Category Archives: E-Learning

Does Outsourcing Save Time and Money for Insurance Agents?

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How to outsource insurance agent help | Insurance CE
You’ve heard all the talk about outsourcing in the media, and perhaps even seen other insurance agencies take advantage of the benefits of using contractors rather than hiring staff, but will it really work out for you? It depends.

Many companies choose outsourcing because of the cost savings that come from not having to pay employee benefits, but another benefit is freeing your remaining staffers from administrative work, enabling them to spend more time doing what they do best. A number of companies have reported greater employee satisfaction and job performance as back-office tasks are turned over to an outside contractor, as well as a sense of enhanced job security and employee value.

Several outsourcing companies deal specifically with the insurance industry. If you need help with back-office processing or analytical tasks, ReSourcePro of New York can farm out the work to overseas facilities, where an English speaking college-degreed professional will be specifically assigned to work directly with you. Users have reported fast turnaround times on work that could have taken their regular employees many weeks to complete. Another option that’s closer to home is WAHVE, LLC, an agency that matches over-55 retired insurance professionals with insurance agencies needing help with customer service, claims, or processing. WHAVE workers can help reduce overhead and other costs via connection to a client agency’s system, while keeping jobs here in the US.

The Downside: A Cautionary Tale

Some companies have been less than happy with their outsourcing experience. Training and supervision of workers may not meet your standards. There can also be time and communication conflicts due to time zone differences, as well as language barriers and security issues – all of which can create extra problems due to contractor mistakes and unforeseen delays. Once functions are turned over to a contractor, you lose direct control over training, risking accountability and customer satisfaction. You have to keep an eye on the cost, too: in the end, for some companies there are no real savings. Be cautious before letting go of employees in favor of unproven contractors: you may wish later that you had them back!

The Last Word

• The trend among many insurance agencies is to hire mainly ‘core’ employees (sales and upper administrative) and outsource support personnel or those temporary positions
that don’t directly generate revenue. As companies continue to slash costs to remain competitive, outsourcing non-core work is fast becoming the norm.

• If considering outsourcing, ask questions designed to cover as many contingencies and hidden costs as possible, including the status of the contractor’s financial health.

• Get everything in writing about what you will get and what services will cost extra.

• Ask for references and be sure to follow up.

• Outsource only some of your tasks initially, to evaluate the servicer’s performance over a period of time, before risking your company’s reputation and goodwill.

3 Tips for Beating Test Anxiety

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Many people experience some fear or nervousness when sitting down to take a test. This is a natural response to knowing your work is being evaluated. It can even help you do your best by giving you extra energy and heightening your attention. Test anxiety becomes a problem, though, when it interferes with your performance. Your mind going blank or an inability to concentrate will only hurt your score.

The best way to meet test anxiety head-on is of course to be prepared. Knowing how many hours you’ve spent mastering the material and being able to tell yourself that you’ve learned it inside and out will help you counter your fears with true confidence in your knowledge and abilities. But for some this isn’t enough to make that nervous edge go away, and so here are a few simple things you can add to your test prep routine.

1. Eat Healthy Before the Test

Choose fresh fruit or a salad on the day of the test. Vitamin C will help reduce stress hormones, so citrus, strawberries, and dark greens make good choices. Protein like turkey or chicken can also help you feel calm and ready. A cup of chamomile tea before you go to bed the night before the test may help you sleep better.

Many of the things you know you shouldn’t be eating anyway will make your anxiety worse, including processed and snack foods, foods made with white flour, red meat, anything fried, chocolate, and soda. Don’t have that extra cup of coffee in an attempt to wake up: drinking more caffeine than you’re used to can add to your stress. Sugar will boost your mood briefly, but then cause you to crash and interfere with your concentration.

2. Breathe

It sounds too simple to work, but you may be surprised at how breathing deeply and intentionally can help you re-center. Sit up straight and slowly breathe in, paying attention to how the air is filling your lungs and abdomen. Hold for a few seconds, and then exhale, again slowly. Repeat until you calm down. You may also want to try breathing into your hands as they’re cupped over your mouth, or deeply breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Don’t force your breath but just observe it instead.

If this works for you, you may want to research other breathing exercises or meditation/mindfulness techniques to add to your stress-busting toolbox. More and more studies are showing the benefits of these practices.

