In a recent study done at the University of Plymouth, researchers found that doodling during a meeting, at work, or even while studying can help you retain 29% more information.

According to the study, the reason doodling is so effective is because it causes your mind to slow down and focus on the present moment. With the high-paced world we live in, we should take advantage of any chance we get to slow down.

Some of the smartest minds in the world are known to be prolific doodlers, with the likes of Bill Gates and Frank Gehry falling into that category. Grab a pen, start drawing whatever comes to mind, and see your retention soars.

Can Boost Memory

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PRODUCTIVITY DIGEST

In recent studies done out of the Netherlands, researchers found that having plants in the workplace can improve productivity, increase concentration, and make workers happier and less stressed. Some scientists believe that simply being around plants, trees, and other natural scenery can cause a positive change in mood which leads to better productivity. If anything, sticking a large plant in the corner of your office can change the vibe and overall feel of the room. Add a plant to your desk and watch as it brightens up your workspace and improves productivity.

Put Plants In The Workplace For Better Productivity

The next time you need a quick boost in energy to wake up the brain, smell some rosemary.

A study done out of the University of Newcastle, U.K., found that people performed better on memory tests and tasks in a room that smelled of rosemary compared to a control group in a room with no scent. Take a whif and see how it works for you!

Two-Second Brain Hack

Rosemary

Here are three apps that can be found right on your smartphone that will guarantee you never miss a payment or appointment again:

Just having these three services will be a huge help in making sure your life and schedule stays in order. Finally, you can say “bye-bye” to late fees and missed appointments.

Coffee Shop Ambience Is Good For CreativityAccording to recent research done by the Journal of Consumer Research, participants who worked with ambient noise in the background were more creative and scored higher on objective word association tests.

The Wall Street Journal adds that a small dose of distraction can improve productivity, creativity, and focus. The next time you are in need of getting some work done, consider heading to a local coffee shop or bookstore and let your creativity soar.

Never Miss A Payment Or Appointment Again

Life is busy. You are working, running kids to soccer games, making dinner, and then before you know it… you’ve missed a payment or appointment.

This happens to us all, yet, finally there is a solution. With the advancing technologies that are in the palm of your hand 24 hours a day, you can now make sure you never miss an appointment or payment again. By using apps like Mint for your finances, Remember the Milk for reminders and to-dos, and Oh Don’t Forget for automated text reminders, you can make it seemingly impossible to forget any task.

The average household in the U.S. carries more than $15,000 in credit card debt. Many folks forget to pay their bills and end up owing a lot of money in interest payments and late fees. Also, people miss 10% of their scheduled appoint-ments, resulting in cancellation fees that they have to pay out of pocket and lost revenue for the business. You can avoid these downfalls with a few simple steps.

Mint

www.mint.com

Mint is the best finance app on the market. You can set reminders, track spending, set saving goals, and more. The best feature Mint offers is that each time you have an upcoming bill or payment, you can set multiple reminders to make sure the bill gets paid.

Remember the Milk

www.rememberthemilk.com

This is the best way to remember the little things in life like getting milk at the store, buying a birthday gift, or even your next doctors appointment. Remember The Milk is perfect for to-do lists, grocery lists, and scheduling. Plus, it will sync across all your platforms so you can access it anytime, anywhere.

Oh Don’t Forget

www.ohdontforget.com

Oh Don’t Forget is a service that allows you to schedule text messages to remind yourself, friends, family, or even your co-workers about an upcoming appointment or event. This app is shown to be very effective for both individuals and businesses.

Thanks for reading this month’s Life Hacks Digest.If you have a favorite hack or shortcut for improving your life, please send it to support@earlytorise.com.

I’d love to include it in an upcoming issue to help all our readers.

When it comes to simple and practical ways to make more money, often times you have to own up and take responsibility. Once you are able to do that, you will be surprised at how much good fortune starts coming your way.

Here are 7 different mental hacks to follow to finally achieve the independence and freedom you’ve always wanted:

1. You control your future. According to Brad Klontz, a financial psychologist at Kansas State University, if you agree with this statement, chances are you’ll have a higher income and net worth: “People who take responsibility for their lives will examine what they did wrong and try to improve rather than blame others.”

2. You must learn from past mistakes and move on. According to Daniel Roberts, author of Zoom: Surprising Ways to Supercharge Your Career, the most successful entrepreneurs and executives own up to their failures and then move on to prove themselves again.

3. You must believe that you can change. Adopt a growth mentality, says Carol Dweck, a Stanford University psychologist. You’ll work harder, be more open to learning, and obsess less about your self-image.

4. You must try to solve problems and add unique value. According to Alan Gregerman, author of the Necessity of Strangers, most companies are split into silos with vast gaps of understanding in between. To move up, work to bridge those gaps, he says. Get to know as much as you can about the work that your colleagues do.

5. You must be grateful and optimistic. According to W. Timothy Gallwey, you should focus less on the problems with your boss, colleagues, clients, etc, and more on the benefits they can provide to you. Use your job to help these people in return. Gallwey says this adds dignity and motivation to your work.

6. You must control your time. Script your day. Set rules of engagement. Apply deadlines to every task and time limits to every meeting and phone call.

7. You will get ahead by being organized. Plan your day. Keep a schedule and stick to it. Schedule time for important work as you would important appointments. Create systems. Use them to follow-up and follow-through.

MENTALHACKS7

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Eat Dark Chocolate For Better Focus & Brain Power You know that stuff we all love yet have been told for years to avoid for “health reasons”? Well, new research is now telling us that small doses of dark chocolate can actually help boost focus and brain power. According to researchers from the Journal of Nutrition, dark chocolate correlates to better focus on a few different levels:1. Dark chocolate contains a small amount of

caffeine, which has been proven to heighten mental alertness.

2. Dark chocolate contains magnesium, which can help you de-stress and calm down.

3. And most important, dark chocolate stimulates the release of endorphins and serotonin, which heighten your mood and make you feel good.

Now this does not mean you should eat a whole chocolate bar everyday, but throwing in 1 or 2 pieces when needed will do the trick. It is important to note here, that we are talking about DARK chocolate, not the milky sugary kind. Typically anything over 80% cocoa works best. The next time you are in need of some serious focus time, try reaching for 1-2 squares of 80% dark chocolate and see how much better you feel.

How to Be More Productive Nearly all the most successful and famous writers, thinkers, politicians and entrepreneurs, had one thing in common:

They were diligent about sticking to their daily routine.

And according to the book ‘Daily Rituals: How Artists Work’ by Mason Currey, many of these individuals account much of their success to the daily routines they had in place. A few simple tips to help you get started, would be to first and foremost, take a few minutes to plan out your day. A good resource you can use is Planner Plus (available for smart phones). This allows you to easily plan your day and track the difference between what you’ve planned and what you’ve gotten done. Next, try setting an alarm for each of the tasks you have on your plate as a reminder that you need to get them done. Many times as we go through out day, it’s easy to forget what we are supposed to be doing at that very moment. Get in the habit of reminding yourself to stay on task. Stick with your chosen routine for at least 21-days, then evaluate how everything has been going.