From what we eat to how many children we decide to have, there’s a lot we can do to “choose wild” and reduce our environmental footprint to leave more room for wild animals and plants.<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Think twice before shopping.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Make sure your big purchases have big environmental benefits.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Go #PlasticFree.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Boycott products that endanger wildlife.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Pay attention to labels.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Be water-wise.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Drive less, drive green.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Green your home.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Choose Wild Energy.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Take Extinction Off Your Plate.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Choose to have a smaller family.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Use your voice and your vote.</li></ul>

Living Sustainably

“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” may feel retro, but it’s just as important today as when the phrase was first coined. Every product we purchase has an environmental footprint, from the materials used to create it to the pollution emitted during manufacturing to the packaging that ends up in landfills. So before you buy, ask yourself if you really need it. If you do, consider buying gently used instead of new, and look for minimal packaging and shipping.

Think Twice Before Shopping

Not everyone can run out and trade in their old gas-guzzling clunker for the latest planet-friendly hybrid car. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing; manufacturing new cars takes a lot of resources too. But if you’re in the market for a new car, look for a fuel-efficient model — you’ll save thousands on gas money and reduce your carbon footprint over the years. If you’re buying a new refrigerator, washer or dryer, look for the <a href="https://www.energystar.gov/">Energy Star</a> label to find the most efficient appliances. Need a new water heater? Consider upgrading to solar.

Make Sure Your Big Purchases Have Big Environmental Benefits

Plastic never goes away. Today billions of pounds of it can be found in swirling convergences making up about 40 percent of the world’s ocean surfaces. Every year thousands of seabirds, sea turtles, seals and other marine mammals are killed after ingesting plastic or getting tangled up in it. You can start cutting down on your plastic waste in a few simple steps: use reusable bags when you shop, ditch single-use water bottles, bags, and straws and avoid products made from or packaged in plastic whenever possible.

Go Plastic Free

Products made from animals on the endangered species list are illegal to buy, sell, import or trade in the United States, but if a plant or animal hasn’t been listed yet, they can still be harmed for someone’s profit. Also, some products harm endangered species by threatening their habitat, from cutting down old-growth forests to using up the water that riparian species need to survive. To avoid contributing to the endangerment of wildlife, shop conscientiously and look for products made from sustainable materials like bamboo.

Boycott Products that Endanger Wildlife

From coffee to fruit to clothing, the number of options out there can get overwhelming — but there are some clear leaders when it comes to minimizing your impact on wildlife and the planet. If you’re a coffee drinker, look for “shade-grown” coffee, which is grown while keeping forest habitats intact for migratory birds and other species. Choose Fair Trade certified goods when possible to support companies dedicated to sustainable production and paying laborers a fair wage. Buy organic food whenever possible; it may cost a little more, but it keeps harmful pesticides out of our land and water.

Pay Attention to Labels

Skip the bottled water. Bottled water companies try to give tap water a bad name, even though the water from your faucet is practically free and much city water has won quality tests and taste tests against name-brand water. And the extraction of water and production of all those plastic bottles is notoriously harmful to communities and wildlife. Water conservation is also critical, especially as our growing population puts increased demand on the nation’s water sources and we face unprecedented droughts.

Bottled Water Is A Curse On Earth

You can conserve water by taking shorter showers, fixing leaky toilets, and choosing low-flow and low-water appliance options. Also, consider xeriscaping your yard, a landscaping technique that uses native, drought-adapted plants that require less water and maintenance over time, and provide habitat and food for birds and bees.

Conserving Water

Changing your driving habits can dramatically reduce your carbon footprint. Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation whenever possible. Combine errands to make fewer trips. Participate in, or start, car-free days in your community. It’s also important to keep your car in shape with regular tune-ups and tire inflations. Tune-ups can increase your fuel efficiency by 4 percent to 40 percent, and if every American kept his or her tires inflated, gas use nationwide would decrease by 2 percent.

