How To Boost Your Mental Energy Without Caffeine (M)
Coffee makes people think in more concrete ways and perceive that time is shorter.
→ Support PsyBlog for just $5 per month. Enables access to articles marked (M) and removes ads.
→ Explore PsyBlog's ebooks, all written by Dr Jeremy Dean:
Accept Yourself: How to feel a profound sense of warmth and self-compassion
The Anxiety Plan: 42 Strategies For Worry, Phobias, OCD and Panic
Spark: 17 Steps That Will Boost Your Motivation For Anything
Activate: How To Find Joy Again By Changing What You Do (Source: PsyBlog | Psychology Blog)
Source: PsyBlog | Psychology Blog - August 29, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Jeremy Dean Tags: Caffeine subscribers-only Source Type: blogs
Self-Care to Lower Anxiety
In today’s world, self-care is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Although we may not be able to control what is happening outside of us, we can take steps each day to stay grounded and connected to our center.
If you are looking for some at-home self-care practices to help you lower anxiety, alleviate stress, and feel calmer on a day-to-day basis, you’ve come to the right place. The practices below will help to anchor you in the present moment, quiet your fears, and calm a spiraling mind. Implement these practices on a regular basis to see lasting effects in your life.
However, with this being said, if you are curren...
Source: World of Psychology - August 13, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Nancy Ryan, LMFT Tags: Anxiety and Panic Mindfulness Self-Help Breathing Exercise Self Care Sleep Hygiene Source Type: blogs
Rising temperatures: How to avoid heat-related illnesses and deaths
In Boston, we believe warmer is better. Our cravings for warmth are formed in the cold, dark winter nights when the prospect of summer seems impossibly remote. But with July temperatures reaching near 100° F, our winter dreams are becoming a summertime nightmare. Dangerous heat exposures in Boston and other cities across the US aren’t felt equally. Urban areas with less green space and more pavement can be up to 15 degrees hotter than other, greener places. These urban heat islands are much more likely to be poor, minority neighborhoods, and their origins can be traced straight back to redlining that began in the 1930s....
Source: Harvard Health Blog - August 5, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Aaron Bernstein, MD, MPH Tags: Asthma Children's Health Coronavirus and COVID-19 Emergency Planning Environmental health Men's Health Women's Health Source Type: blogs
The recency illusion
I was caught out by the recency illusion today. A friend posted a video of a spide weaving its web. I add a comment about research I’d read about when I was writing for the New Scientist in the early 1990s where the scientists showed that plying a spider with different stimulants, such as caffeine and cocaine, or other drugs such as cannabis, led them to produce weird and wonderful alternative web patterns. I revised my comment because I then remembered reading about that research when I was at university in the 1980s.
I commented that in my 30+ years as a science writer I reckon I’d seen a lot of research rein...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - July 29, 2020 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Health and Medicine Source Type: blogs
The receny illusion
I was caught out by the recency illusion today. A friend posted a video of a spide weaving its web. I add a comment about research I’d read about when I was writing for the New Scientist in the early 1990s where the scientists showed that plying a spider with different stimulants, such as caffeine and cocaine, or other drugs such as cannabis, led them to produce weird and wonderful alternative web patterns. I revised my comment because I then remembered reading about that research when I was at university in the 1980s.
I commented that in my 30+ years as a science writer I reckon I’d seen a lot of research rein...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - July 29, 2020 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Sciencebase Source Type: blogs
6 Simple Ways to Combat Stress
No doubt we live in stressful times. Political and social unrest and a pandemic are piling on top of the normal stresses of daily life. Undue stress can lead to insomnia, fatigue, headaches, depression, and serious medical conditions.
If you feel severely overwhelmed, it might be wise to consult a doctor. But there are six simple ways to combat stress on your own.
1. Go Outside and Take a Breath
Researchers know a breath of fresh air cleanses contaminants from your lungs. They also know your brain uses about 20% of the oxygen you take in, so the more air you get, the better your mind functions – and that makes y...
Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement - June 24, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Erin Falconer Tags: featured productivity tips psychology self-improvement motivation pickthebrain stress stress management Source Type: blogs
Lifestyle Medicine Could Be The Key For Digital Health Adoption
I’ve been wearing my Fitbit for a couple of years and only remove it when I shower. I use it to track my sleep and its smart alarm wakes me up at the optimal time every morning. With the pocketable Kardia, I regularly check my ECG at home to detect any anomalies. For an in-depth analysis of what my genetic makeup predisposes me to, I had my whole genome sequenced. And I bring relevant data to my general practitioner during my checkups so that we can decide on preventive measures. In short, I’m trying to live like the patient of the future.
However, posing as such a patient is not feasible for many among us. Firs...
Source: The Medical Futurist - June 23, 2020 Category: Information Technology Authors: Prans Tags: Lifestyle medicine E-Patients Health Sensors & Trackers Healthcare Design Medical Education Personalized Medicine sleep stress food scanner sleep apnea Apple Watch Dr. Vernes Baylor ACLM Source Type: blogs
Heavy Coffee Drinkers Want Coffee A Lot More Than They Actually Like It
By Emma Young
If I had to choose between giving up alcohol or coffee, it would have to be alcohol. I just love coffee too much… But do I, really? Or do I just want it, which is different?
