Although this column typically features local musicians, we occasionally like to highlight the venues who hire those musicians. The owners of the Gulf Stream Bar & Grille, which is new on the island, believe that live music is an integral part of their vibe, and the results so far have been impressive.

When friends Reada Evans, Michael Sullie Sullivan and Joe Murphy bought the old Melville Grill last year, they knew the type of feel they wanted for their new restaurant. I wanted to create the kind of place where Id like to hang out. And Lord knows, Im here all the time, Evans said, laughing.

What makes Gulf Stream Bar & Grille unique? Were bringing the flavors [in the food] of the gulf stream with a New England twist, Murphy said. And were featuring local musicians who can contribute to a relaxed and casual vibe, without being overbearing.

True to their word, these restaurateurs have booked some of the islands top musicians, who they will be featuring four nights a week in spring and summer. On Thursdays through Sundays, you can enjoy a meal or a cocktail in the casual dining room or on the spacious deck, all while taking in the sunset. Our whole place is dedicated to sunsets, Evans said.

Live music is offered on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, from 6 to 9 p.m., and on Sundays, from 2 to 6 p.m. There will be live jazz on Thursday nights, beginning in late May. Were taking classic New Orleans dishes and pairing them with some great jazz, Evans said.

I have had the opportunity to hear music at this venue, and I found it to be wonderful. If their goal is to create a casual and relaxing experience, consider it mission accomplished.

Murphy summed it up best: Music enhances the dining experience.

For more information, visit gulfstreambar.com.

TO Go:

WHEN:Thursday, Friday, Saturday 6-9 p.m.; Sunday, 2-6 p.m. WHERE: Gulf Stream Bar & Grille 1 Lagoon Road, Portsmouth

Mark Gorman is a retired high school guidance counselor and guitarist-vocalist who performs locally each week.

See the original post:

SPOTLIGHT on Music - Newport This Week

The DJ/remixer opens for country star Jason Aldean at The Dunk.

Dee Jay Silver grew up listening to his father singing country and gospel music and he is firmlyentrenched in the country music scene, but he doesnt like limitations.

I feel sorry for anyone who only listens to one kind of music, says Silver in a phone call fromhis Nashville home, where he was relaxing with his infant son on a break from touring withcountry star Jason Aldean. If you tune in on Spotify or whatever, I dont think youd find oneperson who only has the same type of music in their lists.

Variety, he stresses, is the key to musical enjoyment. As a DJ/remixer for more than 15 years, hehas etched a reputation for joining some of the most unlikely pieces of music together.

When I hear a song, I hear two or three different things, he says. I look for things that willmatch and then try mixing and blending one piece into another.

An example is his blend of Locashs Ring on Every Finger and Justin TimberlakesSenorita, which he found connected because of drum segments that roll together nicely.

He eschews the term mashing, preferring terms like blending when talking about thecombinations he creates, which he also showcases on a weekly syndicated radio show,The Country Club with Dee Jay Silver. Popular combinations have included Walk This Wayby Run-D.M.C. and Alabamas If Youre Gonna Play in Texas, and Tipsy by rapper J-Kwonand Dust on the Bottle by David Lee Murphy. The latter, which he calls the oddest blend hescreated, Works every night.

By working, Silver means the songs get the audience on their feet, dancing and having a goodtime. Its his job to entertain and warm up the crowd for Aldean, but he also sees himself assomewhat of an ambassador for country music.

This opens up the circle of peoples music. Music of all genres have a stereotype and countrymusic is no different, he says, remembering how a middle-aged man approached him after ashow to thank him for getting him to experience new music. He said hed never heard of any ofthe songs on my Spotify list, but that his whole world had opened up as a result. Thats the bestcompliment!

It hasnt always been easy, though. While he started DJ-ing in college, Silver says people wereconfused as to what he wanted to do when he went to work in the industry.

They said, You want to do what? I told them this opens the country genre up to more peopleand makes the fan base younger, he says. The best piece of advice I got was when someoneasked me, How are you different from the other guy? The answer is I play music in ways noone had ever heard before.

Silvers latest venture, the compilation called Made to Do is a Top 40-style group of songs, buthes already looking ahead to the next project in which he says every song will represent adifferent musical genre.

