Because learning about your brain and sleep can be fun . . .
Flu season is raging. This year it’s type A, at least in Arizona where I work full-time in an emergency department. Whether type A, type B, COVID, or the plain old common cold, homemade chicken soup is good for recovering from sickness. It’s one of the foods that fight viral infections. Just like sleep, chicken…
Years ago, before I heard of light therapy lamps, I had been living in northern California during the winter. It was a place that was very different from where I had grown up. Fog blanketed the land in the mornings, and it was always cloudy in the afternoon. Some mornings I’d have to drive 35…
If you’re a certain type of person, you should keep an acupressure mat on hand to use along one with more traditional forms of pain relief, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Acupressure mats are not for most people despite the glowing consumer testimonials. They’re a self-selected group: those who’ve purchased one. Pain, even just a touch…
Since the human body makes it for itself, everyone should always have enough vitamin D. Reaching a level of 20-50 ng/ml shouldn’t ever be a problem. Yet sometimes it is. When you don’t have enough of that particular vitamin, you get profoundly tired. It doesn’t even matter if you’ve slept enough hours. When the sun…
It’s not at all widely talked about, but did you know your dreams can help heal you? Whether or not you remember them, they can help heal you mentally and emotionally. That ties into actual physical healing as detailed in books like The Body Keeps the Score If you remember dreams and work with them,…
Is your dream about a need found in Maslow’s Hierarchy? If so, you’ve had a Needs-Centered Dream. The further down toward the base of the pyramid the need is, the more serious it is. A party There was a party in your head last night when you were sleeping. All of your favorite people were…
Swap daily activities between the morning and the rest of your day as needed for resiliency and success. Once upon a time, there was a young boy with many bad habits. This bothered his father, so he corrected him. “Don’t do this,” the father would say. “Don’t do that.” The young man ignored him. Over…
“I slept like a baby!” Really? You must have been in the fantastic fetal sleeping position for most of the night. You were turned to your side and had your legs tucked up, maybe even as far as up to your chest. Some mattress-selling sites seem to be under the delusion that there are significant…
Doctors, supervisors, 24-hour locksmiths, tow-truck drivers, and others can be affected by this. Is it time to get a different job? Not all “call” is created the same. There’s no one answer to the abovementioned question in the headline that makes sense for everyone, everywhere. Somebody needs to be on call for some businesses, industries,…
Humans and dogs have been living, working, playing, and sleeping beside each other for thousands of years. Our two species have grown up beside each other. We’re best friends. Despite many changes over time, we’ve moved out of caves and huts together and into today’s prefab housing and apartments. Whether you should sleep next to…
If someone made a list of the top fitness secrets, doing isometric exercises before bed would have to be in the top 10. Many people have a dilemma. It would be best if they exercised, and they’re busy, and they only have so much time in the day. Regular exercise, after all, is part of…
Some say, “What’s the point of drinking decaffeinated coffee?” For those people, coffee is a morning beverage. The aroma, the taste, added sugar, and cream gives them a kick that helps them wake up to greet and meet the new day. When it comes to the holiday season, with the pies, desserts, and gatherings of…
It’s a fact: sleep aids in regenerating the body tissues. Sleep troubles like insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and sleep apnea mean your body doesn’t heal well. It’s a downward spiral that leads to a lack of sleep, predisposing your body to stress, anxiety, and tiredness. You might have tried exercising in the evening before. Maybe…