Friday, October 30, 2020

The week in review - October 30, 2020

Monday - "No blog post today" Oops. "I took a couple of days to wind down this weekend and I didn't do my Friday and Saturday posts until this morning before I went to bed...I didn't have time to do today's blog post, too."

Tuesday - "Active Listening Lessons From FBI Negotiators That Will Get You What You Want" This can actually be applied to your real life. "Everything in life is a negotiation, whether it's where to go for dinner, trying to get your teenager to clean their room, getting a prospective client to buy from you or negotiating a hostage situation."

Wednesday - "How To Wake Up And Not Feel Like Going Right Back To Bed" Develop a winning morning routine. "I don't know about you, but there are often days that I feel like doing this. So, what can we do about it?"

Thursday - "The Great Debate #TBT" Probably one of the biggest debates in history! "Don't fall for the either/or trap. Because you can have it all."

Interesting days





Week long celebrations:
Nov 1 - Nov 8: Marzipan Week

November 30 - Computer Security Day, Mousse Day, Stay Home Because You’re Well Day, Mason Jar Day and Cyber Monday

Month long celebrations:
Nov 26 - Dec 31: A Blue Christmas

 

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Thursday, October 29, 2020

The Great Debate #TBT

Today's blog post was originally published five years ago:

A Facebook friend shared this picture yesterday:


How many of you remember that TV series? And more importantly, how many of you remember the great debate about the show? If you're a male, in the 60 year old range, then I'm sure you already know what the debate is...but if you don't know I'll tell you in a minute (or maybe two depending on your reading speed).

In yesterday's blog post I talked about personality and personality tests, including the 4 question test at www.ipersonics.com but there's been a 3 word personality test around for the last 50 years. So what is it?

Ginger or Mary Ann?


As the article in the link says 
It's a question that's as much about personality and expectations as it is about looks. Ginger had the va-va-voom figure, the sparkly gowns (so many, packed for what was supposed to be a three-hour tour) and the breathy Marilyn Monroe voice. Mary Ann had a lovely figure too, though her outfits were more Daisy Mae than glamorous movie star. But she was the one viewers could relate to, a winsome farm girl who was as all-American as the flag. Ginger was the unattainable dream, Mary Ann the more realistic dream come true.
For years my response was Mary Ann, then it was "Yes" (why choose?) but more recently I've changed from an either/or mentality to a both/and one. So my answer is Ginger and Mary Ann. Not necessarily at the same time (get your mind out of the gutter...but if the opportunity presented itself, it wouldn't be fair to play favorites) but to live an abundance lifestyle.

Here's an interesting article Moving From Either/Or to Both/And on the subject. Here's a quote form that article:
So, what if there really is enough pie to go around, for everyone, all the time? I could kick myself, because so often I approach life with a limited, constrained point of view, which is really just a mentality of depletion and impoverishment. That's no way to live.
What if there is enough pie to go around? I think there is. Don't fall for the either/or trap. Because you can have it all.

Interesting days


Today - Cat Day and Internet Day What is it about the internet and cat videos?

Tomorrow - Checklist Day, Bandana Day, Create A Great Funeral Day, Haunted Refrigerator Night and Candy Corn Day


I better buy some today so that I can build my own ear of corn. Photos tomorrow.

Next Thursday - Love Your Red Hair Day, Men Make Dinner Day, Project Management Day and Gunpowder Day

Week long celebrations:
Nov 1 - Nov 8: Marzipan Week
November 29 - Chocolates Day, Lemon Cream Pie Day, Throw Out Your Leftovers Day Square Dancing Day and Electronic Greetings Day How last millennium!


Month long celebrations:
Nov 26 - Dec 31: A Blue Christmas
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Wednesday, October 28, 2020

How To Wake Up And Not Feel Like Going Right Back To Bed

I don't know about you, but there are often days that I feel like doing this. So, what can we do about it? Check out today's blog post which is based on an article from Nylon.
How do some people manage to look so darn perky as they sip coffee and smoothies in their Instagram stories in the morning? It all comes down to establishing a winning routine, one that’s easy for you to do every day and leaves you feeling awake, alert, and inspired. You don’t have to steal an entire routine from these fitness and wellness experts, but they have some pretty great suggestions of places to start.

