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The videos you watch, the ads you see, and the memes you share on social media all have one thing in common: Brilliant creative minds designed them.

What creatives do is incredible, but it’s hard work. Inspiration can run dry, and it can be difficult to get the ball rolling some days. So how do world-class creatives do it?

Calendar Tips From Creatives

Using an online calendar can help creatives, and you, maximize their time and efforts. Here’s how:

1. Keep Track of Holidays

Because they’re so widely celebrated, major holidays make creating content that connects with consumers easy. Creatives use these dates as starting points for their campaigns.

Creatives also need to keep an eye on holidays for more practical reasons. Often, holidays dictate when you have off work, when projects are due, and when brand events should be held. Regardless, it’s a good idea to highlight them in your online calendar.

2. Develop a Content Schedule

Creative professionals don’t create in a vacuum. To make sure the world sees their work, they put together a content schedule. This calendar describes when and where their content will be shared.

This type of schedule is helpful for every profession. There are specific times better for making cold calls, meeting with clients, or even finishing up paperwork. Figure out the times that work best for your tasks, and use your online calendar to optimize your time usage.

3. Set Deadlines

There will be times, as a creative, when you feel stuck. Sit for too long, and you won’t get anything done. Working under deadlines can boost momentum and hold you accountable for projects you need to complete.

With that said, deadlines can be stressful. Be cautious about how many you set and at what cadence. What’s important is pushing yourself forward — something deadlines in your online calendar can help you with.

4. Get Inspired

Some of the best pieces of content have come from outside inspiration. Whether it’s to gather new ideas, take a brain break, or get help with a challenging assignment, making time for some recreational activities can help you find that spark of inspiration you need.

Schedule some time in your online calendar for activities that aren’t directly work-related. Getting outside, diving into a book, or attending an event can provide new insight into your life and be a delightful way to pass some time.

5. Use Color-Coding

Is it any surprise that creatives use their calendars in creative ways? One of the many options is to use color-coding to organize your calendar events. Each color represents a category, which makes it easy to distinguish between types of tasks.

Difference colors can represent certain activities, promote work-life balance, or even order tasks by level of importance. Choose your palette, and start coloring your own calendar.

6. Organize Challenges

When it comes to your career, you have to be constantly improving yourself. This boosts your work quality and opens up doors for bigger and better opportunities down the road. Creatives are especially well-known for their thirst to grow.

One way creatives challenge themselves is by planning a daily activity that hones their skills. For example, an artist can start their daily routine by drawing a sketch using a style they struggle with. Go ahead: Put a daily event on your calendar to challenge yourself creatively, personally, or professionally.

7. Implement Time Blocking

Multi-tasking might be a skill you pride yourself in, but it doesn’t make sense for most creatives. Each project has its own parameters and style to follow, which takes a lot of attention. Time blocking can be used to tackle assignments one at a time.

With time blocking, you organize sections of time into individual blocks. Let’s say from noon to 1 p.m.; you want to work on a social media video. During that block of time, that’s all you focus on. Once the clock strikes one, you move to your next project.

8. Get the Worst Out of the Way

Every job has its downsides. Creative jobs are no exception. While these tasks aren’t enjoyable, they must be done. Using an online calendar can help you get them over with quickly.

Schedule your least favorite activities first thing in the morning. Tackling these tasks before doing anything else means you’ve already gotten through the worst part of your day. That way, you can then focus on the aspects of your job that you enjoy. If you save the worst for last, you’ll be dreading it all day, putting a damper on everything else you do.

9. Balance Your Time

One of the greatest tools an online calendar has to offer is time analytics. This allows you to see how your time is distributed so you can fully optimize it.

For creatives, this ensures every area of a project gets proper attention. Planning, executing, and distributing are important steps, and time analytics can reveal whether each area is getting the time it deserves.

You can learn a lot from the creative minds of the world. Not only can you admire their bright minds, but you can also emulate how they use their time. To create a brighter future for yourself, look to world-class creatives.

In a perfect world, you would have the luxury to focus on one thing at a time. But, that’s just not reality. The truth of the matter is that you have to learn to master the art of juggling multiple projects and deadlines — and you can do this.

