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15 Lazy Ways to Be Healthier

January 17, 2016 by Power of Positivity

If you’re searching for ways to be healthier without trying, it’s a matter of making small changes in your environment. If you had to take 3 flights of stairs for some M&Ms but veggie snacks were right in front of you, the lazy person would choose the healthy snack that was closer, right?

Think about your own habits and the small changes that you can make to put a healthy option in front of you rather than an unhealthy option; then, you’ll be able to get healthier without really trying.

Here are 15 ways to be healthier (without any real effort):

1. Cook more and freeze the extras

While you’re busy making dinner, triple your recipe and freeze 2 full meals for the next time you are craving fast food or don’t have the energy to cook a healthy meal. This can also serve as a lazy way to lose weight, because you won’t have to cook for a few nights, and the food will be much healthier than what you could get at a restaurant.

2. Sleep in your workout clothes

Want to workout in the morning but find it hard to get moving? When you wake up wearing your gym shorts and sports bra, you’ll be more likely to slip on your sneakers and get going, making it one of the best lazy ways to lose weight.

3. Tell people you are going to the gym

The more people who know about it, for example on social media, the more people you will feel accountable to. You don’t want to let them down or have them call you a liar so you are more likely to follow through on your commitment. You don’t really have to do much extra for this to work, making it a lazy way to lose weight without really trying.

4. Park farther away

Just a couple parking spaces further from the door will give you extra steps every day. That little bit of extra walking adds up over time, making it one of the easiest lazy ways to lose weight. We could suggest the same for stairs, but after all, if you’re reading this you might be a little lazy.

5. Sleep more

One of the lazy ways to lose weight without trying is to sleep more. Get at least 7 hours per night to stay healthy; but not more than 8 hours per night. Researchers have shown that both too little and too much sleep are risk factors for obesity.

6. Flex while you sit

Another one of the lazy ways to lose weight fast is to squeeze different muscle groups while you sit at your desk or watch TV. Squeeze your buttocks and hold for a count of 8, release and squeeze again. You can repeat this for your thighs, abs, etc.

7. Eat with your non-dominant hand

Eat with your left hand if you are right-handed. Another option for easy ways to get healthier, it will slow down the speed that you are able to put food in your mouth. Slowing your rate of eating can help you to feel full faster. Hopefully the extra time will lead you to stop eating before you clean your plate.

8. Picture something gross on whatever you’re craving

Craving movie popcorn? Imagine a roach crawling over that buttery stuff and you might just change your mind about that craving. See, you can find ways to be healthier without trying, even if those methods seem a bit strange at first.

9. Fidget

Even tiny movements can add up to big results over time, and plus, these are easy, lazy ways to lose weight. Fidgeting is better than sitting still when it comes to calorie burning. Constant, low-level activity over a long duration is like endurance training on a tiny level.

10. Eat off of blue plates

There are very few foods that we naturally eat that are blue in color. Our brains are programmed to associate certain colors with food and appetite than others. Green, red, yellow, orange and brown are more common food colors and these are more likely to trigger our salivary glands and food desires than blue.

11. Stop eating when you are no longer hungry, not when you’re full

After a Thanksgiving meal you feel so full that you can hardly think about pie. Clearly you should stop eating before you feel that level of overly full. Think about your hunger on a sliding scale from haven’t eaten anything for 2 days to after a Thanksgiving meal. Instead of stopping when you are full, stop eating when you are no longer hungry; a very simple action, but nonetheless, an easy way to get healthier.

12. Eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch

Have you ever noticed how you eat much more food at a buffet than you would at home? The more variety we have in our diet, the more we tend to eat. Make your meals boring and you’ll want them less. For example, restrict yourself to soup only for lunches all week; it might take some getting used to, but it is still an easy way to get healthier.

13. Eat off of smaller plates

If you went to an antique store for dinner plates you would see that the size of our dinner plates has grown in the last 50 years or so. What we would call a salad plate today was the size of a normal dinner plate at in the 1950’s. The same is true for coffee cups, bowls and even glassware.

14. Go high tech

Technology is supposed to make our lives easier so enlist the help of some apps on your phone to keep you on track. You can find apps for healthy eating, physical activity, and personal health and wellness as well apps to help with mental and emotional health. Set up push notifications for reminders to get active or stay on track with your diet. This requires little work on your part, making it a truly lazy way to lose weight fast.

