information: How To Talk To A One-Upper Without Losing Our Minds!
- 05/01/26 12:44 PM
This article really struck a chord. The premise is that if we have a friend, colleague or relative who constantly brags and tries to top our stories, here's how we should respond.
The article begins by noting that we all know someone: the one who one-ups us in conversation every chance they get. Sometimes it’s a co-worker or family member, but what they all have in common is that anything we can do, they can do categorically better.
Example: Going to the Amalfi Coast for our vacation next spring? Sweet! They went there years ago, before it got super touristy. They can send you a … (2 comments)
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information: Are You Guilty Of 'Conversational Narcissism'?
- 04/01/26 01:26 PM
I recently read an article that described some conversations as less like a back-and-forth and more like a hostage situation where no matter what you say, the other person finds a way to make it about them. It turns out, the author says, there’s a term for this phenomenon: conversational narcissism.
“While it’s not a clinical term, we use it in everyday conversation to describe when a dialogue turns into a monologue,” said Dr. Sue Varma, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at New York University Grossman School of Medicine and author of “Practical Optimism: The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being.” … (4 comments)
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information: People Are Refusing To Buy Anything New In 2026
- 03/02/26 09:17 AM
Okay. A recent post says I might have heard of the “Buy Nothing” movement, (I haven’t) and then asks if that is actually possible. The answer is yes, according to the post, which then explains why. In simple terms, the Buy Nothing movement is not about actually buying zero things, nor is it about going without or living off the grid.
With this trending movement, we’re told, many are skipping new purchases in favor of borrowing, thrifting, and sharing. Instead, it’s about choosing not to buy new stuff or finding other ways to get what we need. Or, better yet, becoming more aware of … (1 comments)
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information: How Do You Text?
- 02/01/26 05:27 PM
Just read an interesting article about texting, which seems to be a major part of most people’s lives these days. Even if we don’t personally text a lot, seems we’re all on the receiving end of these communications.
I never really thought about texting “styles” but apparently there are some. The article begins by noting Emmanuel Jamir, a sketch comedy content creator from New York, is a proud member of the “paragraph texter” club.
The article says we’ll know Jamir has arrived to the group text when we receive long, big blocks of prose. For him, sending jumbo texts is just about efficiency.
“Paragraphs … (7 comments)
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information: Do 1 Small Thing in Every Conversation to Be Instantly Likable
- 01/01/26 11:42 AM
According to a recent report quoting a communications expert, most people don’t bother, so if we follow this advice, we’ll stand out.
The premise is that there are times we may have the aim to make ourselves instantly more likable to our clients, colleagues or new acquaintances. Or maybe even just the people we interact with every day. We’re offered what is said to be a simple and powerful tip from author and communications expert Lorraine K. Lee: Make them feel seen by remembering something about them.
As an example, the report sites someone who recently climbed the Space Needle for a charity event and posted … (4 comments)
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information: Rude Behavior When Giving A Gift
- 12/07/25 01:21 PM
‘Tis the season… and with it comes advice on gift giving. Not what to buy, but how to actually give the gifts we bought.
A recent article reminds us that we all know that gift giver ― the one who hands us a present and immediately mentions how hard it was to find, how expensive it was or how long the shipping took. Etiquette experts, the author states, say behaviors like this can make a kind gesture feel uncomfortable and even rude.
“In an idealized world, gifts are a tangible expression of your love and esteem for someone else,” Jodi R.R. Smith, president of Mannersmith Etiquette … (8 comments)
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information: 'JUST BE YOURSELF' IS BAD ADVICE?
- 11/01/25 10:09 AM
Really?!? So all the time we’ve spent examining how we actually manifest and then attempting to be true to ourselves – that’s all been a waste? At least that’s sort of the premise of a recent article by an “expert”.
