Category Archives: brain

How To Stay Focused When The Sun Is Calling Your Name

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We finally have nice weather and the sun is a frequent visitor here in Buffalo. Since we’ve been cooped up all winter and spring (that rain!) we all want to enjoy as much of this summer as we can. Only problem…? We still have to work! How many of you look out at the beautiful sun shining while sitting at your desk wishing you could be outside doing literally anything else?! Well my friends, I have good news and I have bad news. For most of us our responsibilities are a year-round thing. But I have some ideas on how to keep your focus in the right place.

Prioritize Your Day – Make a list of everything that needs to be done that day or that week. You’ll get a feeling of accomplishment when you get to cross things off the list while you’re actually getting things done! A list is a way to hold yourself accountable for your responsibilities and unless you put “slack-off” on your list, you won’t have time to!

Shift Your Work Hours – Find out how flexible your job/manager is and if you can switch up your hours. Coming in an hour early means you get to leave an hour early! This would allow for more friend/family time in the sun!

Keep Yourself Busy – If you are busy doing your work or helping others complete a task, you really don’t have time for much else. Keeping yourself busy will help keep you focused and make the day fly by!

Get Outside More – This is our goal! If it’s possible, eat your lunch outside. Or take your laptop and finish that report outside. Even a quick walk or a few minutes outside in the fresh air can help to reboot your mind and body and help finish out the day.

Take The Day! – Most of us get the weekends to recharge, some of us don’t. Whether you do or not sometimes an extra day is exactly what we need. So if you’re capable to take a personal day, do it!

These are just a few ideas on how you can stay focused at work when the sun is shining and calling your name outside. Staying focused through the summer months make it easy to transition into the fall and winter months and keeps you ahead of the game!

Visit our website here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/index.aspx

Visit our open jobs here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/jobs.aspx

 

How Screen Time Can Affect Your Day at Work

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You have a deadline coming up but you just can’t focus… You have material you have to present to your boss but you can’t get organized because you’re fighting the feeling of exhaustion… You promised to help a co-worker out what a project but you left all the documents at home because you were rushing to get out the door due to your lack of energy and motivation… These things could have been prevented if you had gotten a better night’s sleep.

In my household, screen time is a way to relax and wind down from the craziness of the day. And I know for a fact that my family is not the only one that uses these techniques to chill out at the end of the day. However, it is not the ideal way to accomplish this. There have been many studies showing the negative effects of too much screen time; especially too close to bedtime and how it can ruin your sleep. If you don’t get enough sleep, you guessed it, it’s harder to focus and stay awake the next day.

I’m sure everyone has had at least one good night’s sleep and can remember how good you felt in the morning. You feel refreshed, well rested, and ready to take on the day. I know that even more people can easily relate to the feelings of exhaustion, grogginess, and being irritable. This happens when you do not get a good night’s rest.

There are a few things that were suggested to do instead of staring at a screen right before bed:

Read a book! For those of you not familiar with this ancient pastime… a book is a series of pages with words on them that tell a story. Pick one up and try it, you will be pleasantly surprised!

Talk with your family! Gone are the days when people prefer to just sit down and talk with each other. It’s sad really! Talk about what you all did during the day. Talk about what you’re excited for the following day. Talk about things happening farther into the future. Make up stories! The possibilities are endless!

Color! There are the classic children’s coloring books, but they make adult coloring books now too! This is a creative way to wind down and relieve some stress!

Sleep experts suggest putting down all electronic devices two hours before bedtime. But, if that doesn’t seem realistic for you and your family, even a half hour is better than nothing. Electronic devices include: phones, iPads, computers, TVs, and laptops. I know what you’re thinking…IMPOSSIBLE!

I challenge everyone to try this for a week (that’s really not a long time!) and see if you notice a difference in yourself and/or your family members.

I bet you do!

Written by Lindsay Olewniczak

Visit our website here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/index.aspx

Visit our open jobs here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/jobs.aspx

Chocolate! Now that I have your attention…

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Do you find yourself feeling sluggish during the day? Are you finding it hard to focus on your work?  Are you a little apprehensive to try those 5 hour energy drinks? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions you are clearly looking for a little pick me up! One of the most popular avenues for people to take when in need is food.

Don’t all foods boost your energy? Yes, but in different ways. Sugary drinks, candy, and pastries put too much fuel (sugar) into your blood too quickly. The inevitable crash leaves you tired and hungry again. “Complex carbs,” healthy fats, and protein take longer to digest, satisfy your hunger, and provide a slow, steady stream of energy.

Here is a list of foods that can help give you the energy you need to help feel great and accomplish all your tasks:

  • Oatmeal
  • Eggs
  • Chicken
  • Beans
  • Walnuts
  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Berries (Blackberries, blueberries, strawberries)
  • Dark chocolate
  • Water

Hello, Chocolate!

These can be used as lunch ideas, or as snacks throughout the day. And in moderation! This is in no way giving you permission to go out and buy a giant sized bag of dark chocolate Hershey Kisses and eat the entire bag! But maybe now you won’t feel guilty about having one or two every once in a while!

Enjoy!