Wearable digital technology like the Fitbit increases your awareness of your activity level as well as other measurements of your health like heart rate. One study found that the more game-like fitness technology was, the more likely someone was to use it regularly. Find a device that you can have fun with and let it do the work of a personal fitness assistant for you.

15. Blame something else, not your lack of motivation

In a study of reasons why people might not exercise, those who gave reasons that were external, like a car breaking down or the gym not being open were more likely to exercise than those who blamed their own lack of energy or motivation.

It seems that if you don’t consider yourself too lazy to work out, you are more likely to make the effort. Change your attitude about exercise, and you’ll find this is one of the best ways to improve your health.

10 Things You Need To Know About Loving A Cancer

January 17, 2016 by Power of Positivity

People with the Cancer sign have a lot going for them. Indeed, they have such a big heart, a warm, caring nature, a goofy sense of humor, and steadfast determination to reach their goals, among other things. They might hide behind their tough exterior sometimes. But behind the walls they put up, they have one of the most generous, compassionate souls you will ever meet.

Cancers have a very complex nature. However, not many people know how to handle someone so complicated, raw, and pure. So if you decide to get into a relationship with a Cancer, you will need this little crash course before things get too serious.

Here are 10 things you need to know about loving a Cancer:

1. They wear their hearts on their sleeves.

Cancers may try to hide their emotions, but when you hurt them, it’s written all over their face. They might try to act tough and unshaken by heartbreak, but underneath, they have deep emotions running through their veins. As a Cancer myself, I must say that sometimes I get too caught up in my emotions, so much so that I let them carry me out to sea. Since Cancers are ruled by the moon, their emotions ebb and flow, just as the moon controls the tide.

Cancers love too easily and quickly, but their vulnerability makes them even more attractive and lovable. They will give you all the love they can muster, and then some, as romance and raw emotion come naturally to them.

2. A Cancer will never leave your side.

Just like a loyal dog that you call your best friend, a Cancer will stay by you through the good times and the bad. They don’t leave when the skies grow dark and you can’t figure out which way to turn; instead, they guide you through the storm, taking care of you when you don’t remember how anymore.

Cancers have a natural tendency to nurture and take care of others, so you will never feel alone with a Cancer by your side.

3. They often hide their true feelings.

Cancers love to listen to other people talk about their feelings all day long, and have very sound advice to give. However, when it comes to their own emotions, they keep them under lock and key for the most part. They don’t like to burden others, so they would rather handle problems on their own.

If they really trust you, a Cancer will share their issues and concerns with you…carefully and slowly. Just have some patience and remember that Cancers are highly sensitive; they want to make sure that you truly care before divulging too much information.

4. Cancers don’t mind being misunderstood.

Cancers have pretty much accepted the fact that no one will truly understand them, not even themselves. However, they’ve realized that trying to decode the complexities of their mind would take away from their essence – some of the greatest mysteries in life have never been solved, yet, people can still appreciate them.

This is the attitude that most Cancers have about themselves, so they honestly don’t mind if you can’t read them or crack their codes. They know that having all the answers takes away from the fun of life, anyway.

5. They have incredible imaginations.

A Cancer spends the majority of his or her time living in a fantasy land, high above the monotony and structure of modern life. They bore easily with rules and limitations. So they would much rather create new realities from the ideas in their heads.

They normally don’t do well in jobs that require great logic and analytical skills. Instead, they prefer solitary, creative endeavors that truly showcase their talents. They make wonderful writers, poets, artists, and storytellers due to their imaginative nature.

6. They need lots of alone time.

Cancers get easily overwhelmed by the fast pace of modern society, and need ample time to themselves to regroup and heal themselves. They have an empathic nature, and therefore absorb the energies of everyone around them.

Going to noisy, crowded places takes a lot of energy from them, so they need time afterwards to recharge and decompress.

7. Cancers are natural-born leaders.

A Cancer doesn’t like being told what to do. In fact, they have a natural tendency to break away from the mainstream and live life in a way that makes sense to them. They might have a quiet, contemplative personality. However, they pull their weight and rise to the occasion when it comes time to take charge. They have a lot of passion and soul, and care deeply for others.

