We tend to think of noise as something we hear. Traffic. Television. Conversations in the background. But there is another kind of noise that follows us all day. Notifications. Scrolling. Mental checklists. Constant input that never really stops. Even in quiet rooms, the mind is rarely still. This kind of ongoing stimulation may feel normal, … Read more
This article originally appeared on this website in November of 2014. Chalk up another of the impressive benefits of vitamin D: It can prevent Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases. Several new studies confirm that people with the lowest vitamin D levels are at dramatically increased risk of dementia. (Alzheimer’s is the most common form of … Read more
Brain training in the latest rage among the over 60 crowd and it’s a good idea for all of us. I’ve always been of the “use it or lose it” school. That means, exercise, a healthy eating plan and yes, mental stimulation. Alzheimer’s runs in my family. My mother and grandmother both died of the … Read more
There is a quiet belief many people carry that they rarely say out loud. “I’m lazy.”“I have no discipline.”“Other people can handle life. Why can’t I?” You stare at simple tasks and feel nothing move inside. Emails sit unanswered. Dishes pile up. Projects you care about stay untouched. You are not even enjoying resting, yet … Read more
My mother died of Alzheimer’s disease 12 years ago, although I have to say that the mom I knew died several years earlier when her cognitive function faltered, she was unable to perform the simplest tasks, her personality changed and the light went out in her eyes. Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease. It is devastating to … Read more
If the news has got you down, undoubtedly you’re having trouble sleeping. I know I am. These are stressful times. Tired of being tired? You’re not alone — 82 million American have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep and 40% of the adult population reports having insomnia at least once a week. We all need … Read more
My regular readers know that my husband and I recently returned from a delightful trip to Spain and France. Among the challenges was dealing with language. My husband speaks a smattering of Spanish and I speak a smattering of French, so basic communication was possible. Actually, I took several years of French in elementary school, … Read more
Mood Magic: 7 Everyday Things That Secretly Mess With Your Emotions Have you ever woken up in a decent mood, only to feel irritated or unmotivated by lunchtime for no clear reason? It is easy to blame stress, lack of sleep, or a bad day at work, but often the truth is more subtle. Your … Read more
In the beginning of the Covid pandemic, I got an unexplained craving for garlic. I mean, my friends, this was serious. I’ve always thought garlic was fine and added great flavor to a variety of dishes. But suddenly, I could eat an entire clove of roasted garlic without thinking twice and even consider a second … Read more
Lies We Tell Ourselves About Self-Care–and What to Do Instead Self-care has become one of the most overused–and misunderstood–phrases of our time. Scroll through Instagram or TikTok, and you’ll be convinced that real self-care means buying expensive candles, booking a spa day, or soaking in a rose petal-filled bubble bath with lo-fi music playing in … Read more