الأربعاء، 30 نوفمبر 2016
This May Be the Single Most Important Job Perk to Ask for, After Health Insurance
Obviously, when you’re looking for a great job, salary and healthcare benefits come first. A survey conducted by the employee review platform Glassdoor found that the top-rated benefit among employees was health insurance, with 40 percent of those surveyed rating it their number-one priority. The second most desirable benefit was paid vacations, earning 37 percent of people’s vote for most important perk. But there’s more to a dream career than salary, health insurance, and time off. In fact, there’s one employee perk that more and more people are looking for these days, one that could have a positive impact on your health and well being.
It’s telecommuting, even part-time. A recent study led by Rachel Henke, PhD, of Truven Health Analytics, found that having the option of working remotely, even for just a few hours a month, could lower your risk of depression.
The new study, published online in the American Journal of Health Promotion, aimed to investigate the influence of telecommuting on employee health. It involved detailed analysis of employee demographic data, medical claims, health risk assessment data, and remote connectivity hours of employees aged 18 to 64. The researchers evaluated people who telecommuted up to eight hours per month, along with those who had significantly more telecommuting hours—some over 73 hours per month, as well as those who did not telecommute at all.
The people who didn’t telecommute were actually found to be at greater risk of obesity, physical inactivity, and alcohol abuse, and tobacco use than the groups who were able to telecommute even part time.
Perhaps the most significant finding of this study is the fact that people who telecommuted just eight hours per month were less likely to experience depression than those who didn’t telecommute at all. This suggests that working remotely for just few hours each month can have a significant impact on maintaining good mental health and well-being, possibly because it gives employees a feeling of control and flexibility, and allows them to spend more time in a less-stressful environment.
Henke’s results are important because, while there have been studies that highlight a relationship between telecommuting and increased employee performance, this is the first to show a link between telecommuting and better employee health.
Next time you’re on the job hunt, consider telecommuting a top priority—even if it’s just one day a month. And if you’re stuck in a nine-to-five office gig, use these strategies to de-stess your work day.
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Fewer in U.S. Struggle With Medical Bills: Report
Researchers credit Obamacare, but difficulties persist for uninsured and people with high deductibles
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When She Was 15, She Wanted Her Counselor to Adopt Her. 26 Years Later, Her Dream Came True.
“May I speak with Jeanne Kerr?” I said, crossing my fingers.
“Who’s asking?” the voice cracked.
“It’s Regina Louise. I think we may’ve met a—”
“I don’t believe so,” she said. The line went dead.
I crossed out another Jeanne on my long list. The last time I’d seen the Jeanne I was looking for was in 1977, when I was 15. That day, I’d stood in a juvenile courtroom prepared to speak about what it would mean to me for Jeanne Kerr, my beloved counselor from the Edgar Children’s Shelter in Martinez, California, to adopt me.
I’d met Jeanne when I’d arrived at the shelter on May 1, 1975—a day before I turned 13. I was confused by her excitement regarding my pending birthday. Then came balloons, cake, and strangers singing to me as if I were a big deal. In no time, it felt good to be where Jeanne was. I’d grown up without a lick of kin, so I had taken my cues from Donna Reed and June Cleaver. I loved how they treated children, their soft-spoken ways. I prayed to meet someone like them who could see I was worth the trouble I was born into.
In court, my social worker presented evidence of my “escalating” behaviors: running away, telling lies, sabotaging foster care placements so I could return to the shelter, to Jeanne. “It’s unnatural, Your Honor, how much she loves this woman,” she said.
The judge agreed, and Jeanne’s petition to adopt was denied. I believe my social worker objected because Jeanne was white and I was black. The National Association of Black Social Workers had issued a statement against transracial adoption, seeing it as an attack on black families. I was put in a residential treatment center for severely emotionally disturbed girls. From there, I’d go through 30 placements before landing in a group home in San Francisco. I stayed there until the age of emancipation, after which I flailed through life. Then I became a mother, and everything changed. Now I had someone else to love and to think about.
By 2002, I co-owned and operated two hair salons, and my teenage son was a thriving scholar-athlete. I decided to write a book about my life from ages 13 to 15, a journey that included meeting Jeanne and losing her.
“Your memoir claims abuse and neglect, so you need someone to verify what you’ve written,” my editor said. I had two weeks to locate that person.
My writing coach suggested I find Jeanne. I couldn’t bear to tell her that I’d spent years ordering phone books from Nova Scotia to Hawaii, the number of times I’d been hung up on, the dead ends I’d followed. But now I could scour the Internet, and I began searching on countless sites. Marriage license? Nothing. Certificate of birth of child? Nothing. Death certificate? Hesitantly, I punched in her name. That, too, came back with nothing.
Had I made Jeanne up? But there was the blue corduroy dress she’d hand-sewn for me, with rainbows in my favorite colors. I’d lost it many years ago. There was the way she called me “sweetheart” or “punkin,” the way she smelled of Cream of Wheat, warmed milk, vanilla, and brown sugar.
