MAP Strategic Wealth Advisors

Five takeaways:

1. Reconnect with yourself: when a decision brings on feelings of self-doubt, ask yourself, “is this what I really want?” An honest answer to this question will help you impose boundaries on external stressors.
2. Practice self-compassion: Remember that mistakes and imperfections are part of the shared human experience. Remember that we are often our own harshest critics.
3. Set reasonable goals: Though reaching for the stars is admirable, setting reasonable goals can bring on the thrill of achievement and induce a feeling of momentum.
4. Spend time alone: Many people feel discomfort when alone. However, taking time for oneself can give you time to work out your own needs or preferences, and help to center you.
5. Master a skill: feelings of self-efficacy– the belief that you can perform and complete hard tasks– create a sense of aptitude and self-belief.

From Jacquelyn Johnson for PsychCentral
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Five takeaways:

1. Nutritionists often hear clients complain that eating lunch inevitably leads to an afternoon of fatigue, making it difficult to work. This is called postprandial somnolence — or, as it is known colloquially, the food coma.
2. Part of this phenomenon is due to basic physiology: When humans eat, most of our blood goes to the digestive organs to process the food. After a person eats, the body might produce more serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates sleep and mood.
3. Many combat this phenomenon by avoiding heavy lunches, but the makeup of foods can have just as drastic an effect. Meals high in fat such as fried foods or pizza, or meals high in added/refined sugar can have the exact same effect.
4. Poor or limited sleep can also exacerbate post-lunch fatigue. Sleep regulates digestive hormones. A sleep-deprived body may suppress a hormone called leptin that sends the “I’m full” signal to the brain.
5. For some, post-lunch fatigue can signal something more serious: diabetes or prediabetes. If you repeatedly feel tired after eating lunch even after making dietary adjustments, consult your doctor.

From Kristen Rogers for CNN
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Six takeaways:

1. The competitive spirit occurs naturally in human beings, but if it goes unmanaged it can have horrible effects on one’s life, This article provides a formula to overcome this: instead of always going for gold, shoot for the bronze.
2. A 1995 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology studied the emotional reactions of silver and bronze medalists in the 1992 Summer Olympic Games both immediately after their events and later on. For both groups, bronze medalists were the happiest in both the short and long term.
3. Silver medalists see themselves as “first loser” whereas bronze medalists compare themselves favorably with those who didn’t make it onto the podium.
4. This brings forth the distinction between upward comparison and downward comparison. If we compare cars, clothes, bank accounts with those wealthier than us, we’ll feel lesser. Downward comparison makes people feel better about themselves and, thus, happier.
5. Self-comparison is unavoidable, but you can take steps to fortify yourself against it. This includes avoiding or regulating social media use, looking at life as a series of long-term goals rather than benchmarks, and to view your main competition as being with yourself rather than with others.
6. Lastly, use mindfulness tactics/practices to remind yourself that you can only control your own path, and that validation should only come from within.

From Arthur C. Brooks at The Atlantic:
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Note: At the time of this posting The Atlantic offers five free article views per month.

Five takeaways:

• Despite endless statistics about how remote work increases productivity, working from home is a relatively new concept that takes a lot of trial and error before finding a routine that works. Productivity isn’t an innate skill (for most people anyway). It’s not even a skill really – it’s a series of habits that take consistent patience to build.
• The writer then lists five habits to making your WFH day as productive and pleasant as possible, noting how often we are confronted by the difference between expectation and reality. The tips are:
  1. Getting an Early Start: Oftentimes, we can wake up and jump into problem-solving mode (which, as referenced in the first article today, can derail an entire workday). Instead, plan to handle your biggest tasks as early as possible and stick to that plan. Save smaller, less urgent tasks for later on if possible.
  2. Deciding Where to Work: Working from home can be isolating, but working from cafes or coworking spaces can be expensive and distracting. One must invest in their home office space to … splurge a bit on a desk or chair or other decor that keeps you inspired to get the job done. Don’t be afraid to experiment as you find the balance that works for you.
  3. Prioritizing Tasks: Everything feels like the most important thing, so be intentional about what needs to get done first. Research concepts such as the Eisenhower Matrix or Eat That Frog that can assist with prioritization. Remember, the process of prioritizing tasks can take its toll on your mental bandwidth as well. Be decisive quickly, then work to tune other tasks out as you attack your most important goals for the day.
  4. Scheduling Uninterrupted Deep Work: There are a plethora of tools available to us that assist in minimizing distraction. Multiple apps (look into Forest and Zero Willpower) are good places to start. It is an important mental habit; by allowing ourselves to be distracted, we’re actually weakening our brains’ ability to focus on “deep work” in the long term. Distractions are unavoidable, but our reaction to them is something we can control.
  5. Maintaining Work-Life Balance: Set firm boundaries and do not waver on them. Incorporate a scheduled time off and build activities into that time off that service the human need for adventure, connection, creativity, and relaxation. Every individual has a different balance they must strike, but we all must be deliberate in pursuing full understanding of that balance. Doing so will guarantee a more refreshed mental approach to your work.

From Sarah Aboulhosn for Todoist
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