That doesn’t mean that’s been easy. From my experience, I’ve mixed-up deadlines and have wasted time on non-important activities. I’ve even tried to perfect multitasking only to learn the hard that it’s just not ineffective, but also not achievable.

So, what’s the option here? The short answer? Learn how to stay focused — even when working on multiple projects.

Stay calm; organize and prioritize on.

We’ve all fallen victim to this at some point. You glance over your to-do-list or calendar only to get overwhelmed with everything that you need to get done. I mean how can you not when you can’t see the finishing line?

The thing is, getting all worked up isn’t going to help. In fact, it’s only going to make matters worse by heightening your state of anxiety and stress. As a consequence, it’s going to be so difficult to concentrate that you’ll end up procrastinating.

With that in mind, you first need to get back to homeostasis. It could be through some simple breathing exercises, going for a walk outside, or spitballing ideas with a colleague. Once you’ve regained your composure you organize and prioritize your work.

How you go about this is totally up to you. I’m a fan of techniques like the 4Ds of time management. But, your mileage may vary and may prefer to prioritize everything as A, B or C — or use the 1-3-5 scheduling rule — or the scales method.

Whatever strategy you employ, make sure to prioritize your projects by task, timeline, and crunch time. When you do, you’re ensuring that you’re focusing on the right thing at the right time.

Block your time.

Have you identified your priorities? Awesome! Go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back.

Now it’s time to ensure that you’re going to follow through with them. And, one of the best ways to achieve this? Time blocking.

The concept is simple. You take your most important tasks and assign them a specific amount of time in your calendar. For example, if you need to brainstorm ideas with your team, then you would block out an hour in your calendar for this activity.

Time-blocking works because unlike lists, it actually accounts for time. It also discourages multitasking, reduces stress and anxiety, and protects your calendar. Moreover, you can use time blocking to track your progress and realistically carve out “me” time.

Keep all of your projects on location.

Whether you’re flying solo or collaborating with others you don’t want your various projects scarred across multiple docs, spreadsheets, and communication tools. If so, it’s easy for essential information to fall through the cracks — it’s also time-consuming switching back-and-forth.

Asana recommends creating a project roadmap to keep everyone on the same page. With a project management tool like Asana, you can identify priorities, assign tasks, share status updates, and track each other’s progress.

In my opinion, a solid project management tool that syncs with your calendar is a must. But, you can also use tools like Slack, Google Docs, and Calendar to communicate, collaborate, and schedule meetings with ease. The point here is to streamline the number of tools you’re using to avoid any potential setbacks.

Get in the right headspace.

Imagine that you just sat down at your desk with every intention to get work done. You’ve prioritized your list and blocked out this time in your calendar. But, then in you notice a pile of paperwork or hear your kids screaming from the living room.

Despite all the prep work you did, focusing on the task at hand is impossible. And, if this is the case for one project, it’s probably going to be the same for the rest.

Some simple ways to get into the zone would be removing the clutter from your workspace. If background noise is too unbearable, close the door or put on a pair of headphones. You can also optimize your work environment by investing in ergonomic furniture and surrounding yourself with plants.

And, make sure to avoid distractions by turning off your smartphone. You can also create busy signals, like having a sign on your door or marking yourself unavailable on Google Calendar or Slack.

Embrace multi-teaming.

“Few people today have the luxury of working on a single project at a time; most of us are juggling the demands of many teams at once,” Heidi K. Gardner and Mark Mortensen for HBR. “In theory, this system of “multiteaming” offers a number of upsides.

For starters, you have the ability to “deploy your expertise exactly where and when it’s most needed.” You can also “share your knowledge across groups, and switch projects during lull times,” they add. In turn, you can avoid “costly downtime.”

Of course, if you want to get the most out of multiteaming, you need to collaborate and cross-leverage your team. To do so effectively, you must actually get to know your team so that you know not only what their skills are, but also their goals, interests, and personalities.

Furthermore, you must clearly define and align priorities. And, you also need to provide learning opportunities for the entire team.

Look at your calendar.

I get it, this isn’t the most exciting task. But, it’s absolutely essential if you want to meet expectations. More importantly, it can preserve your sanity and prevent you from spreading yourself too thin.