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Then I remembered that, as a child, I had been warned that everything I said and did was put in a file so anyone who wanted to could learn what an awful person I was. I called the county and asked for my file. When the package arrived, I nuzzled it to my bosom like it was a newborn. Inside was a stack of papers filled with legal jargon, incident reports, and letters from one institutional director to another about my need to be “terminated.” But there was no road map to Jeanne.
With two days left to corroborate my story, I asked Jules, a friend and correspondent at a magazine that had access to research databases, for help. My deadline passed before she finished her search, so I changed the names of my characters. “Jeanne Kerr” became “Claire Kennedy.”
Jules sent me the search results a week later: She had an address! I wrote Jeanne a letter and sealed it with a kiss in red lipstick. The day before I left on my book tour, I received an envelope in the mail—it was my letter, stamped with the words Addressee Unknown.
In Los Angeles, I was interviewed by radio talk show host Tavis Smiley. He asked: “You have it all: You’re a spokesperson for foster care, have a thriving salon business, a well-adjusted child. What more would you like?”
I replied without hesitating. “Someone to say they are proud of me.”
Afterward, back in my hotel room, I checked my e-mail and saw a message with the subject line: “I am so proud of you, sweetheart!”
My heart stopped. I opened the e-mail, and it was from Jeanne. My breath caught in my throat. Was someone playing a joke on me? Only later I’d learn that a former coworker of hers had read an article about my book in which the reporter revealed the real name of Claire Kennedy, and the ex-colleague told Jeanne, “Your Regina is looking for you.”
In her e-mail, Jeanne wrote, “Please reach out to me once your tour is done. I don’t want to be a bother.” I couldn’t wait—I immediately dialed the number she had given.
“Hello?” The voice at the other end sounded hushed, just as I remembered Jeanne’s timbre; she had a particular way of saying “hello” that softened me from the inside out.
“I can’t believe it’s you,” I said through my absolute bewilderment. “I never stopped thinking of you.”
“You were my first child,” she told me. “I never stopped loving you.” Her words reverberated, and all I could do was listen. “They said I was the wrong color and that I wasn’t allowed to love you.” Jeanne continued. “I have something I want to give you. It is your birthright.”
I held my breath.
“I want to make you my daughter.”
From the moment I had lost Jeanne, I had known she was the mother I was meant to have in this life. I went on to live as if she’d never left, as if she were there to guide my actions. I believed that one day I’d have the chance to tell her “thank you.” On the phone with her, I knew my deepest wish was on the verge of coming true.
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Three weeks later, I sat for six hours at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, waiting out a storm that had delayed Jeanne’s plane. I paced and smoothed my skirt. Finally, a woman rushed toward me, her long gray-white ponytail swinging from beneath a baseball cap. She wore an oversize sweater splattered with gigantic multicolored peonies, green polka-dot capri pants, and kitty-cat ankle socks paired with a well-worn pair of running shoes. I looked at her, head tilted like a curious puppy. I would not have worn those pieces together if God himself had ordered me to, and I flushed with mortification. It was then that I knew I was not only a daughter but her daughter. I earned a full adolescenthood of stripes in that one moment. It had been nearly three decades since I had felt her fingertips lift my chin through the weight of my grief of having to leave her, the only person who’d ever told me “I love you.”
“Hi … Mommy,” I said. I felt electrified saying the word for the first time. My entire life I had guarded it, my body a safe-deposit box, holding it until I could give it its rightful place.
In November 2003, I stood in the same juvenile courtroom in California where Jeanne’s adoption request had been denied in 1977. I was 41, and I was with my son; Jeanne, her husband, and her son; and my partner, Stevie Anne, and her family. After the judge swore me and Jeanne to honor and love each other as mother and daughter for the rest of our lives, I turned to Jeanne, cupped my hand around her ear, and whispered, “Thank you—Mommy—for loving me when no one else could.”
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Web-Based Help for Insomnia Shows Promise
Interactive program aims to build better sleep habits, researchers say
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Chef Ernest Quansah Tells How He Cured His Type 2 Diabetes
When a chef was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, he got serious about changing his habits and living healthier. Here's his story.
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Here's What to Plan for When You Have Diabetes and Are Expecting
Women with type 1 diabetes can get pregnant and have healthy babies, but they need to work closely with their doctor to control glucose levels.
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How to Give Truly Meaningful Gifts, According to Science
Nothing can put a dent faster in your holiday spirit than spending hours on long lines in the store or scanning websites trying to find the perfect gift; only to later present it to the recipient and have them look mildly engaged. But what if there were an art to picking out a gift that had more to do with the person’s soul instead of a hefty price tag? Consider these strategies.
1. Listen up
While you may think it is a great idea to surprise someone on your holiday list by giving them something you think is a meaningful gift, it is best just to get them exactly what they have told you. For instance weeks before the holidays you had heard them say they wanted the new Fitbit because they wanted to get in shape. To you that seemed a boring and predictable so instead you bought them a gym membership. Well that was the wrong move, says a study published in Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. The researchers found that that gift recipients are more appreciative of gifts they ask for than those they do not. So forget about what you think they want and get them what they have specifically asked for.
