coffee

Does Coffee Make You More Productive?

By in Living Well Tags: ,

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Coffee is the most popular beverage in the world. In the United States alone, people drink about 450 million cups of coffee each day.

For many people, coffee is an integral part of their day. A lot of people strongly believe that they need coffee in order to get work done and be productive. But is that really true? Does coffee make you more productive?

Research indicates that to a certain extent, the answer is “yes.” Coffee (or, more specifically, caffeine) does briefly make you feel more energetic and alert. Thus, coffee can help you to focus, remember new information, be more accurate, perform better on cognitive tasks, and get more done.

But there’s also a downside. Coffee can make it harder for you to get to sleep at night. And if you get a bad night’s sleep, you’ll be tired, lethargic, and unproductive the next day. Now you might try to fix this problem by drinking even MORE coffee – but that will only make it that much harder for you to sleep. And just like that, you’ll find yourself in a vicious circle.

So what should you do? Author Taylor Martin suggests that you drink coffee in moderation. Figure out the amount of coffee that works for you – the amount that gives you a boost without giving you the jitters or keeping you up at night. And try not to go over that amount.

If you still feel groggy, even after drinking your allotted amount of coffee, try to boost your energy in other ways. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Go outside for 15 minutes – The natural light and fresh air should help to make you feel rejuvenated and refreshed.
  • Stand up and move around – Get up from your desk and get a little exercise.
  • Chill out – Splash cold water on your face. Or drink some really cold water. The cold should help to revive you.
  • Eat something – Chewing food can actually wake you up.
  • Laugh – Laughing releases endorphins, which can help to pep you up.

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Martin, T. (n.d.) How coffee actually affects your productivity. Doist. Retrieved from: https://blog.doist.com/coffee-productivity/

The Perfect Amount of Coffee

By in Living Well Tags: ,

Cup_of_Coffee

For a lot of people, coffee is an integral part of their day. It helps them to get going, be productive, and get their work done. Coffee is, in fact, the most popular beverage in the world. In the United States alone, people drink about 450 million cups of coffee each day.

I’m a big fan of coffee. It’s delicious! There’s nothing better than having that first cup of coffee in the morning. In addition, studies have shown that coffee is associated with certain health benefits. It may help to prevent diseases such as type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, cirrhosis of the liver, and heart disease.

But is it possible to have too much of a good thing? According to a recent study at the University of South Australia, the answer is “yes.” Researchers found the following:

  • A moderate amount of coffee is good. People who drank two cups of coffee a day experienced a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. (They were healthier than people who drank no coffee at all.)
  • A lot of coffee is bad. Researchers found that people who drank six or more cups of coffee a day increased their risk of cardiovascular disease by 22 percent. Six cups seemed to be the tipping point between “healthy” and “unhealthy.”

So go ahead and drink that coffee. But try to limit yourself to fewer than six cups a day. Your heart will thank you!

 

Clanton, N. (2019, May 15). Study finds there really is such a thing as too much coffee. The Roanoke Times. Retrieved from: https://www.roanoke.com/news/trending/study-finds-there-is-such-a-thing-as-too-much/article_9be43e99-d32c-5833-8ee6-928f57ef2bb6.html

 

Coffee Shop Crime

By in Living Well Tags: , ,

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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.