Friday, July 31, 2015
Countries Unite for World Lung Cancer Day -- August 1, 2015
… campaign aims to raise awareness about lung cancer … lung cancer, other lesser known risk factors include environment and genetics. Environmental exposure … asbestos, arsenic, beryllium and uranium have all been linked to lung cancer. The risk … and Lung Diseases ( …
Affordable genetic diagnostic technique for target DNA analysis developed
A technique to analyze various target DNAs has been developed using an aptamer, a DNA fragment that can recognize and bind to a specific protein or enzyme.
Cancer in BME communities
… with cancer to tie in with July’s Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness … God is punishing you”.
Related: Prostate cancer twice as likely to kill … Dhanda, said: “Research shows that cancer patients from ethnic minority backgrounds …
Boehringer Ingelheim Collaboration to Develop Lung Cancer Therapy
… of HM61713, a therapy for lung cancer.
Boehringer Ingelheim and Hanmi Pharmaceutical … treatment of EGFR mutation positive lung cancer.
Under the terms of the … of providing a wide-range of lung cancer treatment options as we better … EGFR agent bolsters our existing lung cancer portfolio and reiterates our commitment …
Raise a Glass? The Story Behind Alcohol and Breast Cancer
… on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer. Alcohol, tobacco and breast cancer--collaborative reanalysis of individual … alcohol consumption and breast cancer prognosis in the after breast cancer pooling project. Cancer … on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer. Alcohol, tobacco and breast cancer--collaborative reanalysis of individual …
This Cotton Candy Layer Cake is Amazing
Cotton candy layer cake will make everyone smile. It's full of sweet flavor and pretty pink color!
I have heard rumors that cotton candy is meant for children, but I have difficulty believing this to be true. Because eating cotton candy is equivalent to eating heaping spoonfuls of straight up sugar. And while I’m sure that is a delightful experience, it is not very socially acceptable. And certainly isn’t conducive to good behavior.
It is with this in mind that I admit to stealing cotton candy from my son several years ago. Bless his heart, he headed off to first grade assuming that his precious cotton candy would be waiting for him when he got home from school. Little did he know that with HIS best interests at heart, I would consume the entire bag with no remorse.
It wasn’t good for him. And all that sugar was liable to send him into a spiral of undesirable behavior. I mean, think of what could have happened! I probably saved him from a life of crime. The fact that he’s not in prison right now is most likely thanks to me and my theft of his cotton candy.
Also? It wasn’t even that good. And we all know that there is nothing worse than second rate cotton candy. I sacrificed my taste buds to save him the inevitable heartbreak of consuming mediocre cotton candy.
Moms are just selfless like that. Sometimes I read articles about the importance of moms doing things for themselves more often and I’m like you know, I think these people are on to something. Then I sneak in my child’s room after he falls asleep and raid his Easter basket/Christmas stocking/class party goody bag and feel strangely at peace about it. I feel like it’s what the experts would recommend. How can I take care of anyone else if I’m not taking care of me?
If, by any chance, you are open to the idea of sharing cotton candy (I don’t necessarily recommend it), this cake is a great option. The pink cake is cotton candy flavored all the way through, and the cotton candy buttercream is perfectly creamy and sweet. I do not recommend topping it with cotton candy until time to serve, otherwise the moisture in the frosting will break down the cotton candy and cause it to shrink very pitifully.
Whether you choose to share or keep this cake all to yourself, you definitely need to MAKE IT! It’s so yummy and fun, it’s sure to bring a smile to your face.
--
Kristan is known for her candy creations and hilarity on Confessions of a Cookbook Queen. We know where her true genius is, though: fanciful fanatical cupcake and cake creations!
I have heard rumors that cotton candy is meant for children, but I have difficulty believing this to be true. Because eating cotton candy is equivalent to eating heaping spoonfuls of straight up sugar. And while I’m sure that is a delightful experience, it is not very socially acceptable. And certainly isn’t conducive to good behavior.
