The Neurological Benefits Of Practice The Neurological Benefits Of Practice By Annie Murphy Paul “Why do I have to keep practicing? That’s the familiar wail of a child seated at the piano or in front of the multiplication table (or, for that matter, of an adult taking a tennis lesson). Evidence of why this is so was provided by a study published recently in the Journal of Neuroscience. As they did so, the researchers measured the participants’ energy expenditure by analyzing how much oxygen they inhaled and how much carbon dioxide they breathed out. Whenever we learn to make a new movement, Ahmed explains, we form and then update an internal model—a “sensorimotor map”—which our nervous system uses to predict our muscles’ motions and the resistance they will encounter. Over the course of a practice session, the subjects in Ahmed’s study were becoming more efficient in their muscle activity. What’s going on here? Paul is the author of Origins and the forthcoming book Brilliant: The Science of Smart.
Does Brushing Your Teeth Reduce Your Cancer Risk? Oral Hygiene Linked To Oral Cancer A study published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research found that poor oral health could be a risk factor for developing oral HPV, or human papilloma virus. Once contracting HPV, a person's risk for developing cancer may be higher, the study reports. The study, conducted by the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston, examined some 3,400 people over the age of 30. HPV is most often associated with sexually-transmitted diseases, and its link to cancer has only become clear in the past few years. "In the U.S., there is an active shift going on," Dr. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that HPV is linked to several types of cancers, including cervical, vulvar, vaginal, and oral cancer. Other studies will need to be completed before oral health can be linked to cancer with certainty. Aimée R.
Writing and Health Writing and Health: Some Practical Advice Writing about emotional upheavals in our lives can improve physical and mental health. Although the scientific research surrounding the value of expressive writing is still in the early phases, there are some approaches to writing that have been found to be helpful. Keep in mind that there are probably a thousand ways to write that may be beneficial to you. Getting Ready to Write Find a time and place where you won’t be disturbed. Promise yourself that you will write for a minimum of 15 minutes a day for at least 3 or 4 consecutive days. Once you begin writing, write continuously. You can write longhand or you can type on a computer. You can write about the same thing on all 3-4 days of writing or you can write about something different each day. What to Write About Many people have not had a single traumatic experience but all of us have had major conflicts or stressors in our lives and you can write about them as well. Adams, Kathleen (1998).
Pennebaker Book | The Center for Journal Therapy $20.00 plus shipping. Order your copy today! The simple act of expressing your thoughts and feelings about emotionally challenging experiences on paper is proven to speed your recovery and improve your mental and physical health. This book, written by one of America’s most distinguished research psychologists, guides you through a brief, powerful series of directed writing exercises you can do right in the book. Each will leave you with a stronger sense of value in the world and the ability to accept that life can be good–even when it is sometimes bad. James W. James W. Order your copy today HERE! Stress Management: How to Reduce, Prevent, and Cope with Stress Identify the sources of stress in your life Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life. This isn’t as easy as it sounds. Your true sources of stress aren’t always obvious, and it’s all too easy to overlook your own stress-inducing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. To identify your true sources of stress, look closely at your habits, attitude, and excuses: Do you explain away stress as temporary (“I just have a million things going on right now”) even though you can’t remember the last time you took a breather? Until you accept responsibility for the role you play in creating or maintaining it, your stress level will remain outside your control. Start a Stress Journal A stress journal can help you identify the regular stressors in your life and the way you deal with them. What caused your stress (make a guess if you’re unsure) How you felt, both physically and emotionally How you acted in response What you did to make yourself feel better
How to Stop Worrying: Self-Help for Anxiety Relief Why is it so hard to stop worrying? Constant worrying takes a heavy toll. It keeps you up at night and makes you tense and edgy during the day. You hate feeling like a nervous wreck. So why is it so difficult to stop worrying? For most chronic worriers, the anxious thoughts are fueled by the beliefs—both negative and positive—they hold about worrying. On the negative side, you may believe that your constant worrying is harmful, that it’s going to drive you crazy or affect your physical health. On the positive side, you may believe that your worrying helps you avoid bad things, prevents problems, prepares you for the worst, or leads to solutions. Negative beliefs, or worrying about worrying, add to your anxiety and keep worry going. Why you keep worrying You have mixed feelings about your worries. Maybe I'll find a solution. You have a hard time giving up on your worries because, in a sense, your worries have been working for you. Worry and anxiety self-help tip #1: Create a worry period
Capital - Successful executives and the four-hour sleep myth Two months ago, McKee took an overnight flight across the country for a meeting. He barely slept. By mid-afternoon he was disengaged and he kept leaving the room to get more coffee and soda. He couldn’t make out a word of his sleep-deprived notes when he reviewed them later that night. These people may be busy but they’re not being as efficient as they should be. — Eric Olson “They were useless,” said McKee, whose international investment banking specialises in mergers, divestitures and strategy. On the flipside, Darren Witmer can’t imagine sleeping for eight hours. “It’s a little weird,” he admitted. Exactly how much to sleep is a question many busy professionals struggle with. And it’s hard to ignore images of successful businesspeople like Martha Stewart and Donald Trump, who boast that they sleep only three or four hours a night. So is less sleep, or more, better for your career? Hidden impacts For most people, though, missing out on a good night’s rest has an impact in the morning.
Capital - Expat culture shock boomerangs in the office Many people believe that coming home from an overseas assignment will be a breeze compared to the adjustment of leaving for one. Going abroad as an expat, you are often given time to settle in and adjust to the new culture. But returning home, expectations are different, and there often isn’t adequate time or support for getting back up-to-speed. Feelings can include disorientation, confusion, anxiety and even fear. “The expat, on paper at least, is going back to a situation with which he or she is familiar, and it is often incorrectly assumed that this process will be problem-free,” said Dorothy Dalton, a Brussels-based career transition coach. The longer the length of the assignment, the higher the stress levels, said Dalton. Feelings can include disorientation, confusion, anxiety and even fear, according to Barbara West, a partner at Melbourne-based intercultural consulting firm Culture Works. Easing the transition There are steps for making your transition home easier, however.