The science of food and work productivity

The science of food and work productivityThe science of food and work productivityEating the right food throughout yur workday is as essential as filling your car up with gas. Without it,you get nowhere. Moreover, the quality of fuel matters. A poor diet is like filling your gas tank with sugaryPepsi.In short, food affects not just how we feel and what we weigh it changes how we work. Here are three tips to eat your way to a better workday, based on scientific research and real insights from employer reviews onkununu.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraBreakfast actually mattersBreakfast fuels the most energetic, inspired part of our workday.Researchshows that alertness spikes right after breakfast is consumed. A good breakfast is the difference between a lethargic, unproductive morning, and one of those unstoppable, in-the-zone mornings.What breakfast is best? High fiber, carb-rich meals are associated with the highest alertness ratings, as well as the most cumulative alertness between breakfast and lunch. In onestudy, breakfast cereal consumption was associated with lower levels of depression, emotional distress and fatigue as well as greater alertness, fewer cognitive problems, and fewer bowel problems. Researchers observed these effects after just one week.Though high (good) fat breakfasts are popular in natural health circles right now, some research indicates that fat-rich breakfasts have a weak satiating power compared to other kinds of breakfast. If your breakfast tends to be high in fat, that might be why youre rooting around your workplace kitchen at 10 a.m.So even though breakfast is important, dont overthink it you dont need a massive, perfect breakfast every day. Instead, shoot for easy but healthy whole grain, high-fiber cereal, yogurt and granola, fruit and whole grain toast, or even a breakfast shake (as long as it doesnt have more than about 1 0 grams of sugar). Hassle-free and nutritious is the key to consistent productivity.Eating regularly matters just as much as eating wellOnly35 percentof American employees say they almost always take a lunch break. 60 percent either eat at their desks or dont eat at all,The New York Timesreports.kununu reviews echo these statistics. At this facility I can never get a break or lunch because Im so busy oneVibra Hospital of Charlestonemployee wrote. An employee atIKEAsaid the same If you came in the morning and had short hours you had only a fifteen minute break and no time to eat lunch until you would get home later. Employees atCVS Caremark,NissanandUnitedHealthcareagreed theres not enough time to eat during your lunch break, and/or taking lunch is frowned upon.The mistake many 9-5 workers make is waiting until 2 p.m. to eat lunch, by which time theyre famished and craving fat and carbs. This method wastes productivity in two ways. First, the low energy caused by our hunger saps our motivation and attention. Our body converts pretty much everything we eat into glucose, which our brains use to think and stay alert. When were hungry, itshard to concentratebecause our glucose is low. Not eating regularly can also make people emotional, which impedes productivity. Secondly, after we binge on a high-carb, high-fat lunch, much of our bodys energy goes to digesting the meal we just ate, rather than doing good work. This is what causes that afternoon slump feeling. Another trending technique is intermittent fasting which, despite its budding popularity, hasprovento plummet mood and alertness at work.Ideally, your workplace environment will support eating healthily and eating whenever youre physically hungry (not just bored). Employees who eat at staff canteens aremore likelyto eat well and regularly compared with other subjects. One employee atAnmed Healthwrote that my cafeteria promoted healthy food which I appreciated.But if youre on a budget or your workplace doesnt have a cafeteria, there are other ways to eat regularly. Just as you stock your home fridge with food every week, stock your work fridge. Services like Amazon Pantry andInstacartmake this easier than ever. If you dont have a fridge to use, one employee at Moncler Fashion suggests bringing high-glycemic snacks like bananas, peanut butter and honey on whole grain bread to give you energy throughout the day. Workers often resort to eating huge, expensive, unhealthy meals because the options theyve brought themselves to work arent appealing enough mid-day. So step up your food game your boss will thank you.Stress messes with your eating habitsEven slight changes in eating habits cangenerate stressequivalent to an increased workload. One employee atSpa Urbanaexplained, Everyone was stressed due to regularly not getting an adequate lunch.Conversely, stress itself can change eating habits. One employee atJustifacts Credential Verification, Inc.noticed that Managers get so stressed to get work done that they eat lunch at their desks or not at all.But stress doesnt just reduce the time we have to eat it physiologically changes how our bodies perceive food. When were stressed, our bodies release cortisol, which then interacts with two hormones called neuropeptide Y and leptin to stimulate ourappetitefor high sugar and high fat food. Moreover, when were stressed, good food stimulates anopioid release- your bodys natural version of heroin. An addicting reward cycle ensues We get stressed, and comfort food quite literally, physiologically, comforts us, and then we indulge in it to alleviate our stress. Stress increases the reward value of highly palatable food, one studyexplains. Indeed,researchsuggests that stressed students are more prone to practice bad eating habits, like eating junk food. The more stressed we get, the more we crave and love high sugar, high fat food, and the more lethargic and less productive we become.In short, eat regularly to reduce your stress, and reduce your stress to improve your diet.What we eat is the foundation of our work. When we choose to eat well and often, we opt to invigorate our work energy and reimagine a productive day.This article originally appeared on Kununu.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Bug out in a Forensic Entomology Career