It is with this in mind that I admit to stealing cotton candy from my son several years ago. Bless his heart, he headed off to first grade assuming that his precious cotton candy would be waiting for him when he got home from school. Little did he know that with HIS best interests at heart, I would consume the entire bag with no remorse.
It wasn’t good for him. And all that sugar was liable to send him into a spiral of undesirable behavior. I mean, think of what could have happened! I probably saved him from a life of crime. The fact that he’s not in prison right now is most likely thanks to me and my theft of his cotton candy.
Also? It wasn’t even that good. And we all know that there is nothing worse than second rate cotton candy. I sacrificed my taste buds to save him the inevitable heartbreak of consuming mediocre cotton candy.
Moms are just selfless like that. Sometimes I read articles about the importance of moms doing things for themselves more often and I’m like you know, I think these people are on to something. Then I sneak in my child’s room after he falls asleep and raid his Easter basket/Christmas stocking/class party goody bag and feel strangely at peace about it. I feel like it’s what the experts would recommend. How can I take care of anyone else if I’m not taking care of me?
If, by any chance, you are open to the idea of sharing cotton candy (I don’t necessarily recommend it), this cake is a great option. The pink cake is cotton candy flavored all the way through, and the cotton candy buttercream is perfectly creamy and sweet. I do not recommend topping it with cotton candy until time to serve, otherwise the moisture in the frosting will break down the cotton candy and cause it to shrink very pitifully.
Whether you choose to share or keep this cake all to yourself, you definitely need to MAKE IT! It’s so yummy and fun, it’s sure to bring a smile to your face.
Get the Cotton Candy Layer Cake Recipe on Food Fanatic!
--
About Kristan
Kristan is known for her candy creations and hilarity on Confessions of a Cookbook Queen. We know where her true genius is, though: fanciful fanatical cupcake and cake creations!
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
The Innovation Institute: A Unique Business Model For Healthcare Innovation
… the last several years. But healthcare innovation, specifically, has been of … growing organization dedicated exclusively to healthcare innovation, I jumped at the … in four areas.
Detached Culture. Healthcare culture is (thankfully) risk-averse, while …
Judge Blocks Anti-Abortion Group From Releasing More Planned Parenthood Videos
July 31 (Reuters) - An anti-abortion group that released videos purporting to show Planned Parenthood staff discussing the illegal sale of aborted fetal tissue was sued on Friday by a group of abortion providers seeking to block the release of recordings it claims violate its members' privacy and threatens their safety.
In a complaint filed in San Francisco federal court, the National Abortion Federation, a nonprofit representing abortion providers, accused the Center for Medical Progress and its founder, David Daleiden, of illegally infiltrating and recording its private meetings.
U.S. District Judge William Orrick late Friday issued a temporary restraining order blocking the defendants from releasing videos and audio recordings containing NAF member names and addresses, and dates and locations of future meetings, pending a hearing on Monday.
Orrick said the NAF would likely prevail on the merits of its lawsuit, and said it could face "harassment, intimidation, violence, invasion of privacy, and injury to reputation" absent a halt.
The NAF is also seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
Daleiden in a statement said the Center for Medical Progress "follows all applicable laws in the course of our investigative journalism work" and will contest any attempts to suppress its constitutional rights under the First Amendment. He has said his Irvine, California-based group plans to release more videos.
Release of the earlier videos prompted calls in Congress to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood, and the Republican-led Senate may vote on such a bill in August.
It is unlikely that Congress could override a potential White House veto.
Planned Parenthood has said that the video was heavily edited and falsely portrayed its "participation in tissue donation programs that support life-saving scientific research."
Friday's lawsuit followed what the NAF called the Center for Medical Progress' release in July of four "misleading" and "heavily edited" videos, some of which named NAF members, to advance its goal of ending safe access to abortions, and stopping legal fetal tissue donations that can help save lives.
The lawsuit also accused Daleiden of creating the sham Biomax Procurement Services, which held itself out as a legitimate fetal tissue procurement company, in 2013 to trick abortion providers and gain access to NAF meetings.
