Flux Magazine

CH A L L EN GE YOUR P OT EN T I A L

MOVING TO A NEW CITY An overview of the top cities for job opportunites and a fresh start.

p.10

DIGGING OUT OF DEBT Tips to fix that empty wallet; Your short guide to getting out of debt.

p. 25 PROFESSIONAL ETIQUITTE Aza Raskin, the founder of Firefox, gives his advice on being successful.

p. 60

FINDING THE OUTDOORS A look at the top cities for outdoor activites.

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APARTMENT STYLE A look into the homes of three young professionals.

p. 21 MARCH 2012. VOL. 5 #3

Flux is a lifestyle magazine geared toward young aspiring professionals. During this exciting phase, life is continually changing and you need to be ready for anything. Our mission is to provide friendly guidance through your personal journey of self-discovery.

Challenge your potential.

It may not look the part, but it is a hybrid...

WE SWEAR.

MARCH 2012

CONTENTS

departments

08 24 28 86 98

CHALLENGE YOUR WARDROBE Rescue My Wardrobe & How to Dress for the New Office.

CHALLENGE YOUR SURROUNDINGS The Ten Best Drinks you’ve never ordered & the ten hottest restaurants.

CHALLENGE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS Professional Textiquette

CHALLENGE YOUR BUDGET How to Splurge Wisely.

CHALLENGE YOUR ROUTINE Tone Your Body Sharpen your mind

JBRANDJEANS.COM

MARCH 2012

CONTENTS

features

36 48 60 68 76

LEAVIN’ ON A JET PLANE How to move and the best cities for job opportunities.

APARTMENT STYLE A look into the homes of three young professionals.

FINDING THE OUTDOORS IN THE CITY Six ways to get outside & the top twenty cities for the outdoors.

GET OUT OF DEBT Your Short Guide to Getting Out of Debt.

SO YOU WANT TO BE A DESIGNER? Aza Raskin, the founder of Firefox gives his advice on being successful.

CHALLENGE YOUR WARDROBE

Rescue my

WARDROBE! How three young professionals update their work wardrobes

Yes, there this bright colored dress may be inappropriate for the courtroom, but from day to day have some fun with bright colors on classic silhouettes.

Attorney PROBLEM I am an attorney by day and the Hip Hostess by night (hiphostessblog.com) and frequently have cocktail and dinner parties. I don’t have time to make the transition from my work wardrobe to a party-ready outfit, and I usually end up wearing black and boring. I need to look more like the fun hostess that I am!

Ilana Eck, Attorney SOLUTION Just because you litigate for or against hardened criminals all day (I’m

FOREVER 21, $15 bold circle necklace

guessing) doesn’t mean you have to bring that dark prison drab to the dinner table.

The solution begins with accessories—two or three great statement necklaces, killer heels, and some fabulous belts. Then invest in fun, colorful dresses (save the black for

JESSICA SIMPSON, $40 salmon dress

the courtroom), and from there, just mix and match the accessories. Dresses are the chic, lazy answer to dressing quickly (you don’t have to think about what they go with), and mixing up your accessories will produce a different feel each time.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: DV Dolce Vita, $45 Nine West, $65

NINE WEST, $50 nude peeped toe pumps

“Do not abandon your cool personal style.”

MARCH 2012. 09

Guilty. New Fragrance for Men and Women.

CHALLENGE YOUR WARDROBE

Art Gallery Director PROBLEM I’m the gallery director of the East Village art space Wild Project. It’s a pretty casual environment, so most days I wear jeans. I’m hoping to transition out of my jeansand-boots phase into more simple and sophisticated pieces.

Hilary Schaffner, Gallery Director SOLUTION You are so lucky to be able to wear jeans to work every day. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take it up a notch.

To look less dorm-bound and more gallery director, trade out casual pieces (no peasant tops, please!) for something more sophisticated. Because you’re tall and lean, you can definitely pull off fitted dresses, slim skirts, and simple tops. You don’t need a lot of clothes but a few simple basics: Start with a blazer and layer it with a knee-length shift or even a T-shirt and pencil skirt. And for jean days, go for a dark wash in a trouser cut — it’s a perfect compromise of chic and comfort.

BANANA REPUBLIC, $69 yellow blazer

TARGET, $25 blue and white striped dress K ATE SPADE, $150 red crossbody bag

[ ] FOREVER 21, $15, $8, $10 clockwise from left

MICHAEL KORS, $75 gold pointed fl ats

GIANNI BINI, $69 cork and coral patent fl ats

JCREW, $75 red patent fl ats

MARCH 2012. 12

Mixing fun colors is appropriate for you, because of your casual work environment. Don’t be afraid to try fun patterned dresses. This striped dress is a chic and comfortable look.

MARCH 2012. 05

CHALLENGE YOUR WARDROBE

Student PROBLEM Help! My closet has been taken over by crazy, impractical prints and too many sequins. How can I incorporate more classic items?

Marina Lange, Student SOLUTION I would say you’re either a thrift store junkie or your mom is Liza Minnelli. Either way, I love that you have

FOREVER 21, $20 silver sequined blouse

nothing but crazy prints and sequins. My advice here is do not abandon your cool personal style. You don’t need khakis or blue jeans just to conform. Instead, choose classic items that can be worn on many occasions and still retain all the fun you look for in clothes. The key is silhouettes: For example, go for a fitted blouse or opt for a tweed skirt over tweed bell-bottoms. And mixing it all together will still keep your stylish personal signature.

wedges with sohphisticated clean lines work great for spring and usmmer

K ATE SPADE, $38 lime stud earrings

H & M, $35 salmon suede wedges

H & M, $15 sliver woven bracelet

BCBG GENERATION, $50 silver and lime clutch

[

GAP, $59 dark wash wide-legged trouser

]

Contrast your crazy sequined shirts with sophisticated pieces such as the wide-legged trousers above. Don’t give up your personal style; Pick accessories with classic styles but with a fun modern twist.

MARCH 2012. 15

CHALLENGE YOUR WARDROBE

A great trench coat in a neutral color can be paired with basically any top in your wardrobe. Not only will it make your outfit look complete you will also look professional and chic.

Lace is a big trend this Spring.

This feminine look can be paired with a pair of jeans to make it more casual. The lace adds nice texture and a contrast to the trench coat's smooth material.

Who said your briefcase has to be boring.

You can use a nicely designed tote bag with plenty of pockets and dividers to organize your supplies for work. This camel leather bag is practical and stylish at the same time.

Jeans are generally only appropriate for workplaces with business casual dresscodes or for the casual Friday. But when you get the opportunity to wear them, they make a great piece to transition from work to happy hour drinks with your friends.

The right pair of wedges can be a sohpisticated look to transition your Winter wardrobe into the Spring.

This pair is a neutral color, which extends the length of the leg and is calm enough for the office.

MARCH 2012. 05

CHALLENGE YOUR WARDROBE

Dressing for the

NEW OFFICE How to update your work wardrobe to dress to impress

YOU’RE IN A LAW FIRM that this last summer announced it was changing its dress code from suits-only to more-casual clothes. And now, without your trusty twopiece, you don’t know what to do. Or maybe you’re just sick of the khakis and polo shirt you’ve been wearing to your I.T. office since that first dress-down Friday back in 1995.

Who can blame you?

Whoever you are, whatever kind of company you work in, there is another way-a more stylish, more professional way.

We call it dressing for the new office, and though it doesn’t shun the khakis and polo, it most definitely includes the suit and just about every combination of sensible clothing in between.

When you buy a pair of Warby Parker glasses, they provide a pair for someone in need.

What you need

WARBY PARKER, $95

How many clothes do you need? Not as many as you think, provided they are the right clothes. These, for example. The succinct collection arrayed here contains the threads we’d pick if one day we had to start a proper day job.

These modern pieces not only strike the right balance between formal and informal, but they also pretty much all coordinate with one another. That means the savvy man can put together dozens of outfits, from a serious suit-and-

NORDSTROMS, $25

tie look to something for a trip to a trendy club--wherever

brown leather wallet

work (and whatever comes after) may take him, which, let’s hope, is far.

20 PIECE CLOSET Navy pinstripe suit JCREW, $100

Gray suit

brown leather oxford shoes

Leather car coat Donegal-tweed sport coat Small-wale cord trousers Brushed cotton trousers Light-gray wool tousers Textured ties Button-down shirts in pattened fabrics and hefty weaves Cable-knit turtleneck sweaters Crewneck and v-neck sweaters

NORDSTROMS, $50 brown leather satchel

Half-zip sweaters Manly accessories

March 2012. 19

CHALLENGE YOUR WARDROBE

Button-down shirts in patterned fabrics and hefty weaves have none of the stiffness of the white straightcollared numbers once worn by white straight-collared numbers. You need a couple of them.

A gray suit jacket is always a good bet. This reasonably priced model is cut from a wrinkle-resistant stretch material, which makes it travel friendly.

Find it at Nordstoms.

Three pairs of trousers--no khakis.

Does that make you nervous? Or thrilled? If you don’t want to look like everyone else, say thrilled. The small-wale cord, left, the substantial brushed cotton, and the versatile light-gray wool trousers (all of which are in the more modern flatfront style) will keep you covered as well as any chain-store khakis--but a whole lot more stylishly.

A man looks good when his belt matches his shoes in color, if not in material. One each in brown and black calfskin is all you really need to keep your pants up.

BE YOU The Gap cardigan.

In 9 fresh colors.

Be stylish, Be relaxed, Be you.

MARCH 2012. 05

NEW SPRING LOOKS peasant tops in 25 colors

INTRODUCING

spring 2012

MARCH 2012. 05

CHALLENGE YOUR SURROUNDINGS

best drinKs 10 you’ve Never Ordered

eVerYbodY has heard of Mojitos, caiparinhas, cosmos and Margaritas. But what about those hidden gems in the bar? The liqours that hide in dark bottles, a little bit of dust on them, that sit back watching the flavored vodkas and tequilas and say to themselves, “there was a time.” From a bartender’s perspective, these are the ten best drinks that you’ve never heard of but probably should. Keep in mind, these aren’t always trendy - but there is a time for them.

SaZeraC

OlD FaShiOneD

The real deal, wormwood soaked Absinthe which became legalized in October 2007. To celebrate, order Sazerac - made with Absinthe, Rye Whiskey, Grand Marnier, Peychaud and Angostora bitters. This one will leave you hallucinating before

This one is making somewhat of a revival and as vodka drinkers turn to bourbons it’ll start to see the light even more. It consists of a cherry, orange and a sugar cube being muddled with a dash of bitters, then some bourbon being poured over with a splash

you can say Van Gogh.

piSCO SOur Pisco is an addictive South American brandy made of moscatel grapes. The drink consists of Pisco, lemon juice, sugar and ice. It’s a simple drink that’s simply divine.

FrenCh 75 This drink is named for French artillery during World War 1.

