6 ways, backed by research, to be lazy and get more done

6 ways, backed by research, to be lazy and get mora done6 ways, backed by research, to be lazy and get more doneIve written about how people at the top of their field arerelentlessly productive.But you cant sprint for miles.Theres plenty of research showing that being a touch lazy might be beneficial at times.Here are six research-backed ways to get more done in less time by taking it easy.1. Work lessWorking too hard for too long makes you less productive.Yes, pulling 60-hour weeks is impressive.But pull them for more than 2 months andyou accomplishlessthan if you had only been working 40-hour weeks.ViaScarcity Why Having Too Little Means So MuchOne study, on construction projects, found that where a work schedule of 60 or more hours per week is continued longer than about two months, the cumulative effect of decreased productivity will cause a delay in the completion date beyond that which could have been realized with the same crew size on a 40-hour week.(The best system for time management ishere.)2. Go homeIf youre doing creative work, research says youll be more productive at homethan in the officeOn the uncreative tasks, people were 6% to 10% less productive outside the labOn the creative tasks, by contrast, people were 11% to 20% more productive outside the lab.(More on what boosts creativityhere.)3. Take a napNaps rejuvenate you and increase learning.Some of the most successful people of all time were dedicated nappers.Via Daniel CoylesThe Little Book of Talent 52 Tips for Improving Your SkillsNapping is common in talent hotbeds, and features both anecdotal and scientific justification.The anecdotal Albert Einstein was good at physics, and he was really good at his daily post-lunch twenty-minute snooze. Other famous nappers includeLeonardo da Vinci, Napoleon Bonaparte, Winston Churchill, Thomas Edison, Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy, and John D. Rockefeller.Spend time with any professional athletic team, and youll find that theyre also professional nap pers.The science Napping is good for the learning brain, because it helps strengthen the connections formed during practice and prepare the brain for the next session.Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, found that napping for ninety minutes improved memory scores by 10 percent, while skipping a nap made them decline by 10 percent.You need sleep before learning, to prepare your brain, like a dry sponge, to absorb new information, said the studys lead investigator, Dr. Matthew Walker.What you can learn about good sleep from astronauts ishere.4. ProcrastinateYes, thats right,procrastination can be agoodthing.Dr. John Perry, author ofThe Art of Procrastination, explains a good method for leveraging your lazinessThe key to productivity, he argues in The Art of Procrastination, is to makemorecommitments - but to be methodical about it.At the top of your to-do list, put a couple of daunting, if not impossible, tasks that are vaguely important-sounding (but really arent) and seem to have deadlines (but really dont). Then, farther down the list, include some doable tasks that really matter.Doing these tasks becomes a way of not doing the things higher up on the list,Dr. Perry writes.A similar tip is described by Piers Steel, author ofThe Procrastination EquationMy best trick is to play my projects off against each other, procrastinating on one by working on another.Dr. Steel says its based on sound principles of behavioral psychologyWe are willing to pursue any vile task as long as it allows us to avoid something worse.(Heres more on positive procrastination.)5. Go on vacationFor up to a month after a vacation youremore productive at workOne hundred and thirty-one teachers completed questionnaires one time before and three times after vacationing. Results indicated that teacherswork engagement significantly increased and teachers lassitudo significantly decreased after vacation. However, these beneficial effects faded out within one month.(Heres how toimprove your vacations.)6. Hang out with friendsEasily distracted?Having friends around can make you more productive, even if theyre not helping you.ViaFriendfluence The Surprising Ways Friends Make Us Who We AreJust having friends nearby can push you toward productivity.Theres a concept in ADHD treatment called the body double, says David Nowell, Ph.D., a clinical neuropsychologist from Worcester, Massachusetts. Distractable people get more done when there is someone else there, even if he isnt coaching or assisting them. If youre facing a task that is dull or difficult, such as cleaning out your closets or pulling together your receipts for tax time, get a friend to be your body double.Join 320,000 readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhereThis column first appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree

