Author: Bryanna Ulrick

3 Common Productivity Hacks That Actually Don’t Work (and What to Do Instead)

If you’re like most college students, procrastination is one of your key issues. And while there are so many magical productivity tips and tricks out there, let’s be real: Many of them don’t work.

What’s a waste of time, and what should you be doing instead? Here are three common productivity hacks people use and what you should be doing instead.

1. Myth: Multitasking Is More Productive

Although it may stand to reason that listening to a podcast while messaging your best friend on Facebook about your hot date coming up on Friday and working on your biology essay, while also painting your nails can help you accomplish many tasks efficiently at once, the reality is that it doesn’t. Our productivity can decrease by as much as 40% from multitasking, as we switch tasks and actually lose time by interrupting ourselves between tasks.

Reducing your amount of multitasking can lead to greater progress on projects that you have deemed challenging and have not gotten to by distracting yourself with something else and can also decrease the stress you may feel as a result of working often but not actually accomplishing anything. By disconnecting ourselves from our cellphones and computers when they are not necessary, we can become more mindful of the world around us and tune into the task at hand. Give yourself a deadline for the task at hand, and use your electronics as an incentive for the work that you accomplish by that deadline.

2. Myth: Working as Much as Possible Gets More Done

The United States has a much higher rate of work hours than many countries, and often others with fewer hours in their work week tend to have higher rates of productivity.

Taking breaks that relieve your mind, get your oxygen flowing and give your brain a break from one task are essential. Using methods such as the Pomodoro Technique can help you allocate your work and make sure that you give yourself a break, depending on how much work you can get done and how much time you need before you can go back to working without overdoing it.

Recently while attending a panel at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, I had the pleasure of hearing Ernie Rebustillo, a representative from Right to Play International, talk about the importance of play and allowing ourselves to find a balance between work and play time. When play is purposeful, learning occurs and provides us with a way to express ourselves, while also encouraging critical thinking, problem solving and literacy skills.

The idea of “play” can just be a hobby or something that makes you happy, whether it is cooking, painting, walking around outside or having fun talking with your friends for a little while. When we allocate time for ourselves to have fun and be creative, it makes our work that much more effective when we return to it feeling refreshed.

3. Myth: Technology Makes Everything Better and Faster

Rather than using our electronic devices to constantly keep in touch through email and Facebook, connecting with others in person can often let you be more productive by giving you human contact and increasing your endorphins when you have positive interactions with others. Often, using our electronics too often in what we think are productive ways can result in us taking ourselves too seriously (not allowing us to have a break from work), being disrespectful and unkind (not communicating with people in public places or not paying attention to where we are going) or letting our tools control us (not being able to live life without a device!)

Recently, I lost my cellphone while abroad in Bangkok, and it has taught me the importance of checking your electronics and making sure that they don’t control you. I have found it much easier to both be productive and social with others, as I am not constantly connected to my phone and many outside distractions which often have no relevance to the task at hand. Make sure you minimize your cell phone use when completing important tasks!

Rather than trying to do too much at once, allocate yourself time for work and play! Dividing work and play time allows us to be more mindful of our work, and allows our brains to have time to rejuvenate without feeling overwhelmed. Unplugging from technology during these break times can allow us to reconnect with reality and those around us, enjoying nature and a world outside of human constraints.

5 Genius Coffee Hacks That Won’t Leave You Jittery

The benefits of drinking coffee are enormous: It provides many antioxidants, decreases depression and stress and also reduces the risk of disease.

However, many people do not know how to drink it properly and can often end up being sleep-deprived or jittery with coffee. What can you do to make your morning (or afternoon) coffee as effective as possible? Here are five important tips.

1. Moderate Your Intake

Coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant that speeds up the central nervous system to make you awake and alert. A moderate caffeine intake is usually 250 milligrams per day, or the equivalent to two cups. Many people overdo this (it is considered safe to consume six cups of coffee per day), which is why they experience an increase of adrenaline, causing jitters and a fight-or-flight response.

Make sure you drink just enough to feel awake, and instead of drinking it all at once, drink half of what you normally would in the morning and save the rest for the afternoon in order to allow your body to process it over a longer period of time.