Consisting of Gin, Champagne, lemon, orange and marachino cherry,T it packs quite a punch.

pOMnOtiQ PAMA Pomegranate Liqeur with equal parts; HPNOTIQ, Cranberry Juice, Blood Orange Juice and a touch of Sparkling Wine.

SlOe gin FiZZ Sloe gin is funny because every bar carries it, but no one ever really knows what it is: gin that has been steeped in plums. Next time you ante up to the bar ask for this little hidden treasure of Sloe Gin, Lemon Juice, Ice and Soda. Its a definite step up from that boring old gin and tonic.

of soda for good measure.

SingapOre Sling Its ingredients – Gin, lemon juice, pineapple juice, cherry brandy, bitters, and grenadine – read like a love letter to cocktails.

Death in the aFternOOn

negrOni This is a martini that is all kick.

It’s equal parts campari, sweet vermouth and gin and garnished with a twist of lemon - which 60 years ago would have been the bees knees when it came to booze. It’s an Italian favorite!

BeautiFul This drink is so simple and such an easy one to order on dates that to not do so is almost like a slap on the face. It’s equal parts cognac and grandmarnier served in a snifter.

Equal Parts Pernod and Champagne. After knocking back a few of these you’ll know where it gets its name.

March 2012. 25

CHALLENGE YOUR SURROUNDINGS

01 03 10 04 09 05

07 02

06 08

hottest 10Restaurants aFter COMpiling SeVen million reviews, OpenTable has come up with a list of the 10 hottest restaurants to open in the past year. The 10 hottest New restaurants, based on highest user scores collected from OpenTable diners between March 2010 and February 2011:

01

Beauty & eSSex, neW yOrK City Tapas/small plates, $40 and up “The service was magnificent. The food was excellent.

The ambiance was chic and hot. I loved it. I will be back.”

02

SearSuCKer, San DiegO New American Classic Cuisine, $ 30 and up “Highly recommended. Friendly, knowledgable staff, great ambience, and unique food options.”

03

laVO, neW yOrK City Italian, $ 35 and up “The staff is always friendly, helpful, and attentive. My entre and side were done to perfection and delicious. Their tiramasu is one of my all time favorites.”

04 05

girl $ the gOat, ChiCagO Contemporary American, $ 30 below “The food was different from anything I have had before and the meal was such an incredible experience.”

CelO, lOS angeleS Tapas/Small Plates, $ 30 below “Good food, and server had great recommendations!

The drinks are all delicious!”

March 2012. 26

06

Del FriSCO’S, DallaS Steak, $ 50 and up “The steak was one of the best I have ever had. The garlic mashed potatoes were awesome. The service is top notch.”

07

taO reStaurant, lOS VegaS Japanese, $ 50 and up “All of the flavours were fantastic, the service staff were very knowledgeable especially about the huge sake list.”

08

ZuMa, MiaMi Japanese, $ 50 and up The best food you could ever dream of having. Small plates available great for sharing. I recommend black cod and Alaskin king crab in lime butter.”

09

gilt Bar, ChiCagO Gastro Pub, $ 30 and under “Waiter was attentive but not annoying and had good recommendations when asked. Food was unique, very flavorful, and good portions.”

10

the hurriCane CluB, neW yOrK City Pan-Asian, $ 31-50 “The Hurricane Club could not have been nicer! The staff was friendly and helpful and we weren’t rushed. The food was note worthy.”

Reserve the perfect table.

Everytime.

CHALLENGE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

Professional

TEXTIQUETTE WE ALL KNOW it can be much less confrontational and frankly easier to text or e-mail a person in uncomfortable situations, but is it good etiquette to be texting your coworkers? The Chicago Tribune recently published some tips and good practices when it comes to texting in the work place. Here’s our take on their suggestions.

The basics of texting etiquette should be

As much as you might want to, avoid texting

common sense to most people. Don’t text

ne ga tive f e e db a c k to c o - wor ker s . T he

when you’re supposed to be engaged in

recipient cannot accurately read your tone

something else. Always make sure you are

and more often than not, will start reading

present in the moment, no matter where

into w ha t you s ay. Bu t even w i th tex t

you are. Even if you think you’re paying

messages in general, you need to choose

attention, be sure to look attentive as well!

your words carefully. Humor and sarcasm

Don’t keep checking your phone. Even if you

can of ten be hard enough to convey in

aren’t texting, it’s rude and everyone around

person let alone through texting.

you will assume you’re texting or at the very least distracted.

If your company does not utilize Outlook for appointments or something similar, you still shouldn’t notify attendees through text if you can help it, particularly for meetings with shor t notice. Not ever yone checks their phones regularly, so it is best to get confirmation in person or on the phone when possible.

In general, texting is still not considered a professional means of communication. So don’t text your job interviewer “Thx 4 d grt interview!” and don’t give your 2 weeks notice to your boss with a bold text message.

There are many other convenient forms of communication that function just as well or better such as e-mail, IM, phone, pigeon, etc. So if you absolutely feel the necessity to text a co-worker, just remember to think about what you’re tex ting, be clear, be concise and keep your texting abbreviations down to a minimum.

VISIT KAYAK.COM TO START PLANNING YOUR TRIP TODAY

CHALLENGE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

Tattoos & Piercings in the

WORKPLACE IT ISN’T HARD to tell that tattoos and piercings are becoming increasingly more commonplace. Whether you’re at the grocery store or at the bank, chances are someone within sight has a tattoo.

MARCH 2012. 31

CHALLENGE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

TATTOOS & Piercings in the Workplace

ACCORDING TO A 2006 Pew Research Center survey, thirty-six percent of 18 to 25 year olds have at least one tattoo and forty percent of adults aged 26 to 40 have at least one as well. Since tat toos and piercings have become more mainstream over the years, they are no longer looked upon as being quite as edgy or controversial. But that doesn’t mean they are universally accepted, particularly in the workplace.

Even large corporations have a mix of responses to individuals that sport unconventional tattoos and piercings. Walmart does not allow employees to wear facial piercings such as eyebrow and lip piercing. They also require “offensive” tattoos to be covered up. Whereas Ford Motor Company allows

is a tattoo artist who specializes in colored portraiture. Hurtado has been tattooing since 2002.He owns and works at Black Anchor Collective in Hesperia, California. He has appeared as a guest on LA Ink and Tattoo Wars. He has released a DVD called Tattooing Portraits with Nikko Hurtado and recently released a Dia de los Muertos instructional DVD.

is a highly talented and esteemed artist who currently works at Transcend Tattoo in Branford, Conn. Baxter is a well-spoken, thoughtful individual who often expresses his emotions and opinions through art.

both tattoos and piercings as long as they don’t pose a danger to anyone’s safety in their factories. Some businesses, like Borders even consider tattoos to be favorable, as they want their business to come across as being modern, edgy and unique.

If you’re on the fence about getting a tattoo, think about the field you work in and how potential employers might view your tattoos. A survey from vault.com found that 60 percent of employers were less likely to hire a candidate with tattoos or piercings. The primary concern was typically how their customers would perceive tattoos and piercings on employees. Unless you are absolutely sure your interviewer will love your tattoos and piercings, you may want to conceal them if possible. Even tattoo establishments have been known to warn their customers about getting tattoos in locations that are difficult to hide such as your neck and forearms. Many people consider their tattoos a part of who they are, but keeping your tattoos and piercings discreet may still be necessary to get and keep your job.

MARCH 2012. 33

A SOOTHING EXPERIENCE Ever tried bathing yourself in a rain storm?

EVERY

REFRESHES THE WORLD.

Leavin’ on a

Jet Plane

You got the new Job, your spouse or partner got a promotion or maybe you’re just looking for fresh scenery. congratulations! You’re moving to a new city, and let’s face it—this can be a daunting but exhilarating life change. The first 30 days of moving to a new city really provide a chance for renewal.

“Think of moving as a reset button for your life,” says Laura ramos, a life coach who helps clients through moves. “how often are we presented with an opportunity to truly start over and make everyday things in life feel new and fresh? Moving is the chance!”Though this renewal may be intimidating, don’t fret. With some planning and perseverance, you’ll use this first month to lay the foundation for building your new life in a different city. The biggest question is: where do you start?

MaKing the MoVe to a New City

A look into how to move and where to go for the best job opportunities after the big change in your life.

Planning Your new CitY liFe The key to making it through the first 30 days of moving to a new city is planning. among the first three things you need to plan for are finding a place to live, arranging your finances and finding new friends. Start researching your new city. Look up the local traditions or hot spots and get a feel for what it’s like to live there. Find out vital information about your new town—the crime rate, the unemployment rate, the location of schools and food markets. With your research completed, you’ll be better equipped to figure out your living situation. Before you start looking at apartments or homes, think about what you really need. Do you need a backyard for animals? Do you need an apartment that is close to public transportation? Do you need a lease for two years instead of being tied down by a mortgage? answer questions like these for yourself and make these needs a part of your home search.

This helped robbie Zer find his new residence when he moved from Florida to Texas. “I always went for a run on the boardwalk after work when I lived in Miami, so I knew that I

wanted to somehow find a good place to run at the end of my day when I moved to a new place,” says Robbie. “When I was looking at places in Austin I ended up choosing a neighborhood that was easy access to a nice path where I could run.”

According to Elie Khen, a relocation specialist with Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate, you may want to investigate renting or subletting in an area of interest before buying property. “See if this place is good for you,” Khen says.

“It could be too busy, too quiet, too deserted or too central.

Many people commit to a one or two-year lease and end up not liking the neighborhood for whatever reason.”

Take a trip to your new city during your first 30 days and get a feel for neighborhoods of interest by walking or driving around. This is a good way to discover if you like the area and where things are—like the post office, restaurants, pharma-

First things First: • Rank your must-haves • Be a social media fanatic • Take “city days” to explore • Consider a temporary job • Get a “Home” address • Set your expectations • Be realistic

cies and the dry cleaner.

While you’re looking for a new place to live, keep your financial situation in the back of your mind. If you’re moving for a new job, know your salary ahead of time so you can be sure to afford your new living space. If you don’t have income lined up, budget your cash wisely until you are able to restore your cash flow.

Not only will it cost quite a bit to make the move, but also your salary may not go as far in your new city. Lisa Hernandez says she didn’t factor this in when making the move from Seattle to New York, “I was so sticker shocked when I started to live here,” she says. “It’s the little things that

you don’t think about, like the cost of a Coke or all the trips on the subway that really add up.”

Prevent a pain in your wallet and create a financial buffer. You can save two or three months’ worth of expenses as a safety net, or you can be very careful about your spending.

Heather Sicaud neglected to accommodate for these extra expenses when she moved to Massachusetts. “I was so excited to be in Boston, a big city compared to where I was from, that I went out like crazy when I got there and every time I went to a new store or visited a new place I bought something,” says Heather. “That was a mistake!” Save all your moving and storage receipts, since many employers reimburse these expenses. If your job won’t handle the costs, you can try to write them off your taxes.

