Driving Notes

A couple of the most common resolutions are to travel more and to lose weight.
Today on the Afternoon Drive, we talked about both of those things!

We shared with you some good tips for traveling and for weight loss!
Why this combination of topics? Well, it has to do with our Mystery Question!

The question today? Name a foreign country that people vacation to where they could easily pack on 10 pounds
Italy (54)
France (20)
England (5)
Mexico (5)
Germany (3)

Congratulations to our winner Kaleb from Fredericktown! 

Of course, our WNZR staff are travelers at heart, so here are some pictures from our staff that have ventured to some of the countries on our list!

Here are a few pictures from Daria Swisher when she traveled to Italy!

Here’s some more pictures of Italy from WNZR’s former News Director, Brooke Schnipke!

Here are some pictures from resident staff mom, Carol Buckley from Germany!

And here’s some pictures from yours truly when we traveled to Mexico!

Besides sharing pictures, we also shared= some tips on how to travel efficiently!

Try new food.

Don’t ask what it is. Just put it in your mouth and see if you like it. If you put your guard up, you might miss out on some unusual and delicious local cuisine.

Lunchtime is the best time to visit historical sites.

Be a contrarian. You’ll have fewer crowds getting in your way as big tour buses, groups, and most travelers head to lunch. It’s always best to visit an attraction super early, late, or when people eat. You’ll have even the most popular places to yourself!

To read the whole article and see all 61 travel tips, click here!

We also talked about the other common resolution… weight loss.
We shared three tips on how to help you lose weight this year!

1. Cut back on starches and carbs
   The most important part is to cut back on sugars and starches (carbs).
   When you do that, your hunger levels go down and you end up eating much fewer calories. Now instead of burning carbs for energy, your body starts feeding off of stored fat.
2. Eat protein, fat and vegetables      Each one of your meals should include a protein source, a fat source and low-carb vegetables. Constructing your meals in this way will automatically bring your carb intake into the recommended range of 20–50 grams per day.
3. Lift weights three times a week
   You don’t need to exercise to lose weight on this plan, but it is recommended.
   The best option is to go to the gym 3–4 times a week. Do a warm-up and lift some weights. If you’re new to the gym, ask a trainer for some advice. To see the whole article, click here

Thanks for listening!
– Lilly and Hannah

Here’s this weeks countdown!

10. Zach Williams – Survivor
9. Josh Baldwin – Stand in Your Love
8. Sanctus Real – Confidence
7. For King and Country – Joy
6. TobyMac – Everything
5. Casting Crowns – Only Jesus
4. Micah Tyler – Even Then
3. Hillsong Worship – Who You Say I Am
2. Tauren Wells – Known
1. Lauren Daigle – You Say

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Lilly

We all want to be more productive, right? Maybe one of your resolutions was to be more productive this year, whether that be at work or at school… maybe even both!
Today on the Drive, we shared 5 ways to be more productive at work, and another 5 on how to be more productive at school!

For work…
1. Stop multitasking

It can be tempting to want to take care of a few tasks at once, especially if they seem small or easy. But it simply doesn’t work. According to neuroscience professor Earl K. Miller, “multitasking is not humanly possible.” We’re fooling ourselves when we say we can easily juggle phone calls, presentations, and eating lunch. Focus on one task at a time, and you’ll actually end up completing it faster.

2. Take breaks

We might think working longer hours means we’re getting more done, but we never work as well when we’re burned out. Studies show taking regular breaks helps concentration and boosts your mood. Take a five-minute walk around the office, or spend 15 minutes grabbing that mid-afternoon coffee.

3. Set small goals

Sometimes, looking at our goals can be overwhelming. Seeing a handful of big projects on our calendar can be stressful… but if you break it up into smaller tasks, you’ll feel more in control and will be much more productive. Rather than write down “finish project,” break that into all the tasks it will take. This will keep you on track in your day-to-day and make the bigger projects seem less daunting.

4. Take care of the biggest tasks when you’re most alert

We all sometimes push aside big goals because we’re not confident we’ll accomplish them… And by the time we get to them, we’re too burned out from our day to give it the attention it needs. That’s how projects end up bleeding into additional days, and making it feel like productivity has disappeared.

5. Implement the “two-minute rule”

Make the most of your time at work by filling those tiny windows with actual tasks. According to entrepreneur Steve Olenski, finding and immediately completing tasks that take two minutes or less actually saves you time. So, if it takes less than two minutes, do it now.

The other aspect of the two-minute rule is that any goal or habit can be started in under two minutes. This doesn’t mean you’ll be able to complete every task in 120 seconds, but starting new goals is the first step to accomplishing them!

Here are 5 ways to be more productive at school…

1. Start homework within one hour of coming home.
It is important to get a snack and take a break.  It’s been a long day!  But, keep the break short so you can get homework done while your brain is fresh.  The later you wait, the more fatigued your brain will be.  In other words, the earlier that you do homework, the less time it will take.

2. Take advantage of “down time.”
We tend to do a lot of “waiting” during these hours.  Waiting for a ride home.  Waiting for a doctor appointment.  Waiting for basketball practice to start.  Pull out your homework and get something done!  You will be amazed how much you can do in ten-minutes.  In fact, your brain prefers shorter work segments. Your brain works faster during these short homework times than it will during a two-hour homework marathon.

3. Use a timer.
No one likes to do homework.  But, you can challenge yourself to do it fast by working to beat a timer.   Your body will respond to this challenge with a natural adrenaline rush that will last about 15-20 minutes.  That is PRIME time to be productive with your homework!

4. Power down.
Turn off all of your electronics.  I know this does not sound like fun, but electronic devices will always control you if you don’t control them.  Students who “power down” for 1-2 hours a night report getting their homework done 2-4x faster!  Try it.

5. Learn study skills to help you work efficiently.
The national and state education departments tell schools what they have to teach and there’s a LOT!  But, it is all content.  They do not allow schools the time to teach how to learn that content, which is absurd! Learning HOW to learn takes a little bit of guidance and practice, just as a baby needs when he first learns how to walk.  But, once you get it, you GET IT!  Study skills help all students, from those that struggle to those that get straight-A’s, use their brain’s strategically to get better grades in LESS time.

Thanks for listening!
– Lilly and Todd

Thanks for hanging out with us today for the first Afternoon Drive of 2019!
Today we talked about some of the resolutions that we’re making and how to keep with them! Read today’s Morning Thing’s blog on resolutions here!

Todd’s resolutions are to be more active, work on his discipline, and to focus more on his personal upkeep!
Lilly is aiming to eat (healthier), read more instead of spending so much time on social media, and stay constant with my devotionals.
Jordan Lewis, on-air DJ at WNZR is looking to stay positive this year!

About 80% of people fail their New Year’s resolutions by February.
What’s the secret to keeping the resolutions? Here are three quick things to check your resolutions against.

Keep it Simple
Many people use the New Year as an opportunity to make large bucket lists or attempt extreme makeovers, whether personal or professional.
Make it Tangible
Setting ambitious resolutions can be fun and inspiring, but the difficulty in achieving them means that your elation can quickly give way to frustration. That’s why goals should be bounded by rational, achievable metrics.
Make it Obvious
Experts recommend charting your goals in some fashion, although there’s no universal strategy for success. For some, making a clear to-do list is enough of a reminder; others rely on “vision boards” or personal diaries.
An emerging tactic: share your goals with your friends and family. It’s another way to build accountability, especially in the Facebook era.

Thanks for listening!
– Lilly and Todd