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As a player myself, it is easy to say video games are a fun way to escape the real world. Video games are everywhere and almost everyone can find something they like. It's easy to spend hours playing a video game; believe me, you're not the only one who has played Candy Crush or more Angry Birds then you should have. But does this mean that video games can have a negative effect on an individual?

There have been several studies on how the game can affect people in the workplace. Video games can actually have a positive influence on one of productivity, improving on a variety of skills such as: ..

• quick thinking and decision making
• Multitasking
• reading and math problem solving skills ..
• Teamwork.
• perseverance.

However, video games can negatively impact a person's health and well-being:

• Playing too long video games can affect the mind and can cause health problems
• video games can create aggressive thoughts and allow a person to anger. easily, which in turn could make more difficult workplace frustrations to handle.
• video games can become addictive and difficult to avoid.
• video games can also affect a person's communication skills, making them socially isolated.

As you can see, video games have the potential to increase or decrease the productivity of a person. Does all this mean that we should not play video games because there is a chance of a negative outcome? No. While video games can have negative effects when played too long, too many days they can also be a great way to improve skills that can be used in the workplace and in everyday life.

When game, just relax and have fun; try to be aware of time spent playing and remember to take breaks. Are there other positive or negative effects that you experienced as a result of playing video games? I would like to hear about them in the comments below!

The first week of the new year, I traveled through Colorado to visit my amazing customers (can you say that I love my job!) when I received a phone call that my mother was ill and was transported by ambulance to the hospital in Nebraska. Most would agree this is not the type of call you want to receive, especially when you are well away from the house. As loss control professional, I was trained to handle emergency situations, but as a human being, it hit a little too close to home.

After receiving the initial shock and reminds me that my mother was in good hands, I went to make the six-hour trip home, half of what I had to navigate snow conditions. "Slow and steady wins the race," I thought. But I was at the end of a one-week trip and had a few more visits to make. Do not get me wrong, I firmly believe family is a priority, but realistically there was nothing I could do at that time. It was then that security "bulb" went! What if one of the companies I had to get assistance required recognition of a measure of safety of life? Is there really a way to place a value on human life? Not their families, employees and visitors just as valuable as my relatives?

Sometimes the loss control professionals can be perceived as nitpickers or security police. But when it comes to placing a value on human life, is this really the case? What if a fire broke out in your business or on your property and the occupants could not find a working fire extinguisher or find their way out of the building? I'm sure you can imagine the terrible possibilities. Would it be better to experience "happily ever after" instead? That's one reason why a loss of control visit your business consultant; they opt for happily ever after in helping you to identify and prevent hazards before an accident, injury or property damage occurs

And do not worry, my mother knows her own happily ever after. she is home from the hospital and on the road to recovery

I encourage you not to wait for a tour of loss control -. or worse, an emergency - to improve safety measures in your company or workplace. Make sure you reach out to your independent agent for more information on the use of loss control services. It is the perfect opportunity to be proactive and show your employees and customers as you strive for your story with a happy ending!

has your loss control consultant helped you in achieving happily ever after? I'd love to hear your story below in the comments!

Original post written by Jones-Wilson Insurance and shared with permission.

Somewhere there is a 17 year old student who will never see prom, a student who will never see graduation and a young adult who will never have the opportunity to have children. Why? Texting while driving.

There is an epidemic, and as we all say we will never do it, some of us still can not wait a few minutes to look down our phones. We've all heard the sad stories and warnings, but perhaps these alarming statistics can create a new resolution:

• According EndDD.org, "Sending or receiving a text message a distracted driver for about five seconds at highway speeds, which represents a distance of about 300 feet in which the car is essentially out of human control, driving itself "
• the Administration. security national road Administration (NHTSA) reports that driver distraction is the cause of about one-fifth of all fatal accidents.
• Nearly half of all US high school students aged 16 or older text or email while driving.
• Over 0 percent of frequent drivers in an AT & T sponsored survey said they know texting while driving is dangerous, but that does not prevent them to do
• 77 percent of young adults are very or somewhat confident that they can safely text while driving. 55 percent of young adult drivers say it is easier to text while driving.

heard enough? These shocking statistics will unfortunately keep worsen over time. When it stop? What can we do?

Motivate others to wait a few minutes to talk or text on a phone. Share these statistics with a teen and help them resolve to never text and drive. Many states are adopting laws to prohibit texting while driving, but your personal touch can help inspire others.

