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<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Matt Cardy/Getty</div></div></div>Companies like <a href="http://www.lumosity.com/">Lumosity</a> have been wildly successful in selling online games that they claim will keep your brain sharp and stave off mental decline as you age.But no longer - the Federal Trade Commission has <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/160105lumoslabscmpt.pdf">cracked down on Lumosity</a>, which agreed to pay a $2 million settlement earlier this month."Lumosity preyed on consumers' fears about age-related cognitive decline, suggesting their games could stave off memory loss, dementia, and even Alzheimer's disease," Jessica Rich, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2016/01/lumosity-pay-2-million-settle-ftc-deceptive-advertising-charges">in a statement</a>. "But Lumosity simply did not have the <keyword id="41551" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="science">science</keyword> to back up its ads."The company's critics say its claims are based on research that is flawed and isn't conducted independently. But it's not just them. Plenty of <a href="http://www.cogmed.com/">other</a> <a href="http://www.brainhq.com/">companies</a> have made similar claims.So, what does the science really say about brain training?We asked a scientist who led what may be the most comprehensive study to date on how brain training affects our mental health as we age, George Rebok.The evidence is mixed, Rebok, a professor of mental health at Johns Hopkins University, told Business Insider. "There is some strong evidence" that brain training can improve certain cognitive skills, he said, but "there's still a lot of work to be done."<h2>What the research shows</h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Getty</div></div></div>Rebok and his colleagues led the <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24417410">ACTIVE study</a> (short for Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly), a study conducted from March 1998 through October 1999 which included more than 2,800 healthy, aging volunteers, three quarters of whom were women, across six different American cities.The participants, whose average age was 74 when the study began, were randomly assigned to either a control group, meaning they underwent no training, or one of three groups assigned to do a specific type of brain training - memory, reasoning, or speed of processing.In 2003, participants in all three brain-training groups (memory, reasoning and speed of processing) said they saw improvements in daily cognitive abilities like preparing meals, taking care of finances, and driving. However, these improvements weren't objectively measurable, except for driving, where people who underwent the training had fewer crashes, Rebok said.Even ten years later, people who'd been in either the reasoning or speed training groups were still reporting cognitive improvements. Of course, brain games like Lumosity's are not the same as cognitive training, which is usually based on a theory and is very structured, said Rebok. For example, the ACTIVE study's memory group did tasks like listen to a list of unrelated words and recall as many as they could; the reasoning group had to do things like identify the pattern in a series of letters and circle the next letter in the series; and the speed of processing group had to find and identify targets in their field of view.By contrast, Lumosity games include things like "Bird Watching," a game where the player has to identify a letter in the center of the screen while simultaneously finding the location of a bird presented on their periphery.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Lumosity</div></div></div>These training tasks are pretty different, and neither type is guaranteed to keep your brain sharp. "People want a quick fix, a magic bullet," Rebok added, but "you can't expect a little bit of cognitive training to override all other things."Lumosity has also published some research on its own training games.For example, a <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0134467#pone.0134467.s002">study</a> of close to 5,000 Lumosity users that the company published last year compared a group that trained using its cognitive games to a group that did crossword puzzles for 15 minutes a day, at least five days a week for 10 weeks.The study found that, compared with the crossword-playing group, those who played Lumosity games improved more on processing speed, short-term memory, working memory, problem solving, and other types of reasoning. Still, the <a href="http://staff.bath.ac.uk/pssiw/stats2/page2/page14/page14.html">effects were pretty small</a>, and the company was directly involved in the research. Lumosity declined to comment for this story (other than to refer us to <a href="http://www.lumosity.com/press/news">a letter</a> they'd sent to their customers).<h2>Does the training transfer to the real world?</h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Shutterstock</div></div></div>One of the biggest critiques of either type of brain training - be it casual games like Lumosity's or structured exercises like those involved in Rebok's research - is that people's performance on games and other tasks done within the training doesn't translate to their ability to do real-world tasks, something known as "transfer."But that doesn't completely fit with what Rebok and his colleagues found."For the first time, we found that training did generalize beyond the activities trained," Rebok said. But he added that while they found some evidence of transfer, "it wasn't as powerful or consistent as we might like."And that's troubling when Lumosity and other companies are making claims that suggest brain training could prevent diseases like Alzheimer's.That's the conclusion a group of psychologists and neuroscientists from Stanford and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development came to in 2014, when they put out <a href="http://longevity3.stanford.edu/blog/2014/10/15/the-consensus-on-the-brain-training-industry-from-the-scientific-community-2/">a statement</a> in 2014 that objected to the claim that brain games "reduce or reverse cognitive decline." In fact, the scientists wrote, "there is no compelling scientific evidence to date that [the games] do."But the controversy didn't end there.That same year another group of brain scientists (including Rebok) signed <a href="http://www.cognitivetrainingdata.org/">another statement rebutting the earlier letter.</a> In it, they wrote that there was "no evidence that any cognitive training regimen can improve cognitive function." In other words, saying cognitive training is useless is like "throwing the baby out with the bathwater," Rebok said, because it's too early to make that claim.<h2>Many factors keep your brain healthy</h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/6Z7tqs">Flickr/Nathan Rupert</a></div></div></div>Academic debates aside, it's important to remember that brain training is just one of the many ways people may be able to keep their minds sharp, says Cynthia Green, a clinical psychiatrist at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the president of Total Brain Health, a company that offers training to professionals in brain health."With brain-training software, there was a sense that this was all you needed to do," she said. But that was never true.Keeping our brains healthy involves many things. Research suggests that one the most important <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-exercise-helps-your-brain-2015-12">is physical exercise</a>. Having a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/robert-waldinger-says-3-things-are-the-secret-to-happiness-2015-12">healthy social life</a> is another, as is eating a <a href="http://health.usnews.com/best-diet/mind-diet">healthy diet</a>.When it comes to brain training games, the data is limited, Green said - "but it would be a disservice to the field to decide it's totally worthless." <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/science-on-male-vs-female-brains-2015-12">Scientists discovered a surprising truth about male vs. female brains</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="xmOTFreTpUCHuyGHH953zYtjeyX6d07k" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

Here's what the science actually says about the benefits of 'brain-training' services like Lumosity

Fast-growing brain-training app Lumosity has unveiled its brand-new headquarters in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood. 
The 36,000-square-foot office takes up three floors of the historic <a href="http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2014/03/12/60m_conversion_of_art_deco_gem_140_new_montgomery.php">Pacific Telephone &amp; Telegraph Building</a>, with an entire floor dedicated to social gathering spaces for the company's 340 employees. 
The entire office is filled with references to school and learning, like the chalkboard and massive paper clip at the reception desk. <div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image">Matthew Millman</div></div>You can see exposed light bulbs hanging throughout the office, including this bar-inspired dining and games area. <div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image">Matthew Millman</div></div>But the best part of the office has to be this library, which is accessible by a secret, hidden door. <div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image">Matthew Millman</div></div>Stacks of antique books are arranged by color on the shelves, seen here with the door closed. <div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image">Matthew Millman</div></div>There are also several cozy nooks, with leather couches that offer a peaceful spot for employees to get some work done. <div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image">Matthew Millman</div></div>