Once you begin to develop a routine of your own, optimize it to your specific needs. Meditation for 20 minutes might not work for you, but maybe you can handle five minutes. Yoga might not be your jam, but what about a few basic stretches instead? And journaling can feel a little cliche, but what about a Google Doc where you list one thing daily that you’re grateful for? We don’t all need to be fitness and wellness junkies, but we can all get a little bit better at managing our mornings and crushing the rest of our day.

I've written about some of these before, but here's the list from the article:

  • Stay Offline
  • Get Some Sun
  • Add a Yoga Flow
  • Scrape Your Tongue (or Whatever)
  • Meditate
  • Get in a Quick Workout
Be sure to check out the article for more information.

Interesting days



Tomorrow - Internet Day and Cat Day 


Week long celebrations:
Nov 1 - Nov 8: Marzipan Week

November 28 - (I can't access the website)  

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Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Active Listening Lessons From FBI Negotiators That Will Get You What You Want

Everything in life is a negotiation, whether it's where to go for dinner, trying to get your teenager to clean their room, getting a prospective client to buy from you or negotiating a hostage situation.

Today's blog post is based on an article from Pocket:

In any negotiation, people want two things out of the conversation — to get what they want and still walk away with the relationship intact.

The good news is, you can get both outcomes — by leveraging influence, and emotion, you can use the same strategies of FBI hostage negotiators.

Whether you’re asking for a raise, selling a product, buying a house, or just deciding where to go on holiday with your partner, your negotiating skills will determine how pleased you are with the outcome.

One skill that will have a positive impact on your future negotiation style is active listening — a technique requires that the listener to fully concentrate, understand, respond and then remember what is being said.

Much like a therapist listening to a client, you negotiate by acting as a sounding board rather than ready to jump in with your own ideas and opinions. It’s is the first thing FBI hostage negotiators use to de-escalate incidents and save lives.

Negotiation expert Chris Voss, former lead international kidnapping negotiator for the FBI and author of Never Split the Difference (named by Inc. Magazine as one of the 7 best negotiation books of all time) explains:

If while you’re making your argument, the only time the other side is silent is because they’re thinking about their own argument, they’ve got a voice in their head that’s talking to them. They’re not listening to you. When they’re making their argument to you, you’re thinking about your argument, that’s the voice in your head that’s talking to you.

The FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Unit developed the Behavioral Change Stairway Model (BCSM) for a negotiation process. BCSM consists of five stages: active listening, empathy, rapport, influence, and behavioural change. Progression through these stages occurs sequentially and cumulatively.
  • Active Listening: Listen to their side and make them aware you’re listening.
  • Empathy: You get an understanding of where they’re coming from and how they feel.
  • Rapport: Empathy is what you feel. Rapport is when they feel it back. They start to trust you.
  • Influence: Now that they trust you, you’ve earned the right to work on problem-solving with them and recommend a course of action.
  • Behavioural Change: They act. (And maybe come out with their hands up.)
These techniques can be applied in everyday negotiation scenarios. It’s not only useful crisis negotiation, — it can be applied to almost any form of disagreement, or conflict in life and at work.

Gary Noesner, former chief negotiator with the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group and author of Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator discussed the use of active listening techniques. He writes:

During negotiations with a subject, negotiators must demonstrate that they are listening attentively and are focused on the subject’s words. Negotiators can convey these qualities either through body language or brief verbal replies that relate interest and concern. The responses need not be lengthy. By giving occasional, brief, and well-timed vocal replies, negotiators demonstrate that they are following what the subject says. Even relatively simple phrases, such as “yes,” “O.K.,” or “I see,” effectively convey that a negotiator is paying attention to the subject. These responses will encourage the subject to continue talking and gradually relinquish more control of the situation to the negotiator.

Active listening is a difficult skill to master. Most people are terrible at listening. They skip this step and start talking. To get what you want in a negotiation, listen to what your counterpart is saying — don’t interrupt, disagree or evaluate, just listen first.

