One Minutes Solutions to Making Life a Bit Better

All it takes is one minute. Are you one of those people that wonders where the day went by the time it gets to be time to go to sleep? You probably also jump at the prospect of having to only spend several minutes to improve your health or happiness. Fortunately there are some one minute solutions to making life a bit better. Of course, there is really no need to forgo the web applications that help with meditation or longer exercises. Take a minute to give someone a hug. It will make you feel good and lower your blood pressure. Don't forget to laugh and smile because it releases endorphins and other feel good hormones. If you work at a desk job -- or even if you're just a tech fan outside of the office -- you probably spend a fair amount of time in front of screens. But all that computer time can do a number on your eyes. Make sure to look somewhere else for some time and have your eye focus on something that is at least 20 feet away.

Sunday Nights: Getting a Jump Start on the Week

There are a lot of hacks and ways to stay on top of your game in the professional world and at home. Not to mention a slew of mobile and web applications that are at your fingertips. Sunday can be a great day to relax and rejuvenate for the following week. Sunday night on the other hand should be used in ensuring that the following week run as smooth as possible. One of the first things that you should do is write down the hardest challenges awaiting your in the next couple days. When you write down the problems of the week, you have put them into an archive. Your brain takes a breather because you know what is facing you. Now that you have the stressors out of your system, do something that your enjoy and gets those happy chemicals flowing. You should also use that Sunday to reconnect with people that are not involved with your work. The best part about that is it will give your mind a new perspective and a breather from always talking and thinking of ways to increase profits, start a new company, or improve marketing. And connecting with these people also means that you should not have any gadgets out.

Doing the Mind Some Good

There are plenty of game and mobile applications along with exercises that you can do to keep the mind sharp, but what about the physical ways that you can help your brain function? First of all hydration is super important. Dehydration can lead to lethargy, difficulties concentrating, and ultimately cognitive decline. When you first wake up in the morning, drink two glasses of water to flush out your system and get the day started. Also keep water with you at all times. Best part is that it can help with controlling your weight as well. It is well documented that eating sugar can lead to mood swings, irritability and sluggishness. If you are craving it, keep some fruit around. While you are eliminated sugars, you should also moderate your caffeine and alcohol intake. It can leave you dehydrated and lacking key nutrients. Lastly, do not forget to exercise. It can be something small as taking a walk at lunch too. It will help you function better, keep stress at bay, and manage depression.

Four Day Work Week?

What are your thoughts on moving to a four day work week? It seems like the five day forty hour week has been the norm since forever but it is actually relatively new. Many companies have been toying the with idea of shorter weeks and some have actually tried it out. Turns out, it might be more beneficial than you imagined. First of all, there is increased productivity because your employees are better rested and happier. It is also better for families who are trying to balance a career and have a life a home as well. Employee turnover can be extremely difficult for businesses. Losing talented people, and then having to spend time and money identifying and training replacements, can be a major burden. Having that extra time off can also stimulate creativity so they can find amazing solutions and create great mobile applications as well. Would you be willing to jump onboard with the shorter work week?

Time Staring at Screens

A new survey of British youngsters found the time they spend online tripled in a decade to more than 27.5 hours a week at the end of 2014. The average adult Internet user claims to spend over 20 hours online every week, double the time from a decade ago. The study also found that Internet users can be careless when it comes to protecting themselves online. "The majority of internet users (68%) are happy to provide personal information online in the belief they will benefit in some way," the study said. With so much data being online and stored using cloud services, it is amazing that there are not more hacks. When it comes to deciding what type of cloud services to use, bigger businesses should really consider the private cloud because it would be too much of a risk if any of the data were to leak out. How much time do you spend online? Imagine all the things that you could be doing with that time instead.

Reconnecting With Joy

So here you are, the wearer of many hats, but are you happy? We try to juggle so many different roles but at what expense? Now is the time to get your schedule under control and see what the really important things in life are. One of the first things that you should do is decline or shorten a meeting. Are you really productive in achieving your goals in all of those meetings? You could even opt for a video conference which could be made shorter and you do not have to leave your computer. Next, try to group similar tasks together so that you are able to focus better and actually immerse yourself in the work. While you have been busy creating to-do lists, did you notice that it never really gets shorter. One of the things that you can do to take a hard look at that list and ask if each thing on there is relevant to what you are doing. Take the time to really understand what works for you in terms of productivity such as the time of day and the mobile applications that can help with the to-do list. Lastly, make time for play because it will stimulate creativity and even give you more energy.

Technology and Aging

Our vision weakens as we age and eventually we reach the point where we don't trust our ability to find places once the sun sets. It would be great if street signs would talk to us through a bluetooth headset as we approach. What about when we are too old to actually drive? For so many people, it is seen as a sign of independence but with smarter cars and even ones that can drive themselves, more people will be able to stay on the roads longer. Another way that technology will make life easier is if doctors' appointments will be held over internet phone services. It will be alright that they are not there in person because the patient will have remote vitals monitoring. Many of the routine services that doctors traditionally have provided in their office are changing. There are mobile applications that help you track weight, exercise, calories, etc. There will be more apps that help you understand your body, your illnesses, your surgeries, your medications and their possible side effects.