I play everything every genre of music I can possibly put down! he says, addingthoughtfully, well, not mumble rap, and I cant get into the screamo stuff!

Susan McDonald is a regular contributor to The Providence Journal. She can be reached at Sewsoo1@verizon.net.

If you go...

What: Dee Jay Silver opens for Jason Aldeans They DontKnow tour. The show also features Chris Young and Kane Brown

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18

Where:Dunkin' Donuts Center, 1 LaSalle Square, Providence

Tickets: $33.25-$73.25

Information: dunkindonutscenter.com

Visit link:

Dee Jay Silver spins new take on country - The Providence Journal

Savannah, Georgia's Triathalon are a band made of a handful of varying characteristics and sounds. One may say they're the ultimate chillout group, with softly sang vocals and low-tempered drums. Some might brand them as simply "indie rock," lumping them into a category broad enough to cover every spectrum of influence they've shown. Whatever they're considered, it's apparent these guys toss their music through a filter of haze, as all of their work sounds dreamlike, relaxing and at times, groovily sexy.

Their impressive four-track EP Cold Shower released back in September, holding descriptive tags as Motown, R&B/soul, soul and surf pop on their Bandcamp. Cold Shower shows the group's diverse range of inspiration, blending sounds of R&B with chillwave, indie rock, maybe echoes of Tame Impala and the hazy-like workings of Whitney. It works as both a solid introduction toTriathalon and a confident project the group can stand behind for years to come.

Today, we're premiering the music video for the first track off Cold Shower, "South Side". The video shows the group performing "South Side" through VHS-type visuals, that seem to go awry with blur and static. The video matches the band's aesthetic perfectly, giving one of their catchiest songs a solid visual aid.

Peep "South Side" up top and be sure to check out Cold Shower over at Triathalon's Bandcamp. Purchase the record over at Broken Circles.

Connect withTriathalon: Facebook | Bandcamp| Twitter

Read the rest here:

Chill out with Triathalon's hazy music video for 'South Side' [Premiere] - EARMILK (blog)

Anne Viricel, the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestras executive director, has a gift suggestion for Mom.

What better way is there than to spend a Mothers Day afternoon with the family, doing nothing but relaxing and enjoying beautiful classical music, she said, referring to ensembles performance at 3 p.m. Sunday. Taking Mom to the concert will be a truly special way to treat her.

Most season-finale concerts are programmed for a Saturday night, to be celebrated with champagne and balloons. The schedule at the California Theatre of the Performing Arts in San Bernardino didnt allow for that, but opened the door to the notion of creating a special Mothers Day event.

Besides, this is a really beautiful concert, Viricel added. The music is absolutely wonderful.

The program includes Franz Schuberts Symphony No. 6 in C Major, Beethovens Symphony No. 1 in C Major, and Jacques Francois Antoine Iberts Flute Concerto, to be performed by the orchestras principal flutist, Patricia Cloud.

First on the program will be the Schubert symphony.

We believe audience members of all ages will love hearing this piece, said Frank Paul Fetta, conductor. Each instrument is beautifully highlighted to be easily identified and showcased.

Although Schubert died at age 31, his work was discovered and championed by 19th-century greats Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt and Johannes Brahms. Today, he is ranked among the outstanding composers of the late Classical and early Romantic musical eras.

We titled the entire season A Season of Firsts, Viricel said. The programmed work had to be a work this orchestra would perform for the first time, or a first composition by a particular composer. For this concert, we will perform Beethovens first symphony.

Still under the heavy influence of the Classical composers including his teacher Joseph Haydn, Beethoven premiered this symphony in 1800. According to Fetta, the work still bears many of the composers unique and identifiable characteristics, especially the frequent use of sudden, strong musical emphases.

Nestled between the two very familiar works, the Ibert concerto fits into the first category, as the orchestra will be performing it for the first time.

This is a modern piece, Viricel said. Ibert composed this in 1934, but its beautiful, full of gorgeous melodies. Its so difficult for the soloist, and its really long. The audience will really appreciate the artistry which Patricia Cloud brings to the work.