Here’s Chris again, “If your first objective in the negotiation, instead of making your argument, is to hear the other side out, that’s the only way you can quiet the voice in the other guy’s mind. But most people don’t do that. They don’t walk into a negotiation wanting to hear what the other side has to say. They walk into a negotiation wanting to make an argument. They don’t pay attention to emotions and they don’t listen.”

To take the negotiation to another level, “Negotiate in their world” argues Chris Voss in his book, Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It. “Persuasion is not about how bright or smooth or forceful you are. It’s about the other party convincing themselves that the solution you want is their own idea. So don’t beat them with logic or brute force. Ask them questions that open paths to your goals. It’s not about you.”

Truly effective negotiators are conscious of what they say, and their choice of words. “Even changing a single word when you present options — like using “not lose” instead of “keep” — can unconsciously influence the conscious choices your counterpart makes,” says Voss.

If you want to influence or persuade anyone, improve your listening skills — It’s the most active thing you can do. Negotiation is a process of discovery. Uncover as much information as possible. Ask questions that show you’ve been paying attention and with that knowledge, move the discussion forward.

Most of us are bad at active listening, even though we know how important it is. As Stephen Covey said in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People "Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood".

I just purchased the audiobook for "Never Split The Difference" from Audible.

Interesting days





Week long celebrations:
Nov 1 - Nov 8: Marzipan Week
November 27 - (I can't access the website)


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Monday, October 26, 2020

No blog post today

I took a couple of days to wind down this weekend and I didn't do my Friday and Saturday posts until this morning before I went to bed...I didn't have time to do today's blog post, too.
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Your weekend guide to interesting days - October 24, 2020

This week

Sunday - Toy Camera Day, Chocolate Cupcake Day, Developmental Language Disorder Awareness Day and No Beard Day







Week long celebrations:
Oct 19 - Oct 25: Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week

Next week






Thursday - Internet Day and Cat Day 



Week long celebrations:
Oct 19 - Oct 25: Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week

Next month


November 18 - (I can't access my calendar)




November 23 - (I can't access my calendar)

November 24 - (I can't access my calendar)

Week long celebrations: 
Nov 16 - Nov 22: Road Safety Week

 

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The week in review - October 23, 2020

Monday - "Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) Wrong" From The Art of Manliness. "We all know those collective maxims on success: nice guys finish last; it’s not what you know, it’s who you know; winners never quit."

Tuesday - "8 Personal Finance Lessons from Benjamin Franklin" Another from AoM. "Don't pay too much for the whistle!"

Wednesday - "4 Ways to Upgrade Your S’mores" An AoM triple play! "The bacon sounded especially good, although bacon always sounds especially good, As does the Baileys."

Thursday - "Your Son Isn’t Lazy — How to Empower Boys to Succeed #TBT" Guess where this one is from! "If you have teen-aged, or young adult, sons or grandsons, you may want to check this out."

Interesting days




Week long celebrations:
Oct 19 - Oct 25: Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week

Next Friday - Checklist Day, Bandana Day, Candy Corn Day, Create A Great Funeral Day and Haunted Refrigerator Night

November 23 - (I can't access my calendar)

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Thursday, October 22, 2020

Your Son Isn’t Lazy — How to Empower Boys to Succeed #TBT

Today's blog post was originally published two years ago:

This is the first of a three part series on motivation, procrastination and what to do about them. This first part is based on a podcast from The Art of Manliness.

Do you have a teenage boy who struggles in school? Or do you have a younger son who you can imagine struggling in school as he gets older? He may be an otherwise capable young man, but seems apathetic and unmotivated, to the point you think he’s not excelling simply because he’s lazy. My guest today says that’s the wrong conclusion to draw, and one that leads to the wrong parenting approach to addressing it. 
His name is Adam Price and he’s a child psychologist and the author of He’s Not Lazy: Empowering Your Son to Believe in Himself. Today on the show, Dr. Price argues that the real reason many young men are unmotivated is not that they don’t care about succeeding, but that  they feel too much pressure to do so, and are scared of failing. We discuss why nagging and over-parenting simply exacerbates this issue, and how stepping back and giving boys more autonomy can help them become more self-directed and find their footing.