2. Size doesn’t matter
Still the hardest part of this process is trying to show what you feel through your gift selection because as we know actions speak louder than words. In the spirit of showing love we might go big instead of thinking of what really makes the person happy. You might think buying your hubby the new curved smart TV is perfect, but then when you get it home it lights up the living room like a stadium and is totally wrong for the space. Instead, think smart and practical. For example, if he’s a movie buff, get him a year’s subscription to Netflix and a selection of popcorn toppings as a stocking stuffer.
3. Keep it open
Many of us may consider giving cash or gift cards impersonal, but this may save you some angst by allowing the receiver to chose what they want, especially when it comes to picky tweens and teens. In a recent poll of over 7,000 Black Friday shoppers, 39 percent said the recipient they were shopping for was “picky.” So save yourself the second guess and give a gift card to a favorite store.
4. Create an experience
When all else fails create a memorable moment, like with these creative non-toy gifts. Log on to websites such as Groupon or LivingSocial where you can nab the latest tickets for a play, purchase a surf lesson package, or even something unexpected like a flight lesson. These are things that can be experienced together as well as create a lasting memory. For example if your guy is into NASCAR just imagine the look on his face when you score him a ride at race car driving school. That is something that wont end up at the bottom of his sock drawer.
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Here's How to Pick the Right Diabetes Specialist
Your diabetes specialist connects you with the tools and support you need to stay healthy. Here's how to pick the right one.
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Good Food to Go: 3 Lunch Recipes
You'll save money, calories, and carbs with these packed-lunch recipes from a registered dietitian.
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Americans' Cholesterol Levels Keep Falling
Eliminating trans fats from the U.S. diet may be one factor in this healthy trend, CDC researchers say
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Speed Up Your Workouts With Bursts of Activity.
High-intensity interval training mixes bursts of exercise with rest, giving you a workout in as little as 10 minutes.
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First Zika-Linked Glaucoma Case Diagnosed in Baby
Brazilian baby developed vision-threatening condition after being exposed to virus in womb
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Smart Ways to Spend the Last of Your Flexible Spending Account Money
A flexible spending account (FSA) is an employer-sponsored account that will allow users to put away money for medical expenses (up to $2,600 of pre-tax dollars in 2017). These dollars are specifically designated for health expenses that can fall outside of your typical health insurance coverage. While you must use the majority of those funds by the end of the year, you can carryover $500 of unused FSA bucks into the next year but will forfeit any excess at the end of the year. (In some cases you are able to file an extension to get an additional two months.) Also, remember to keep your receipts in order to be able to be reimbursed.
Here are some of the qualified medical expenses your FSA may cover:
- Over-the-counter products: While you cannot spend your FSA on over-the-counter meds without a prescription you can use it for items such as bandages, athletic braces, breast pumps, crutches, canes, first aid kits, flu shots, and reading glasses. Sadly, vitamins are only covered if they are prescription.
- Pain management: If you are considering alternative treatments for dealing with pain and relaxation, FSA covers acupuncture and chiropractic care. Some plans may also pay for massages.
- Family planning: Though your preferred birth control may not be covered many are, plus FSA also pays for condoms, fertility monitors, and fertility treatments.
- Vision care: You can use your FSA money to cover the cost of your glasses, contact lens, contact lens solution, laser surgery, and LASIK.
- Dental visits: Now might be the time to pop in to your dentist and have a cleaning because your deductible is covered as well as implants and sealants.
- Co-pays: FSA covers co-pay on prescription medications and doctor, dental, and vision visits.
- Medical devices: Blood pressure monitors, ovulation, pregnancy, and glucose kits make the grade as well so now might be the time to buy them.
Here are some of the medical expenses not currently covered with FSA:
- Your cost to have health insurance coverage.
- Long term care coverage and expenses.
- Anything that is covered by a secondary health care plan.
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How to Test Your Blood Sugar
Master the blood sugar monitoring basics and know your numbers.
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Protect your heart against the stress that diabetes can bring
Diabetes can strain your heart. Here's how to protect it.
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How Can I Get My Blood Pressure Down?
High blood pressure can worsen diabetes , but exercise, changes in your diet, and getting enough sleep can help fight the negative effects.
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Malware Infections Spike in November and December—Here’s How Protect Your Personal Info
According to a report released by Adobe, last Thanksgiving and Black Friday saw a spike in online spending, with consumers racking up $4.45 billion in sales without entering a brick and mortar store. Sadly, unless they were vigilant, they may have put themselves at risk for acquiring malware. Not to be confused with spyware or adware, malware is malicious software that is designed to damage or access a computer without the owner being aware. That means hackers could peruse your personal photos and steal data such as your home address, bank codes, credit card numbers, and Social Security number; possibly even your entire identity. Or they could install a virus that systematically erases your entire hard drive. The scariest thing: You’re at risk every time you click to complete a purchase.
