Sunday, April 6, 2014
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Ten Reasons We've Lasted 16 Years
Dena and I took advantage of a $50 Avanti's gift certificate from the basketball team tonight to kick off a wonderful date night including movie and ice cream.
Part of our dinner conversation in this anniversary month or ours was to come up with reasons why our marriage works so well for us. These reasons wouldn't work for everyone, but they've contributed to 16 years of our happiness and counting.
1. We are both "pleasers" at heart who disdain conflict and hurting others' feelings.
2. Our natural response to being challenged is to quietly absorb and reflect, rather than to respond rashly.
3. We like to be busy, which gives us enough variety that we don't "tire" of each other. It also keeps our own self-image strong.
4. We stay in reasonably good health.
5. We are financially conservative. It's not that we shut the lights off whenever we leave the room, shop at the cheapest places in town, or aggressively coupon our purchases. But we are savers, and our home and wardrobes are modest, and we buy unflashy high-quality things.
6. We believe in God.
7. We say thank you and I'm sorry a lot.
8. We like to laugh and be silly, but not at others' expense, and especially not at each others' expense. In general, we try not to be complainers.
9. We are not worriers, and we get better at this every year. Part faith, part experience. We may do things that the other wouldn't do, but we are supportive, sometimes by simply saying nothing at all. We don't nag.
10. We hug, kiss, and dote on each other daily.
Part of our dinner conversation in this anniversary month or ours was to come up with reasons why our marriage works so well for us. These reasons wouldn't work for everyone, but they've contributed to 16 years of our happiness and counting.
1. We are both "pleasers" at heart who disdain conflict and hurting others' feelings.
2. Our natural response to being challenged is to quietly absorb and reflect, rather than to respond rashly.
3. We like to be busy, which gives us enough variety that we don't "tire" of each other. It also keeps our own self-image strong.
4. We stay in reasonably good health.
5. We are financially conservative. It's not that we shut the lights off whenever we leave the room, shop at the cheapest places in town, or aggressively coupon our purchases. But we are savers, and our home and wardrobes are modest, and we buy unflashy high-quality things.
6. We believe in God.
7. We say thank you and I'm sorry a lot.
8. We like to laugh and be silly, but not at others' expense, and especially not at each others' expense. In general, we try not to be complainers.
9. We are not worriers, and we get better at this every year. Part faith, part experience. We may do things that the other wouldn't do, but we are supportive, sometimes by simply saying nothing at all. We don't nag.
10. We hug, kiss, and dote on each other daily.
Movie Review: God's Not Dead
I'd heard some good things about this one, one of a string of Christian movies in the last five years that brings a smile to kind hearts. Despite a rash of painful moments, Dena and I enjoyed it too.
A college freshman takes a stand against an atheist philosophy professor (Kevin Sorbo), who challenges him to prove God exists or else fail that part of the course. He accepts the challenge, jeopardizing his pre-law career and his girlfriend.
Meanwhile, the college professor treats his Christian girlfriend like trash, jeopardizing their relationship.
Meanwhile, a Muslim student secretly hides her Christian faith, jeopardizing her home life.
Meanwhile, a Chinese exchange student starts considering a Christian conversion, jeopardizing his family life.
Meanwhile, an uppity reporter learns that she has cancer, jeopardizing her life.
Meanwhile, a cocky businessman disses his dementia-ridden mother.
Meanwhile, a local pastor questions his ability to succeed "in the trenches," jeopardizing his ministry.
Oh, and there's a Duck Dynasty guy and a spate of references to the Newsboys rock group.
To put it mildly, there's a lot going on, which keeps things snapping along.
Whether you do or don't believe in God, you'll probably walk away believing the same unless you're easily swept away by roundabout logic and fancy charts. But there are literally a couple of "come to Jesus" moments at the end sure to bring tears to the eyes of anyone who either believes in such moments, or who cried at the end of Dead Poets' Society.