"The safety and security of our members is our top priority," NAF President Vicki Saporta said in a statement. "That security has been compromised."
Polls show that a majority of Americans want abortion to remain legal at least under some circumstances.
The U.S. Supreme Court is closely divided on the issue, and may soon have multiple vacancies. Four justices are at least 76 years old.
The case is National Abortion Federation v Center for Medical Progress et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 15-03522. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Jonathan Oatis and Leslie Adler)
Release of the earlier videos prompted calls in Congress to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood, and the Republican-led Senate may vote on such a bill in August.
It is unlikely that Congress could override a potential White House veto.
Planned Parenthood has said that the video was heavily edited and falsely portrayed its "participation in tissue donation programs that support life-saving scientific research."
Friday's lawsuit followed what the NAF called the Center for Medical Progress' release in July of four "misleading" and "heavily edited" videos, some of which named NAF members, to advance its goal of ending safe access to abortions, and stopping legal fetal tissue donations that can help save lives.
The lawsuit also accused Daleiden of creating the sham Biomax Procurement Services, which held itself out as a legitimate fetal tissue procurement company, in 2013 to trick abortion providers and gain access to NAF meetings.
"The safety and security of our members is our top priority," NAF President Vicki Saporta said in a statement. "That security has been compromised."
Polls show that a majority of Americans want abortion to remain legal at least under some circumstances.
The U.S. Supreme Court is closely divided on the issue, and may soon have multiple vacancies. Four justices are at least 76 years old.
The case is National Abortion Federation v Center for Medical Progress et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 15-03522. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Jonathan Oatis and Leslie Adler)
Also on HuffPost:
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Work and Love: A Psychotic's Recipe for Recovery
Schizophrenics like to work. And fall in love too.
This may seem surprising to some people, but Freud had it right a century or so ago when he said that work and love (as well as play) are the keys to psychic health.
This is as true for people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, as I was in the late 1990s, as it is for those who have never been psychotic or who have no mental disorder at all.
I recently read an article in The Atlantic by Maria Hengeveld, a sociologist at Columbia, and was delighted that she pointed out, as I have for years, that people with schizophrenia, as well as other severe mental illnesses, benefit from work and often blend into society.
Many of my co-workers at L.A. Weekly, where I started working in 1997, never knew about my diagnosis until I wrote about it in a 2005 op-ed in the L.A. Times, titled "Shedding Stigma of the 'Psycho' Straitjacket."
There were some people, though, who interacted with me when I was deeply psychotic. They knew how ill I was at the time.
Back in early 1999, I told my boss, Connie Monaghan, then the head of proofreading at L.A. Weekly, about some of my delusions, including my fear that there was a conspiracy to frame me for a series of murders and other violent crimes sweeping the nation.
She was so disturbed that she had to step out of the room for a few minutes, but she kept my confidence and did not do anything other than support me.
My then-girlfriend, Barbara, to whom I have been married now for 14 years, knew better than anyone what I was going through. There were many nights when I whispered in her apartment because I feared it was bugged. I thought our cat, who was following me from room to room, had been trained by the CIA. And when Barbara clutched my hands and tried to prevent me from fleeing her condo, she was so strong that I thought she too worked for the CIA or FBI.
As I have written before, I never struck nor shoved her. I simply pulled away and set off on a harrowing, six-hour trek across Los Angeles County.
Thankfully, after I got out of the UCLA psych ward, where I was held for 72 hours, Connie, a woman with a great deal of compassion and sophistication, welcomed me back to the proofreading department. She told me not to worry about returning.
I mention all this because I was extremely fortunate to work with a boss as empathetic as Connie. The same was true of David Caplan, my later boss at L.A. Weekly, an organization that gave me a safe home and allowed me to flourish.
Yes, there were stressors on the job, something that everyone, schizophrenic or otherwise, must confront. But it is much, much harder for a person with a psychotic disorder to work in some professions or jobs.
