What’s worse: physical pain or social pain?
st of us fear a broken arm far more than a moment of embarrassment or rejection. In his book, Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long, David Brock makes an excellent point: We feel physical pain once and then it ends. We are able to feel relive emotional pain all over again years later. That hurt can stay with us much longer, maybe never abating. People who experience events like this…
2 minutes
This Personality Trait Leads To Long Lives, Happy Marriages And Money
ing conscientious. "Conscientiousness, which was the best predictor of longevity when measured in childhood, also turned out to be the best personality predictor of long life when measured in adulthood." "...our findings suggest that conscientiousness is the trait most broadly associated with marital satisfaction in this sample of long-wed couples." "Measured concurrently, emotionally stable and conscientious participants reported higher incomes and job satisfaction." "...the personality traits Conscientiousness and Neuroticism have a strong impact on the instantaneous probability of finding a…
1 min read
The Secret To Eliminating Stress, According To Research
is often said, stress isn't about what happens to us, it's how we react to it. This is very true. We don't feel as stressed when we feel in control. Again, the emphasis is on feel. Even illusory feelings of control can eliminate stress. (This is the secret to why idiots and crazy people may feel far less stress than those who see a situation clearly.) Anything that increases your perception of control over a situation -- whether it…
3 minutes
7 Easy Happiness Boosters According to Harvard Research
ghlights from Shawn Achor's The Happiness Advantage: "Each activity listed below not only gives us a quick boost of positive emotions, improving our performance and focus in the moment; but if performed habitually over time, each has been shown to help permanently raise our happiness baseline..." 1) Meditate Via The Happiness Advantage: "Take just five minutes each day to watch your breath go in and out. While you do so, try to remain patient. If you find your mind drifting,…
3 minutes
How do you know what is meaningful and fulfilling in life?
or something to be considered meaningful and fulfilling, it must pass what I call the “deathbed test.” If asked on your deathbed to complete the following sentence, “I wish I had spent more time_______________,” how would you respond?" Via Shiny Objects: Why We Spend Money We Don't Have in Search of Happiness We Can't Buy: For something to be considered meaningful and fulfilling, it must pass what I call the “deathbed test.” If asked on your deathbed to complete the…
2 minutes
Were we meant to sleep in two chunks?
ger Ekrich noticed many old books, including Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", referenced two periods of sleep being the norm in their era. Via Dreamland: Adventures in the Strange Science of Sleep: ...Ekirch somehow rediscovered a fact of life that was once as common as eating breakfast. Every night, people fell asleep not long after the sun went down and stayed that way until sometime after midnight. This was the first sleep that kept popping up in the old tales. Once…
3 minutes
6 Secrets To A Better Night’s Sleep According To Research
bsp; 1) Exercise during the day promotes good sleep at night Via Dreamland: Adventures in the Strange Science of Sleep: ...those who exercised reported a better quality of sleep than those who remained sedentary. 2) Mattress quality doesn't matter The only factor that was relevant with regard to beds was when traveling, people sleep best on a mattress similar to the one they have at home. 3) Keep it cold Via Dreamland: Adventures in the Strange Science of…
2 minutes
Research Says You Can Beat Your Cravings With These Two Words
en deciding whether to eat something that isn't necessarily nutritious, use the words "I don't" instead of "I can't." You're 8x more likely to be successful. Via LA Times: ...try a reframing exercise that seems to work for all sorts of yearnings. It's actually pretty easy: When deciding whether to eat something that isn't necessarily nutritious, use the words "I don't" instead of "I can't." What's the difference? "With 'I don't' you're choosing words that signal empowerment and determination rather…
1 min read