These personality traits make it easy for them to carry others to success, and even create more leaders.

8. They’re very deep, complicated souls.

Like we said before, understanding a Cancer can take eons, because they seem to have a very fluid nature. Their ideas about things change constantly, and they have a turbulent, unpredictable demeanor, which you can expect from a water sign.

Oftentimes, Cancers feel as though they don’t even belong here, like they came from a totally different place and time to this Earth, for whatever reason. Some believe Cancers have the greatest ability to heal the Earth due to their highly psychic, motherly nature.

9. They put others before themselves.

Cancers forever put other people’s needs before their own. If you need something, a Cancer will bend over backwards and run to the edges of the Earth to make sure you get taken care of.

In doing so, they often forget to take care of themselves, which leaves them feeling very imbalanced and empty. Because of their calling to help people, they need ample alone time in order to refill their own cup so they can continue serving others.

10. A Cancer can talk all night, once you get to know them.

Cancers might seem quiet and reserved, but don’t let that fool you. Once you get them started, they can talk for hours on end about scientific theories, aliens, the universe, love, and other esoteric or philosophical topics. They enjoy deep conversations, and get excited once they find someone who can discuss things that ignite their imagination.

Most people mistake Cancers as brooding, temperamental, troubled people, but really, you just have to get to know them. They will surprise you, keep you guessing, and keep you on the edge of your seat, all at the same time.

20 Things Only Left Handed People Will Understand

January 17, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Benjamin Franklin. Paul McCartney. Kurt Kobain. Barack Obama. Leonardo de Vinci. All of them incredibly accomplished, historical individuals – all of them left handed people.

Left handed people are in an exclusive club, as they make up only about 10% of the population. While there have been some myths propagated about being left handed, there are many truths regarding the special nature of being a lefty. While it is widely believed that southpaws have a distinct advantage in some areas, being a very small minority has its disadvantages as well.

Then there are things that left-handers have to deal with that we righties do not. For instance, did you know that lefties have to use special scissors? Or that many products made – from keyboards to bike helmets – can be a nuisance to use for lefties? Left handed people are everywhere are nodding their head in emphatic agreement.

We understand. This article is for lefties everywhere.

Here are 25 things that only our left handed companions will understand.

1. Writing can be a pain.

When lefties write, the must (obviously) move their hand left to right. When writing with a pen, they have to be careful not to smear ink!

2. Lefties have their own stuff.

Since so many things are designed for righties, left handed people have some things specially designed for them. Notepads, pens, scissors, and even can openers and boomerangs!

3. Sitting can be uncomfortable.

Walk into any lecture hall and odds are that every desk has the writing platform on the right side. At dinner, lefties have to explain they’re left-handed to sit somewhere that’s comfortable for everyone.

4. They have to get specially-made controllers (or practice a lot)

For those lefties who love video games, we know there’s some pain here. PlayStation, X-Box, Wii, and other electronic controllers are all made for righties. This hasn’t stopped them from dominating folks in this regard, however.

5. Driving has a learning curve

It’s not just stick-shifting that requires some learning; the majority of important car switches and levers are on the right side of the wheel. This hasn’t stopped them from being better drivers, according to some sources.

6. Punching numbers on a keyboard is annoying

More and more keyboards have a number pad. This is a welcome addition for students and professionals who no longer have to use a separate calculator…unless you’re a lefty. Nearly every number pad is on the right side of the board. A 60 keyboard is better for lefties.

7. Everyone greets you the “wrong” way

Let’s do this, lefties. The next time a well-meaning person sticks that hand out to shake, look ‘em straight in the eye and proudly extend your left arm. That’ll teach ‘em.

8. Most banks/retailers/shops will never understand

How about those attached pens to that annoying phone cord? Lefties have to stretch most of them to capacity just to sign their name!

9. Canned food is almost not worth it

Manual can openers are some of the worst enemies of left handed people. Any righty that’s tried to open a can with a manual can opener understands that it’s rarely smooth. Now, multiply this frustration by 10.

10. Even getting dressed can be a hassle

Everything, from necklaces and bracelet clasts to belts, watches and coat buttons are annoying for lefties. Nearly every clothing item – even jeans – can be a nuisance to put on. T-shirt’s, sweatpants and hoodies are some of a lefty’s best friends.

