11 Tweaks To Your Morning Routine Will Make Your Entire Day More Productive | Forbes

I don’t know anyone who couldn’t use a little boost in their energy, productivity, and self-control.

Researchers at the University of Nottingham recently published findings from their exploration of 83 separate studies on energy and self-control. What they found will change the way you start your day.

The researchers found that self-control and energy are not only intricately linked but also finite, daily resources that tire much like a muscle. Even though we don’t always realize it, as the day goes on, we have increased difficulty exerting self-control and focusing on our work. As self-control wears out, we feel tired and find tasks to be more difficult and our mood sours.

This exhaustion of self-control kills your productivity, and it makes the morning hours, when self-control is highest, the most important hours of the day.

But the trick isn’t just to spend your morning hours working; it’s to do the right things in the morning that will make your energy and self-control last as long as possible.

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Inside Seattle’s Bold Plan to Let Its Uber Drivers Organize | WIRED

THE CLASH OVER classifying Uber drivers as independent contractors versus bona fide employees is the signature controversy of the on-demand economy. According to Uber, Lyft, and other on-demand driver companies, the independent contractor model offers the promise of a bright and flexible future in which each worker is a micro-entrepreneur—choosing her own hours and acting as her own boss. The problem, according to Uber detractors: these workers don’t receive benefits. And they can’t unionize.

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Los Angeles schools closed after terror threat |Business Insider

Every school in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) was closed Tuesday because of what officials described as a “credible” threat of violence.

The bomb threat came in the form of an email sent to a district board member and tied to an IP address in Germany, a spokeswoman for the school district told Reuters.

“The school district received a safety threat that we’re in the process of evaluating and vetting … As you can imagine, we take all threats seriously,” Jorge Villegas, the assistant chief of the LAPD, said at a press conference Tuesday morning.

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100 Podcasts That Will Make You Smarter, Better, and Wiser | Inc.com

Podcasting is a great way to learn and be inspired. It’s a new use of technology that hearkens back to the original social medium, storytelling.

If you have an interest in entrepreneurship, tech, leadership, business, creativity, or just learning and expanding your mind, here are 100 podcasts that can help you bring your best to all you do.

Pick out a few to start with, then get ready to listen and learn while you’re in the car, on the treadmill, or during your morning commute.

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Internet rules could require parental OK for millions of teens | CNN Money

It could get a lot harder for kids and young teens to access the Internet in Europe over the next few years.

Top political leaders and lawmakers across the European Union are in the midst of finalizing updated regulations to protect the personal data of people across the region. An agreement could come as early as Tuesday and the new rules would go into effect in 28 European countries in about two years.

While intentions are good, one particular proposal that tries to protect children is drawing harsh criticism.

The proposal calls for all kids under the age of 16 to get parental consent before they use online services, including social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter.

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The Case For Putting A Tax On Meat | Co.Exist

Maybe you’ve already heard that your love of hamburgers is making climate change worse. But what would it actually take for you to stop eating them?

A recent report suggests that a tax on meat might be part of a solution.

Without doing something about the world’s appetite for beef, pork, and chicken, we have a big problem: Meat production is responsible for nearly 15% of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s as much as all of the vehicles on the planet, and it’s only going to get worse; as more people around the world can afford meat, consumption is projected to increase by about 75% by 2050.

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The 4 Things Employees Want Most From a Job Cost Nothing | Entrepreneur

Attaining, training and retaining top talent isn’t easy, especially in today’s information age when immediate feedback and an over-stimulation (in the electronic sense) lead the way. Convincing a new prospect requires not only charm, charisma, and influence but also tangible and intangible rewards that people can expect to receive upon joining the workforce.

The 2015 list of best companies to work for is out, and it includes behemoths such as Google and The Boston Consulting Group ( consulting firm? Seriously?). What is the secret sauce that make people love their place of work? After all, the life of a consultant isn’t exactly awesome (I was one).

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These New Google Shopping Updates May Affect You | Small Biz Trends

If your small business regularly sells products via Google Shopping, a new reorganization of the company’s policies is on he way.

Though the company insists the new policies are mostly a simplification of the way merchants currently do business.

However, Google also insists those using the service do review the changes to make sure noting is missed when the new policy takes over.

Google’s Shopping Policy Center will be updated come February 2016.

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