Microdosing LSD to GTD Fact of Fiction

Microdosing LSD to GTD Fact of Fiction Wake up, brush your teeth, drop acid, head out to work.Feels like a recipe for a disaster. Or is it?You might have heard, taking LSD or other psychedelics at work is becoming an increasing trend amongst young professionals in the Silicon Valley. The thing isThey take very small doses of the drugaround a tenth of a regular intake. Hence the name: microdosing.And its not an attempt to mix business and pleasure. Silicon Valley professionals claim microdosing actually helps them become better at their jobs: more creative, more productive, more empathetic, better at interacting with others.After the rise of Adderall in the early 2010s, LSD microdosing seems to be the new thing.Ive never taken any psychedelics myself. ButIve witnessed quite a few people do it in my presence.Even 10% of the effect they were experiencing would be sufficient to make an Employee of the Year unable to perform any professional duties for a couple of hours. I couldnt help but wonderHow come people take LSD and be come better at work?!In search of answers, I spoke with Dr Suzanne Gage, psychologist and epidemiologist at the University of Liverpool, widely known as Suzi Gage, the podcaster running Say Why to Drugs.To seriously drop acid in the office would be a horrible idea, Dr Gage says.Actually getting intoxicated on something like LSD would gravely impair your ability to work: youd experience perceptual alterations, distortions of time and space, you might get paranoid about the people around you, it might profoundly affect your emotional state, or you might end up in fits of giggles.Whatever the case, it would be noticeable to other people and definitely detrimental to your productivity if you were properly tripping.ButAs Suzi explained, people who microdose LSD are not trying to have a trip at all.Not even a light one.The idea about microdosing is: you take such a small amount that you dont even have intoxication from it. You shouldnt be able to tell that youve taken it, explains Dr Gage .In other words: microdosing is not supposed to have a similar effect to taking a regular dose, but limited. Its supposed to do something entirely different.Does it, really, though?Actually, theres no evidence that Ive seen yet, that microdosing does have any impact on creativity or helps you to think outside the box, these sort of reasons that people take it. Lack of evidence doesnt mean that it doesnt happen. But its also plausible that its a placebo effect.Dr Suzanne GageLecturer in PsychologyEpidemiology, Health Behaviors and Genetic Factors, University of LiverpoolThats right. The whole trend might as well boil down to feeling like youre going to be more creative and getting in the right headspace, rather than any actual effect of a drug.(That said, The Beckeley Foundation are nowrecruiting for their new observational psychedelic microdosing studydesigned to comprehensively investigate the impact of micro doses of psychedelics on working professionals.)But back to businessWhat about that actual effect? Is there anything in the way psychedelics work that's already scientifically-proven and that could explain their popularity in the workplace?How psychedelics impact your brainDavid Nutt, a researcher at the Imperial College London, has done fascinating imaging studies of the brains of participants intoxicated on LSD and psilocybin, the active substance in magic mushrooms.These drugs change cortical functions, making them more fluid and less rigid, Nutts study has shown.Simply put, psilocybin impacts the way your brain talks to itself:Overall activity is lower, but theres more firing across networks. Less happens in given areas of the brain, but theres more communication between them, Dr Gage explains.More global kind of activity.Sounds catchy, right? Thats why it catches on.Many journalists stop here. The fluidity of cortical functions. Voila. Microdosing explained.HoweverThese effects are not very conducive to productivity anyways, Dr Gage emphasizes.And t his is not what the idea of microdosing is about. It shouldnt affect your cognition or perception at all. You should be taking a dose thats so small that it doesnt have any of these effects.I think were clear here. So far, theres no evidence that microdosing psychedelics can help you draw out your better professional self.But are there other ways psychedelics could help?An experiment in therapeutic use of psychedelics has been conducted by Albert Garcia-Romeu from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.Before receiving their dose, participants were asked to lie down, put on an eye-mask, headphones with music, and not to try and interact with anyone or anything during the intoxication experience.Garcia-Romeu compared it to watching a film: you dont want to talk through the film, because you might miss important bits. Its better to watch the whole thing to really understand it.Considering the way psychedelics impact your brain, one might take them when facing a complex issue, switch off for a couple of hours and then, once they come down, experience an epiphany, of sorts.This reminded me of something I heard in Suzis Say Why to Drugs.In an episode on psychedelics, Suzis co-host, Scroobious Pip, British rapper and poet, says he felt that the experience of tripping on LSD unlocked some parts of his brainpermanently changed the way he understands or tackles certain problems.That description sounded like a hot lead to me. But Suzi cooled my enthusiasm.Obviously, theres no evidence to back that statement up.As for permanently unlocking something, I dont think its as simple as that. It might be some peoples experience, but also, other people dont have this experience, and others have very bad experiences.As she explains, it all comes down to the idea of set and setting: where you are and how you feel about the trip.And thats also true when it comes to microdosing. If the positive effects certain people report might as well be placebo, so can the negative ones .The whole Silicon Valley popularization of microdosing might make people pressured into doing it. And taking LSD under pressure would be a very bad idea. If youre at all anxious about it, dont do it. The gain that we dont even know exists is not worth the risk.Say If to DrugsBe it micro doses of LSD or regular doses of other psychoactive substances, the idea of popping a magic pill or taking a sip of a potion to help you achieve more is heavenly.And, as Suzi hinted at, the hype might make you feel pressurized (or simply tempted) to try some of the cognitive enhancers others claim to have worked wonders for them.So lets take this hypothetical scenario:Theres a person whos never taken any stimulant or other psychoactive substance.Their deadline for submitting a major project is tomorrow. Theyre not halfway there. And thenThey recall someone on the internet praising, say, Adderall for helping their productivity skyrocket overnight. Or they read an article on the benefits of LSD microd osing.My question to Suzi was:Is there any substance that they can take, just this once, and indisputably benefit from it?I cant think of one. Actually, not even coffee. Some studies suggest the cognitive-enhancing effect of coffee is mainly bringing you out of overnight caffeine withdrawal: that first cup of coffee in the morning will only make you more alert if youre a regular coffee drinker.Think of antidepressants: you might take them because youre low-mood and you want to bring yourself back to baselinereverse a deficit. If youre not depressed, antidepressants wont make you happier. Youll just remain in your neutral state.It might be the case with these cognitive enhancers that are gaining popularity at the moment: if youre already performing at your normal level, are they actually going to push you any higher? Maybe not. From the research Ive done, theres no convincing evidence that they actually have a cognitive-enhancing effect.Dr Suzanne GageLecturer in PsychologyEpidemiolo gy, Health Behaviors and Genetic Factors, University of LiverpoolSowhat do you think?All hype? Or do you know of experiences that would prove us wrong?Finallyif there was a pill scientifically proven to boost productivity while not causing any negative side effectswould you take it?