Annoying Problems With the Apple Watch

As with any new product out on the market, the first time it is there, it goes through a sort of consumer test. The company will then know what the most obscure problems are. From the get go, the Apple Watch is complicated to set up. They say it has 16 steps but then there is a small disclaimer that says they are not comprehensive. Great, there goes a whole afternoon. Once you get it all set up and good to go, you realize that even though the screen does not get scratched up, it can shatter when dropped. The sides do get all kinds of scratches. So you wrap it up in bubble wrap. Next thing that will come to your attention is that it will drain you battery, fast. The mobile applications on it are adapted from the iPhone which can sometimes make them awkward to view on the small screen. Lastly, there have been reports that it does not charge. When you take you new toy out of the box and it will not charge is something akin to your car not starting in the middle of the desert in Botswana. I'm just saying.

Rants About Tech

Technology and software development and even mobile applications have improved our lives in the past several years but this is not a one sided coin. The speed of the Internet has led the youngest generation to expect that everything is immediate. Do you remember those days when you had to sit there waiting patiently for a couple minutes to actually get online and then for the page to load? Now we expect a drone to deliver what we ordered two hours ago. Just as we get used to our new cellphone, we're being told that it's time to upgrade to the newer model, which is bigger, faster, has more memory and does more tricks. This means that everything has a relatively short shelf life and upgrades are needed constantly. Also, as great as internet phones services are, there is a point where we lose that human interaction. Instead of actually being with each other, we whip out our phones and stare at the screen while sitting next to each other. When was the last time you actually looked into someone's eyes while talking with them?

What Will AI Look Like?

What do you think artificial intelligence will look like? The co-founder of SwiftKey was saying the AI will be autocorrect and predictive software development. Thinking like that is just looking at one part of AI. What if it can be expanded to "auto-suggest" your whole life? The software will gain knowledge about you (this is already done in full force by the way) and then make suggestions such as when you should get going so that you are not late to your next meeting or even if you should take a nap. Most of the AI that you hear about is akin to robots taking over the world, but what if the technology can augment and amplify our own intelligence? We already use technology for things like eyeglasses to see better and cars to move around faster and more efficiently. This technology augments our physical states. So why not add to our mental states as well? Is it really that different?

Improving Efficiency

In our world, it sometimes seems like the people that work late into the night and those that always appear busy are the really hardworking types and manage to produce more results and get more done in a day. The truth of the matter is that they produce just as much as the other people. We need to start working smarter and not harder. First of all, it is better not to stay up too late because productivity takes a serious nose dive the later into the night that we stay up. Couple that with staring at the screen and several mobile applications and we are well on our way to being fried the next morning. Being sleep deprived can also wreck your mood like no other. Next, if you have meetings, make sure to schedule them close together that you do not lose time in between. Those 45 between meetings are not enough to get anything off your to-do list. Lastly, take care of yourself. This means eat healthy and get enough exercise so that your feel energized and motivated. Also, take the time to meditate several minutes a day because in the long run, it will benefit your tremendously.

Let It Go

It is probably one of the best songs I have heard. It has meanings on so many different levels but the message is very much universal. There are things that are holding you back from being your very best and it is time to let go, whether it is fears or self made prisons. With the new year just started, you can let go of some of the following things and be able to see real changes for the new year. Letting go of the lies that you tell yourself as well as the self criticism is one of the best ways to get started. Stop having limiting thoughts like "I cannot do this" and "Things just never go my way". They turn into self fulfilling prophesies. Secondly, people make mistakes, they fail, and you are only human. Stop beating yourself up, learn from the mistakes, and move on. In software development we call that updates. You should also let go of anxious thinking. Instead of spending energy on worrying, focus on being prepared.

Diet Changes

To eat healthier, you do not need any mobile applications to help you along. It is really a matter of changing small habits and sticking to them. Now you cannot tell me that you do not know at least three people, if not you, that are trying to eat healthier this year. First of all, it all starts in the grocery store. You should not shop for food when you are hungry and always go around the perimeter of the store so that you get the food that is not processed. It is important to keep healthy things such as berries and nuts around that house that you quickly grab if you are craving something. Another habit to pick up is to pay attention to the portion sizes. It is also important that you cook more at home. That way you will know exactly what is going into your meals. It might even be fun and enjoyable to create the meal. On the plus side it almost always tends to be healthier than going out to eat. Lastly, do not forget to drink the water and stay hydrated and stay away from the sodas.

