Fast Company

Data from 10,000 Pebble users doesn’t lie: Here are hacks to make your workplace culture happier and more productive.

Data from 10,000 Pebble users doesn’t lie: Here are hacks to make your workplace culture happier and more productive.

In the 1960s and ’70s, the psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi gave pagers to study subjects, ranging from motorcycle gang members to sheepherders. When the pagers buzzed, the participants’ job was to record their happiness levels. These studies ushered in the modern era of happiness research (and gave birth to an idea you’ve probably heard about—the times when productive hours float by like minutes in “flow“).

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The Silicon Valley icon’s startup began shipping its newest offering this summer. I took it to the ultimate judge: My barber.

The Silicon Valley icon’s startup began shipping its newest offering this summer. I took it to the ultimate judge: My barber.

I have a complicated relationship with electric trimmers.

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If you dislike every choice you’ve got, you’ll look for one to reject rather than one to prefer—subtle difference, big consequences.

If you dislike every choice you’ve got, you’ll look for one to reject rather than one to prefer—subtle difference, big consequences.

You’ve heard by now that both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have higher “unfavorables” than “favorables,” in pollster parlance. In other words, more U.S. voters seem to dislike the two presidential candidates than like them. In the latest Quinnipiac poll, for instance, Clinton’s favorable-to-unfavorable scores clock in at 41% to 53%, respectively, and Trump’s at an ever more lopsided 33% to 61%.

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One writer was surprised by the productivity boost that came from tracking what she’d done, not what she still had to do.

One writer was surprised by the productivity boost that came from tracking what she’d done, not what she still had to do.

I live and die by my to-do list. Jotting down everything that needs to get done is often the very first thing I do when I sit down at my desk in the morning. It helps me to feel focused, organized, and like I have a decent plan of attack for my day.

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Fitbit is releasing updated versions of both trackers, adding new features that make them even better fitness tools.

Fitbit is releasing updated versions of both trackers, adding new features that make them even better fitness tools.

Last Thursday, former volleyball star Gabby Reece worked out with a bunch of tech journalists on a rooftop in downtown San Francisco. I only made it through half of the 20-minute workout, which says something about my personal fitness level or the workout’s difficulty, perhaps both. The event was to show off some of the features of Fitbit’s new devices. One of those features, a new Cardio Fitness Level function, is actually to determine whether I’m as fit as I should be for someone my age. With it, I can confidently say if it was just a hard workout or I’m a bit out of shape. Spoiler alert: The problem is definitely me.

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Volunteering for a disaster-relief effort taught one executive valuable lessons in crisis management.

Volunteering for a disaster-relief effort taught one executive valuable lessons in crisis management.

Sloane Menkes is no stranger to crises.

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As you narrow down your top candidates, it’s likely to come down to temperament over hard skills.

As you narrow down your top candidates, it’s likely to come down to temperament over hard skills.

The best job applicants have qualifications that are more than skills-deep, but it isn’t always easy uncovering them. As hiring managers identify their top candidates, the challenge becomes finding out the less-obvious qualities that may put one ahead.

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Women’s Equality Day celebrates the 19th Amendment, but we still have a long way to go to achieve a true balance.

Women’s Equality Day celebrates the 19th Amendment, but we still have a long way to go to achieve a true balance.

Ninety-six years ago today, the United States adopted the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women the right to vote. In 1972, August 26 was declared “Women’s Equality Day” in order to mark that anniversary.

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Immigration may well be the issue that defines this election, so we’re breaking down the extreme contrasts in the candidates’ positions.

Immigration may well be the issue that defines this election, so we’re breaking down the extreme contrasts in the candidates’ positions.

At this point, after over 14 months of relentless campaign coverage, what is left to say about Donald Trump’s immigration platform, arguably the cornerstone of his campaign? Plenty, actually, judging by the candidate’s multiple stances on the issue this week and the criticism of his views by Hillary Clinton.

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Focus-group moderators patiently draw out respondents’ attitudes, feelings, beliefs, and reactions. Managers should, too.

Focus-group moderators patiently draw out respondents’ attitudes, feelings, beliefs, and reactions. Managers should, too.

I recently dusted off my focus-group–moderator shoes in order to run a few sessions on behalf of a big client. As I was preparing, I found myself jotting down a quick script with ground rules to help things go smoothly—things like:

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