Side Effects Eighty Five Percent of American Workers Hold at Least One Side Gig

Side Effects Eighty Five Percent of American Workers Hold at Least One Side Gig When asking a modern worker what time his or her workday ends, don’t be surprised if the response is, “Which one?” In fact, according to the latest WorkSphere survey from Spherion Staffing, the typical worker’s obligations may just be getting started once 5 p.m. hits. The Spherion survey, conducted online in April 2017 with global market research organization Research Now ®, found that 85 percent of workers hold at least one side gig, or secondary source of employment, in addition to their primary job. Of that group, more than half (54 percent) hold two or more side gigs, extending their skills across multiple roles and fields of work. Not surprisingly, financial incentives are the primary driver behind employees’ search for extra work. Among workers holding at least one side gig, a desire to supplement their current income (42 percent) and make money to save for future interests and responsibilities (37 percent) were the most frequently cited reasons for doing so. In particular, more than half (57 percent) of female workers deemed income growth the main inspiration for their side gig activity, far surpassing the volume of male workers (31 percent) who said the same. However, for some employees, a side gig generates a return beyond the wallet. Spherion found that many workers engage in side gigs that allow them to try something different or be involved with a hobby or cause of interest, with 26 percent of those interested in picking up a side gig in the next year preferring to do so in a space not at all related to their primary job. Additionally, 45 percent of respondents seeking gigs outside of their main field said they would still take part in a side gig even if it did not generate significant income. “The escalating interest in side gigs across the American workforce does not necessarily reflect that workers are unhappy with their job, but rather a desire to pursue new and exciting growth opportunities â€" be they financial or personal,” said Sandy Mazur, Spherion Division President. “Given this growth, side gig flexibility must be taken into account as companies refine their recruitment and retention plans. Employers and employees must find a middle ground that gives workers freedom to explore supplemental opportunities without inhibiting productivity or performance.” While many businesses encourage employees to take part in side gigs, and even see potential for them to transfer skills learned in these roles to their primary job, significant concerns remain from both parties around how to achieve a successful balance. Forty percent of businesses have formal policies regarding employees’ side gig involvement, namely to avoid possible conflicts of interest and keep them focused on essential work. Employees seem to echo these feelings, with 48 percent expressing concern that their side gig efforts could interfere with their main job responsibilities. Additionally, Spherion uncovered several other noteworthy trends regarding how employers and employees approach the escalating side gig movement: The Right Side…? Nearly half (47 percent) of workers say that changing societal norms have set the expectation that at least one side gig is necessary. Among workers holding at least one side gig, 18 percent said they are doing so because it is considered standard in the modern workforce. Taking Sides: One-fourth (25 percent) of workers who have never before held a side gig say they are “extremely” or “very” likely to pick one up in the next year, with millennial workers (43 percent) leading the charge. Side gigs are top of mind for today’s workers â€" nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of those who have never held a side gig said they have at least given it some thought.  Keep it Out, Side: More than half (51 percent) of workers would prefer that their colleagues not discuss their side gigs at the office. A nearly equal number (48 percent) have taken vacation time or time away from their primary job to focus on their side gig. Despite potential mixed responses, many workers still feel comfortable discussing their side gigs with their colleagues (82 percent), manager (74 percent) and other senior leaders (73 percent) at their primary job.  To learn more about the latest Spherion WorkSphere survey, and review findings from previous WorkSphere surveys, visit spherion.com. About Spherion  Staffing Services Spherion  (spherion.com)  is a leading recruiting and staffing provider, specializing in temporary and direct hire placement of administrative, clerical, customer service, light industrial and professional job candidates. What are the top five side hustles? Find out in the video below! Main image via investment zen