I haven't read the book yet, but after I do I may have more to say on this subject.

And from personal observation, I think it applies even more so for the oldest son. My parents noticed it in me. I noticed it in my older son, who seems to have gotten his act together! And I've noticed it in friends' families. I don't know if it's true, but just what I've personally observed.

Here are the highlights from the podcast:

  • The prevalence of unmotivated boys in our culture and schooling
  • Why simple unmotivation is different from depression or other clinically-diagnosed problems 
  • Laziness vs. fear and avoidance
  • Are more young men disengaged today than a couple decades ago? 
  • How boys handle stress differently from girls 
  • Why academic pressure is more acute nowadays
  • Why it’s okay for boys to be late bloomers
  • The physical and emotional changes of adolescence
  • How parents typically respond to this type of teenage behavior
  • The dangers of overprotective parenting
  • Why your kids shouldn’t be treated like royalty
  • An exercise to determine how much you do for your kids, and how to start letting them do more on their own
  • What it looks like to set boundaries in a way that also allows autonomy 
  • Why letting kids fail is absolutely necessary
  • How parents should approach their teens’ bedrooms (in regards to cleanliness) 
  • How long does it take for these principles to start to take hold?
  • Your primary job as a parent (hint: it’s not about making your kid(s) happy) 
  • How to get disengaged boys to talk

If you have teen-aged, or young adult, sons or grandsons, you may want to check this out.

Interesting days

Today - Caps Lock Day, International Stuttering Awareness Day, Nut Day and Smart is Cool Day


Week long celebrations:
Oct 19 - Oct 25: Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week
Next Thursday - Internet Day and Cat Day 


Week long celebrations: 
Nov 16 - Nov 22: Road Safety Week
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Wednesday, October 21, 2020

4 Ways to Upgrade Your S’mores

I've spent a lot of time on The Art of Manliness website over the last couple of days and I kept seeing this article and even though it's nowhere close to S'mores Day, I figured it was a good time to share this with you!
Few fall activities are as enjoyable as sitting around a campfire on a cool evening and roasting up marshmallows, either to enjoy on their own or as part of that quintessential campfire dessert: the s’more.

This classic treat has been around for about a century, finding immediate favor with Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops as early as the 1920s. Despite this venerable history, and though I’m a guy who generally respects tradition, I think it’s perfectly fine to toy with its long-standing formula in the modern age.

That begins with how the s’more is roasted: while campfire-generated flame is certainly ideal, if that’s not an option because you’re living under a burn ban or due to other circumstances, you can get perfectly suitable results in roasting your mallows over a grill, gas stove, or propane fire pit. You can also get indoor s’more makers powered by electricity or Sternos which are great for parties. You can even make them in the microwave or en masse on a baking sheet in the oven, though the results aren’t quite the same, and you miss out on attempting the masterful, delicate art of roasting your marshmallow to a perfect golden brown.

A break from tradition is also entirely acceptable when it comes to the actual recipe of the s’more itself. A sandwich of two graham crackers, toasted marshmallow, and ½ chocolate bar is undeniably tasty, but certainly does not represent the limits to which the s’more horizon can extend. A few swaps and tweaks can actually elevate the classic treat to new heights.

Over the last few weeks, with help from various friends and family members, I’ve experimented with a number of these s’more “recipe” variations and upgrades. The fun part of the testing was doing it sort of buffet-style, laying out all the possible ingredients and allowing everyone to sample and rank their favorite combinations. Our findings were dutifully filed (with sticky fingers), and you’ll find our recommendations grouped into the four categories below.
I'm a purist at heart, but these do sound interesting. And as I always say:

If you decide to try these upgrades, be sure to let me know what you think. 

  1. Swap Out the Hershey’s for Other Chocolates
  2. Swap Out the Graham Crackers for Other Cookies
  3. Add Interesting Toppings
  4. Dip It in Baileys
The bacon sounded especially good, although bacon always sounds especially good, As does the Baileys.