3. Chew Gum During the Test

This sounds like a weird tip, but there’s real science behind it. Researchers in Australia found that chewing gum can alleviate stress, going beyond just distracting you to actually lowering stress hormones. Other studies in the UK and Germany have showed that chewing gum helps with memory retrieval. The US military has even distributed gum to troops to help them relieve tension and stay focused.

Why does this work? It may be that the chewing action and increased saliva help to improve blood flow and get more oxygen to the brain.

None of these tips will replace having actually done the work of learning the material, but they are extra tools that can help you calm your jitters and do your best.

Learning Opportunities: What Do You Want to Learn?

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By Shelley A. Gable

Every state requires insurance continuing education. Your attitude toward that education requirement determines how much you benefit from it. Do you view it as an opportunity? Or just another item on your growing to do list?

The reality is that you (or your employer) is paying for it regardless of your attitude. And in any case, you’re the one spending the time to complete the class. So why not make the most of it? Viewing it as an opportunity allows insurance ce to be a rich source of professional development.

What are your professional goals?

First think long term…maybe ten years out. Do you want to be a sales manager? What skills and knowledge do you need to acquire to be eligible for that position? Maybe you need to meet certain licensing requirements or build strengths in specific skills.

Think short term as well…maybe one year out. Is there an additional type of product you’d like to be licensed in, so you can become more valuable to your organization and increase your income potential? Is there a new law that you know will impact your work?

Here’s another angle to consider: What are you an expert in?

If you’re part of an agency with a dozen agents, what makes you special? Are you the go-to person for anything? If not, you may want to consider selecting an area of your work that interests you and gaining the knowledge needed to establish yourself as an expert. Being the one others defer to on a topic can do wonders for your credibility overall and may help advance your career.

Write down your goals.

Almost any book or article that offers advice for setting goals recommends that you write them down.

Why do you need to write them down?

  • To remember what they are
  • To look back to them for inspiration
  • To build a sense of commitment

Another advantage of writing down your goals is that it makes it easier to map out a plan. Though it can be helpful to create a detailed plan for your professional development, just capturing some of the basic elements of a plan initially can help move you in the right direction. At a minimum, start by thinking about:

  1. What are your goals (short and long term)?
  2. What specific types of skills and knowledge must you develop to achieve those goals?
  3. What specific actions must you take to develop those skills and knowledge?

How can insurance continuing education help you achieve these goals?

Now that you’ve identified the skills and knowledge you need in order to meet your short and long term goals, select insurance continuing education courses that help bring you closer to those goals. When it comes to insurance ce offerings, you have options. And with online training, you aren’t limited to options that are compatible with your schedule.

When perusing a course catalog, take a few extra minutes to view all your options. Read through the course descriptions and select courses that best align with your goals and interests. Taking advantage of online insurance ce courses to further your professional development will not only help you achieve your goals, but it should also help motivate you when completing the course.

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Interested in sales?  Perhaps Insurance, Real Estate, or Finance is your calling..  Click here to get licensed.

Need your Insurance Continuing Education?..Click here to take your continuing education classes online.

Shelley A. Gable is an instructional designer and freelance writer. She has developed training for functions such as financial services, call centers, and engineering education. Shelley writes articles on topics related to training and management for print and online publications. Visit Shelley’s website at http://shelleygable.wordpress.com.

4 Reasons We Procrastinate – And What You Can Do about It

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By Shelley A. Gable

What type of procrastinator are you? A few people out there almost never procrastinate…but they’re a rare breed. For some, putting off tasks until “tomorrow” is a way of life. Others drag their feet on tasks they wish to avoid.

Insurance continuing education is a common victim of procrastination. However, delaying the completion of insurance ce requirements is risky. In addition to being a valuable source of professional development, insurance ce is critical for staying up-to-date in the field and maintaining eligibility to do your job.

We all know that we shouldn’t procrastinate, but we find ourselves slipping into it anyway. Its consequences are well-known – tasks pile up, less time to get things done, increased stress, missed opportunities – so by procrastinating, we knowingly put ourselves in harm’s way.

Why do we do this?

Procrastination Rationale #1: You don’t feel like completing that online insurance ce course today, but you assume you’ll feel motivated to do it later.

It can be challenging to focus when you’re not in the mood to do something, but much of this is driven by your attitude. It might be helpful to remind yourself of why you signed up for a particular course in the first place. Does the course relate to an updated law that impacts your job? Does it relate to a type of product that you can start selling (and earn commission from) after you complete the licensing requirements?

