and staff, along with various tools and resources, intended to advise groups on how to operate within ASME and make use of the Societys available programs and services. The GPS system will also give ASME volunteers the ability to help the Society develop new products and services, according to Michael Ireland, managing director of the new TEC Sector. Our volunteers know their markets well, but weve never really asked them to help us identify new opportunities, he said. The GPS will allow volunteers to engage with the Society, and then they are there to help the Society better understand the needs of the customer so that we create better products and programs to meet their needs. Were always looking for ideas, and now theres a process for members to put those ideas forward. The GPS System Group Page, to be posted on ASME.org in coming weeks, will serve as the hub for information exchange and provide links to additional direct communication tools, such as the online Requisition Tool, which can be used to submit inquiries, requests, and ideas and proposals for new programs. In the meantime, the GPS team can be reached by e-mail at GPS@asme.org. I truly believe the new ONE ASME strategy and approach will position us for game-changing growth as a Society going forward, doing more good than ever before for humankind by more effectively implementing the mission-driven strategies and priorities as expressed by our Board of Governors, added Grimes. The newly established pathways of engagement, GPS framework, and TEC Sector should unleash the potential of our subject matter expert volunteers working collegially with our staff professionals in newly defined, complementary relationships. While we previously participated primarily in our own silos, individuals and groups will now be able to engage in many more ways across the Society which should increase personal satisfaction and deliver more value for others, Grimes continued. This represents the inflection point we will look back on in a few years and marvel at how we realized the mission and financial growth objectives set by our ASME leadership team.The best is yet to come! Two additional training sessions will be offered in September and October for leaders of the Societys geographic Sections. The meetings, to be held Sept. 27 in Houston and Oct. 11 in Istanbul, Turkey, will also be webcast live for Section members who wont be able to attend in person. As space is limited in these training events, invitations will be going out soon requesting that individuals RSVP if they plan on attending in person. For more details on ONE ASME, visit the ONE ASME Group Page on ASME.org at https://community.asme.org/one_asme/default.aspx, where you can view a short video or download a copy of the brochure Engineering a Brighter Future, which was distributed at the Kansas City training session.

