Yeargan & Kert LLC - March 2022

Yeargan & Kert LLC - March 2022

THE DEFENSE REPORT

MARCH 2022

AtlantaDUILawyer.com 404-467-1747

SAY ‘NO’ TO DISTRACTIONS

HARVESTING PRODUCTIVITY THIS SPRING

March brings along sunshine, warmth, flowers, St. Patrick’s Day, and March Madness, a single-elimination tournament of 68 college teams. March Madness is notoriously celebrated in the workplace with brackets, buy-ins, potlucks, and watch parties. While they are fun and exciting, the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments are sometimes a nightmare for employers. According to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., a work outplacement firm, employers in the United States lose roughly $13.3 billion in productivity during March Madness. It should be noted that this is based on an average employee earning $27 per hour. Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. says that for each hour employees spend on the games while at work, employers nationwide are losing up to $2.1 billion. While this does worry some employers, many benefits such as camaraderie and team engagement come out of March Madness fun at the office. Whether you find yourself wrapped up in March Madness this time of year, social media, recipe hunting, or anything but work, a few simple tips can help boost your productivity during your working hours or at times when you should be cleaning, working on a project, or engaging in an activity but find yourself consumed by distractions. STOP MULTITASKING. Ironically enough, doing more than one thing at the same time has been proven to be a productivity killer. According to studies, the mental blocks created when people switch tasks harm your productivity, decreasing it by as much as 40%. While you may think that emailing your boss, calling your coworker, and working on two different projects at the exact same time is more efficient, it leaves the door wide open for error and you probably aren’t accomplishing any of them effectively.

FOCUS ON YOUR LARGEST TASKS FIRST. At the beginning of each day, build yourself a task list. Place the most time-consuming things at the top for when you are most alert and energized. The last thing you want is to be scrambling with important tasks toward the end of the day when you are running out of fuel to finish. Harvest that creativity and work ethic first thing in the morning. TAKE REGULAR BREAKS. Even if you work from home, take breaks. Get up from your desk, stretch, get a bite to eat, and grab some fresh air. (You can even check in on March Madness then.) You may think that skipping breaks and powering through is beneficial, but it actually does more harm than good when you experience a huge burnout midday. LIMIT INTERRUPTIONS. This may mean silencing your phone, avoiding social media during work hours, or closing your office door. Interruptions can really get us off-track throughout the day. Once you are out of the groove, it can be tough to get back in the game. Keep in mind that consistency is key here. If you always wear noise-canceling headphones, don’t skip a day!

Appropriately dedicating your time to certain tasks, completing them, and then ending your day with a big, satisfied sigh of relief is a huge

indicator of your overall productivity, not to mention it feels great! Even if you partake in March Madness, by following these simple tips, you’ll have your fun while maintaining your productivity.

–Jim Yeargan

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2 SCIENTIFIC METHODS TO STOP FORGETTING SELF-EMPOWERING MOTIVATION IS A ‘SHORTCUT’ Why do we supplement our diets with omega-3s and do puzzle games to strengthen the health of our brains? The most important reason is to prevent memory loss. However, in order to enhance our memory and lessen the instances of forgetting both big and little things, these brain- based strategies can help! NO. 1: AIM FOR MASTERY, NOT RELATIVE PERFORMANCE. When losing weight, some people find it helpful to stop checking Facebook or Instagram to prevent self-comparisons. Similarly, your brain forgets what’s important when you compare your performance to others. Researchers at Nagoya University in Japan have found that mastery- approach goals (i.e., developing your own competence) enhance memory of newly learned material, whereas performance-approach goals (i.e., comparing yourself to others) can create “tenuous connections” in memory. The authors concluded the study by saying, “Motivation factors can influence inhibition and forgetting.”

NO. 2: ASK WHY. A 2016 study from the European Journal of Social Psychology found that thinking more abstractly can actually reduce memory issues. The study examined how levels of “construal” (examination and interpretation) can affect memory, and their results suggested that “abstract thinking can

eliminate retrieval-induced forgetting because of relational processing, demonstrating the roles of the levels of construal on memory inhibition.” In other words, if you know the “how” and “why” behind things you intend to remember, you’ll be more likely to remember them. If you’ve been forgetful lately, maybe it’s time to rethink how you approach new information — according to researchers, a new source of motivation or critical thinking mindset could make all the difference!

So, it might be time to ask yourself: What motivates you to learn new things, and how can you change your approach?

THEFT, ROBBERY, AND BURGLARY THEY ’RE NOT THE SAME!

Theft, robbery, and burglary can be very confusing terms. Many people believe that, legally, they are interchangeable terms, but there are some differences between these offenses. But one thing they all share is the severity of the consequences if someone is convicted of one of them. One of the most common crimes in the state of Georgia is theft , the criminal act of taking another person’s property without their permission. It involves the person taking the property with the intent of permanently depriving another person of that property. Some examples of theft include theft of a motor vehicle, shoplifting, or theft by deception.

force is utilized when taking the property. It should be noted that the property that is taken during the crime does not need to be taken off of the victim’s person. It can be property someone is in control of. Robbery is a violent crime and the victim must have been in fear for the crime to be considered robbery. Burglary is not always a theft crime. In Georgia, burglary is the unlawful entering of a structure that you do not own or have permission to enter with the intent to commit a crime once you are inside. Some examples of burglary include breaking into a car or opening an unlocked door to commit a crime inside.

