Samantha Yoseph

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Coffee Shop Crime

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Coffee_Shop

A question that should be asked when deciding what business to put in a vacant lot is, “How will this influence the community?”

James Wo, a doctoral student at the University of California, conducted research on the effect that neighborhood institutions have on crime rates in the community. He did his investigation using a large sample of neighborhoods from a variety of cities within the U.S.

Wo investigated the effect of coffee shops and alcohol outlets on crime. Through his research, he found that coffee shops reduced crime while alcohol outlets increased crime. This was due to the increased opportunity for crime produced by bars and liquor stores.

With internet and technology, face-to-face meetings lessen when people can simply text, call, or use social media to check up on their friends. This reduces the chance for positive social interaction, which also increases the chance for more crime. Wo states that he wants to “enhance cohesion and social ties amongst residents” through more social events to bring the community together.

Think of it like this: the more you get to know someone, the more you understand them and the less you want to hurt them.

So what should you do to help your community? Increase the amount of positive influence in your neighborhood!

If you’re ever in a position that allows you to make a positive change, then go for it. Everyone has the ability to make a difference. Make your neighborhood a better place not just for you, but for your neighbors too.

No one wants to be living in an area full of danger. To make communities safer, you have to start with the foundation.

To read more about Wo’s research, click the link below.

Neighborhood institutions like coffee shops and bars can have a significant positive or negative impact on local crime rates.

Night Owls in an Early Bird World

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Night_Owl

You know, I never understood how some of my friends were able to fall asleep at 9 or 10 p.m. I’m still watching my prime time shows and apparently they’re already in bed passed out? Who the heck gets tired at 9 p.m.?

According to sleep specialist Michael Breus, the time we wake up and go to sleep actually depends on our genes. He categorizes people into four different chronotype groups: lions (early birds), bears, wolves (night owls), and dolphins.

He even made a short quiz for people to test to see which of the four chronotypes they would fit with most. I happen to be a wolf, but no surprise there.

I, myself, can say that I am an avid night owl. I sleep late and wake late, when given the chance. Unfortunately for me, this world is full of early birds, and work or school supports that lifestyle.

Every morning I dread having to go somewhere with a tired mood and a mind that hasn’t even woken up yet. Here we go again, right?

But hey! We night owls have to get through this morning-filled life somehow, so here are some tips to thrive in a nine-to-five work environment:

  • Change your working hours, not your sleeping hours.

What time do you get up to get ready for work and how many hours of sleep do you need? Ask your boss about switching your hours if you need to. Your boss wants you at your best, so chances are, he or she will say yes. But don’t get too greedy. Keep your core working hours the same, and simply adjust your starting and ending times so you’re able to produce better work.

  • Have creative “off-hours” and put yourself on autopilot.

A study done by Mareike Wieth and Rose Zacks showed that taking a break from solving a difficult problem can allow your mind to be more open to new ideas. This is referred to as the incubation theory of creativity. But you can also work on repetitive tasks that don’t require much thinking. So if you’re feeling groggy in the morning, file papers, reply to emails, or answer missed calls.

  • Prepare the night before.

If you work best at night, then there’s nothing wrong with a little head start. Since you’ll be more out-of-it in the morning, take some time the night before and do what you can so you’re able to sleep in a bit longer. Maybe have your clothes ready to use right away, or prepare breakfast and lunch. Get some more sleep-in time.

 

 

Hudepohl, D. (2016, July 11).  Not an early bird? How night owls can crush it at work. LearnVest. Retrieved from learnvest.com/2016/07/6-ways-night-owls-can-thrive-in-a-9-to-5-work-world

Music: On Air

By in Learning, Living Well No Comments Tags: , ,

Enjoying_Music

A constant most of us have in our lives is music.

It’s on the radio we hear, the ringtone that sounds when someone calls, the commercials in between the TV shows we watch, and even the drumming of spoons on a table.

Truth be told, music can be made out of anything — your voice, the keyboard of the device you’re reading this off of, or even a cup.

Music can define who we are, and each culture often has their own style of music.

So I guess we can all agree that music is pretty great. But can it help you to work more effectively?

Studies show that music can absolutely make you more productive at work! Some general restrictions may apply, though.