2. Hydrate

Coffee can dehydrate you only if you overdo it. Most people who drink coffee in the morning forget to stay hydrated and balance their coffee and water intake, causing dehydration headaches.

Drinking iced coffee with ice cubes is a great way to water down your drink and get some water out of it when you are done drinking the coffee part! If you’re drinking hot coffee, make sure to drink two cups of water for every one cup of coffee, which will both keep you hydrated and help your body better absorb the caffeine.

3. Mix It Up

Try mixing your coffee with additions such as in Bulletproof Coffee, which is blended with grass-fed unsalted butter and Brain Octane Oil, a coconut oil extract which improves brain function. Grass-fed, unsalted butter is nutrient-dense, with high amounts of vitamin K2, vitamin D and vitamin E, while Brain Octane Oil helps provide energy without a crash.

Some additional healthy and vegan options to traditional sugar and cream are coconut milk and sugar, maple syrup, agave nectar, and cashew, almond and soy milks (which can often be more delicious!) Science has shown that vegan options can often trump those which contain dairy.

The natural fats found in these and the Bulletproof Coffee recipe can help balance blood sugar and energy levels and also prevent coffee from raising your stress levels.

4. Have a Snack

Drinking coffee on an empty stomach just acidifies your stomach, and balancing it with food will give you energy that isn’t wired, later turning into a crash.

Eating a piece of fruit such as a banana or a grapefruit can give you the fructose boost you need while also giving something to balance out the pH in your stomach. Making an oatmeal latte can give you a caffeine fix and filling breakfast all at once!

5. Make Time for Tea

Tea, especially Yerba Mate, is a great alternative to coffee because it usually contains less caffeine and affects the body differently. Changing up your daily routine and trying tea (whether it’s Yerba Mate, black, green, white, pu-erh or oolong) can assist in having longer and more sustained energy because of their rich polyphenols.

Tea has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, protect against cancer and reduce the risk of high blood pressure, so it’s definitely worth a shot.

Make sure to balance your coffee with food and water, as well as other types of caffeine, to help your body stay sustained and help you be the best that you can!

5 Ways the Most Successful Students Manage Money

We all know that surviving as a college student can be tricky; there’s so much to pay for and so little time to keep track of all of the academics, extracurriculars and monetary obligations we have to abide by.

Lucky for you, five smart students are weighing in on how they manage money and limit their stress.

1. They Stick to a Budget

“I always break my budget down per month based on food, transportation, and spending money (for everyday things, clothes, etc.). This way, I can allot money for the essentials I truly need while cutting out excess expenses on things such as that bag that I might really want but don’t necessarily need. I have to give myself parameters.” – Calvin, University of Charleston ‘17

Organizing your expenses can make all the difference and help you choose what to spend excess money on. Not sure how to make a budget from scratch using Excel? Look no further than this great step-by-step guide. In addition, here is an awesome spreadsheet to use that is very detailed and can be downloaded and customized.

In order to create an effective budget, make sure that you remain aware of how much you spend and give yourself incentives that will help motivate you and keep you on track!

2. They Limit Fun to the Weekends

“I usually reward myself on the weekends if I have been good at managing my money during the week. For me, this means eating dessert, as well as going out for food or to the club with friends. I need an incentive during the week to keep me motivated in all aspects of my life, whether it is academics or managing my money. I make sure that I take advantage of free food opportunities on campus, since most college students’ money usually goes to food.” – Leah, Hofstra University ‘17

Treat yourself on the weekends for all of your hard work during the week! There’s no need to be eating out or celebrating every day of the week, but it’s okay to splurge now and then.

3. They Use Apps to Track Spending

“I use an expense app called Pocket Expense to track my spending. This app is great because it allows you to track your income and where it comes from, as well as your bills, and separates your spending into different categories. It also allows you to set a timer on your bills so that you never get behind in your finances. In this way, I can see where most of my money goes (towards groceries, books, pets/apartment maintenance, or bills).” – Calum, Mahidol University ‘19

Technology can make it much easier to keep you on track, since you have so many different things to worry about.

Pocket Expense stores multiple banking accounts in one place, determines how much of your budget is spent on certain things, and times your bills. Spending Tracker is similar, but does not give you the option of paying bills. It does, however, allow you to put a date and time on recurring transactions and gives you data in both line and pie graphs. HomeBudget Lite syncs with your iCalendar on your iPhone and Mac to help you keep track of your bills and expenses and keeps your budget with you, so that you can keep up with how well you are sticking to it.