Interesting days



Week long celebrations:
Oct 19 - Oct 25: Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week


Week long celebrations: 
Nov 16 - Nov 22: Road Safety Week

 

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Tuesday, October 20, 2020

8 Personal Finance Lessons from Benjamin Franklin

Here's the article from The Art of Manliness that I promised you yesterday:

Benjamin Franklin rose from 17-year-old runaway to successful printer, newspaperman, author, inventor, diplomat, and statesman. His great success came from living the virtues of frugality and industry, and his life offers us many personal finance lessons that apply to modern men just as much as they did to those living in colonial America. So without further ado, let’s dive right into uncovering some of Ben’s timeless wisdom:
  1. Understand the True Value of Things
  2. Be Self-Sufficient
  3. Invest in Yourself
  4. Surround Yourself with Friends Who Share Your Values
  5. Don’t Compromise Your Integrity for Money
  6. Steady Diligence Is the Way to Wealth
  7. Time Is Money
  8. The Accumulation of Money Is a Means to an End

Don't pay too much for the whistle! (See the description of lesson number 1 from the article). In fact, be sure to check out the article for descriptions of all the lessons.

Interesting days




Week long celebrations:
Oct 19 - Oct 25: Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week


Week long celebrations: 
Nov 16 - Nov 22: Road Safety Week
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Monday, October 19, 2020

Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) Wrong

Today's blog post is based on a podcast from The Art of Manliness. I was actually going to do a different post from AoM, but this one seemed like a good prelude to that one, so look for 8 Personal Finance Lessons from Benjamin Franklin tomorrow.

We all know those collective maxims on success: nice guys finish last; it’s not what you know, it’s who you know; winners never quit.

We’ve heard them so often that we accept them as articles of faith.

But are they really true?

My guest today says, yes…and no.

His name is Eric Barker and he’s the author of one of the few blogs I regularly read: Barking Up the Wrong Tree. There, he takes a look at what actual research says about these tried-and-true maxims of success and provides a nuanced, often counterintuitive look at them. He’s recently taken some of his best writing from 8 years at the blog, expanded on it, and turned it into a book by the same name.

Today on the show, Eric and I discuss why most of the ideas we have about success are wrong and what we can do to be better advice sleuths. Eric shares research that shows why high school valedictorians are less likely to become millionaires or influential leaders, and what that teaches us on the importance of knowing ourselves. He then breaks down the idea that nice guys always finish last, and how it’s both true and false at the same time. We then discuss why grit can sometimes be overrated and why winners in fact always quit. We end our conversation discussing why being a glad-handing extrovert can both garner success and sew the seeds of failure, and how the idea of work/life balance is making people more miserable than ever, as well as what you can do about it.

Lots of fascinating tidbits in this show that you can implement right away to improve your life. Plenty of great cocktail party fodder as well.

Here are the highlights from the program:

  • The uneven distribution of information regarding questions about success and happiness
  • Why is so much information on the internet wrong? And why do people keep consuming it?
  • Why blanket, generalized advice is so misleading
  • The power of doubling down on your strengths vs trying to improve your weaknesses
  • Why valedictorians are less likely to become high-powered leaders
  • Why the world still needs people who follow the rules and aren’t “cool”
  • Do nice guys really finish last?
  • The two things we ask ourselves when meeting new people, and how that impacts our interactions
  • Is grit overrated?
  • Strategic quitting — how to know when to give something up
  • WOOP — Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan
  • The real importance of networking
  • How extraversion can hurt your career
  • Work-life balance — the unhealthy sacrifices of the uber-successful
  • Why 30-somethings are more miserable today than they were a generation ago

 Interesting days




Week long celebrations:
Oct 19 - Oct 25: Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week


Week long celebrations: 
Nov 16 - Nov 22: Road Safety Week

 

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Saturday, October 17, 2020

Your weekend guide to interesting days - October 17, 2020

This week

Sunday - Coming Out Day and Sausage Pizza Day

Monday - Old Farmers Day, Columbus Day, World Arthritis Day, Native American Day and Pulled Pork Day

Tuesday - No Bra Day, Own Business Day, Train Your Brain Day, Ada Lovelace Day and Face Your Fears Day