5 Fitness Secrets from the Diaries of the Best Personality Trainers -

5 Fitness Secrets from the Diaries of the Best Personality Trainers - Your fitness level is directly proportional to how hard and how often you work out. Everyone knows this. Yet, it is not easy to maintain the kind of motivation level it needs to work out regularly. Personal trainers can help you remain motivated (and protect you from the external and internal negativity that prevents you from reaching your fitness goals). Besides, an experienced personal trainer can also assist you or guide you in deciding the best and most effective fitness or workout routine for you. Naturally, personal trainers need to be their personal best â€" fit and strong â€" to remain at the top of their game. Hence, we dug into the diaries of some of the best personality trainers to find their fitness secrets. Sweet potatoes, eggs, and honeydew melon are your friends when you are trying to lose weight ~ Shaun T. Fitness Shaun T. Fitness is a personal trainer, motivational speaker and also a choreographer. His home fitness programs, such as T25, Hip-Hop Abs and Insanity, are quite popular. He has firsthand experience of being a fat boy as a freshman in college. Its not a surprise that he proposes a delicious diet plan to go with your fitness routine. Shaun T. advises that sweet potatoes make a great post-workout snack as they are rich in fiber, have a low glycemic index, and help to tame your appetite. He also suggests incorporating eggs in your weekly diet. The eggs yolk has choline that helps your body fight fat. Similarly, the honeydew melon is said to have a compound called Cucumis Melo which has diuretic properties. So, if you are bloated because your body has a water retention problem, this is the fruit you must eat. Celebrity and movie-themed workouts need to be tailored to the clients needs and goals ~ Taylor Ramsdell Taylor Ramsdell is a NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) certified personal trainer who has trained many celebrities from renowned actors to professional athletes to Hollywood stuntmen. If your client joins the gym because he was inspired by the Dwayne Johnsons intense ‘300’ workout for the movie Hercules or  Jessica Albas dance-based routine, you need to tailor their program according to their body type, fitness level, strength, and mobility, says Taylor. Many times, people dont realize that their body type might be different from the celebrity who inspires them. They do not understand the level of commitment stars put forth in their workout routines to prepare for the roles they do. Workouts need to be fun and entertaining. So, a personal trainer might add a few moves or the music from the themed workout of clients choice and come up with routines that push the clients to try their best without facing injuries or muscle loss. Do the exercises you love and keep your workout routine interesting ~ Jillian Michaels Jillian Michaels is a celebrity personal trainer from Los Angeles, California best known for her appearances on the popular NBC weight-loss show The Biggest Loser. She says that the fads are fads. They pass on. The only thing that remains constant is your commitment and determination to meet your goals. And the motivation to do a consistent workout only comes when you love the exercises you do. No matter what anyone tells you, if you dont like an exercise, you are going to drop it sooner or later. So, list out the exercises you like, mix them up and introduce a little variation in your routine now and then. 70 percent is better than nothing ~ Tony Horton Tony Horton (aka Anthony Sawyer Horton Jr.) is best known as the creator of the P90X (Power 90 Extreme) a commercial home exercise regimen which proved to be a great hit with the fitness enthusiasts. His clientele includes celebrities like Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and Usher. He says that there are days when it feels hard to do yoga and brutal to do mixed martial arts or plyometrics. At such times, people might want to skip the class altogether because they feel that they will not be able to do the routine they know like the back of their hand. In such cases, Tony suggests that they should still show up. Doing 70 percent is always better than doing nothing, he says. When you do nothing, you get nothing. Every day cannot be your peak day. Go easy on yourself on such days and do what you can. In the end, consistency wins. Embrace pain and do resistance practice ~ Bob Greene Bob Greene is a certified personal trainer with a specialization in fitness, metabolism and weight loss. He is also an exercise physiologist and the creator of Best Life (a highly popular diet and fitness plan) as well as Best Life Foods (which sells a whole range of butter substitutes). This old-timer hit right in the bull-eye when he says that it is a human tendency to shrink from anything that seems painful or difficult. “Resist the temptation to be nice to yourself”, he emphasizes. According to Bob, we need to be self-aware and be our own worst critic. When we focus on what we are doing, it becomes easier for us to find our weaknesses and meet the standards we decide for ourselves.

