Rethinking the reason we repeat certain behaviors. When we think of habits, there are a few classic examples that come to mind: smoking, nail-biting, overeating. Those are overt habits. Then there are habits people might be less aware of such as repeatedly interrupting someone mid-sentence or driving a co-worker to insanity through incessant gum-popping. There’s a lot of talk about habits these days but there isn’t a lot of discussion about the force behind these behaviors. Namely, what is the habit under the habit? What is the impetus that triggers a certain behavior? What makes someone want ..read more

Why emulating your younger self could help you move better After a certain age, balance no longer comes naturally and requires more cognition and awareness for its preservation. Moreover, the mind-body connection is central to one’s equilibrium, with lack of poise suggesting balance issues may be present. Brad Manor, PhD, associate director of the Mobility and Falls Translational Research Center with Harvard-affiliated Hebrew SeniorLife, calls balance “a complex system” involving many factors. “As people age, changes in flexibility, muscle strength and power, body sensation, reflexes, and eve ..read more

The connection between mind, body, posture, and stress Image: Alexander Jawfox/Unsplash If you’ve ever endured a nerve-racking situation followed by a throbbing noggin, it wouldn’t seem far-fetched to connect one with the other. Nearly one in four adults reports experiencing multiple headaches every year in the United States. The World Health Organization estimates 50% of all adults have at least one headache annually. Though there are over 150 types of headaches, tension headaches are the most common and often triggered by stress. Yet while doctors might agree the two can be linked, they sti ..read more

How technology is reshaping our bodies and what we can do about it Photo by Kal Visuals on Unsplash According to the Pew Research Center, it is estimated there are over 5 billion people who own mobile phones. With over half of the world’s population engaging with electronic devices, the spotlight has been on what technology can do for us, rather than what it is doing to us. Consequently, there has been less thought on what happens to our bodies while using handheld devices. Recent studies suggest 19 year olds have the same physical activity levels as 6o year olds. What is more, the widespread ..read more

Tips for parents to offset their kids’ pandemic slouching (as well as their own) Photo by McKaela Taylor on Unsplash While it’s common practice to associate posture with the way a person sits or stands, good posture can actually be applied to every aspect of movement. Merely linking posture to a fixed position — such as “sitting up straight” — is limiting. Instead, thinking of posture as a fluid state of being brings attention to its presence in every activity. To get a better sense of the ease and mobility inherent in good posture, look no further than the next toddler you encounter. Young c ..read more

How MSDs have spread to those who treat them A recent report suggests that one in two Americans suffer from some form of musculoskeletal disorder, costing approximately $213 billion a year in treatment, care, and lost wages. Most patients turn to healthcare providers with the expectation that their practitioners will resolve their issues, but few think of the toll patient care has on their own provider’s health. In addition to the long hours, metric documentation, tedious insurance protocols, job related stress, responsibility, and liability, the occupational hazards leading to musculoskeleta ..read more

How to make the relationship with your sitting chum a healthy one Chairs create an interesting conundrum: when you see one, you want to sit in it, but once you’re sitting, you can’t wait to get out. No matter how fancy or cozy they claim to be — even those luxe or ergonomic chairs that cost a fortune — after 1, 2, 3…or 8 hours in them, you can’t take the actual sitting part out of the equation. Why is it no matter how often you shift positions, cross your legs, sway, rock, lean forward, lean back, arch your back, slouch, use a cushion under, to the side, behind..…just hoping to find the perfe ..read more

How we are surprising ourselves with our incredible ability to change and adapt in the midst of uncertainty. Photo by Bruno Cervera from Pexels Like many of you, the Coronavirus has changed my routine. ‘Freedom’ has taken on new meaning. ‘Going outside’ is the new vacation spot to tout on Facebook. Fresh air has become a commodity — an underrated privilege as much as a bare necessity. There are many ways to interpret this unusual time. Is it a punishment? An enlightenment? A wake-up call? Who knows. Whatever it is or isn’t, it has shaken the world to its core. And while it has brought out the ..read more

Photo from Psych Central This story is part of the Mental Health Library, a series on Mental Health from ,Psych Central. Childhood can be the sweetest of times, especially when enriched by loving family and friends and strong support systems. However, even with the best circumstances, children rarely come out unscathed, particularly in cultures which perpetuate an incessant need for acceptance offset by impossibly high expectations. While caring parents aim to guide their children through life and the emotional roller-coasters that ensue, well-meaning advice is often misconstrued or entirely ..read more

How observing their body habits early in the day can offset undesired behaviors later on Photo by Ben White on Unsplash Mornings — with kids — can be hectic. Getting out of the door (on time!) while trying to be mindful of filling their bellies with nutritious food, reminding them about their dental hygiene, and providing them with clean (and matching) socks seems like more than enough to accomplish first thing in the day. However, even with the greatest intentions, in the midst of the rush, there are many moments we often miss with our children. Perhaps most notably, observing the way they e ..read more