For instance, unfamiliar music and music with lyrics are distracting. Both create curiosity in the brain, forcing listeners to shift their focus from the task at hand and focus more on what will come next or what the artist is saying.

But classical music (more specifically, Baroque) or ambient noise works rather well if you have more exacting work to do. There are no lyrics, so they work well when you’re just looking for something to fill the silence without it being too distracting.

Another good option is video game music. Just think about it. Video games require high amounts of concentration, and the designers want their music to enhance the players’ focus on the game without getting them too distracted. Video game music is designed for focus!

So, how does this work? How can music help us to work more effectively?

Here’s the science behind it:

When we listen to music, dopamine is produced all around the brain.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, and is most often known for creating a “feel-good” state. Some call it a “happiness chemical.” When it’s released, it’s that feeling you get when you receive a present you always wanted or when you eat a piece of cake you’ve been eyeing. It’s like getting a reward.

So, that happy mood you’re in when you’re listening to music? That’s why you’re able to work better. You can thank dopamine for that.

All in all, there is ultimately nothing wrong with listening to music during work. Just make sure to choose your music genre carefully!  

 

Ciotti, G. (2015, Aug. 27). How music affects your personality. Help Scout. Retrieved from helpscout.net/blog/music-productivity/

Cooper, B. B. (2013, Dec. 6). The surprising science behind what music does to our brains. Fast Company. Retrieved from fastcompany.com/3022942/the-surprising-science-behind-what-music-does-to-our-brains

Sadako Peace Day

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Origami

千羽鶴 (Senbazuru).

A thousand paper cranes.

In Japanese mythology, cranes are mystical animals believed to have lived for a thousand years and bring luck and longevity. There is a legend in Japan that says if you can fold a thousand paper cranes, you will receive a wish, such as a long life or recovery from an illness.

On August 6, 1945, a nuclear bomb dropped in Hiroshima, Japan. A little girl only two years old named Sadako Sasaki had been in her home about two kilometers away from the explosion. Approximately ten years later, Sasaki was diagnosed with leukemia and was given, at most, a year to live.

According to the website maintained by her family, Sasaki was told of the legend of a thousand cranes. And after seeing other patients around her folding paper cranes in order to get a wish, she started on her own journey to fold cranes.

She lacked paper in the hospital, so she created these creatures with paper from get-well presents or wrappings from medicine bottles given to her. Her family and friends would often come by and help her fold more cranes as the days passed by.

By the end of August, Sasaki had folded a thousand cranes and continued to do so.

Sasaki passed away on October 25, 1955.

Of course, a legend is a legend. No one could predict what would happen with Sasaki, but unfortunately, she wasn’t able to survive the consequences of the bombing.

Perhaps the cranes didn’t listen to her wish. Perhaps they did, and she wished for something else instead. There is no final word on what Sasaki really wanted, and only she will know the truth.

This just helps to bring war into perspective.

About 80,000 victims died instantly in the Hiroshima bombing. Sadako Sasaki was just one of about 112,000 victims that later died as a result of its aftermath and radiation.

The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation holds an annual event around August 6th to remember Sadako Sasaki’s story and pay tribute to the victims of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.

As a result of war, innocent lives were taken.

Of course, this world will never be perfect. There will always be conflict, as it is normal behavior to show power through confrontation.

But stand up for peaceful solutions and try to find the best in a situation. Put yourselves in the shoes of those you fight against and understand them.

When the time comes, peace may turn your worst enemies into your best allies.

Welcome to the World of Artificial Intelligence

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AI

Will the world be overrun by machines with superhuman intelligence? With the overwhelming advance in technology and our reliance on devices, are we slowly giving away the reign of humanity?

I want to view the future in a positive light, so I like new, advanced technology. Using this technology, we could create so many new ways to enhance and prolong human life. 

I don’t have the best outlook for us now, but I think new research advances will allow this current generation to be the bridge between the modern and new world. We’re right there in the middle, bringing our world into the vast unknown that is full of possibilities we can’t even imagine yet.

But is technology really that great? Even I have my doubts about human reliance on personal devices. What is the limit? How much is too much?

It’s not something that looms over most people’s minds on a daily basis, but it really is something that should be considered. We use technology to do so many of our daily activities.