Check Out The Secret Library In Lumosity's New San Francisco Headquarters

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/merchau/8548057127/">Flickr/mer chau</a></div></div>National and global rankings for colleges each year are based almost solely on standardized test performances and information about the school's resources (including endowment per student, student-faculty ratio, and graduation rates)
Dr. Daniel Sternberg at <a href="http://www.lumosity.com/" target="_blank">Lumosity</a>, a cognitive training site run by Lumos Labs, sought to find out with a series of games which of America's leading higher <keyword id="6355445" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Education">education</keyword> institutions was actually the most intelligent.
He and his team tested 70,000 students from colleges and universities (with a minimum of 50 <keyword id="1939082" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Lumosity">Lumosity</keyword> users) nationwide with games that measured various cognitive skills including attention, memory, speed of processing, problem solving, and flexibility.
This year, Tufts University was ranked highest in attention, while Dartmouth was best in speed. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology placed first in both memory and problem solving, and Yale University was ranked the highest for flexibility.
The overall winner was Washington University in St. Louis, squeaking past <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-20-smartest-colleges-in-america-2012-11" target="_blank">last year's winner, MIT</a>, as well as beating powerhouse institutions such as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton for the title.
Of course, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/inside-the-smartest-colleges-ranking-2013-9" target="_blank">as we've written about before</a>, there are two major downsides to this method of analysis: First, Lumosity only sampled people who were willing to play their games, which left off a number of top schools and liberal arts colleges, including CalTech. Secondly, there is no peer-reviewed research demonstrating that the Lumosity games are reliable or valid measures of intelligence.
But check out the top 30 Lumosity schools below anyways to get some bragging rights. (<a href="http://blog.lumosity.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/SmartestColleges2013_white-paper.pdf" target="_blank">See the full ranking and analysis here</a>.)
1. Washington University in St Louis
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
3. Princeton University
4. Northwestern University
5. Carnegie Mellon University
6. University of Chicago
7. Rice University
8. Harvard University
9. Yale University
10. Dartmouth <keyword id="6360288" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="college">College</keyword>
11. Tufts University
12. Stanford University
13. Georgetown University (TIE)
13. University of Notre Dame (TIE)
15. University of Virginia
16. Duke University
17. Bucknell University (TIE)
17. Vanderbilt University (TIE)
19. College of William and Mary (TIE)
19. Boston College (TIE)
21. Bowdoin College
22. Johns Hopkins University
23. Cornell University (TIE)
23. University of California-San Diego (TIE)
23. Georgia Institute of Technology (TIE)
26. Columbia University in the City of New York
27. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
28. Boston University
29. Wheaton College
30. Case Western Reserve University