4. They Use College Breaks and Free Time to Earn More Money

“In college, it’s hard to find free time to work. With classes, homework, studying, and basketball games, it seems like finding time for a job is just too much. For me, I’ve found that the best time to work is during breaks. Over the summer, and in between semesters, I get two or three jobs, and take time to work as much as I can. That way, if I don’t have time to work during the year, I can still pay my bills with savings from the summer before. In addition, I also take on a lot of freelance work as a graphic designer, which only takes a couple days to get a good paycheck.” – Sarah, Virginia Commonwealth University ‘17

Finding time to work when not attending school is your best bet, but many students do work while taking classes.

5. They Prepare in Advance

“At home I save a lot of money by meal prepping. On Sundays I’ll cook food that will last me the entire week. It saves me a ton of money because individual meals can get really expensive. Also, while studying abroad here in Bangkok, I eat food from local Thai restaurants where the prices are very reasonable.” – Mason, University of North Carolina ‘17

Preparing for the week ahead can make all the difference! For example, investing in coffee and tea at home instead of spending that five dollars at Starbucks can quickly add up to big savings, or researching where you can rent your textbooks or access them online can help save you tons, and you usually won’t use your textbooks after your class.

By preparing for the week ahead, creating a budget that you monitor with apps on your phone and limiting fun as an incentive, managing money can be a breeze!

11 Secrets of People Who Always Nail Job Interviews

Interviews are increasingly important, as they will make or break your dream job opportunity. How can you make sure that every interview is incredible? Here are 11 traits of people who constantly rock their job interviews.

1. They Do Their Research

Research your potential employer’s website, blog, social media, press, quarterly reports and anything else you can find. Bringing concrete numbers to the table and understanding every part of a business shows that you’re interested and star interviewees know that.

2. They Clean Their Social Media Profiles

As I mentioned in a previous blog post, 92% of companies use social media for their recruitment, with one in three employers rejecting candidates based on something they found in their social profiles.

3. They Don’t Change Up Their Routines

Instead of drinking lots of coffee or taking medication you think might help you, make sure that you stick to your regular routine. That espresso shot will just make you jittery, nervous and overenthusiastic.

4. They Use the “Iceberg Strategy”

Just like in an effective opening paragraph for a paper, the “iceberg strategy” can be used effectively here.

How does it work? Expose enough about you that you are interesting and the employer wants to hire you, but not so much that you only talk about yourself and bore your interviewer. Combine your professional and personal life so that you discuss how you have been shaped by your experiences and how they have brought you to this perfect potential job today.

If you want more help with this, check out contributor Peyton Murry’s advice on crafting a rockstar elevator pitch here.

5. They Put Thought Into Their Appearance and General “Vibe”

In order to be taken seriously, your mannerisms as well as appearance must be impeccable. Wear something that is special to you that could be a conversation starter; maybe it’s a piece of jewelry from your latest travels or something that represents your culture or heritage.

Additionally, before the interview, find a mirror and repeat these mantras to yourself: “I am confident, I am strong and I will achieve anything and everything I want.”

6. They Focus on Showing What They Can Bring to the Table

We’ve talked to recruiters in the past, and they’ve told us that they look for professionalism, appearance, behavior-based answers (“In my last role, I did…”) and straightforward results.

By combining your past experiences with research into the company and where it’s going, you’ll show a hiring manager what kind of impact you can make for his or her team in the future.

For example, you could say something like, “Through my leadership as Vice President of the Habitat for Humanity club on campus, I was able to use my love for community service to create a strong organization dedicated to the benefit of others. We raised over $10,000 and built over 100 homes under my leadership, and given those experiences, I think I could add a lot to the development team here as a Fundraising Intern.”

7. They Set Themselves Up as a Team Player

It’s a well-known fact that the best teams are comprised of a number of different personalities who bring a variety of talents to the table. Before heading into an interview, think to yourself, what personality traits do I bring to the table, and how will they benefit this specific workplace and my future team’s goals?