11. Spiral notebooks are a nemesis

Remember those handy, spiral pages that we all carried around in school? Lefties do…because in addition to them having to worry about smearing their own writing, spirals don’t let them to write without getting a wired imprint on their hand.

12. The “Are you left handed?” question

“Nope… its self-improvement month and I’ve decided to become ambidextrous.” Yes, righties, we know that left-handers are cool and rare, but they do exist. And just a bit of advice: lefties strongly dislike answering this question all the time.

13. Decals are upside-down

Okay, so this is a minor annoyance. But some of us enjoy having logos, text and other stuff on our writing instruments that we can read. Lefties have to read this stuff upside down.

14. Getting pumped when finding out a celebrity is a lefty

It’s rare to be a lefty. It’s even rarer to become a celebrity or someone famous. The odds of someone being a lefty and a celebrity are pretty much insane. So, when our left-handed friends find out someone they admire is a lefty it can be an exciting moment.

15. They have to arrange their dinnerware

When eating at a restaurant, lefties must re-arrange their entire setup. The silverware is always placed on the right side, as is the glass. At least lefties get their way at the buffet…unless the servers set the table, of course.

Benefits of Being Left-Handed

But it’s not all a pain…let’s take a look at the five benefits of being a lefty.

1. They have higher odds of being a genius

Researchers aren’t quite sure why, but lefties have a better chance of being highly intelligent. Some experts think that this may be because lefties are forced to use both sides of their brain more often. 20% of Mensa – the largest, oldest high-IQ society in the world – is made up of lefties, while counting for only 10% of the general population.

2. Athletes have an advantage

This is especially true in boxing, baseball and tennis. Opponents simply don’t face left-handed competition often. When they do, it can throw them through a loop. An example: Manny Pacquiao is one of the great boxers of all time because his southpaw approach is so hard to defend.

3. They can multitask better

This is another area where researchers aren’t quite sure why, but lefties are better at managing multiple tasks. Again, experts say it could be because lefties must use both hemispheres of their brain more often.

4. Creatively, they’re amazing

Research has shown that lefties are more likely to make the creative arts a career. So, to those left-handed artists, we extend our thanks in making the world a more aesthetically pleasant place to live!

5. They earn a bit more coin

Despite the above-noted disadvantages faced by left handed people in the classroom and workplace, they certainly aren’t less productive. The National Bureau of Economic Research shows that left-handed college grads earn 10-15 percent more money.

4 Signs Your Partner Is Feeling Insecure

January 17, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Being insecure has been called a green-eyed monster, and when it comes to your relationship, it can be monstrously destructive. Rather than being a sign of deep love and caring, it is a sign of potentially destructive problems in the relationship.

A study in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence found that having a high level of jealousy was linked to men who were abusive to their partners. The researchers also found that even for nonviolent men, jealousy was linked to unhappy marriages.

Jealousy is not the only cause of violent behavior, but it is definitely a warning sign to be aware of. If your partner isn’t violent but has made threats toward you or someone they think you are flirting with, be prepared to take action to protect yourself.

Insecurity is another word for low self-esteem. Someone who has confidence in their self-worth will not be worried about the possibility of the relationship breaking up.

Trusting in the value that you bring to a relationship gives you confidence that you are able to meet your partner’s needs and no reason to suspect that your partner might have to go outside of the relationship to fulfill their needs.

Social networking provides plenty of opportunities for insecure people to be jealous. In a study of couples whose partners were on social networking sites, low self-esteem individuals had a higher need to be seen as popular by friends.

The low self-esteem group was more likely to be jealous and was also more likely to post images or status updates that proved their relationship happiness to others. Having low self-esteem made people compensate by creating an idealized picture of their romantic lives.

4 Signs Your Partner Feels Insecure About Your Relationship

1. They are dependent on you

An insecure person feels like you don’t need them. They want you to be dependent on them so that they know you won’t leave them. In reality, it is the insecure person who is dependent on you.

Your partner’s dependency could be physical, for example if they need you for financial support or it could be emotional. Emotional dependency is tricky because you cannot help a person to build their self-esteem. It has to come from within them.