Techy Office Gifts

No software development company is quite complete without these interesting and also useful techy gifts. You can't overestimate the importance of a correctly positioned computer monitor — placing your screen in the wrong spot can cause eye strain, neck pain and poor posture. Not to mention when you are using internet phones, it would be a good idea to have it positioned just right. Essentially, you want to keep your body as loose as possible using the minimum amount of effort to view your screen. No matter how hot Starbucks makes their coffee, even it can cool within minutes of reaching the office — especially in blustery winter weather. A trek to the kitchen can interrupt work and decrease productivity, so consider gifting a USB coffee warmer. This simple device, which easily plugs into your computer, can keep a mug hot without a trip to the microwave. And for less than $10, it makes a great casual gift for coworkers or friends. There are also many different solar powered chargers on the market which can make a great gift for the tree hugger in your life.

Internet Keeps Getting Better

There are some things about the internet that are good and not complicated and without people spying on what you are searching for. While it is used for content management systems for businesses to be in control of the content on your website without having to know the ins and outs of web development, there are a lot more things that you can do that will help improve your skills. First of all you can read faster with Spreeder. Copy and paste the text of an article into the box, and Spreeder will flash each word on the screen individually, helping you read hundreds more words per minute than you could on your own. Have you ever asked, "What time works for everybody?" and then wanted to bash your face against your keyboard? This is where Doodle comes in. Ask all parties to check off the times and dates that work for them so you can pick a time from a neatly organized chart. StudyBlue helps you make digital flashcards to help you study. It keeps track of the ones you got wrong, too, so you can use your desktop or mobile device to focus on the material you're most unfamiliar with.

Planning

No matter what field you are in, planning is crucial. I have often heard that without a plan to succeed, it is a plan to fail. All it takes is twenty minutes each day to make a plan but it will save you so much time and stress in the long run that you will wonder why you have not been doing this all your life. It will give you a chance to improve and better yourself (and who does not want to do that?). Here is an example of the process you could try out. You will need to make eight goals for the day, six that are professional and two that are personal, in the morning. The next morning, check that list and see how you did and create a new list for that day. On Saturdays, have two professional and six personal goals. Then on Sunday, there are no lists. Even if this does not work for you, find a system that works for you. You can even get the help of mobile applications.

What to Do On Slow Days

Even the busiest business professional have days that are slow and there is nothing to do. There are several options that you have before you go playing all those mindless mobile gaming applications just to pass the time. You can organize your desk which in turn will help organize your thoughts for the next big project or anything that comes up. Get rid of anything lying around that you don't use on a daily basis. Take a moment to organize all your short-term and long-term tasks. Even on a slow day, you likely have a few projects or long-term commitments that are sitting on your back burner. Take a moment to analyze and sort all the tasks you're currently facing. On slow days you could take the time to learn something new. You could attend a webinar or read up on the subject in your field to stay on top of the news and developments. There are also many different youtube videos that you could check out.

Office Hacks

Work can sometimes be frustrating especially if that business application development or content management systems are not quite working the way they should. Then something another small frustrating things happens and it is like the straw on the camel's back and next thing you know, the day is really going downhill. Luckily, there are things that can help turn it around. Cords laying around everywhere can get distracting so you can use a binder clip to wind your earbuds around or to tidy up those other cords and keep them in place. If your WiFi is acting up, you can use foil to control the direction of it and make sure that it is coming your way and no one is hopping on it and slowing things down. Do you have anymore suggestions to make the workday a little bit less stressful?

Cloud Computing: What It Is

Cloud computing comes into focus only when you think about what IT always needs: a way to increase capacity or add capabilities on the fly without investing in new infrastructure, training new personnel, or licensing new software. Cloud computing encompasses any subscription-based or pay-per-use service that, in real time over the Internet, extends IT's existing capabilities. Just the same way that there is less and less hard copies and paper, there is less software that is directly on the computer's hard drive. It is stored in another place that can be accesses through the internet and any device. One of the best parts about cloud computing is that you can build only what you need and what you will be using. This is a great aspect of the cloud if you are a business professional looking for that edge. Do you use the cloud?

Voice Over Internet Protocol

Voice over IP (VoIP) is a business phone system that resides in the cloud. If your company is using Hosted VoIP, the phone set on your desk utilizes the internet to connect to your provider’s phone system. This service reduces the amount of equipment a business needs to own and maintain. Hosted VoIP providers maintain multiple systems and provide automatic failover should one become inoperable. One of the things that you will need is cabling and it might be better to call a third party cabling company which will give you an estimate ahead of time. You also need cable internet otherwise VoIP might not be worth it. How many phone sets do you need and how many phone lines or call paths do you require? What percentage of your employees will be on the phone at the same time? Human nature is to order more lines than you actually need. Most businesses can get away with 40 percent less phone lines than phone sets. If you’re considering Hosted VoIP, start keeping track of the percentage of your employees that are using the phone at the same time.