Bug out in a Forensic Entomology CareerBug out in a Forensic Entomology CareerTo a lot of people, bugs are creepy, crawly, nasty things that never mean anything good. To forensic entomologists, though, insects, arachnids, and other arthropods - the fancy way of saying bugs - provide a wealth of information about grisly and gruesome crimes. If this appeals to you, you may want to consider a job as a forensic entomologist. From the Greek entomos, which describes something that is segmented or cut into pieces, entomology means the study of insects and is a sub-discipline of arthropodology, which studies all types of bugs and invertebrate animals. In the strictest sense, entomology now refers only to insects, but the term is commonly used to describe the study of bugs of any kind, including spiders, scorpions, and other creepy crawlies. The term forensic is from Latin and describes anything that has to do with the law or legal field. It has thus come to be used to describe any discipline that may be employed in the criminal justice system. Forensic entomology, then, is simply the application of entomology towards the criminal process, specifically in the investigation of crime. History of Forensic Entomology According to international forensic entomologist Dr. Mark Benacke in his Brief History of Forensic Entomology, the first documentation linking bugs to forensic investigations is found in the work of Sung Tzu. In his work Hsi yuan chi lu (The Washing Away of Wrongs), the thirteenth-century Chinese lawyer and death investigator described various techniques to determine causes of death and solving murders. According to Benacke, Sung Tzu recounts a case in which he was able to identify a murder weapon - and subsequently the murderer - by observing flies that were attracted to a sickle that Tzu surmised carried invisible traces of blood. This concept forms the foundation of forensic entomology. Over the ensuing centuries, both artists and scientists who studied human bodies observed how all manner of arthropods were attracted by and contributed to the decomposition of corpses. In the 18th and 19th centuries, French and German doctors made special note of the types of bugs that were involved in decomposition and began to attempt to learn how long a corpse had been dead,by the rate of decomposition and the number of maggots and other bugs present. The field continued to advance and gain respect within the scientific community and has grown into the fascinating forensic science specialty it is today. Job Description Forensic entomologists study decomposing corpses and, mora specifically, the types of invertebrate animals that are involved in the process. Specific types of bugs are believed to be attracted to specific types of bodily substances, and their presence can be used to help detectives and investigators learn how a crime occurred. Forensic entomologists can also assist in the investigation of other violent crimes in which various bodily substances may be released, as well as cases of neglect. They can even help investigators learn whether a body has been frozen or refrigerated, which may indicate intent or signs of a cover-up. They can also help identify whether a decomposing body has ever been present in a particular area. During the trial of accused murdering mom Casey Anthony, a forensic entomologist testified that a certain fly associated with decomposition was located in the trunk of Anthonys car, suggesting a body had been stored there. Most forensic entomologists work in the more general fields of entomology and arthropodology at colleges and universities. They often provide assistance and consulting services to law enforcement agencies and medical examiners on an as-needed basis. Forensic entomologists perform work both in a laboratory and in the field. Naturally, due to the subject matter they examine, the scenes they respond to and crimes they help investigate are often gruesome and are not for the faint of heart. They may be called upon to produce reports and to provide courtroom testimony, and they work closely with police, detectives, and other forensic scientists. Education Requirements People who are interested in a career in forensic entomology need to pursue a degree in entomology or a related field such as arthropodology. They should also expect to earn a masters degree or doctorate in their field, with coursework that includes forensics and the application of entomology to the legal process and the solving of a crime. There are several certifying bodies lending credibility to forensic entomologists, and candidates would do well to seek certification or diplomas from organizations such as the American Board of Forensic Entomology. Average Salary Forensic entomology is a growing field, and the discipline has only recently begun to enjoy widespread credibility and notoriety. According to indeed.com, the average salary for forensic entomologists is $42,000 per ye ar. Job Outlook Many investigative bodies are only just beginning to make use of forensic entomologists, and very few are employed full time by police agencies. Those interested in working in forensic entomology will likely find more success working as a college or university professor and performing consulting work in forensics. Is a Career Right for You If you find biology, bugs and other creepy critters fascinating and enjoy solving problems and puzzles, working as a forensic entomologist may just be the perfect criminology career for you. Understand that the work involves dealing with disturbing scenes and sights, and is certainly not for everyone. However, if youre not one to get queasy easily, a career in forensic entomology may be right up your alley.