Regardless of what you feel like doing, commit to completing the first 15 minutes of the course. You may find that once you get started, you’re able to find your groove and complete the course.

Procrastination Rationale #2: You believe you work best under pressure.

Some people enjoy the thrill of sprinting to get something done at the last minute. Regardless of your ability to perform other tasks in a pinch, experts agree that we just don’t learn well that way. Cramming doesn’t work, because the brain is only capable of processing a limited amount of information at a time. That’s why taking periodic breaks during a course can actually help us retain more. But if you’re in a hurry to complete a course, there may be little time for breaks.

Procrastination Rationale #3: You look for distractions.

You might not even realize that you’re seeking out distractions, but have you ever decided to check your email again right before starting something? Or perhaps out of nowhere, you decide that now is the time to finally clean your desk (because obviously you can’t complete an online insurance ce course at a cluttered desk!).

If you’re guilty of this, consider scheduling time for online learning, just as you would schedule any appointment. Then commit to starting the course at the scheduled time. To reduce the potential for distraction, close your email, silence your phone (maybe even put it somewhere out of reach), and don’t open any web browser windows beyond what you need for the online course. If the thought of being cut off from the world like this is a distraction in itself, you might allow yourself a couple minutes to peek at your messages every 15-20 minutes.

Procrastination Rationale #4: You’re genuinely busy.

Let’s be realistic. If your calendar is packed with meetings and you’re being taunted by a towering stack of paperwork on your desk, then insurance continuing education probably feels like a lower priority. Many people find that their workload ebbs and flows, so it probably makes sense to complete an online class when your schedule is less busy. But if hectic is the usual state of affairs, then insurance ce needs to be squeezed in somewhere.

As discussed earlier, scheduling learning time (and committing to that schedule) can help in this situation too. Another option is to complete the course in smaller chunks. If you can’t spare an hour to complete an entire online course, then plan to complete it in 15-minute snippets between commitments.

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Click here for 5 reasons why you should subscribe!

Interested in sales?  Perhaps Insurance, Real Estate, or Finance is your calling..  Click here to get licensed.

Need your Insurance Continuing Education?..Click here to take your continuing education classes online.

Shelley A. Gable is an instructional designer and freelance writer. She has developed training for functions such as financial services, call centers, and engineering education. Shelley writes articles on topics related to training and management for print and online publications. Visit Shelley’s website at http://shelleygable.wordpress.com.

Online Continuing Education on the Rise

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By Shelley A. Gable

Where do you stand with taking online insurance continuing education courses? You probably fall into one of three groups:

  1. Early Adopters – you’ve been enjoying the flexibility of online learning for years
  2. Recent Users – you’ve just started testing the online learning waters
  3. Interested Scouts – you’re still looking into online learning to determine whether its worth your while

Your use of online training is likely dependent not only on your comfort with the technology, but also on your state’s acceptance of it. Like the readers of this blog, state insurance departments also span the groups above. With the growing credibility and popularity of online coursework, more states are falling into the first two groups.

Why is online learning so darn popular?

Some people struggle with the idea of trading the classroom experience for online training. It’s understandable. Almost all of us went through school in a traditional classroom setting. We’re used to the classroom, so it feels predictable and comfortable.  Many state insurance departments may have felt similarly, but the tides are changing. While several states have embraced online learning for years, Texas and Utah both adjusted their insurance ce requirements earlier this year to be more accepting of online courses (sometimes referred to as “classroom equivalent”).

Online learning is effective. Most online courses are written in a straight-forward style that is easy to read and allows you to identify critical information (just as an in-person instructor might emphasize important points). Quiz-like questions throughout a course engage you directly and helps you assess how well you understand the content. This is an advantage over many classroom courses where you’re one of many participants in the class and might not receive individualized feedback.

In an online course, you control the pace so you can spend more time on challenging content and progress through familiar information more quickly, allowing you to determine what to focus on. And since online courses tend to be written by the same types of experts who are invited to present in the classroom, you can feel confident that you’re still receiving an expert’s perspective on the subject.

Online learning is convenient. Those who have adopted online learning to fulfill insurance ce requirements often praise its convenience. As mentioned previously, you set the pace. If you’re struggling to grasp a complex topic, you can spend as much time reviewing the content as needed, and even revisit the information again later. Unlike a classroom instructor, an online course will wait if you need to take an urgent phone call.