Set aside a period of time and look at what you and your team have booked for the next month, quarter, or even year. Is your team working on five projects simultaneously? If so, can you stagger the start dates?

Are there are areas where you can consolidate by batching similar tasks together? For example, you’re filming a demo for an upcoming product launch. But, another project could also use this type of marketing. Since you have the equipment and crew, it would make sense to do this at the same time.

Do you have a lull before a busy period? You may want to take some time off. The reason? You’ll be refreshed enough to power through.

I’d also recommend adding some wiggle room into your calendar. Maybe you could bump up a due date just in case you fell behind. Or, you could have blocks of free time in your daily schedule in order to handle interruptions or emergencies.

The key takeaway? Review your calendar and adjust project schedules accordingly. It’s the only way that you’ve going to remain productive when working on multiple projects.

Know your limitations.

When I first went out on my own, I accepted each and every project that came my way. Maybe I was being greedy. But, I also wanted to get my name out there.

Eventually, this backfired. Besides getting burned out, I began dropping the ball by missing deadlines or delivering subpar work. The solution? I became more strategic.

If my time was already booked, I would have to decline new requests. Sometimes that meant losing a gig. Other times though the client was flexible and we worked out a new timeframe.

The point is, be realistic with how much you, as well as your team, can handle at once. If you’re already at full capacity, it may not be possible to take on any new projects.

Digital tools are wonderful, but they aren’t risk-free. It’s important to take safety precautions when using any type of technology, including an online calendar.

With kids, safety is ALL more important. A child, even an older child — is simply less aware of the dangers of the internet. They may not see the harm in publicly sharing something like an after-school activity, which is where parents come in.

What can you do to help your kids use an online calendar safely?

1. Be an Example

The best way to teach your kids anything, frankly, is through your example. If you limit who you share events with, follow your Calendar with discipline, and log off when you need a break — then so will your children. Act carelessly with your online Calendar, and nothing you preach differently about it will stick.

Every tip in this article you should apply to yourself. Take notes on how you can improve — and make sure your kids see you doing it.

2. Set Ground Rules

A great place to start is with ground rules. These basic guidelines should be easy to remember and simple to follow.

What sorts of events should your kids put on their online Calendar? What sorts of events should they keep to themselves?

Think, too, about how they add events to their calendar. Is it OK if they’re using their smartphones to adjust calendar events late into the night? Should they practice doing Calendar-ing in the morning from the family’s desktop computer?

3. Teach Proper Safety

Show your kids the ropes when it comes to safety procedures. People they don’t know don’t need access to their daily schedules and routine.

Remind them not to share their Calendar information with strangers. Encourage them only to let trusted friends and family edit events that they’re invited to.

You should also teach your kids not to leave their devices unlocked or unattended. A little carelessness is all it takes for their privacy or personal data to be compromised.

4. Check Security Settings

Online Calendars have top-of-the-line security features built into them. But by default, many of them are toggled off to make online Calendars more shareable.

Check your children’s online Calendar settings often. Make sure all your kids’ Calendar events are private unless specifically shared with someone else. Opt-out of any organizations that may allow others to overlay your kids’ calendar on their own.

5. Change Passwords

Another thing to check is the password for your child’s online Calendar account. Make sure it’s complex and tough to guess, with a mix of numbers, letters, and special characters.

Make sure, too, that your kids change their calendar password frequently. That way, if someone were to get a hold of an old password, it would do nothing for them.

I like to change my kids’ password myself. They seem to accept this better, as teenagers — especially — think that they are too busy to bother with this task.

6. Focus on Sharing

Online calendars make it easy to create and share events. However, sharing events with the wrong people isn’t the best idea. Anyone can set up an account with a name that’s not their own, so ensure your kids know the person behind the name they see on the screen.

Consider asking them to only share events with family members at first — especially younger children. If they get the hang of it quickly and understand not to share every detail with everyone, loosen the reins a bit.

7. Explain the Dangers

To kids, most rules seem like nothing more than adults trying to ruin their fun. If they don’t understand the need for the rules, they’re more likely to break them.

To prevent sliding rules, help them understand the dangers that come from poor online Calendar safety. Talk through how child predators find and target kids. Discuss the consequences that they’ll face if they use their Calendar improperly or carelessly.