Drive Less, Drive Green

Just as keeping your car in shape improves your fuel efficiency, keeping your home in shape improves your energy efficiency. Make sure your home has adequate insulation and energy-saving windows, and use a programmable thermostat for more efficient heating and cooling — and, of course, energy-saving lightbulbs for more efficient lighting. Many states now offer incentives to help you green your home or rental at low or no cost. Call your energy provider to see if it offers free energy audits or knows of a company that does.

Keep Your Home Green

Kicking the fossil fuel habit is critical to saving wildlife, slowing climate change and protecting our lands and waters. If your state allows you to pick your electricity supplier, use a Green-e certified company that generates at least half its power from wind, solar and other clean sources. Also, explore the options — and tax credits — for installing rooftop solar panels or solar water heating in your home. Depending on your productivity, you can even add clean power to the grid, further offsetting your carbon footprint.

Choose Wild Energy

Meat production is one of the most environmentally destructive industries on the planet, responsible for massive amounts of water use, pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and habitat destruction. You have three chances a day to improve the health of the planet — by reducing your meat consumption you can reduce your environmental footprint. Also, nearly 40 percent of edible food in the United States goes to waste -- wasting all of the natural resources that went into producing it. Prevent food waste with smart, planned shopping and creative ways to consume what you purchase.

Take Extinction Off Your Plate

With more than 7.5 billion people in the world, and more every day, our demands for food, water, land and fossil fuels are pushing other species to extinction. We can achieve an ecologically sustainable population in ways that promote human rights; decrease poverty and overcrowding; raise our standard of living; and allow plants, animals and ecosystems to thrive. It’s time to talk about runaway human population growth, the species extinction crisis, and what kind of future we want for wildlife, the planet and ourselves.

Choose to Have a Smaller Family

One of the best things you can do for wildlife and the planet, today and in the future, is to get politically involved in your community and at the national level. Vote for candidates with strong environmental platforms. Urge your representatives to pass stronger policies to limit greenhouse gases, fight climate change, protect our wildlife and public lands and support access to reproductive health services. Better education and access to family-planning services decrease family size and our overall carbon footprint, helping children and wildlife thrive.

Use Your Voice and Your Vote

scienceandnature

Science & Nature

12 Ways to Live More Sustainably

A new picture is emerging of the way that the brain manages the body's resources and how this can be swayed by our motivation, and by our broader beliefs about our capabilities and the task ahead.These new insights offer enticing strategies that we can all use to boost our performance and improve our experience of exercise.

Fatigue Is A Mind Thing

Caffeine, for instance, has long been considered a muscular stimulant that can enhance performance in many sports - yet that is largely a product of our expectations about what it can do.According to multiple studies, people can benefit from so-called open-label placebos, even though they know they are taking an inert substance.

Placebos: We Think We Are Getting Better, And We Do

There is no substitute for auto-suggestion, or self-belief.Understanding the power of mind-over-muscle might lead us to reconsider some of our core underlying beliefs about our fitness. For manifold reasons, we might assume that we simply aren’t cut out for exercise. We may have had poor experiences in gym classes at school, for example, and our feelings of inadequacy could then be exacerbated as we compare ourselves with the stronger and faster gym bunnies around us.

The Expectation Effect

Scientific research <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6874306/">shows</a> that negative beliefs about our capacity for exercise can <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32062021/">reduce</a> our endurance and increase our discomfort. This will naturally make it much harder to summon the will to work out in the future.We can also look out for ‘catastrophic thinking’ while we go about the exercise, and try to interpret feelings of exertion more objectively. If you have a dim view of your fitness, you might currently interpret the natural aches and pains and feelings of fatigue as a sign of your own ineptitude.

The Negative Thought Spiral

The idea of ‘mind over muscle’ is more than motivational rhetoric – exercise science shows how the brain manages fatigue

mindfulness

Mindfulness

health

Health

mentalhealth

Mental Health

Physical fatigue is in the brain as much as in the body | Psyche Ideas

In order to face the rapidly changing world of work, experts say the most important solution to the mental health crisis, The Great Resignation and hiring crisis is a strategic investment in human capital.
According to International Monetary Fund managing director <a href="https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2021/04/07/tr040721-transcript-of-imf-md-kristalina-georgievas-opening-press-conference-2021-spring-meetings">Kristalina Georgieva, PhD</a>, the time is now to invest in human capital. And based on all of the neuroscience, the best capital is building a better and healthy work brain.