Find a comfy theater chair and some friends who share your beliefs, and give this one a try.
A college freshman takes a stand against an atheist philosophy professor (Kevin Sorbo), who challenges him to prove God exists or else fail that part of the course. He accepts the challenge, jeopardizing his pre-law career and his girlfriend.
Meanwhile, the college professor treats his Christian girlfriend like trash, jeopardizing their relationship.
Meanwhile, a Muslim student secretly hides her Christian faith, jeopardizing her home life.
Meanwhile, a Chinese exchange student starts considering a Christian conversion, jeopardizing his family life.
Meanwhile, an uppity reporter learns that she has cancer, jeopardizing her life.
Meanwhile, a cocky businessman disses his dementia-ridden mother.
Meanwhile, a local pastor questions his ability to succeed "in the trenches," jeopardizing his ministry.
Oh, and there's a Duck Dynasty guy and a spate of references to the Newsboys rock group.
To put it mildly, there's a lot going on, which keeps things snapping along.
Whether you do or don't believe in God, you'll probably walk away believing the same unless you're easily swept away by roundabout logic and fancy charts. But there are literally a couple of "come to Jesus" moments at the end sure to bring tears to the eyes of anyone who either believes in such moments, or who cried at the end of Dead Poets' Society.
Find a comfy theater chair and some friends who share your beliefs, and give this one a try.
New Video Genre, ASMR, Helps Lull People To Sleep
By Deb Amlen of Yahoo! Tech:
Stressed out? Can’t sleep? Perhaps it’s that “Candy Crush” addiction, or even surfing the Net on your smartphone until the wee hours that’s keeping you awake. But what technology has stolen from you, it might be able to give back. For free, and with no pharmacological side effects.
Stressed out? Can’t sleep? Perhaps it’s that “Candy Crush” addiction, or even surfing the Net on your smartphone until the wee hours that’s keeping you awake. But what technology has stolen from you, it might be able to give back. For free, and with no pharmacological side effects.
If you’ve been dreaming of a good
night’s sleep, give ASMR videos a try. All you really need is access to
YouTube. A pair of headphones that plug into your computer or
smartphone and an open mind will also help. Then, find a comfortable
place to relax (lying down is best, but a comfy chair will do), put on
your headphones, go to YouTube and type “ASMR” in the search bar.
Now you’re ready to experience the soft-spoken sensory experience that is taking YouTube by storm. A soft and soothing storm.
While YouTube is currently the easiest place to find thousands of ASMR videos in one place, there is also an ASMR sub-reddit
with more than 68,000 members. In both places you’ll find communities
of people seeking the same thing you are seeking: comfort, relaxation,
and a good night’s sleep.
These highly specialized videos are, according to Olivia Kissper,
a U.K.-based “ASMRtist,” or creator of ASMR videos, a way to “merge
technology with personal attention [to create the] warmth that we all
crave.”
What is ASMR?
ASMR
is short for autonomous sensory meridian response, a fancy name for
those pleasurable shivers and scalp tingles you sometimes get when
someone whispers in your ear, brushes your hair, taps on an object with
his fingernails, gives you a makeover, shaves your face, or performs
other personal attention activities.
These scalp tingles have been dubbed “brain orgasms” by ASMR devotees, but while viewing an ASMR video can be an intimate experience, it’s not meant to provoke a sexual response in any way. In fact, some people don’t even get the tingles, but instead just feel soothed and cared for enough to relax and drift off to sleep.
Your mileage may vary, of course; everyone responds to these “triggers” differently. I, personally, respond best to whispering voices and the personal attention of a makeover. Other triggers can include crinkling paper, visual stimuli like painting or drawing, or softly spoken educational or story-telling videos.