Sadly, that has not stopped some critics, including online commenters, from claiming that people with a severe mental illness are morally and spiritually lazy.
Such critics tend to think that those of us with a psychotic disorder don't work hard, that we are unreliable, and that we are potentially violent.
While there are some people with schizophrenia who turn violent, it is usually because they misread a situation, a point I have made numerous times in the past.
As I have written before, studies show that those with severe mental illness but no substance abuse problems commit only 3 percent to 4 percent of violent crimes in this country.
And when those of us with severe mental illness are in treatment for our condition, as I have been for about two decades, we are no more of a threat to anyone than those who do not have a mental disorder.
As far as work habits go, people with schizophrenia, about 1 percent of the adult population, or two million Americans, want to work because it helps them get out of the house or day hospital. It helps them develop a degree of competence, even mastery, in a field, a huge boon to self-esteem.
And it helps them meet other people.
My wife and I met in a writing class at UCLA in 1996 at a time when I was unemployed and spiraling into a world of delusion.
I was diagnosed with schizophrenia a year or so later, not long after I had gotten the job at L.A. Weekly as a proofreader.
While my diagnosis has changed over the years, from schizophrenia to schizoaffective disorder to major depression with psychotic features, I still take anti-psychotic medication as well as anti-depressants.
Like most people with or without a psychotic disorder, I do my best to avoid stressors in and out of the workplace.
It may surprise many to know that I and others with a psychotic illness can handle some stressors better than most people who do not have a diagnosis.
People like me have had to face hallucinations or delusions that might have killed or permanently incapacitated others.
The term, "existential threat," usually refers to the prospect of nuclear annihilation, but it also might apply to the dangers that some of us have had to confront, threats to our sanity and ultimately our lives.
Many of us have been burdened with a genetic predisposition to psychosis, depression and suicide. Many of us have also been victimized, traumatized in ways that are hard to imagine for people who have not suffered from severe mental illness.
It is a mark of our strength, not weakness, that those of us who have a psychotic disorder contribute to society in the unique ways that we do.
I have learned the hard way that I have some limitations that other people do not have. At the same time, I probably have gifts that others lack.
People who do not suffer from psychotic illnesses should not judge us as lazy, incompetent or violent.
Most people with psychotic disorders want to work, love and play. We do not always succeed in finding the balance that comes much more readily to people without a severe mental illness.
The limitations we have are not simply a matter of lack of skills. They may be a matter of life or death.
___________________
If you -- or someone you know -- need help, please call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If you are outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of international resources.
This may seem surprising to some people, but Freud had it right a century or so ago when he said that work and love (as well as play) are the keys to psychic health.
This is as true for people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, as I was in the late 1990s, as it is for those who have never been psychotic or who have no mental disorder at all.
I recently read an article in The Atlantic by Maria Hengeveld, a sociologist at Columbia, and was delighted that she pointed out, as I have for years, that people with schizophrenia, as well as other severe mental illnesses, benefit from work and often blend into society.
Many of my co-workers at L.A. Weekly, where I started working in 1997, never knew about my diagnosis until I wrote about it in a 2005 op-ed in the L.A. Times, titled "Shedding Stigma of the 'Psycho' Straitjacket."
There were some people, though, who interacted with me when I was deeply psychotic. They knew how ill I was at the time.
Back in early 1999, I told my boss, Connie Monaghan, then the head of proofreading at L.A. Weekly, about some of my delusions, including my fear that there was a conspiracy to frame me for a series of murders and other violent crimes sweeping the nation.
She was so disturbed that she had to step out of the room for a few minutes, but she kept my confidence and did not do anything other than support me.
My then-girlfriend, Barbara, to whom I have been married now for 14 years, knew better than anyone what I was going through. There were many nights when I whispered in her apartment because I feared it was bugged. I thought our cat, who was following me from room to room, had been trained by the CIA. And when Barbara clutched my hands and tried to prevent me from fleeing her condo, she was so strong that I thought she too worked for the CIA or FBI.