The goal here isn’t to scare them into submission. Rather, it’s to help them understand the need for safety precautions because of the real dangers that are out there.

8. Be Open

Let your kids know that they can and should come to you with any questions or concerns. If they feel like you’re unwilling to entertain “dumb” questions, they’ll try to find solutions independently.

Develop relationships with your children so you can be there for them whenever they need you. If something major ever does come up, you’ll be glad you did.

9. Maintain Access to Your Child’s Calendar

As a parent, you have a right to access your kids’ online Calendars. Not only does this help you manage their schedule — and yes, you’ll know when to pick them up — but it also lets you keep an eye out for suspicious activity on their accounts.

Having access and being able to see your child’s events on their Calendar helps you be more involved in their lives. Missing a sporting event or school functions is tough when you check their Calendar every day.

There’s a fine line between being a watchful parent and an overbearing one, so be careful — especially with older teenagers. Bonus Tip: don’t make comments on how they “do” their Calendar (keep your yapper shut)!! It’s their Calendar, and they will put “other” things on the Calendar that you wouldn’t choose to add.

However, an extra set of eyes can help spot any safety concerns early.

Online Calendars are extremely beneficial. A Calendar is teaching and training your child how to schedule and remember events — but they can be misused accidentally by kids. Our local school has an online Calendar for older children. Calendars are the future, in life and in business, so use them — but teach your children wisdom with their Calendars.

As with any other digital technology, be a pro-active parent. You’ll set your kids up to be productive, social, and, yes — safe.

Whether you call it minimalism, Kondo-ing, or simple living, there are certainly benefits to this type of lifestyle. Mainly, saving time and money. But, it’s also good for your health and productivity. Here are the benefits of simplicity.

To be honest, this has been something that I’ve been working towards in the last couple of years. I just felt that I had too much stuff. I’m talking about a closet jam-packed with clothes, kitchen drawers stuffed with junk, and a calendar bursting with meaningless entries.

So, I decided to scale back. It’s still a work in progress. So fat, however, I have enjoyed the following perks.

Allows you to self-reflect.

Some people swear by a zero-based calendar. Even if you aren’t familiar with the term, you may be living this lifestyle.

Essentially, you’re accounting for every hour of the day — from the moment your alarm goes to when you fall asleep. The reason? When you don’t have any blank spaces in your calendar, you aren’t wasting any of your valuable time.

I get the appeal. I mean if something isn’t scheduled then you may be more likely to put it off. Or, you could let something that’s less important get in the way.

Eventually, you have a cluttered calendar. You overcommit yourself. And, because you must have your time accounted for, you don’t have room to slow down and self-reflect.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve begun to cherish these moments when I’m alone. It gives me the chance to clear my head and realign my focus on what truly matters. In fact, research shows that solitude has a number of benefits including freedom, creativity, intimacy, and spirituality.

Howie Jones in a previous Calendar suggests that when you clean up your online calendar, you should schedule some “me” time. As a result, you’ll be able to “cut down on the load of responsibilities you cram into a day and help you get some needed rest.”

“A strong work ethic is a valuable skill,” adds Howie. “But, not allowing yourself to take breaks can lead to mental illness and burnout.”

Reduces decision fatigue.

35,000. That’s one estimate on how many decisions we make each day. And, if true, that would come out to around 2,000 decisions per hour or one decision every two seconds.

Even if you don’t believe those exact numbers, the truth is that we do make a lot of decisions on a daily basis. Unfortunately, many of them are meaningless.

For example, you want to kick back and relax after a hard week at work. You decide to treat yourself to a movie on Netflix. Next thing you know, you’ve just spent 30-minutes trying to fund something to watch.

In the scheme of things that may not be a biggie. However, just imagine how much time you spend deciding on what to wear, eat, or work on? Over time, you’re going to run into decision fatigue which causes procrastination, avoidance, indecision, or impulsivity.

Simplifying your life can help assist you in this year’s productivity. For example, on Sundays prep your meals for the week. Go through your closet and donate the clothes that you no longer wear. And, remove unnecessary events and tasks from your calendar.

Gives you a chance to engage in self-care.

