Shift Into Gear – 3 Ways to Boost Productivity

Shift Into Gear - 3 Ways to Boost Productivity

Being more productive isn’t just about getting more done. It’s about getting your body into the right shape to maximize your productivity.  These are 3 ways to shift your gears out of neutral and into overdrive.

Drink more water

Most of the stuff inside us is made of water and not being well-hydrated has been known to have a huge impact on your well-being and productivity.

Sleep – Drink a glass of water before bed. This will help your body replenish itself overnight. It will help relax you and allow your body to balance. You’ll wake up feeling rested, refreshed, and ready to start the day.

Focus – Dehydration is the most common reason for moodiness and a shorter attention span. Water is brain food, so getting enough will keep you alert and focused. Not drinking enough water can cause nervousness and anxiety.

Energy – Being tired, feeling dizzy, and “blah” are signs that you’re not getting enough water. Keeping your body hydrated will help keep you awake and alert during the mid-afternoon slump.

Mood – Water affects your mood. Not drinking enough water can make you confused, tense, and irritable. Keep your brain happy and well-hydrated. It will promote more calm and positive thinking.

Eat healthy

What you eat directly affects your energy and mood. Sugar and junk foods may give you a quick boost of energy, but a crash is not far behind. Moderate and lasting energy is better than a quick rush and a low crash. Eating healthy is essential for being productive.

Antioxidants – Foods high in antioxidants help protect the brain from degeneration, boost focus, and improve memory. Blueberries, almonds, whole grains, and raisins have healthy antioxidants.

Zinc – Zinc is helpful for focusing your thinking skills and improving your memory. Pumpkin seeds, spinach, kidney beans, and peanuts are all high in Zinc.

Flavonoids – Vibrant, colorful foods are full of flavonoids which increase blood-flow to the brain. It boosts your attention span, problem-solving capability, and memory. Dark chocolate, berries, bananas, and green vegetables are good sources of flavonoids.

Vitamins – Foods with lots of vitamins help you fight fatigue and keep your energy levels up over a longer period of time. Foods rich in vitamins include sunflower seeds, carrots, squash, and cantaloupe.

Get enough sleep

Sleep is often overlooked when trying to be more productive. Most of us feel like sleep is wasting time. But you can be better, faster, and stronger if you sleep more!

Recover Focus – If you’re tired, you will have trouble focusing. If your thought process is interrupted, you’ll take longer to get back on track.  Your temper will be harder to control.

Prevent Burn Out – Sleeping less than six hours per night almost always leads to burnout. This zaps our motivation for a job well done. Instead, we just want to get the job done.

Make Better Decisions – A lack of sleep reduces your response time by more than 50%! This is even lower than someone who’s been drinking!  Getting enough sleep will help you to make better and more accurate decisions.

Better Memory – Sleep-deprived zombies are more likely to forget something that was just said, or correctly follow a series of instructions in order.

If you’re having trouble getting all of your zzz’s at night, try taking a nap. Catnaps for 10 or 20 minutes can do wonders for helping you catch up on your sleep. You’re still better to get a full night sleep, but a nap can give you enough of a power boost to make it through the day.

Shift Into Gear – Kids Driving to School

Shift Into Gear - Kids Driving to School

As a parent, the start of a new school year means many things, not the least of which is getting your children to and from school.

While millions of children will ride a bus to school – and the number has grown in recent years – others are driven by their parents or, in the case of teens … kids driving to school.

No matter what type of transportation, there’s plenty for parents to consider.

Driving Your Child to School

It was rare for parents to drive their children to school a few decades ago. Many children walked or biked to school, and those who lived further away took buses.

But safety concerns have changed things. Today it’s estimated that three-quarters of all children are driven to school by their parents.

What it entails

While driving your child to school may seem simple enough, it’s often more complicated than many parents think. For one, it’s a commitment that means making at least 2 trips to school each day.

If you’re a parent with children in different grades or schools, with different dismissal times, you’ll have to decide how to spend your time waiting for each child to be dismissed. In many cases, it’s not worth making multiple round-trips to and from school.

Driving your child to school also requires juggling your schedule. You have to leave on time and be on time when school is over even when children aren’t cooperative. You must also take into account traffic delays, bad weather, etc. – as well as your job and the other things you have scheduled for the day.

Driving to School Alternatives

If you’re fortunate enough to have school bus service where you live, it’s an ideal alternative when driving your children to school conflicts with your schedule.

If you don’t have bus service, there are other ways of transporting your kids to school and their activities.

What is HopSkipDrive?

HopSkipDrive is a free mobile app created by three moms who understand how difficult it can be to juggle busy schedules while getting your kids to and from school safely.

Here’s how it works: carefully screened and experienced CareDrivers take your kids to school and bring them home after school. They’re also available to transport your children to and from their activities, or even if they want to meet a friend for a playdate.

You schedule rides, for the day or week, on either the app or website, and include specific locations, sign-out procedures, and more.

Once you’ve signed up, you’re matched with a CareDriver. You’re able to see his or her profile, picture, and car information.

Another helpful feature of HopSkipDrive is that you can track your child’s ride, including real-time updates.

Getting Your Teen Ready to Drive

There comes the point in many parents’ lives in which their child becomes old enough to drive (and transport themselves to and from school). That said, it’s important to choose the right driving school. Here are some tips to help you choose the best school for your child:

  • Make sure all the curriculum covers all aspects of driving, including what to do in emergencies.
  • Make sure that the behind-the-wheel training is thorough and doesn’t rush your teen through the process. Every child has a particular pace at which they learn best.
  • Make sure that the driving school meets both school and state curriculum requirements.

When teens get their driver’s permits make sure to let your insurance carrier know. No matter what you do your insurance rates will rise. Here are some things you can do to keep your rates low.

  • Have them drive a boring car or the car that’s the cheapest to insure in your household. The bigger and faster the car, the more it costs to repair and insure it. 4 door sedans and crossover vehicles are a good bet for keeping premiums low.
  • Good grades make for responsible drivers. Being responsible enough to study, complete schoolwork and turn it in equals a responsible driver.
  • Many insurance companies offer discounts for teens who have completed a certified driver safety course.

The time that a teenager starts driving can be nerve-wracking for parents. Have questions about insurance rates and liability limits. Give us a call at (800) 378-5554, or send us an email. We’re happy to help!