ALBONE

Sometimes, we all just need to chill for a li'l bit. In today's society (hey look, it's the magic word-), everything is about productivity. Economic efficiency is typically measured by how much output can be generated from any given inputs. Leaders in various fields; from athletics to business, are often characterized by their consistent activity. They wake up before everyone else to hammer away at their craft. It's good to be busy. Work is one of the things that brings the most meaning to our lives. But the grindset mindset isn't always beneficial. People are like computers. If you overwork them, they crash. Lots of us often tend to underestimate the value that rest has in our lives. Take sleep for example. The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (hey look Professor, I referenced academic literature) recommends 7 hours of sleep for the average adult. Let's round that up to 8 to make the ensuing math easier (and who's gonna argue with an extra hour of sleep?)

  Some thoughts and ideas on new beginnings. Happy New Year! Our planet has completed yet another orbit around our Sun. But nothing feels...different.  Our placement of the start of the New Year is quite arbitrary. We could have it at any time. The Chinese won't be celebrating their New Year until February (it's gonna be the Year of the Dragon-how cool is that?). People make a big deal out of the beginning of a new year, and not without reason. It's a time of high levels of activity: planning for the next 12 months, paying school fees, getting back to work...there's a lot to do. Setting New Year's resolutions is one common practice around this time. Not sticking to them for more than a few weeks is another.  But for real, whilst the idea of taking time at the beginning of the year to set goals and make some changes to our lives is admirable; why should we only do this on January 1st? My little brother put it in a very profound way: "A date can't change you,