 Month long celebrations:
Sep 15 - Oct 15: Hispanic Heritage Month

Next week





Next month

November 11 - Origami Day, Sundae Day, Benjamin Banneker Week, Pocky Day and Singles Day

November 12 - Chicken Soup for the Soul Day, Fancy Rat & Mouse Day and Pizza With The Works Except Anchovies Day

November 13 - World Kindness Day, Indian Pudding Day and Symphonic Metal Day 

November 14 - Operating Room Nurse Day, Pickle Day, Spicy Guacamole Day, World Diabetes Day and Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day

November 15 - Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day, Spicy Hermit Cookie Day, America Recycles Day, Philanthropy Day, Bundt Cake Day and I Love to Write Day



Week long celebrations:
Nov 9 - Nov 13: Talk Money Week

Nov 9 - Nov 15: Human-Animal Relationship Awareness Week 

Nov 16 - Nov 22: Road Safety Week

 

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Friday, October 16, 2020

The week in review - October 16, 2020

Monday - "The Nine Habits to Increase Your Energy" I know I can always use more energy! "Energy, not time, is the basis for productivity. Having all the hours in the day won’t help you if you’re exhausted for most of it."

Tuesday - "How Changing Your Breathing Can Change Your Life" A fascinating podcast from The Art of Manliness. "How breathing can help anxiety and depression"

Wednesday - "30 Day Gratitude Challenge" Who are you thankful for in your life? "It's getting to be that time of year again! The time for giving thanks and sharing gratitude with your friends, family and clients."

Thursday - "How To Prepare Your Sleep For The End Of Daylight Savings 2018 #TBT" Only about 2 1/2 weeks left. "But for some Chronotypes, the extra hour isn’t needed and may, in fact, throw off your natural rhythms."

Interesting days





Week long celebrations:
Oct 19 - Oct 25: Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week

Week long celebrations:
Nov 16 - Nov 22: Road Safety Week

 

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Thursday, October 15, 2020

How To Prepare Your Sleep For The End Of Daylight Savings 2018 #TBT

As you can see, this article was originally published two years ago...and Daylight Savings ends on November 1st this year:

Don't worry! You still have 3 more weeks

Last week I promised you another post about sleep. OK, promise is probably too strong a word. I casually mentioned that I might do another blog post on sleep this week.

Like most posts on sleep, this one is from Dr. Michael Breus:

Daylight Savings Time ends on November 4, 2018 in the United States and we return, or fall back, to Standard Time. 
Here is the good news: we all get an extra HOUR of sleep on Nov 3rd! But this will affect different chronotypes in different ways and I have some unique recommendations for each of you. 
For many, when time is artificially pushed back an hour, they gain some extra, much needed rest. The body experiences a little “jet lag” so to speak, but within a day or so the body will naturally reset itself. But for some Chronotypes, the extra hour isn’t needed and may, in fact, throw off your natural rhythms.
If you don't know your chronotype, you can take the quiz here and then check out the recommendations below:
Lions: You won’t need the extra hour of sleep. If you’re a lion, Daylight Savings Time has a tendency to affect you NEGATIVELY. 
Wolves: You’ll be very happy with your extra hour of sleep because wolves are generally affected POSITIVELY. 
Dolphins: Now is the time to lower your anxiety and sleep in.  And if you REALLY want to start your morning right, have sex. 
Bears: As you may have already guessed, if you’re a bear, Daylight Saving Time will hardly have any effect on you. You can sleep in if you like. 

I'm a dolphin, so I'll probably sleep in a little...although since I work at night my schedule is pretty consistently messed up.

Be sure to check out the rest of Dr. Breus' post for more details.

Interesting days



Month long celebrations:

Sep 15 - Oct 15: Hispanic Heritage Month

Next Thursday - Caps Lock Day, International Stuttering Awareness Day, Nut Day and Smart is Cool Day

Week long celebrations:
Oct 19 - Oct 25: Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week 

November 15 - Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day, Spicy Hermit Cookie Day, America Recycles Day, Philanthropy Day, Bundt Cake Day and I Love to Write Day

Week long celebrations:

Nov 9 - Nov 15: Human-Animal Relationship Awareness Week 

 

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Wednesday, October 14, 2020

30 Day Gratitude Challenge

It's getting to be that time of year again! The time for giving thanks and sharing gratitude with your friends, family and clients.