Despite being the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world, there’s ongoing debate about just how addictive caffeine is. It does share some of the criteria for dependence: regular users who skip their morning cup will often report withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, for example. “Caffeine use disorder” is even being discussed for potential inclusion in the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manu...
Source: BPS RESEARCH DIGEST - June 22, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: BPS Research Digest Tags: Drugs Source Type: blogs
Is dry shampoo bad for your hair and scalp? episode 223
Welcome to the Beauty Brains, a show where real cosmetic chemists answer your beauty product questions and give you an insider’s look at the cosmetic industry.
Hosts: Valerie George and Perry Romanowski.
On today’s show we’re going to answer questions about…
Whether you should get a cosmetic fridge?
If dry shampoo is bad for your hair and other hair questions
What is the lameller technique and how does it work?
Suggested listening:
Up First Podcast – American Police
This American Life – Episode 707
Beauty Science News
Is men’s skin care really poised for growth?
A third of people surveyed are practi...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - June 11, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Perry Romanowski Tags: Podcast Source Type: blogs
Fika: A Coffee Break For Productivity
Coronavirus has shone a spotlight on workplace productivity. Many of you are still working from home and juggling additional responsibilities of child care or schooling and household tasks. Demands on you escalate to the point where you know you need a break, but don’t dare take one. A paradox is at work. In order to survive the crush in this unusual environment, you need some downtime more than ever. The Swedish tradition of fika might offer an answer.
Fika is the Swedish practice of stopping work for a coffee break with friends and often a little something to eat. This is not the American coffee break of grabb...
Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement - June 10, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Erin Falconer Tags: featured happiness productivity tips self-improvement fika Source Type: blogs
Being Stimulant-Free
I like being 100% stimulant free – no coffee, caffeinated tea, chocolate, caffeinated soda, etc.
This means no decaf either since decaf still contains some caffeine.
I base this on lots of personal experimentation. I’ve gone some years of my life with no stimulants, and I’ve also gone for long stretches consuming coffee daily. The two modes of living are notably different.
Caffeine tends to make me obsess more over trivialities and lose focus on big picture goals. I see this pattern in other coffee drinkers often – lots of busywork type of thinking on low criticality items. It seems to make some pe...
Source: Steve Pavlina's Personal Development Blog - May 16, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Steve Pavlina Tags: Emotions Health Lifestyle Source Type: blogs
Discipline Ripples
A nice side effect of my daily blogging challenge is that it’s helping me become more disciplined in other areas of life. This in turn increases my capacity to get more done because I can trust that I’ll have abundant discipline to flow through more tasks and projects.
I expected that there would be some discipline ripples, but I’m pleased that they’re better than I anticipated.
Staying caffeine free feels easier than ever. I’m also easily avoiding other stimulants like any forms of chocolate, caffeinated tea, etc. It feels like the part of my brain that recognizes and wants to avoid add...
Source: Steve Pavlina's Personal Development Blog - May 15, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Steve Pavlina Tags: Health Lifestyle Productivity Source Type: blogs
Before 7am
I love the morning magical time. It’s my favorite time of day – before dawn when most of the city is still snug in bed.
This morning I hopped out of bed at 4:45am, feeling happy to start another adventurous day. By 7am this morning, I had done the following:
Ran 5 miles / 8 kilometersDid 12,000 stepsListened to 4 hours of The Art of Possibility audiobook (100 minutes x 2.5 speed)Did 15 minutes of yoga with a little meditation at the endMade a green smoothie (1 banana, 6 mandarin oranges, spinach, celery, blueberries, maca, dehydrated barley grass juice, chia seeds, hemp seeds, water)Mopped the kitchen floor (...
Source: Steve Pavlina's Personal Development Blog - May 6, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Steve Pavlina Tags: Health Lifestyle Productivity Source Type: blogs
Practicing the Art of Change
Every month in Conscious Growth Club (which will open for new members April 27 to May 1), we host a group 30-day challenge. Members can choose which challenges they want to do, and we share updates as we go through each challenge together.
Some challenges are to improve our habits or to test new habits. Other challenges are more exploration-based. Some are just for the experience.
Each challenge allows for plenty of customization, so members can adapt any challenge to fit their situations. In May 2019, we did a daily exercise challenge, and members decided whether to walk, run, bike, do yoga, weight train, etc. In Ja...
Source: Steve Pavlina's Personal Development Blog - April 23, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Steve Pavlina Tags: Lifestyle Source Type: blogs
Struggling with attention and organization as you age? It could be ADHD, not dementia
As we get older, occasional forgetfulness may become more worrisome. Is this the start of dementia, or are we just stressed? Has the loss of structure due to retirement led to this change? Or could we be suffering from another illness, maybe the same illness as our son or granddaughter, who also struggle with attention and organization?
What are the symptoms of ADHD in older adults?
Although the diagnosis of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is often associated with school-age children, this condition may persist throughout adulthood and into old age. Older adults with ADHD struggle with attention, memory, an...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - April 21, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Stephanie Collier, MD, MPH Tags: Healthy Aging Memory Mental Health Source Type: blogs