Attorney Finds Passion as Environmental Law Advocate

Attorney Finds Passion as Environmental Law Advocate Attorney Finds Passion as Environmental Law Advocate Laura Godfrey Zagar is a San Diego attorney who practices environmental law and litigation. As ?a  partner at the Environment, Energy Resources practice at Perkins Coie, she has played a prominent part in several innovative transmission lines and renewable energy projects. She regularly manages multijurisdictional, complex energy, and infrastructure projects as well as complex environmental litigation. Laura represents utilities, energy developers, and others before federal, state, and local agencies. Her project experience includes numerous major transmission lines, as well as wind and solar projects. Laura has extensive experience with the California Public Utilities Commission, as well as federal, state and local land use and natural resource agencies. One area of her in-depth knowledge is the transmission planning process, particularly as conducted by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). Here’s a look at Laura and the work she does in the environmental law field, and why she’s passionate about her work. 1. Why did you decide to go to law school (and where did you go), and become a lawyer?I wish I had a wise and reasoned explanation for why I went to law school, but I don’t. Coming out of college, I erroneously thought my options were limited - grad school, consulting, investment banking, or law school - and law school was the most appealing of those options. In retrospect, this view was not accurate. However, I do not regret my decision, as law school was the right option. I enjoyed learning how to think like a lawyer and how the right answers to a problem are not always as black and white as we think it might be initially.   2. Why did you choose your practice area? What about it excites you?I chose environmental and energy law initially because of the people that worked in this area both within the firm and the clients tended to be grounded with good senses of humor. What kept me in the practice area, however, are the interesting and important issues that we are confronting as a society in the environmental and energy areas. It is meaningful to contribute to our society’s response to these challenges. In short, when I turn the lights on, it’s very gratifying to know that I helped make that happen.   3. Tell me about the work you do in your Environment, Energy Resources practice. What are some of the cases youve worked on?My practice is an interesting hybrid of regulatory, transactional, and litigation work. Much of my work focuses on assisting clients in navigating the complex federal, state, and local regulatory schemes governing the development of energy and infrastructure projects. For instance, I have assisted clients in the development of major transmission line projects in Southern California that cross federal lands, state lands, and a number of communities. There are often many federal, state, and local agencies that have a say on where and how these projects should be constructed. Working with my clients, I help navigate this regulatory gauntlet to successfully get the project constructed safely, on time, and in compliance with environmental regulations. I also represent clients in litigation involving complex environmental issues, ranging from challenges to infrastructure projects to the remediation of a contaminated property.   4. Why is environmental law important today?As a society, we are confronting serious environmental challenges, most notably climate change. With California leading the way globally, nearly every aspect of our lives may need to be reimagined. Our houses will be designed differently, our food will be grown differently, our yards will look different, and our means of transportation will change. Environmental laws are the primary drivers of these changes, including the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and many states’ renewable energy and/or greenhouse gas reduction goals.   5. With many attorneys opting for a career in solo practice, why do you choose a firm career?Because of the nature of my practice, it is important to have a deep bench of specialists that can lend expertise as issues arise on the major infrastructure projects that make up a large portion of my practice. While I am highly knowledgeable on many of the issues that arise, such as endangered species and other natural resource issues, these projects often unexpectedly raise a wide range of environmental challenges. At Perkins Coie, I can call upon experts in nearly every facet of environmental and land use law into the project when the unexpected happens.   6. What else do you want to add about you, your practice, or advice for young attorneys?I encourage young attorneys to avoid writing off the practice of law because they are not enjoying the area in which they may initially practice. I tried several areas before ultimately landing in the environmental and energy practice area. Not all practice areas are the same, and often they each have their own personality. While someone may struggle in traditional commercial litigation practice, they might thrive in land use practice. To help figure out what areas may fit your personality best, talk to practitioners in the areas that interest you to see which would be the best fit.

Science says turn off all of those phone notifications immediately

Science says turn off all of those phone notifications immediately Science says turn off all of those phone notifications immediately Many of us know that the more time we spend on our smartphones, the more stressed out we feel. And while this self-awareness is an important first step, it often leaves us feeling even more helpless because we just watch ourselves fall into this rabbit hole time and time again rather than learning how to avoid it. Well, science is here to save the day (as always) with one simple answer:  disable all notifications.A  study  from Carnegie Mellon University and Telefonica suggests that using your smartphone sans notifications for a mere 24-hour period can noticeably improve your concentration, as well as reduce your stress levels.Back in 2015, the researchers originally set out to find a group of participants who would voluntarily disable all phone notifications for a week-long study, but apparently,  no one was willing to do that. (How  sad.) So, they adjusted their expectations and tried again to recruit participants who would be willing to turn off all of their phone notifications fo r 24 hours and ended up with a pool of 30 people. This group proceeded to complete the “Do Not Disturb Challenge” for a day, and then the researchers surveyed them on how they felt afterward and, two years later, observed whether their behavior toward phone notifications changed at all.While  some of the participants did feel anxious about missing messages  during the 24-hour period, on the whole, the group saw an improvement in concentration ability and a reduction in overall stress levels. The day after the experiment ended, 22 of the 30 individuals told the researchers that  this brief experience  made them want to rethink how much of a pull their phones have on them in their everyday lives.  Two years later, 13 of them had followed through on that desire and even reduced the number of push notifications they allowed their phones to send them.This study was definitely limited by its size, but that doesn’t make it any less important. In 2015  the average person received appr oximately 64 phone notifications per day, so just imagine how much that number likely increased over the past two years and how much it impacts us today. You might just think of it as a chirp here and a chirp there, but all of that phone noise adds up - and in a substantial way.This article was originally published on Swirled.