An emotionally dependent person believes that you as their romantic partner are the sole source of their happiness. If you leave, they could never be happy again.

2. They are suspicious

The mailman winked at you. You liked someone’s profile picture. The cashier was too talkative with you. An insecure partner sees threats to the stability of their relationship everywhere. Anyone you meet could be a potential romantic interloper that they have to fend off.

Emotional jealousy is possible even if the insecure partner doesn’t suspect physical unfaithfulness. If you give praise, gratitude or encouragement to someone else, the insecure partner is envious that you gave that positive emotional support to someone else.

3. They are controlling

Where you go, what you are doing, and who you are with, an insecure partner demands to know all of your activity in a day. They may check your phone or email. They might even follow you to make sure you are going where you said you were going. You can read about the signs that your partner may be trying to control you here.

Your insecure partner wants to know what you were doing without them but they also want to tell you what you can and cannot do. An insecure person feels like the relationship is not within their control. As a result of this perceived lack of control, they seek to control things wherever they can.

4. They are depressed or anxious

If your partner is insecure, they are likely either acting out in anger or withdrawing from you. Emotions are controlling their behavior. Thus, they avoid communication by giving you the silent treatment or by expressions of anger like yelling accusations.

Anxiety is basically fear and your insecure partner is afraid of losing you. With or without evidence, they believe that the relationship is nearing an end and they are trying to keep that from happening.

Don’t let your partner’s emotional problems drag you down with them. You can read about keeping negativity out of your relationship in our related article here. Focus on expressing your own feelings about your partner’s behavior.

You can’t help your partner to be less insecure, but you can help them to communicate by asking questions about their feelings. Only they are responsible for their emotions. You can’t make your partner feel insecure unless you are literally cheating or giving them a valid reason to be jealous.

An angry, insecure person can resort to violence to try to force you to love them or be dependent on them. Protect yourself by getting to a safe location if you are concerned about your partner’s violent behavior. 800-799-SAFE is the National Domestic Violence hotline phone number. You can contact them anytime if you have concerns about someone hurting you.

5 Warning Signs Your Body Is Getting Too Much Sodium

January 16, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Sodium (salt) is a necessary mineral for the human body to ingest. It effectively supplies electrolytes and maintains the fluid levels within our cells. It is also essential to the healthy transmission of nerve impulses within the body. Further, sodium plays a key role in the digestion of food.

The problem is that most of us simply eat too much. The Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of sodium varies from one source to the next, but falls between the ranges of about 1,500 to 2,400 milligrams (mg) – about 3 to 5 grams of table salt. For example, Canada’s governmental health agencies recommend a maximum of 1,600 mg, while the United States government recommends a maximum of 2,300 mg.

Salt Intake Recommendations

Here is the breakdown of the U.S. governmental health agencies and their recommended intake:

-United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): 2300 mg.

-American Heart Association (AHA): 1500 mg.

-Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND): 1500 to 2300 mg.

-American Diabetes Association (ADA): 1500 to 2300 mg.

The recommended amount from the American Heart Association (AHA) is an interesting statistic. Why’s that? Because excessive sodium intake directly results in a greater chance of heart disease, heart attack and other heart-related problems. Here’s what WebMD has to say:

People with heart failure may improve their symptoms by reducing the amount of salt (sodium) in their diet. Eating too much salt causes the body to retain too much water, worsening the fluid build-up associated with heart failure.

The majority of our sodium intake comes in the form of processed foods. For those that need a refresher, processed food has transformed from the raw form either to extend shelf-life – such as the freezing or dehydration of fruits and vegetables – or to improve consumer’s palatability of (taste for) raw commodities – such as transforming grain and animal products into bakery and meat products.

Americans’ average intake of sodium is around 3,400 mg – most of it comes from these same processed foods.

For comparative purposes, let’s look at the sodium content of fresh, raw food versus the processed variety.

For those that eat meat, processed meats contain roughly 400% more sodium than the natural product. Much of this is due to the curing, smoking, drying, canning, and salting of the original product. Processed meats have been directly linked to cancer by the World Health Organization.

Let’s take a look at some examples of raw, natural vegetables and their associated sodium content.