Musicians of Patricias caliber are rare, but San Bernardino is incredibly fortunate to have an orchestra full of some of the finest musicians in the country, said Fetta in a press release.

Cloud is a native Southern California performer and teacher, and has played with Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony and Mozart Orchestra, as well as serving as principal flute for the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra.

Our mission, in short, is to present accessible music that is fun and good, Viricel said. This concert is well-established classical music fare, and for a good reason. Simply put, it is beautiful music that has proven itself over the centuries to endure and still attract audiences, whether they are aficionados or new to the scene. Thats why we believe this is a marvelous Mothers Day gift.

As a bonus, every mother at the concert will receive a flower.

San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra When: 3 p.m. Sunday, May 14 Where: California Theatre of the Performing Arts, 562 W. Fourth Street, San Bernardino Tickets: $25-$60; students and military with ID are $10 Information: 909-381-5388, http://www.sanbernardinosymphony.org

See the rest here:

San Bernardino Symphony presents a musical treat for Mother's Day - Press-Enterprise

Despite counting the likes of Winston Churchill and Bill Clinton among its advocates, napping has a bad rep, with most people preferring to push through drowsy daytime spells rather than catching 40 winks, but taking an afternoon power nap can improve heart health, according to the Journal Of Psychophysiology. And the key to a mid-afternoon mini-snooze is a well-timed cup of coffee, says Yann Le Meur, a sports scientist at the French Institute of Sport. Use his tips to make 40 winks work for you.

Turn off your mobile phone and any other potential distractions, says Le Meur. If background noise is unavoidable, put on headphones with relaxing music. Wearing an eye mask to simulate darkness is his final prep tip.

The idea is that the caffeine kicks in just as youre aiming to wake up again about 20-odd minutes after you drift into slumber. A caffeine nap will not only improve your performance but itll also lessen how sleepy you feel when you wake, says Le Meur.

Factor in the five or so minutes that its likely to take you to fall asleep, then add about 20 minutes to that time. If you have a habit of pressing the snooze button and going right back to sleep, put your alarm on the other side of the room, says Le Meur.

The power naps done time to harness that power. Le Meur suggests a few sets of star jumps and press-ups to get your blood flowing. Bright light and splashing water on your face will also help to get you alert and back in the game.

RECOMMENDED:Try This Instead Of Coffee To Beat The Afternoon Slump

To learn about nappings benefits, Coach spoke to Nick Littlehales, elite sport sleep coach for the likes of Manchester United and Team Sky, and author of new book Sleep. His first bit of advice was to ditch the word nap

Nap is a bad word. Napping is pipe and slippers, its for old people in front of their televisions, Littlehales tells Coach. We talk about controlled recovery periods [CRP] in sport. Taking naps, or indeed CRP, is especially vital given the unusual and physically demanding schedules of sportspeople, but Littlehales says everyone can benefit from adopting the polyphasic sleep approach where you sleep multiple times a day, rather than just at night he recommends to clients.

We used to use three natural sleep periods every day, explains Littlehales. We would sleep a shorter period at night, but also either at midday or in the early evening. It was only when the light bulb was invented that most of the world started sleeping just at night.

Most people dont have the luxury of a flexible schedule that allows nap breaks in the afternoon. However, taking a 30-minute break, even if you dont actually sleep, at lunchtime is only likely to make you more productive.

Just after lunch is a corporate graveyard slot in business, adds Littlehales. People fall asleep in meetings. If you go just semi-conscious for a while, you can raise alertness around 54%. That figure comes from a 1995 NASA study on long-haul pilots that found that a 26-minute nap improved performance 34% and alertness 54%.

The good news is you dont have to make it a big deal. No special sleep pods or soothing whale noises required. It just takes 30-minutes of zoning out, whether its at your desk with headphones on, or sitting on a park bench. The most important thing is not to put yourself under pressure, just start the process. This is not something new. Its not something a guru has created. Its absolutely natural and designed to help us.

Between 1-3pm in the afternoon, and in the late afternoon/early evening (5-7pm), are the ideal times to schedule 30 minutes of shut-eye. You should be able to get 20-25 minutes of mental recovery, even if you dont actually sleep. To avoid any post-nap grogginess, drink a shot of espresso just before the break. The caffeine should kick in just as your nap finishes.

