As discussed in my previous blog, exercise has countless benefits. As a “life hack” strategy, using high intensity interval training can provide many of the benefits of exercise without a big time commitment. But there is a problem if we only focus on exercise. We are generally too sedentary. For example, we sit in our cars…
We all want to be fit, right? When we think of fitness, we generally think of how exercise can make our bodies healthy and strong. Importantly, mood and physical health are intertwined. The benefits of exercise go well beyond physical fitness. The mind-body connection is very real, and exercise can greatly improve mood. Overall, exercise…
The recent death of Robin Williams has left us all reeling. How could this light have gone out? He was a comet blazing across the sky for so long we thought it could never end…especially this way. He was part of the fabric of our lives, woven into us through his prolific career and…
In my previous blog, I covered the controversial topic of brain training and whether it really makes us smarter. A brief addition to that blog is whether these games and techniques can actually be harmful. Here are some of my thoughts on this issue: In general, I don’t think brain training games are…
In my previous blog, I discussed how/why mindfulness is the “master” key to change. Mindfulness is being in the present moment nonjudgmentally. Mindfulness is a tool that can help us to focus our attention better. Improving any aspect of our behavior – being kinder, listening to others, modifying our forehand in tennis, remembering where…
I listened to an NPR story today from Michelle Trudeau entitled “The Aging Brain Is Less Quick, But More Shrewd”: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124118077 In one part of the story, Trudeau cited some research from neuroscientist Art Kramer of the University of Illinois that caught my attention. In a study, Dr. Kramer found that “aging couch potatoes”…
I listened to the (unabridged) audiobook entitled The How of Happiness, which was read by the author, Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky. She is a professor of psychology at The University of California at Irving who has conducted research on happiness for close to 20 years. The material contained in the book is quite fascinating, although…
Exercise is a powerful method to improve emotional and cognitive functioning that is relatively simple. We’ve all heard it – the mind, body, and spirit are all connected. The more that I learn and grow, the more I view this as an essential truth. There is plenty of scientific research that supports the mind-body…
Until recently it was thought that the adult brain did not generate any new neurons. I clearly remember listening to a graduate professor in my Biological Bases for Behavior class state this as an immutable fact. It was kind of depressing to hear that, but I accepted it as an unfortunate reality. Discoveries in…
Are you having trouble sleeping and need help for insomnia? I discussed the the importance of getting a good night’s sleep in a previous blog. If you have insomnia though, getting that good night’s rest is a challenge. There are a number of effective strategies you can try if you do have insomnia. Consider trying…