Asparagus (10 spears) / 10 mg

Avocado (1/2 medium) / 10 mg

Green beans (1 cup) / 4 mg

Carrot, cooked (1/2 cup) / 52 mg

Corn, boiled (1/2 cup) / 14 mg

Mushrooms, chopped (1/2 cup) / 1-2 mg

Onion, chopped (1 cup) / 2-3 mg

Spinach, raw (1/2 cup) / 22 mg

Sweet potato (1 small) / 12 mg

Tomato (1 medium) / 11 mg

Now, let’s look at the processed variety and its sodium content. (Please note: some serving sizes had to be approximated for comparative purposes.)

Asparagus, canned (1/5^th can) / 142 mg

Green Beans, canned (1 cup) / 800 mg

Carrots, canned (1/2 cup) / 295 mg

Corn, canned (1/2 cup) / 351 mg

Mushrooms, canned (1/2 cup) / 331.5 mg

Onion, canned (1 cup) / 117 mg

Spinach, canned (1/2 cup) / 29 mg

Sweet potato (1 cup) / 191 mg

Tomato (1 cup ) / 307 mg

Obviously, the processing of vegetables dramatically increases the product’s salt content. This goes for other products that are canned or packaged, as well. A simple search will reveal this fact. Now, let’s discuss the dangers of ingesting too much salt.

Here are 5 signs you may be consuming too much sodium:

1. Inflammation and weight gain

Sodium is predominantly concentrated on the outside of our cells. When the amount of sodium available in these areas is excessive, this causes the kidneys to reduce the amount of water released into the urine. The result is increased water retention and edema (or swelling) in various parts of the body. Further, although sodium does not directly correlate with fat gain, it does increase water weight that will show up on the scale.

2. Kidney stones

Excessive sodium, often from salt, results in the kidneys having to excrete more calcium into the urine. A high concentration of calcium will often combine with other minerals – such as oxalate and phosphorous – which will then harden and form “stones.” Since sodium intake is excessive is most people’s diets – combined with the importance of calcium, something most people don’t get enough of – it is recommended that we reduce the amount of sodium ingested by altering our diets. Further, calcium is an absolute necessity to healthy bones (more on this in a bit).

3. Cardiovascular disease

Research presented at a 2010 American Heart Association meeting revealed the following statistics:

– Excessive salt consumption led to 2.3 million heart-related deaths worldwide.

– 42% of deaths were a result of coronary heart disease.

– 41% of deaths were the result of stroke.

The World Health Organization – the world’s preeminent association on public health – has directly linked excessive sodium intake and cancer. The evidence is quite clear: too much salt is bad for our hearts and can lead to multiple types of cancer.

4. Cognitive decline

A Canadian study undertaken in 2011 suggests that adults who consume a high-sodium diet are at a greater risk of cognitive (brain) decline. According to the researchers, this result was “independent of hypertension and global diet quality” and “suggests that sodium intake alone may affect cognitive function in sedentary adults above and beyond the effects of overall diet.” While the brain’s performance on a high-sodium diet is yet to be fully discovered, these preliminary research studies do warrant some caution. Further, exercise is known to counteract these effects effectively.

5. Decreased bone health

Our bones require foods with high concentrations of calcium to be healthy. Eating foods with high levels of sodium directly causes the bones to lose calcium density, which can lead to bone loss. The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) recommends limiting the amount of processed foods, canned foods and salt added to foods eaten each day. The NOF recommends inspecting the Nutrition Facts label on each food; if the sodium content is over 20% daily value, it is high in sodium and should be avoided. The NOF further recommends limiting sodium intake to less than 2,400 mg daily.

Complete elimination of processed food of any kind is very difficult; even many of the products we see in our neighborhood grocer’s “fruit and vegetables” section can be classified as “processed”. However, it is feasible to make fresh fruits and vegetables more of a presence on our dinner plates. It’s also within our control to reduce our trips to fast food places while frequenting the grocery aisles of natural grocers more often.

Bottom line: some simple changes in our diets can drastically reduce the amount of sodium we take daily. In doing so, we’re creating and maintaining a healthier body and feeling much better about ourselves in the process. And if you still eat a lot of salt, we recommend real salt.

Neuroscience Reveals 4 Rituals That Make People Happy

January 16, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Much of the advice given, primarily online, regarding increasing happiness warrants a critical eye. The reason for this, unfortunately, is the proliferation of subjective and unfounded information. In some cases, the material is just flat-out fabricated with the hopes of drawing some visitors to some website.