You don’t have to go to the grocery store anymore because you can shop online and have it delivered. You can communicate with your best friend using a phone call even though your friend might live only a couple blocks away. So many of our important documents are kept inside a little flash drive of storage.

Even the technology we use is being constructed using even more new advancements, such as 3D printing and autonomous robots. The possibilities are endless!

But where does it stop? Or, better yet, when does it stop?

Sam Harris shares his thoughts on AI and humanity’s control of the situation. Harris discusses the problems we choose to put off (perhaps until it’s too late), the possibility of advancing too far, and superhuman machines.

Watch his TED talk here. What are your thoughts on this situation? Should we really ignore these issues? Should we try to prevent them? Should we try to integrate ourselves and our minds into the technology that is soon to be developed?

Social Life: Office or Phone?

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Social_Media

Depending on where you work, the use of social media may be encouraged or discouraged.

In workplaces where there are no strict regulations against using mobile devices during work hours, surveys indicate that many employees use time on their devices as a mental break. Mental breaks increase productivity and alertness, which is extremely important when working.

Some also use their social media to check in with friends and family, solve work-related problems, or build connections with the people they work with. However, not very surprisingly, it can also be considered extremely distracting and a waste of time and money.

Studies from the Pew Research Center showed that 56% of workers believed that the use of social media improved their work ethic, while 22% found it to be detrimental. The outliers included the 16% that felt it had no impact and the 4% that believed social media was both beneficial and a hindrance. 

So, does social media have a positive or negative effect on your productivity at work?

Well, it really depends on how you use it. Use the power of social media to your advantage! Of course, it’s easier said than done.

If you don’t slack off on your work, you could find great ways to incorporate social media into your work life.

Creating an account on Instagram or Twitter for your office would allow you to get the word out through well-known means of communication. You could promote your business or find some new talent. Or you could make a YouTube video to advertise your goals or inform your audience about the services you have to offer.

Anything that can be used to interact with your listeners, use it. Social media provides the opportunity to reach large audiences, while also promoting diversity and inclusion. 

And there’s nothing wrong with checking up on a couple of your friends or family members. Social media can improve your work ethic when used for mental breaks. Just make sure that your quick five-minute break doesn’t turn into a thirty-minute scrolling session through videos of cats.

 

Lampe, C., Olmstead, K., Ellison, N. B. (2016, June 22). Social media and the workplace. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/06/22/social-media-and-the-workplace/

 

Tea Party

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Tea

Coffee. It’s delicious, has many flavors, and gives us much needed energy for those groggy mornings, but is it the best choice? Coffee can increase stress, cause an addiction that makes it hard to rely on the body’s natural sources of energy, and limit the detoxification of the liver.

But what about a new alternative? What about tea? Try something new for a change. Skip the coffee and brew some hot tea instead.

Some perks of drinking tea include: an immune system boost, lower risk of heart disease, and lower blood pressure. Tea is also a source of antioxidants and has anti-aging properties.

Want to make some, but not sure what to choose? Well, I can help you out with that too. There are five basic styles of tea.

  1. Oolong tea increases mental performance and alertness, and strengthens the bone to prevent decay.
  2. Black tea improves your cardiovascular health and reduces the formation of cavities or tooth decay.
  3. Green tea has a bunch of antioxidants and nutrients that can improve brain function and enhance weight loss.
  4. Pu-Erh tea cleanses the body’s blood and digestion, and prevents multiple diseases through its antioxidant properties.
  5. White tea fights cancer and maintains healthy skin by protecting it from ultraviolet rays. White tea also happens to be naturally sweet!

I’ve honestly always preferred tea over coffee, so forgive me if I sound biased. But really, replace coffee with tea for a week if you haven’t done so already. It’d be a new, refreshing experience, and you might even find yourself liking tea a bit more.

 

Positive Drinking!

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Water_Drop

Water. It’s something we all come across in our daily lives, hopefully more than once. But did you know that just like humans, water can be affected positively or negatively by word choice?

 Japanese scientist Masaru Emoto conducted experiments throughout the 1990s to show that water would form “beautiful crystals after giving good words, playing good music, and showing, playing, or offering pure prayer to water.” But with negative feedback, the structure of water would become “disfigured,” clumping up into blobs of molecules instead of crystalline shapes.