Perhaps you remember how relaxing it was to listen to the mellow voice of television’s art instructor Bob Ross as you watched him gently cover a canvas with “happy little clouds”
and “happy little trees.” Even today, videos of Ross painting and
speaking softly can lull me to sleep, and the fact that nearly 6 million
people have watched the “happy little clouds” video is proof that I’m
not alone. I’m betting that they didn’t all click on that video just to
learn how to paint clouds.
If you were one of those people who reacted to Ross’ television show and videos the way I did, you’ve already experienced ASMR.
Scientists are not quite sure yet
how ASMR videos work to provoke a relaxation response. One theory
speculates that dopamine and serotonin — the “feel-good”
neurotransmitters — might be released in the brain when a response is
triggered, but no scientific studies have been completed that would
confirm that. Even so, Kissper reports having received hundreds of
letters from viewers saying that her videos have helped them with
anxiety, insomnia, stress, bereavement, trauma, and depression.
Honestly, it’s not as weird as it sounds
Once
you find an “ASMRtist” you like, she (the majority are women, but men
are making videos as well) won’t seem like a stranger for long. While it
may seem oddly disturbing at first to sit and watch a young woman
unwrap a hard candy and eat it while showing you the contents of her
makeup bag, the ASMRtists are nonthreatening and start to feel like
trusted friends after a few viewings.
The behavior you’ll see in the videos may look odd at first (why is this total stranger offering to cut my hair and
tapping on a hairbrush while chatting me up?), but they are very
carefully scripted to include a variety of triggers that have been shown
to be soothing. And if one video is just not triggering the response
for you, you can always move on and find one that does.
So why is this community of ASMR
video devotees growing so quickly? We rush through our days barely
connecting with the people around us. In this busy world we live in, or
perhaps even for those who can’t get out to connect with others,
indulging in an ASMR video before bedtime may be the next logical step
in combining technology with human interaction.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment for a makeover. And a nap.
Loyalty Is More Than A Motto, Leads Connecticut To Final Four
By Jeff Eisenberg of Yahoo! Sports:
ARLINGTON, Texas — Staggered by
the departure of legendary coach Jim Calhoun and the revelation that
academic woes would prevent his team from being eligible for the 2013
postseason, UConn guard Ryan Boatright wrestled with a tough decision two years ago.
He could turn pro and gamble his
solid freshman season caught the attention of NBA scouts. He could
transfer to another school without such an uncertain future. Or he could
stick it out at UConn and hope that interim coach Kevin Ollie could
stabilize the program in time to make an NCAA tournament push once the
postseason ban was lifted.
"I was never going to leave to
transfer. I was going to leave to try to turn pro," Boatright said. "But
I'm built on loyalty. My mom really emphasized loyalty with me. That's
why I stamped it on my chest. I was committed to the program and the
university. I didn't want to abandon the people I'd committed to when
times got hard."
That Boatright, Shabazz Napier,
Deandre Daniels and a handful of other veterans each decided they had a
responsibility to stay at UConn is the biggest reason the Huskies
avoided a nosedive. They won 20 games last season despite not being
eligible for the postseason and built on that success this year, earning
a No. 7 seed in the NCAA tournament and toppling St. Joseph's,
Villanova, Iowa State and Michigan State to earn a matchup with
top-ranked Florida in the Final Four.
The loyalty of Boatright, Napier and Daniels is especially noteworthy considering not all of their teammates felt the same. Andre Drummond
and Jeremy Lamb sacrificed their remaining eligibility and entered the
NBA draft, a decision they likely would have made whether or not UConn
was postseason ineligible. Power forward Alex Oriakhi earned his degree
and took advantage of the chance to play right away at Missouri as a
one-year transfer, while fellow big men Roscoe Smith and Michael Bradley
transferred to UNLV and to Samford, respectively.
"My sophomore year I didn't play
up to my capabilities," Napier said last week. "I felt like I owed the
university, as well as the coaches and my teammates a good year.