A Healthy Work Brain

Your brain works 24/7. Even when you’re asleep, it never is. It’s listening, sensing and dealing with stressors to keep you safe and sound. It’s resolving solutions, making job decisions and thinking about career possibilities even when you’re not aware of it. 
This “always on” organ is so devoted, it never takes a break or a vacation. But neuroscientists also say it has its limits. There are steps you can take to optimize your brain’s potential as well as coworkers you supervise or work with.

The Human Brain

Companies that pigeonhole workers into narrow, tight roles force them to draw on their weaknesses and spend energy staying within strict confines that limit their brain capital and company growth. 
Employees are demanding more from their employers. Research shows that when organizations invest in a strategy to build employee brain capital, they enhance worker engagement, productivity and their own bottom line.

Work Has Changed Over The Years

<a href="https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad210610">A study at the University of Toronto </a>revealed that repeated listening to personally meaningful music cultivates beneficial brain plasticity improving memory and performance. 
This research suggests that allowing employees to wear ear pods and listen to their favorite music while working can enhance brain capital.

Enhancing Brain Capital: Music

Your brain needs rest just like your body does. Scientists have discovered that taking short breaks helps your brain learn new skills.
Microbreaks of five or 10 minutes give the brain a much-needed rest during work hours and helps you recharge and reset. It’s important that workers are allowed to take time to stretch, eat a snack or simply walk around the office to amp up engagement and productivity.

Enhancing Brain Capital: Short Breaks

Science backed studies show that when you spend time in nature it’s good for your brain and well-being. Brain scans of people who spent time outdoors showed they had more gray matter in their prefrontal cortex with positive effects on their ability to think clearly and self-regulate. 
This research underscores the importance of employees taking frequent nature breaks whether sitting outdoors or taking brief walks during the workday to give their brains a chance to recharge and reset.

Enhancing Brain Capital: Being In Nature

The platform of a 21st century thriving company is one that encourages thinking outside the box, innovative ideas and employee individualism. 
Studies suggest organizations that foster diversity, nonconformity and inventive ideas generate employee engagement and draw on employee strengths, adding to the prosperity of their businesses.

Enhancing Brain Capital: Creativity

Fear and uncertainty have been undermining performance and well-being in the workplace for as long as we have had workplaces. Under fear, the human brain focuses on how to avoid the threat instead of engaging with and producing work tasks—blocking success outcomes. 
Fear-based leadership is responsible for almost all of the dysfunction that most organizations experience. While fear can drive short-term results, it does so at the cost of high employee burnout and turnover.

Enhancing Brain Capital: Not Being Fear-Managed

A body of research has shown that various forms of meditation reduce stress. Mindfulness, in particular, keeps your mind from wandering and keeps your focus on work tasks. 
Plus, if you meditate, even just for 20 minutes, it alters brain activity so you’re less error prone and make fewer mistakes.

Enhancing Brain Capital: Meditation

<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2783042">Researchers</a> found that having someone around whom you know you can talk to and will listen is tied to brain health and cognitive resilience. 
Social support in the workplace is critical to build brain resilience. Whether its an empathetic manager, supportive coworker or someone in HR. A caring, empathetic workplace is a must to optimize brain capital.

Enhancing Brain Capital: Social Support

Taken together these science-backed findings indicate that companies can reduce work stress and optimize employee brain capital by offering on-site meditation classes or providing quiet spaces for employees to meditate throughout the day. Creating a psychologically safe and compassionate work environment where fear is absent and employees have someone to talk to who will listen, where employees have the freedom to take breaks when they need to, think outside the box, take nature walks and listen to music while they work—all add to a jump in productivity and the company’s bottom line.