Nicks book Sleep, published by Penguin Life, 9.99, is available from October 27. Buy on amazon.co.uk.

More:

How To Power Nap At Work And Why - Coach

The Howell Republican Club meets on the third Monday of the month. The next meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. May 15 at the Howell First Aid Squad building, 16 Kent Road, Howell. Individuals who would like to join the Republican Club and/or attend a meeting are asked to contact club President Thomas Russo at thomasrussonj@gmail.com

Professional and Business Social Network sponsors a dance party and social from 8 p.m. to midnight May 13 at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village, Plainsboro. Salsa dance lesson at 6:45 p.m. Singles and couples; all are welcome. Membership not required. Admission: $15 to $20. Cash bar. Dressy seasonal attire, jacket and tie optional. Details: 610-348-5544 or http://www.PBSNinfo.com

On May 17 at the Jackson Library, attorney Carl Archer will discuss benefits to which veterans are entitled and how those benefits may be obtained. The program is for adults and registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400 and press option 4.

The Jackson Library will host a workshop presented by a representative of Ocean County SCORE at 6:30 p.m. May 24. The workshop is designed to educate entrepreneurs and help small businesses start, grow and succeed. The counselor will discuss how a business owner can make the most of email and social media. The program is for adults and registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400 and press option 4.

Individuals looking for a job are invited to the Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson, from 10 a.m. to noon May 22 for a hands-on tour of the New Jersey Career Connections website. Personal budgeting, filing for unemployment, drafting cover letters and resumes, completing online applications and interviewing will be discussed. Registration is required. To register, call 732-928-4400.

The Monmouth County Park System is seeking vendors for its Eco-Elephant Family Flea Market to be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 17 at the Dorbrook Recreation Area, Route 537, Colts Neck. Individuals, businesses, nonprofits and crafters are welcome. Vendors must provide their own table and merchandise. Cost: $30 per space. Reserve a space at http://www.MonmouthCountyParks.com. Details: Al Weaver, 732-542-1642, ext. 31.

A program on the Art of Meditation for Beginners will be held at the Jackson Library from 10-11:30 a.m. June 6. The program is for adults. Participants will learn about different techniques of meditation that may work best for them. Program led by Shazia Zaman. Wear comfortable clothes. No experience required. The program is free and walk-ins are welcome. Details: 732-928-4400.

The film Under One Sky: Arab Women in North America Talk About the Hijab will be shown at the Jackson Library at 7 p.m. June 12. The film is for adults. Arab women living in North America explain the ideologies behind the hijab (veil). Followed by Q&A with Mariam Jalabi, director, Syrian National Coalition, United Nations. The program is free and registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400.

The Jackson Library will host the seventh annual Verity Academy Piano Recital from 2-4 p.m. June 17. Classical music will be performed by students of the Verity Academy. All ages welcome. Registration required. To register, call 732-928-4400 and press option 4.

The Jim Hall Memorial Homeless Vets Motorcycle Run and BBQ/Picnic will be held at noon June 24 at Jackson Elks Lodge No. 2744, 1059 East Veterans Highway, Jackson. Tickets are $25. Registration for the ride starts at 9 a.m. and the ride kicks off at 10 a.m. Food, beverages, entertainment by the Mangos and vendors. Proceeds of the day benefit homeless veterans. Details: joelamo90@gmail.com

The Pinelanders Youth Soccer Club in Howell will hold its first Casino Night and Gift Auction fundraiser on May 20 at the Girl Scouts Activity Center, 127 Yellowbrook Road, Howell. Doors will open 6:30 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the Pinelanders Youth Soccer Club. The event will feature food, drinks and prizes. Pre-sale tickets are $40. Tickets are limited and will be $45 at the door if available. For tickets or more information, contact events@pinelanders.com

The McKaig Test Mullen American Legion, 2 Meadowbrook Lane, New Egypt, will host an afternoon Bingo on May 21. The event will support veterans. Doors open at 1 p.m. Games start at 3 p.m. There will be more than $3,000 in prizes. Admission is $40 per person. Food will be available. Details: 609-758-8131.