Closing Out Your Old Life Once you have a handle on the city you’re moving to, the hard work of packing and closing out your old life begins. This is the time when all the practical issues of a move need to be dealt with. You’ll have to find movers, pack your belongings, find storage and close out all the accounts you have in your current city. You’ll have to remember to do things like change your address, cancel and hook up new utilities (phone, cable and internet) and change any insurance policies.

Khen advises that you also pay particular attention to the details of the move in your new city as well. “When it comes to big cities, people sometimes don’t realize they must consider rules and regulations—written or not—of movers, build-

March 2012. 39

ings, street parking, etc. For example, moving into a building

Saying Goodbye By far the hardest part of your move will

may only be allowed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4

be saying goodbye to loved ones. In order to make a healthy

p.m.” Make sure to carefully read the fine print of new work

and positive transition, take the time to create special mo-

contracts, leases and mover and storage agreements.

ments with family and friends before you leave—whether it

It’s usually at the point when a move plan is created that

is Saturday morning coffee, going to a concert or a celebra-

people feel anxious about their decision. “There is this one

tion dinner. Don’t avoid talking about the move. Sharing all

moment where people are almost bulldozed by how over-

your apprehension, reservations, excitement and enthusi-

whelming it all is. There are a million details to stay on top of coupled with the realization that your life will never be the same,” says Ramos. “Don’t let the move make you feel small.

When that moment comes, say yes to it. Say yes, there are a million things to do and I, with the help of those who love me, will get them done. Say yes, my life is going to change forever and that means there are so many wonderful new memories headed my way!” This is also a time to think about purging some of your belongings. Look at everything you own and decide if you really want to bring it to your new home. “It might be difficult, but simply resign yourself to the fact that you can’t keep everything. A little judgment during

[

asm will lighten the load.

“Running away from emotions is a temporary solution. They’ll catch up with you in your new place and then you may find yourself with few shoulders to cry on.”

cleanout will go a long way when it’s time to load the moving

“Feel whatever you are feeling. Don’t try to bottle up any

van and write a check to the movers,” says Tara Maras, move

anxiety or stress or put on a brave face when you’re around

expert and co-author of 29 Days to a Smooth Move.

friends and family. Be real with your emotions. If you know you will miss certain things, find time to do them with people,” says Ramos. Getting them involved in your move may

help make the goodbye that much easier.

tem or your driving route to work. Go easy on yourself and

“After living in Chicago for 12 years I was definitely ready

don’t try to tackle everything right away. Eventually, a social

for a warmer existence, but some of my best memories were

life and friends will fall into place. “I always tell people that

from a big snow storm the week before I left,” says Melissa

one of the best ways to weather any change is to stick with

Morrison. Though you may feel intense sadness when you

what they know,” Ramos says. “This is especially important

are saying goodbye, know in your gut that this is the right de-

when it comes to relocating. If you like listening to live music,

cision for you. After all—a move isn’t necessarily permanent.

then find a place in your new city that has great live music.

You’re saying goodbye for now, but you’ll see them again.

Think about what you love and seek it out. It will lessen that feeling of having to start everything from scratch.” The best

New Life, New You There are no benchmarks of how to

way you can meet people and learn about your new city is

measure a successful move or transition, but once you arrive

to reach out to your neighbors and fellow citizens. “When

in your new city, you should acknowledge the fact that you’ve

I first moved to New York, I told everyone I had just moved

done something really difficult and succeeded.

here,” says Michael Benisty. “You wouldn’t believe the great

“You got there! That is a huge accomplishment,” says Ra-

advice and tips I got from people like my doormen, the girl at

mos. “The other stuff falls into place when it should. This is

the corner store and waiters at restaurants.” You should also

the time to get rid of having strict deadlines and let things

pay very close attention to the spiritual aspect of a move to a

evolve on their own timetable.”

new city. Khen says, “At its core, moving is about the search

When you wake up for the first day in your new city, try to

for something more, progressing forward, putting things in

erase any pressure for immediate perfection. Adjusting and

motion. That can be a great positive in your life.”

unpacking take time and settling in comes in stages. You need to get your bearings—find things like your local grocery and drug store, figure out the public transportation sys-

March 2012. 41

Denver, CO

huge Cities

pop. 600,000 +

Seattle, WA

Charlotte, NC

Pop. 594,210

Pop. 671,588

Avg. Salary: $49,890

Avg. Salary: $41,200

Cost of Living Rank*: 79

Cost of Living Rank*: 36

Unemployment Rate: 8.7

Unemployment Rate: 11.7

The home to many prominent corporate headquarters — including those of Starbucks, Nordstrom, Microsoft and Amazon.com — Seattle is Washington state’s largest city and the region’s major economic, cultural and educational center. While the cost of living is a little on the high side, our #6 city has a particularly promising job outlook in alternative energy development and software engineering. bonus fun fact: seattle buys more sunglasses per capita than any city in the united states.

Home to the nation’s largest financial asset – Bank of America – as well as a number of Fortune 500 companies, this comfortable North Carolina city offers a solid salary to cost of living ratio. However, this has also left it more vulnerable to the economic downturn. It would have scored higher on our list, were it not for the drastic increase in unemployment since last year (up 6%). bonus fun fact: Charlotte has two nuclear power plants!

Denver, CO Pop. 588, 349

Avg. Salary: $45,610

Cost of Living Rank*: 47 Unemployment Rate: 7.9 Emphasizing employment in air transportation, telecommunications, aerospace and manufacturing, Denver is a major energy research center and the regional headquarters for government agencies. Its bustling downtown fi nancial district is also considered the “Wall Street of the Rockies,” housing both major national and international banks. And that’s not all — Denver is 346 miles west of the exact geographic center of the country, placing it in a great spot for future economic development and growth. bonus fun fact: denver is the only city ever to turn down the olympics.

Indianapolis, IN Pop. 795,458

Avg. Salary: $39,840

Cost of Living Rank*: 12 Unemployment Rate: 8.2 Formerly a heavy manufacturing city, Indianapolis has shifted to encompass a much more diversified economy – today, its key industries include education, healthcare, tourism and finance. And if you love sports, Indianapolis may just be the place for you. The city hosts several major sporting events, including the Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400 and men’s and women’s NCAA championships. bonus fun fact: indianapolis has the worlds largest children’s museum.

San Antonio, TX Pop. 1,328,984

Avg. Salary: $34,610

Cost of Living Rank*: 29 Unemployment Rate: 6.0 The second largest city in Texas, San Antonio has one of the most solid salary to cost of living ratios in the country and has seen the lowest change in unemployment rate since the onset of the recession. Its projected job growth is extremely promising and consistently high-performing, with plenty of opportunity in the education, health care, manufacturing, government and service sectors. Famous for its River Walk, the Alamo and Tejano culture, San Antonio’s tourism also continues to thrive despite a down economy. bonus fun fact: the alamo is considered the no. 1 visitor attraction in all of texas.

Austin, TX Pop. 790, 394

Avg. Salary: $41,330

Cost of Living Rank*: 51 Unemployment Rate: 6.3 Austin tops our list with robust projected job growth and one of the lowest changes in unemployment rate since the onset of the recession. The city has enjoyed a recent explosion of high-tech entrepreneurism, and its two largest employers — the state government and the University of Texas — are expected to add a couple thousand jobs this year. bonus fun fact: austin is home to north america’s largest urban bat population.

Austin, TX

March 2012. 43

Mid–siZe Cities pop. 350,000 – 600,000 Portland, OR

St. Louis, MO

Pop. 550,396

Pop. 354,361

Avg. Salary: $43,370

Avg. Salary:: $40,630

Cost of Living Rank*: 58

Cost of Living Rank*: 23

Unemployment Rate: 10.7

Unemployment Rate: 9.2

Historically, Portland has had a long-standing association with high-tech industries. According to City-Data.com, more than 1,200 tech companies currently operate in Portland, and, in 2004, microcomputer components manufacturer Intel was the city’s largest employer. The city has also seen consistent growth in the education and healthservices sectors, helping the area maintain its high growth ratings despite significant decreases in employment in the natural resources, mining and construction sectors. bonus fun fact: Portland has the largest independent book store in the world.

Known as the city that marks the divide between the Eastern and Western United States, St. Louis is often called the “Gateway City.” It’s home to some of our nation’s largest public and privately held corporations — Enterprise RentA-Car, Scottrade, Energizer and Anheuser-Busch Breweries are just a few of its best known local companies. And it didn’t just make our own short list of great cities — this charming city ranks among the whole world’s top 100 cities in terms of quality of life. bonus fun fact: the ice cream cone was invented in st. louis.

Nashville, TN Pop. 590,807 Avg. Salary: $36,330 Cost of Living Rank*: 39 Unemployment Rate: 8.4 As a leader in finance and insurance, health care, music and entertainment, publishing, transportation technology, higher education, biotechnology, plastics, and tourism and conventions, the economic diversity of America’s country music capital strengthens itself from the inside out. Its income to cost of living ratio is close to the best, especially given the city’s larger size, while the rise in unemployment has remained decently low. bonus fun fact: nashville once had the highest number of churches per capita.

Nashville, TN

Kansas CIty, MO

Kansas City, MO Pop. 450,375

Avg. Salary: $37,970

Cost of Living Rank*: 25 Unemployment Rate: 8.4 Kansas City houses the headquarters of four Fortune 500 companies and several more Fortune 1000 corporations, providing a richly diverse economy with significant trade and transportation sectors, government programs and business services. Its cost of living has consistently been at or below the national average, boosting its rating on our list. Not only that, Forbes.com claims “there’s a ‘zone of sanity’ across the middle of the country, including the region around Kansas City, Mo., that largely avoided the real estate bubble and the subsequent foreclosure crisis.” bonus fun fact: the city is well known for its contributions to jazz music as well as the blues.

Boston, MA Pop. 599, 351

Avg. Salary: $51,730

Cost of Living Rank*: 80 Unemployment Rate: 7.4 The unofficial “Capital of New England” is home to 21 four-year colleges and universities, making it a national center for higher education. These schools add to the local economy, not just by creating jobs but by attracting loads of high tech industries to the city. And at an average salary of $51,730, Boston boasts one of the highest incomes on our list. Living costs, however, are on the higher side, which pushes this iconic city farther down the list. bonus fun fact: the first telephone call was made in boston.

Oklahoma City, OK Pop. 547,274

Avg. Salary: $35,970

Cost of Living Rank*: 15 Unemployment Rate: 5.6 Ranked by Forbes magazine as 2008’s most recessionproof American city, Oklahoma City is still bustling with the prospect of significant job growth. With last year’s up trend in the leisure and hospitality sector as well as employment increases in natural resources, wholesale, mining and construction, Oklahoma’s capital city has managed to hold steady with an impressively low change in unemployment rate since the recession’s outbreak. Our #4 pick remains a center for government and energy exploration while also continuing to foster positive working environments, boasting an exceptionally low average commute time for workers and a sensible income to cost of living ratio. bonus fun fact: the first shopping cart was invented and used in oklahoma City at standard Food Markets in 1937.