The best thing you can do is decide personally never text and drive again. Let it begin with you

- See more :. Http://joneswilsoninsurance.projcap.com/

Keep track of your work can be exhausting! Not to mention a lot of working people have families to take charge in the middle of the usual working day. So how can we keep their work life and family life in order? Here are five easy strategies I use to stay organized at work that can easily be applied at home for a less stressful day.

1. Prepare for the day - arrived at work, check your calendar and gather all the materials you'll need for the day. I set aside each item I need for the day in the order I'm going to need, with a pen and notepad. When it's time for my meeting, I just take the corresponding material that allows me to arrive on time and provides a quick refresh of the material beforehand. You can apply the same concept to the house and placing all the elements you need to take with you the next morning by the door so as not to forget them
2. Build a routine. - Assess what time of day you are most productive and tackle your most challenging tasks during this period. Also, if you have weekly meetings, try to program the same day every week. When at home, keep a day and / or weekly schedule. It will be harder to break this routine in the future, ensuring time is managed and each task is completed
3. Label your materials -. Keep all workbooks labeled at the front and to the side. This ensures the documents are stored in the provided workbook and lets you enter the right item quickly. Also, keep an eye in binders to separate documents. Apply this to your files at home as well, and to keep each separate category marked records. Thus, it will be come tax time or when looking for a specific recipe
4. Make lists -. I can not stress this point enough! There are too many to remember every day, so I make a list of "to do" every morning at work that includes all the tasks I want to accomplish by the end of the day. I feel victorious when I can check something I fill it. Do the same when you get home writing a list of items you want to complete by the bed; This is a great way to set daily goals and manage time
5. De-clutter at the end of the day -. as you did at the beginning of the day, you should also be organized at the end of the day. Put the files away, complete the verification email, and straighten your desk. Take a look at your list and ensure that all items are checked for the day. This allows you to focus on your family life at the end of the day regardless of a forgotten task at work. When you get home, clean, pack your lunch and pick your clothes for the next day to help you give yourself enough time in the morning.

Life is hectic, but these five simple steps can help you become more organized both your work and your family life. You hopefully start to feel in control and maybe even find that you have more time to focus on the important things in life. Do you have any suggestions to simplify and organize your life? I'd love to hear them in the comments below!

To succeed in the business world today, it takes longer to get a great product. He takes with the corporate culture. Why? Because the foundation of each business for success starts with its people. Building a thriving culture takes work, but it is the key to long term success.

Here are some tips for building / advocating the culture of success.

1. Creating a culture based on relationships. Whether your business has 50 or 5,000 people, have good employee relations is a necessity. My workplace integrates relations as one of their core values, which I appreciate. When everyone treats each other like family, it helps us realize that we are working towards the same goal. It must be communicated by the top than at work, you are a team.
2. Encourage all to have a voice. The fact that something has always been done a certain way does not mean that way can not be open to change. Although traditional methods certainly have their purpose, a new perspective on something maybe that solves a problem on the road. My company is great to encourage people to give their opinions when they hear it, and that is communicated from when a person is first hired. Creating a culture where every employee feels their opinion is valued is crucial to retain employees and build success.
3. Promoting balance. Whether a millennium or an experienced employee, everyone appreciates a flexible work environment promotes a work-life balance. Flex-time (one option offered by my company) is a way to contribute. Companies should encourage employees to take short breaks throughout the day as this will help to promote alertness and clarity. My company is great about not only encourage employees to take breaks, but for physical activity during the break as well. A healthy work environment should also place value on personal time. The traditional minimum vacation policy that most US companies have adopted greatly underestimate the intangible and tangible benefits to recharge mentally, and just be able to disconnect and achieve personal goals or work on family relationships. Mental refresh breeds creativity and productivity, promoting innovation and sustainability.

According to Forbes , the current imbalance work life felt by many could be attributed to the perception that the more we work, the more we will succeed, and the concept of "if I 'm busy, I must be important. "[1] the New Yorker provides" [the long hours worked] ... perhaps the byproduct of the systems and institutions that took the lives of their own and serve no one's interests. "[2] the average American worker gets 13 days of paid leave in relation, for example, Sweden, where five weeks is the minimum. In 2011 ranking of the World Economic Forum, the Swedish economy actually ranked ahead of the US We should be willing to work hard at what we do, and I am in no encouraging the lack of responsibility or how dedication. However, I simply propose that balance is a key factor in the long-term sustainability. a balanced schedule can help relieve stress and general exhaustion, promoting physical and mental life, and that is a win-win for everyone

Culture is a company might. be the most competitive advantage. employers who value relationships, balance, and their employees both on a business and personal level are already a step forward in creating a sustainable success culture. What can you do in your business to encourage a culture of success?