As I have written before, I never struck nor shoved her. I simply pulled away and set off on a harrowing, six-hour trek across Los Angeles County.
Thankfully, after I got out of the UCLA psych ward, where I was held for 72 hours, Connie, a woman with a great deal of compassion and sophistication, welcomed me back to the proofreading department. She told me not to worry about returning.
I mention all this because I was extremely fortunate to work with a boss as empathetic as Connie. The same was true of David Caplan, my later boss at L.A. Weekly, an organization that gave me a safe home and allowed me to flourish.
Yes, there were stressors on the job, something that everyone, schizophrenic or otherwise, must confront. But it is much, much harder for a person with a psychotic disorder to work in some professions or jobs.
Sadly, that has not stopped some critics, including online commenters, from claiming that people with a severe mental illness are morally and spiritually lazy.
Such critics tend to think that those of us with a psychotic disorder don't work hard, that we are unreliable, and that we are potentially violent.
While there are some people with schizophrenia who turn violent, it is usually because they misread a situation, a point I have made numerous times in the past.
As I have written before, studies show that those with severe mental illness but no substance abuse problems commit only 3 percent to 4 percent of violent crimes in this country.
And when those of us with severe mental illness are in treatment for our condition, as I have been for about two decades, we are no more of a threat to anyone than those who do not have a mental disorder.
As far as work habits go, people with schizophrenia, about 1 percent of the adult population, or two million Americans, want to work because it helps them get out of the house or day hospital. It helps them develop a degree of competence, even mastery, in a field, a huge boon to self-esteem.
And it helps them meet other people.
My wife and I met in a writing class at UCLA in 1996 at a time when I was unemployed and spiraling into a world of delusion.
I was diagnosed with schizophrenia a year or so later, not long after I had gotten the job at L.A. Weekly as a proofreader.
While my diagnosis has changed over the years, from schizophrenia to schizoaffective disorder to major depression with psychotic features, I still take anti-psychotic medication as well as anti-depressants.
Like most people with or without a psychotic disorder, I do my best to avoid stressors in and out of the workplace.
It may surprise many to know that I and others with a psychotic illness can handle some stressors better than most people who do not have a diagnosis.
People like me have had to face hallucinations or delusions that might have killed or permanently incapacitated others.
The term, "existential threat," usually refers to the prospect of nuclear annihilation, but it also might apply to the dangers that some of us have had to confront, threats to our sanity and ultimately our lives.
Many of us have been burdened with a genetic predisposition to psychosis, depression and suicide. Many of us have also been victimized, traumatized in ways that are hard to imagine for people who have not suffered from severe mental illness.
It is a mark of our strength, not weakness, that those of us who have a psychotic disorder contribute to society in the unique ways that we do.
I have learned the hard way that I have some limitations that other people do not have. At the same time, I probably have gifts that others lack.
People who do not suffer from psychotic illnesses should not judge us as lazy, incompetent or violent.
Most people with psychotic disorders want to work, love and play. We do not always succeed in finding the balance that comes much more readily to people without a severe mental illness.
The limitations we have are not simply a matter of lack of skills. They may be a matter of life or death.
If you -- or someone you know -- need help, please call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If you are outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of international resources.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
The 11 Best No-Bake Desserts
One of the best things about summer? The food. Watermelons, party dips, boozy popsicles...case closed. One of the worst? Turning on your oven when it's 90 degrees outside.
Here, the best sweet treats that won't turn your kitchen into a sauna.
Related: 7 Spectacular Cakes That Couldn't Be Easier To Make
Ombre Ice-Cream Cake
At the very least, do it for the Instagram. Get the recipe.
Peanut Butter Pie
Mix and freeze. It's that easy. Get the recipe.
Frosty Mocha Milkshake
Espresso + dark chocolate = the coolest afternoon pick-me-up. Get the recipe.
Related: The Best Chocolate Recipes In The Whole Entire Universe
Coconut Pops
Bring the beach to you. Get the recipe.
Cherry Cheesecake
It's cherry season, y'all. Get the recipe.