Optimizing The Brain

corporateculture

Corporate Culture

humanresources

Human Resources

leadershipandmanagement

Leadership & Management

7 Cutting-Edge Strategies To Optimize Employee Brain Capital

Road rage is when you lose your temper while driving. Almost everyone has experienced some form of road rage while driving. While most people can bounce back from their anger quickly, it can prove deadly in some situations.

Road Rage

<ul><li>Have a good night’s sleep. Your mind needs to be at its best whenever you are on the road. When we don’t sleep well, we’ll likely experience more impatience.</li><li>If you’re already familiar with the traffic situation in your area, avoid leaving your home during rush hour. </li><li>Listen to softer music. Studies show that the more intense the music you’re listening to, your heartbeat will beat stronger. </li><li>Take a deep breath to calm road rage.</li><li>Sometimes it makes perfect sense to stop when you feel the onset of road rage coming on. </li><li>Pretend you have a loved one in your car. We’re more vulnerable to road rage when driving alone. </li><li>Think about the possible consequences if you lose control.</li><li> Realize that people can sometimes be difficult. Try to be the bigger person when someone is experiencing road rage.</li></ul>

How to Deal With Road Rage

Road rage while driving can put the lives of you, your family, and others on the road in danger. In this article, you'll learn how to deal.

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

communication

Communication

How to Deal with Road Rage

<ul>
<li>Monsoon is a kind of seasonal change, causing wind to change direction and creating wet and dry seasons in the tropical parts of the world.</li>
<li>The monsoons always move towards warmer regions, determining the climate of southeast Asia and most of India.</li>
<li>Summer monsoon is a time of heavy rainfall in the months of June, July, August and September, when warm air blows from the southwest Indian Ocean towards India.</li>
</ul>

Monsoon: A Primer

The yearly rain provided by the summer monsoon is eagerly anticipated by India and Southeast Asia, due to agricultural crops, hydroelectric plants and even milk-giving cows relying on the downpour.The summer monsoons affect India’s economy if they are weak or late. If the monsoons are heavy, they cause infrastructural damage and destroy crops.

Monsoon And The Economy

The little-known cousin of monsoons is the Winter Monsoon, which occurs from October till March or April, coming from the northeast. The Himalayan Mountains act as a barrier to reduce the winds' impact, resulting in dry spells and droughts.

Winter Monsoons

Apart from the monsoons in Southeast Asia, there is the Asian-Australian monsoon which has a huge wind system that covers Northern Australia, parts of Russia, the Indian Ocean and then finally the Indian Coast of Africa.The North American Monsoon is also an annual seasonal wind, where warm and moist air from the Gulf of California blows northeast, and from the Gulf of Mexico turns northwest. The winds bring moisture to the region and help with forest fires.

Other Monsoons

Encyclopedic entry. A monsoon is a seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing, or strongest, winds of a region.  Monsoons cause wet and dry seasons throughout much of the tropics.

monsoon

<ul><li>Researchers have recently reported that water is one of the least understood materials on this planet.</li><li>Water, according to Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, equals effortless strength as well as grace and suppleness.</li><li>When water is heated enough and becomes invisible in the vapour form, it has enough pressure to break any object.</li></ul>Water appears fine-tuned towards all kinds of climate, ecosystems, animals and plants, having numerous properties and features yet not fully understood.

Water Isn’t Fully Understood Yet

Water is deceiving by its very nature.
The legendary martial artist, philosopher and actor, Bruce Lee, once took a break from his meditation and gung fu practice and went sailing. At that time he was just a teenager, displaying his teenage angst by punching water with his fist.
He was surprised at the soft water taking his blow effortlessly. He tried to grasp water with his bare hands but it slipped through. Bruce Lee was intrigued by the nature of water, realizing that though it looks frail and meek, it can defeat the hardest substance in the world.

