As a positive psychologist and coach, my contacts on social media tend to be with others who have similar points of view. As a result, many of the notifications that I receive in my inbox or on my social media pages tend to be ones that advocate for: staying positive in the face of challenges…
My wife and I became apartment dwellers eight years ago, and we were fortunate to move into a building where most of the people are friendly, greet you when you enter the elevator, and wish you well when you exit. We have become good friends with a number of the hundreds of people who live…
One of the best ways to be productive is to have structure in your life. Productive people generally have schedules with non-negotiable times to accomplish certain tasks. They may attack their most undesirable tasks early so that they are out of the way; they have certain times for checking emails rather than being distracted by…
It seems silly, or at least unnecessary, to post a blog reminding people to drink water – something that we’ve been doing all of our lives. Yet, almost every day people wind up in hospital emergency rooms with cases of dizziness, fainting, muscle fatigue, confusion and other symptoms of reduced cognitive functioning because of dehydration. …
The Harvard Study of Adult Development is 85 years old. It is probably the longest study of human development in history. During the few decades that I’ve been following its updates, the study consistently leads to the conclusion that there is one factor that leads to greater happiness, health, and longevity. That factor is the…
Some people say that they hate to exercise, and then they go out and prove it by leading a sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle. But I’m always intrigued by others who claim to hate exercising, but comfortably spend hours doing housework, yard maintenance and gardening, taking walks to shop or spend time with friends in the…
Many decades ago, I wrote my doctoral dissertation on decision-making. I even developed a decision-making test and had it copyrighted, although I never did much with it afterward. In fact, some of the knowledge that I gained from the process didn’t stick with me too long either, because I still find myself being indecisive more…
Oftentimes, the hardest thing about a task is the process of getting yourself started. Many great potential achievements and opportunities have been left on the drawing boards and in the minds of people who didn’t have the drive to get started. They may have been too self-critical or perfectionistic or passive, or they may have…
Summer has unofficially begun in the Northern Hemisphere. It is typically a time for many people to go away on vacation. After several years of Covid-related lockdowns, it is an especially appealing idea this year. Although it’s a terrific idea and should definitely be encouraged, I would like to also make a pitch for exploring…
I consider myself to be a pretty motivated and productive guy. Although I’m in control of much of my schedule, a typical day consists of work, physical activity such as walking and exercising, and spending quality time with my wife and often with family, neighbors, and other friends. I know that I’m not too unique…
At this time of the year, when we just celebrated Mother’s Day and prepare to celebrate Father’s Day next month, it always brings to my mind a question that I remember from my youth. It was pretty universal in my generation to ask the following question – particularly after seeing parents receiving gifts and being…