Stress

In a recent series by Business Insider, behavior scientist Dr. Susan Weinschenk highlighted 100 psychological facts (presented in two parts) that every human should understand about themselves and others.

Weinschenk, who penned the books, “Neuro Web Design: What Makes Them Click?” and “100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People,” postulates that humans have three types of brains. Those three include the new brain, “the conscious, reasoning logical brain;” the mid-brain, “the part of the brain that processes emotions;” and the old brain, “the part of the brain that is most interested in your survival.”

Based on the series, we’ve singled out 5 psychological facts that will come in hand in the real world.

	– High levels of stress are poor for your health, but did you know that it can also negatively affect your ability to perform? If you’re stressed about something, your best bet is to fix the problem before tackling your work. This lets your new brain “the conscious, reasoning logical brain;” process information better without the mid-brain “the part of the brain that processes emotions;” getting in the way.
	– People look to others for advice and stories when they’re uncertain. Always utilize the power of anecdotal stories and expert advice, both of which “talk” to our mid/emotional brain.
	– We’re hardwired to imitate and empathize with those around us. Want to get your kiddos to eat their greens? Showing them photographs or videos of other children doing the same thing may positively influence them.
	The two emotional states in which you’re most susceptible to ads and/or branding is when you’re sad or afraid. So, if you’re trying to stick to that diet and are having a blue day, steer clear of magazine, web and TV adverts touting delicious, calorie-laden goods.

– Multi-tasking is actually a myth. According to Weinschenk, there’s only one occasion in which we actually multi-task, and that’s when we’ve performed a physical task so many times in the past that we can do it without using our brain.

By Wendy Rose Gould

Many of us turn to drugs just to get by in our day to day lives. That might seem like an extreme statement, but think about it. Whether it’s coffee, ‘5 Hour Energy’ drinks or sleeping pills, nearly all of us put various natural and unnatural substances in our body on a regular basis just so we can function. And of course there’s a whole bunch of people who are reliant on alcohol and more serious drugs too.

Life is just too hectic these days, and everywhere we turn we seem to run into problems. If you’re a single professional then you’re likely to burn yourself out at work and possibly become detached and depressed as a result. If you have a family to support then for most people the stress levels are magnified tenfold. So we turn to drugs and other remedies in a vain attempt to counteract the negative effects of our modern lifestyles.

That brings us to the big question on everyone’s lips: What else are we supposed to do about it? Well, we all know that miracle cures for our problems simply don’t exist. But there are healthy, natural ways to relieve stress and regain control of your life, and these can have a knock on effect on your family and your working life too, without the cost and the side effects of drink, drugs and other bad habits.

To cut to the chase, we have recently discovered a particularly interesting way to beat those blues away. It’s a simple, fun lifestyle choice that can benefit you whether you’re single or attached, employed or jobless. Get a dog!

Yes, we know, you probably immediately thought of the negatives when you read those three words – cleaning up poop, buying dog food, house training, barking at night and so forth. But recent studies show that dogs really do brighten up our lives by triggering the release of “feel good” hormones such as oxytocin in our brains and bodies.

Oxytocin is most associated with social bonding. For instance it plays a role in creating the unbreakable bond between a mother and her baby. A similar thing can happen with you and your dog, believe it or not – and you may experience an oxytocin rush when you look into his or her puppy dog eyes.

Here’s the kicker: our oxytocin levels are said to double when we pet our dogs. So it’s not surprising then that there are a whole bunch of health benefits associated with showing your doggy some affection. Among these benefits are:

• A boost to your immune system
• A lowering of stress levels
• An increase in healing and recovery times
• Less pain, such as headaches

So there you have it. If you don’t already have a dog, perhaps think about adopting one from a shelter and giving him or her a good home. This will make you feel good about yourself right away – you saved a puppy!

And if you do have a dog, start giving him or her a little more daily attention. The dog will love you for it, and you will grow to love your dog more too. Encourage your partner and family to do the same and you’ll have a much happier household on your hands in no time at all!