According to the article, from childhood classrooms to corporate boardrooms, we hear: "Just be yourself." We’re told authenticity is the key to connection, career success, and a meaningful life. We’re reminded that in an age of AI therapists and robot baristas, our humanity is our greatest currency.
But it's bad advice the author says and points out she’s seen how often people struggle with what it … (4 comments)
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information: An 'Invisible Day' May Be What’s Needed To Improve Our Mental Health
- 10/01/25 03:20 PM
I think it would be cool to be invisible – at least for a brief period – so an “invisible day” sounded exciting. But it doesn’t really mean one becomes unseeable. It’s a whole different concept that therapists say it's an important way to reconnect with ourselves and help combat anxiety that many of us feel.
The report explains that current events may be weighing on our mental health. While it’s important to be informed about what is going on politically, it’s also necessary to protect our mental health so we are able to move forward.
While no single mental health intervention can … (3 comments)
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information: 'Pebbling' Is The Online Habit We Probably Do Every Day
- 09/01/25 01:51 PM
Honestly, this was news to me! According to a recent article, the latest friendship buzzword comes from an unlikely but rather cute source: penguins.
“Recently I learned that the act of sending your friends [and] family little videos and tweets and memes you find online [is] called pebbling, like how penguins bring pebbles back to their little penguin loved ones,” an X user wrote on the social media platform late last month.
The article notes that penguins may have the right idea: As we age, friendships become increasingly difficult to maintain. New responsibilities crop up ― families, more demanding roles at work ― pushing friendships … (13 comments)
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information: Micro-Habits: What They Are And How To Use Them
- 03/02/25 09:52 AM
A recent article referenced “micro-habits” a term I hadn’t heard before. So of course I had to read beyond the headline.
The article notes that If we’re like most people, we’ve probably tried to follow a new big habit just to find ourselves faltering a few days later. For example, we may have made it a goal to follow a plant-based diet only to find ourselves reaching for bacon at breakfast. Or maybe we promised ourself to read four books a month only to scroll social media instead.
According to the article, there’s a reason it’s hard to adhere to a new behavior. “Many people … (14 comments)
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information: EYE CONTACT - A LOST ART
- 02/01/25 11:16 AM
This recently published commentary is quite interesting , but probably does require that we buy into the main premise which is the title of the article.
The author suggests that If the title of this article caught our eyes, that's a good start—it might even help us reflect on where our eyes typically focus and where they don’t. He notes that eye contact, once a cornerstone of human connection, is becoming increasingly rare in our screen-dominated lives. The beeps, alerts, and endless digital distractions have shifted our gaze away from the eyes of others and into the glow of our devices.
And it’s … (6 comments)
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information: The "Cringe Attack" Experience
- 01/01/25 02:48 PM
Do you experience "cringe attacks'? My answer to this question posed in a recent article is definitely and emphatically “yes”!
The author notes that if we’re a human living on this planet, we’ve likely experienced a full-body shiver when remembering an embarrassing thing we did. We’ve probably even uttered the phrase “why did I say that?” many months after an awkward interaction.
The article clarifies that on social media and online, this experience is sometimes referred to as a “cringe attack,” which can be described as the “intense physical or emotional experience related to a past memory that causes feelings of embarrassment, distress, … (7 comments)
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information: How To Work With Winter Darkness (After Dark!)
- 12/01/24 10:01 AM
We’ve all heard about SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and some of us may truly suffer when the natural light gives way to darkness at certain times of the year. A recent article dealt with a particular “annoyance” that we may experience specifically when we leave our offices/studios/places of employment and it’s dark outside.
In the article, experts share how they find time to rejuvenate when they get home from work in the winter.
The article notes that If we work standard hours, the sky may already be dark when we leave our work space. It’s that time of year: The days are shorter … (3 comments)
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information: Common Phrases That Can Be Taken As Condescending
- 09/01/24 04:29 PM
According to a recent report, while we may strive to be kind and compassionate in our communications with people, we’re bound to fall short sometimes. And one of the ways we do that in conversation is when we condescend, or talk down, to the other person.