Don’t have time to spend an entire day sitting in a classroom? Online learning comes to the rescue here, too. You can take segments of an online course over a few (or even several) days, if your busy schedule demands it. Time and place are flexible too. Maybe your best opportunity to learn is first thing in the morning before your co-workers start to arrive to the office. Maybe it’s easier to focus on learning in the comfort of your home, after you’ve tucked in the kids. Either way, online learning is available when you’re ready for it.

What are your experiences with online learning? And which group – early adopters, recent users, or curious scouts – do you belong to? Leave a comment to tell us where you stand!

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If you appreciate these ideas, it’d be swell for you would share them (button below) or subscribe via the feed.

Click here for 5 reasons why you should subscribe!

Interested in sales?  Perhaps Insurance, Real Estate, or Finance is your calling..  Click here to get licensed.

Need your Insurance Continuing Education?..Click here to take your continuing education classes online.

Shelley A. Gable is an instructional designer and freelance writer. She has developed training for functions such as financial services, call centers, and engineering education. Shelley writes articles on topics related to training and management for print and online publications. Visit Shelley’s website at http://shelleygable.wordpress.com.

Amp Up Learning with a Study Buddy

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By Shelley A. Gable

Have you noticed that teachers and college professors often encourage students to form study groups? Whether it’s to study for an exam or simply keep up with what’s being taught in class, many students find that study groups, or even just a single study buddy, can help keep them on track.

Of course, this concept doesn’t just apply to full-time students. You, too, can benefit from having a study buddy to help you keep up with your insurance continuing education requirements or study for that upcoming licensing exam.

Structure

If you’re coordinating your continuing education with a study buddy, you’re likely to create structure for your learning. For instance, you might plan to take certain online courses together every few months. Maybe you meet for lunch every other Tuesday to discuss recent insurance ce courses or study for an exam.

Regardless of how you schedule these activities, the simple fact that they’re scheduled prompts you to approach your professional development more strategically. It also helps you avoid putting off your insurance ce requirements until the last minute so that you’re not stuck cramming too many classes into a short period of time.

Accountability

Coordinating learning activities with a study buddy also holds you accountable for following through. While it might be easy to delay an online course until “next week” for several weeks in a row if no one else is depending on you to get it done, you might feel a bit guilty if this also requires pushing back a meeting with your study buddy every time.

Furthermore, meeting with a study buddy to discuss an online course can help motivate you to pay attention and think critically about what you’re learning. If you’re meeting someone for coffee to discuss what you’ve learned about a recently changed law, you may be more likely look for interesting highlights about the law that you can discuss later. You might even find yourself jotting down the key points of an online course so you can feel more prepared to discuss them, even if you aren’t usually a note taker. Taking the time to think critically about the content in an online course and organizing that information for yourself is critical for ensuring that your new knowledge is saved in long-term memory.

Discussion

How many times have you had an “ah ha!” moment by talking through a situation out loud with someone? Several articles on this blog address the benefits of discussing newly learned knowledge with others. Talking about what you’ve learned from an online course prompts you explain new ideas in your own words and in a context that is relevant for you personally. Listening to someone else do the same can help you see that same information from a new perspective, which can deepen and/or broaden your understanding of a concept.

Another benefit of discussing learning with a study buddy is that it can be more fun and interesting than simply reviewing content on your own. Enjoying your review sessions is not only motivational, but it can also make information easier to remember later.

Peer pressure can be good.

Although peer pressure often has a negative connotation, peer pressure and peer support can be powerful tools in helping you accomplish your goals. If you’re skeptical, give it a try. And please be sure to come back and let us know how it works out!

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If you appreciate these ideas, it’d be swell for you would share them (button below) or subscribe via the feed.

Click here for 5 reasons why you should subscribe!

Interested in sales?  Perhaps Insurance, Real Estate, or Finance is your calling..  Click here to get licensed.

Need your Insurance Continuing Education?..Click here to take your continuing education classes online.

Shelley A. Gable is an instructional designer and freelance writer. She has developed training for functions such as financial services, call centers, and engineering education. Shelley writes articles on topics related to training and management for print and online publications. Visit Shelley’s website at http://shelleygable.wordpress.com.

4 Time-Wasting Study Habits to Avoid

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By Shelley A. Gable

Have you ever wished you had more hours in a day? Between appointments with clients, other professional obligations, and personal priorities, it can be challenging to find time for insurance ce and studying for licensing exams.