This is where Neuroscience steps in and says, “Enough already!” The scientific method and other rigorous means of examining information is one of the primary reasons we now have cutting-edge medicine and technology that has advanced our quality of life. After all, we didn’t double our life expectancy and eradicate a host of diseases with pseudo-science and wishful thinking.

Now, neuroscience – the scientific study of the structure and function of the nervous system and brain – has brought forth findings proving that increasing our happiness is within our cognitive control.

Truthfully, this should not come as a surprise. Numerous scientific studies have already proven the effectiveness of such practices as meditation and mindfulness – two practices that were once thought to be ineffective at best and useless at worst. My, how times have changed.

There are not many things more exciting than discovering the immense power and energy within our bodies. The human brain is the most complex structure is the known universe – one that harnesses immense potential – that we can use to create our happiness.

Neil deGrasse Tyson had the following to say about how neuroscience works:

“Everything we do, every thought we’ve ever had, is produced by the human brain. But exactly how it operates remains one of the biggest unsolved mysteries, and it seems the more we probe its secrets, the more surprises we find.”

Let’s get right to it. Here are the four rituals neuroscience says will help us be happy:

Ritual #1: Practice gratitude

As we already know, the brain is incredibly multifaceted, hence the extensive research based on neuroscience. At times, we seemingly transition from one mood to another without at all understanding why. Something quite interesting to note is that thoughts of pride, shame and guilt all activate similar circuits in the brain. More interesting – and counterintuitive – is that these undesirable thoughts activate our brain’s reward center. Reward center? What kind of “rewards” could there possibly be for these thoughts? Being prideful is somewhat (not really) understandable, but guilt and shame?

Anxiety’s function in the brain is also enigmatic. As it turns out, anxiety actually calms the limbic system and strangely dials down activity in the amygdala – the part of the brain that controls emotions. Apparently, worrying serves as a coping mechanism for our anxiety and is healthier than remaining idle in our anxious thoughts.

This is where gratitude comes in and saves the day. It turns out that practicing gratitude has a profound effect on our brain by increasing the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin – the brain chemicals responsible for feelings of pleasure and happiness.

So, in practicing gratitude – by using a journal, expressing it to a friend, etc. – we are effectively using neuroscience to activate the happiness circuits of our brain!

Ritual #2: Create intentions and set goals

Quick question: what does it feel like to procrastinate? Really, think of an answer before continuing. What were the thoughts that came up just now?

Second question (last one!): What does it feel like to take action? Again, please think of an answer before continuing.

This is where creating intentions and setting goals – making decisions – positively affects the brain. Dr. Alex Korb, a renowned neuroscience expert, explains:

“Making decisions includes creating intentions and setting goals – all three are part of the same neuro circuitry and engage the prefrontal cortex in a positive way, reducing worry and anxiety.”

Some more positive news: the decisions that we make don’t need to be perfect. For the sake of our brain health, it’s better to come to a thoughtful decision that doesn’t require rigorous analysis. In short, making good decisions is better than striving for the perfect one.

When we make decisions, we feel in control of our thoughts. This increases feelings of pleasure within our brain.

Ritual #3: Embrace people

It’s no secret that human beings are social creatures; some more than others, but we’re all social creatures to some extent. We gain pleasure from receiving love and acceptance from our fellow human and eventually experience melancholy when we don’t.

While the above statement may be somewhat commonsensical, the effect that social isolation and exclusion has on our brains is quite astonishing. Neuroscience has discovered that the human brain interprets social isolation and exclusion in the same way as actual physical pain.

Let’s cue up Dr. Korb:

“As demonstrated in an fMRI experiment, social exclusion activates the same circuitry as physical pain…it activated the anterior cingulate and insula, just like physical pain would.”

According to Dr. Korb, the best remedy for this pain is simple: human contact. Social gatherings and conversing with each other is healthy, but the most powerful results are achieved through human touch.

“One of the primary ways to release oxytocin (a pleasure hormone and neurotransmitter) is through touching. Obviously, it’s not always appropriate to touch most people, but small touches like handshakes and pats on the back are usually okay. For the people you’re close with, make an effort to touch more often.”

