We all want to work smarter, but are we getting ahead or just spinning our wheels? Here are some common productivity lies that we tell ourselves that hinder more than help our work. This post originally appeared onFast Company. “We’re always rushing from meeting to meeting and drowning in work,” she says. “It’s not about doing more; it’s about making wiser choices.” You’re only valuable to your organization when you are doing what you’re hired to do....

On a regular workday, it’s easy to feel starved of peace. We crave peace and quiet so much that we’llpay to spend time in a peaceful place. But there are peaceful places everywhere, perfect for quickly recharging and disconnecting from your workday. Here are some places you’ve got the option to go during your break to renew your energy. I wasn’t going to pick up coffee or anything, nor was there any particularly beautiful scenery nearby....

If you’re trying to get ahead in your career, you want to be taken seriously. Unfortunately, the people you spend time with at work can affect that in a negative way. It may not be high school, but there are still cliques at work. Some can make you look good and others can make you look really bad. If you want to be taken seriously, look around you. Are the people in your peer group the kind that others take seriously?...

Having a baby is a huge life change that is exciting, but can really impact your work life. Here are some tips to put your best foot forward when it comes to balancing your pregnancy and work. Think about how secure your job will be, both during your pregnancy and after. Meet with your boss and tell them about your pregnancy. Answering these kinds of questions up front and with confidence will make the transition period go more smoothly....

Every week, we share the shortcuts, workspaces, and productivity tips of our favorite experts. Today, it’s my turn to reveal how I get stuff done. What apps/software/tools can’t you live without? For work, I rely onEvernote, Feedly and my Google calendars. I created anIFTTTrecipe to automatically add posts to Evernote when I schedule them in my calendar. So I’d be a little lost without that, too. I keep a physical notebook in every room to jot down fleeting thoughts and ideas....

iFixit has always been one of ourfavorite sitesfor tearing down devices. iFixit says there are over 20,000 different distinct devices to cover, so the 252 guides isn’t huge. But it is a good start. you could also sign up tocontribute a guideif you think you’re up for it.

Whatever you choose to do, keep the three foot rule in mind. You want to double-check you, your family, and guests are able to easily move through each room. Any throw in of furniture with doors or drawers also need three feet of space to open properly. For more tips on arranging your home decor, check out the full post linked below. Don’t Make These Mistakes When Arranging Your Living Room| Apartment Therapy...

When you’re lifting weights, warming up can be a guessing game. Do too little and you won’t be ready for your real sets. Do too much, and your real sets' performance suffers. By “ramping up” instead, you might take away the guesswork. Warm-up sets:The purpose of these sets is to prepare for the working sets. As such, these are usually not performed with high intensity. Luckily, strength and conditioning coachDr....

Uncheck the box labeled “Automatically download all attachments” and you’ll start saving a little space. Head over to How-To Geek for all the details. How to Stop Your Mac’s Mail App From Wasting Gigabytes of Space| How-To Geek

Seal the jar as tightly as possible. Shake the heck out of it continuously for 2 minutes. Return the jar to its upright position and carefully remove the lid. You’re ready to make a mojito, gimlet, or whatever else your heart desires!

Andrew Symes of Canadian Astronomy explains how. Symes uses an iPhone, an adapter, a few eyepiece filters, and an 8" telescope. The filters are the real trick here, because they cut down on the over-exposure you usually get. Otherwise, Symes also recommendsNightCap, which offers manual exposure and good low light performance. Head over to Canadian Astronomy for all his tips for taking great photos. Smartphone Astrophotography: How I photograph the Moon & planets with my phone| Canadian Astronomy viaThe Atlantic

According to the nationwide polls fromGallupandHealthways, these are the states with the highest and lowest well-being index scores. All things that are important when it comes to maintaining your happiness. Of course, all of this information should be taken with a grain of salt. Just because you live in a state with a low index score doesn’t mean you’re unhappy. For more information and the rest of the scores, check out the link below....

Today only, Amazon’s selling it for an all-time low $175. It has a4.2 star averageon Amazon, where it costs $30 more. [SINGER 7258 100-Stitch Computerized Sewing Machine, $138] This is the Worx JawSaw. Look how terrifying it is! It’s like ametal Xenomorph! Amazon has thewhole box for $33 today, which is within a few cents of an all-time low. That’s about as eco-friendly as batteries get. Eneloop deals tend to sell out fairly quickly when we post them, so act fast....