<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Paul Ceglia, a man who was arrested in 2012 for fraud relating to claims he owned 50% of Facebook, has disappeared from his home, Bloomberg <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-12/facebook-fraud-suspect-s-escape-aided-by-hand-made-contraption">reports</a>.</p><p>He had been ordered to wear an electronic tracking bracelet after being accused of using doctored contracts in a "multi-billion-dollar scheme" to defraud Facebook. </p><p>According to <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-12/facebook-fraud-suspect-s-escape-aided-by-hand-made-contraption">prosecutors</a>, Ceglia escaped house arrest by creating a "hand-made contraption" that made it seem like he was still wearing the bracelet in his home. </p><p>Federal marshals entered Ceglia's home in Wellsville, New York on Sunday, after an officer had been unable to contact him. According to <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-12/facebook-fraud-suspect-s-escape-aided-by-hand-made-contraption">Bloomberg</a>, marshals found the tracking bracelet hanging from the ceiling, attached to the device they believe Ceglia built. </p><p>"<span>The purpose of the contraption appeared to be to keep the bracelet in motion using a stick connected to a motor that would rotate or swing the bracelet," Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wilson said in court filings, according to <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-12/facebook-fraud-suspect-s-escape-aided-by-hand-made-contraption">Bloomberg</a>.</span></p><p><span>Ceglia's trial is set to begin in May. If convicted, he could spend up to 40 years in prison, </span><span></span><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2012/10/26/technology/social/paul-ceglia-arrested/">according to CNN Money</a><span>.</span></p><p>Ceglia sued Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook in 2010, claiming he and Zuckerberg had signed a contract in 2003 that promised Ceglia half of a future social networking site.</p><p>Zuckerberg <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-facebooks-zuckerberg-to-testify-at-ny-forgery-trial-prosecutors-2014-22">was a freshman</a> at Harvard at the time, and Facebook didn't exist yet.</p><p>A federal judge dismissed Ceglia's case last year, saying the contract he used as evidence had been doctored, as had other email correspondence Ceglia claimed to have had with Zuckerberg. Ceglia was arrested in 2012.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-headphones-tricks-2015-2">14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="o2OGM3czpWcydnvhjbkDBd6feXPuExiD" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Paul Ceglia, a man accused of defrauding Facebook, believed to be on the run after building a 'hand-made contraption' to escape

<ul class="summary-list"><li>One of the latest <keyword id="6" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="fashion">fashion</keyword> trends going <keyword id="54320" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Viral">viral</keyword> on <keyword id="819905" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Instagram">Instagram</keyword> involves wearing a pillow as a dress with a belt tied around the waist. </li><li>The #QuarantinePillowChallenge first started making the rounds at the beginning of April.</li><li>Celebrities like Halle Berry and Anne Hathaway have shared their takes on the pillow dress challenge. </li><li>I attempted the challenge and found that it was difficult to take a photo of myself, but I still had a blast struggling to put the whole thing together. </li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul><p>With <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-map-stay-at-home-orders-lockdowns-2020-3">stay-at-home orders in full effect</a> across the world, people are getting creative on Instagram with their fashion choices. </p><p>First, an Instagram influencer and dancer created <a href="https://www.insider.com/conor-mckenzie-blanket-couture-instagram-videos-2020-4">a series of videos in which he transformed a single blanket into stunning outfits</a>. Now, the #QuaratinePillowChallenge is taking over the social-media platform.</p><p>As far as Insider can tell, the fashion trend was started by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-mwYrLDrSZ/">@myforteisfashion</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-nA2UFqa5E/">@stylebynelli</a> at the beginning of April, and it has since taken on many other forms through the hashtags #pillowdresschallenge, #pillowchallenge, and more. </p><h2>The challenge involves cinching a pillow around your waist with a belt to make a strapless 'dress'</h2><p>You can then add any other accessories you want to make the outfit as chic as possible. </p><p>I decided to try the trend for myself and can attest that it's not as easy as it looks. It doesn't help that I currently live alone and am in the middle of moving, so my choice of pillows was limited to one option. </p><p><div type="image" title="celia pillow dress challenge" height="3264" width="2448" msid="75376625" hostid="261"></div></p><p>My gray pillowcase is from <a href="https://www.splendid.com/home.html">Splendid</a>, my belt is an old TJ Maxx find, and my sunglasses are Celine.</p><p>Although I would never actually wear this out because of how short the pillow is on me, taking this picture was empowering. I put my curves on display more than I normally would, and I liked it. </p><p>The struggle came when it was time to take the actual picture. I set up my iPad on top of a three-step ladder and put it on a 10-second timer. I took 15 photos before I landed on the one above. In others, you could see my bra or just too much skin. I even tried to take one with my dog like other photos that were floating around on Instagram, but she was not having it. </p><h2>I wasn't the only one who had a hard time recreating the quarantine look</h2><p>Amy Richard, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thewildbloomcottage/">the owner of a cottage Airbnb</a> in Nova Scotia, Canada, admitted it was difficult but fun. </p><p>"It took me a little bit to do," she said. "I'm trying to hold my dog, a little remote in my hand to take the picture, plus a wine glass. It was very challenging to do myself."</p><p>In her photo, Richard is showing off a pillow case from Ikea and a belt from an old winter coat she had in her closet. </p><p>Zenaida Dos Santos, a personal assistant and office manager in London, told Insider she had to take her little sister's leaf-print pillowcases from Ikea because all of hers were neutral colors.</p><p>She paired the pillowcases with a towel, gold earrings from Primark, a Topshop belt, Nike socks, and Jordan sneakers. </p><p>"When I saw my sister's pillow covers, it reminded me of when Jennifer Lopez wore the Versace jungle dress to the Grammys and how it was the most iconic look ever," she said. "I loved the fact that I added bit of sportswear to the look even though I was going for the Grammy's inspired outfit. I still wanted it to be a bit different, unique, and have a touch of street <keyword id="7" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="style">style</keyword>."</p><h2>Others who took part in the challenge made it a whole fashion moment with their chic pillows</h2><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/stephweizman/?hl=en">Stephanie Weizman</a>, a San Francisco-based <a href="http://letmewearthat.com/">blogger</a>, told Insider she originally used her regular all-white pillow, but her husband suggested she use a decorative one they had from Target instead.