As we once again ramp up for holiday shopping—the National Retail Federation estimates that online sales this holiday season will increase up to 10 percent over last year’s spending, malware creators are also ramping up. Malware infections jumped 84 percent during the 2015 holiday shopping season, which was double that of 2014, and even that year saw a 42 percent spike over the previous year, according to Enigma Software, creator of PC security software and malware fixes. “The holiday shopping season is one of the busiest times of year for the cyber crooks who spread malware,” ESG spokesperson Ryan Gerding has said. “They know lots of people will be online looking for deals and tracking their purchases, and that makes those people vulnerable.”
Protect your devices by keeping an eye out for these warning signs:
Spam emails and links: Though an email message might seem to offer an unbelievable deal, it’s best to go to a trusted website, like Nordstrom.com, directly. Whatever you do, do not click on any links these messages because they could trigger the download of malware when opened. The same goes for messages warning about possible problems with your accounts. Instead of clicking any links, always go directly to your bank’s website, Paypal, eBay, or whatever account they’re flagging, to check for any issues.
Social media: Be wary of ads for amazing discounts, giveaways, alluring photographs, or sensational stories that are posted on sites such as Facebook and Twitter. If you receive a private message with such a link, just delete it.
Fake apps: Cyber scammers are cloning apps to resemble authentic ones from reputable retail stores, such as Coach, Moncler, and Salvatore Farragamo, reports the New York Post. Use these tips to avoid accidentally buying from an unverified app.
Phony search results: Just because a result comes up on a legitimate Google search doesn’t mean the website is legitimate. Be vigilant about clicking on unfamiliar sites—especially if you see misspellings or awkward language errors. And never agree to install software in order to continue shopping, because more than likely it has malware embedded in it.
Secure your computer: Install reliable anti-spyware and anti-malware software such as SpyHunter or Avast (go directly to those websites—never install from a link in an email). They’re pretty easy to set up and could save you from major heartaches and headaches in the long term. Also, make sure to scan your computer with them often and install all updates as instructed.
Here are 20 secrets cyber scammers don’t want you to know about how they steal your money and identity.
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Colorectal Cancers on the Rise in Younger Adults
A recent study says rates of colon and rectal cancer are rising among younger people, a group that’s rarely screened for such cancers.
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Dehumidifiers Recalled Due to Fire Risk
Dehumidifiers Recalled Due to Fire Risk
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15 Hairstyle Terms to Know Before Your Next Salon Visit
Without professional hairdressing education, it is incredibly difficult to articulate different kinds of haircut styles for women. There is a world of...
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FDA OKs Large Studies of Ecstasy to Treat PTSD
FDA OKs Large Studies of Ecstasy to Treat PTSD
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13 Christmas Traditions to Steal From Around the World
Candy-filled calendars in Germany
The only thing better than a countdown to Christmas is a chocolate-filled one. In Germany, children receive calendars (often made of cardboard) filled with 24 squares decorated with festive drawings. Starting on December 1, they peel one open each day and gobble up the piece of chocolate hiding behind the flap. Buy one online or try making your own version.
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Smoking Ups This Risk 8-Fold in People Under 50
At all ages, the habit boosted odds for heart trouble, but younger people fared the worst, study found
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Having Trouble Hearing? Maybe It's Not Your Ears
Part of the problem for seniors might lie in the brain, research suggests
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It's Never Too Late to Stop Smoking
Even quitting in your 60s can add years to your life, researchers find
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Tennis Anyone? It May Prolong Your Life
Racquet sports, swimming and aerobics tied to lower risk of early death in study
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Salmonella Outbreak Traced to Dairy Bull Calves
Salmonella Outbreak Traced to Dairy Bull Calves
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40 Stunning Photos of National Parks Covered in Snow
Winter on the moon
The uniquely shaped lava fields at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho gave the park its name, but they turn into a winter wonderland when the snow falls. (Check out these spectacular photos of America’s national parks.)
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8 New Game-Changing Anti-Agers, According to Dermatologists
As we get older, our skin cells lose their capacity to self-renew and replace cells that have died. Fortunately, Biopelle has developed new stem cell...
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10 Beauty Supplies to Stash in Your Desk at Work
The only products you'll need for a quick office touch-up.
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6 Time Management Habits Successful People Use
They leave their cell phones out of the bedroom
When you’re asleep, your brain is working hard to organize your memories and thoughts, but your body feels totally relaxed. As you’re waking up, that combination makes it among your most creative points in the day—perfect for coming up with new solutions or having entertaining thoughts. But adding a cell phone into that equation gets in the way of that creative flow. “There is nothing on the internet that cannot wait for 20 minutes while you do some mindful breathing and think grateful thoughts,” writes Bennett in Start Right Where You Are. Use an alarm clock (yes, an actual clock!) to wake you up in the morning, and if you’re worried about emergency calls, leave it near the door, in earshot but out of arm’s reach. Steal these other habits of creative people.
