Stay on Your Game

So you finally got your new business up and running with all the phone services and other communication devices. There have been so many articles about the benefits of keeping your employees fit and healthy that point to better mind performance. Even if your business does not have the fancy gym or spas, you can still help keep your staff on the top of their game. Meetings are going to happen so why not make them better. The next time you have to have a meeting, take it out of the building and do a walking meeting. It is good for your body and mind because it will inspire creativity and your employees will be happier for the fresh air. As far as exercise goes, take the stairs and never the elevator. It is a great way to get your blood pumping if you are pressed for time. The desk that you are using now isn't exactly helping. Many people will opt for standing desk but the fact is that we were not made for standing either. There needs to be some combination of the two.

Playtime

Do you have playtime? What does it mean to you? I remember having recess in grade school and it was a time when we could play and run around and decompress. Why in the world do adults don't get a recess? Playing is one of the best ways to release stress and get those creative juices going. When we let go of stress and worries for some time, we are able to come up with better solutions to the problems that we face. Playtime doesn't always have to be with physical activity but it gets to be a grey area when it come to gaming applications. Your best bet is to go outside. I think more companies should invest in things like that for their employees. There are already special rooms where people can take quick naps or meditate. What if there was an adult sized playground? It would come equipped with swings and monkey bars and anything else you want. I would definitely go for a 30 minute break on the swings.

Learn to Program

We live in the twenty first century and computer literacy is on the level of being able to read. A liberal education is designed to give the students flexibility and creativity for problem solving. On a fundamental level, learning to program is learning a new system for ordering ideas. It conditions one’s mind to approach problems creatively in the same way that calculus and philosophy build one’s intellectual arsenal for a wide range of challenges that have nothing whatsoever to do with line integrals or metaphysics. More importantly, we live in a digital age where we need to be able to use technology its full potential. Learning the different subjects that have nothing to do with software development will actually make you better at it. Many higher education institutions claim that they offer a broad spectrum of the humanities and sciences but the truth is that there are ways to get around it and the colleges need to do better if they are going to compete in the world market.

Improving Self Confidence

We all that little voice in our heads that keeps telling us that we are not worthy and not good enough. Do not listen to that voice because it carries no merit and needs to be shut up. The first thing you could do is give yourself a pep talk. This has to be out loud and you should tell yourself that you can nail that software development presentation and that you are going to be awesome. This is also where you just say no to negative thoughts, they are not helping you at all. Get a sheet of paper and make three lists. Start jotting down 10 of your strengths, 10 of your achievements, and 10 things you admire about yourself. This can serve as a great reminder of why you are unstoppable. Studies have shown that taking the time out of your day to help others can greatly increase your happiness. Helping those who are down on their luck allows you to realize just how good you have it. Another way you can increase your confidence is by learning a new skill such as web development. That will be useful in an job market.

Protecting Your Company When Employees Bring Their Own Devices

With your employees handing sensitive data and documents over cloud services, there are some things you can do to prevent any leaks or other disasters. The first thing you should do is train your employees. Cluelessness could be your downfall because most employees will not take the time and effort to get in only to bring themselves down. Come up with guidelines -- and distribute them -- for how your business’s data and e-mail are used on employee devices. The goal is to encourage workers to exercise caution. Since most of them will be using their smartphones to access emails and documents, all of the employees should have mobile device management software which allows the remote control of a mobile device. It can be locked remotely or the data could even be wiped. It can also set up firewalls and encryption. Do you have any other advice for employees using their own device?

Mother's Day Conundrum

This is the 21st century so why in the world are we still acting like it is the dark ages about reproduction? There have been countless articles about workplace equality and that woman are still not getting equal pay for equal work. News flash, women rarely get the equal work to begin with. They are seen as lesser, whether consciously or unconsciously. In some cases, a uterus on legs. What if a woman decides that she does not want to have children? Is there something wrong with her? That is how society portrays them. Once again, let me point out that we live in 2015 where there are mobile applications, cloud services, and smart gadgets and yet half of the population's worth seems to be based on their biology. I bet the transgender community has these bigots really confused. In a lot of cases, this sort of separation starts in grade schools where girls are not even encouraged to study math and the sciences, and this will continue all the way through grad school. You can still be a complete person without children. What do you guys think?

Taking Productivity to the Next Level

As human beings we are bound to struggle with procrastination at one point or another. You might also be one of those that has tried everything in the book and every hack that has been suggested. The list is endless, ranging from mobile applications to locking yourself in a room but here are a couple more that might be more towards the helpful side of things. One of the things that you can try is to write down an object and the time frame in which you wish to have it completed, and be reasonable. Then just set your alarm and have at it. That way you make a game of it and don't have to waste time looking at the clock or your phone every five minutes. If you are traveling, one of the secrets that I found is to be the last person to board the plane. Get there really early, sit down, and get to work. You can work while it take the 30 minutes to board instead of just standing around waiting with everyone else. Lastly, get to know your habits and where you are wasting the most time. It will give you the bigger picture so that you will be able to approach the problem better.