America's Smartest Colleges

<ul class="summary-list"><li>To improve <keyword id="6356220" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="focus" source="Orion">focus</keyword> and productivity, build healthy habits like getting enough sleep and exercise.</li><li>Multitasking and social media can cause distractions during work, so it's best to limit them.</li><li>Breaks are important to stay focused — try a time-blocking technique like the pomodoro method.</li></ul>Whether it's fatigue, distractions, lack of motivation, or something else entirely, our inability to focus digs a hole in our productivity and limits our chances of success. Maintaining focus is equally about taking care of your mental space and your body, as it is grinding through work. By eliminating distractions, investing time in maintaining physical and mental wellness, and instituting healthy habits, you can <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/productivity-tips-from-successful-people-2018-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">improve your productivity</a>. Here are 13 tips scientists have found that enhance focus. <h2>1. Minimize multitasking</h2>Multitaskers might seem superhuman, but they pay a big price, according to a <a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full?sid=c2929e08-bd00-4d4f-95c3-7b4c83c576a3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2009 Stanford study</a>. In a sample of 100 Stanford students, about half identified themselves as media multitaskers. The other half did not.The test examined attention spans, memory capacity, and ability to switch from one task to the next — and the multitaskers performed more poorly on each test."They're suckers for irrelevancy. Everything distracts them," Clifford Nass, who was a researcher for the study, said in a Stanford <a href="http://news.stanford.edu/news/2009/august24/multitask-research-study-082409.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>.<h2>2. Meditate</h2>If the saying "practice makes perfect" is true, then <a href="https://www.insider.com/benefits-of-meditation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">meditation is a sure way to enhance focus </a>because it takes a great deal of <keyword id="13038332" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="concentration" source="Orion">concentration</keyword>.Scientific experiments agree. <a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/104/43/17152.full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One study</a> at the University of North Carolina, for example, revealed that students who <a href="https://www.insider.com/mindfulness-meditation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">meditated</a> for just 20 minutes a day for four days performed better on certain cognitive tests.Another<a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/50/20254.full.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 2011 study </a>found that people who meditated regularly were less likely to engage in "mind-wandering" and were generally happier. The researchers of the study suggest that this was because long-term meditators exhibited a lower amount of what's called default mode network activity (DMN) — a function of the brain linked with attention issues, anxiety, and depression. Quick tip: If you'd like to learn how to start meditating, read our beginner's guide on <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-meditate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how to meditate</a>.<h2>3. Exercise regularly</h2>Exercises like <a href="https://www.insider.com/benefits-of-running" target="_blank" rel="noopener">running</a>, <a href="https://www.insider.com/benefits-of-swimming" target="_blank" rel="noopener">swimming</a>, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/benefits-of-lifting-weights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">weight lifting</a> aren't just good for the body. They promote brain <keyword id="11894571" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health" source="Orion">health</keyword>, too, which is important for memory capacity and concentration, according to John Ratey, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at <a href="http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/regular-exercise-releases-brain-chemicals-key-for-memory-concentration-and-mental-sharpness" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Harvard Medical School</a>.In particular, scientists think <a href="https://www.insider.com/exercise-to-get-results-2016-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regular exercise</a> may help stimulate the release of a chemical called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain-derived_neurotrophic_factor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brain-derived neurotrophic factor</a>, which some research suggests helps rewire memory circuits to improve their functioning.<h2>4. Establish a to-do list</h2>To-do lists not only help you prioritize what tasks you need to get done first, but they can also serve as a record of the loose ends.Moreover, incomplete work could eat away at your concentration. This stems from something called the <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/zeigarnik%20effect" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zeigarnik Effect</a>, which is the tendency to remember incomplete tasks instead of completed ones.Researchers explored this Zeigarnik effect in a<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21688924/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 2011 study</a> which found that participants who could <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/learning/best-planner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plan their work</a> and complete tasks one by one were more likely to stay focused than those participants who were made to go from task to task without completing them. <h2>5. Try a small amount of caffeine</h2>If you're feeling groggy, grab <a href="https://www.insider.com/is-coffee-bad-for-you" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a cup of joe</a> or other <a href="https://www.insider.com/food-drinks-as-much-caffeine-as-coffee-2018-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caffeinated substance</a>. Studies suggest that caffeine may, in moderate doses, help to <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20182035" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boost focus</a> — particularly in those of us who are fatigued.But don't get <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-too-much-caffeine-does-to-you-2018-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">overzealous with the coffee</a>, or you might get the <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20182035" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caffeine jitters</a>, which typically reduce your ability to concentrate. You can also <a href="https://www.insider.com/tea-vs-coffee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">try a cup of tea</a>, which won't give you the quick buzz like coffee but can provide you energy for a longer period thanks to the L-theanine chemicals in it that our bodies metabolize throughout the day. <h2>6. Take breaks</h2>You might have heard that watching cat videos on YouTube can <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/49391395" target="_blank" rel="noopener">improve productivity</a>. Well, that's true ... sort of. Whether it's watching cat videos, <a href="https://www.insider.com/benefits-of-walking" target="_blank" rel="noopener">taking a walk</a>, or <a href="https://www.insider.com/are-naps-good-for-you" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a brief nap</a>, it is critical to take the occasional break from work. In <a href="http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/02/09/taking-breaks-found-to-improve-attention/23329.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one study</a>, 84 subjects were asked to perform a simple computer task for one hour. Those who were allowed two brief breaks during that hour performed consistently for the entire time whereas those who weren't offered a break performed worse over time.Another widely-noted <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/108/17/6889" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2011 study</a> analyzed the decision making process of 1,112 judges and found that more "favorable rulings" were made by judges during the beginning of the day and after they took periodic food breaks. Essentially, this study explored how "decision fatigue" (i.e. how fast and accurately we make decisions) was alleviated by semi-frequent breaks. <h2>7. Listen to the right music</h2>The right background music is ultimately what works for you. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/psychologist-explains-how-listening-music-while-working-studying-low-productivity-less-efficient-2016-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Some experts argue</a> that no music is best for productivity because it minimizes the opportunity for distractions. Whereas <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4197792/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">other studies</a> have found that listening to background music without words offers better performance compared to white noise or silence. And still another <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0305735605050650" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2005 study</a> found that the time spent on a certain task was longest when listening to no music. All that is to say, the type of music you listen to and the type of work you're doing at the time matters. So be conscious of your productivity and choose what music is right for you.<h2>8. Train your brain to focus</h2>Your brain is a mental muscle, and <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0119522" target="_blank" rel="noopener">some studies</a> have found that people who are easily distracted <a href="http://www.cognitivetrainingdata.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">will benefit</a> from "brain training" exercises, like those promoted by <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5930973/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lumosity</a> or<a href="http://www.cogmed.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Cogmed</a>.But which exercises work — and for how well or long their effects last — is unclear. Therefore, the purported benefits of brain training need further examination, <a href="http://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=5970" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Susanne Jaeggi</a> — who studies the brain and memory at the University of California — told <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn27217-brain-training-may-help-people-with-adhd-to-focus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Scientist</a>.<h2>9. Try the pomodoro method </h2>The <a href="https://science.nichd.nih.gov/confluence/display/newsletter/2020/05/07/The+Pomodoro+Technique%3A+An+Effective+Time+Management+Tool" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pomodoro method </a>is a time-blocking technique that can help compartmentalize your tasks into manageable 25-minute intervals. To use the <a href="https://www.insider.com/pomodoro-technique" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pomodoro method</a> work for 25 minutes, taking five minute breaks in between 25 minute intervals. After four of these intervals, you can take a longer 15-30 minute break. This method of time blocking gives you the needed break in between work sessions to help you maintain <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6406620/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">focus longer and more sustainably</a>. Ambient noise, like cars honking or kids screaming, can stimulate the release of the stress hormone cortisol, Mark A.W. Andrews, former director of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania, <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ask-the-brains-background-noise/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Scientific American</a>.<a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-lower-cortisol" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Too much cortisol</a> can impair function and hinder focus. And, unfortunately, the more we're exposed to ambient noise, the worse our bodies respond, according to Andrews. <h2>10. Stare at a distant object for a few minutes</h2>Many of us spend most of our waking hours staring at a digital screen, which can <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-staring-at-a-screen-hurts-your-eyes-2015-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strain our eyes</a> and actually make it more difficult to focus on, and therefore process, what we're looking at.To refocus the eyes, just stare at a distant object for a few minutes. One doctor suggested the "20-20-20 rule" to a<a href="http://lifehacker.com/5591835/reduce-computer-caused-eye-strain-with-the-20-20-20-rule" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> journalist at LifeHacker</a>. It goes like this: Every 20 minutes, take 20 seconds to stare at an object at least 20 feet away.The idea behind the 20-20-20 rule is that the eye is a muscle and like all muscles it benefits from exercise. Just like how sitting in one spot for a long time can make your muscles feel achy and stiff, staring at one <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tips-for-staring-at-a-screen-all-day-without-ruining-your-eyes-2015-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">object does essentially the same to your eyes.</a> If you don't periodically refocus, your vision can become a little blurry or fuzzy after work. Blue light glasses, <a href="https://www.insider.com/do-blue-light-glasses-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which filter out the blue light that screens emit</a>, have become popular to help screen-exhaustion. However, they won't help with eye strain, but could potentially help your <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20030543/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quality of sleep.</a> <h2>11. Get a good night's sleep</h2>One of the main symptoms of chronic sleep loss is <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK19961/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poor concentration</a>. Getting a solid <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-much-sleep-do-you-need" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seven to eight hours</a> ahead of a busy work day could be the difference between being frazzled and being laser-focused.Quick tip: If you're having trouble sleeping, try a few of these <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-sleep-better" target="_blank" rel="noopener">25 tips for better sleep</a>.<h2>12. Work offline</h2>If you can disconnect from the internet, there are fewer things to distract you from the work at hand. Experts think that every time you flip between tasks — whether it be responding to a friend on Facebook or checking your inbox — a little bit of your attention remains with the task you just left.Sophie Leroy, a professor at the University of Washington at Bothell, coined the term "<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597809000399" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attention residue</a>" as the reason for why it's so hard to change tasks. Eliminating those online distractions can keep you from finding tasks to flip between and help you focus.Disconnecting from the internet may mean unplugging from social media too. If possible, <a href="https://www.insider.com/taking-a-break-from-social-media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">try limiting or all together getting rid of social media</a> use during your work day. Designating time to look through social media, rather than checking it constantly throughout the day, can help you stay on task. <h2>13. Designate your perfect study spot</h2>Focusing requires a lot of willpower, and so does making decisions. According to a concept called <a href="https://faculty.washington.edu/jdb/345/345%20Articles/Baumeister%20et%20al.%20(1998).pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ego depletion</a>, we have a finite amount of mental energy, and both decision-making and willpower can drain it.To save that energy for concentration, proponents of the theory suggest getting rid of excess variables that require you to make decisions, like choosing where to work. Try working from the same location whenever you need to focus, for example. That way, when it's time to get the work done, you won't have to waste time deciding where to go.<h2>Insider's takeaway</h2>Taking care of your mental and physical well-being are the best things you can do to help stay focused. This means getting plenty of sleep, moving your body, and protecting your eyes from screen burnout. However, maintaining focus doesn't mean you shouldn't take breaks. If you think it could help your productivity, time-blocking and including rest periods between sessions of work can help you organize your time and optimize your schedule. It's important to note that some attention disorders, such as <a href="https://www.insider.com/adult-adhd-symptoms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attention deficit/hyper-activity disorder (ADHD)</a>, make focusing difficult. If you feel yourself struggling to stay focused, organized, or on schedule, you may have <a href="https://www.insider.com/types-of-adhd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a type of ADHD</a> and should schedule an appointment with a healthcare professional who can help determine or rule out a diagnosis.<h2> </h2>

13 science-backed tips to stay focused and avoid distractions

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><a href="http://www.lumosity.com/"></a>Screenshot</div></div></div>Do brain-training games really <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/do-lumosity-and-other-brain-training-games-work-2014-1">make you smarter</a>? 
With more than 50 million users typically paying subscriptions of $15/month or $80/year, <a href="http://www.lumosity.com" target="_blank">Lumosity</a> seemed worth checking out.
We looked inside (which you can do for free) and at research about similar games to evaluate whether Lumosity is worth your time and money. What are the games like and do they provide anything more than a little distraction?
The truth is rather disappointing.