Bruce Lee On Water

<ul><li>Water behaves differently when frozen, suddenly shifting from a ‘disordered’ structure of liquid into an open, wider structure of ice.</li><li>The ancient Greeks list water as one of the four essential elements, alongside, earth, air and fire.</li><li>Homoeopathy, a form of treatment, works by putting extremely tiny doses of disease-causing substances dissolved in water.</li><li>Many wellness practitioners claim that water when consumed in a structured form, can slow down ageing, as it penetrates our cell walls to give us many health benefits.</li></ul>

Magical Water

It’s striking that water can illustrate and elucidate a martial arts philosophy while also being, to this day, the “least understood&#8230;

problemsolving

Problem Solving

Why Water Is Weird - Facts So Romantic - Nautilus

The function of the brain is not to keep us happy. The function is to protect us from possible threats.
Our brains create "what if" scenarios of what could go wrong. Achievers are familiar with the brain's stories it tells itself that may increase anxiety. Identifying these patterns is a vital step in reducing anxiety and reclaiming inner peace.

Negative thought patterns

Your inner critic may say, "It's your fault" for not meeting expectations. You blame yourself even if it's not your fault. For example, not earning a promotion, but then you fail to consider that many highly qualified candidates applied. The decision to promote a different applicant may have been based on external factors such as luck.
Refrain from adding undue self-criticism.

Failing to meet expectations

Life often throws curveballs. And just before you regain some order, life adds more challenges. You may stack your problems in a pile instead of addressing each one. Anxiety increase as you become overwhelmed by it all. Instead, list your concerns from the most to the least anxiety-causing. Then go over each one at a time.

Feeling anxious about everything

"I feel trapped." It can feel overwhelming to think that all decisions are final with no way of changing. If you are unhappy with your job, you can look for another one. If you don't like where you live, you can explore alternatives. Carefully consider the necessary information to make a good decision. While changing course can cost you and others, you can still reverse course if it becomes necessary.

Feeling all decisions are irreversible

Thinking in extremes simplifies decision-making but neglecting to consider more possibilities can give you excessive anxiety. There is a place for all or nothing thinking, such as surgery or flying an aeroplane. However, many daily actions do not carry that level of responsibility. You can make a mistake on an exam and still have a successful outcome. You are a work in progress. Give yourself the grace to make and learn from your mistakes.

The all or nothing mentality

The most common thought pattern that causes anxiety is when we ignore all the possible scenarios and settle on the worst possible outcome, even if it is improbable. Many of our biggest worries never come to fruition. Take some time to think of the odds that your fear will become a reality. Also, focus on taking reasonable precautions to protect yourself against the worst possible outcome.

Worst-case scenario thinking

We wrongly connect our self-worth to our level of success. We chase success with the hope to build our self-worth, then anxiety increase when we think we may fail. In truth, our self-worth is not determined by our success, degrees, education level, physical abilities, looks or earning power. Your self-worth is part of your humanity. You are worthy being you are human.

Thinking you are not enough

Realize and change negative thought patterns to reclaim inner peace.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

Thought Patterns That Increase Anxiety

Assertive communication allows us to take responsibility for ourselves and our actions without judging or blaming other people.Emotionally intelligent people know how to communicate their opinions and needs in a direct way while still respecting others.

Use assertive communication

The emotionally intelligent person knows how to stay calm during stressful situations. They don't make impulsive decisions and understand that in times of conflict the goal is a resolution.

Respond instead of reacting

Emotionally intelligent people make sure they understand what is being said before responding. They also pay attention to the nonverbal details of a conversation. This prevents misunderstandings, allows the listener to respond properly and shows respect for the person they are speaking to.

Utilize active listening skills

Emotionally intelligent people are self-motivated and their attitude motivates others. They set goals and are resilient in the face of challenges.

Be motivated

Emotionally intelligent people have an awareness of the moods of those around them and guard their attitude accordingly. They know what they need to do in order to have a good day and an optimistic outlook.

Maintain a positive attitude

Emotionally intelligent people are aware of their own emotions and how they can affect those around them. They also pick up on others' emotions and body language and use that information to enhance their communication skills.

Practice self-awareness

Emotionally intelligent people don't get offended or defensive when facing criticism.They take a few moments to understand where the critique is coming from, how it is affecting others or their own performance and how they can constructively resolve any issues.