If you have been charged with a theft, burglary, or robbery, we are here to answer all of your questions! Give us a call today.

Robbery , while a type of theft crime, is different in that while it involves taking property from another person, force or the threat of

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LAUGH IT OFF

THE DUI LESS SAFE STATUTE

UNDERSTANDING THE GEORGIA STATUTE FOR A BAC UNDER .08

Georgia’s DUI laws are obscure and confusing. Did you know that even if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is lower than 0.08, you could still be in trouble? Georgia’s DUI Less Safe statute states that drivers can be convicted, even if their BAC is less than 0.08 or if they refuse to submit to a breath, urine, or blood test. Section 40-6-391(a)(1) states that drivers cannot “drive or be in actual physical control of any moving vehicle while under the influence of alcohol to the extent that it is less safe for the person to drive.” DUI Less Safe also applies to drug use. If drugs, whether they be prescribed, over the counter, or an illegal drug, make the driver less safe, on their own or after being mixed with alcohol, the individual could be convicted of a DUI Less Safe. Police officers then have discretion to determine whether or not the driver is safe to drive. They take into account the reason for the traffic stop. Speeding, improper lane changes, and running stop signs are all signs of unsafe driving and can be used to convict a driver of “less safe” driving. DUI Less Safe convictions carry some repercussions, including a driver’s license suspension, hefty fines, jail time, probation, and community service. It should be noted that just like other offenses, the state of Georgia treats multiple DUI convictions more harshly than first-time offenders. Being arrested for a DUI Less Safe is just as nerve-wracking and terrifying as an actual DUI. Our skilled DUI defense attorneys are ready to step in and help. We can assist you in requesting an administrative license suspension hearing within 30 days of the arrest. Give us a call today to see how we can help!

EASY MARCH MADNESS CHILI

Cheer on your favorite team and chow down in minutes with this easy chili recipe!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 lbs ground beef • 2 tbsp chili powder • 1 tbsp Creole seasoning • 1 tsp ground cumin

• 2 16-oz cans diced tomatoes • 2 16-oz cans small red beans • 2 8-oz cans tomato sauce

DIRECTIONS 1. In a deep pot, brown the beef, stirring often. 2. Once beef is cooked, add chili powder, Creole seasoning, and cumin, cooking for 1 minute. 3. Stir in diced tomatoes, beans, and tomato sauce and bring the mixture to a boil. 4. After the mixture boils, reduce the heat to low and let chili simmer for 15 minutes. 5. Serve with toppings of choice, like cheese, sour cream, or chives.

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Yeargan & Kert, LLC 3715 Northside Parkway Building 100 Suite 500 Atlanta, GA 30327 404-467-1747 AtlantaDUILawyer.com

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INSIDE

Spring Time Productivity

Are You Forgetful Lately?

Theft, Robbery, and Burglary Cases Explained

What Is a DUI Less Safe?

Easy March Madness Chili

Enjoy Spring Weather — Even From Work

ENJOY WARM WEATHER WHILE STUCK INDOORS SPRING FEVER The weather is warming up, the sun is out — and you’re trapped inside. Most of us have jobs that leave us stuck indoors during spring’s prime midday hours, and it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out on the season’s best parts. Unfortunately, your boss probably won’t give you the day off just because of the gorgeous weather. So, we’ve compiled the next best thing — some tips to enjoy the season as much as you can while also getting your job done. BRING THE OUTDOORS IN. When the weather is nice, open as many curtains and blinds as possible. The natural light will warm up the room and brighten your mood. While you’re at it, try opening the windows and positioning yourself near one. If you can’t be outside, the spring breeze on your face is the next best thing. Plants decrease stress, and having them on your desk might also trick your brain into feeling less cooped up.

stroll; if possible, you can also walk or bike to work. At the very least, park farther away to give yourself time to enjoy the weather. Volunteer to do a coffee run, pick up lunch, or take out the mail — you’ll be an office hero while catching some rays at the same time. TRY WORKING OUTSIDE. If your boss will allow it, there’s probably some opportunity to do a bit of work outdoors. Meetings and conference calls might offer your best option. For in-person meetings, your coworkers will also likely relish a chance to take it outdoors. In the event of a conference call, you won’t need to convince anyone else — grab your laptop and go! It’s not the same as enjoying the weather while you’re off the clock, but it’s a lot better than being cooped up inside.

TAKE A BREAK. You’ve still got to work, but that doesn’t mean you can’t sneak in a few minutes outdoors. Use your break for an outdoor

With any luck, these tips will help you make it to Friday with your sanity intact. And luckily, the weekend is always just around the corner.

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