</p><p>She wanted a "stay-at-home vibe," so she added a <a href="https://clinchbelts.com/">Clinch</a> belt, a <a href="https://www.slip.com/collections/sleep-masks">Slip sleep mask</a> and pillow, rubber gloves "for a bit of humor," chandelier earrings, and Gucci tights "for a hint of chic."</p><p>"Not going to lie, I laughed quite a bit while recreating this look, but that is the feeling I wanted to evoke," she told Insider. "I wanted to make people laugh, inspire them to be creative in their own home, and hopefully put a smile on someone's face." </p><p>"It reminded me not to take fashion too seriously, but most importantly, it inspired me to challenge myself and try new things as a creator," Weizman said. </p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/whit_wanders/">Whitney Powell</a>, a fashion and career <a href="https://whitwanders.com/">blogger</a>, admitted she tried out a few different pillows before landing on the furry Target pillow that she paired with Sam Edelman heels and a Nordstrom headband. </p><p>"I'm tall, so quite a few pillows don't cover my frame. I was finally able to make it work with a very large pillow," she said.</p><p>"It was a fun take on the whole 'stuck at home but still wanting to retain your style vibe,'" Powell added. "I have so many people messaging me asking where I got my pillow." </p><p>Another creator revealed that she would totally wear her pillow look out if she finds the actual dress version. </p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/paige_desorbo/">Paige DeSorbo</a>, a fashion influencer and star of Bravo's "<a href="https://www.bravotv.com/summer-house">Summer House</a>," loved the way she dressed up the feathery black pillow from Marshalls that her mom picked out for her to use. </p><p>"I took her vintage pearl belt and I matched them to a pair of vintage black sandals that she had too," DeSorbo said. "Putting together the look was like putting together an outfit as if I were going out, so it was exciting and fun. It was the perfect excuse to do something funny."</p><h2>The trend has been around for a few weeks now, and celebrities are starting to join in on the fun</h2><p>Halle Berry looked fabulous in a navy-blue pillow, a matching wide-brim hat, a black belt, and patent-leather pumps. </p><p>"You already KNOW you couldn't keep me from the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/pillowchallenge/">#PillowChallenge</a>," she captioned the photo. </p><p>Tracee Ellis Ross had an entire photo shoot in her pillow dress.</p><p>She shared the pictures of her look in an Instagram post and on her Instagram Story. </p><p><div type="image" title="tracee ellis ross pillow dress IGS.PNG" height="2436" width="1125" msid="75376627" hostid="261"></div></p><p>Anne Hathaway took <a href="https://www.insider.com/anne-hathaway-referenced-the-princess-diaries-with-pillow-challenge-2020-4">the nostalgic route with her pillow dress photo</a> by paying tribute to "The Princess Diaries" film poster with her over-the-ear headphones, oval sunglasses, and black leather combat boots. </p><p>"A Queen is never late; everyone else is simply early," she captioned the photo.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/people-using-hashtag-distancebutmakeitfashion-to-showcase-sunday-best-2020-4">People are using the hashtag #distancebutmakeitfashion to showcase their best at-home outfits on Sundays</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/billy-porter-vogue-met-gala-instagram-challenge-2020-4">Billy Porter is asking fans to recreate iconic Met Gala looks at home</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/fashion-style-trends-well-be-seeing-in-2020">Stylists and designers reveal the 11 trends we'll be seeing everywhere in 2020</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/anne-hathaway-referenced-the-princess-diaries-with-pillow-challenge-2020-4">Anne Hathaway's take on the pillow challenge was a nostalgic tribute to 'The Princess Diaries'</a></li></ul>Read the original article on <a href="https://www.insider.com/instagram-quarantine-pillow-dress-challenge-2020-4">Insider</a>

I tried the pillow challenge that's popular on Instagram and it was the most fun I've had in weeks

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right click-to-enlarge"><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Lululemon on Instagram" title_caption="Millennials are changing the retail game." class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54ecbb0e69bedda74953db61-960/millennial-woman-bike-1.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span></a><p class="source"><span><a href="https://instagram.com/lululemon/">Lululemon on Instagram</a></span></p><p class="caption">Millennials are changing the <keyword id="6354851" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Retail">retail</keyword> game.</p></div><p></p></div>Many traditional apparel retailers are struggling.</p><p>Macy's reported a disappointing outlook as executives say consumers are <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-americans-are-spending-money-2014-11">spending their dollars</a> elsewhere. Michael Kors' inventories <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/michael-kors-brand-inventories-rise-2015-2">are rising</a> amid criticisms that the brand isn't cool anymore.</p><p>Teen retailers like Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, Aeropostale, and American Eagle <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/3-trends-that-are-killing-teen-retail-2014-12">are downsizing</a> and changing their strategies. And apparel stores like C. Wonder and Wet Seal have <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/c-wonder-is-closing-all-stores-2015-1">shut down locations</a> this year. </p><p>What's the biggest problem for these companies? </p><p>Millennials, according <a href="https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/press-releases/2015/a-more-casual-active-lifestyle-drives-fashion-sales-growth-in-2014/">to recent data</a> from consumer information company NPD Group. </p><p><span>"The fashion industry has undergone one of the most dramatic makeovers in recent history - no doubt influenced by the Millennial consumer," said Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at NPD. </span></p><p><span>While US consumers spent slightly more on apparel, footwear, and accessories in 2014, those increases were driven by the new "athleisure" trend, not traditional retailers like Macy's, NPD says. </span></p><p>While previous generations dressed up for work and play, millennials have a tendency to wear brands like Nike, Under Armour, and Lululemon everywhere, <a href="https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/press-releases/2015/a-more-casual-active-lifestyle-drives-fashion-sales-growth-in-2014/">according to NPD</a>. </p><p>"There is an underlying sense of rebellion that comes through in today's fashion," Cohen said. </p><p>While department and discount stores struggle, business for athletic retailers <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/lululemon-has-turned-a-corner-2014-12">is booming</a>.