Written by Lindsay Olewniczak

Visit our website here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/index.aspx

Visit our open jobs here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/jobs.aspx

Five Hobbies That Make You Smarter

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We all have hobbies. Some are fun, some are relaxing, and some are just habit.  Our brains are designed to develop new connections and pathways during stimulating activities and these connections can actually increase our intelligence. Here are five hobbies that are great catalysts for doing just that.

  1. Reading. Anything, anywhere, anytime. Study after study has shown that reading is one of the best things you can do for your brain on a daily basis. It reduces stress, increases creativity, and increases problem solving ability. If you are reading this, you are off to a great start!
  2. Writing. This is a great hobby because it engages cognitive, optical, and motor skills, especially when you are writing by hand. Writing is also a great way to find an emotional equilibrium and reduce stress.
  3. Playing an Instrument. Playing any type of instrument has been proven to actually increase your IQ. It boosts creativity, self-expression, and provides an outlet for all the pressure of everyday life.
  4. Puzzles. Sudoku, solitaire, thoughtful board games, and crossword puzzles just to name a few. These activates are relaxing, stimulating, and amazing for your brain. They all increase neuroplasticity, which can help in problem solving, understanding, and looking at problems from multiple viewpoints. It also helps us to recognize patterns and can even help prevent depression and anxiety.
  5. Working out. Regular exercise is crucial for not only your physical health, but your mental health. Regular workouts cause our cells to become flooded with BDNF, a protein that has been proven to help with memory, learning, focus, concentration and understanding.

What hobbies do think make you smarter? Send us your comments!

Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen

 

How to increase your happiness at work without getting a new job.

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Most full time employees work around 40 hours a week. For some, this time goes by quickly and it doesn’t feel like work at all. However, a recent Forbes Article divulged that about 70% of Americans are to some degree unhappy during the 40 hours a week that they spend at the workplace.  Are you one of them? While the obvious answer may be to find another job, we believe that there are a few things that you can do to really improve your happiness at the workplace.

GET ENGAGED. Studies have shown that employees who jump into the work environment, interact with those around them, and really get to know their products are much happier at work. Go to work functions after hours, participate, and get to know the people in the break room.

STAY ACTIVE. Although it may be sometimes necessary to stay at your desk most of the day, employees who keep physically active are overall much happier than those that do not. Go for short walks, stretch, and maybe even get some exercise during your lunch break if you have the opportunity.

BE COMFORTABLE. Talk to your employers about maintaining a comfortable thermostat (between 65 and 70 degrees), reducing noise, and utilizing adjustable chairs and desks. If you are uncomfortable, you are not going to be able to set yourself up for happiness at work.

In short, if you are really unhappy with the work that you do or the company that employees you, you may need to start looking for other options. But, there are a lot of unconscious factors that could lead to increased job satisfaction that you may not even realize. If the opportunity is there, you should always get engaged in office activities, move around, and maintain a comfortable workspace.

Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen

Let’s Talk Podcasts

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Are you a podcast person? I am. I did not really start listening to podcasts until I discovered they were an excellent way to pass time on my 45 minute commute to work. Since then, I have started listening to them everywhere. At the gym, on road trips, and even at home. Read on to discover the top reasons why I believe everyone should listen to podcasts.

They provide listeners with a constant opportunity to learn and think.  Podcasts help listeners to think creatively and inspire innovation. Podcasts have grown so much over the years, and you can pretty much find a podcast [or 50] on just about any topic. As a business person, podcasts are a great way to constantly learn about your field. Listening to a great podcast once a day would be like attending a business conference every week.

They are free. You have to pay for most music streaming services, audiobooks, and even some sports broadcasts. But not good ole podcasts. It is free to subscribe to your favorite channels or download individual podcasts as needed.

They are convenient. Since podcasts are available right on your smartphone, you literally do not need anything to start listening to podcasts right now. Just find a podcast that you like and click play!

 

My Favorite Podcasts:

  • TEDTalks – Nonprofit Organization
  • Freakonomics Radio – Stephen J. Dubner

 

What are some of your favorite podcasts to listen to and why?

 

Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen

Memory-Increasing Tips For All To Try

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“When is this project due again?”

“What did my boss say to focus on during this presentation?”

“Wait, was my intern’s birthday today or tomorrow?”

It has been found that people remember 10% of what they read, 20% of what they see, and 30% of what they hear. While different scholars have found that this concept may be inaccurate, one basic idea shines through – People don’t remember very much. So what can you do to increase your memory? Maybe try some of these tips, if you can remember them!

  1. Become interested in what you’re learning. It is so much easier to learn about stuff you care about instead of trying to advance in a field that you have no desire to learn about. If you can’t become interested, try learning about something else.
  2. Leverage your visual and auditory memory. These are the areas where your memory will be most effective, so if you need to remember something, you should say it out loud! In addition, if you can think of a way to link a visual to what you need to remember, your chances of remembering are definitely going to increase.
  3. Associate new information with what you already know. Make comparisons, remind yourself of past memories, or link new information to something else.
  4. Write out things you need to remember. If you are reading something, try summarizing each page by writing out key facts. It may take longer, but you will definitely remember more!
  5. Sleep! Without proper sleep, you won’t be able to remember anything. So do what you have to do in order to get to bed on time.

 

 

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Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen