Three types of memory important to learning: working, short-term, and long-term memory by Alannah Miller | Jan 24, 2022 | Mental Health Topics, Self-Improvement, Work & Careers Memory can make learning difficult, but the good news is that you can work to improve your memory. There are three main types of memory: working memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Working memory and short-term memory allow you to store and use temporary information, while long-term holds your lifelong…
Some unsolicited advice on seeking answers from advice columns by Wistar Murray | Jan 18, 2022 | Mental Health Topics, Self-Improvement Last week the Twitter user @KingBraize asked the World Wide Web for advice on how to talk to his two teen daughters about boys. He Tweeted (paraphrasing), “Ladies, what are some things you wished your dads had said to y’all during these stages, like first love/first heartbreak, etc. I don’t…
AITA (Am I the A**hole?): Our online quest to extinguish moral anxiety by Wistar Murray | Jan 10, 2022 | Anxiety, Mental Health Topics, Self-Improvement In case you missed it, there’s a place on the internet called r/AmItheA**hole (AITA) which aims to determine which party should be blamed in ethical disputes. For example, someone posts the following (paraphrased) moral quandary on Reddit’s AITA forum: “My friend’s baby was crying, so I gave her a sip…
What you read in 2021: Our most popular mental health articles of the year by Wistar Murray | Dec 30, 2021 | Mental Health Topics, Self-Improvement This was supposed to be the year when we collectively recovered from our pandemic trauma, found greater happiness in the workplace, and renewed loving relationships with our friends, our family, and ourselves. Did it all happen the way we mapped it out last New Year’s Eve? Probably not. But based…
How do I start motivating myself to get organized? by Heidi Faust, LCSW | Dec 1, 2021 | Mental Health Topics, Self-Improvement Q: How do I start motivating myself to get organized? A: Great question! The short, real answer is if you’re waiting to feel motivated or have a belief that motivation is necessary in order to get started with something, it’s just not true. You can choose to start getting organized…
How to be generous without losing a kidney this holiday season by Wistar Murray | Nov 23, 2021 | Community, Mental Health Topics, Self-Improvement A California woman decided to donate one of her kidneys without specifying who would receive the transplant. A male stranger subsequently benefited from her healthy organ. The woman, who was a writer, was definitely not seeking anonymity. She chronicled her “nondirected donation” through a special Facebook group. Then she confronted…
How to outsmart neuromarketing tactics and manage your online shopping addiction on Black Friday by Jason Crosby | Nov 19, 2021 | Mental Health Topics, Power & Control, Self-Improvement Every fall, Black Friday and Cyber Monday loom as the notorious twins of November, luring shoppers out in droves amid fierce competition. But beyond the viral videos of people fighting over TVs, these two consumer holidays are a big win for companies, with Americans spending nearly $20 billion on both…
Does willpower exist? Ego depletion theory explained, plus ways to exercise better self-control by Jason Crosby | Nov 3, 2021 | Mental Health Topics, Self-Improvement Willpower is often thought of as an “x” factor—an unquantifiable, but powerful force that, if only we could capture it, could allow us to conquer our vices and achieve our goals. Willpower is perhaps the most romanticized of all psychological traits, but rarely have we stopped to pose the question:…
Your procrastination might be anxiety: Here’s how to actually get stuff done (especially when you’re overwhelmed) by Sarah Curzi, PhD | Sep 3, 2021 | Anxiety, Mental Health Topics, Self-Improvement, Stress If my to-do list could talk, it would say, “You didn’t finish me yet!” I know I’m not the only one ignoring my to-do list because I can’t stand the idea of one more task. Many of us are drained these days, but time off isn’t always feasible. Even if…
The impact of American car culture: Are your driving habits harming your mental health? by Jason Crosby | Sep 3, 2021 | Behavioral Issues, Mental Health Topics, Self-Improvement The oncoming car ignores their red light and slams into the side of my Subaru as I turn left. My tires squeal in protest as I’m pushed sideways across the intersection by the impact, but before I know it, the crash is over. The tunnel vision wears off — I…
Astrology and the Barnum effect: Understanding our personal belief systems and why so many people love horoscopes by Jason Crosby | Aug 30, 2021 | Mental Health Topics, Psychology, Self-Improvement You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t have a strong opinion about astrology, which assigns meaning to the placement of the planets and the stars. Twenty-nine percent of Americans believe in horoscopes, and the people who say they don’t are quick to defend their reasons why. As much as…
Ring and Nextdoor: The good, the bad, and the gossip associated with neighborhood watch platforms by Jason Crosby | Aug 25, 2021 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships, Self-Improvement Buena Vista is as nice a neighborhood as you could imagine: Proper houses trimmed in white, all lined up in neat rows. It’s a labyrinth of new pavement and landscaping, baking underneath the Texas sun. Somewhere, the sounds of a lawnmower swirl together with a dog barking and a child’s…