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9 Tricks to Make Your Diet a Little More Mediterranean
Fisher explains key components of Mediterranean cuisine include whole grains; monounsaturated fat found in olive oil, nuts, and avocados;...
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15 Pet Peeves Every Victoria’s Secret Employee Has
The holidays are the most stressful time of the year for us
Every Christmas we display beautifully wrapped gift boxes that are ready for you to put a bow on and call it day. But it’s frustrating to see customers tear open these boxes to inspect the items inside. Please leave them alone! There are always a few mannequins right next to the gift box display wearing the clothes inside. “Trust me! The mannequins aren’t just standing there playing the mannequin challenge,” says a brand merchandising supervisor who has worked at Victoria’s Secret PINK for three years. “It’s not only annoying for us but also for the customer behind you interested in purchasing it; they can’t buy it now because it looks like a hot mess.” (Try these tips and tricks to save money Christmas shopping this year.)
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10 Everyday Emergencies You Need To Know How to Manage
If you experience a power cut specific to your property and it's not affecting your neighbors, this is probably an electrical fault. Kyle Gesuelli, Home...
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9 Mind-Blowing Facts You Never Knew About Laundry
1- According to Tide & Downy principal scientist Mary Johnson seventy percent of laundry soil are invisible with each eight pound load contains grime...
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Can Juicing Help You Lose Weight?
Juicing is an easy way to consume lots of nutrients without having to eat whole fruits and vegetables. Many people claim it’s a helpful weight loss tool. The juicing diet trend has increased in popularity over the years, but its effectiveness is controversial. This article will explore whether juicing can really help you lose weight. […] The article "Can Juicing Help You Lose Weight?" appeared first on AuthorityNutrition.com
- Click the link or visit Authority Nutrition to read the article now.
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14 Fascinating Daily Rituals of Famous Authors
Maya Angelou kept a hotel room in her hometown and paid for it by the month. She visited it around 6:30 a.m. each day, and used it specifically as a...
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Make These 12 New Year’s Resolutions for a Happier Relationship
Spending time alone with your partner? Then ditch your phone. "Putting your phone away is a hard habit to break for couples, who are busy and need to...
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الثلاثاء، 29 نوفمبر 2016
These Inkblot Tests Know Your True Personality
If you buy into pop culture, psychologists either sit next to a patient lying on a chaise, or flip through a series of inkblots and asking: “What do you see?”
Swiss psychologist Hermann Rorschach developed inkblot tests with a series of ten cards in 1921. He used them to secretly diagnose schizophrenia, but now the pictures are used to figure out personality traits. People apply meaning to abstract images, so their reactions to the inkblots shed some light on how they think about the world.
These inkblots from Psychobook aren’t from Rorschach’s original ten, but they’ll uncover some telling things about your personality.
What does this inkblot make you see?
If you see a…
Roast chicken (whole image)
Like anyone, you can have doubts about what you’re doing, but overall you feel centered and clear about what you need. Alienation is not your thing—you’d rather be passionately engaged. (Related: Here are little ways to connect with others when you’re lonely.) You get bored contemplating the meaning of life. Like writer Anton Chekhov said, “That is like asking, ‘What is a carrot?’ A carrot is a carrot, and nothing more is known about it.”
Cartoonish cat that looks shocked (whole image)
You like to get involved in and work things out as they come up, which explains your loud, passionate side. It is very important for you feel like someone is on your side, listening to you. Negotiation and conflict are facts of life as far as you’re concerned, so even though you aren’t abrasive at heart, you can come across that way.
Faceless woman or someone in a wig (upside down)
You set yourself high standards and expect others to do the same. You aren’t convinced that patience is a virtue. (Related: Do you have a gritty personality?)
Doctor reaching out to a patient’s jaws (sideways)
Life isn’t meant to be easy, and people can’t always be expected to get along. You feel like you just have to be yourself, and if people can’t handle that…well, as
they say in Barbados, “The eggshell have no right at the hard rock dance.”
Rocket or tower (white space inside image)
You work extremely hard, constantly setting yourself new challenges in an attempt to get stronger. You
get a lot done and are highly appreciated professionally. In your private life, you may need to lighten up and not be so controlling. You can file that neatly in your “To Do” folder. (Related: Are you a perfectionist?)
Now onto the next inkblot test. What do you see?
If you see…
Two figures leaning forward (sides of image), or person praying (whole image)
A cerebral soul, you are an imaginative, deep thinker. You know all too well the concentration and patience required to do anything good, and you can’t see why anyone would settle for anything less if they care about what they’re doing.
A racing car or speed (whole image), or two furry baby animals (center)
Your big imagination is one of the first things people notice about you. You are naturally drawn to metaphors, and you excel at constructing other worlds, seeing things from other people’s points of view, and imagining yourself soaring to great heights or plummeting to your doom.