Singer Bob Kulik of the 1950s and 1960s group the Happenings, will perform at Congregation Ahavat Olam, 106 Windeler Road, Howell, at 3:30 p.m. May 21. A Chinese buffet will follow the show. Dinner and show, $25; Children 12 and under, $15; Show only, $18; Children 12 and under $10. RSVP by May 15. Reservations not needed for show only, but are appreciated. Details: 732-719-3500.

The Jackson Library will host a Red Cross blood drive from 2-7 p.m. July 31. Anyone who is at least 17 years old, weighs a minimum of 110 pounds and is in generally good health can donate blood. All blood types are needed. Donors should bring a photo ID. Visit http://www.redcross.org to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.

Look for turtles, egrets, herons, ospreys and other wildlife during a boat tour of the Manasquan Reservoir, Howell. Each 45-minute tour leaves from the Visitor Center, Windeler Road, Howell. Tours are offered at the top of the hour from 2-5 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, May 6 through Sept. 4. Wednesday tours are offered at 2, 3 and 4 p.m. from July 5 through Aug. 30. Evening tours are offered on the first Friday of each month May through September; call 732-751-9453 as times vary for the evening tours. All tours are weather and water level dependent. The fee is $6 per adult and $4 per child age 12 and under.

The Italian American Cultural Society of New Jersey will host a dinner meeting on May 11 at 7 p.m. at Mamma Mia Focacceria, 345 Route 9 South, Manalapan. The guest speaker will be portrait, sports and wildlife artist James Fiorentino. BYOB. All are invited. The cost is $35 per person for society members and $45 for non-members. Cash is preferred, no credit cards. To reserve seating, call Anthony Grassi at 917-743-3311 or Richard Favara at 732-861-9465.

The annual Spirit of the Jerseys State History Fair will be held on May 13 at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Route 33, Manalapan, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. Five centuries of New Jerseys history will be represented by exhibitors and re-enactors. Activities include 19th century baseball, plowing demonstrations, period music, and historical figures from New Jerseys past. Free admission/suggested $10 parking donation. Details: http://www.njhistoryfair.org

The Jackson Library will host meditation practitioner Shazia Zaman sharing tips and techniques about visualizing during meditation. The program will take place at 11 a.m. May 16. This is an intermediate level class. Comfortable clothes recommended. Pre-requisite: Some meditation experience required. Limited seating. The program is free. To register, call 732-928-4400.

A coloring for adults program will be held at the Jackson Library from 10-11:30 a.m. June 20. Rediscover the joys of coloring. Coloring sheets and art supplies provided along with light refreshment and relaxing music. Adults 18 and over. Seating limited. Registration required. Registration is open now. Details: 732-928-4400.

Adults 18 and over can create their own rainbow clay necklace at 2 p.m. June 22 at the Jackson Library. Supplies provided. Seating is limited. Registration required. Registration opens June 9. Details: 732-928-4400.

The Jackson Library will host an Adventure in Art workshop from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 10. The workshop includes hands-on instruction by artist Nancy Bonta Voitko. Adults 18 and over. Seating limited. Registration required. Registration opens May 8. Details: 732-928-4400.

New Egypt Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 20. Activities for children will include face painting, pony rides, inflatables, petting zoo and a tractor-pulled wagon. Food, music by Jakes Rockin Country Band and vendors. Festivities will take place on Main Street and Evergreen Road. Admission is free. A $6 per child wristband is required for unlimited access to childrens activities listed above. For more information or to request a vendor application, contact Peter Ylvisaker at 609-758-2241, ext. 132, or email pylvisaker@plumsted.org

The Upper Freehold-Allentown Municipal Alliance will host Bike Night 2017 on June 7. All makes and models of bikes are welcome. American and metric bikes will be present. A car show will be held on June 28. All makes and models of cars are welcome. Both events will be held from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Roost at the Cream Ridge Golf Course, 181 Route 539, Upper Freehold Township. Door prizes, judging, awards, music, food and beverages. Vendor opportunities are available. There is no entry fee, but donations for the alliance are accepted. Details:609-758-7738, ext. 230.