I did a Facebook Live earlier today and talked about how November is the perfect time to show gratitude...you can either start on November 1st and send a card every day throughout November. Or you could start sending cards on the 26th of this month and finish up on the day before Thanksgiving. Or you can start or end at anytime.


I talked about the two SendOutCards subscriptions that are perfect for this...the Card A Day account that gives you 30 free cards (just pay for postage) for $37 a month. And the Unlimited Plan that allows you to send unlimited heartfelt cards (including postage anywhere in the world) for $97 a month. I also mentioned that with any subscription, you can help the post office because they get paid with every card you send. Check out this post for more info. And I also talked about me donating a copy of the book "From Beaten to Badass" in your name if you sign up for the $97 subscription. See the same post for info on this offer.

Here's a link to a video that compares all of the SendOutCards accounts.

Interesting days




Month long celebrations:
Sep 15 - Oct 15: Hispanic Heritage Month

Next Wednesday - Apple Day, Count Your Buttons Day, Global Dignity Day, Reptile Awareness Day and Hagfish Day

Week long celebrations:
Oct 19 - Oct 25: Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week

November 14 - Operating Room Nurse Day, Pickle Day, Spicy Guacamole Day, World Diabetes Day and Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day

Week long celebrations:

Nov 9 - Nov 15: Human-Animal Relationship Awareness Week

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Tuesday, October 13, 2020

How Changing Your Breathing Can Change Your Life

Today's blog post is based on a podcast from The Art of Manliness:

When we think about improving our health, we typically think about altering our diet, trying to exercise more, and taking vitamins and supplements. But my guest today argues that none of that stuff really matters if we haven’t improved something even more foundational: our breathing.

His name is James Nestor and his latest book is Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art. At the beginning of our conversation, James explains why he paid thousands of dollars to have his nose plugged up, and what happened to his body when he could only breathe out of his mouth. We unpack the dangers of the common problem of being a habitual mouth breather, including the fact that it can even change the shape of our faces, and why modern humans started breathing through the mouth rather than the nose. James then reveals what happened when he switched his experiment around and breathed only through his nose, and explains why simply switching the passageway of your breathing from oral to nasal can have such significant health benefits. He also shares his weird trick to switch from mouth to nose breathing at night, which I’ve tried myself and found effective. We then discuss the importance of getting better at exhaling, and why you counterintuitively probably need to be thinking more about getting carbon dioxide into your body rather than oxygen. In the latter part of our conversation, we discuss more advanced breathing techniques, including hypoventilation training, where you double your exhales to inhales to acclimate yourself to higher levels of CO2, as well as other experimental breathing techniques that may allow people to take conscious control of the supposedly involuntary autonomic nervous system in order to boost immunity and heal diseases.

Here are the highlights from the program:

  • How James got interested in the science of breathing
  • The crazy experiment James did with mouth-breathing
  • Why are modern people mouth-breathers?
  • Why have our mouths gotten smaller?
  • What happened when James went back to nose-breathing
  • Why mouth-breathing at night is so bad for you (and how to stop doing it) 
  • The importance of the exhale 
  • Hypoventilation training 
  • The important role of carbon dioxide in our breathing 
  • Can we reverse damage that’s already been done?
  • Toning the tongue to increase airway health 
  • The extraordinary fringes of breath science 
  • Why does breathing have so much control over our automatic bodily functions/systems?
  • James’ experience with these wild breath practices 
  • How breathing can help anxiety and depression

This was a fascinating podcast. I've purchased the audiobook and I'll get the book as soon as I find one of the Amazon gift cards I have floating around!

I've written about the subject before.