March 2012. 45

sMaller Cities pop. 100,000 – 350,000 Louisville, KY

Pittsburg, PA

Pop. 256,231

Pop. 311,218

Avg. Salary: $37,410

Avg. Salary: $38,190

Cost of Living Rank*: *: 16

Cost of Living Rank*: 9

Unemployment Rate: 10

Unemployment Rate: 7.6

Louisville is a charming southern belle of a city with a derby full of galloping job opportunities. Ranked at #16 for cost of living, Louisville offers country charm and city amenities. The job growth is pacing around the national average, and the unemployment rate has gone up a reasonable 4.2% since the recession began. bonus fun fact: 90% of the united states’ disco balls are produced in louisville.

With its former steel-manufacturing base and 446 bridges marking its skyline, Pittsburgh is unofficially considered both “The City of Bridges” and “The Steel City.”

Our #14 pick is historically known for its heavy industry, but today its leading industries are healthcare, education, technology, robotics, fashion and financial services.

Boasting the third best income to cost of living ratio and third smallest drop in unemployment rate, Pittsburgh comes recommended! bonus fun fact: beloved tV personality Mr. rodgers’ real neighborhood was the oakland section of Pittsburgh.

Pittsburg, PA

Cincinnati, OH Salt Lake City, UT

Pop. 332,458

Avg. Salary:: $40,540

Cost of Living Rank*: 14 Unemployment Rate: 8.9

Salt Lake City, UT Pop. 180,651

Avg. Salary: $39,590

Cost of Living Rank*: 41 Unemployment Rate: 5.2 Service-oriented Salt Lake City is not only home to the headquarters of the Mormon Church but is also the nation’s largest industrial banking center. With stimulus from seasonal outdoor recreation tourism and a recent rebound in information-sector jobs, Salt Lake City has high expectations for job growth both now and after the economy recovers. Offering better employment conditions than most other large cities, Utah’s biggest city boasts the lowest unemployment rate and the second lowest average commute time on our list — boosting it right near the top. bonus fun fact: the world’s first Kentucky Fried Chicken was established here in 1952.

Hartford, CT Pop. 124,563

Avg. Salary: $48,650

Cost of Living Rank*: 74 Unemployment Rate: 8

Procter & Gamble, Sunny Delight, and Chiquita Brands International are amongst the impressive list of 10 Fortune 100 companies based in the this all-American, river-front city. Its unemployment rate has not grown as much as other former industrial cities, gaining only 3.6 % since before the economy collapsed. With solid job growth potential, Cincinnati’s big Fortune 100 companies are slowly pulling the city back into a positive economic reality. bonus fun fact: Cincinnati was home to the first night baseball game.

Rochester, NY Pop. 206,759

Avg. Salary: $40,660

Cost of Living Rank*: 3 Unemployment Rate: 8.5 Rochester is home to several Fortune 1000 companies — including the largest wine company in the world, Constellation Brands, and photo experts Eastman Kodak — as well as several national and regional companies. With the second best income to cost of living ratio on our list as well as boasting the lowest commute time, this city is a solid choice. bonus fun fact: rochester is known as the world capital of imaging.

Nicknamed the “Insurance Capital of the World,” Hartford is home to some of the world’s largest insurance company headquarters. It also boasts some of our nation’s oldest institutions — the oldest art museum, park and continuously published newspaper all hail from Hartford. With a high average salary and a relatively low cost of living, it’s no wonder this picturesque city made our cut. bonus fun fact: nitrous oxide (laughing gas) was discovered here.

March 2012. 47

“What I love most about my home is it’s a tremendous canvas to fill.”

WEBB BL AND

APARTMENT STYLE A PEEK INTO THE APARTMENTS OF THREE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

He shoots photographs of cars for Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat. Pretty cool job!

WEBB BLAND PHOTOGRAPHER | NEW ORLEANS Webb Bland is an automotive photographer — he shoots the press release

western, vintage flea-market concept blew

photography of pre-production cars for brands like Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat.

his mind. He decided that if he did introduce

This New Orleans shotgun apartment actually used to be the home of Webb’s

a modern flair to his future apartment, doing

brother, but when his brother moved in with his fiancée, Webb took over

so would require an eclectic touch — mixing

the lease. Webb had plenty of time to study the apartment when it was his

and matching styles instead of simply rely-

brother’s home, so he knew exactly how he wanted to decorate: dark grays

ing on the contemporary lines of modern

and reclaimed wood with pops of orange or yellow. He was drawn to a clean,

furniture. So he revisited many interior de-

modern look — that is, until he visited just such a place for a photoshoot and

sign books, magazines and blogs and began

realized that he wanted his home to have a warmer feel. In the midst of pull-

to reestablish his design for the space.

ing his apartment together, Webb visited a friend in Columbus, Ohio, and the juxtaposition of his previously loved super-modern decor with her chic, mid-

MARCH 2012. 51 05

Super fun blog with, D.I.Y. projects, party and wedding ideas, invitations,home decor, and stories and good facts to know about Paris and San Francisco.

Utilize the small space Style is very important but my fi rst priority was that we utilized the small space effi ciently. It’s a one bedroom apartment so we really had to edit things down. I feel like I’ve grown up a little bit with my style even since we decorated this.

Jenny from Little Green Notebook helped me with some of it–it was my fi rst time doing e-decorating.

She is so good at fi nding fabric and helping me hunt down things on Craigslist. It is also great to have someone to bounce ideas off of. My greatest inspiration is Craigslist and Thrift Stores. If you spend time on it they are the best places to fi nd really original pieces. The campaign dresser is a Craigslist fi nd and the lamp from Anthropologie.

My husband and I try to buy one piece of art every year.

We bought this big colorful piece last fall from Michelle Armas. I love it!

PAUL & JORDAN LETTERPRESS PRINTER OF OH HAPPY DAY! | SAN FRANCISCO Just a couple of months ago, San Francisco-based party planner and letterpress printer Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day!, put all her furniture in storage and moved to Paris for a year with her two young sons and husband Paul.

Living in Paris for a year had been on the couple’s must do list for quite some time, and they finally decided there was no time like the present. But before pulling up stakes, Jordan opened up the couple’s one bedroom for a little sneak peek. Jordan’s home is just as bright and cheerful as the parties she plans (one of my all-time favorite parties was the color fight party – I’m dying to have a color fight!

[

]

“My favorite thing to do at home is have dance parties to Beyonce with my kids.”

JORDAN FERNEY

MARCH 2012. 53

Comes right off when you wipe down the wall with a wet sponge.

The bedding is from Dwell Studio and the drapes I made from some Thomas Paul fabric Jenny sent me.

[

“Style is very important, but my first priority was that we utilized the small space efficiently.�

JORDAN FERNEY

Adding fresh flowers into your decor will not only add a nice pop of color, but will also brighten your spirits!

Books

Stacking books both horizontally and vertically on a bookshelf makes the display more interesting to look at.

MARCH 2012. 55

JOEL HOLLAND HAND-LETTERER & ILLUSTRATOR | BROOKLYN Joel Holland has called brooklyn home for over 10 years now, and most of it has been spent in this apartment in one form or another. he’s dreamt of having an office with a door like the ones described in the fountainhead: “joel holland, handletterer/illustrator/pizza maker” in gold leaf on frosted glass. but he likes working from home, so he does, and today we have a great peek into that space.

“The chairs are stoop sale and street finds that are constantly in some form of rehab. ” JOEL HOLL AND

MARCH 2012. 57

[

“I collect vintage books, I work on books, I read books. It’s all the same.”

JOEL HOLL AND

Liven up the space Vintage Eames Rocking Chair and bamboo plant give life to the room.

The Eames chair is a splurge, but the curtains were found at a local thrift store for $10. What a steal! Mixing the more quality pieces with local less expensive finds can add great character to a room, and really liven

MARCH 2012. 59

Finding the Outdoors

in

the city

YOU’VE BEEN INdOORS most of the winter, with just a treadmill for company. And then you hear it - the siren call of warmer weather, calling you outside.

You’d be wise to heed that call. Pleasant temperatures and the visual interest of your surroundings can not only motivate you to exercise, but help you enjoy it more, experts say.

“And if you love doing an activity, you’re more apt to do it regularly,” says Robyn Stuhr, exercise physiologist and director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery.

But what should you do once you get out of doors? Fitness experts who spoke to WebMD gave us their picks for some of the best (and most enjoyable) fitness activities out there: walking, jogging, biking, swimming, hiking, and kayaking.

JOGGING/RUNNING

WALKING

PROS

You say walking’s too pedestrian? Actually, it’s one of the best lifetime sports.

“It’s easy on the joints, you don’t need a lot of fancy equipment, and you can burn calories, even though it’s a more modest amount compared to some other activities,” says Stuhr.

Current national guidelines recommend exercise (such as brisk walking) for 30 minutes, most days in a week.

Walking for 30 minutes, 5 days a week, at a brisk pace (about 4 mph) will help ward off chronic disease.

“Your risk of heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure go down as a response to just increasing your level of physical activity,” says Stuhr.

Beyond that, if you’re trying to lose weight, you should shoot for 60 minutes of walking most days of the week. To keep weight off, get 60-90 minutes of walking most days.

Sound daunting? The trick is to incorporate walking into your daily life and break the time into several manageable spurts. Consider walking the kids to school or the bus stop in the morning, hoofing it to pick up a bag of groceries or run errands at lunchtime, and walking the dog or taking a stroll after dinner each evening.

Equipment Needed: Good athletic shoes are all you need.

PROS Walking is a weight-bearing exercise (means it’s good for bone health) and helps build cardiovascular endurance. Almost everyone can do it, regardless of fi tness level.

CONS You may not lose weight as quickly as with some other forms of cardiovascular exercise.

Jogging is terrific for your heart and lungs, and it improves your stamina.

If trying to lose weight, it can burn calories more quickly than walking.

“On the negative side, running does put more stress on the joints -- the knees, ankles, and hips,” says Stuhr.

The key is to start slowly. The general rule is to increase your time or distance by no more than 10% each week.

“The reason we make that suggestion is not because the heart and lungs can’t handle it, but the joints and muscles are a little slower to adapt to the stress of vigorous exercise,” Stuhr says. Too much too soon, and you can develop tendinitis or a variety of muscle or joint problems.

Equipment: It’s important to get a good pair of running shoes, and, for women, a quality sports bra. Pay attention to the surface on which you run. Paths and grass are softer, but they’re uneven and could have holes.

Concrete is harder, but good shoes help absorb shock.

Running is an excellent cardiovascular exercise. A 150-pound woman can burn 306 calories running for 30 minutes at 5 mph (a 12-minute mile). A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 1999 found that aerobic exercise like running may be as effective as medication for treating depression in some people.

CONS Running can be hard on muscles and joints and can cause injuries such as shin splints and tendinitis.