The Jackson Librarys knitting group, Knit-Chat-Chain, is seeking donations of yarn and wool. The members of the group create sweaters, hats, scarves and blankets to donate to charity. Yarn donations may be brought to the Circulation Desk during library hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Details: 732-928-4400.

New Jersey Blood Services is in need of volunteers to work blood drives in Ocean and Monmouth counties. Tasks include assisting donors with registration, watching donors for post-donation reactions and responding to their needs. Details: Jan Zepka, 732-616-8741.

St. Aloysius Church, 935 Bennetts Mills Road, Jackson, offers support groups to help people better understand their feelings and to meet others who are dealing with the same life issues. A bereavement support group meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. and a divorced and separated support group meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. Both meetings are held in the parish office. A freewill donation of $5 is requested. Details: Email St AloysiusGonzagaGroup@gmail.com.

Items for the Datebook may be sent to gmntnews@newspapermediagroup.com. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.

Go here to read the rest:

Tri-Town News Datebook, May 11 - centraljersey.com

By Shaelynn Miller, FamilyShare

If you find yourself feeling groggy in the morning, its time to change your sleeping habits. Recent studies show the things you do before bed could be costing you precious sleep.

Adults ages 18 and up need at least seven hours of sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation. If you arent getting enough shut-eye, change these six habits so you can have a good nights rest:

1. Watching television in bed

Tip: use your bed for sleep and intimacy only

One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to their sleep schedule is using their bed for too many things, Gary Zammit, Ph.D., said. Some people use their bed as an office or entertainment room until its time to fall asleep; then they expect their body to be ready for sleep at the flip of their light switch. But the brain doesnt work that way, Zammit points out.

If you cant resist turning on the television or reaching for your phone while in bed, remove the temptation. Set up the television in your living room, keep your laptop on a desk or bookshelf and use a real alarm clock instead of relying on your phone. Use your bed only for sleep and intimacy so your brain doesn't confuse bedtime with answering emails and social media scrolling.

2. Grabbing a late afternoon pick-me-up

Tip: avoid caffeine after lunch

Sometimes your afternoon pick-me-up could be interfering with your sleep. Caffeine stays in your body for three to five hours, and could stay as long as 12. Grab a caffeinated soda or a coffee a little earlier in the day, but try to avoid it after lunch. A good nights sleep could should give you enough energy to get through the afternoon without a caffeine break.

3. Sleeping in on the weekend

Tip: set your alarms every day

As annoying as it might be to wake up early on your days off, it will pay off when Monday morning rolls around. Consistency is the key to a good nights sleep, according to Travis Bradberry, Ph.D.

Have you ever noticed you sometimes wake up right before your alarm rings? Thats because your body has prepared itself by increasing your hormone levels and blood pressure, Bradberry said. A consistent sleep schedule helps your body know when to prepare for waking up, but an inconsistent schedule confuses that natural rhythm.

4. Thinking about tomorrows to-do list

Tip: set a routine

Anxiety and stress are common culprits that keep you from falling asleep. Help your body wind down by setting a routine. Try reading a book or listening to relaxing music each night before tucking in.

5. Feeling uncomfortable

Tip: use a night-light

It goes without saying that you need to be comfortable to fall asleep. To do just that, find a mattress you like, wear something soft, set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature and turn on a night-light or music if needed.

6. Waking up in the middle of the night

Tip: talk to a therapist

If youre having consistent trouble falling and staying asleep, talk to your doctor or therapist for help. Sleep disorders can be caused by anxiety, depression and big life changes. A therapist can help you determine the root of the problem and offer solutions so you can get a good nights rest.

Find what works best for you as you try out different bedtime routines and sleeping habits. Get the amount of sleep you need so you can feel well-rested and conquer the day ahead of you.

Shaelynn Miller is a journalist who has a passion for photography, video production and writing.

Contact her at smiller@deseretdigital.com.

Read the original post:

These 6 things are why you're tired all the time, according to science - WRAL.com

High achievers often face the problem of taking on too much.

Theyve been so effective at accomplishing things in the course of their career that they start to think they are capable of accomplishing even more. Their productivity causes these otherwise worthy individuals to create longer and more involved to-do lists than the rest of us.