Here's What You Really Get When You Pay To Play Brain Training Games

<div class="image-container float_right"><div class="image"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/a_of_doom/715229971/">Flickr/A of Doom</a></div></div>In 2012, Lumosity, a company that makes brain-training games, released a ranking of America's smartest colleges based on students' scores on its games. It was widely shared on social media and covered by publications like <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesmarshallcrotty/2013/04/07/the-25-colleges-with-the-smartest-students/">Forbes</a> and <a href="http://venturebeat.com/2012/11/01/smartest-colleges-in-america/">Venturebeat</a>, as well <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-20-smartest-colleges-in-america-2012-11">as Business Insider.</a>
The ranking was created by Lumosity as a "cognitive performance-based" alternative to traditional <keyword id="6360288" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="college">college</keyword> rankings, which rely on test scores and non-cognitive figures like endowment size and student-faculty ratio.
However, there are two critical flaws with the rankings. First, their dataset is large but not systematic. They only sampled people who were willing to play their games, which left off a number of schools, including CalTech. Second, there is no peer-reviewed research demonstrating that the Lumosity games are reliable or valid measures of smarts.
Standardized tests like the SAT and ACT are actually highly reliable and valid measures of brainpower, as they measure a construct known as general <keyword id="6358717" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="intelligence">intelligence</keyword> or "g."
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University published research papers, <a href="http://www.psychologicalscience.org/pdf/ps/frey.pdf">"Scholastic assessment or g? The relationship between </a><a href="http://www.psychologicalscience.org/pdf/ps/frey.pdf">the SAT and general cognitive ability"</a> in the journal Psychological Science and <a href="http://www.iapsych.com/iqmr/koening2008.pdf">"ACT and general </a><a href="http://www.iapsych.com/iqmr/koening2008.pdf">cognitive ability"</a> in the journal Intelligence, showing that both the SAT and ACT are excellent measures of general cognitive ability, even though they are called measures of "academic achievement."
In order to create a more comprehensive and reliable ranking, we first recorded the 25th and 75th percentile SAT and ACT scores for each school from the <a href="http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges">U.S. News National University </a><a href="http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges">Rankings</a> and <a href="http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges">National Liberal Arts College Rankings</a> in 2014. This is based on the schools' reported SAT and ACT scores for first-year, degree-seeking students in the fall of 2012. ACT scores were translated into SAT scores (math + verbal) using <a href="http://www.act.org/aap/concordance/pdf/reference.pdf">this concordance table</a>, so that all schools could be compared using one metric. Finally, an average of the 25th and 75th percentile was computed. This resulted in 501 universities and liberal arts colleges in the U.S. that made SAT or ACT data available.
Guess which school came out on top? It was the one that was clearly missing from the Lumosity data: the California Institute of Technology.
Click here to see <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/smartest-colleges-in-america-2013-9">the top 25 schools</a>, and see <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/complete-ranking-of-americas-smartest-colleges-2013-9">the full rankings here.</a>

Why We Created A New Smartest Colleges Ranking And How It Works

<div class="image-container float_right"><div class="image"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35278629@N08/6012104092">Flickr/NASA Goddard Space Flight</a></div></div>Schools are constantly ranked on everything from the beauty of their campuses to their party scenes, but rarely on their students' <keyword id="6358717" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="intelligence">intelligence</keyword>. 
Exclusively for Business Insider, <a href="http://www.tip.duke.edu/node/960">Dr. Jonathan Wai</a>, a Duke University Talent Identification Program research scientist and psychologist, computed a new ranking of America's colleges and universities based purely on smarts, as shown by the student body's average scores on standardized tests.
Though these tests are often criticized, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/inside-the-smartest-colleges-ranking-2013-9">research shows</a> that both the SAT and ACT are excellent measures of general cognitive ability, and the scores of a school's student body give an accurate snapshot of their abilities. 
Cognitive training company Lumosity took a crack at this last year, <a href="http://blog.lumosity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Lumositys-Smartest-Colleges.pdf">ranking</a><a href="http://blog.lumosity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Lumositys-Smartest-Colleges.pdf"> more than 400 schools</a> based on students' performance on their brain-training games.
There were a couple of problems with their list, however. They only had data available from students who played the games, meaning some of the smartest schools got ignored, and there's no peer-reviewed research showing their games are a reliable and valid measure of smarts. 
Here are the real 25 smartest colleges in America, with <a href="http://blog.lumosity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Lumositys-Smartest-Colleges.pdf">Lumosity's rankings</a> and U.S. News' <a href="http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities">most recent annual college rankings</a> for comparison. 
Read more about <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/inside-the-smartest-colleges-ranking-2013-9">our methodology and reasoning.</a>