When it comes to professional development, use your time wisely. Avoid learning strategies that don’t work.

Below are four time-wasting study habits you should ditch.

Time-wasting study habit #1: Cramming Sessions

Why this study habit is a time-waster…

Regardless of how smart you are, your brain can only process and retain a limited amount of information at a time. If you run a marathon cramming session the day before your licensing exam, only a portion of what you study is likely to make it into your long-term memory.

What you should do instead…

Your brain learns best in short bursts. Start studying well in advance of that insurance licensing exam, and plan to review exam content a couple times a day for 15 minutes at a time. How about once at breakfast and again over lunch? Limiting the amount of information you study in a single sitting helps ensure that most of what you’re reviewing will anchor into your long-term memory. Shorter study times also helps you avoid mental fatigue.

Time-wasting study habit #2: Nothing But Repetition

Why this study habit is a time-waster…

Repetition is a critical component of learning, but you must find ways to make the information you’re repeating meaningful. If you’re doing little more than reciting rules and definitions to yourself, you’re not giving your memory anything concrete to latch onto. You may be able to remember some information this way, but you probably won’t remember everything you need to by using this method alone.

What you should do instead…

Make a concerted effort to think critically about the information you’re trying to learn. Organize the information in ways that make sense to you, find opportunities to apply newly learned knowledge on the job, and discuss what you’re trying to learn with peers or clients. These types of activities go beyond rote memorization and breathe life into information, which should make it easier to remember later.

Time-wasting study habit #3: Sleep Learning

Why this study habit is a time-waster…

Wouldn’t it be great if learning were as easy as playing an audio recording while you sleep? Although there are products on the market that claim to do just this, their effectiveness is not supported by objective research. After all, if this method were backed by the scientific community, it would probably already be widespread on college campuses around the world. Alas, you must complete that online insurance continuing education course during your waking hours.

What you should do instead…

Schedule time to focus on your online course when you’re most likely to be alert and free from distractions. If it’s challenging to find a large chunk of time that meets these qualifications, consider completing the course over multiple sittings. The great thing about online courses is that you set the schedule and pace – if you need to spread the course over a few days because of your busy schedule, you can.

Time-wasting study habit #4: Brain Training Games

Why this study habit is a time-waster…

Many brain-training games claim to improve memory and brain functioning, but experts have been skeptical about this for a while. A recent study in published in Nature and covered by a plethora of major media outlets such as NPR, the Associated Press, BBC News, and others, suggests that this isn’t quite true. While brain training might improve your performance on the specific task you’re practicing, research does not support the idea that it can help improve memory in other ways.

What you should do instead…

To improve your ability to remember what you learn from online insurance continuing education courses, practice the productive study habits described above and in other posts on this blog.

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If you appreciate these ideas, it’d be swell for you would share them (button below) or subscribe via the feed.

Click here for 5 reasons why you should subscribe!

Interested in sales?  Perhaps Insurance, Real Estate, or Finance is your calling..  Click here to get licensed.

Need your Insurance Continuing Education?..Click here to take your continuing education classes online.

Shelley A. Gable is an instructional designer and freelance writer. She has developed training for functions such as financial services, call centers, and engineering education. Shelley writes articles on topics related to training and management for print and online publications. Visit Shelley’s website at http://shelleygable.wordpress.com.

10 Factors that Affect Learning

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By Shelley A. Gable

Several articles on this blog offer advice for how to get the most from an online insurance continuing education course. Many factors affect our learning, and while it might not be feasible to try to control all of those factors, some are likely within reach.

So in a nutshell, what can you do to improve your ability to learn from online courses?

This quick-hit list offers ten ideas for improving your learning experience.