Interesting days



Tomorrow - Dessert Day, International Top Spinning Day, Pet Obesity Awareness Day, Take Your Parents To Lunch Day, Emergency Nurses Day, Bring Your Teddy Bear To Work & School Day and World Standards Day

Month long celebrations:
Sep 15 - Oct 15: Hispanic Heritage Month
Next Tuesday - International Chef Day, International Sloth Day, Information Overload Day, Suspender’s Day, Brandied Fruit Day, Office Chocolate Day and Community Media Day

Week long celebrations:
Oct 19 - Oct 25: Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week

November 13 - World Kindness Day, Indian Pudding Day and Symphonic Metal Day

Week long celebrations:
Nov 9 - Nov 13: Talk Money Week

Nov 9 - Nov 15: Human-Animal Relationship Awareness Week 

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Monday, October 12, 2020

The Nine Habits to Increase Your Energy

I don't know about you, but I could use more energy.

Today's blog post is based on an article from Pocket:

Energy, not time, is the basis for productivity. Having all the hours in the day won’t help you if you’re exhausted for most of it.

Your habits define your energy levels. If you have good habits, you’ll feel energized and be more resilient to burn out, both physically and mentally. If your habits are misaligned, you can get into a cycle where you feel worse and worse, until your it’s a struggle just to keep up.

Here are nine habits you can work on this year to increase your energy levels.
Habit #1: Go to Sleep Early
Habit #2: Exercise Every Day
Habit #3: Twenty-Minute Naps
Habit #4: Do Your Hard Work in the Morning
Habit #5: Set Your Intention the Day Before
Habit #6: Sell Yourself on Your Goals
Habit #7: Get Better Friends
Habit #8: Read Better Books
Habit #9: Align Your Life

The first two are totally expected, number 3 may be a new one to you. Numbers 4 & 5 tie in with last week's blog post on How to Make Time for What Really Matters Every Day.

The remaining habits are pretty interesting. Check out the article to find out more about each habit as well as something to try to help you apply each habit.

Interesting days



Tomorrow - No Bra Day, Own Business Day, Train Your Brain Day, Ada Lovelace Day and Face Your Fears Day

Month long celebrations:
Sep 15 - Oct 15: Hispanic Heritage Month

Week long celebrations:
Oct 19 - Oct 25: Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week 

November 12 - Chicken Soup for the Soul Day, Fancy Rat & Mouse Day and Pizza With The Works Except Anchovies Day

Week long celebrations:
Nov 9 - Nov 13: Talk Money Week

 

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Sunday, October 11, 2020

Your weekend guide to interesting days - October 10, 2020

This week


Sunday - Vodka Day, World Animal Day, Taco Day, Ship in A Bottle Day, Improve Your Office Day and Change A Light Day

Monday - World Teachers Day, World Habitat Day, Chic Spy™ Day, Country Inn Bed & Breakfast Day, Architecture Day, Day of Bullying Prevention and Balloons Around the World Day

Tuesday - Mad Hatter Day, World Cerebral Palsy Day, Physician Assistant Day, Noodle Day and Badger Day

Wednesday - Canadian Beer Day, Bathtub Day, Random Acts of Poetry Day, Frappe Day and Team Margot Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Awareness Day

Thursday - World Octopus Day, International Podiatry Day, Pierogi Day, Sight Day and American Touch Tag Day

Yesterday - Egg Day, Scrubs Day, Vet Nurse Day, Beer and Pizza Day, Curious Events Day, Fire Prevention Day,  Moldy Cheese Day and World Post Day

Today - SHIFT10 Day, World Mental Health Day, Handbag Day, World Homeless Day, World Porridge Day, Cake Decorating Day and Hug A Drummer Day

Month long celebrations:
Sep 15 - Oct 15: Hispanic Heritage Month

Next week


Tomorrow - Coming Out Day and Sausage Pizza Day

Monday - Old Farmers Day, Columbus Day, World Arthritis Day, Native American Day and Pulled Pork Day

Tuesday - No Bra Day, Own Business Day, Train Your Brain Day, Ada Lovelace Day and Face Your Fears Day





 Month long celebrations:
Sep 15 - Oct 15: Hispanic Heritage Month

Next month


November 4 - Stress Awareness Day, Use Your Common Sense Day and Wobbly Wednesday

November 5 - Love Your Red Hair Day, Men Make Dinner Day, Project Management Day and Gunpowder Day

November 6 - Nachos Day, Love Your Lawyer Day, Fountain Pen Day and Saxophone Day


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