Ritual #4: Label negative thoughts

Nobody appreciates being “labeled,” but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t label our thoughts – specifically, the negative ones.

Here’s a quick lesson on labeling: for some reason, you’re having a bad day that’s leaving you feeling awful. By default, the brain will almost always produce a thought such as “I feel awful.” Instead, try to identify this feeling. “I feel awful” is a blanket statement that can mean many things. Do you feel anxious? Worried? Depressed? Okay, then just label it as such. “I feel worried/depressed/anxious/etc.”

For those of us who don’t engage in this practice, it can feel kind of awkward at first, which is why it’s important to understand the rationale behind labeling. Dr. David Rock, neuroscience expert and author of ‘Your Brain at Work’, provides an explanation:

“To reduce arousal, you need to use just a few words to describe an emotion…this requires you to activate your prefrontal cortex, which reduces arousal in the limbic system. Here’s the bottom line: describe an emotion in just a word or two, and it helps reduce the emotion.”

The takeaway: How we think determines our happiness. Our thoughts and actions are all interrelated. Dr. Korb provides an awesome (awesome!) explanation and summation of this scientific truth:

“Everything is interconnected. Gratitude improves sleep. Sleep reduces pain. Reduced pain improves your mood. Improved mood reduces anxiety, which improves focus and planning. Focus and planning help with decision making; decision making further reduces anxiety and improves enjoyment. Enjoyment gives you more to be grateful for, which keeps that loop of the upward spiral going. Enjoyment also makes it more likely you’ll exercise and be social, which, in turn, will make you happier.”

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Here are 15 ways to be healthier (without any real effort):

1. Cook more and freeze the extras

2. Sleep in your workout clothes

3. Tell people you are going to the gym

4. Park farther away

5. Sleep more

6. Flex while you sit

7. Eat with your non-dominant hand

8. Picture something gross on whatever you’re craving

9. Fidget

10. Eat off of blue plates

11. Stop eating when you are no longer hungry, not when you’re full

12. Eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch

13. Eat off of smaller plates

14. Go high tech

15. Blame something else, not your lack of motivation

Here are 10 things you need to know about loving a Cancer:

1. They wear their hearts on their sleeves.

2. A Cancer will never leave your side.

3. They often hide their true feelings.

4. Cancers don’t mind being misunderstood.

5. They have incredible imaginations.

6. They need lots of alone time.

7. Cancers are natural-born leaders.

8. They’re very deep, complicated souls.

9. They put others before themselves.

10. A Cancer can talk all night, once you get to know them.

Here are 25 things that only our left handed companions will understand.

1. Writing can be a pain.

2. Lefties have their own stuff.

3. Sitting can be uncomfortable.

4. They have to get specially-made controllers (or practice a lot)

5. Driving has a learning curve

6. Punching numbers on a keyboard is annoying

7. Everyone greets you the “wrong” way

8. Most banks/retailers/shops will never understand

9. Canned food is almost not worth it

10. Even getting dressed can be a hassle

11. Spiral notebooks are a nemesis

12. The “Are you left handed?” question

13. Decals are upside-down

14. Getting pumped when finding out a celebrity is a lefty

15. They have to arrange their dinnerware

Benefits of Being Left-Handed

1. They have higher odds of being a genius

2. Athletes have an advantage

3. They can multitask better

4. Creatively, they’re amazing

5. They earn a bit more coin

4 Signs Your Partner Feels Insecure About Your Relationship

1. They are dependent on you

2. They are suspicious

3. They are controlling

4. They are depressed or anxious

Salt Intake Recommendations

Let’s take a look at some examples of raw, natural vegetables and their associated sodium content.

Now, let’s look at the processed variety and its sodium content. (Please note: some serving sizes had to be approximated for comparative purposes.)

Here are 5 signs you may be consuming too much sodium:

1. Inflammation and weight gain

2. Kidney stones

3. Cardiovascular disease

4. Cognitive decline

5. Decreased bone health

Let’s get right to it. Here are the four rituals neuroscience says will help us be happy:

Ritual #1: Practice gratitude

Ritual #2: Create intentions and set goals

Ritual #3: Embrace people

Ritual #4: Label negative thoughts

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