8. They Come Overly Prepared

Always carry an extra resume (I would even say three or four so that you can distribute multiple if asked!), and come with a pen and paper as well as lots of questions (here’s a great list of what to ask your interviewer!).

Make sure you’ve already talked to your references, so that they know to potentially expect a call or email, and release your college transcript information if an employer has mentioned needing it in the future. All of these steps will keep any hiccups from forming during your application process and make you seem better than the rest.

9. They Recognize Their Flaws and Pose Solutions

Rather than saying something like, “I have a hard time with being a perfectionist” (all employers groan at this), talk about an actual area of improvement and show how you’ve worked on it.

For example, say something like, “In the past I have struggled with my time management; I have a tendency to want to do a lot, and sometimes it leads to too much to do and not enough time to create quality work. To combat this issue, I’ve done a number of things: I created a color-coded calendar to keep track of deadlines, and I also create daily and weekly to-do lists to track my progress. Furthermore, I ask a simple question before I sign onto anything now: ‘What does this position do that I’m not getting from my other commitments?’”

For more information on how to rock these questions about weaknesses, check out this article in our WayUp Guide.

10. They Reveal Their Experience With Questions

At the end when it’s your turn to ask some questions, incorporate your experiences to further show you’ve paid attention and done your homework.

For example, you could say something like, “I wrote as a contributor for WayUp and received 5,000 shares on one of my articles. Will this position provide more opportunities for me to use blogging and social media management techniques?”

11. They Stay in Touch

Grabbing the interviewer’s business card and sending a thank-you email (or better yet, a handwritten note!) will not only show that you are interested but that you also take a hiring manager’s time and effort seriously.

Pro tip: Allow yourself to be filled with gratitude as if you have already received the job, and imagine yourself being congratulated for your acceptance as you write your thank-you note!

To recap, make sure you are prepared for your interview with data and knowledge about your strengths, and recognize how you can use your flaws to grow.

4 Quick Social Media Tricks That Will Get You Hired

According to Staff.com, 92% of companies use social media for their recruitment, with one in three employers rejecting candidates based on something they found in their social profiles.

Social media greatly enhances your ability to present yourself effectively, establish connections with people in your career and reach out to professionals and employers. Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of this? Most people are not sure how, but the tips you need to land your dream job using your favorite sites like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter are outlined below.

1. Make Your “Brand” the Same on All Social Platforms

Chances are you probably have more than one social media profile, so if you’re trying to look professional for employers, be sure that the “branding” of your accounts is the same throughout.

Use the same profile picture or avatar as well as a cover photo if the social media site calls for one, and try to score the same handle everywhere if you can swing it. Every single post should support your goals in some way.

2. Use Hashtags and Join Groups/Chats

Using hashtags on platforms such as Instagram and Twitter allows you to connect with like-minded peers who can help you in your field, people in your field who you can look up to for guidance or better yet, people who are looking for your skill set. Make use of Twitter, Google+ and Facebook to create and/or follow groups related to your college or areas of study/work. Doing so will help you create a network.

Think of it this way: Even if you are qualified for a job, you might not get it because the employer was introduced to someone else or knew someone else who was also available to take the position. It’s all about making strong connections and building a strong network.

3. Reach Out to Professionals and Employers

Follow and connect with people you admire (or even want to work for) on social media, as it makes it easier to connect offline.

Think this approach sounds intimidating? It definitely works! Take, for example, Kristie Dash, a then-college student who followed every magazine editor on Twitter before reaching out about internships at their respective publications. By sending then-Teen Vogue editor Eva Chen an email with a subject line that referred to one of her tweets, she landed an interview (and then an internship!) at Teen Vogue.

4. Use Tools to Manage Your Media Smoothly

There’s one complaint you hear all the time from people about their social media: “There so much of it that I can’t keep up with it all the time!”

The good news is, you don’t have to.

There are many apps you can use to help you get to know your audience (and employers), so that you can decide how to best appeal to them. Tools such as Buffer and Hootsuite can help you schedule and manage your social media posts for free and give you valuable insights, and if you want more help learning how to become a social media aficionado, there’s a great infographic here that breaks down all the potential tools you can use.

Remember, three out of four hiring managers and recruiters check candidates’ social profiles, making it more imperative than ever that your profiles are professional, consistent and connected in order to launch your dream career!