"My sophomore season, we had one
of the best teams in the country. I think we started off No. 4 in the
country. And we had great talent, Andre Drummond, Jeremy Lamb, Roscoe
Smith, Alex Oriakhi. And I didn't know how to be a leader out there at
that point. I was doing things that I wasn't definitely happy about. I
isolated myself a lot when things were down. I didn't learn how to be a
leader, even though I had one of the greatest leaders [Kemba Walker] in
front of me my freshman year."
Once Ollie re-recruited Napier
and Boatright, his biggest task before the 2012-13 season became
motivating the team despite the lack of postseason prospects. Ollie did
it by emphasizing the important of building toward this season when the
Huskies would have their full roster back and a chance to play deep into
March.
Even for a program accustomed to
competing for conference titles and national championships, UConn's
20-10 record in the 2012-13 season was a significant feat because a
depleted team consistently played hard and exceeded modest expectations.
The Huskies have built on that this season, winning 30 games and
reaffirming that the program won't slip under Ollie despite the
uncertain period following Calhoun's retirement.
Napier has enjoyed an All-American-caliber senior season, averaging 18.1 points per game, elevating his play even further in the postseason and displaying all the leadership qualities he lacked his sophomore year.
Boatright's scoring numbers are actually lower as a junior than as a sophomore, but his point guard skills and decision making with the ball in his hands have improved.
Daniels has developed into a more versatile scorer, adding the ability to attack the rim and finish at the basket to a repertoire that already included an accurate spot-up jump shot.
"We're truly grateful to the
guys who stayed and so so happy to see them reap the reward of their
commitment," UConn associate head coach Glen Miller said. "Our coaches
and players are very close. I think everyone loves and cares for each
other sincerely. They really loved the university, not just playing for
our basketball team but the university as a whole. They saw the light at
the end of the tunnel, so they decided to stay."
Last fall, as he was preparing
for his junior season, Boatright got the word "loyalty" tattooed on his
chest. That serves as a reminder of the importance of loyalty, as does
UConn's success after he, Napier and their teammates decided to stay put
rather than turn pro or transfer.
"My mom always told me, 'If you
stay loyal, good things will happen,'" Boatright said. "We stayed loyal
to the university and to each other, and we're reaping the benefits
right now."
Mom Grateful For Stranger Who Bought Groceries
From Yahoo! Shine:
A simple, generous act of kindness can be so life changing — especially when it means the difference between kids going hungry or having full bellies. A poignant blog post written by a mother of five made a beautifully honest illustration of that recently.
“To the Woman Behind Me in Line at the Grocery Store," posted on March 19, was republished by the Huffington Post on Thursday. In it, the woman, who identifies herself only as Andrea, thanks an unknown fellow shopper for paying for her groceries, which totaled just $17.38, after being faced with an out-of-service EBT machine and an empty wallet. Her tale has captured public empathy, with many readers commenting with supportive sentiments and even job offers. "I am overwhelmed. I am humbled. I am awed," she tells Yahoo Shine about the positive response. "I am also amazed. I am honored that people trust me with their stories. I am pleased that the vast majority are taking this as it is intended: to be blessed and to bless."
In her post, which is composed like a letter, she writes, “Dear woman behind me in line at the grocery store. You don’t know me. You have no clue what my life has been like since October 1, 2013. You have no clue that my family has gone through the wringer. You have no clue that we have faced unbelievable hardship. You have no clue we have been humiliated, humbled, destitute.” But, she continues, “You didn’t judge me. You didn’t snarl, ‘Maybe you should have less kids.’ You didn’t say, ‘Well, get a job and learn to support yourself.’ You didn’t look away in embarrassment or shame for me. You didn’t make any assumptions at all.
“What you did was you paid that $17.38 grocery bill for us. You gave my kids bananas, yogurt, apple juice, cheese sticks, and a peach ice tea for me; a rare treat and splurge. You let me hug you and promise through my tears that I WILL pay this forward. I WILL pay someone’s grocery bill for them. That $17.38 may not have been a lot for you, but it was priceless to us.”