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Cohen says that traditional retailers will have to evolve to newly casual consumers. </span></p><p><span><span>"<span>This is no longer a trend - it is now a lifestyle that is too comfortable, for consumers of all ages, for it to go away anytime soon," he said. </span></span></span></p><p>Millennials' tendency to rent instead of buy is also turning the retail industry upside down. </p><p>Apparel retailers are threatened by rental startups like Rent the Runway and Bag Borrow or Steal, <a href="http://therobinreport.com/who-will-buy/?utm_source=The+Robin+Report&amp;utm_campaign=4209ec21ae-Who_Will_Buy_8_10_2014&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_e90268c709-4209ec21ae-201770281#bw_title=29235d61-b2b3-48b8-b9c5-0687ab4b835a">Grace Ehlers writes</a> on industry website The Robin Report. </p><p>The younger generation is increasingly "looking for less expensive alternatives to ownership," Doug Stephens, author of the <a href="http://www.retailprophet.com/blog/5-coming-crises-in-the-retail-market/">blog Retail Prophet</a>, writes. </p><p>Millennials, defined as 18- to 34-year-olds, are increasingly living in small, urban apartments rather than sprawling suburban houses. As a result, they don't have room for as many goods. </p><p>On top of that, younger people have discriminating taste as a result of exposure to online reviews. </p><p>"Sharing is here to stay," he writes. </p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-headphones-tricks-2015-2">14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="o2OGM3czpWcydnvhjbkDBd6feXPuExiD" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Rebellious millennials are turning into a huge problem for retailers

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Hollis Johnson</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>It's been nearly three years since Google's smartwatch operating system, Android Wear, got a major update. </p><p>Since then, Apple has launched its own watch twice over and Fitbit still makes the best fitness trackers you can buy. Android Wear's production partners, like Motorola, have put plans to make more smartwatches <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/motorola-suspends-plans-for-new-smartwatches-2016-12" target="_blank">on hold</a>. </p><p>This makes the launch of Android Wear 2.0 and the introduction of two new smartwatches (in partnership with LG) a telling signal of Google's commitment to wearables.</p><p>I used Android Wear 2.0 on one of Google's new smartwatches, the LG Watch Style (more on the watch itself here) to test out the flagship features of the new operating system: on-watch apps<span>, fitness, and a built-in Google Assistant. </span></p><h2>On-watch apps</h2><p>One of the most exciting features of Android Wear 2.0 is having the Play Store on a smartwatch. As long as the watch has a cellular connection, you can use apps on the watch and even make calls, regardless of whether your phone is in your pocket or at home. Being able to directly download apps onto the watch and cut out the middleman - your phone - makes using the watch a more fluid experience. </p><p><span>The apps themselves are simplified versions of what's on the phone, </span><span>a trend that also caught on with Apple Watch Series 2. Rather than squinting at the screen and trying to navigate through a complex app on a tiny screen, the on-watch apps are pared down and provide only the functionality you need. And with the addition of voice computing to the watch, you have three options for responding to messages or using apps: voice commands, typing on a standard keyboard, and drawing emoji. </span></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Hollis Johnson</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p>The experience isn't perfect yet, but mostly because third-party apps haven't caught up. Some Android Wear apps still require a phone to either set things up or do more minute computing, like typing out a shopping list. But apps' capabilities should only improve over time. </p><p>Where the on-watch apps are most important is in the fitness realm. The addition of Google Play Music to the on-watch Play Store means your phone can be left at home during a workout and you can rely solely on the watch for music.</p><p>There's one major limitation to that - it means you need wireless headphones - but it's a sign that Google is paying attention to the future of fitness technology and the gradual shift away from wired headphones. </p><h2>Improved fitness tracking</h2><p>Fitness tracking was clearly top of mind for Google in creating the new operating system and building the new watches. I got to try these features when I reviewed the LG Watch Style, one of the two LG-made smartwatches launching alongside Android Wear 2.0.</p><p>While the Style doesn't have as many fitness-focused features as its bigger, tougher sibling, the LG Watch Sport (read my colleague Steve Kovach's review of that here), it still works as a basic fitness tracker. The new version of Android Wear on the LG Watch Style does count steps and allows you to set goals for yourself, like running twice a week. Its best feature, however, is the ability to count the number of reps for various activities and act as a fitness coach. With the on-watch Fit Workout app, you can track activities like stationary biking or aerobics, as well as try three types of 30-day challenges: push-ups, sit-ups, and squats.</p><p>While I was originally skeptical that the watch could accurately track the number reps, its built-in gyroscope was able to track both sit-ups and push-ups I completed with perfect accuracy. The watch also coaches you on proper form for each workout, running through a demo of how to complete the move safely and correctly. It tracks your progress each day and makes it a little bit tougher each time you complete the challenge.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Hollis Johnson</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>A simplified user experience overall</h2><p>In Android Wear 2.0, Google lets you to keep your watch face as simple and uncluttered or as customized as you'd like. With personalized watch faces, you can add bubbles that show upcoming agenda items, your fitness goals, or add app shortcuts. Choosing the right watch face was one of the more challenging parts of using the device, as there's only so much information you want displayed on the face of your watch. </p><p>Google Assistant is also now built into the watch, which, on the LG Watch Style, is activated by holding down the side button. Google Assistant is nice to have, as it quickly navigates to apps and saves a few clicks of the dial, but is somewhat unnecessary on a small device that only holds 4 GB worth of apps. </p><p>For those still using watches that run older versions of Android Wear, many of those will also support the new Android Wear 2.0 operating system. Google says 2.0 will roll out to the following watches over the coming months: ASUS ZenWatch 2 &amp; 3, Casio Smart Outdoor Watch, Casio PRO TREK Smart, Fossil Q Founder, Fossil Q Marshal, Fossil Q Wander, Huawei Watch, LG Watch R, LG Watch Urbane and 2nd Edition LTE, Michael Kors Access Smartwatches, Moto 360 2nd Gen, Moto 360 for Women, Moto 360 Sport, New Balance RunIQ, Nixon Mission, Polar M600, and TAG Heuer Connected.</p><h2><span>Conclusion</span></h2><p><span>Overall, Android Wear 2.0 provided the best user experience I've ever had with a smartwatch. It's intuitive and modern, with an interface that's both aesthetically-pleasing and functional. <span>The apps load quickly, the battery lasts for more than a full day, and the watch faces are almost infinitely changeable and customizable.