One-Ingredient Watermelon Sorbet
We will say it again: one ingredient. Get the recipe.
Chocolate Mousse
This recipe uses red wine and bittersweet chocolate. You're welcome. Get the recipe.
Fudge Brownies
Little Debbie's sophisticated cousin. Get the recipe.
Ricotta Honey Ice Cream
No ice-cream maker necessary. Get the recipe.
Pretzel Bars
To bring to the next book club meeting. Get the recipe.
Tiramisu
It takes less time than a Friends rerun. Get the recipe.
More from PureWow
The Best Chocolate Recipes In The Whole Entire Universe
22 Things You Can Make In Your Waffle Iron
26 Recipes For The Ultimate Mexican Fiesta
Here, the best sweet treats that won't turn your kitchen into a sauna.
Related: 7 Spectacular Cakes That Couldn't Be Easier To Make
Ombre Ice-Cream Cake
At the very least, do it for the Instagram. Get the recipe.
Peanut Butter Pie
Mix and freeze. It's that easy. Get the recipe.
Frosty Mocha Milkshake
Espresso + dark chocolate = the coolest afternoon pick-me-up. Get the recipe.
Related: The Best Chocolate Recipes In The Whole Entire Universe
Coconut Pops
Bring the beach to you. Get the recipe.
Cherry Cheesecake
It's cherry season, y'all. Get the recipe.
One-Ingredient Watermelon Sorbet
We will say it again: one ingredient. Get the recipe.
Chocolate Mousse
This recipe uses red wine and bittersweet chocolate. You're welcome. Get the recipe.
Fudge Brownies
Little Debbie's sophisticated cousin. Get the recipe.
Ricotta Honey Ice Cream
No ice-cream maker necessary. Get the recipe.
Pretzel Bars
To bring to the next book club meeting. Get the recipe.
Tiramisu
It takes less time than a Friends rerun. Get the recipe.
More from PureWow
The Best Chocolate Recipes In The Whole Entire Universe
22 Things You Can Make In Your Waffle Iron
26 Recipes For The Ultimate Mexican Fiesta
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Shoring up Tor: Researchers mount successful attacks against popular anonymity network -- and show how to prevent them
With 2.5 million daily users, the Tor network is the world's most popular system for protecting Internet users' anonymity. Researchers have now demonstrated a vulnerability in Tor's design. They show that an adversary could infer a hidden server's location, or the source of the information reaching a given Tor user, by analyzing the traffic patterns of encrypted data passing through a single computer in the all-volunteer Tor network.
3 Reasons to Break Your Addiction to Busyness
I know I'm not the only one who's constantly on the go. Spend a day observing others and you will see it. In our drive to be more productive, to get more done in less time, we're all complaining to one another, "I'm overwhelmed. My life is so crazy right now."
I find that the more I have to do, the more I want to check something off my growing to-do list. I tell myself I'll do this one last thing, but that always leads to another and another, and before you know it, the clock strikes midnight. I'm exhausted and pass out, only to wake up at 6am the next morning to start my day at the same hyper pace again. Where did this drive to fill every space with doing come from? Has our society become addicted to busyness?
Life moves so much faster today than it did for me when I was growing up. I remember having a lot of downtime and a lot of unstructured time. With today's social media, mobile phones, and uninterrupted access to the news, we can be stimulated 24/7. This can be addicting, if we let it.
The constant stimulation provides us with immediate feedback, and because we love instant gratification, busyness draws us in. Many times we feel uncomfortable with stillness, so we prefer to find something to occupy us. I'll admit it's tempting to fill every second of our day, but I truly believe we would be happier and more productive if we avoided this overload. I know when I set boundaries on my time I'm much more pleasant to live with (at least that's what my husband tells me).