CYCLING Not only is bicycling an excellent cardiovascular exercise, but you can really explore your community by cycling to different neighborhoods or in parks, bike paths, or trails. Many people cycle to commute to work.

While running tends to target the hamstrings (the muscles in the back of your thighs), cycling uses the quadriceps (the muscles on the front of the thighs) more.

It’s important to make sure your bike is fitted properly to your body; otherwise, you’ll put too much stress on your back or knees.

“I recommend finding a bike shop or a demo program where you can try a bike out,” says Tonya Laffey, a professional mountain biker and founder of MTB Chick Racing. “I would highly recommend getting a fit kit, which measures you for the bike.”

When you’re getting started, you want a softer seat but not one that is too wide, or you won’t be able to get behind it, Laffey tells WebMD. If you’re a woman, try a women’s racing saddle. It will be more comfortable but may take some time to get used to.

If your gym offers spinning classes, they can help you prepare for biking outdoors. It’s also a good idea to learn basic bike repair, Laffey says.

Equipment: You need a bike, a helmet, and gloves with a little palm padding, which will absorb vibration and cushion your hands in a spill.

PROS Biking is fun, can be used as transportation, and works different muscles than walking or running.

CONS Equipment can be expensive. cycling isn’t weightbearing exercise (the type that helps build healthy bones), so you’ll need to couple it with strength training or another form of weight-bearing activity for optimum fi tness.

MARch 2012. 63

SWIMMING Swimming is a wonderful cardiovascular conditioner that also helps tones arms and legs, and it’s very easy on the joints, says Stuhr.

In fact, it’s perfect for people who have muscle or joint problems. The weightlessness of the water helps them exercise pain-free.

Swimming will increase your stamina, can help ward off diabetes and high blood pressure, and relieves stress, Stuhr tells WebMD. Equipment: A swimsuit and maybe goggles.

PROS Most people already know how to swim; it’s fun, refreshing, and forgiving of excess weight or physical disabilities.

CONS Not everyone has easy access to pools, lakes, or the ocean. Swimming is not weight bearing, so you should pair it with other activities such as walking or lifting weights.

KAYAKING Kayaking is primarily an upper-body sport, but it also works the muscles of the center of your body, back, and stomach.

In fact, “many beginner kayakers fatigue early because they rely mostly on their arms rather than their core,” says Brian Clark, a kayaking enthusiast and residence life management area coordinator at Roanoke College in Salem, Va. Beginners should start by taking a class or clinic.

“You’ll learn how to roll the kayak, paddling technique, read the river and what to do for problems like getting pinned against rocks,” says John Benson, director of the Sewanee Outing Program at Sewanee, the University of the South, in Tennessee.

To prepare your body for kayaking, pay attention to working out your shoulders, abs, and lower back. It’s also important to work on your flexibility, Clark says. Pilates and yoga are helpful for this.

Equipment: A kayak, a helmet, a, personal flotation device, and safety gear such as throw ropes. A wet suit is good to have in cooler weather.

PROS If you love the water, kayaking is a fun and scenic way to work out.

CONS Equipment is expensive, and you need training before you hit the water on your own. For most of us, this is a weekend-only activity.

HIKING Hiking uses a lot of up-and-down movement, so you get a tremendous leg workout along with the cardiovascular benefits.

Not only that, but hiking provides a relaxing atmosphere for a workout that doesn’t seem like a workout at all. Listening to the birds and a babbling brook, and enjoying the cool breeze of the forest, provides a break from daily stresses, says Sheri McGregor, author of 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: San Diego.

Hiking is also a great sport to do along with a friend or mate. But it does require some preparation.

“A beginner should do a little research and find short hikes that offer good scenery without too much difficulty or special equipment,” McGregor says.

Beginners should also be aware of potential dangers in their area. Snakes, mountain lions, biting flies, or bees can be an issue.

You’ll also need to dress for quickly changing temperatures -- think layers. And be sure you know if water is available where you’re heading. A good regional hiking book with area trails is a great investment.

More difficult hikes offer a sense of accomplishment. McGregor and her spouse do “extreme” hikes, requiring intense boulder scaling that engages the mind as well as the body. For extra adventure and challenge, you can backpack.

Equipment: You’ll need a good pair of hiking boots, a backpack (to carry water and supplies), and possibly a walking stick.

PROS Hiking is a great leg, ab, and butt workout, and it helps build cardio endurance. A 150-pound woman can burn 200-plus calories hiking 30 minutes.

CONS Unless you live near hiking territory, this is generally a weekend-only activity. Try walking, jogging, or another activity for your weekday workouts.

March 2012. 65

Offers multiple walking trails, including a ďŹ tness trail around the lake. As well as, beautiful, calming scenery.

The Best Cities to Live in for

the outdoors These top 20 cities provide various activities to get you outside.

01 BOULDER, CO

11 ASHEVILLE, NC

02 JACKSON, WY

12 PORTLAND, ME

03 DURANGO, CO

13

HOOD RIVER, OR

04 FLAGSTAFF, AZ

14

MANCHESTER, NH

05 JUNEAU, AK

15

HARRISONBURG, VA

06 SEATTLE, WA

16

EUREKA-ARCATA-FORTUNA, CA

07 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

17

SEVIERVILLE, TN

08 BURLINGTON, VT

18

BOZEMAN, MT

09 FORT COLLINS, CO

19

RAPID CITY, SD

10 LEBANON, NH

20

BREVARD, NC

home of 60 parks

hiking, camping, skiing, and dog sledding

fishing, rafting, biking, hiking and horseback riding

50 miles of trails

over 26 trails

fishing, golf, sea kayaking and whale watching

golf, parks and trails

20 parks, swimmimg, kayaking and sailing

fishing, hiking, rafting and rorseback riding

parks and trails

water sports, hiking, parks, biking and horseback riding

cross country skiing and ice skating

vistas and farmlands

flood plains and parks

parks and golf

parks, bay and rivers

trails, parks and hiking

Yellowstone, hiking and camping

hiking, trails and camping

national/state forests, hiking and camping

March 2012. 67

Get out of

DEBT WHETHER YOU JUST GRADUATED, are taking a break from school, or have already started repaying your student loans, these tips will help you keep your student loan debt under control.

That means avoiding fees and extra interest costs, keeping your payments affordable, and protecting your credit rating. If you’re having trouble finding a job or keeping up with your payments, there’s important information here for you, too.

Dave Ramsey’s

SNOWBALL PLAN The math seems to lean more toward paying the highest interest debts first, but what I have learned is that personal finance is 20% head knowledge and 80% behavior.

BuILD mOmEnTum redo this each time you pay off a debt, so you can see how close you are getting to freedom. Keep the old papers to wallpaper the bathroom in your new debt-free house. The New Payment is found by adding all the payments on the debts listed above that item to the payment you are working on, so you have compounding payments which will get you

DEBT SnOwBALL PLAn

out of debt very quickly. Payments remaining is the number of payments remaining when you get down the snowball to

The principle is to stop everything except minimum payments

that item. cumulative Payments is the total payments needed,

and focus on one thing at a time. Otherwise, nothing

including the snowball, to pay off that item. In other words,

gets accomplished because all your effort is diluted. First

this is your running total for Payments remaining.

accumulate $1,000 cash as an emergency fund. Then begin intensely getting rid of all debt (except the house) using my

DEBT frEE!

debt snowball plan. List your debts in order with the smallest

You attack the smallest debt first, still maintaining minimum

payoff or balance first. Do not be concerned with interest rates

payments on everything else. Do what is necessary to focus

or terms unless two debts have similar payoffs, then list the

your attention. Keep stepping up to the next larger bill. I have

higher interest rate debt first. Paying the little debts off first

been broke. I know how scared I felt, and I know how fast I

gives you quick feedback, allows you to have extra cash, and

wanted to get out of debt. I know how you feel, and I learned

you are more likely to stay with the plan.

what really works is unbelievably fierce, focused intensity.

[

“Paying the little debts off first gives you quick feedback, and you are more likely to stay with the plan.”

GIVInG uP AnD InCurrInG mOrE DEBT. as I said earlier, the debt snowball is amazingly simple, yet it is not easy. It takes time, commitment and discipline. The snowball, when done correctly, is designed to maximum your chance of success, but there are a couple of things you need to do to help. First, you have to stop the bleeding in order to heal the patient. You must stop incurring more debt! If you don’t, then you’ll lose traction, become demoralized and quit. Second, be sure you stick to the debt snowball technique exactly. The debts are listed smallest to largest and attacked in that order because this method will ensure you have some early wins. Getting a few small bills paid off will give you the confidence that freedom from debt is possible. This is 80% mental and 20% method.

LETTInG An unEXPECTED EXPEnSE GET yOu Off TrACK. This happens to almost everyone that is trying to get out of debt. The key is to prepare properly. Dave ramsey and many others suggest creating a baby emergency fund of at least $1,000 prior to starting the snowball. The baby emergency fund will allow you to handle a lot of smaller

03

don’t know where my money 01 igoes each month.

Just do this: Go to mint.com, a free online moneymanagement program, and use the immensely helpful basic budgeting tools. Once you sign up, you’ll be prompted to link the site to your bank and credit-card accounts. Within minutes, mint. com automatically categorizes your costs and shows how much you’re spending in different areas. Then you can easily see where you need to cut back.

emergencies or unexpected expenses without going into more debt. You simply use your emergency fund to pay the expense, temporarily suspend your snowball to replenish your emergency fund and then resume the snowball once you have $1,000 or more in the bank again.

ThE TEmPTATIOn TO Try A ShOrTCuT. I won’t lie to you. Paying off debt sucks. Once it is paid off it is wonderful, but the process kind of stinks. You have to give up some things in the-run in order to gain long-term financial success. For most, it takes 18 to 24 months to pay off all their

02

debt except the mortgage. along the way, you are going to be

i’m scared to invest in stocks but worried i’m missing out.

Just do this: Start slowly. Take $1,000 from your savings account and place it in an index fund, where you have a good chance to earn solid returns without taking on too much risk. consider Schwab’s S&P 500 Index Fund. It requires only a $100 initial investment and, at press time, boasted a 9 percent return for the year 2010.

Suddenly you’re in the game.

tempted to take some shortcuts. You are going to see ads for places that will suggest they can help you reduce your debts to get them paid off faster. You are going to hear about debt consolidation loans that suggest they can solve your problem instantly. Do not fall victim to these persuasive peddlers of instant gratification. Most of them will cost you more money and will not do anything for you that you can’t do for yourself!

Stick to the debt snowball plan and you will succeed.

SOLuTIOnS fOr fInAnCIAL wOrrIES

03

i’m clueless about how much i’ll need to retire one day.

Just do this: Pull together a few numbers: how much you earn, how much you have in savings, and how much Social Security you’ll be due at retirement age (go to ssa.gov for an estimate).

Then run them through T rowe Price’s easy-touse retirement calculator (troweprice.com/ric).

You’ll learn how much money you’ll have each month in retirement, which will let you know if you’re on track.