The 25 Smartest Colleges In America

<ul class="summary-list"><li>To stay focused throughout the day and remain productive, it's important to build healthy habits like getting enough sleep and exercising regularly. </li><li>Multitasking and social media can cause distractions during work, so it's best to limit them.</li><li>Breaks are important to stay focused. Try a time-blocking technique like the pomodoro method that factors in break time between work sessions.</li></ul>Whether it's fatigue, distractions, lack of motivation, or something else entirely, our inability to <keyword id="6356220" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="focus">focus</keyword> digs a hole in our productivity and limits our chances of success. Maintaining focus is equally about taking care of your mental space and your body, as it is grinding through work. By eliminating distractions, investing time in maintaining physical and mental wellness, and instituting healthy habits, you can <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/productivity-tips-from-successful-people-2018-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">improve your productivity</a>. Here are 13 tips scientists have found that enhance focus. <h2>1. Minimize multitasking</h2>Multitaskers might seem superhuman, but they pay a big price, according to a<a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full?sid=c2929e08-bd00-4d4f-95c3-7b4c83c576a3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 2009 Stanford study</a>. In a sample of 100 Stanford students, about half identified themselves as media multitaskers. The other half did not.The test examined attention spans, memory capacity, and ability to switch from one task to the next - and the multitaskers performed more poorly on each test."They're suckers for irrelevancy. Everything distracts them," Clifford Nass, who was a researcher for the study, said in a Stanford <a href="http://news.stanford.edu/news/2009/august24/multitask-research-study-082409.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>.<h2>2. Meditate</h2>If the saying "practice makes perfect" is true, then <a href="https://www.insider.com/benefits-of-meditation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">meditation is a sure way to enhance focus </a>because it takes a great deal of <keyword id="21056" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="concentration">concentration</keyword>.Scientific experiments agree. <a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/104/43/17152.full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One study</a> at the University of North Carolina, for example, revealed that students who meditated for just 20 minutes a day for four days performed better on certain cognitive tests.Another<a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/50/20254.full.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 2011 study </a>found that people who meditated regularly were less likely to engage in "mind-wandering" and were generally happier. The researchers of the study suggest that this was because long-term meditators exhibited a lower amount of what's called default mode network activity (DMN) - a function of the brain linked with attention issues, anxiety, and depression. If you'd like to learn how to start meditating, read our beginner's guide on <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-meditate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how to meditate</a>.<h2>3. Exercise regularly</h2>Exercises like <a href="https://www.insider.com/benefits-of-running" target="_blank" rel="noopener">running</a>, <a href="https://www.insider.com/benefits-of-swimming" target="_blank" rel="noopener">swimming</a>, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/benefits-of-lifting-weights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">weight lifting</a> aren't just good for the body. They promote brain <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword>, too, which is important for memory capacity and concentration, according to John Ratey, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at<a href="http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/regular-exercise-releases-brain-chemicals-key-for-memory-concentration-and-mental-sharpness" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Harvard Medical School</a>.In particular, scientists think <a href="https://www.insider.com/exercise-to-get-results-2016-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regular exercise</a> may help stimulate the release of a chemical called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain-derived_neurotrophic_factor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brain-derived neurotrophic factor</a>, which some research suggests helps rewire memory circuits to improve their functioning.<h2>4. Establish a to-do list</h2>To-do lists not only help you prioritize what tasks you need to get done first, but they can also serve as a record of the loose ends. Moreover, incomplete work could eat away at your concentration. This stems from something called the <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/zeigarnik%20effect" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zeigarnik Effect</a>, which is the tendency to remember incomplete tasks instead of completed ones.Researchers explored this Zeigarnik effect in a<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21688924/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 2011 study</a> which found that participants who could plan their work and complete tasks one by one were more likely to stay focused than those participants who were made to go from task to task without completing them. <h2>5. Try a small amount of caffeine</h2>If you're feeling groggy, grab <a href="https://www.insider.com/is-coffee-bad-for-you" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a cup of joe</a> or other <a href="https://www.insider.com/food-drinks-as-much-caffeine-as-coffee-2018-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caffeinated substance</a>. Studies suggest that caffeine may, in moderate doses, help to <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20182035" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boost focus</a> - particularly in those of us who are fatigued.But don't get <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-too-much-caffeine-does-to-you-2018-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">overzealous with the coffee</a>, or you might get the <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20182035" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caffeine jitters</a>, which typically reduce your ability to concentrate. You can also <a href="https://www.insider.com/tea-vs-coffee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">try a cup of tea</a>, which won't give you the quick buzz like coffee but can provide you energy for a longer period thanks to the L-theanine chemicals in it that our bodies metabolize throughout the day. <h2>6. Take breaks</h2>You might have heard that watching cat videos on YouTube can<a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/49391395" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> improve productivity</a>. Well, that's true ... sort of. Whether it's watching cat videos,<a href="https://www.insider.com/benefits-of-walking" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> taking a walk</a>, or <a href="https://www.insider.com/are-naps-good-for-you" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a brief nap</a>, it is critical to take the occasional break from work. In<a href="http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/02/09/taking-breaks-found-to-improve-attention/23329.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> one study</a>, 84 subjects were asked to perform a simple computer task for one hour. Those who were allowed two brief breaks during that hour performed consistently for the entire time whereas those who weren't offered a break performed worse over time.Another widely-noted <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/108/17/6889" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2011 study</a> analyzed the decision making process of 1,112 judges and found that more "favorable rulings" were made by judges during the beginning of the day and after they took periodic food breaks. Essentially, this study explored how "decision fatigue" (i.e. how fast and accurately we make decisions) was alleviated by semi-frequent breaks. <h2>7. Listen to the right music</h2>The right background music is ultimately what works for you. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/psychologist-explains-how-listening-music-while-working-studying-low-productivity-less-efficient-2016-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Some experts argue</a> that no music is best for productivity because it minimizes the opportunity for distractions. Whereas <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4197792/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">other studies</a> have found that listening to background music without words offers better performance compared to white noise or silence. And still another <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0305735605050650" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2005 study</a> found that the time spent on a certain task was longest when listening to no music. All that is to say, the type of music you listen to and the type of work you're doing at the time matters. So be conscious of your productivity and choose what music is right for you.<h2>8. Train your brain to focus</h2>Your brain is a mental muscle, and<a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0119522" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> some studies</a> have found that people who are easily distracted<a href="http://www.cognitivetrainingdata.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> will benefit</a> from "brain training" exercises, like those promoted by<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5930973/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Lumosity</a> or<a href="http://www.cogmed.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Cogmed</a>.But which exercises work - and for how well or long their effects last - is unclear. Therefore, the purported benefits of brain training need further examination,<a href="http://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=5970" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Susanne Jaeggi</a> - who studies the brain and memory at the University of California - told<a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn27217-brain-training-may-help-people-with-adhd-to-focus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> New Scientist</a>.<h2>9. Try the Pomodoro method </h2>The<a href="https://science.nichd.nih.gov/confluence/display/newsletter/2020/05/07/The+Pomodoro+Technique%3A+An+Effective+Time+Management+Tool" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> pomodoro method </a>is a time-blocking technique that can help compartmentalize your tasks into manageable 25-minute intervals. To use the pomodoro method work for 25 minutes, taking five minute breaks in between 25 minute intervals. After four of these intervals, you can take a longer 15-30 minute break. This method of time blocking gives you the needed break in between work sessions to help you maintain <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6406620/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">focus longer and more sustainably</a>. Ambient noise, like cars honking or kids screaming, can stimulate the release of the stress hormone cortisol, Mark A.W. Andrews, former director of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania, <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ask-the-brains-background-noise/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Scientific American</a>.<a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-lower-cortisol" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Too much cortisol</a> can impair function and hinder focus. And, unfortunately, the more we're exposed to ambient noise, the worse our bodies respond, according to Andrews. <h2>10. Stare at a distant object for a few minutes</h2>Many of us spend most of our waking hours staring at a digital screen, which can<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-staring-at-a-screen-hurts-your-eyes-2015-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> strain our eyes</a> and actually make it more difficult to focus on, and therefore process, what we're looking at.To refocus the eyes, just stare at a distant object for a few minutes. One doctor suggested the "20-20-20 rule" to a<a href="http://lifehacker.com/5591835/reduce-computer-caused-eye-strain-with-the-20-20-20-rule" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> journalist at LifeHacker</a>. It goes like this: Every 20 minutes, take 20 seconds to stare at an object at least 20 feet away.The idea behind the 20-20-20 rule is that the eye is a muscle and like all muscles it benefits from exercise. Just like how sitting in one spot for a long time can make your muscles feel achy and stiff, staring at one <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tips-for-staring-at-a-screen-all-day-without-ruining-your-eyes-2015-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">object does essentially the same to your eyes.</a> If you don't periodically refocus, your vision can become a little blurry or fuzzy after work. Blue light glasses,<a href="https://www.insider.com/do-blue-light-glasses-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> which filter out the blue light that screens emit</a>, have become popular to help screen-exhaustion. However, they won't help with eye strain, but could potentially help your <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20030543/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quality of sleep.</a> <h2>11. Get a good night's sleep.</h2>One of the main symptoms of chronic sleep loss is<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK19961/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> poor concentration</a>. Getting a solid <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-much-sleep-do-you-need" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seven to eight hours</a> ahead of a busy work day could be the difference between being frazzled and being laser-focused. If you're having trouble sleeping, try a few of these <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-sleep-better" target="_blank" rel="noopener">25 tips for better sleep</a>.<h2>12. Work offline</h2>If you can disconnect from the internet, there are fewer things to distract you from the work at hand. Experts think that every time you flip between tasks - whether it be responding to a friend on Facebook or checking your inbox - a little bit of your attention remains with the task you just left.Sophie Leroy, a professor at the University of Washington at Bothell, coined the term "<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597809000399" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attention residue</a>" as the reason for why it's so hard to change tasks. Eliminating those online distractions can keep you from finding tasks to flip between and help you focus.Disconnecting from the internet may mean unplugging from social media too. If possible, <a href="https://www.insider.com/taking-a-break-from-social-media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">try limiting or all together getting rid of social media</a> use during your work day. Designating time to look through social media, rather than checking it constantly throughout the day, can help you stay on task. <h2>13. Designate your perfect study spot</h2>Focusing requires a lot of willpower, and so does making decisions. According to a concept called <a href="https://faculty.washington.edu/jdb/345/345%20Articles/Baumeister%20et%20al.%20(1998).pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ego depletion</a>, we have a finite amount of mental energy, and both decision-making and willpower can drain it.To save that energy for concentration, proponents of the theory suggest getting rid of excess variables that require you to make decisions, like choosing where to work. Try working from the same location whenever you need to focus, for example. That way, when it's time to get the work done, you won't have to waste time deciding where to go.<h2>Insider's takeaway</h2>Taking care of your mental and physical well-being are the best things you can do to help stay focused. This means getting plenty of sleep, moving your body, and protecting your eyes from screen burnout. However, maintaining focus, doesn't mean you shouldn't take breaks. If you think it could help your productivity, time-blocking and including rest periods between sessions of work can help you organize your time and optimize your schedule. It's important to note that some attention disorders, such as <a href="https://www.insider.com/adult-adhd-symptoms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attention deficit/hyper-activity disorder (ADHD)</a>, make focusing difficult. If you feel yourself having significant difficulty remaining focused, poor time management skills, or are disorganized, you may have <a href="https://www.insider.com/types-of-adhd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a type of ADHD</a> and should schedule an appointment with a healthcare professional who can help determine, or rule out, a diagnosis.<h2>Related articles from <a href="https://www.insider.com/health-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Health Reference</a>:</h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-deal-with-anxiety" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to deal with anxiety and improve your mental health</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/exercise-for-depression" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Exercise for depression: How regular physical activity can help mental health</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-mindfulness" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Learn about mindfulness and its benefits - and how to practice it with or without meditation</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-increase-serotonin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5 proven ways to increase your serotonin levels naturally</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-release-endorphins" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5 fun and easy ways to release more endorphins and boost your mood</a></li></ul>