Take critique well

Emotionally intelligent people understand that empathy is a trait that shows emotional strength, not weakness. Empathy helps them to relate to others on a basic human level and opens the door for mutual understanding between people.

Empathize with others

Emotionally intelligent people have high standards for themselves and set an example for others to follow. They take initiative and have great decision making and problem-solving skills.

Utilize leadership skills

Emotionally intelligent people come off as approachable, because they give off a positive presence. They smile, have great interpersonal skills and know how to communicate clearly, whether the communication is verbal or nonverbal.

Be approachable and sociable

Emotional intelligence, or EQ, continues to be an increasingly popular skill to have in the professional world. Many may be wondering why emotional intelligence continues to increase in importance among peers in an evolving workplace. Simply put, emotional intelligence is not a trend.

teamwork

Teamwork

10 Ways to Increase Your Emotional Intelligence

<ol>
<li>Let go of the need for specific outcomes </li>
<li>Define your own success and happiness </li>
<li>Fully commit to the things that make you happy </li>
<li>Be grateful for what you already have </li>
<li>Say “I love you” more </li>
<li>Have hobbies directed toward your dreams </li>
<li>Don’t postpone what you can do now</li>
<li>Do something every day that terrifies you </li>
<li>Put “the Important” before “the Urgent”</li>
<li>Forgo the good to pursue the best.</li>
</ol>

10 Behaviors for Happiness

Happiness is the purpose of life. Despite this, only one in three Americans say they're very happy. Several years ago in an interview with Conan O'Brien, Louis C. K. tells of flying on a newly equipped Wi-Fi airplane. He was amazed by the new technology. Until, during the flight, the Wi-Fi went down.

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

habits

Habits

The Secret to Happiness Is 10 Specific Behaviors

It is sometimes difficult to find some time to relax in our busy lives. However, it is important to set aside some quiet and uninterrupted time to be able to meditate, relax, and breathe.
<ul>
<li>Find a time where you can have some peace and quiet where you won't be interrupted;</li>
<li>Set your intentions to be held in a positive light. What do you want to happen during this time? How long will you be spending here? What are you trying to free yourself from?</li>
</ul>

Create The Time To Relax

<ul>
<li>A calming environment is conducive to meditation so that you can engage all of your five senses - sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch.</li>
<li>Remove any clutter that might distract you;</li>
<li>If you choose to light a candle, be sure to have it away from any items that are hazardous to fire;</li>
<li>You can also prepare a drink to sip during your bath, just make sure that it is in a non-breakable cup and it has a stable surface to rest on. It can be a glass of wine, a cup of tea, or even iced coffee.</li>
</ul>

Prepare The Environment

<ul><li>This is dependent on your preferences. You can have a milk bath, salt bath, or a bath without any additives.</li><li>You can have a deeper bath experience by adding fresh rose petals or citrus rinds for texture. </li><li>Bath salts, bubbles, and essential oils can also be added to your bath.</li></ul>

Prepare The Bath

Now that you've prepared everything for the bath it's time to climb into the bath, close your eyes, relax your body and breathe. Here are things you should do while in the bath:<ul><li>Practice the 4-7-8 breathe work. </li><li>Pay attention to the sensations that you are feeling at the moment, from your body - warmth, freshness, serenity - to your environment - fragrant and relaxing.</li><li>This is also when you can address your anxieties, focus on the feeling, and then let them go.</li></ul>

Get in The Bath and Relax

As the bath comes to an end, your skin is soft, you feel light and unburdened, don't quickly get out of the bath, instead, take it slow, carefully get up and do your usual routine after a soothing bath. While doing so, keep in mind to still notice what you are thinking and feeling - physically and emotionally - let yourself fully experience the moment until the moment you put your clothes on.

Easing Back Into Life

Taking a meditative, mindful bath sounds like a straightforward exercise, but it can feel stressful to beginners. Here's a guide on how to get started.

12 Ways to Live More Sustainably

Physical fatigue is in the brain as much as in the body | Psyche Ideas

7 Cutting-Edge Strategies To Optimize Employee Brain Capital

How to Deal with Road Rage

monsoon

Thea Newton