Through her blog, “True Stories of a Midwest Yankee,” Andrea documents “life unfolding,” through family tales about moving from the East Coast to the Midwest, with her many kids — one of whom has special needs and another with “9, yes N-I-N-E” food allergies, and all of whom are home-schooled. In her grocery store post, she notes she’s both “grateful and embarrassed” that her family has been on the government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) since her husband was laid off after 17 years with his former company, and that her family had, for a time, been homeless.
“You know none of this but you didn’t let that stop you from being compassionate and generous to someone you have never met,” Andrea writes to the stranger, whom she adds her family has dubbed their “angel in disguise.” She continues, “You have no idea the impact you had on my kids. You have no idea how incredibly thankful I am for you. Your action may have been small, but to us it was monumental. Thank you.”
Commenters on her blog post have been clearly touched by the story. "What town are y’all in?" wrote one man. "Not sure if it would work out like this but I’m in Atlanta and will need to hire on some people pretty soon. You can email me." Other offers came from readers in both Detroit and Kansas City. Andrea acknowledges the outpouring generosity on her blog's Facebook page, writing, "I am so humbled that people are offering to help us. I do not want people to think I expect anything because I don't. So if you offered to help and I declined I apologize. I need to realize I struggle with pride. Please be patient with me. I am so thankful for all of you."
A simple, generous act of kindness can be so life changing — especially when it means the difference between kids going hungry or having full bellies. A poignant blog post written by a mother of five made a beautifully honest illustration of that recently.
“To the Woman Behind Me in Line at the Grocery Store," posted on March 19, was republished by the Huffington Post on Thursday. In it, the woman, who identifies herself only as Andrea, thanks an unknown fellow shopper for paying for her groceries, which totaled just $17.38, after being faced with an out-of-service EBT machine and an empty wallet. Her tale has captured public empathy, with many readers commenting with supportive sentiments and even job offers. "I am overwhelmed. I am humbled. I am awed," she tells Yahoo Shine about the positive response. "I am also amazed. I am honored that people trust me with their stories. I am pleased that the vast majority are taking this as it is intended: to be blessed and to bless."
In her post, which is composed like a letter, she writes, “Dear woman behind me in line at the grocery store. You don’t know me. You have no clue what my life has been like since October 1, 2013. You have no clue that my family has gone through the wringer. You have no clue that we have faced unbelievable hardship. You have no clue we have been humiliated, humbled, destitute.” But, she continues, “You didn’t judge me. You didn’t snarl, ‘Maybe you should have less kids.’ You didn’t say, ‘Well, get a job and learn to support yourself.’ You didn’t look away in embarrassment or shame for me. You didn’t make any assumptions at all.
“What you did was you paid that $17.38 grocery bill for us. You gave my kids bananas, yogurt, apple juice, cheese sticks, and a peach ice tea for me; a rare treat and splurge. You let me hug you and promise through my tears that I WILL pay this forward. I WILL pay someone’s grocery bill for them. That $17.38 may not have been a lot for you, but it was priceless to us.”
Through her blog, “True Stories of a Midwest Yankee,” Andrea documents “life unfolding,” through family tales about moving from the East Coast to the Midwest, with her many kids — one of whom has special needs and another with “9, yes N-I-N-E” food allergies, and all of whom are home-schooled. In her grocery store post, she notes she’s both “grateful and embarrassed” that her family has been on the government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) since her husband was laid off after 17 years with his former company, and that her family had, for a time, been homeless.
“You know none of this but you didn’t let that stop you from being compassionate and generous to someone you have never met,” Andrea writes to the stranger, whom she adds her family has dubbed their “angel in disguise.” She continues, “You have no idea the impact you had on my kids. You have no idea how incredibly thankful I am for you. Your action may have been small, but to us it was monumental. Thank you.”