We’re being condescending when we speak to someone in a way that implies our own superiority, said journalist Celeste Headlee, author of “We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter.”
“It generally involves some kind of haughty tone, but condescension also almost always involves a passive-aggressive behavior,” Headlee told HuffPost.
“In other words, when you are condescending to someone … (5 comments)
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information: Feeling Too Busy May Damage Our Brain Health
- 08/03/24 09:06 AM
A recent article says there's a reason we dread looking at our Google calendars and other planners.
Feeling too busy, or like we don't have time to do what we want, can lead to "time famine," according to Yale University psychology professor Laurie Santos. Time famine can lead to poorer work performance and burnout, and is just as harmful to our mental health as being unemployed, Santos told attendees at a conference last month.
It even makes us less productive, because it makes us less happy, she said: "I think we feel strapped for time because we think working ... as much as we … (2 comments)
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information: Feeling Too Busy Can Damage Our Brain Health
- 07/01/24 05:48 PM
Did you know there's a reason we dread looking at the stacked blue, yellow and green blocks on our Google or other time management/appointment calendars.
Feeling too busy, or like we don't have time to do what we want, can lead to "time famine," according to Yale University psychology professor Laurie Santos. Time famine can lead to poorer work performance and burnout, and is just as harmful to our mental health as being unemployed, Santos said.
It even makes us less productive, because it makes us less happy. “I think we feel strapped for time because we think working ... as much as we … (4 comments)
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information: Things To Do At Night To Make Our Mornings Happier
- 05/01/24 01:46 PM
According to a recent article, setting ourselves up for a good day doesn’t just mean having a solid morning routine in place (though that’s important too). How we spend our evenings, the article states, is a key part of the equation, yet one that’s sometimes overlooked.
The article goes on to say we might be surprised at how a few small tweaks to our nighttime habits can make a considerable difference in our happiness come morning.
So the author asked experts to share what evening practices will have the most positive effect on our mood the following day. Here’s what she learned:
Take an … (5 comments)
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information: A Simple Habit To Protect Us From Stress And Burnout
- 04/01/24 03:12 PM
And it only takes five minutes, according to a Harvard-trained psychologist!
Burnout can sneak up on us without warning, according to a recent report. And the most common cause of burnout, of course, is our jobs. According to the World Health Organization, burnout is typically the result of "chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed."
We’re told that while exhaustion, cynicism and reduced productivity are some of the most obvious signs of job burnout, there are other sneaky symptoms we might be missing, including procrastination, constant distraction and apathy, according to Wendy Suzuki, a neuroscientist at New York University.
There's no foolproof solution … (2 comments)
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information: Nighttime Habits That Cause Anxiety
- 03/01/24 10:18 AM
I’m one of many that often have long days that keep us busy with what’s unfolding in front of us. But by the end of the day, we may feel anxious and stressed.
As quoted in a recent article, once our days end, we have fewer distractions from our anxiety, said Erica Basso, a psychotherapist and owner of a group practice in California. We may be worrying more about the things that make us anxious simply because we have the time to do so. On top of that, there are some things we may be doing in the evening that can cause our racing thoughts … (5 comments)
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information: Strategies To Help Us Get Motivated
- 02/01/24 03:34 PM
So here’s a recap of yet another article on how we can motivate ourselves. Unlike some other articles, this one seems to provide some relevant data and practical methods to implement.
The article begins by stating that many people think that motivation is the key to changing habits — and that we either have it or we don’t. But motivation, according to the article, isn’t a psychological trait or personality characteristic. We’re told it’s actually something we can cultivate.
“It’s about setting yourself up for success,” said behavioral scientist Katy Milkman, a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and author … (2 comments)
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This article really struck a chord. The premise is that if we have a friend, colleague or relative who constantly brags and tries to top our stories, here's how we should respond.
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