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A dentist or barber’s chair (whole image)
You are sensitive and generous, a combination that means you get a lot out of life but also take it painfully to heart. Because you wear your heart on your sleeve, people tend to want to look after you, which can sometimes make it hard for you to recognize true intimacy. Formal, conventional environments drain you. (Check out these signs of incredible empathy.)
Two dark figures invading another figure (whole image)
You may progress as you digress, or you may just digress. How many unfinished emails or unmade phone calls trail in your wake? In the words of novelist Philip Roth, “The road to hell is paved with works-in-progress.” Try these tricks to stop procrastinating.
OK, what do you see in this inkblot?
If you see…
A beetle, maybe with claws (whole image)
You are very hardworking, and are good at handling your career and the “game” in general. Success comes naturally to you. You arrange your pieces on the board, lay your plans, and follow through with them. You can be careful or daring, depending on the situation. In the end, you figure the cleverest or luckiest play will always win. (Related: Find out how successful people spend their mornings here.)
A pair of dancing emus wearing boas (whole image, except bottom center)
You feel the pull of glamour and the high life like gravity. You always know the place to be and enjoy being there, though sometimes you don’t like how you feel the next day or what you see in the mirror as you head for the dance floor. Sometimes you wonder why that is, but other times you tell yourself not to take yourself so seriously. Here’s how to stop the damage of negative self talk.
Two pairs of hummingbirds (sides of image)
You’re a connoisseur, a beija-flor (kisser of flowers), as the Portuguese call the hummingbird. Like how hummingbirds sometimes feed on as many as 1,000 flowers a day, you’re constantly on the move, pursuing objects of desire and seeking out beautiful things.
Sunglasses, a bra, or a beard (bottom of image)
You like dressing up, and it suits you, though you can worry too much about what people think of you and seek external solutions—a new car, new clothes—to internal problems. You’re tempted to rationalize this as a Warholian creed— life is just surfaces—but you’re not sure if this solves everything.
A skeleton (whole image) or bones (details)
Life can seem like a treadmill or a merry-go-round, repeating itself over and over. You worry about feeling drained and hollow, grinding to a halt. Sometimes you think you should take more emotional risks. (Related: Are you too much of a workaholic?)
If you want to find more revealing games, quizzes, and questionnaires like this one, pick up a copy of Psychobook.
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Could My Kid Be Transgender?
What does it mean if your little boy wants to wear dresses? Or your little girl refuses to? Parents and experts weigh in to help you support your child.
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I Used a Light Therapy Box for a Week. Here’s How It Changed Me.
Few things are more disconcerting than being woken up by a bright light. Its unexpectedness is almost as startling as the temporary blindness that follows.
Odd as it may seem, this sensation isn’t all that different from light box therapy, a common treatment for seasonal affective disorder. SAD is a type of depression brought on by seasonal changes, typically when fall turns into winter (though for some people, the spring and early summer months are triggers). Light boxes can counteract those depressed feelings with a type of light that can activate mood-boosting hormones.
SAD affects only about 1-3 percent of the U.S. population, though 15 percent report having “winter blues,” similar feelings of sadness without an adverse effect on mood or mental health, which some studies suggest can be treated with light box therapy as well. SAD rates increase notably in northern states, where there’s naturally less sunlight. Symptoms typically start to appear between ages 20 and 30, and women are three to five times more likely to develop symptoms than men.
As a 22-year-old woman from suburban Wisconsin, I’m a prime target. I never understood why winter was such a hard time for me until a college counselor introduced me to light therapy. It’s been two years since I last used my light box, but as the nights grow longer and the days get colder, I decide it’s a good time to take it out of retirement.
SAD: The most appropriate acronym ever
Symptoms of SAD can be similar to those of major depression, like feeling hopeless and drained of energy, losing interest in activities you love, and suicidal thoughts. But Craig Sawchuk, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, describes the signs that distinguish SAD from other forms of depression as “hibernation-like symptoms:” Excess sleep, increased appetite, cravings for carbs, weight gain, and overall sluggish feelings.
Light boxes are made to treat and prevent those feelings with the specific type and intensity of their lights, measured in lux (the typical intensity is 10,000 lux). Our circadian rhythm is what helps us stay awake during the day and sleep at night, but it can get offset by the extended darkness winter brings. By exposing light directly through the retina, light boxes help the hormones serotonin and dopamine kicking, which resets the circadian rhythm. “It’s like a control-alt-delete where we reset our biological clock,” Sawchuk says.
It’s best to turn on the light within an hour of getting up, so it can help your body wake up as well. So every morning, I woke up, made breakfast, and sat down with the light box about three feet in front of me. The box is only a bit bigger than the newest iPhone, but its intense blue light is as bright as the noon sun on a spring day. Every few minutes, I would glance into the light—as is directed—but after just a few minutes of it shining on me, I got used to its high intensity. This would be a breeze.