Commenters on her blog post have been clearly touched by the story. "What town are y’all in?" wrote one man. "Not sure if it would work out like this but I’m in Atlanta and will need to hire on some people pretty soon. You can email me." Other offers came from readers in both Detroit and Kansas City. Andrea acknowledges the outpouring generosity on her blog's Facebook page, writing, "I am so humbled that people are offering to help us. I do not want people to think I expect anything because I don't. So if you offered to help and I declined I apologize. I need to realize I struggle with pride. Please be patient with me. I am so thankful for all of you."
Scientifically Proven Ways To Have A Happy Morning
By Corrie Pikul of Yahoo! Shine:
Have a little tulip with your coffee.
Why it works: Evolutionary psychologists believe that we see flowers and plants as a subconscious cue of safety ("Things can grow here-let's set down roots"), reward ("All that foraging paid off") and promise ("These buds mean that fruit is on the way"). So the sight of a colorful bouquet in the morning, they theorize, can convince you that everything's coming up roses today.
Strange, true thing that might convince you: In a study led by Harvard Medical School psychologist Nancy Etcoff, PhD, women who saw flowers when they woke up reported feeling happier (and less anxious) at home, as well as more energetic at work.
Sleep on your right side.
Why it works: It will influence your dreams. Turkish researchers found that people who tend to sleep on their right side have mellower dreams, with themes of relief, joy, peace and love. They also report feeling better rested and less dysfunctional during waking hours.
Strange, true thing that might convince you: Sleeping exclusively on the left side can put pressure on organs like the stomach and spleen (could that be why left-side-sleepers are more likely to have nightmares?).
Squeeze yourself a glass of fresh orange juice.
Why it works: It's not just because oranges are the color of the morning sun: They're also high in vitamin B6 and folic acid, both of which have been found lacking in patients who suffer from depression.
Strange, true thing that might convince you: The scent of sweet orange essential oil made test-takers in one Brazilian study feel less anxious throughout the exam (bonus: The effect lingered throughout the afternoon).
Go to bed an hour earlier.
Why it works: For all the obvious reasons (you'll be better rested, more alert, more optimistic about what the day holds).
Strange, true thing that might convince you (as if you need it): When you lose sleep, you also risk losing your sense of humor. No joke: The ability to "get" that something is funny requires you to process information cognitively as well as emotionally-and that processing is severely affected by a lack of sleep, explains William D.S. Killgore, an associate professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School. In one of his studies, sleep-deprived participants had significant difficulty recognizing when items like news headlines and cartoons were supposed to make them laugh.
Do 10 burpees in the yard.
Why it works: Cardio exercise wakes up your heart and your muscles and can set your mood on an upward trajectory that lasts until nighttime (and may even extend into a more restful sleep). Doing it outside seems to compound the effects. If you don't have time before work for a trail run, this jumping-squatting-planking move, which can be done in a few minutes and a few square feet of outdoor space, is the most efficient cheat.
Strange, true thing that might convince you: Just 5 minutes of exercising in nature can enhance your mood and boost your self-esteem, researchers found (that's at least 20 burpees).
Never cry yourself to sleep.
Why it works: Sleep has been shown to make memories more vivid and durable, particularly emotional ones-perhaps as an evolutionary mechanism to help us learn from these experiences (we remember how angry Ug got when we made that comment after the mammoth hunt, so we never, ever say it to him again).
Strange, true thing that might convince you: People shown disturbing images at bedtime had strong reactions both before and after sleeping, found a study published in The Journal of Neuroscience. But when shown upsetting images first thing in the morning and then after a day awake, they didn't seem nearly as fazed. Staying awake after an upsetting experience neutralizes some of the emotion, the scientists concluded, while going to sleep helps "preserve" the emotional response.
Get your heart racing...and his, too (wink).