<div class="image-container float_right" style="width:480px"><div class="image"><a href="http://allthingsd.com/20130503/when-people-live-their-lives-online-the-concept-of-sharing-changes-says-snapchats-evan-spiegel-video/">Video screengrab/AllThingsD</a><keyword id="1659524" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Evan-spiegel">Evan Spiegel</keyword>, CEO of <keyword id="6358096" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Snapchat">Snapchat</keyword></div></div>What does the CEO of Snapchat, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/snapchat-has-raised-60-million-at-an-800-million-pre-money-valuation-2013-6">world's hottest photo-sharing app</a>, have downloaded on his iPhone?
<a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/my-phone/2013/07/snapchat-even-spiegel-lumosity-crossfader">Evan Spiegel, 22, showed Vanity Fair</a> a screen grab of his home page. On it, there are some unusual apps.
There's Tweetbot, to help him scour Twitter better, Uber, for zipping around Los Angeles, Google Maps, and Google Authenticator, for double verification of Google accounts. Those are pretty normal.
For chatting, he has a slew of messaging services including group texting service GroupMe, Tango for voice and video calls, cross platform messaging service Whatsapp and Skype. Those are also pretty normal.
More surprisingly, there's another LA-based consumer app on his phone, Tinder. Tinder is like hot-or-not for people around you based on their Facebook profile pictures, and it has experienced explosive growth over the past year. Spiegel is either finding dates on it or scoping out competition.
His job is busy and has him flying all over, so Spiegel also has a lot of apps to fight boredom. He recently paid for JetLag Geniue to help him recover from jet lag. When he needs a laugh, he opens Instant Buttons, which make noises when pressed. Lumosity is an app with brain teasers that "make him smarter" in his downtime. He also uses a DJ app, Crossfader.
Although he's a young, recent graduate, he asks his younger sister which apps she uses to stay up to speed. One on her radar is "Can I Stream.it." Spiegel thinks the vertical search engine for videos is "genius."