Many people unconsciously ensure that theyll never get to the end of their list by continuously adding more tasks after accomplishing even just a few.

Over-achievers seem to derive some kind of motivation from never completing everything on the list for a given day.

This kind of approach to managing ones to-do list is fraught with problems.

It is both rewarding and appropriate when you cross off everything on your list and feel complete about your achievements. When youre able to finish your lists two to four times a week, you actually come back to work the next morning with more energy, focus, and direction than you might presume.

Completions Yield Satisfaction

Conversely, when you perpetually leave the office with unfinished tasks for that days to-do list, you unconsciously engender a situation in which you never quite feel complete or satisfied, and you find yourself in a perpetual striving mode.

In the short run, its okay to leave unfinished tasks, especially when youre on a specific campaign or project. In the long run, however, continuously over-extending your daily to-do list can have a harmful effect on your life.

Its understandable that ambitious career professionals want to achieve as much as they can and, if employed by others, desire to greatly benefit their organization. If youre not careful, however, and you attempt to accomplish one major task after another instead of alternating large and small tasks, your productivity will actually suffer, as trying to tackle one major task after another can be mind-numbing.

Instead, choose to tackle a handful of key tasks in a given day, alternating them with some minor tasks so that you can maintain a fairly high level of energy and allow yourself to leave the workplace with a sense of completion.

Youll work more effectively the next day, as well as throughout the course of your week, month, year, and career. Youll engender a most definite sense of accomplishment while experiencing, at the least, recurring feelings of work-life balance.

Slowing Down Your Day

Most of what you experience each day, in terms of the passage of time, is based on your perception. You can slow down time if you choose. How? Whenever you feel youre racing the clock or trying to tackle too much at once, try this exercise:

Close your eyes for a minute and imagine a pleasant scene. You might be surrounded in trees or with a loved one. It could be something from childhood. Let the emotions of that place and time pervade you. Get into it! Give yourself more than a New York minute for the visualization to take hold.

Open your eyes and return to what youre doing. Whatever care or task youre working on is not quite so bad and whatever pace you were working at is never quite so feverish.

Pause and Reflect

Imagine youre flying on an airplane. You have a window seat, and its a clear day. As you gaze down to the ground below, what do you see? Life passing by. Cars the size of ants. Miniature baseball diamonds. Rivers the size of streams.

Theres something about being at great heights that enables you reflect on your life. The same phenomenon can take place from the top of a mountain or skyscraper. As often as practical things seem to be racing by too fast, seek higher ground, literally, for a clearer perspective.

If youre among the lucky, perhaps you regularly allocate time for reflection or meditation. If you dont, its no matter. There are other ways to make it all slow down. After the workday, listen to relaxing music with headphones, and close your eyes. A half hour of your favorite music with no disturbances (and your eyes closed) can seem almost endless. When you re-emerge, the rest of the day takes on a different tenor.

An effective method for slowing down time and catching up with today is periodically deleting three items from your to do list without doing them at all. Before you shriek, consider that much of what makes your list is arbitrary. In most cases, eliminating three items wont impact your career or life, except for freeing up a little time for yourself in the present.

Mediums and Mammals

I have long used water to reduce stress. For eleven years, I lived in a high-rise condominium in Falls Church, Virginia, complete with its own 25-meter pool. No matter how hard I worked during the day, even if I did a 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. stint, at 6:05 p.m. I was in the pool. After 30 minutes of laps, I had swum out many of the stresses and strains of the day. Find the swimming hole nearest you!

If you have a dog or cat and do not consider it a drain on your time, heres a little something about Rover or Mittens that you may not have known. In recent years, as reported by U.S. News & World Report, scientists have found proof for what was only once suspected: that contact with animals has specific and measurable effects on both your body and mind. The mere presence of animals can increase a sick persons chances of survival, and has been shown to lower heart rate, calm disturbed children, and induce incommunicative people to initiate conversation!

The exact mechanisms that animals exert to affect your health and well-being are still largely mysterious. Scientists suspect that animal companionship is beneficial because, unlike human interaction (!), it is uncomplicated.