When your calendar contains fewer commitments and obligations that means you have more availability to attend your own self-care. Even if you have an hour to yourself, you can spend that time meditating or taking your dog for a long walk. You can read, journal, or take a nap if you please.

As Jackie Viramontez once said, “Self-care is not a waste of time; self-care makes your use of time more sustainable.”

Fewer misplaced items.

Research conducted from Pixie, a location app for iPhones, found that on average it takes roughly five minutes and twenty seconds of our time to locate misplaced items. When added up, that comes out to 2.5 days annually. What’s more, collectively we spend $2.7 billion dollars every year replacing these items.

With that in mind, when you simplify your life you have less stuff to lose. Obviously, that means you’re going to save time and money. And, from my experience, you’ll have fewer headaches as well since you no longer have to embark on a frantic scavenger hunt.

Removes friction from your life.

Have you ever had one of those days when you’re exhausted? Even though it wasn’t’ an exceptionally difficult day, you’re spent. But, why?

For most of us, it’s because we’re constantly being pulled into a million different directions. You wake-up and go to work. After that, you have to go to the grocery store so you can cook dinner. And, somewhere in between all this, you have to send out emails, do laundry, and schedule a meeting with your team.

As previously mentioned, there are some ways around this, such as meal prepping. Another option, however, would be to delegate and automate whatever you can, such as hiring a cleaning service or signing up for automatic bill pay.

And, one of my favorite techniques is batching. Instead of jumping back-and-forth between tasks, I group similar activities together. For example, I run all of my errands at once. It may take a couple of hours. But, it’s pretty then doing this daily.

Another example is how I schedule work. I only check my inbox and notifications 3-times a day — before work, after lunch, and at the end of the workday. I also have theme days. For instance, I schedule all of my meetings on Thursdays.

Strengthens relationships.

Between having more availability and removing toxic individuals from my life means that I can spend quality time with the people who really matter. Some of you may scoff at this. But, I think it’s more beneficial to have a closer-knit group of people. In my opinion, it’s better than exhausting yourself with faiweather individuals.

But, don’t take me word on this. Studies show that developing strong relationships can “fight illness and depression, speed recovery, slow aging, and prolong life.” And, as we get older, friendships are good for our brain’s health.

Increases focus.

I think this one is a give-in. When you embrace simplicity you don’t squander your time and energy on unnecessary thoughts and actions. Instead, you put a laser on the vital few. As a consequence, you’ll produce more quality work in less time.

Encourages a clean and organized workspace.

Apparently, a little bit of clutter on your workspace isn’t the end of the world. One study even found that a messy desk can encourage a creative mind. But, I strongly disagree.

Dirty and disorganized desks are a recipe for disaster. For starters, the typical office desk hosts more than 10 million bacteria – which is 400 times dirtier than a toilet seat. When not properly cleaned, you’re just asking to get sick and miss work.

Secondly, it saves you time since you aren’t looking for items when you need them. And, according to a Princeton study, clutter makes it difficult to concentrate.

In short, simplicity motivates you to keep your workspace clean and organized. It’s beneficial to your health and output. And, it gives you a sense of order and freedom of space.

Makes you more effective.

“There are people who sacrifice quality in exchange for quantity,” notes Lou Macabasco for Lifehack. “In order to accommodate and accomplish more tasks, they tend to overlook some important process which leads to poor quality and error.”

And, that’s yet another reason you should embrace simplicity, it will make you more effective. “When you are clear and focus on what you want to achieve, you can concentrate on producing quality work,” adds Macabasco. “Your attention and effort is centralized; you are able to produce quality and efficient output.”

Grants you massive freedom.

Finally, you’ll have the freedom to do whatever you please. Isn’t it refreshing to look at your calendar this weekend and see that it’s not packed to the brim? How do you feel about having fewer obligations and conflicts?

Personally, when I choose a simple life, I felt less stressed, anxious, and rushed. Instead of feeling like I always have to do something for others, I have the flexibility to live the life that I want. And, that has given me more meaning and fulfillment.

“A wise man has to always listen to the peers he surrounds around himself. That’s why you surround yourself with other smart people. Captain Kirk keeps Mr. Spock right beside him.” — RZA. Here is how raising your intelligence will spark productivity.