March 2012. 71

Your Short guide to

Getting out of debt

It’s six months for federal Stafford loans, but nine months for federal Perkins loans. For federal PLUS loans, it depends on when they were issued (see details). The grace periods for private student loans vary, so consult your paperwork or contact your lender to find out. Don’t miss your first payment!

Stay in Touch with Your Lender: Whenever you move or change your phone number or email address, tell your lender right away. If your lender needs to contact Know Your Loans: It’s important to keep track of the lender,

you and your information isn’t current, it

balance, and repayment status for each of your student loans.

can end up costing you a bundle. Open and

These details determine your options for loan repayment

read every piece of mail - paper or electronic

and forgiveness. If you’re not sure, ask your lender or visit

- that you receive about your student loans.

www.nslds.ed.gov. You can log in and see the loan amounts,

If you’re getting unwanted calls from your

lender(s), and repayment status for all of your federal loans. If

lender or a collection agency, don’t stick your

some of your loans aren’t listed, they’re probably private (non-

head in the sand - talk to your lender! Lenders

federal) loans. For those, try to find a recent billing statement

are supposed to work with borrowers to

and/or the original paperwork that you signed. Contact your

resolve problems, and collection agencies

school if you can’t locate any records.

have to follow certain rules. Ignoring bills or serious problems can lead to default, which

Know Your Grace Period: Different loans have different

has severe, long-term consequences (see tip

grace periods. A grace period is how long you can wait after

6 for more about default.)

leaving school before you have to make your first payment.

GOOD DEBT A home purchase can be considered to be a good debt. Since homes usually appreciate in value, the mortgage loan you take out to pay for the home is an investment. Another example of a good debt is a student loan taken out to finance a college education. Earning a college degree usually means that you’ll make more money over your lifetime.

VS. BAD DEBT When you use debt to finance things that can be consumed, you aren’t accumulating good debt. This is the debt that creates an unhealthy financial situation. Credit card debt is often considered bad debt because of the items that they are used to buy.

You should never accumulate debt to purchase everyday items like clothes or food and cheap items.

Pick the Right Repayment Option: When your federal

original private loan paperwork carefully and then talk to the

loans come due, your loan payments will automatically be

lender about what repayment options you may have.

based on a standard 10-year repayment plan. If the standard payment is going to be hard for you to cover, there are other

Don’t Panic: If you’re having trouble making payments

options, and you can change plans down the line if you want

because of unemployment, health problems, or other

or need to. Extending your repayment period beyond 10 years

unexpected financial challenges, remember that you have

can lower your monthly payments, but you’ll end up paying

options for managing your federal student loans. There are

more interest - often a lot more -over the life of the loan. One

legitimate ways to temporarily postpone your federal loan

important option is the Income-Based Repayment program. It

payments, such as deferments and forbearance. For example,

can cap your monthly payments at a reasonable percentage

an unemployment deferment might be the right choice for you

of your income each year, and forgive any debt remaining

if you’re having trouble finding work right now. But beware:

after 25 years of affordable payments. Forgiveness may be

interest accrues on all types of loans during forbearances,

available after just 10 years of these payments for borrowers

and on some types of loans during deferment, increasing

in the public and nonprofit sectors (see tip 10 below). To find

your total debt, so ask your lender about making interest-only

out more about Income-Based Repayment and how it might

payments if you can afford it.

“Remember that you have options for managing your federal student loans.”

[

work for you, visit www.IBRinfo.org.

If you expect your income to be lower than you’d hoped for more than a few months, check out Income-Based Repayment.

Your required payment in IBR can be as little as $0 when your income is very low. See tip 4 for more about IBR and other repayment options.

Private loans are not eligible for IBR or the other federal loan payment plans, deferments, forbearances, or forgiveness programs.

However, the lender may offer some type of

forbearance, typically for a fee, or you may be able to make interest-only payments for some period of time. Read your

March 2012. 73

Personal Stories

of real people getting out of debt Deferred Student Loans to Focus on Credit Card Debt Emily Holden of Anaheim, CA: I’m pretty lucky: I don’t have too much debt

day. I am planning my meals

for a 25-year old. School loans and my credit

and outings before I go out,

cards are the only things weighing on me.

with the idea that I can’t

Currently my student loans are deferred,

spend more money than I

so I am using all my extra income to bring

have in my pocket. Soon,

down those credit cards! Recently, I joined

the credit cards won’t leave

Mint.com to help keep my budget in check.

the house. Once I have the

I am trying to use cash only, except for a

cards paid off, I can start

few purchases here and there (like my gym

paying my loans down. I

membership). I have sworn off buying clothes

also have a savings account

for the remainder of the month, but when I

that has around $10,000 in

do, I try to stick to inexpensive, thrift-store

it, and I try not to touch that,

clothes. I never let my checking account get

except for my rent.

below $1,000 and I check my balances every

America’s revolving debt is

$864.4 Billion Cut your Gas Costs

Slow Down Inflate those tires Drive the thriftier car.

Go to Gasbuddy.com Time Your Purchases Consider a Hybrid

98%

of that is from credit cards

Created a “Debt Management” Budget to Keep Spending In Check Pamela A., Atlanta, GA: When I graduated from college just a year and

somehow

a half ago, I thought I was made–financially

them into my budget in the

that is! With a degree in engineering, I had

past. I called my credit card

many offers that set me at a higher-than-

company to ask if they could

average salary than most recent grads. I

reduce my APR. It turns out,

settled in my new apartment in a city where

they had defaulted me to

I didn’t know anyone. I began splurging on

the highest rate because

numerous nights out in an effort to build my

my account went over the

social network. I rationalized many wants into

credit limit when my credit

needs: new clothes, shoes, and makeup that I

card was stolen. My APR

needed for work. I was spinning out of control,

decreased by 10 percentage

and decided enough was enough. I used

points! The last step I will

Mint.com to make a new, working changes I

take will be to stick with my

made were to budget for Debt Management.

limited budget.

missed

putting

I made a budget category for paying my monthly finance charges. I also made a line item for money that serves no other purpose than to pay off the debt I have. These are both crucial items to set aside money for, but I had

Debt-Free for 1.5 Years But Still a Ways to Go Cathi C., Chattanooga, TN: I graduated college with one small student loan, packed up the car and headed to the big city. Even though I was making the big bucks now (ok, not really, but compared to the salary of a part-time college student, I was rolling in the dough), I tried to stay conservative with my purchases. A few years later, the company I worked for closed and I had the grand idea of working for myself.

I’d like to thinkI was fairly successful (I’m still doing it nine years later), but slowly the debt accumulated. In hindsight, perhaps I should

have taken out a small business loan… but I didn’t, so after four to five years, I had amassed upwards of $15,000 on my cards. I tried bouncing things around with 0% APR cards with little success. I was scared. In hindsight, perhaps I should have taken out a small business loan… but I didn’t, so after four to five years, I had amassed upwards of $15,000 on my cards. I tried bouncing things around with 0% APR cards with little success. I was scared.

Get OUt of Debt Checklist q

Transfer your balance to a low-rate card.

q

Negotiate a lower rate.

q

Close unused cards.

q

Consolidate your student loans.

q

Run a credit check on yourself.

q

Review secured loan for debt consolidation.

q

Limit yourself to three or four cards.

q

Write out a strict budget and stick to it.

March 2012. 75

SO YOU WANT TO BE A DESIGNER ?

With

Aza Raskin

cofounder of Massive Health. Former creative lead

for Firefox. Founding member Mozilla Labs. Created Ubiquity, Songza.Com, Bloxes.Com

WHO IS

Aza Raskin?

RASKIN GAVE HIS first talk on user inter-

ates art from a formal grammar. Raskin is a prolifi c writer

faces at age 10 at the local San Francisco

and speaker, having appeared on the cover of Wired and

chapter of SIGCHI. By 20, he was speaking

given a TED talk.

internationally. He holds bachelor degrees

During the devastating earthquake in Haiti in January 2010,

in mathematics and physics from the Uni-

Raskin mobilized with a group of other entrepreneurs (in-

versity of Chicago. He at tended Caltech

cluding Joshua Rosen, the art director of Steven Spielberg’s

briefly as a Ph.D. student in Physics, con-

movie A.I.) to create a crowd-source Web site to turn real-

tinuing the dark matter research he had par-

time information streams into meaningful map data, used by

ticipated in at both the University of Chicago

several major non-governmental organizations helping on

and University of Tokyo. The University of

the group in Haiti hosted at Haiti.com.

Chicago was the only school Raskin ever completed, having left middle school, high

Raskin is also an active phishing researcher,best known for

school, and graduate school. In 2004, Aza

discovering the tabnabbing attack; the technique takes ad-

Raskin worked with Jef Raskin at the Raskin

vantage of open browser tabs to launch phishing sites with-

Center for Humane Interfaces on Archy, a

out the user’s knowledge.

new user interface paradigm. The next year, he founded Humanized Inc. to continue work

In 2010, Raskin introduced the results of his work on the

on the Archy paradigm. At Humanized, he

Firefox team at Mozilla: Tab Candy. Organizing tabs spatially,

created the language-based service-orient-

Tab Candy allowed the user to “organize browsing, to see all

ed Enso software.

of our tabs at once, and focus on the task at hand.” Tab Candy initial design and alpha release has been seen as a major

In 2008, Raskin and the other Humanized

step forward in browsing, and called “the best new browser

employees were part of a hire-out by the

feature since tabs were invented” by Computerworld. Tab

Mozilla Corporation. In 2010, Raskin was

Candy was later renamed Firefox Panorama, although the

appointed Creative Lead for Firefox, having

feature was ultimately hidden by default in the initial Firefox

previously been head of user experience at

Four release.

Mozilla Labs. He has worked on several labs projects including Ubiquity, Firefox for mo-

By the end of 2010 Raskin announced he’d left Mozilla to be-

bile, and wrote the original specification for

gin a health-related venture at Massive Health start-up, with

the Geolocation API.

the goal to apply design principles to the problem of livng a healthy lifestyle.

Raskin is a successful entrepreneur having founded two other companies, including Songza, a music meta-search tool, and Bloxes, which sells furniture made out of cardboard. Songza was acquired in late 2008 by Amazon-backed Amie Street. He also has a number of smaller projects like Algorithm Ink (based on Context Free) which gener-

UBIQUITY, an add-on for Mozilla Firefox, is an abandonware collection of quick and easy natural-language-derived commands that act as mashups of web services, thus allowing users to get information and relate it to current and other webpages. It also allows Web users to create new commands without requiring much technical background.

SONGZA is a web radio that streams music for free. Songza is different from other web radio services for two reasons: the stations on Songza are made by people (any member of the community can create a station) and Songza helps people find stations by personalizing the Songza experience based on a user’s interests (simple survey questions, like Netflix) and by displaying an activity feed of what their friends are listening to (using Facebook connect).