Break the Shackles by Dating Online

Break the Shackles by Dating Online The physical world has been the place where people meet their mates for as long as there have been people. This makes sense since any relationship that goes anywhere is going to have at least a part of itself in the physical world. If you dont meet, the connection will stall out at a point before happily ever after unless you’re just after the modern equivalent of a pen pal. Fortunately, the Internet has opened up a lot of doors to meeting people that never existed before. You can meet people from anywhere, who are entirely different from the people youve dated in the past, and begin to meet them based on shared affinities that used to be very hard to find in the real world. These similarities can unite you, bring you together, and lead to anywhere from a lot of fun to til death do you part. No More Stigma It can be hard to think about nowadays, but there was a time when meeting someone online was considered a bit of a taboo. There was a shady undertone to any kind of meetings online. Meeting people this way seemed like someone was going to try to victimize the other, or it was merely a strange thing to do, expressing an inability to meet people in the normal way. Some people will still poke fun at this old stigma in their personals profiles. Theyll say something like, Pretend we met at the checkout lane, indicating that a silly and contrived way of meeting is so much better than meeting online. This stigma has mostly disappeared, but there are still people who will give you funny looks if you mention that you date online. One great thing about meeting people online is that other types of old stigma have also begun fading away. For example, whatever your race preferences may be, you can find appropriate sites.   This variety means    meeting black singles   or Asian singles or Hispanic singles is far easier than it used to be. This acceptability is such that many people never think twice about it â€" youre either cute and interesting, or not. Different Types, Different Areas Different parts of the world impose different expectations. People in some cities are expected to go out and party all of the time, while in other cities, people are expected to be settled down and married right out of high school. In every case, people carry expectations and have to fight against them, if they want to do something different. Many people leave for this very reason. Even being in the same city or town, you can still see multiple different cultures and sub-cultures form. You might live only a couple of miles away from a person who would be great for you. But then, if you wear different clothes and have different kinds of jobs, you may be seen as too different. But when you meet online, these things carry a lot less meaning. You can have a great conversation, and it can lead to significant dates.

6 Ideas to Obtain Career Success

6 Ideas to Obtain Career Success How to obtain career success?It’s a common question asked by the professionals as well as students of all ages. Since the job world has happened to be so competitive, you will have to execute your best to secure your career success.evalBuilding your career is a thrilling thing as it gives you a chance to shape your life in the way you wish for. We all generally dreams of attaining our set goals and achieving a successful career path.Would you like to have a successful career?Here are some tips on how to apply some effective strategies to obtain the career success:1. Upgrade Your SkillsevalA lot of people consider that a Career is something that happens to them and they simply get along. But remember that the secret of success is always to improve yourself regardless of where you are or what your status is.Learn all you can in order to obtain your Career Success. It does not simply happen. Success comes from continuous learning and pulling knowledge attained from learning to set fir m goals and then making efforts to accomplish those set goals.2. Plan AheadCareer success can be obtained through proper career planning. Career planning is an activity that every job seeker should perform frequently. People commonly think of career planning when they are in high school or college.People will give up career planning once they move forward with their jobs and careers. Keep in mind that career planning is an activity that is best done repeatedly and it will help you change careers if the present job does not satisfy you.evalCareer planning is something that presents you goals to attain in your present career or plans for starting a change to a new career.3. Do What Really Matters To YouDo what really matters to you to enjoy a successful career. If you desire to be successful in your career, you have to learn what really makes a difference or what really matters to you and forget about all other pointless things.What really matters to you can guide you to the right pat h to success. You need to carry out what matters to you and keep the distractions away from you. You should try to keep everything that doesn’t matter to you to a minimum.4. Do What You Ideally Want To DoDo what you ideally want to do so as to obtain the career success. It includes choosing your preferred job/occupation. You have got to generate your ideal career and life.evalIf you are doing or following a career that is not ideal to you, you cannot find career success because you will be doing the job for the sake of doing it. Hence, create a picture that you can look at each day and make sure to do that you really wish to do. Find a job or career that suits you well and that goes well with your goals to obtain career success.5. Step Away From Your Comfort ZoneevalIt is a good idea to step away from your comfort zone. When you step away from your comfort zone, you will be able to explore new horizons and it gives you flexibility that is required to acquire career success. It als o aids you to find out what works best for you.Stepping away from your comfort zone will help you to embrace risk and make changes in your life that can guide to real personal growth and professional success.6. Hard WorkIt is well said that hard work is the key to success. If you would like to obtain career success, make sure to work hard and your hard work will pay off at the end. Once you come to a decision about what and who you want to become, ensure you to work hard and push your limits so that success can hold you with open arms.