</span></span></p><p>The streamlined operating system makes using a smartwatch more convenient than previous versions. In fact, it felt as though Google re-envisioned the new operating system as a companion to a phone rather than a full-fledged computer. At the same time, since the new operating system is capable of messaging and on-watch music, you can leave your phone at home and rely solely on the watch for your basic needs. </p><p>The new Android Wear provides everything you need and nothing you don't, and can best be described as a smart, unfussy approach to building a smartwatch. <span>Still, it's tough to tell whether or not Android Wear will help smartwatches in general cross<span> over from "nice to have" to "must have."</span></span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/all-of-the-rumors-about-samsung-galaxy-s8-2017-1">Here's everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S8 - Samsung's most important phone</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="x1c24wOTE6i1vE-ZYDimMs1EnaI2qwfB" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Here's what's new in Android Wear 2.0, the latest smartwatch system from Google

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Kroger is thriving.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The supermarket chain generated $109 billion in sales last year and just reported its 45th straight quarter of same-store sales increases. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Kroger's success comes at a time of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trends-that-are-changing-grocery-stores-2014-4">dramatic change</a> in the US grocery industry.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">While a single store once served all of shoppers' food and beverage needs, consumers are now buying groceries across more than a dozen <keyword id="6354851" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Retail">retail</keyword> channels, including online retailers, discount chains such as Trader Joe's and high-end stores like Whole Foods.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Here's how Kroger has maintained customer loyalty despite the changing competitive landscape.</span></p><p><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">1. Kroger has huge private label selection.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></span></strong></p><p>Kroger's private label now accounts for more than a quarter of total sales, according to consulting firm Conlumino. </p><p>Selling its own product instead of a name-brand version helps Kroger in a few ways.</p><p>Cutting out the middle man means the company can sell product at lower prices, drawing in more customers. </p><p>It also helps Kroger differentiate from competitors like Safeway. </p><p><strong>2. <span>Kroger's loyalty program is rated the highest in the grocery industry, according to a </span><a href="http://supermarketnews.com/marketing/kroger-tops-loyalty-program-survey">study</a><span> by Maritz Loyalty Marketing of New York. </span></strong></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Nine out of 10 purchases at Kroger are made with the chain's popular "Kroger Plus Card," according to industry expert </span><a href="http://www.madisonaveinsights.com/2014/04/24/kroger-gets-its-fuel-from-customer-rewards/">Ronald Urbach</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">.</span></p><p>The cards make customers eligible for discounts, including fuel savings of up to $1 off per gallon at Kroger gas stations and up to 10 cents off per gallon at Shell gas stations.</p><p>Kroger's smartphone app also offers promotions and keeps track of customer rewards.</p><p>The popularity of the loyalty program gives Kroger unprecedented access into the behavior of its customers, and allows it to tailor promotions to individual shoppers. </p><p><strong>3. Kroger has a wide selection of organic foods. </strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The grocery chain is expected to surpass Whole Foods Market within two years to become the nation's top seller of organic and natural foods, according to a recent report by JPMorgan Chase.</span></p><p>Kroger's store brand of organic and natural foods, called Simple Truth, includes more than 35,000 products. The Simple Truth line is touted as being free from 101 <a href="http://www.simpletruth.com/about-simple-truth/101-free/">artificial ingredients</a> and preservatives.</p><p>Some customers also say it's cheaper than the alternatives. </p><p>"I love that Kroger sells Organic products now," Jackson Courtney writes on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/businessinsider/posts/10152656361094071">Facebook</a>. "And their brand organic is priced better than Meijer, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's!"</p><p><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">4. Kroger has great customer service. </span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></span></strong></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Facebook user Linda Marshall <a href="https://www.facebook.com/businessinsider/posts/10152656361094071">recalls</a> how her local store opened after a hurricane despite flooding.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> "They are the only ones that opened up right after the hurricanes even while they were sweeping water out from their floors," she writes. "They were there for the customers. It was s really community feeling from their employees."</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Kroger pays an average of $14 an hour, well above the retail industry.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Paying workers better-than-average leads to better talent and retention.</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-headphones-tricks-2015-2">14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="o2OGM3czpWcydnvhjbkDBd6feXPuExiD" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Why Kroger is America's most underrated grocery store

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>A lot of people make the same New Year's resolutions. Not a lot of people know how to keep them.</p><p>Business Insider is here to help change that.</p><p>We checked out a recent <a href="http://maristpoll.marist.edu/1222-being-a-better-person-tops-list-of-2017-resolutions/">Marist poll</a> on the top resolutions for 2017 and added some others that we've heard people talking about; then we found research-backed strategies for sticking to all of them.</p><p>So whether your goal is to lose weight, save more money, or learn a new language, we've got you covered. Here's to a year in which we make our dreams reality.</p><h2>The resolution: Be a better person</h2><p><strong>The trick: Do the "daily questions" exercise</strong></p><p>According to the Marist poll, "being a better person" is the most popular resolution for 2017, claimed by 16% of respondents.</p><p>Of course, it's impossible to define "better person," and to figure out one strategy for getting there. But the daily questions exercise is simple enough that anyone can use it and tailor it to the specific behaviors they're trying to change.