National Airspace System Technology and Centers

National Airspace System Technology and CentersNational Airspace System Technology and CentersThe national airspace ordnungsprinzip (NAS) was created at the dawn of commercial aviation to get aircraft from point A to point B in a safe and efficient manner. Its an old system, but its worked for us since World War II. In fact, the United States has the safest skies in the world with respect to air transportation. There are around 7,000 aircraft in the sky above America at once, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This number is expected to only increase over the next 15 years, and it continues to get more difficult to fit all these aircraft into ur current airspace structure. The FAAs Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) promises to transform the current airspace system to optimize the use of airspace, reduce emissions, save fuel and decrease flight delays. Until NextGen is fully implemented, though, our current airspace system will have to suffice. Airspace The FAA classifies airspace in one of four categories Controlled airspace the airspace around busy airports, along with aircraft routes, and above 18,000 feet. The FAA further divides this airspace in classes A, B, C, D and E airspace, each having different dimensions and rules.Uncontrolled airspace any airspace that isnt controlled.Special-use airspace restricted, prohibited, warning and alert areas, as well as military operations areas (MOAs).Other airspace airspace used for temporary flight restrictions. Air Traffic Control Centers The NAS involves more than just the control tower at your local airport. On a typical flight, a pilot will communicate with controllers at each of the following places ARTCC - The airspace over the United States is divided into 22 regional sectors, each controlled by an Air Route Traffic Control Center, or ARTCC. As a flight crosses the boundary from one ARTCC region to another, the air besucherzahlen controller transfers the communicat ion responsibility for that flight to the ARTCC controller in the next region.TRACON- Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) is known simply as approach to pilots. When an aircraft gets close to an airport, the ARTCC controllers will transfer the communications to a TRACON controller, who will assist the aircraft for the arrival portion of its flight. ATCT- Controllers in the local air traffic control tower (ATCT) are responsible for aircraft in the associated airports traffic pattern. Once the aircraft enters the local airport traffic pattern area, it is handed off to the ATCT, where the controllers will oversee its final approach and landing. Ground controllers are also a part of the ATCT, supervising taxi and gate operations.FSS- There are currently six flight service stations (FSS) in operation. Flight service specialists assist pilots with preflight planning, weather briefings, and other information pertinent to a pilots route of flight. Technology In addition to the man y different technologies that have been in use for years, the aviation industry is continuously developing new technologies to make the system more efficient, easier and safer for pilots and controllers. Here are just a few of them Radar- Currently, the NAS relies heavily on ground-based radar systems to zustrom smoothly. The ground radar emits radio waves, which reflect off aircraft. The signal from the aircraft is then interpreted and sent digitally to computer screens at the ARTCC, TRACON or ATCT.Standard radios- Pilots and controllers communicate directly with VHF (very high frequency) and UHF (ultra-high frequency) radios.CPDLC- Controller Pilot Data Link Communications, as the name implies, is a method for controllers and pilots to communicate via a data link. This type of communication is convenient where radios are not available and also decreases radio congestion. GPS- A type of navigational aid, the Global Positioning System is aviations most accurate and most popular mean s of air navigation and the bread and butter of the NextGen program.ADS-B- In recent years, a system called ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) has become popular as a means to assist pilots and controllers in gaining a more accurate picture of air traffic, weather, and terrain during a flight. The Next Generation Air Transportation System Our current air traffic system gets airplanes where they need to go in a safe and organized manner, utilizing technology both old and new. While our current national airspace system has worked well for many years, it is hardly optimal for the volume of air traffic in our skies today. We are seeing more crowded runways, airport delays, wasted fuel and lost revenues than ever before. Theres hope, though the NextGen program is meant to improve upon the current NAS by finding methods to deal with the increased traffic and improve the overall system.

Military Beret Care

Military Beret CareMilitary Beret CareThe U.S. Army Special Forces wear their trademark green berets. Airborne soldiers wear a maroon beret, and other soldiers in the Army wear black berets. Army Rangers wear a tan beret, and the Air Force special operations teams also wear berets. What Is A Military Beret? A beret is a hat that is generally flat on the top and usually made of felt. They are sometimes worn as part of military and law enforcement uniforms, though they are folded, shaped and worn in a different style from those commonly worn by civilians. Military berets are notlage designed to be worn off the rack. They must first be shaved and shaped to present the sharpest form and fit befitting the military image. There are several methods for achieving the proper beret shape. If you are new to shaping your beret, seek out advice from experienced soldiers to avoid damaging it. Properly Shaving and Shaping a Beret The method detailed below is common and not difficult. The en tire process can take one to two days to complete, allowing time for the beret to dry after shaping. Make sure your beret is the right size before getting it wet, as the material stretches when it is damp.? Note If your beret comes with a liner (not all berets will have a liner), remove the liner by cutting it out. Youll need a razor (a disposable one is best) and some warm water. Shaving Your Beret Using a disposable razor, shave your beret, beginning at the center and shaving toward the outer edge in circular motions, until you have a very smooth surface. (Some people use a cigarette lighter to burn off the fuzzy material).Be careful not to shave the same spot multiple times as this will wear the material thin and may create a hole. Turn the beret inside-out and shave the inside of the beret as well. You may have to change your razor if it becomes dull- you dont want to accidentally cut the material. Trim and Fit Your Beret Cut the tag off below the beret size lettering. Y ouve done it right if, when you put the beret on, the tag can never show even if it gets flipped over. Pull the headband drawstring tight and tie it off in a square knot. Shape Your Beret Dunk your beret in warm water- do not use hot or boiling water, as this can cause the wool to shrink. Once your beret is damp and pliable (if it is dripping wet, gently wring out excess water), place the damp beret on your head. Adjust it to proper fit. Pull the cardboard stiffener so it is centered over your left eye and smooth the material over your head. Fold the extra material over to the right forward side of your head, pulling it down towards your right ear. It should just touch your ear or go just below that. Wear the beret for a while until it has begun to dry. Carefully take off the beret and platzdeckchen it aside to finish drying. You may need to shape it a few times to get it right. Once youre happy with how it looks, cut the excess drawstring off and get your flash sewn on. Tips for a Better Beret Shape Many peoples heads dont fit the issue beret. Go to the PX and try one on. You may have to buy one commercially instead. Dont skip shaving the inside of the beret- unless you like pulling fuzzy materialout of your hair. If your beret is too big, you can shrink the material by soaking it in hotter water.