The Apps Snapchat's Founder Uses To Fight Boredom

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image"><a href="http://www.joyridecoffeedistributors.com/">Courtesy of Joyride CoffeeJoyride is especially known for its cold-brew kegerators.</a></div></div>Joyride Coffee has made a name for itself delivering high-quality coffee beans and roasting equipment to dozens of New York City-based startups, like Twitter, Foursquare, Buzzfeed, and Gilt Groupe, just to name a few. 
The company was founded as an NYC food truck by brothers David, Adam, and Noah Belanich in 2011. They eventually sold the truck and instead focused on bringing high-end coffee beans directly to corporate offices, eventually making partnerships with more than 200 companies and scheduling deliveries of fresh beans every two weeks.
Now Joyride is taking its talents to the West Coast, with an expansion to San Francisco.
After just a month in the new market, they've set up partnership deals with nearly 20 companies, many of them tech-related, including Twitter, Disqus, Frog Design, and Lumosity. 
Already they've noticed a few differences in the way residents of the two cities consume their coffee.
"San Francisco has a very developed coffee culture - in many ways they're ahead of New York City - and it's common to be more open and more willing to experiment with local and artisanal coffees," Chief Operating Officer Paul Toscano said to Business Insider. "We've definitely seen more people trending towards single-origin coffees." 
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left"><div><div class="image">Courtesy of Joyride CoffeeNoah Belanich leads a tasting at Arkadium.</div></div></div>Single-origin coffees are sourced from one particular location. They're best enjoyed two to three weeks after roasting, and just like any other food product, they go in and out of season. 
According to Toscano, <a href="http://www.joyridecoffeedistributors.com/coffees/page/four-barrel-kenya-karatina-peaberry/four-barrel">Four Barrel's Karatina Peaberry</a> is an especially good one. Made in the oldest coffee mill in Kenya's Central Province, there are only 990 pounds of it in the entire world, but San Francisco companies could have it delivered right to their offices with Joyride. 
"I think that since coffee is such a big part of San Francisco culture, people are looking for new and interesting coffees to try, and you'll find that awesome diversity in single origins," Toscano said. "In New York, I think the majority of people are just starting to understand third-wave coffee, so it's more split between single origins and blends. Blends are still great, but most of the time they're intended to have a consistent flavor with a taste profile that is catered toward a more general audience."
In New York, coffee brands like Stumptown Coffee and Intelligentsia are big hits among Joyride's customers, while in San Francisco, early partners include local roasters Four Barrel and Sightglass. Techie <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/inside-blue-bottle-coffee-2014-1">favorite Blue Bottle Coffee</a> is currently available in both of Joyride's markets. 
Toscano added that he's also seeing big differences in the equipment people are using to brew their coffee. 
"In New York, people are often very happy with brewing machines and automatic systems. We have great equipment that accomplishes this and consistently makes cafe-quality coffee, and that's really the preference on the east coast," he said. "We still install the same equipment in San Francisco, but there's a real desire from people to take the time and make their coffee by hand using brewers like a Chemex, V60, Hario, or Aeropress. We even had a few people in one office swear that they'd never use an automatic machine because they loved their pour-over so much."
San Franciscans' love of coffee could really be seen as a testament to the city's early-adopter mentality. 
"There's a young, vibrant startup culture here, and they're drinking coffee that's more than just a K-Cup," Toscano said. It's really about the technology and being forward-thinking." 
The blurring of the lines between work and a social life plays a role as well. 
"There's that Google mentality of having micro-kitchens where you run into people and spark ideas," he said. "They really care about your creative time."

Here's The Difference Between Coffee Drinkers In New York City And San Francisco

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/salforduniversity/9718507502/in/photolist-8c4krv-4ZUPgr-7cPLbs-4R4JgR-fNMTGb-9Vi1si-4ZUCJP-efFM4A-9imgxq-56nEXr-5P2D6W-7FuTpV-AX9k-ir73Uy-7EbF3x-gjzt7X-AXLz-4vH4A8-4RCPVe-jtXFCY-7SUM1J-83c3fs-aiim4Q-jePsxX-czkRxs-auQM2N-avwxm7-dkYFci-ao3H6V-33PQq9-8ro4Nk-4gWYKB-cnfEMq-5tg5Pp-EVfcZ-av2nVJ-4xXDNW-8DEC57-7XkhM7-9C1qxi-bp7gaz-4ZYP3m-AXLc-e7AdDy-6s35aW-6ARM6P-5AVVjm-8PErTF-6KyD7c-e2fQKB">University of Salford Press Office/flickr</a></div></div>Tired of wasting your time <a href="http://catvideooftheweek.com/">watching cat videos</a> or scrolling through your Facebook newsfeed? Want to be more productive next time you go online?
Here's a list of websites that will actually make you smarter:
<a href="http://digital-photography-school.com/tips">Digital Photography School</a> - Read through this goldmine of articles to improve your photography skills; they're helpful even if you're a complete beginner. There's also an active forum where you can find a community of other photographers to connect with.
<a href="http://duolingo.com/">Duolingo</a> - Sharpen your language skills with this fun, addictive game. It's a college-quality education without the pricetag. If you're looking for more free language-learning materials, you can also try <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/">BBC Languages</a>.
<a href="http://factsie.com/">Factsie</a> - Did you know the horned lizard can shoot blood out of its tear ducts? Keep clicking through this site to find unusual historical and scientific facts, along with links to sources. Another great site for fun facts is <a href="http://www.todayifoundout.com/">Today I Found Out.</a>
<a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/section/30-second-mba">Fast Company's 30-Second MBA</a> - In short video clips from from accomplished corporate executives, you'll learn great business advice and life lessons, really fast.
<a href="http://freerice.com/">Freerice</a> - Expand your vocabulary while feeding the hungry. It's the best way to feel good about yourself and learn words you can use for the rest of your life.
<a href="https://gibbon.co/">Gibbon</a> - This is the ultimate playlist for learning. Users collect articles and videos to help you learn things from iOS programming to effective storytelling.
<a href="http://instructables.com/">Instructables</a> - Through fun videos and simple instructions, you can learn how to make anything from a tennis ball launcher to a backyard fort. You can also submit your own creations and share what you make with the rest of the world. Still wanting to learn more? You can visit <a href="http://www.ehow.com/">eHow</a> and gain a wide range of skills, such as how to cook, decorate, fix, plan, garden, or even make a budget.
<a href="http://www.investopedia.com/">Investopedia</a> - Learn everything you need to know about the world of investing, markets, and personal finance.
<a href="http://khanacademy.org/">Khan Academy</a> - Not only will you learn a wide variety of subjects through immensely helpful videos, but you'll get a chance to practice them and keep track of your learning statistics, too. It's a great way to further your understanding of subjects you've already taken or to learn something new. Other great learning sites include <a href="http://www.udacity.com/">Udacity</a>, <a href="http://www.coursera.org/">Coursera</a>, <a href="http://academicearth.org/">AcademicEarth</a>, <a href="http://www.memrise.com/">Memrise</a>, and <a href="https://www.edx.org/">edX</a>.
<a href="http://lifehacker.com/">Lifehacker</a> - On this highly useful site, you'll find an assortment of tips, tricks, and downloads for getting things done.
<a href="http://www.lumosity.com/">Lumosity</a> - Train your brain with these fun, scientifically-designed games. You can build your own Personalized Training Program to improve your memory and attention and track your progress.
<a href="http://www.powersearchingwithgoogle.com/">Powersearching with Google</a> - Learn how to find anything you ever wanted by mastering your Google search skills. Also, read this article on <a href="http://www.eternalcode.com/100-google-tricks-that-will-save-you-time-in-school/">100 Google tricks that will save you time in school</a>.
<a href="http://www.quora.com">Quora</a> - Get your questions answered by other smart people, or read through the questions other people have asked. You can learn anything from productivity hacks to the best foods of all time.
<a href="http://www.recipepuppy.com/">Recipe Puppy</a> - Enter in all the ingredients you can find in your kitchen, and this wonderful search engine will give you a list of all the recipes you can make with what you have. It's a great way to learn how to cook without the hassle of buying everything beforehand. For a more extensive list of recipes, try <a href="http://allrecipes.com/">AllRecipes</a>.
<a href="http://www.spreeder.com/">Spreeder</a> - This free, online speed-reading software will improve your reading speed and comprehension. Just paste the text you'd like to read, and it'll take care of the rest.
<a href="http://stackoverflow.com/">StackOverflow</a> - It's a question and answer site for programmers - basically a coder's best friend. Other great sources to learn code are <a href="http://learnxinyminutes.com/">Learn X in Y Minutes</a>, <a href="http://www.codecademy.com/">Codeacademy</a>, and <a href="http://www.w3schools.com/">W3Schools</a>.
<a href="http://ed.ted.com/">TED-Ed</a> - This is a new initiative launched by TED with the idea of "lessons worth sharing." It is meant to spark the curiosity of learners around the world by creating a library of award-winning, animated lessons created by expert educators, screenwriters, and animators. You can create your own customized lesson to distribute around the world by adding questions, discussion topics, and other supplementary materials to any educational video on YouTube.
<a href="http://unplugthetv.com/">Unplug The TV</a> - A fun website that suggests informative videos for you to watch instead of TV. Topics range from space mining to "How Containerization Shaped the Modern World." 
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Vsauce/videos">VSauce</a> - This Youtube Channel provides mind-blowing facts and the best of the internet, which will make you realize how amazing our world is. What would happen if the world stopped spinning? Why do we get bored? How many things are there? Watch the videos and find out.