  1. Take frequent breaks. With a busy schedule, it can be tempting to plow through an online course as quickly as possible. But if you’re skimming the content and clicking ahead quickly, how much can you really expect to remember later? If you genuinely want to learn, slow down your pace and take frequent breaks. The breaks allow time to process segments of new information and help keep you attentive.
  2. Leverage your learning strengths. Are you a visual learner? An auditory learner? A tactile learner? Knowing how you learn best can offer insight on how to complete online insurance ce courses in a way that makes the most sense for you.
  3. Get some sleep. Research suggests that sleep plays a critical role in working new information into your long-term memory. This process, referred to as memory consolidation, can even occur during a mid-day nap. And of course, if you’re well rested, it’s easier to focus and stay attentive longer.
  4. Exercise regularly. The health benefits of exercise impact the body and the mind. Light exercise oxygenates the brain, which improves your ability to concentrate. Intense exercise can prompt new brain cell growth, which can improve brain functioning.
  5. Take notes. Even if note taking hasn’t helped you in the past, and even if you don’t think you’d revisit your notes later, the simple act of organizing information on paper can help you remember that content later.
  6. Set goals. Why are taking this course? What do you want to get out of it? How will it help you on the job? Answer these questions before you begin an online course and think back to them during the course. This will help you focus on the content that is most relevant for you and help motivate you to continue.
  7. Avoid multitasking. Almost all of us are guilty of trying to divide our attention between a few tasks at once. However, research suggests that we’re not as good at multitasking as we think. If you want to remember most of the information presented in an online course, close the email and other web browsers so you can focus exclusively on your learning.
  8. Manage stress. Although this is sometimes easier said than done, keeping stress levels at a low and reasonable level can make it easier to learn. Not only is stress distracting, but it can also impede the functioning of your short-term memory.
  9. Choose the right setting. Plan to complete your online course at a time and place with few distractions. If the office is quiet first thing in the morning, this might be an ideal time for online learning. If the office is always teeming with interruptions, then it might make more sense to complete the course at a cafe over lunch or at home in the evening.
  10. Apply newly learned knowledge as soon as possible. Ideally, you should apply new learnings to your job almost immediately after completing an online course. After all, you’re probably taking the online course because of your job. But if that’s not feasible, you also benefit from discussing what you’ve learned. Whether in the form of online discussion or a verbal conversation, exploring that information with others can deepen and broaden your understanding of a topic (and make it more memorable!).

If a cluster of online insurance continuing education courses is in your future, select three suggestions (or more!) from the list above to focus on for the sake of enhancing your learning experience.

Naturally, this isn’t an all-encompassing list. If you know of other factors that readers should consider, please leave a comment!

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If you appreciate these ideas, it’d be swell for you would share them (button below) or subscribe via the feed.

Click here for 5 reasons why you should subscribe!

Interested in sales?  Perhaps Insurance, Real Estate, or Finance is your calling..  Click here to get licensed.

Need your Insurance Continuing Education?..Click here to take your continuing education classes online.

Shelley A. Gable is an instructional designer and freelance writer. She has developed training for functions such as financial services, call centers, and engineering education. Shelley writes articles on topics related to training and management for print and online publications. Visit Shelley’s website at http://shelleygable.wordpress.com.

Exercise and Learn More

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By Shelley A. Gable

What does it mean to exercise and learn more?

Imagine yourself taking an online insurance continuing education course. You’re alert and focused. Everything you’ve learned makes sense. And the next day, you still recall what you learned and are able to apply it on the job.

What a refreshing picture. Exercise can help you create it.

How does routine exercise improve your ability to learn? Let me count the ways…

  1. Improved concentration. When your brain is low on oxygen, it can be difficult to focus. Naturally, if you’re not attentive during an online course, you’re less likely to recall new information later. However, even small amounts of light exercise daily can be enough to boost your brain’s oxygen levels.
  2. Brain cell growth. Working some high-impact cardio into your routine can stimulate the growth of new brain cells and include brain functioning. A benefit of more intense exercise that helps you learn.
  3. Restful sleep. Many studies suggest that exercising during the day leads to more restful sleep. Additionally, a study last year from the University of South Carolina also connects exercise to falling asleep more easily. An earlier post on this blog describes the important role that sleep plays in memory consolidation and learning.
  4. Relieved stress. Experts have been telling us for years that exercise is a great way to relieve stress. Not only is stress distracting, but it also has a negative effect on cell communication within the brain related to short-term memory.
  5. Reduced risk of memory damaging conditions. Studies suggest that exercise reduces the risk of conditions that can damage memory such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It can also reduce the gradual memory loss that comes with aging.

How can you work exercise into your routine?

Ideally, you should have a regular workout routine that includes strength training and aerobic activity. Even if that’s not something you’re willing to commit to, there are many ways to work light exercise into your day.

  • Go for quick strolls. If you have 15 minutes between meetings or a break between tasks in the afternoon, squeeze in a brisk walk.
  • Take frequent breaks during an online insurance ce class, and use that time to go for a walk.
  • Find a walking buddy and commit to some form of exercise over your lunch hour.
  • Take the stairs (maybe even two at a time) instead of an elevator.
  • Use the facilities (restrooms, break room, etc.) on a different floor of your building…and take the stairs to get there.
  • Park far away from the door when you go to work and run errands, prompting you to walk just a little further than you otherwise might.
  • Take a walk around the block, or even just down the street, when you check your mailbox.
  • Play with your kids and/or pets.