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Not so much. The instantaneous mood boost I was expecting never came. In fact, the next day, I started feeling more depressed. All I could think about was getting back in bed. I felt homesick for the first time since moving away from my family three months ago.
Sawchuk later explained to me that an intensification of symptoms can be a side effect for some people. But more common side effects are feeling more anxious and restless, getting headaches, and sudden behavioral changes.
Be patient: The results are worth it
Some people need two or three weeks before they start feeling the light box’s effects to kick in. But about a week after I started using it, something changed. I was less cranky when I woke up. Getting out of bed didn’t seem like the end of the world. The homesickness settled down. Even though it was still dark when I left my apartment for work, I felt surprisingly awake.
One morning, my train to work was delayed 20 minutes because of a broken track. Some people groaned. Others complained. I didn’t. Yes, I wouldn’t get to work when I wanted to, but I had 20 more minutes to myself. 20 minutes to sit and relax. My new mood allowed me to make the most of a situation that was out of my control.
It’s important to keep using the light box even after you start feeling better. SAD isn’t a one-time thing. It’s a condition that requires continual treatment. You wouldn’t work out for just one day to get in better physical shape, would you? (These are other natural treatments for SAD you can try.)
Unfortunately, light boxes don’t treat physical illnesses brought on by cold weather. The day after my train ride of self-discovery, I promptly got a cold.
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What Should I Do If My Bipolar Meds Don’t Work?
What to do if your bipolar medication doesn’t seem to work as well as it used to.
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Even Low-Risk Should Get Heart Health Counseling
Even Low-Risk Should Get Heart Health Counseling
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Holding in Poop: Is It Really Bad for You?
Poop, feces, doo-doo, turd, bowel movement. Whatever you call it, we all do it, so why not talk about it? After all, it is a natural function of the human body. When most of us have to go, we go. But what happens when there’s a super long line in the bathroom? Or you’re on a road trip and the nearest restroom isn’t for another 45 minutes? Or you’re in the middle of an important work meeting? Here’s everything you need to know about holding it in.
Poop is important. Like sweat and pee, pooping is a way your body gets rid of toxins and material it can’t use. “A bowel movement is the last stop in the movement of food through your digestive tract,” according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. “It’s made of what is left after your digestive system (stomach, small intestine, and colon) absorbs nutrients and fluids from what you eat and drink.” In fact, we may be meant to poop after every meal, according to Dana Cohen, MD, a NYC-based integrative and internal medicine physician. “After we eat, there’s the gastrocolic reflex, which is when our stomach stretches, and that signals to us that we’re supposed to poop,” Dr. Cohen says.
If you’re not pooping after every meal, there’s no need to be alarmed, because everyone’s digestive system is different. You may go once a day, every other day, or once every three to four days. But when you feel the urge to go, you should go as soon as you can get to a toilet. The longer you hold in poop, the greater the odds of experiencing negative effects such as stomach cramps and constipation, as the fluid in the bowel gets absorbed over time and leaves the solids to become more compacted.
If you have to hold it in, you’re not likely to face any serious health risks as long as it’s not a frequent occurrence and it’s not for too long. “A rectum is a holding vesicle, so that’s what it’s there for. It’s meant to store poop until you can go,” says Dr. Cohen. “It’s rare to see in an adult that holding in poop is really dangerous.” That said, if you haven’t gone number two in two weeks or more, see your doctor for stool softeners, fiber pills, or an enema if necessary.
If your child is holding in poop, “it can be a real problem if they’re holding it in for psychological reasons.” Dr. Cohen says, which is why you should talk to your pediatrician ASAP if that’s the case. Not to mention that the pooping habits we learn as a child follow us into adulthood. Here are 11 other things that your bowel movements can reveal about your health.
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Hospital E-Prescribing: Trouble for Older Adults?
Hospital E-Prescribing: Trouble for Older Adults?
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Does Cracking Your Knuckles Cause Arthritis?
Whether you crack your knuckles to relieve stress or just out of habit, you’ve likely heard people warn that it can cause arthritis or worse. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t cause arthritis, according to Alex Foxman, MD, of the Beverly Hills Institute and an internist specializing in Internal, Aesthetic, and Preventive Medicine in Los Angeles. But that doesn’t mean the habit is harmless.
“Though cracking your knuckles won’t cause arthritis, several studies show that chronic knuckle crackers may have decreased hand grip strength and swollen hands,” Dr. Foxman says. “If cracking your knuckles is accompanied by pain, this can be due to an underlying injury.” Though the data is sparse, there are some reports of skin changes and ligament swelling from chronic knuckle cracking, according to Pamela Arsove, MD, with CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in the New York City metro area.
If cracking knuckles offers some relief from stiff fingers or tired hands—the “crack” you hear is actually caused by gas bubbles bursting in the lubricating fluid around the joints, called synovial fluid, according to Dr. Foxman—that may be A-okay. “There are no negative health effects of cracking your knuckles, period,” says orthopedic surgeon John Kelly, MD, who specializes in minimally invasive procedures Orange County, California.
