Useful Readings

Meditation linked to better wellbeing and health, including mental health

The experience of 'mental silence' is linked with better health outcomes and greater wellbeing according to a University of Sydney study: more . . .

Blood test could show women at risk of Postnatal Depression

Researchers at Warwick Medical School have discovered a way of identifying which women are most at risk of postnatal depression (PND) by checking for specific genetic variants. The findings could lead to the development of a simple, accurate blood test which checks for the likelihood of developing the condition.: more. . .

Study identifies 5 factors that promote a positive body image in women

Women with high family support and limited pressure to achieve the 'thin and beautiful' ideal have a more positive body image. That's according to a new study looking at five factors that may help young women to be more positive about their bodies, in the context of a society where discontent with appearance is common among women. The work by Dr. Shannon Snapp, from the University of Arizona in the US, and colleagues is published online in Springer's journal, Sex Roles.: more . . .

Why Do People Choke When the Stakes Are High?

When there are high financial incentives to succeed, people can become so afraid of losing their potentially big payoff that their performance suffers.

It is an unexpected conclusion, said researchers at the California Institute of Technology, who suggest that the prevailing notion is that the more people are paid, the harder they will work.: more . . .

Ten Ways Life Gets Better as We Get Older

One of the great discoveries as we age is how much better life gets, once we have started mastering the skills of living well. Acknowledging these gains and recognizing the specific advantages that accrue gives them even more heft: more . . .

Procrastination technically refers to the avoidance of a specific task which must be accomplished. But this technical definition doesn't begin to capture the emotions triggered by the word. For most of us, "procrastination" reminds us of past experiences where we have felt guilty, lazy, inadequate, anxious, or stupid - or some combination of these. It also implies a value judgment: if you procrastinate, you feel you are bad, and as such, you lack worth as a person.

Click here for specific actions you can take right now to reduce your tendency to procrastinate.