Amazing, right? Well, it doesn’t stop there. There happens to be more to this discovery.

Our bodies are made up of about 65% of water. And you know what that means? Our own molecular structure is actually influenced by what we hear in our everyday lives.

This just goes to show how much our own positivity can influence others greatly. And everyone always needs a little happiness during their day. So don’t be afraid to compliment someone’s outfit, or even smile and wave to the security guard at the desk on your way to work.

A little positivity can change a person’s day, and there’s nothing wrong with spreading a little love!

 

 

Toozhy, M. (2016, April 22). The effects of your positive words. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mehdi-toozhy/the-effects-of-your-posit_b_9557912.html

Relaxing With Your Kids?

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Relaxing_With_Kids

It’s the middle of summer and you have a bit of time for yourself. However, it looks like you won’t have that break after all. Summer means no school, and no school means the kids are home. There they are running around and– oh gosh, there goes your mother’s favorite vase.

But don’t let those kids stop you from having your fun! Here are some relaxation techniques you can do, even with the extra presence of a few little rascals. And if you don’t have any kids, that’s fine! Take some time to try these activities on your own or with a few friends.

Step outside and get some fresh air. Studies show that fresh air can reduce stress significantly and increase productivity. Let your kids run around and burn off some energy while you sit back and relax with a new book.

It’s time to blow off steam. Scream your heart out on roller coasters, overcome your fears, and burn a few calories while you’re at it. Waiting in line is worth it if it boosts your mood or gives you some extra bonding moments.

All that beneficial fresh air (and finally putting down your phone for a couple of days) will allow you to relax and socialize with others, and you’ll get some extra hours of sleep in. Plus, it will appeal to your sense of adventure.

Just like you, kids get stressed as well. Take some time to stretch and embrace your tranquility with your little ones. Studies show that meditation with your kids will improve test scores and good habits, teaching kids to be more compassionate.

Ever hear of baking therapy? It might be messy, but it’s a good way to take your mind off things for a while. Small projects increase relaxation and happiness, and having a creative outlook will improve your sense of well-being and control over your life.

 

Keep Talking, You’re Just My Type

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Texting_Not_Talking

Sorry, everyone. This is not relationship advice on how to flirt with that one guy you always see at the coffee shop before you leave.

Well, maybe it could be. It depends on how you use the information I’m about to tell you.

Six billion people have access to phones, and phones help us communicate. The entire world is right at our fingertips! But where is the line drawn? When does using our devices become too much?

In many conversations I’ve encountered, I have constantly seen people looking down to use their phones. Whether it’s another Snap they need to take, or a text they need to answer, it just doesn’t stop. And I’m not going to lie, it’s pretty annoying. What is so important that you don’t even have the common decency to pay attention?

Face-to-face conversations are important to human interaction.

The thing about online communication is it provides only a fraction of verbal communication and almost no non-verbal communication. When trying to relate to a person or trying to get to know someone better, both verbal and non-verbal communication is key. Both indicate different thoughts and feelings to the listener, but it’s something we lose when using online communication.

This isn’t the fault of our phones though.  It’s due to the human desire to not want to be alone or awkward. Nobody wants to be bored during a conversation, so we turn to our phones as a safe haven.

But the truth is, we need that moment of blunderingly fidgeting around to build better human relations with the people around us.

Sherry Tuckle wrote a book called Reclaiming Conversation. In this book, Tuckle came up with a way to alleviate this miscommunication and phone addiction: the seven-minute rule.

The seven-minute rule states that if you ever find yourself in a lull during a face-to-face conversation, give it seven minutes before you take your phone out.

The moment of boredom you so humanly dislike actually allows your brain to run through thoughts and come up with new ideas to talk about. You’re in a situation in which you have to come up with something to say, and you can use that to further the conversation with the people you’re talking to.

So the next time you ever feel awkward in a conversation, just wait around for a little while until you make the decision to take your phone out. Maybe you’ll gain a new friend. Or even that guy at the coffee shop.

 

 

Suttie, J. (2015, Dec. 7). How smartphones are killing conversation. The Greater Good Science Center. Retrieved from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_smartphones_are_killing_conversation

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