BLOXES are life-sized cardboard building blocks. They’re used as furniture, walls, and forts by Google, Twitter, Mozilla, and many more. They’ve been exhibited from the Exploratorium to the Chicago Children’s Museum.

MASSIVE HEALTH is an organization driven by connecting the world of design and medicine. With helpful apps like The Eatery, available free from iTunes, Massive Health is making it easier to become healthy in a technology driven world.

MARCH 2012. 79

Aza Raskin’s

TOP 5 LIST GETTING STARTED IN user experience can be difficult. Our profession has an identity crisis. You need look no further than swarm of acronyms that we hide behind: CHI, HCI, UI, UE, UX, IA, ID, IxD, IxSD,… the list goes on.

Our identity crisis means learning our fi eld is like trying to inhabit the mind of a multiple personality disorder sufferer. For an aspiring interaction designer, figuring it all out is daunting. For anyone, it’s daunting.

This is my top-five list of what I’ve found to be most important to do and master if you want to get into design.

The Hardest Part Of Software Is Culture: Get A Book On Negotiation.

THE HARDEST PART about creating software isn’t software. It’s people. Creating a killer interface is meaningless unless you can convince the rest of your team, client, or company that it is worth the investment.

Your job as a user experience person is to

01

“This is my top-five list of what I’ve found to be most important to do & master if you want to get into design.”

cultivate a culture where good design has

and videos. Learn how to create at the right

a leading voice at the table. If you cannot

level of fidelity to convince others: some-

communicate, you will fail. If you can not

times a sketch will do, sometimes pixel-

convince, you will fail. If you cannot listen,

perfect mockups are what you’ll need, and

you will fail.

sometimes only an interactive demo will suffice. Learn to talk in use-cases to product

Much of what I look for in a designer is the

managers and business-speak to business

ability to balance, persuade, and negotiate

development people. Get a book on nego-

without compromising on design. To design

tiation. It will be your best friend.

is to inspire participation. Unless we can let our ideas become other people’s ideas—get others to want to champion design as their own—we will not be successful.

Getting To Yes is an invaluable guide in design: learning the art of listening and negotiation. Learn to make mockups, prototypes,

“The hardest part of your job isn’t being creative or brilliant; it’s communicating and culture.”

THE HUMAN INTERFACE JEF RASKIN

Know Cognitive Psychology.

02

THE HARDEST PART of your job isn’t being creative or brilliant; it’s communicating and culture. You are designing for people; you need to be well versed in the abilities and frailties of the human mind. There are fundamental truths about of what we are capable that runs deeper than culture and language. How much can you store in short-term memory? What are the properties of your locus of attention? A priori, how long does it take to choose an item in an ordered list? How does habituation affect design?

If you can’t answer these questions, you need to get yourself a copy of The

HOW WE DECIDE JONAH LEHRER

Humane Interface, How We Decide, and The Resonant Interface.

When I’m hiring, I don’t look for credentials, I look for knowledge. If you don’t at least know what GOMs analysis is and the cognitive science behind why undo is better than a warning, I know that even if your designs are good, you don’t understand why. That’s dangerous. Your gut can often lead you in the right direction, but it can also make stupid and avoidable mistakes. Potentially worse, you won’t be able to communicate and convince others of your ideas because you can only argue with feelings.

Interface design is as much a science as it is an art. Know the science, else you are walking blindly through a minefield of harmful design.

MARCH 2012. 81

AN ARTIST’S RENDITION OF THUCYDIDES

“The society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools.”

Learn to Program, Even If Poorly.

03

Create, Create, & Create More.

04

GREAT DESIGNERS DO design all of the time.

They get mad in an elevator when the buttons are in a confusing order, or when the buttons on

2,500 YEARS AGO, a Greek writer told us something about

a ATM are incorrectly labeled. Then they take a

creating software: Thucydides wrote, “The society that sep-

picture and blog about it. If you don’t love creat-

arates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking

ing and designing, you shouldn’t be in the field.

done by cowards and its fighting by fools.” The optimal soci-

You’ll need thousands of hours of practice to

ety is one that mixes scholar-warriors and warrior-scholars.

rise to the top of your game. In the end, you are

The same is true for companies that schism their designers

designing for people so you need to intimately

and engineers. The most important trait a team can have is

know people, and people are messy.

empathy. Without it, the implementers will not care, and the designers will not be realistic. When companies complain

If you don’t have dozens of little projects you’ve

of specs and code being “tossed over the fence”, a lack of

created, learned from, and even discarded, you

empathy is to blame.

are doing it wrong.

The most powerful tool for creating empathy as a designer is prototyping. It meets the rest of the team half-way, is the second most persuasive artifact (the first being a narrated video of the prototype), and gives you a sense of what’s hard and what’s easy to implement. Having thought through the edge-cases and being able to speak an engineer’s language gives you street cred. You don’t need to be a great coder, but you should at least be able to get your idea across in in HTML and Javascript.

To design is to inspire participation. To do that, you need to be respected. For that, you need to be a designer-coder.

“If you don’t have dozens of little projects you’ve created, learned from, and even discarded, you are doing it wrong.”

Study Graphic Design.

05

THE SWISS GRID

I USED TO be a hard-nosed interaction designer, and eschewed visual design in favor of experience design. While it is true that getting interaction right requires a deeper understanding of human psychology, a read through Emotional Design shows that looks matter. Looks affect usability.

Looks are just one aspect of designing for emotional beings—you need to think about the whole sensory experience of an object, from sound to touch—but looks are often the most immediatly apparent.

Study typography, study the Swiss grid system, learn how to make your designs pop even if it means being heavily inspired by others’ style in the beginning.

You are in the business of selling ideas. Unfortunately, an ugly mockup of a brilliant idea is often overlooked for a beautiful mockup of a derivative idea. To compete, you need to learn how to be an adequate graphic designer.

EMOTIONAL DESIGN DONALD A. NORMAN

“You are in the business of selling ideas. Unfortunately, an ugly mockup of a brilliant idea is often overlooked for a beautiful mockup of a derivative idea.”

MARCH 2012. 83

THE NEW DEFINITION OF

STRONG

UNLEASH YOUR FIERCE.

FIGHT SPORTS. WORK OUT YOUR MIND AND BODY.

CHALLeNge YOuR BUDGET

EXCUSES 06 TOP for spending money

WE ALL WORK HARD (unless you’re born wealthy or won the lottery, in which case, um, good for you). Donna Summer put it best when she said, “She works for the money.” We all work hard. It’s not that you shouldn’t use your hard-earned money to enjoy life—you should. It’s just that “working hard” shouldn’t be an excuse to spend.

[

“We all work hard. It’s not that you shouldn’t use your hard-earned money to enjoy life—you should.”

Excuses 01

But It’s On Sale (also known as: It’s really cheap; it’s only $12.99; it’s such a great deal.)

02

But I’ve Been Working So hard, I Deserve It

03

But I’m Getting That raise/Bonus Soon

04

But It’s Fall Fashion/holidays/Springtime

05

But I Might Go hiking in the andes/attend a Gallery Opening in Paris One Day

06

But Everyone Else Is Getting Something

fOODS 10 HEALTHY under a dollar

You won’t find any greasy burgers or fries on our dollar menu!

07 QUIONOa ($0.90 every ½ cup)

01 aPPLES ($0.83 per lb)

04 BrOccOLI ($0.88 per lb)

08 TOFU ($0.40 a serving)

chOcOLaTE 02 DarK ($1 per lb)

05 PaPaYa ($0.75 per lb)

09 YOGUrT ($0.50 per serving)

03

06

10

EGGS ($0.25 per egg)

POTaTOES ($0. 32 per lb)

NUTS ($0.43 per ounce)

March 2012. 87

LIFE TAKES ADVENTURE

LIFE TAKES

CHALLeNge YOuR BUDGET

How to

SPLURGE WiSELY Control your spending habits and try to go broke when you shop.

SiNCE WE “ADAPT” to pleasure so quickly, smaller, more frequent splurges are better investments. Temporal breaks allow us to readjust and experience a jolt of delight again. Spreading out our joyful treats not only allows us to experience pleasure more often (who can say no to that?), it can actually save us money. This is because our pleasure doesn’t increase in exact proportion to the size of the splurge.

For example, studies cited by Gilbert, Dunn and Wilson show that eating a 12-ounce cookie isn’t twice as pleasurable as eating two 6-ounce cookies; it’s less. Similarly, in another study, those who received an 80-second massage, followed by a break and another 80-second massage, experienced more pleasure than a group who received a straight, uninterrupted 180-second massage.

Instead of a major spa day every few months, try a mani-pedi every couple of weeks. Instead of treating yourself to the cute $100 top with your paycheck, see if a $30 tee one week and $50 sandals the next give you a little bump of pleasure twice that month instead. Try a few smaller vacations a year as opposed to one major dream vacation every couple of years. consider breaking your splurges down into smaller segments throughout the month (or year), spend less on them total, and see if your happiness–and wallet–notice a difference.

“Consider breaking your splurges down into smaller segments throughout the month.”

Restaurant Tipping Advice TRADiTiONAL TiPPiNG (15% TO 20% OF BILL’S TOTAL) GRATUiTY iNCLUDED (OFTEN FOR BIG PARTIES) HiDDEN SERviCE CHARGE (MAKE SURE TO SCAN YOUR BILL) EXCEPTiONS (TIP IF YOU STILL GET YOUR MEAL FOR FREE)

March 2012. 91

Challenge Your ROUtINE

Tone Your Body ShARPEN YOUR MINd

A RESEARch tEAM FROM the University of Iowa recently evaluated more than 100 studies and found that resistance training and aerobic exercise both give your brain a boost—but in different ways.

Strength training takes a great deal of focus. You have to maintain proper form, concentrate on your breathing, and

05

HYDRATE YOUR MIND

06

TAKE A YOUTUBE TIMEOUT

07

HIT THE HAY

08

DISCONNECT THE CABLE

09

RAID THE SPICE RACK

10

STUDY ANOTHER LANGUAGE

11

FLOSS YOUR TEETH

12

GO GREEN

tune out the grunting bodybuilder next to you. Researchers believe that the more you perform focused resistance workouts, the more you will be able to avoid distractions in other

In a 2006 University of South Florida study, people who drank three or more 4-ounce glasses of fruit or vegetable juice each week were 76 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those who drank less.

areas of your life.

Meanwhile, cardio involves long and constant effort, which scientists believe can improve your cognitive ability to carry out multiple tasks for long periods of time and stick to plans.

After just six months of exercise, brain scans show that gray

You can counteract stress—and roll back psychological aging—with laughter. Even the anticipation of a good laugh decreases the stress chemicals cortisol and epinephrine by 39 and 70 percent.

and white matter in the prefrontal and temporal lobes of the brain actually grow. Even better, since these are spots that usually diminish with time, exercise (whether it’s strength or cardio), can help keep your mind sharp as you age.