The RZA was right. In fact, it’s not a well-kept secret that the most successful and productive people repeat the same sentiment of surrounding themselves with other smart individuals. Everyone from Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Russell Simmons, Dolly Parton, John Wooden, Marissa Mayer, and Oprah have at some point mentioned why they surround themselves with intelligent people. It challenges them and pushes them to change their perspective.

From my personal experiences, keeping the best minds around me has also helped make me become more empathetic, knowledgeable, and dare I say, intelligent? It has also guided me to live a more fulfilled and productive life.

As it turns out, your IQ can impact your performance and success. For instance, in 2004 research by Frank L. Schmidt and John Hunter, found that smarter people typically perform better at work. Why? They believe that the performance and productivity is better because if you’re smarter — you’re able to more quickly learn new skills.

Well, I might also add, that when I see the hustle of the really smart people around me — I kick into gear and work hard, hard, harder. Also, if you and I have really smart people around us — we can hurry and ask questions about work and tech — and they know the answers!

Other papers report that intelligence plays a factor in compliance, motivation, and educational attainment. And, some would even argue that it’s more important than emotional intelligence.

“Cognitive ability was more than five times more powerful than emotional intelligence,” wrote Wharton psychologist Adam Grant in 2014. “The average employee with high cognitive ability generated annual revenue of over $195,000, compared with $159,000 for those with moderate cognitive ability and $109,000 for those with low cognitive ability. Emotional intelligence added nothing after measuring cognitive ability.”

So, yeah. Having a high IQ can certainly have a positive influence on your life. But, how else can you increase your intelligence besides surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you?

What is intelligence and can it be changed?

Before going any further, I think it’s best that we define what intelligence is. Unfortunately, Neel Burton M.D. states that there “is no agreed definition or model of intelligence. By the Collins English Dictionary, intelligence is ‘the ability to think, reason, and understand instead of doing things automatically or by instinct.’” he writes. “By the Macmillan Dictionary, it is ‘the ability to understand and think about things, and to gain and use knowledge.’”

Burton adds that “what constitutes intelligence can vary quite considerably according to our values and priorities.” But, most can agree that there are two types of intelligence: crystallized intelligence and fluid intelligence.

Crystallized intelligence is the knowledge, information, or skills accumulated in your brain. Some might refer to this as cerebral knowledge. And, because it’s easily tested on standardized exams, it’s probably what we’re most familiar with in Western cultures.

Moreover, it’s also easy to improve your crystallized intelligence. In fact, if you’re reading, listening to podcasts, or absorbing new information, which most of us do daily, then you are raising this type of intelligence.

But, that’s not the case with fluid intelligence. With this type, you’re taking what you’ve learned and applying in order to solve problems or perfect a new skill. To put it another way, fluid intelligence is what you need if you wish to become more aware and innovative.

Can you increase your fluid intelligence? Studies show that it’s possible through practice and training.

Here are seven ways to actually raise your intelligence — which in turn will make you more productive.

1. Exercise.

As pointed out in a Forbes article, exercise can make you smarter by increasing your energy and sharpening your focus. Moreover, it can improve your memory, mood, and helps control impulse control. And, yes, when put tighter, all of this will make you a lean, mean productivity machine.

The best type of physical activity? Cardiovascular fitness can increase verbal intelligence by a whopping 50 percent. They also perform better on cognitive tests.

2. Get enough sleep.

Some people like to boast about how much they get done by sleeping less. In reality, a lack of sleep destroys your productivity. That’s because it leads to cognitive interference. As a consequence, the cognitive interference can impair everything from your decision-making to the ability to form long-term memories to difficulty focusing on work.

To ensure that you get a good night’s rest, you need to keep a consistent sleep-wake schedule. More importantly, you should implement a relaxing evening routine. During this time, limit your exposure to blue light and do activities that help you unwind, like reading. When it’s time for bed, make sure your room is like a cave. That means it should be cool, dark, and silent.

I find that the Calm App helps me. Also meditation — with Calm app has made me feel supported in this journey.

3. Improve your relational skills.

Relational Frame Theory, or RFT, can be a complex theory to grasp. However, it’s merely how we relate one concept to another through language.