Even if you only have goldfish, sometimes simply staring at them in their silent world can help deaden your hectic pace.

Jeff Davidson is principal of Breathing Space Institute in Raleigh, N.C. He offers keynote presentations and workshops on work-life balance. For more information, visit breathingspace.com or email jeff@breathingspace.com.

Link:

Taking on too much, all the time | Expert Column - Virginian-Pilot

Getting a good cannabis buzz going is one of the best feelings in the world. THC is truly a beautiful thing. But whathappens when you get too high? You know, when you cant get yourself to move off the couch.

When you stop caring about everything thats going on around you. Or youfind yourself playing the same video game level over and over, not realizing youre stalling. Maybe you start to think youre the next Steve Jobs, the next great innovator of our time. Or maybe, you start to get super paranoid and are like 110% sure the world is about to end.

Fear not! We have some helpful tricks to bring you back down to earth when youre just too damn high for your own good. Hopefully, youll start feeling better fast, and maybe think twice before you smokethat much again.

Drink lots of water.Like, at least a liter, or eight glasses worth. Getting yourself some good H20 is a great first step in calming down your ber-high. It also helps your body begin to detox. If you cant stand the taste of water (trust me, you arent the only one), try drinking fruit juice, Gatorade, or seltzer. Skip the coffee and energy drinks for now. They can make you feel more sluggish and irritable once their initial effects wear off.

Eat something greasy and no-good. And no, we dont mean an edible. That will only make it worse. Research backs that fatty foods bind to endocannabinoids.Research backs that fatty foods bind to endocannabinoids, meaning your body will absorb the THC faster. And hopefully, lessen your high. So feel free to indulge in a rack of ribs or a juicy burger when youre way too high. Use this strategy in moderation, as youll probably start to pack on the pounds if use this strategy every single time.

Take some deep breaths. If youre totally bugging out, you need to work on calming down your parasympathetic nervous system. Its one of three divisions our nervous systems and is associated with our fight-or-flick response. To calm it down, try taking some really deep breaths, in and out. Hold your breath in between inhales and exhales. Paranoid? Remind yourself that everything is gonna be alright. Play some Bob Marleyif need be.

Chew some peppercorn.Okay, we know this sounds wacky as hell. But research shows that pepper, like weed, has a phytocannabinoid-terpenoid effect. Basically, this means that it works on the brains naturalcannabinoid receptors, which, when activated, can really help to calm you down. If youre not up for chewing peppercorn, try at least giving it a good sniff after grinding it down. Your paranoia should instantly alleviate.

Get outside and move.Feeling too high to function? You may need some sunlight, fresh air, and a bit of exercise. Go for a long walk down your block. This will help get your blood flowing, which will doubly help your body and brain start to detox. Exercise also releases endorphins, which is a massive natural stress killer. You dont have to overdo it; a long, brisk stroll in nature might just be the ticket.

Talk to a friend. Sounds simple, but positive social interaction has an amazing propensity to boost our moods and distract us from whats bothering us. Thats what friends are for, right? Talking to a friend and laughing about how youre way too high can not only calm you down but get you a good buddy to warn you next time before you smoke too much bud.

Take a cold shower. Cold water is hyper-stimulating. Taking an icy cold shower will immediately slow down your heart rate (your body does this on instinct to stay alive). This will, in turn, relax you, and hopefully ease your anxiety and wake you up a bit.

Lie down and relax. Your body needs time before the THC is fully absorbed through your system. Sometimes the best thing to do is pop your earbuds in, turn on some relaxing music, lie down and just wait it out. Better yet, take a nap. Your dreams will likely be bizarre, but youll probably feel much better in a couple of hours.

More here:

Too High? Try These Tricks to Bring You Back to Earth - Green Rush Daily

Les Carnets D'Emeraude Returns Radio World Les Carnets D'Emeraude (The Emerald Book) began airing on RTBF's Radio 21 in 1987 on Sunday afternoons, offering an hour of relaxing music in between the up-tempo format programs of Radio 21. In 1995 presenter/producer Patrick Bauwens decided ...

More:

Les Carnets D'Emeraude Returns - Radio World