12 01 02

03

04

Ways to Boost

YOUR BRAINPOWER

DANCE, DANCE, DANCE! “Few activities stimulate as wide a variety of brain systems as dancing does,”

VISIT THE GYM According to a 2007 Columbia University study, working out at the gym may help you sprout new cells in the dentate gyrus, an area of the brain vital to memory.

CRACK SOME EGGS The incredible edible contains B vitamins, which enable nerve cells to burn glucose, your brain’s major energy source; antioxidants, which protect neurons against damage; and omega-3 fatty acids, which keep nerve cells firing at optimal speed.

KEEP MOVING ON Multitasking is like Kryptonite to gray matter. When you have a crammed to-do list, rather than layer projects, take on one task at a time and change them up every hour.

Getting plenty of snooze time is key to keeping your head on its toes.

A 2005 study published in Brain and Cognition found that for each additional hour per day a person spent watching TV between the ages of 40 and 59, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s later in life rose by 1.3 percent.

Sprinkle some rosemary on your entrées and side dishes.

The carnosic acid found in this spice has been shown to reduce stroke risk in mice by 40 percent.

Parlez-vous français? Non? Then you may find yourself less able to stave off dementia when you’re older.

Inflamed, bloody gums can signify bodywide wellness issues. Not only do unhealthy mouths unleash bacteria into the bloodstream, where the bugs can travel to vital organs, but people with gum disease also have worse mental functioning than those whose gums are healthy.

Drinking five or more cups of green tea per day can make you 20 percent less likely to experience psychological distress than if you drink less than a cup.

March 2012. 93

Challenge Your routine

Get A Six Pack

IN 3 WEEKS 15 minute workout to fit into your busy schedule.

01

STABILITY BALL PELVIC TILT CRUNCH Grab a 5- to 10-pound medicine ball. Lie faceup on a stability ball with back and head pressed into the ball, your feet together on the floor, and the medicine ball positioned against your chest (A). Brace your abs and crunch up until your shoulders are off the ball. Then reach the ball toward the ceiling (B). That’s 1 rep.

02

03

March 2012. 94

WALK THE PLANK AND ROTATE Get in plank position with your hands on a 12- to 18-inch step (A). With your weight on your left arm, rotate your body while raising your right arm toward the ceiling (B). Return to plank position and step your right arm down to the right of the bench, then your left arm down to the left of the bench. Step back up, leading with your left arm. That’s 1 rep.

ARM PULL OVER STRAIGHT-LEG CRUNCH Grab a pair of 10- to 12-pound dumbbells and lie on your back with your arms behind you. Extend your legs at a 45-degree angle (A). Bring your arms up over your chest and lift your shoulders off the mat while raising your legs until they’re perpendicular to the floor (B). Return to start (don’t let your legs touch the floor). That’s 1 rep.

ATHLETES

RUN.

Some athletes run to train. Some athletes train to run.

But make no mistake – ALL ATHLETES RUN.

FLAVOR

TO YOUR WORKOUT

Challenge Your ROUtINE

04

THE MATRIX Grab a 5- to 10-pound medicine ball and kneel on the floor with your knees hip-width apart. Lengthen your spine and press the ball against your abs (A). Slowly lean back as far as possible, keeping your knees planted (B). Hold the reclined position for 3 seconds, then use your core to slowly come up to the starting position. That’s 1 rep.

05

06

NOSE-TO-KNEE CRUNCH Get in plank position with your hands shoulder-width apart on a stability ball (A). Draw your right knee toward your chest (B). Hold for 1 second, then return to plank position. That’s 1 rep.

PRONE OBLIQUE ROLL Get in plank position with your shins about hip-width apart on a stability ball and your hands shoulder-width apart on the floor (A). Keeping your feet on the ball, draw your right knee toward your right shoulder (the left just comes along for the ride) (B). Return to center.

07

BACK EXTENSTION REAR LEG RAISE Rest your hips and stomach on a stability ball. Straighten your legs and position your toes hip-width apart on the floor. Extend your arms in line with your shoulders (A). Lift your right leg about 6 inches off of the floor while reaching your arms as far out as possible (B). That’s 1 rep.

MARch 2012. 97

Challenge Your ROUtINE

Burned Out

At WORK? cLOcKING IN ANd OUt burning you out? Get your sweat on. According to researchers at Tel Aviv University, employees who regularly exercise are half as likely as non-exercisers to burn out—the drained feeling that comes from extended periods of workplace stress.

In the study, researchers had 1,632 work-

ioral distraction that takes people’s minds

ers—gym-goers

off stressful situations,” Dr. Toker says.

and

non-exercisers—

answer mental health surveys for 6 years.

To stick to your routine, make a goal that’s

The results? People who exercised for just

about your behaviors (how often you go,

150 minutes a week were less likely to de-

or what you do there) not the outcome

velop burnout than those who did not exer-

(weight loss) when you head to the gym,

cise. Work out outdoors to fi ght even more

according to a Rush University study.

job stress.

Why? Burnout occurs when you feel unaccomplished. (Is Your Job Making You Sick?) But exercise counters those feelings of helplessness by boosting your self-effi cacy—the belief that you control your success—says author Sharon Toker, Ph.D. “Exercise also may be viewed as a behav-

[ ] Exercise also may be viewed as a behavioral distraction that takes people’s minds off stressful situations.

MUSIC

YOGA

Whether it’s classical, jazz or soft rock tunes, listening to and playing music is a popular way to relieve stress.

Yoga is a physical and mental discipline that involves meditation, stretches and poses that work both your body and mind.

EXERCISE

MASSAGE

It may seem like an obvious stress reliever, but many people let exercise fall to the wayside when they are under stress.

Massage is often regarded as one of the most effective stress relievers, because it loosens tense muscles, cleanses your body of toxins and prevents injury.

MARch 2012. 99

Challenge Your routine

Boost Strength

IN LESS TIME HERE’S THE KEY TO building tremendous strength in little time: Perform exercises that work a single set of muscles while allowing others to recover, even when rest periods are short, says Mark Philippi, C.S.C.S., the owner of Philippi Sports Institute.

First Perform one set of each of the four exercises.

Next Do one set of deadlifts, followed by one set of bench presses. Rest 60 seconds between sets; do this combo a total of three times.

Last Perform one set of reverse lunges and one set of diagonal lifts/presses. Rest 30 seconds between sets; do this combo a total of three times.

04 AFTER A WORKOUT Things to do

COOL-DOWN

HYDRATE

STRETCH

EAT

A 5 to 10 minute cool down is

Just because you’re done working out doesn’t mean you’re done hydrating. Chances are you’ve lost a good bit of water during your workout, even during Winter workouts, so be sure to keep on drinking water to keep hydrated beyond your workout.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, “Stretch after exercising.” If you need reasons why, be sure to check out my top ten reasons to stretch.

This is the one most people have the hardest time with because it seems counter productive, however, it is very important to refuel after a workout. I’m not saying you should stop at Macaroni Grill on your way home from the gym, but try to eat something that will help repair your torn muscles and replenish your lost energy.

necessary to bring your heart rate back down to a normal rate, lower your body temperature, and help prevent blood pooling, muscle soreness and cramps.

01

DEADLIFT Bend at your hips and knees and grab the bar overhand, your hands about shoulder-width apart. Keeping your back straight, pull your torso back and up, thrust your hips forward, and stand up with the bar. Then lower it, keeping it close to your body. Do 3 to 5 reps.

02

03

BENCH PRESS Grab a barbell with an overhand grip that’s just beyond shoulder width.

Hold the bar straight above your sternum. Lower it, pause, and press back up. Keep your elbows tucked in so that your upper arms form a 45degree angle in the down position. Do 3 to 5 reps.

BARBELL REVERSE LUNGE Hold a bar across your upper back with an overhand grip. Step backward with your right leg and lower yourself until your right knee nearly touches the floor. Pause, and quickly push back to the starting position. Do 8 reps; switch legs and repeat.

04

DIAGONAL LIFT AND PRESS Hold a weight plate in front of your thighs. With your feet shoulder-width apart, squat and rotate your torso (and the plate) to the right. Then stand and rotate left while lifting the plate up and across your chest until it’s over your left shoulder and your arms are locked. Lower the weight. Do 5 reps, and then switch sides.

MARch 2012. 101

#1 ball in golf

Absolute paradise.

CONTRIBUTORS

MARS DENTON I have a passion for the rebellious and spontaneous.

My world revolves around technology and exploring its various purposes. Finding new outlets for creativity and self-expression is a daily endeavor — one I never plan on ending.

KATE SUTPHEN Fitness and the outdoors are a major part of my life. I played volleyball for over eight years, and also ran track and played soccer. I now kickbox and my love for skiing has also created a love for the outdoors. Working out helps create a balance in my life.

LAUREN MAIBACH I am an adventurer. er. My hunger to explore is never ceasing, taking me to near and far places. I find encouragement by meeting new people in new places. I love making connections with others and listening to their story. Although I enjoy hearing about the lives of others, my desire is to create my own stories through personal experiences.

ANNA DEFAZIO My family owns an Italian restaurant, so I grew up in the kitchen and was always surrounded by delicious food.

I love flipping through cookbooks and reading blogs to find new recipes to try. I also enjoy eating out at locally owned restaurants in my neighborhood. In my spare time I always bargain shop for cute clothes, shoes and home accessories for my apartment.

NANCY DELEON I enjoy saving money whether it is through coupons or finding good deals at stores. A big passion of mine is eating and my favorite dessert has always been cheesecake.

Finding a good slice of cheesecake is hard, but thank goodness for The Cheesecake Factory! I also love exploring new recipes and digging through the Sunday paper to find good coupons!

MARCH 2012. 105

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MacBook Pro All-new quad-core processors. Thunderbolt technology. The FaceTime HD camera. MacBook Pro has more than its share of innovations.

next month’s

PREVIEW fARROW fiRST GAiNED fame as a child prodigy, and as the offspring of actor Mia Farrow and director Woody allen. admitted to Bard college at 11 and to Yale Law School at age 16, he deferred the latter to work as a UNIcEF spokesperson in Sudan, angola, and Nigeria. he was subsequently involved in the domestic Darfur advocacy movement, touring the country as a public speaker for the Genocide Intervention Network.

Despite his youth, Farrow has appeared as a frequent expert witness before various congressional

committee

and

authored

columns from the horn of africa for The Wall

Street

Journal,

The

Los

angeles

Times, Newsday, the Boston herald, andthe International herald Tribune. Farrow was among the first U.S. columnists to document and call attention to chinese support of the Sudanese government in Darfur, and is often credited with sparking a focus on china that would subsequently become a major thread of Sudan advocacy. his first column on the subject, entitled “china’s crude conscience,” appeared in the Wall Street Journal in 2006.

Farrow worked on the hill with the legal team of the house Foreign affairs committee, eventually returning to the horn of africa with a congressional delegation. In 2009, prior to his appointment to holbrooke’s staff, New York magazine selected him as their “New activist” of the year, describing Farrow as a “veteran political activist.”

March 2012. 111

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