This counterintuitive mindset will make you more innovative and successful

This counterintuitive mindset will make you more innovative and successfulThis counterintuitive mindset will make you more innovative and successfulOne of my biggest pet peeves is when someone says, Im not a pessimist. Im a realist.Truthfully, fruchtwein of us think were realists. We binnensee the world the way we see it.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreBut how we actually behave is a different matter, and reveals the truth about our outlook.A realist who predicts that things will get worse under X leader or Y policy is really being a pessimist.A realist who thinks that because theyve won three hands in a row means theyre more likely to win the next hand is being optimistic, but foolishly.Optimismhopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something.Pessimisma tendency to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen a lack of h ope or confidence in the future.Generally, pessimism is seen as a bad thing. It prevents us from going after our dreams.Yet, smart investors rely on pessimism to hedge bets and not lose money.And though glass-half-full optimism is typically praised by society and touted by successful entrepreneurs, Bernie Madoff went to prison because of his faith in his ability to beat the financial ordnungsprinzip without getting caught.In my work as a business and science journalist studying innovative people andteams- and then attempting to put their secrets into practice as founder of my own company- Ive found thatsomething thats commonly conflated with pessimism actually makes a crucial differencebetween moderately successful people andincrediblysuccessful people.This trait is a key ingredient in the formula that leads to breakthrough innovation, and goes often unrecognized.Which is a better default outlook Optimism or Pessimism?To me, the answer doesnt matter until we add a second dimension t o the equation. Then we reveal a combination that makes optimism the more powerful of the two.That dimension iscredulityThe differences between Optimism and Credulity, Skepticism and Pessimism, are subtle. But theyre crucial. On their face, credulity seems to be a marker of good faith, a noble value, and skepticism is thought of as grouchy or stubborn. However, herbeies how the dictionary defines themCreduloushaving or showing too great a readiness to believe things.Skepticalnot easily convinced having doubts or reservations.When charted by these two dimensions, its clear that some measure of success and failure can be found in every categoryA compulsive gambler, is both optimistic and credulous, believing she can and will win.And yet,entrepreneursare often both optimistic and credulous.Someone with apersecution complexis both skeptical and pessimistic, believing people have ill intentions and things wont get better.And yet, somehoarders and hermitsleave their kin valuable property in their wills.A conspiracy nutis perhaps worst of all he is both eager to believe and pessimistic about the future.And yet conspiracy websites make money from advertisements. (Not to mention, someinvestorsmake - or avoid losing - lots of money using this attitude.)Though people can find success with any of these combinations, the most counter-intuitive quadrant is the one where the most breakthrough success can be foundOptimistic, but Skeptical.This is where the innovators reside, where inventors who dare to doubt the status quo ask the questions that need to be asked in order for the world to change.They need a healthy amount of optimism to believe that the world can change for the better, and that drives them to make transformative things happen*(Note I dont intend to downplay the hardship that is clinical depression, re Quadrant 3. Depression comes with,by definition, an inability to see a better future. Youre skeptical of the value of basic things in life including life itsel f, and thats an incredibly difficult obstacle.)While credulous optimists rely on good winds to push their sails (and often find them), skeptical optimists ask questions like, Do we need sails?Once you recognize the trait, its easy to see why the worlds great change-makers fit in this category, and why skeptical optimism is under-appreciated.Steve Jobs was one of the worlds greatest optimists, and thats what people remember him for. But he was also incredibly demanding and skeptical. He was constantly unsatisfied, consistently pushing back against what was shown him or what was conventional.He continually said, Thats not good enough.Jobs was not easily convinced. But he believed in an incredible future. And that combination helped him unlock it.Harriet Tubman, one of my favorite historical characters, was clearly an optimist when she had many reasons not to be. She was born a slave, lived a hard life, suffered a head injury that caused her seizures her husband remarried another woman and declined to flee north with her.And yet, after she escaped from her captors, Tubman venturedbackinto slave territory to rescue people. She clearly had faith in a better future for her and them, and thats what people remember.But Tubman wasnt credulous. She was extremely careful, carried a pistol with her (and had occasion to pull it out). She was wary of circumstances and peoples loyalty and intentions until proven otherwise - and that allowed her to rescue dozens of people from slavery and inspire millions more.The skeptical optimist believes things can be better, but doubts conventional wisdom. Sure, madmen also fall under this definition.But as Ive written before,apparent-crazy is one of geniuss main ingredients.For those of us who have faith in a better future, personally or professionally, cultivating a skeptical eye can transform how we operate - for the better. For those that lack confidence, lets pferdegeschirr that doubt into healthy solutions and big ideas.It doesnt matter if the glass is half full or half empty if you think you can make a better glass.Want to Work Smarter?Ive created a little cheat sheet for how to uselateral thinkingto change your work and life, based on science and my bestselling bookSmartcuts. Its free.Get the cheat sheet hereThis article first appeared on Medium.