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/marshall-goldsmith-daily-questions-exercise-2016-4">The exercise is used</a> by psychologist, executive coach, and author Marshall Goldsmith. Here's how it works:</p><ol><li>Start with an Excel spreadsheet and write down a series of important questions (Goldsmith has 32) about your experiences with friends, family, and coworkers. Goldsmith's questions include "Did I do my best to build positive relationships?" and "How many minutes did you walk?"</li><li>Then create seven boxes across, one for every day of the week. Every question is either answered with yes/no or a number. Goldsmith <span>scores himself on a 1-10 scale, comparing yesterday's effort with previous days.</span></li><li>At the end of the week, create a report card.</li></ol><p>The goal is both to continue making progress on your goals and to realize that there will always be areas where you can improve.</p><h2>The resolution: Lose weight</h2><p><strong>The trick: Keep a food diary</strong></p><p>The poll found that 10% of people said they wanted to lose weight in 2o17.</p><p>Again, there's no one technique that will work for everyone, and you'll likely have to use the food diary in conjunction with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/diet-tips-and-habits-to-lose-weight-2016-10">other strategies</a>.</p><p>But <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3432675/">one study</a> of overweight and obese women found that those who kept a food diary (in the form of a printed booklet) lost about six pounds more than those who didn't. All participants were instructed to keep food diaries, but those who kept them consistently were more successful at losing weight.</p><p>In other words, the idea that someone is watching what you eat - even if that someone is you - can help.</p><p>As Business Insider's <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-apps-for-healthy-food-exercise-sleep-and-good-habits-2016-7">Rafi Letzter has reported</a>, the <a href="https://www.myfitnesspal.com/">MyFitnessPal</a> app is a great way to track your food intake because it isn't based on any particular diet and it allows you (and/or your nutritionist) to set your own targets.</p><h2>The resolution: Exercise more</h2><p><strong>The trick: Just do it and trust that you'll enjoy it</strong></p><p>Another 10% of people said they wanted to exercise more this year.</p><p>If that's your goal, too, keep in mind that the hardest part of hitting the gym is actually getting there. That's probably because you're anticipating a truly awful, grueling workout.</p><p>But as behavioral economist and Duke University psychologist Dan Ariely <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-motivate-yourself-to-work-out-2016-12">previously told Business Insider</a>, exercise is rarely as painful as we imagine it will be. After a few minutes, you might enjoy the sensation of your breath, the music coming through your headphones, and the sound of your feet hitting the ground.</p><p>All those reasons why you "should" exercise - like getting stronger and looking better - will fade away.</p><p>So put a time for exercise on your calendar and have faith that it will be a positive experience.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>The resolution: Save more money</h2><p><strong>The trick: Think about money as something to invest</strong></p><p>Seven percent of respondents reported that they hoped to spend less and save more money in 2017.<strong><br /></strong></p><p>Business Insider rounded up some of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/strategies-to-spend-less-2015-11">best tricks</a> for doing just that, from people who save over half their income.</p><p>One such trick, based on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mr-money-mustache-shares-his-most-important-money-habit-2015-7">a tip from "Mr. Money Mustache"</a>, is thinking about money as something to invest, and not as something to spend. So for example, if you get a raise or a birthday gift, get into the mindset of investing it immediately instead of blowing it on clothes or a vacation.</p><h2>The resolution: Learn a new language</h2><p><strong>The trick: Use spaced repetition</strong></p><p>Spaced repetition is a system that makes learning more efficient. In his book "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fluent-Forever-Learn-Language-Forget/dp/0385348118?tag=bisafetynet-20">Fluent Forever</a>," opera singer and polyglot Gabriel Wyner recommends this strategy for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/learn-a-new-language-remember-2015-11">learning a foreign language</a>. Here's how it works, based on an example from the book:</p><p class="p1">If you can remember that "trabajo" is the Spanish word for work two months after learning it, the spaced-repetition system (SRS) will wait another four to six months before putting it back on your to-do list. But if you're having trouble remembering that "computadora" means "computer" for more than two weeks, the system will put that word back on your to-list more often until you can finally remember it.</p><p class="p1">You can either <a href="http://fluent-forever.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/LeitnerSchedule.pdf">create your own SRS</a> or use one available online.</p><h2>The resolution: Quit smoking (or any bad habit)</h2><p><strong>The trick: Be mindful</strong></p><p>During a <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/judson_brewer_a_simple_way_to_break_a_bad_habit">TEDMed Talk</a>, Judson Brewer, a psychiatrist at University of Massachusetts Medical School, proposed that <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/psychiatrist-mindfulness-is-the-best-way-to-break-a-bad-habit-2016-2">the key to breaking a bad habit is mindfulness</a> - specifically, focusing on how the habit really makes you feel.</p><p>His research focused specifically on people trying to quit smoking.</p><p>In one such study, instead of forcing the smokers to quit, Brewer and his colleagues gave them complete permission to continue - but the participants were asked to be mindful about how smoking made them feel. They were told to smell the cigarette and think about what it smelled like, then take a drag of the cigarette and notice what it tasted like.</p><p>Results showed that mindfulness was twice as effective at helping people quit as a standard training called Freedom From Smoking. That's likely because mindfulness helps you observe your cravings and your behavior up close, without getting sucked into them.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>The resolution: Meet a romantic partner online</h2><p><strong>The trick: Include a question in your profile</strong></p><p>We're at the point where saying you met someone online is no longer embarrassing. That doesn't mean it's easy.</p><p>Take a tip from Jess Carbino, Tinder's in-house sociologist, who previously <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tinder-sociologist-how-to-get-more-people-to-message-you-2016-9">told Business Insider</a> that some people don't know what to say when they find out they've matched with someone. Make it easier for your matches and include a conversation starter in your bio.</p><p>For example, if you mention in your profile that you like to travel, list a few places you've been and then ask: "What's your next destination?"</p><p>If you're an art fan, cite artists whose work you enjoy and then ask: "Who's your favorite artist?"</p><h2>The resolution: Find a new job</h2><p><strong>The trick: Keep a "Good Time Journal"</strong></p><p>Before you officially decide to leave your job, you'll want to take advice from Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, professors at Stanford University's design program.