Your Reputation Precedes You

Your Reputation Precedes You We all have a reputationsomething we are known for by those people we call friends. It could be a skill, a personal quality, or an interest. Isnt it time you shared it with a greater audience?  Heres a trick to bottle and label your professional and personal reputation.   Theres a lot of talk about personal branding and while the definition varies widely, the basic gist is that you should be able to bottle and label your professional and personal reputation. This is no easy feat (as you may have already discovered). Testimonials Help Tell Your Story But sometimes we tend to over-think it. Your reputation is right under your nose. Gather up the emails of praise or recognition youve received from colleagues (customers, co-workers, supervisors, volunteer leaders, groups, etc). Awards? Certifications? Do they tell a story? This is your reputation.  You and only you,  are  on the receiving end of all this great feedback. It is your responsibility to share the data and information. Compile the testimonials in a PowerPoint presentation (or if you prefer, Prezi or Keynote). Put only one endorsement per page. (Leave off the last name if you havent asked permission to share.) Now add logos, pictures, images appropriate for each slide. Voila. You have just completed documenting your reputation.  Review, finesse and get feedback from those you trust and respect. Once youre satisfied with the results, create a free Slideshare account and upload your presentation. Name your presentation At the very least, include your name in the title of the presentation. You may also include your occupation. Slideshare will also give you the opportunity to tag your presentation. This is how you someone may find you, so be sure your tags include key skills you want to be known for. Share on LinkedIn Consider LinkedIn your online portfolio! It is also the place where 93% of recruiters are going to find talent! You can add your Slideshare presentation to your LinkedIn profile (if youve been given the update) by clicking on the blue box. Bonus: Slideshare tracks how many people have viewed your presentation. They will send you occasional email updates telling you how many people have viewed your presentations! What Are You Waiting For? None of this is too complicated or difficult, so why havent you done it yet? What are you waiting for? Why are you concealing this great story about you? There are a bunch of great articles in this post about privacy and your job search! If you are looking for additional help building out your on-line reputation, check out this presentation with ideas about other places to place your message! Creating and Building Your Virtual Image from Hannah Morgan

What You Need To Do During A Job Search

What You Need To Do During A Job Search Searching for a rewarding job can be stressful, frustrating and more demanding than running a multi-million dollar corporation. A few simple rules of the game is just about all it takes to make sure you land the job you want. These rules should be followed ALL the time with no exceptions. Know your strengths and accept your weaknesses. Not everyone can run a global empire, just as not everyone has the talent to build a house. Recognize your skills and talents and build upon them. Will you truly be happy managing a lumber mill when you would rather be in the woods cutting the trees? For the love of money? Set your priorities before you apply for the position that will double your salary but will leave you no time for your family or outside interests. Do not let a large increase in salary cloud your perception of what will be expected of you. Know what you are willing to sacrifice for what amount of money. Remember, some jobs as well as a large raise may not always be the best option. If you are presently employed and looking for a job, do not use your work email address when searching for job offers on the Internet because your present employer may have access to your email files. Establish a new email account at one of the many free email services such as yahoo or gmail. But do not create a user name such hot_for_you or studmuffin. Be as professional as possible when choosing your username. Be honest during a job interview. Dont oversell yourself. It is important to highlight your talents, but skilled interviewers can tell when you are lying. Be realistic. Will two years of experience be enough to get you the position of CEO at IBM? Of course not. No one has ever been the president of a company just starting out. Be committed. Look at any successful person and you will see in them the drive and determination to succeed. The most successful people have had failures, but they have learned from them and continued on their journey. You have to keep trying and pushing harder and harder.