Education
If stress has been a major issue lately, you may want to take a quick look around you. According to Dr. Sherry Bourg Carter of Psychology Today, one of the most overlooked stressors could be hiding in plain sight: clutter. That’s right, too much 'stuff' in your home or workspace could be contributing directly to your frazzled state of mind.
If you're looking for a way to stay mentally sharp, consider this: swimming may be one of, if not the best exercise for your brain. You no doubt know of the physical benefits of swimming: increased endurance, cardiovascular health, and a toned physique. What you may not realize, however, is that science is discovering how swimming uniquely affects the brain. Some studies indicate that the brain responds differently to swimming than perhaps any other type of exercise. If you make swimming a part of your regular routine, you may enjoy better focus, mood, and a jolt of mental energy.
All of us who are older than say, 18, remember well what life was like before smartphones. We remember how quickly how they went from being a luxury to a necessity. Now, many of us couldn’t even do our jobs without them. Smartphones are so pervasive that physical therapists are now warning against a phenomenon called ‘text neck,’ which is a deformity in posture due to constantly looking down at a phone. But bad posture may not be the only side effect of phone addiction. Scientists are just now beginning to understand how smartphones may actually be changing our brains–and mostly for the worse. Today we look at some of the cognitive effects of smartphones; also, we will explore ways you can detach from your phone and enjoy life.
Your memory is a fascinating thing. But how does it work? Even now, the human brain remains largely mysterious to the scientific community. But what we do understand is that our memory isn’t just one function. There are many types of memory, and to understand how it fits together, we have to look at each individual part. Scroll down to learn about your memory: how it moves through different phases and how it changes as you age. Also, in this article, you can discover answers to common questions about your memory function.
Caffeine is for many people a constant morning companion, and a lot of us couldn’t imagine life without it. But is it healthy? Over the years, news reports seem to conflict on whether or not caffeine is a good or bad thing. To put the matter to rest, we rounded up the definitive scientific research on the matter. In this article, we review the benefits, potential negatives, and some of the most frequently asked questions about America’s favorite stimulant.
If you're a seasoned veteran of the gym or just been working out a few months, you've likely started seeing some benefits from exercise that you didn't expect. We all know that working out helps us look good and feel good, but it's not until we actually start doing it that we realize just how many hidden benefits there are. Your body is like an ecosystem. When one part is affected, it can have a downstream effect on all of the others. This can be true in a bad way, but also in a good way. Although the connection may not be obvious, exercise can have an important impact on our sleep. Today we take a look at some of the benefits of exercise for our sleep as well as recommendations for how to incorporate the best workout routine for your rest.
It seems like every generation has fears about what technology can do to the brain. 50 years ago parents warned their children about the dangers of too much TV. 30 years ago it was video games. Now, we’re in the midst of a revolution where we’re more digitally connected than ever. While most of us who grew up in previous decades turned out ok, what about now? Does today’s technology really pose a threat to our brain health?
If you deal with frequent migraines or headaches, then you know that finding relief isn’t always a simple fix. While over-the-counter products like aspirin can help relieve pain in some cases, they don’t always work and taking them too often can create problems in and of itself.
I think we would all agree that it has been a challenging and crazy year. What better time than now to reevaluate our schedule and to start working on healthier habits.
Many of us need a total transformation, but too many drastic lifestyle changes at once usually isn’t the recipe for long term success. Start small: pick one tiny health habit at a time, until it’s a natural part of your routine.
Haven’t made your New Year's resolutions yet? It’s not too late! Your resolutions don’t have to be about just hitting the gym or losing weight, they can also focus on your brain health and overall wellness. The beginning of the year is a terrific time to reflect on what you want to accomplish and improve over the next 12 months. Here are a few brain-healthy recommendations that will serve you well all year:
If you’ve been struggling with sleep lately, there might be a simple, free solution that’s as old as the hills: gratitude. Several studies have revealed that writing in a gratitude journal before bed may help improve sleep quality and duration. In a trial conducted by the University of Manchester (UK), participants who kept a gratitude journal slept on average 30 minutes more. They also reported feeling more refreshed upon waking, and were more alert during the day.
You’ve probably heard serotonin talked about in the news or in commercials, especially when it comes to mood and pharmaceuticals. But what is serotonin? To put it simply, serotonin is a chemical produced inside your body. It’s classified as a neurotransmitter, which means it sends signals back and forth between different nerve cells.