</p><p>Burnett and Evans recommend keeping a "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/should-i-leave-my-job-2016-10">Good Time Journal</a>," or a catalog of the tasks you enjoy most and least in your current work.</p><p>The first component of the journal is the activity log, where you list your primary activities and how engaged and energized you were while doing them. The second component is reflection, which involves reviewing your activity log and noticing any patterns or surprises.</p><p>The authors recommend keeping the journal for three weeks. That way, you can see what type of job to look for going forward <em>or</em> realize that you can keep your current job and talk to your manager about eliminating the parts you hate.</p><h2>The resolution: Spend more time with family</h2><p><strong>The trick: Embrace work on weekends</strong></p><p>Contrary to popular belief, staring at your laptop on a sunny Saturday afternoon doesn't necessarily make you a workaholic. But it could make you more productive - and leave you more time to devote to caring for your family.</p><p>That's according to author and time-management expert Laura Vanderkam. As she previously <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/laura-vanderkam-why-its-okay-to-work-on-weekends-2016-10">told Business Insider</a>, if you work a couple hours on Saturday mornings and Sunday nights, for example, you might be able to leave the office an hour earlier every weekday. That means you could pick up your kids from school, or prepare dinner, or simply make it to a gym class.</p><p>Vanderkam suggests using weekend time to think deeply on tough problems or plan for the week ahead, which can save you time during the week. </p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/laura-vanderkam-schedule-productivity-2016-11">Thinking of your schedule by weeks instead of days will increase your productivity</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="ZoeTBvNzE6yJGlPOQqj1X22RKxUhOLcV" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Research-backed tricks to stick to the 9 New Year's resolutions everyone has

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Joe Raedle/Getty</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>John McAfee did not kill his neighbor in Belize.</p><p>I know because I asked him that exact question. </p><p>"Do you know what questioning is there? They string you up buy your heels and they put a football helmet on your head. And then they beat that with a baseball bat until your brain turns to mush," McAfee told me, after denying his involvement.</p><p>"It leaves no scar. It leaves no bruise. It's not something I was doing. If you wanted to do it, I'd be happy to point you to someone who would do that to you," McAfee said. </p><p>I have no doubt that he would.</p><p>The 70-year-old former software executive is an enigma: Smart, entertaining, and a little bit of intimidating in a way that keeps you on edge. </p><p>His life has fluctuated from drug use to creating a multi-million dollar company and back again. He was accused of murdering his neighbor in Belize - by the press only, he says - and his dog was shot in his military compound by armed soldiers before he fled. He's since moved back to the US and lives in the one small town in Alabama that has gigabit internet access.  He was <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/john-mcafee-arrest-driving-under-influence-possession-of-handgun-2015-8">arrested earlier this summer</a> on charges of driving under the influence and handgun possession. (</p><p>McAfee is also running for president of the United States. </p><p>And don't laugh, because he is taking this seriously: He showed up at Techcrunch Disrupt, a three-day San Francisco startup, for a TV interview and stopped by the press room during his campaign visit. He left that night to fly off to do another magazine cover on his campaign trail.</p><p>"I will be president. You can laugh all you want. I'll bet you a dollar. I will be president or I would not be doing this," he said, <a href="http://recode.net/2015/09/21/john-mcafee-i-will-be-president-you-can-laugh-all-you-want/">as reported by Re/Code</a>.</p><h2>Meet the Cyber Party</h2><p>To run for president, McAfee created his own party: the Cyber Party.</p><p>He's against the internet of things, which lets televisions spy on our private conversations. He's extremely (and justifiably) concerned that a pair of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/researchers-show-the-ability-to-remotely-hack-and-control-a-car-2015-7">hackers took over a jeep</a>. He hired his friend who hacked the United Airlines entertainment systems (and was subsequently detained) as his chief technology officer to advise him. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Henderson County Police</span></p><p class="caption">A mugshot from earlier this summer, when McAfee was arrested in Tennessee on charges of driving under the influence of prescription drugs.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>McAfee argues that the government is not educated on cyber warfare or cyber science - any of the cyber-isms - and that will do us in. Our country is too lazy to have switched to the metric system and that's putting us behind. He really hates that there are 5,280 feet in a mile when the rest of the world can just move decimal places. </p><p>We're also in a cyber war, McAfee said, and no one is aware of it. </p><p>"T<span style="font-weight: 400;">he Chinese have declared war on us, they just haven't spoken it out loud. They have sucked up 14 million records of every employee who has worked for the US government for the past thirty years, including every top secret cleared employee and that includes every agent we have embedded in every country on this planet. No greater coup of warfare has ever been achieved and China walked off with that and America has never said a word," McAfee said.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another argument in his campaign arsenal: No one would elect him if he was illiterate, so why are we electing government officials who say they have never sent an e-mail or don't know what wiping a hard drive means? </span>The Chinese would laugh those politicians off the stage, McAfee argues, and yet we elect them in the US. Not just as president, but in every government office.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Thomson Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">Computer software pioneer McAfee speaks with reporters outside his hotel in Miami Beach</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p> </p><p>The government also needs a cyber overhaul.</p><p>"<span style="font-weight: 400;">We have to re-architect all of our systems. All of our programs, all of our computers. We started out in the 70s building software. And we've built upon software, upon software, upon software. It is full of holes. It is like a waffle. It's like a sea sponge," McAfee says. "That's how they walked off with 14 million records. A child could have done it. We're in a tragic situation in a world."