Some research even suggests that cracking knuckles may bring benefits. A knuckle-cracking study by Robert Szabo, MD, a hand surgeon at the UC Davis Medical Center and former president of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, and Robert Boutin, MD, a radiologist at UC Davis, examined people’s knuckles pre- and post-crack, along with the knuckles of a group of non-crackers, to look for problems, including hand swelling and waning grip strength. The knuckle-crackers didn’t have any hand problems, according to an article on an article on CNN. “In fact, after someone cracked a knuckle, it had an increased range of motion compared with knuckles they hadn’t cracked,” the article reports.
So what really can increase your chances of getting arthritis? According to Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, key causes include genetic predisposition, aging, and excessive mechanical stress. But arthritis is not inevitable. Here’s how doctors reduce their risk of developing arthritis.
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The No-Fail Way to Motivate Yourself to Go to the Gym, According to Science
You’re on the trek home from the office and all geared up for an intense workout session. Your bag’s packed full with gym stuff and you feel pumped. Then something odd happens. As you walk toward the shiny glass doors of the gym, your feet seem to disconnect from your brain. Rather than heading swiftly inside, they change direction and start walking you toward your home. You don’t even fight it. “Oh well, there’s always tomorrow,” you think and resign yourself to yet another evening on the couch.
Whether it’s exercising after a long, grueling day at the office or spending just a few hours a week learning a new language, we all have things that we put off. It’s a bizarre paradox. We know that we should do these things and, in some cases, we actively want to do them, but that doesn’t mean that we’re willing to put in the time and effort.
If this scenario sounds all-too-familiar to you, the solution may be easier than you imagine. Katherine Milkman, associate professor of operations, information, and decisions at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, coined a term and theory that you can use to spur yourself on when it comes to these pesky little chores. ‘Temptation bundling’ is something that many people use without even knowing it. According Milkman’s theory, “Valuable healthy behaviors could be increased, while guilt and wasted time from indulgent behaviors decreased, through the use of temptation bundling.”
So, what exactly is it? In short, this theory means ‘bundling’ things that you want along with the things that you have to do. For example, you might only be able to have a tasty chocolate bar while you’re studying. Having the temptation so closely linked with the chore simply means you’re more likely to tackle it.
Here’s the science. Along with another Wharton professor Kevin Volpp and a Harvard Kennedy School professor Julia Minson, Milkman conducted an experiment with students as participants. Each student claimed that they wanted to exercise more, but lacked motivation. Next, the researchers split the participants into three groups. Participants in the first group had an iPod full of audio books they could only access while at the gym, while the second group had the audio books loaded onto their personal devices, meaning they could access them as they pleased. The third group (the control group) were simply given a $25 gift card and encouraged to exercise more.
By the end of the eight-week long study, those in the first group attended the gym 51 percent more than the control group and 29 percent more than the second group. “We find that attendance rates increased meaningfully and significantly with access to the temptation bundling program, suggesting that temptation bundling creates value,” explains the paper. What that means is that when people’s access to temptation was restricted to gym-only periods, they were more likely to workout.
Ready to make a change? The takeaway here is that by linking the things that you enjoy (be it audio books, snacks, or games) to the chores that you usually don’t do, you can change your lifestyle. If you’ve been looking for a little motivation in your life, you might just have found it.
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Child Teething, Ear Pain Relief Products Recalled
Child Teething, Ear Pain Relief Products Recalled
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9 Surprising Things that Need to Be Refrigerated
"Dry" doesn't mean "warm", people. Sure the dehydrated version of normal fruit doesn't spoil as quickly as it's more moisture-filled brothers, but...
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Health Coverage Worries Cross Political Boundaries
The uncertainty over what could replace Obamacare has left many uneasy about what will happen with their medical care.
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Trump Picks Obamacare Critic for Health Secretary
Trump Picks Obamacare Critic for Health Secretary
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How to Host a Festive Cookie Swap Everyone Will Want to Attend
First things, first. Chose a date and time that will work for many people. Don't wait until the holidays are on top of you, remember many people travel...
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U.S. Should Reinforce Blood Supply: Report
New illnesses and financial pressures are potential threats, researchers say
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Opioids vs. Ibuprofen for Post-Car Crash Pain
But more patients prescribed powerful painkillers were still taking them 6 weeks later
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Does Light Daily Drinking Really Help the Heart?
Study found no evidence that moderate intake keeps arteries clear
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Spiritual Experiences and Brain's Reward System
Many study participants were tearful by the end of imaging scans
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11 Things You Never Knew About Peeing
Pee doesn’t actually heal a jellyfish sting
Next time you get stung by a jellyfish at the beach, hold off on having your buddy take a bathroom break on your leg. “There’s absolutely no truth to the legend that pee has any healing or antibacterial properties, so you probably shouldn’t have your friend pee on you, ever,” says Steven A. Kaplan, MD, director of Benign Urologic Diseases and The Men’s Health Program at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.
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