So how can we flip the switch on busyness? The antidote is mindfulness--allowing ourselves to be present in the moment, the only space in which we exist. Here's three things being in the moment can do for us:
1. Reduce stress. The human nervous system is still somewhat primitive, so it can't differentiate between a real threat to our safety or something we see on TV, for example. If we are constantly striving or overstimulated, our bodies change physiologically and we experience physical and emotional stress. When we allow ourselves to stay in this stressed-out state for prolonged periods of time, our bodies eventually think that is our normal state of being. This burns us out and sets us up for all kinds of stress-related health problems, including depression, anxiety, and aches and pains caused by inflammation.
2. Unblock intuition. When we take time to rest our overactive brains, we give our inner guidance a chance to bubble up from deep inside us. Like meditating, being present in the moment creates space for us to be creative and connect with our deepest self.
3. Enhance productivity. Multitasking is both a goal and a fact of life for many of us. Our culture believes that this is a way to be more productive. Scientists have shown that our brains actually can't handle doing more than one thing at a time. When we multitask, what we are really doing is breaking our concentration repeatedly. While we may get a lot done when multitasking, if we look closely at what we've accomplished, we're likely to see that more is not actually better. For example, it's easy to get sucked in to social media and lose track of time, which takes us away from more important projects.
I encourage you to look objectively at how you spend your time and how you feel. If you are easily distracted, stressed or exhausted, it could be a sign to bring more mindfulness and less busyness into your day.
I find that the more I have to do, the more I want to check something off my growing to-do list. I tell myself I'll do this one last thing, but that always leads to another and another, and before you know it, the clock strikes midnight. I'm exhausted and pass out, only to wake up at 6am the next morning to start my day at the same hyper pace again. Where did this drive to fill every space with doing come from? Has our society become addicted to busyness?
Life moves so much faster today than it did for me when I was growing up. I remember having a lot of downtime and a lot of unstructured time. With today's social media, mobile phones, and uninterrupted access to the news, we can be stimulated 24/7. This can be addicting, if we let it.
The constant stimulation provides us with immediate feedback, and because we love instant gratification, busyness draws us in. Many times we feel uncomfortable with stillness, so we prefer to find something to occupy us. I'll admit it's tempting to fill every second of our day, but I truly believe we would be happier and more productive if we avoided this overload. I know when I set boundaries on my time I'm much more pleasant to live with (at least that's what my husband tells me).
So how can we flip the switch on busyness? The antidote is mindfulness--allowing ourselves to be present in the moment, the only space in which we exist. Here's three things being in the moment can do for us:
1. Reduce stress. The human nervous system is still somewhat primitive, so it can't differentiate between a real threat to our safety or something we see on TV, for example. If we are constantly striving or overstimulated, our bodies change physiologically and we experience physical and emotional stress. When we allow ourselves to stay in this stressed-out state for prolonged periods of time, our bodies eventually think that is our normal state of being. This burns us out and sets us up for all kinds of stress-related health problems, including depression, anxiety, and aches and pains caused by inflammation.
2. Unblock intuition. When we take time to rest our overactive brains, we give our inner guidance a chance to bubble up from deep inside us. Like meditating, being present in the moment creates space for us to be creative and connect with our deepest self.
3. Enhance productivity. Multitasking is both a goal and a fact of life for many of us. Our culture believes that this is a way to be more productive. Scientists have shown that our brains actually can't handle doing more than one thing at a time. When we multitask, what we are really doing is breaking our concentration repeatedly. While we may get a lot done when multitasking, if we look closely at what we've accomplished, we're likely to see that more is not actually better. For example, it's easy to get sucked in to social media and lose track of time, which takes us away from more important projects.
I encourage you to look objectively at how you spend your time and how you feel. If you are easily distracted, stressed or exhausted, it could be a sign to bring more mindfulness and less busyness into your day.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
3 Tantalizing Toothpick Appetizers Perfect For A Picnic
Everything tastes better on a skewer! Try these creative combinations from Marnie Hanel, Andrea Slonecker and Jen Stevenson, authors of the charming cookbook The Picnic.
Like Us On Facebook |
Follow Us On Twitter
Like Us On Facebook | Follow Us On Twitter-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)