</span></p><h2>How he'll fix it</h2><p>McAfee says he has the votes. He told reporters that he has the tech vote, the tattoo vote, and the black vote, as one BBC reporter summarized. We ran out of time to run the math together. But, assuming he does win, he does know what his first steps in office will be:  </p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">His first act would be to pardon everyone with a marijuana conviction that is behind bars. "</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">My first act would be to pardon them, because I can do that as president, get these people out, get them jobs and keep them moving," McAfee said.</span></p><p>His second would be to disband the Transportation Security Administration.</p><p>He's already written extensively about how the next plane to go down will not be from weapons that slipped by. "<span>It will be brought down by two kids in China, Russia, or Afghanistan who are bored of playing Grand Theft Auto and say 'Let's bring down an airplane.' And from the internet, they will hack into it and bring it down," he said.</span></p><p>It won't leave us unsafe in the sky, he argues, because flight marshalls are still there.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Thomson Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">A Transportation Security Administration arm patch and shield is seen at Los Angeles International Airport</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>"<span style="font-weight: 400;">The TSA was a response to an imaginary future that never materialized. The future that did materialize the TSA cannot protect us from," McAfee said.</span></p><p>Also on the list: Opening up the borders, creating schools, and generating more jobs. Good-bye Border Patrol.</p><p>"<span style="font-weight: 400;">What purpose does it serve? It's not keeping bad people out I assure you. I know for a fact, having lived in Belize, they're coming in," McAfee said.</span></p><p>"Maybe it's the person perceived to be paranoid that actually perceives the truth of life and should be paranoid. You should be paranoid, we should all be paranoid. The man standing behind you with his hands in his pockets behind you looking comfortable, he should be paranoid. I could wake his ass up by saying 'Look, here's the situation we're in. We're in a cyber war and we're losing. The Chinese are invading and we don't even see it. We are in a world that depends upon a science that demands metrics and we have 5,280 feet in a length. And we have 212 degrees as the boiling point of water. What madness!'"</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-headphones-tips-tricks-apple-2015-7">All the incredibly useful things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="o2OGM3czpWcydnvhjbkDBd6feXPuExiD" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Ex-fugitive and a little bit crazy, cybersecurity legend John McAfee is running for president

<p class="p1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Motivating yourself to do stuff is hard.</p><p class="p1">When it's just you on your living-room floor, it's tempting to do a few push-ups and quit, even though you said you'd do 20. And when it's Saturday morning and you're supposed to be working on that novel you said you'd write, it's easy just to… not.</p><p class="p1">Over on Quora, there are more than 100 potential solutions to this problem, included on the thread, "<a href="https://www.quora.com/Self-Improvement-How-can-I-motivate-myself-to-work-hard-1">How can I motivate myself to work hard?</a>"</p><p class="p1">Below, we've rounded up some of the best tips and strategies on there. Read on and find out how to give yourself a kick in the pants when you need it most.</p><h2>1. Change the way you talk to yourself</h2><p class="p1">Quora user <a href="https://www.quora.com/How-can-I-motivate-myself-to-work-hard/answer/Bhaskar-Bagchi">Bhaskar Bagchi writes</a> about being a success seeker, as opposed to a failure avoider. It's an idea attributable to a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sxpKhIbr0E">TEDx talk</a> by Scott Geller, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Virginia Tech.</p><p class="p1">In the talk, Geller says finding self-motivation is about reframing the way you talk to yourself. For example, if you're a student, do you go to class so you don't get kicked out of school (i.e. failure avoidance)? Or do you go to class so you learn more and get closer to your career goals (i.e. success seeking)? Chances are, you'll be much more motivated to perform well in the second scenario.</p><h2>2. Stop comparing yourself to others </h2><p class="p1">When you feel like you're falling behind on your goals, it's tempting to look around at all the people who seem to be achieving theirs.</p><p class="p1">But that tendency will only undermine your confidence and your ability to make progress, <a href="https://www.quora.com/How-can-I-motivate-myself-to-work-hard/answer/Micha-Kaufman">says Micha Kaufman</a>.</p><p class="p1">"A case of the Joneses is about the best way to make you feel like you're worth nothing," he writes. "When such comparisons enter your head, recognize that these are just negative thoughts and let them pass."</p><p class="p1"><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/comparing-yourself-to-others-is-pointless-2016-6">Research suggests</a> another reason why comparing yourself to others isn't a great idea. We're notoriously poor judges of how other people are feeling, meaning we think that everyone else is happy all the time and we're the only ones struggling, when in fact other people are probably in the same boat.</p><h2>3. Understand your purpose </h2><p>"Find your why," <a href="https://www.quora.com/Self-Improvement-How-can-I-motivate-myself-to-work-hard-1/answers/14700101">says Nelson Wang</a>. "If you don't know what it is, create it."</p><p>Research supports Wang's idea. <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597806000641">One study</a> found that call center employees at a public university performed significantly better when they met students who had benefited from donations to the school. In other words, learning about the potential impact of their efforts motivated them to work harder.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>4. Keep a daily diary </h2><p><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-can-I-motivate-myself-to-work-hard/answer/Gerard-Danford">Gerard Danford mentions</a> research by Teresa Amabile, Ph.D., a professor at Harvard Business School, which found that making even a little bit of progress can be tremendously motivating for workers.</p><p>That's why it helps to record your progress along the way - for example, a phone call you made to help secure a sale. That way, you can look back at the end of the day and feel empowered to take another step forward tomorrow.</p><p>"Keep track of your small wins," Amabile says in a <a href="http://www.academybridge.org/videogallery/progress-principal/">video</a> posted on Academy Bridge. "Keep track of your progress every day. That can be very motivational."</p><p>One way to keep track of that progress is to write a "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/done-list-can-make-you-more-successful-at-work-2016-12">done list</a>," which features everything useful you did today (as opposed to a to-do list, which indicates how far you have left to go).</p><h2>5. Remember where you started</h2><p>Once you start keeping a diary, flip back to your entries from a few weeks or months ago.</p><p>"It can be very motivating to look back at where you came from," <a href="https://www.quora.com/How-can-I-motivate-myself-to-work-hard/answer/Ben-Baert">writes Ben Baert</a>, because you'll realize that you're capable of making great strides.