Jeff Davidson's Blog, page 39

Ignoring Ingredients

According to an article in Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and dialectics, 73% of men say they don’t look at the ingredients lists, serving size, or information on the nutritional panel when buying a packaged food.

Oh my, is this a prescription for health problems!

The Virtues of Reading

Here's a surprising finding: "Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer" according to an article in Time Magazine. "'Deep reading' is vigorous exercise from the brain and increases our real-life capacity for empathy," not to mention bestowing upon us a sense of Breathing Space.

Slowest Growing Cities

Here's a look from Forbes writer Joel Kotkin at "America's Fastest and Slowest Growing Cities," with the understanding that more people, rapidly moving into your area, means that the road systems will be strained...

Wasting Time on the Job?

According to an online survey conducted by Salary.com, workers waste more than two hours a day on average by surfing the Web, conducting personal business, chatting with co-workers, and just zoning out.

Job Security, if Any

Are you concerned about long term job security? Ever feel like you lack the time and energy to compete? There are many things you can do that don't take too much time and help you to secure and enhance your position:

* Take a few minutes to actually read your organization's annual and quarterly reports, bulletins, press releases, and memos. Read between the lines to determine real needs and what you can do to make a positive difference.

* Look for small tasks that others pass over. Your willingness to help out in little ways, can payoff in big ways.

* If you're good at writing persuasive sales letters or conducting an effective meeting, volunteer for assignments where you can display your talents and play to your strengths.

* Become the resident 'expert' in what the competition is doing, and thus automatically become more valuable to your own organization.

Regardless of where you work, there are always ways to demonstrate to others within the organization, the supreme advantage of retaining your services.

Privacy Has its Privileges

Here is a link to a wonderful TED talk: 
    "The line between public and private has blurred in the past decade, both online and in real life, and Alessandro Acquisti is here to explain what this means and why it matters. In this thought-provoking, slightly chilling talk, he shares details of recent and ongoing research -- including a project that shows how easy it is to match a photograph of a stranger with their sensitive personal information."

Sleeping Less, Enjoying it Less?

Following on the heels of the last post, a Travelodge's sleep study reveals that only 3 percent of professionals get eight hours of sleep every night of the working week. Company directors are the most sleep-deprived of all, with 8 percent getting under four hours of rest per night. The survey included more than 5,200 individuals from 30 different careers to discover more about how work affects rest.



Those in the travel industry, such as cabin crew and pilots, found it hardest to get to sleep: 86% struggled with sleepless nights. Teachers were the most likely to stay awake because they were worrying about their work (39%). Some 86% of those employed in public relations or marketing said they got enough sleep, but according to the study that might be because 95% of them said they fell asleep on the sofa once they got home in from work!



The top 10 most sleep-deprived professions are:



* Company directors (averaging 5.9 hours of sleep a night)

* Ambulance crew/paramedics (6 hours)

* Tradesmen (6 hours)

* Leisure and hospitality workers (6 hours)

* Police officers (6.1 hours)



* Factory workers (6.2 hours)

* Nurses (6.3 hours)

* Engineers (6.3 hours)

* Doctors (6.4 hours)

* Civil servants (6.4 hours)

Sleep, a Daily Cure

Beside the daily benefits for each of us, the discovery discussed below could lead to better treatments for Alzheimer’s disease: www.sciencenews.org/article/sleep-allows-brain-wash-out-junk

Job Security, if Any things you can do

Are you concerned about long term job security? Ever feel like you lack the time and energy to compete? There are many things you can do that don't take too much time and help you to secure and enhance your position:



* Take a few minutes to actually read your organization's annual and quarterly reports, bulletins, press releases, and memos. Read between the lines to determine real needs and what you can do to make a positive difference.



* Look for small tasks that others pass over. Your willingness to help out in little ways, can payoff in big ways.



* If you're good at writing persuasive sales letters or conducting an effective meeting, volunteer for assignments where you can display your talents and play to your strengths.



* Become the resident 'expert' in what the competition is doing, and thus automatically become more valuable to your own organization.



Regardless of where you work, there are always ways to demonstrate to others within the organization, the supreme advantage of retaining your services.

I am That

excerpt for the ages from I am That by Swami Muktananda:

Man goes to great
trouble to acquire knowledge of the material world. He learns
all branches of mundane science. He explores the earth and
even travels to the moon. But he never tries to find out what
exists within himself. Because he is unaware of the enormous
power hidden within him, he looks for support in the outer
world.

Because he does not know the boundless happiness that
lies inside his heart, he looks for satisfaction in mundane
activities and pleasures. Because he does not experience the
inner love, he looks for love from others.

The truth is that the inner Self of every human being is
supremely great and supremely lovable. Everything is contained
in the Self. The creative power of this entire universe lies
inside every one of us. The divine Principle that creates and
sustains this world pulsates within us as our own Self. It
scintillates in the heart and shines through all our senses.
If, instead of
pursuing knowledge of the outer world, we were to pursue inner
knowledge, we would discover the effulgence very soon.