How to Approach Negotiations and Win

I have written several times on various negotiation techniques to give you an edge. Today's New York Times suggests a novel approach: exertion. In an article entitled "Work Up A Sweat, and Bargain Better," the author reports on a study by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that concluded that if you approach negotiations with an attitude of excitement, you are likely to be even more successful if you are moving during the negotiations.

The study showed that a certain level of exertion appeared to result in a better outcome. The study, reported in the journal, Psychological Science, involved participants who negotiated over the phone while walking versus those who remained seated or walking slower.

The study confirmed what we always suspected: the "movers and shakers" will do better in negotiations. How can you become a mover or shaker? Other research shows that just telling yourself that you are "excited" may be enough.

So, go ahead and give yourself a little pep talk before beginning to negotiate for that new car or the terms of that new job. You might be surprised how well you do.

The 4 Minute Workout: High Intensity Training Really Works

I have written several times in this blog about the potential health benefits of High Intensity Interval Training or HIIT. That approach to fitness involves cycling or some other aerobic activity for a short period of time (as little as 30 seconds) followed by a rest period.  This procedure is repeated three or four times, three times a week. It works as evidence has shown.
http://notjustforboomers.blogspot.com/2013/04/high-intensity-interval-training.html

There is a new twist on high intensity training that deserves a further look. We all complain that we never have enough time to exercise. We are too busy at work, at home and everywhere else to make it to the gym for an hour workout. Well, you may only need four minutes, three times a week to achieve similar results. And you can do it anywhere and no special equipment is required

As reported in the New York Times, "The 4 Minute Workout", researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology conducted a study to determine whether 4 minutes of  aerobic exercise at 90% of maximum heart rate performed three times a week would have the same effects on maximal oxygen uptake, blood sugar and blood pressure as longer training sessions. After ten weeks, the researchers determined that the answer was a definite "yes."

For the full article, see http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/the-4-minute-workout/

Baby Boomers: Social Security and Medicare Are Going to be Okay

The Sunday New York Times contains an interesting opinion piece by columnist, Paul Krugman, entitled, "The Geezers are All Right." http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/03/opinion/krugman-the-geezers-are-all-right.html?hp.  Mr. Krugman is a professor of Economics and International Affairs at Princeton University and the winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2008. I highly recommend that you read the article if you are concerned about the future of your Social Security and Medicare benefits (and, quite frankly, who isn't?)

The article points out that there is no real need to cut benefits now for anyone since for the time being there is no shortfall.  As Mr. Krugman argues quite persuasively, "[t]he risk is that we might, at some point in the future, have to cut benefits; to avoid this risk of future benefit cuts, we are supposed to act pre-emptively by...cutting future benefits. What problem, exactly, are we solving here?"

Mr. Krugman also points out that the cost of health care has actually appeared to flatten out recently and proposed cuts in Medicare may not be necessary if other measures already in place and soon to be in place, including Obamacare, are fully implemented.

It appears that a lot of the hand-wringing and doom and gloom about these vital social programs is just plain unwarranted. This is not to say that nothing should be done to improve these programs, but cutting benefits now for anyone is not the answer.

I am  pleased to let you know that my e-book on how to negotiate better deals when buying a car or a house is now available on Amazon for Kindle. The Baby Boomer's Practical Guide to  Every Day Negotiations http://www.amazon.com/Boomers-Practical-Guide-Negotiations-ebook/dp/B00BRPVH4U/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1370283473&sr=1-1&keywords=tony+basinski

How to Improve Productivity

We all want to improve our productivity.  Believe it or not, it appears one of the simplest ways to do so is to work less.  "What," you are probably thinking, "How can I improve my productivity by working less?"  Recent studies suggest just that: working less hours a day and taking more vacations can increase your productivity.

In an article in The New York Times today, "Relax! You'll Be More Productive," author Tony Schwartz discusses a number of those studies that show that you can increase your output by taking a nap and taking more vacations.

The theory behind those studies is that you are less productive if you use up too much energy. In other words, if you are tired, you are likely to take longer to perform a given task.  In addition, you are likely to be less mentally alert as you are working. Napping or vacationing gives you the opportunity to recharge your battery. 

Most intriguing is the study cited by Professor K. Anders Ericsson of Florida State University.  In that study, Professor Ericsson concluded that those persons who were most productive worked in 90 minute cycles.  They would work for 90 minutes, followed by a break.  In all, they would work no more than four and one half hours a day.  The rest of the work day was spent napping, exercising or meditating.

If this sounds interesting, you can review the entire article by Mr. Schwartz at www.nytimes.com.

The Beneficial Effects of Meditation

The many beneficial effects of meditation continue to be recognized.  In an earlier post, " Every Breath You Take," I discussed a number of different forms of meditation or mindfulness. In today's edition of The New York Times,an article entitled "In Sitting Still, A Bench Press For the Brain," the Times reports on a number of studies which tend to show that meditation has a number of beneficial effects on the brain. These are believed to include increased gray and white matter which can improve cognitive performance in older adults.  What is fascinating is that the longer meditation is practiced, the greater the benefits appear to be. This is in addition to the physical benefits such as lower blood pressure as shown in such studies as the "Relaxation Response.."

Moreover, it is never too late to start. It requires no equipment and almost no time. Just get started.