The WorkPuzzle gang has been a little slow in recovering after Memorial Day Weekend. We'll be back to our normal publishing schedule next week.
To wrap up this week, I thought I'd post something a little more eclectic than normal. I found two "lists" this week that caught my attention. Whenever I spend significant time away from the office, I tend to come back and question my priorities--what am I doing, and why am I doing it? As I try to get back on track, rules that speak to priorities tend to resonate with me.
The first list was orginally published in Reddit and was consolidated by Dina Spector, one of the Business Insider contributors. It is an intriguing list of small things you can start doing to make yourself more healthy. If you click through to the original article, most of the insights are documented with original research citations.
The second list is written by Jeff Hayden and published in Inc. Magazine. It is a list of things that you should immedietly elliminate from your daily routine.
So, here is a slight adaptation Hamlet's famous question: To do, or not to do. That is the question.
To Do
1. Learn to drink your coffee black. Coffee is good for you (in moderation). Eliminating milk, cream, sugar, or flavorings will cut calories and maximize coffee's health benefits.
2. Stand on one leg while brushing your teeth. This is an easy multi-tasking activity that can improve your balance.
3. Spread avocado on your toast instead of butter. Avocados are a good source of healthy fats. The fleshy green fruit is a mainstay on the "superfood" list.
4. Meditate for just 20 minutes a day. At least a dozen executives swear by the relaxing technique.
5. Eat fruit instead of candy. Candy is sweet because it contains processed sugar, usually high fructose corn syrup. Fruit is sweet because it contains natural sugar, while it's also rich in fiber and vitamins.
6. Learn how to cook. You will eat healthier, save money on dining out, and boost your self-esteem armed with a new skill.
7. Park farther away from your destination. This is an easy way to squeeze more physical activity into your daily routine.
8. Use the stairs instead of the elevator. This will burn calories and tone leg muscles.
9. Shop on a full stomach. Studies show that people who snack before a grocery trip buy fewer unhealthy foods.
10. Drink more water. The benefits of staying hydrated are endless — healthier hair, skin, and more energy. Some fitness experts claim you can lose weight if you drink water before every meal.
11. Turn off your phone from time to time. Occasionally unplugging can help stressed individuals achieve a state of complete relaxation.
12. Read a book. Expand your knowledge, reduce stress, and briefly cut ties with the Internet.
13. Walk faster. Power walking will help blast fat — and get you to your destination sooner.
14. Eat whole wheat bread instead of white bread. Whole wheat bread is higher in fiber than regular white bread. Fiber helps with digestion.
15. Moisturize daily. A good moisturizing regimen prevents dry, flaky skin.
16. Stretch every day. Studies have shown that, in addition to enhancing flexibility, stretching makes you stronger and increases endurance.
17. Regularly wash your hands with soap and water and dry properly.This simple step gets rids of germs and drying off prevents the spread of bacteria.
18. If you are a regular public transport user, get on the bus one stop later than usual, and get off off one stop earlier than usual. Walking burns calories, reduces anxiety, and strengthens bones.
19. Wear sunscreen. You don't want skin cancer. And you don't want to look like this.
Not to Do
1. Check my phone while I'm talking to someone. Stop checking your phone. It doesn't notice when you aren't paying attention. Other people? They notice. And they care.
2. Multitask during a
meeting. The easiest way to be the smartest person in the room is to be the
person who pays the most attention to the room.
3. Think about people who don't make any difference in my life. Trust me: The inhabitants of planet Kardashian are okay without you.
4. Use multiple notifications. You don't need to know the instant you get an email. Or a text. Or a tweet. Or anything else that pops up on your phone or computer. They can wait. You, and what is truly important to you, cannot.
5. Let the past dictate the future. Mistakes are valuable. Learn from them. Then let them go.The past is just training. The past should definitely inform but in no way define you--unless you let it.
6. Wait until I'm sure I will succeed. You can never feel sure you will succeed at something new, but you can always feel sure you are committed to giving something your best.
7. Talk behind someone's back. If only because being the focus of gossip sucks. (And so do the people who gossip.) Spend your time on productive conversations. You'll get a lot more done--and you'll gain a lot more respect.
8. Say "yes" when I really mean "no." When you say no, at least you'll only feel bad for a few moments. When you say yes to something you really don't want to do you might feel bad for a long time--or at least as long as it takes you to do what you didn't want to do in the first place.
If you follow the advice on both of these lists, your summer will be off to a great start, and you'll be making investments in yourself that will pay dividends far beyond the next few months.
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Editor's Note: This article was written by Ben Hess. Ben is the Founding Partner and Managing Director of Tidemark, Inc. and a regular contributor to WorkPuzzle.
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