[1] http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidsturt/2014/06/10/why-americans-including-as-vacation-or-work / # 6f174a611df8

[2] http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/you-really-dont- need-work-so-much

Watch our video to learn more about the car rental coverage.

It is my experience that one of the most frequently asked questions are provided after being involved in an automobile accident is this: "Does my insurance policy covers the cost for me to get a rental car while my car is being repaired in the shop? " If you find yourself in a situation where you ask this question, keep in mind that the answer varies depending on the coverage available to you on your personal auto insurance policy, and the demands of the car rental company you have selected. Here are three tips to help you understand the car insurance process after a covered auto accident.

• coverage Car Rental, also known as the coverage of transport costs, are not always automatically provided in a personal auto insurance policy . Most insurance companies offer this option protection, which means it has to be purchased by the policyholder for the coverage to apply. Make sure you know your coverage limits before signing any document for hire as limits for this type of coverage can often be low and consumers could find themselves paying a portion of the rental fees out of pocket.
• What forms "Collision Damage Waiver"? Most car rental companies require that you have full coverage (liability, comprehensive and collision) when you rent a vehicle for their business. If you do not have full coverage on your personal auto insurance policy for at least one vehicle, you'll probably need to buy coverage from the rental company, which is Damage Waiver coverage called Collision.
• Who pays for your car rental if you are not to blame in the accident ? you have choice of who pays for damage to your car, and the cost to get you in a rental car while your car is being repaired. There are advantages and disadvantages to decide who pays for rent
  • If you decide to leave your own insurance company to pay for your damages, there is minimal delay in getting your repairs started and you in a rental car. However, you will pay your deductible front. Depending on your carrier subrogate the costs incurred, including a franchise; subrogation means they have the right to recover the amount of the claim, including your deductible, the company's insurance offending driver.
  • If you decide to go through the insurance of the driver responsible, then you will not have to pay for your franchise. However, you run the risk not only delaying repairs to your vehicle, but your ability to get quickly in a rental car. The reason? Insurance companies will not pay for damages or a rental car if they find their policyholder is at fault for the accident. Unfortunately, the determination of fault does not always happen quickly, and this can cause delays
  • Your choice may depend on a number of issues such as :. Is your current vehicle drivable? Do you have another car in the household that you can drive? Is a rental required to continue uninterrupted your daily life?

If you ever need to file a request for self, I hope my tips above have helped you understand the rental process. Be sure to talk to your independent agent about what kind of coverage you currently have on your personal auto insurance policy and if you need to purchase additional coverage to avoid any expense out of pocket for a rental accidents.

covers here are described in the most general terms, and subject to the conditions and actual policy exclusions. For the wording of the cover, conditions and exclusions, please contact your policy or agent.

It's back to school time and for many children, school is already in session. Today, as I drove my son to school, I realized how important it is to use extra caution while driving, now that school is in session. This is the time of year when we say goodbye to traffic in the summer quietly, and start sharing the road with pressed parents, new teen drivers, student pedestrians and school buses. Not only do we want to send our children to school safely every day, but it is equally important that each of us to work and safely. Why not start this school year by sharing the following safety tips from the National Security Council

• Be very careful in school zones and residential neighborhoods, especially near bus stops, playgrounds and parks.
• Allow enough time to get your destination, so you will not be tempted to speed.
• never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.
• Never walk behind a bus - or in both directions, if you are on an undivided road - if it is stopped to load or unload children
• Be alert. children are often unpredictable, and they tend to ignore the risks and take risks.
• Be aware of inexperienced teen drivers who may struggle to judge gaps in traffic, driving the right speed for the conditions, and turning safely.
• Avoid distractions such as eating, applying makeup, or use your phone to send text, talk, or applications such as Pokemon GB.
• Recognize and encourage staff who are willing to share ideas and experiences on how they exercised a little extra care and caution on the road.
• Tell your children to be aware of their surroundings (no walking while wearing headphones or while sending or talking), crossing only at cross walks, always walk on sidewalks where possible and looking left, right, then left again before crossing the street.

Although many of us have probably heard us talking or shared these tips before, I live by the motto that it is always better to be safe than sorry. Let us unite in promoting a safe school year without accident. After all, nothing is more important than you, your family and your staff making home safely every day.

For more information or resources regarding this, please contact your loss control representative.

References:
"Slow Down: Back to school means sharing the road." Back to School Safety Tips for drivers. National Security Council n.d. Web. August 22, 2016.
"The biggest security threat is a teenager sitting on the boardwalk." Teen Driving. National Security Council, n.d. Web. August 22, 2016.