Sharing stories to find common ground and experiences, mentoring each other in different skills and doing group activities such as volunteering can help bridge generational divides in the office, writes Harvey Deutschendorf, an emotional intelligence expert, author and speaker. "It is important to have reminders that we are all working together and that what we bring to the table makes for a stronger and more effective workplace," Deutschendorf writes.

Put it into practice: Don't underestimate the power of laughter to form bonds between workers from different generations, Deutschendorf notes. "Look for opportunities to do fun exercises and games that everyone enjoys and that can lighten the mood of a workplace."

Ergonomics such as good chairs, desks and keyboards, can improve employee comfort and productivity, but don't forget sensory elements such as pleasant fragrances, good lighting, plants, noise-canceling headphones and a comfortable temperature, writes Alexandra Cooper, an interior designer at Planner 5D. "You should modify your office to fit your employees, not the other way around," Cooper notes.

Put it into practice: The sense of taste is also essential in the office, which means encouraging your team to eat a healthy lunch away from their desks to avoid multi-tasking and mindless eating, Cooper notes. "Scarfing down a meal can result in poor digestion, and if your team's stomachs aren't happy, there's no way they can be as productive."

Make it easier for team members to refuse a request instead of feeling coerced into saying yes by giving them time to think about their answer, saying yes or no in an email and giving them specific language to decline, write researcher Rachel Schlund and university professors Roseanna Sommers and Vanessa Bohns. "Targets generally know they can turn down a request; the real problem is knowing how to do so -- that is, finding the words in the moment to say no while saving face," they write.

Put it into practice: We may tell others, "You are free to say no," when we make a request, but research found that even then, it's difficult to say no at the moment, which is why giving people time and allowing them to respond in the email takes the pressure off. "One of the advantages is that it allows you to write and rewrite a potential refusal as many times as you would like until you feel satisfied with your response," the researchers write.

With the prospect of grilling hot dogs at a Memorial Day cookout in mind, registered dietitian Chris Mohr suggests choosing 100% beef hot dogs since they may contain fewer additives and adding vegetable-based toppings like sauerkraut or kimchi to boost the nutritional profile. Since hot dogs are processed meat, usually high in fat and sodium, they should be a "once in a while" food, Mohr says, adding "what we do most of the time is more important than what we do some of the time."

NASA says the auroras observed around the world from May 10 to May 12, triggered by Earth's most powerful geomagnetic storm in over 20 years, were among the most intense in 500 years, and scientists expect to be studying the event for years. Five back-to-back solar storms from sunspot AR3664 temporarily weakened Earth's magnetosphere, allowing vibrant auroras to be seen as far south as Florida and Mexico in the Northern Hemisphere and New Caledonia in the Southern Hemisphere.

In observance of Memorial Day in the US, SmartBrief will not publish Monday, May 27.

A few more of you wrote in to offer up some jargon that gets your hackles up.

Mike L. says "optimize" is his bugaboo. The definition of the word means "to make as perfect, effective or functional as possible." What's irritating, Mike says, is that people expect to "optimize" something in their organization through small projects -- perhaps with new software or ways to save energy. "No one will optimize anything through one project," Mike observes.

Katerina M. says the jargon she dislikes is "closure," mainly how it's used in her field of health care. "As if closure can really happen after a tragedy or loss," she writes.

Scott D. is put off by the phrase "Get-R-Done," which was immortalized by Larry the Cable Guy and used repeatedly by some of his past managers. "I would rather have fingernails on a chalkboard hit my ears," Scott remarks.

Thanks to everyone who wrote in to offer up their hated jargon. Now, let's go out and optimize that long holiday weekend!

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