</p><p>For example, Baert says, "if you're learning how to draw, draw something (a cup, a tree, an animal), then draw the same thing again after a couple of weeks/months. Then compare with the original. That moment will be very motivational."</p><h2>6. Don't fear criticism</h2><p>No one likes to hear that they're doing something wrong. But try to keep your emotions in check.</p><p>"Consider the source and decide if the person really has the expertise or knowledge to make his or her comments," <a href="https://www.quora.com/How-can-I-motivate-myself-to-work-hard/answer/MaRina-Abaza">writes MaRina Abaza</a>. "If you decide that the words are not just empty accusations, look at it as an opportunity to improve yourself."</p><p>In fact, psychologist and executive coach <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-other-people-think-of-you-matters-2016-8">Marshall Goldsmith says</a> that other people's perceptions of you can be even more important than <em>your</em> perception of you, especially in the workplace. That's because their feedback allows you to compare the self you want to be with the self you're really presenting to the rest of the world.</p><p>If you approach the criticism with a clear head, it could end up being exactly the motivation you need.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>7. Set a quit time</h2><p class="p1">When you need to get stuff done, it can seem like the only strategy is to work as hard as you can for as long as possible.</p><p class="p1">But that technique is usually counterproductive and can easily <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/signs-youre-suffering-from-job-burnout-2015-7">lead to burnout</a>.</p><p>Instead, <a href="https://www.quora.com/Self-Improvement-How-can-I-motivate-myself-to-work-hard-1/answer/Matt-Holmes-32">Matt Holmes recommends</a> imposing some deadlines and taking breaks.</p><p>It's "important to recognize when enough is enough," he says. "Set a realistic quitting time for yourself, and stick to it at least most days of the week. Stop answering emails after 8 p.m., or take Sundays off. You'll feel more refreshed and more productive when you allow yourself some down time."</p><h2>8. Spend time with smart people</h2><p>It's always intimidating to be in a room full of super-intelligent, super-knowledgeable folks - say, at a professional conference. But the experience can prompt you to challenge yourself to work harder than you thought you could.</p><p class="p1"><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-can-I-motivate-myself-to-work-hard/answer/Devansh-Malik">Devansh Malik recommends</a> spending time with people "who know way more than you about anything and everything. This will encourage you to learn more and to achieve [so] that you'll automatically work hard."</p><h2>9. Rely on habits</h2><p class="p1">Try as you might to summon it, sometimes motivation will elude you.</p><p class="p1">That's why <a href="https://www.quora.com/Self-Improvement-How-can-I-motivate-myself-to-work-hard-1/answer/Eduardo-Matos-4">Eduardo Matos suggests</a> turning your desired behaviors - like studying - into habits.</p><p class="p1">"It's better to build the habit of studying X hours/day, and do it religiously, [so that] very soon you're going to be studying automatically," he writes.</p><p class="p1">One reason why practicing habits often trumps finding motivation is that you don't have to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/things-that-affect-willpower-decision-making-2014-11">exercise your willpower</a> to make the choice to study. It's simply something you do without thinking.</p><p class="p1">To start, figure out both the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-exactly-how-to-form-a-habit-that-sticks-2014-4">cue and reward</a> for your old habit. For example, maybe you have a bag of chips each day when you get home from work because it relaxes you. If you want to start a healthier habit, you can use arriving home as the cue to change into your jogging gear, and that warm and fuzzy post-exercise feeling as the reward. Soon the exercise habit will have replaced snacking, and you won't need to muster up the motivation to jog every day after work.</p><h2 class="p1">10. Anticipate difficulties</h2><p class="p1">If you prepare for challenges instead of pretending they won't come up, you'll be better equipped to fight them when they do arise.</p><p class="p1"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Self-Improvement-How-can-I-motivate-myself-to-work-hard-1/answer/Sean-Johnson">Writes Sean Johnson</a>:</p><p class="qtext_para" style="padding-left: 30px;">"In the beginning, it will feel uncomfortable. That's to be expected.</p><p class="qtext_para" style="padding-left: 30px;">"Anticipate this, and come up with a strategy for dealing with it in advance. Tell yourself 'when I get frustrated and want to quit, I will _______.' Your blank could take many forms - a reminder of some goal that your new focus will help you achieve, a reward you'll treat yourself to at the end of the day, etc."</p><p class="qtext_para">Johnson's suggestion sounds similar to "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/robert-cialdini-if-when-then-planning-helps-you-achieve-your-goals-2016-9">if/when/then" planning</a>. Here's how it works:</p><p class="qtext_para">You pick a cue: a specific time or place. Then you pick a desirable action that you can link to that cue.</p><p>So if your goal is to lose weight, your plan might be "when I get frustrated and want to quit, I will call my most supportive friend." That way, your brain will be programmed to have you dial said friend - instead of eat a cupcake - every time you get down on yourself.</p><h2>11. Focus on the process</h2><p>You've heard it before: Life is a journey, not a destination.</p><p><a href="https://www.quora.com/Self-Improvement-How-can-I-motivate-myself-to-work-hard-1/answer/Matthew-Jones-217">Matthew Jones writes</a>: "Sometimes you find more motivation when you stop focusing on the final destination and start enjoying the journey. Paying too much attention to the end goal produces stress and anxiety that wears you down with time, but when you fall in love with the process itself, you become revitalized."</p><p>Behavioral economist Dan Ariely <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-motivate-yourself-to-work-out-2016-12">gave Business Insider an example</a> of how focusing on the process might help if your goal is to exercise more.</p><p>Ariely's best advice is to schedule time for a workout and trust that you'll like it once you get started. Because once you do, thoughts of getting stronger and looking better - the likely outcomes of exercising regularly - kind of melt away. Instead you take in the sensation of your breath, the music coming through your headphones, and the sound of your feet hitting the ground.</p><p>In other words, your in-the-moment experience matters as much as or more than the end result.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/navy-seals-motivation-discipline-jocko-willink-leif-babin-2016-10">Former Navy SEAL commanders: When things get tough, forget motivation - you need discipline</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="hrN2dwNjE6ftA61SzEUAdA3CwloZy8pV" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

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