19 Websites That Will Make You Smarter

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Rather than waste your life on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/science-behind-why-facebook-is-addictive-2014-11">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/psychology-of-why-instagram-is-addictive-2014-11">Instagram</a>, put your daily interneting to good use.
Here's a list of websites that will actually make you smarter:
<a href="http://www.codecademy.com/">CodeAcademy</a> - Learn programming languages like HTML, CSS, and Javascript with this free, interactive resource. 
<a href="https://www.coursera.org/">Coursera</a> - With more than 800 free courses on topics that range from internet history to financial engineering, the <keyword id="6355445" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Education">education</keyword> platform helps you deepen your knowledge across a range of subjects.
<a href="http://digital-photography-school.com/tips">Digital Photography School</a> - Read through this goldmine of articles to improve your photography skills; they're helpful even if you're a complete beginner. There's also an active forum where you can find a community of other photographers to connect with.
<a href="http://duolingo.com/">Duolingo</a> - Sharpen your language skills with this fun, addictive game. It's a college-quality education without the price tag. If you're looking for more free language-learning materials, you can also try <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/">BBC Languages</a>.
<a href="https://www.edx.org/">edX</a> - From classes like <a href="https://www.edx.org/course/the-science-of-happiness-uc-berkeleyx-gg101x#.VHNKPlfF_Vs">The Science of Happiness</a> to <a href="https://www.edx.org/course/responsible-innovation-delftx-ri101x#.VHNKa1fF_Vs">Responsible Innovation</a>, edX offers tons of MOOCs from many of the world's top universities.
<a href="http://factsie.com/">Factsie</a> - Did you know the horned lizard can shoot blood out of its tear ducts? Keep clicking through this site to find unusual historical and scientific facts, along with links to sources. Another great site for fun facts is <a href="http://www.todayifoundout.com/">Today I Found Out.</a>
<a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/section/30-second-mba">Fast Company's 30-Second MBA</a> - In short video clips from from accomplished corporate executives, you'll learn great business advice and life lessons, really fast.
<a href="http://freerice.com/">Freerice</a> - Expand your vocabulary while feeding the hungry. It's the best way to feel good about yourself and learn words you can use for the rest of your life.
<a href="https://gibbon.co/">Gibbon</a> - This is the ultimate playlist for learning. Users collect articles and videos to help you learn things from iOS programming to effective storytelling.
<a href="http://instructables.com/">Instructables</a> - Through fun videos and simple instructions, you can learn how to make anything from a tennis ball launcher to a backyard fort. You can also submit your own creations and share what you make with the rest of the world. Still wanting to learn more? You can visit <a href="http://www.ehow.com/">eHow</a> and gain a wide range of skills, such as how to cook, decorate, fix, plan, garden, or even make a budget.
<a href="http://www.investopedia.com/">Investopedia</a> - Learn everything you need to know about the world of investing, markets, and personal finance.
<a href="http://khanacademy.org/">Khan Academy</a> - Not only will you learn a wide variety of subjects through immensely helpful videos, but you'll get a chance to practice them and keep track of your learning statistics, too. It's a great way to further your understanding of subjects you've already taken or to learn something new.
<a href="https://www.learnvest.com/">LearnVest</a> - The personal finance site offers news, classes, and resources to help you learn the basics of managing your money.
<a href="http://lifehacker.com/">Lifehacker</a> - On this highly useful site, you'll find an assortment of tips, tricks, and downloads for getting things done.
<a href="http://www.lumosity.com/">Lumosity</a> - Train your brain with these fun, scientifically designed games. You can build your own Personalized Training Program to improve your memory and attention and track your progress.
<a href="http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm">MIT Open Courseware</a> - Want to be as smart as an MIT student? Check out classes and course materials from the institute here.
<a href="http://www.powersearchingwithgoogle.com/">Powersearching with Google</a> - Learn how to find anything you ever wanted by mastering your Google search skills. Also, read this article on <a href="http://www.eternalcode.com/100-google-tricks-that-will-save-you-time-in-school/">100 Google tricks that will save you time in school</a>.
<a href="http://www.quora.com">Quora</a> - Get your questions answered by other smart people, or read through the questions other people have asked. You can learn anything from productivity hacks to the best foods of all time.
<a href="http://www.recipepuppy.com/">Recipe Puppy</a> - Enter in all the ingredients you can find in your kitchen, and this wonderful search engine will give you a list of all the recipes you can make with what you have. It's a great way to learn how to cook without the hassle of buying everything beforehand. For a more extensive list of recipes, try <a href="http://allrecipes.com/">AllRecipes</a>.
<a href="http://www.spreeder.com/">Spreeder</a> - This free, online speed-reading software will improve your reading speed and comprehension. Just paste the text you'd like to read, and it'll take care of the rest.
<a href="http://stackoverflow.com/">StackOverflow</a> - It's a question and answer site for programmers - basically a coder's best friend. Other great sources to learn code are <a href="http://learnxinyminutes.com/">Learn X in Y Minutes</a> and <a href="http://www.w3schools.com/">W3Schools</a>.
<a href="http://ed.ted.com/">TED-Ed</a> - This is a new initiative launched by TED with the idea of "lessons worth sharing." It is meant to spark the curiosity of learners around the world by creating a library of award-winning, animated lessons created by expert educators, screenwriters, and animators. You can create your own customized lesson to distribute around the world by adding questions, discussion topics, and other supplementary materials to any educational video on YouTube.
<a href="https://www.udemy.com/">Udemy</a> - Feed your brain with online courses on everything from web development to playing the guitar. You can also teach your own classes through the platform. 
<a href="http://unplugthetv.com/">Unplug The TV</a> - A fun website that suggests informative videos for you to watch instead of TV. Topics range from space mining to "How Containerization Shaped the Modern World." 
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Vsauce/videos">VSauce</a> - This Youtube Channel provides mind-blowing facts and the best of the internet, which will make you realize how amazing our world is. What would happen if the world stopped spinning? Why do we get bored? How many things are there? Watch the videos and find out. 
This is an update of an article originally written by Maggie Zhang.

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