Remember: What’s good for the heart is good for the brain.

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If you appreciate these ideas, it’d be swell for you would share them (button below) or subscribe via the feed.

Click here for 5 reasons why you should subscribe!

Interested in sales?  Perhaps Insurance, Real Estate, or Finance is your calling..  Click here to get licensed.

Need your Insurance Continuing Education?..Click here to take your continuing education classes online.

Shelley A. Gable is an instructional designer and freelance writer. She has developed training for functions such as financial services, call centers, and engineering education. Shelley writes articles on topics related to training and management for print and online publications. Visit Shelley’s website at http://shelleygable.wordpress.com.

Anatomy of Memory

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By Shelley A. Gable

It seems like every few weeks I hear something in the news about new research related to memory. Whether it’s on the radio, in a magazine, or on TV, I come across terms like working memory, encoding, and long-term memory. But what does it all mean? And why does it matter?

Let’s look at the journey of information into memory through the lens of an online insurance continuing education course.

There are three major steps information must work through to become a permanent memory.

  1. Sensory Memory
  2. Short-Term Memory
  3. Long-Term Memory

We’ll walk through these steps to explore how information comes in through your senses and eventually ends up as a permanent fixture in your brain.

Sensory memory is about quick perception.

When you arrive at a new slide in an online insurance continuing education course, your brain takes a moment (generally a split second) to take a visual snapshot of the slide. This happens before you even start to read the text or consciously think about what you’re seeing. This is sensory memory at work.

Sensory memory perceives raw sensations from all five senses. It works quickly – even if you were to click away from a course slide within less than a second, you would probably still recall the general layout of the slide, including the  placement and basic shape of graphics and perhaps even the placement of bolded text.

Have you ever noticed a landmark for the first time during your commute to work, only to wonder how you could have possibly not noticed it the other hundreds of times you’ve driven by? If your sensory memory noticed it but you never gave it a thought, the memory of that landmark probably wouldn’t stay with you.

Going back to the online course, when you put conscious thought into what you’re seeing, the information on that slide progresses to short-term memory.

Short-term memory is about thinking.

The simple act of reading the text on a course slide moves that information into short-term memory. Short-term memory, also referred to as working memory, generally functions to store the newly absorbed information that you’re thinking about in a given moment.

It’s worth noting that short-term memory has a limited amount of space available. In other words, it can only hold a limited amount of information for a limited amount of time.

It’s kind of like your kitchen counter. If you’re preparing a large meal or a complex recipe, you might not have enough counter space to accommodate several activities or food preparations at the same time. Therefore, you might opt to prepare food in phases, clearing the counter of scraps and utensils between each phase to make space for the supplies needed for the next phase.

Short-term memory is your brain’s workspace. The fact that space is limited means you’re likely to eventually max out its capacity. This is why frequent breaks during an online course (or a mid-day nap) can be beneficial – it can give newly learned information an opportunity to mosey into long-term memory and make room in the workspace for more new information.

Long-term memory is about encoding.

Experts believe that information that makes it into long-term memory stays in your brain permanently. If you’ve forgotten something you used to know well, that information hasn’t actually escaped – you’re just having a hard time finding it. This is a lot like a misplaced set of keys. You know they have to be around the house somewhere, because they certainly didn’t get up and leave!

Think about it. When given enough cues to help jog your memory, you can remember just about anything – an incident from childhood, molecular properties learned in high school chemistry, or maybe details from a movie you saw last month.

In order for information from an online course to make the leap from short-term memory into the infinite warehouse of long-term memory, you must relate newly learned information to what you already know. Making this connection helps integrate new information into the ever-expanding network of knowledge that makes up long-term memory. This is the reason why so many articles on this website offer suggestions on how to apply what you learn – from talking to social networking to note taking – these activities can help knowledge from an online insurance continuing education course establish that permanent residence in long-term memory.

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Shelley A. Gable is an instructional designer and freelance writer. She has developed training for functions such as financial services, call centers, and engineering education. Shelley writes articles on topics related to training and management for print and online publications. Visit Shelley’s website at http://shelleygable.wordpress.com.