Recent research shows that relational frame skills training intervention has the ability to not only improve IQ, but also numeric and verbal reasoning. To strengthen this skill, partake in activities like comparing amounts and objects.

You can also learn a new language. Besides improving this skill, it can also help you become more attuned to auditory information while blocking out things that aren’t relevant. To achieve this, try out language learning books, apps like Duolingo, taking a class, or traveling abroad.

4. Meditate.

Meditating is one of the best things that you can do for mental and physical health. But, did you also know that it can also boost your IQ by 23 percent? And, according to another study, meditating for just 20-minutes for 4 days can improve cognition and working memory,

What’s the reason behind this? Well, there are actually several of them. Most notably, meditation balances the light and right brain and increases plasticity. It also gives your brain the chance to rest and recharge, boost intuition, and advance EI.

Best of all? It doesn’t take much of a time or monetary commitment to meditate. You can use apps like Headspace (it’s good – I usually use Calm), to guide you or simply practice mindfulness where you close your eyes and focus on your breathing.

5. Engage in stimulating conversations.

“In real life — outside the computer or mobile phone screen,” suggests Larry Kim. “The art of conversation requires that we think on our feet, and conversing with someone smarter than you can be a fantastic exercise in quick thinking as well as an opportunity to learn something new,” he adds. “Seek out interesting people and engage them in conversation, however brief.”

I would that you find opportunities to break out of your inner circle and converse with strangers — like when traveling. Besides opening up the possibility of meeting a new friend or business acquaintance, this can boost your confidence and challenge your perspectives. It can also improve your social skills and allow you to learn new and exciting information.

6. Seek novelty.

“It is no coincidence that geniuses like Einstein were skilled in multiple areas, or polymaths, as we like to refer to them,” writes Andrea Kuszewski for Scientific American. “Geniuses are constantly seeking out novel activities, learning a new domain. It’s their personality.”

In fact, the “one trait out of the ‘Big Five’ from the Five-Factor Model of personality (Acronym: OCEAN, or Openness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism) that correlates with IQ, and it is the trait of Openness to new experience,” adds Kuszewski. “People who rate high on Openness are constantly seeking new information, new activities to engage in, new things to learn—new experiences in general.”

But, what exactly goes on when you seek novelty? “First of all, you are creating new synaptic connections with every new activity you engage in,” explains Kuszewski. “These connections build on each other, increasing your neural activity, creating more connections to build on other connections—learning is taking place.”

Secondly, “novelty can also release dopamine. Besides kicking “motivation into high gear,” it also “stimulates neurogenesis—the creation of new neurons—and prepares your brain for learning.”

“Always look to new activities to engage your mind—expand your cognitive horizons,” suggest Kuszewski. “Learn an instrument. Take an art class. Go to a museum. Read about a new area of science. Be a knowledge junkie.”

7. Play games.

Finally, you can raise your IQ by playing games. Of course, you have to select the right types. For example, chess is a proven way to connect the brain’s hemispheres. Other games that can improve your memory, focus, vocabulary, and visualization are crossword puzzles, Scrabble, Sudoku, and a good, old fashioned Rubik’s cube.

If you prefer to go digital, you can try playing the numerous cognitive games over at Lumosity. Or, you could play video games that involve puzzles or complex strategies. Your mom might not thrilled about this if you’re a kid — but I found video games an incredible way to connect to my kids.

Video games really help me concentrate, move faster, and think differently. You won’t find me bashing these tools — they’re incredible. How I wish I’d had some of these when I was a kid. And, research shows that video games can make you more intelligent.

They can also improve collaboration, working memory, and increase the white matter associated with greater cortical connectivity.

Conclusion

Right now we are in a really weird time. I call it the “covid-riot-economy-election collection,” CREEC for short –meaning “up-a-creek.” Hang on however you can. Build your endurance to this stress however you can. Be better than you can be — and let’s make this historical time count for something great.

Everyone deserves to be happy. Unfortunately, it’s not always as easy as flipping a switch. It’s essential to guard your mind and your thoughts if you want to be happier. You can help yourself by creating a happiness routine on your online Calendar.

No doubt, life can be challenging. But you can’t let sadness or worry consume you. You have to be intentional with your thoughts and your actions. How can you schedule out not just moments of happiness — but a lifetime of joy?