Why it works: Testosterone levels (yes, women, too have small amounts of it naturally) are highest in the morning. Having sex then also boosts your levels of the love hormone, oxytocin. Schedule an a.m. tryst, and you'll not only feel more vital and alive but also more bonded to your partner for the rest of the day.
Strange, true thing that might convince you: Sex increases blood flow to the entire body, even the brain, which can keep the synapses firing and the neurons healthy and pumped.
Have a little tulip with your coffee.
Why it works: Evolutionary psychologists believe that we see flowers and plants as a subconscious cue of safety ("Things can grow here-let's set down roots"), reward ("All that foraging paid off") and promise ("These buds mean that fruit is on the way"). So the sight of a colorful bouquet in the morning, they theorize, can convince you that everything's coming up roses today.
Strange, true thing that might convince you: In a study led by Harvard Medical School psychologist Nancy Etcoff, PhD, women who saw flowers when they woke up reported feeling happier (and less anxious) at home, as well as more energetic at work.
Sleep on your right side.
Why it works: It will influence your dreams. Turkish researchers found that people who tend to sleep on their right side have mellower dreams, with themes of relief, joy, peace and love. They also report feeling better rested and less dysfunctional during waking hours.
Strange, true thing that might convince you: Sleeping exclusively on the left side can put pressure on organs like the stomach and spleen (could that be why left-side-sleepers are more likely to have nightmares?).
Squeeze yourself a glass of fresh orange juice.
Why it works: It's not just because oranges are the color of the morning sun: They're also high in vitamin B6 and folic acid, both of which have been found lacking in patients who suffer from depression.
Strange, true thing that might convince you: The scent of sweet orange essential oil made test-takers in one Brazilian study feel less anxious throughout the exam (bonus: The effect lingered throughout the afternoon).
Go to bed an hour earlier.
Why it works: For all the obvious reasons (you'll be better rested, more alert, more optimistic about what the day holds).
Strange, true thing that might convince you (as if you need it): When you lose sleep, you also risk losing your sense of humor. No joke: The ability to "get" that something is funny requires you to process information cognitively as well as emotionally-and that processing is severely affected by a lack of sleep, explains William D.S. Killgore, an associate professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School. In one of his studies, sleep-deprived participants had significant difficulty recognizing when items like news headlines and cartoons were supposed to make them laugh.
Do 10 burpees in the yard.
Why it works: Cardio exercise wakes up your heart and your muscles and can set your mood on an upward trajectory that lasts until nighttime (and may even extend into a more restful sleep). Doing it outside seems to compound the effects. If you don't have time before work for a trail run, this jumping-squatting-planking move, which can be done in a few minutes and a few square feet of outdoor space, is the most efficient cheat.
Strange, true thing that might convince you: Just 5 minutes of exercising in nature can enhance your mood and boost your self-esteem, researchers found (that's at least 20 burpees).
Never cry yourself to sleep.
Why it works: Sleep has been shown to make memories more vivid and durable, particularly emotional ones-perhaps as an evolutionary mechanism to help us learn from these experiences (we remember how angry Ug got when we made that comment after the mammoth hunt, so we never, ever say it to him again).
Strange, true thing that might convince you: People shown disturbing images at bedtime had strong reactions both before and after sleeping, found a study published in The Journal of Neuroscience. But when shown upsetting images first thing in the morning and then after a day awake, they didn't seem nearly as fazed. Staying awake after an upsetting experience neutralizes some of the emotion, the scientists concluded, while going to sleep helps "preserve" the emotional response.
Get your heart racing...and his, too (wink).
Why it works: Testosterone levels (yes, women, too have small amounts of it naturally) are highest in the morning. Having sex then also boosts your levels of the love hormone, oxytocin. Schedule an a.m. tryst, and you'll not only feel more vital and alive but also more bonded to your partner for the rest of the day.
Strange, true thing that might convince you: Sex increases blood flow to the entire body, even the brain, which can keep the synapses firing and the neurons healthy and pumped.
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