Putting Happiness on the Calendar

You can get the most out of life with the help of an online calendar. Whatever your situation, these nine tips can help you live more fully:

1. Start a Gratitude Journal

Some days, you may struggle to feel grateful. While hardships happen, you can always find a silver lining around at least one of the clouds. When you do, record it in a gratitude journal.

Your online calendar can act as a reminder to write in this journal each night, or you can use the Notes section in the app itself as a journal. Looking for the good each day will help you adopt a more positive mindset. Finding things to be thankful for gets easier with practice.

One thing that has helped me is to add a couple of happy moments to my online Calendar. I record cute things my baby does, and this brings me joy.

2. Get Some Sun

Studies have shown the many benefits of natural sunlight to your health and happiness. While sleeping in is a luxury, reducing the hours of sun you get can put a damper on your mood. Excessive time indoors without natural light can have a similar effect.

Why not start your day earlier? Your online calendar can help you tweak your morning routine to maximize the amount of time you can spend in the sun. You can also plan activities that get you outside during the day. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen!

3. Get Enough Sleep

On the opposite end of the spectrum from sleeping too late is not getting enough sleep. When you’re tired day after day, it’s much harder to stay positive when things don’t go your way. Getting the proper amount of sleep keeps you sharp and focused, so you don’t get overwhelmed.

With your online calendar, you can put together a sleep routine to ensure you get the rest you need each night. It will take some adjusting at first, but the long-term benefits are worth it.

4. Make Time for What You Enjoy

Enduring a 9-to-5 shift and binge-watching TV shows until bedtime isn’t the most fulfilling way to live. While you may enjoy your job and the shows you watch, making time for other interests is essential.

Try time-blocking: Carve out a dedicated hour each day to develop your hobbies and interests. Perhaps a reading or craft hour after work makes sense with your schedule. If yoga or writing is more your speed, perhaps an hour in the morning is the right choice.

5. Be Deliberate With Downtime

If your daily schedule is packed from end to end, you’ll feel like your life doesn’t have any breathing room. You deserve a break every once in a while to slow down and reset. Even taking 10 minutes each day to settle down can make a big difference.

Making time for breaks is hard when your schedule is demanding. Take a look at your online calendar for next week: Can you take a long lunch? What about a morning meditation session? Challenge yourself to take at least one long break during the week.

6. Eat Right

What you put into your body makes a huge difference. A healthy, well-balanced diet not only makes you more productive but also improves your mood. Make sure you’re getting adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables, and drink plenty of water!

Online calendars are great tools for meal planning. Being proactive about what you eat each day ensures you’re getting the right nutrients and not resorting to the most comfortable option. Your calendar can also remind you to stay hydrated: Try placing a reminder every hour to take a drink of water.

7. Move Your Muscles

Exercise is another excellent way to keep your spirits high. While many people are turned off by the exertion and sweat, regular exercise helps your mind as much as your body. It releases chemicals in your brain that help you stay more alert and cheerful, leading to less stress.

Making time for exercise has never been easier than with your online calendar. Easy scheduling tools make it possible to get moving no matter what your schedule looks like. Even a few minutes a day is helpful, and you can always look at low-impact options like yoga.

8. Serve Others

Looking beyond your own needs is a surprisingly effective way to find your own happiness. There’s something about the human spirit that lights up when you can provide service and assistance to others. When all else fails, look to serve. Astonishing to me is how much the GenZ incorporates the “serve others” moto.

Service opportunities are everywhere. Ask community organizers in your area about fundraisers, passion projects, and other unfunded initiatives. Because volunteering can quickly become a full-time commitment, use your calendar to set clear boundaries.

9. Remember to Smile

It may sound silly at first, but the more you smile, the happier you’ll be. Online calendars are the perfect tool for setting reminders to simply smile throughout the day.

Don’t stop with a smile: Use the notes section to remind yourself to pick your head up, sit up straight, and take a deep breath. Good posture can instill a positive attitude over time.

Happiness is addictive. The more of these tips you practice, the better you’ll feel. The better you feel, the better you’ll treat yourself. Use your online calendar to get the cycle started, and you’ll be in a better place before you know it.