An Easy Way To Get Rid Of Negative Thoughts

Psychologists have been using variations on this technique, but this is the first study to show it works. To get rid of negative thoughts, write them down on a piece of paper and literally throw them away. While it might sound too easy, psychological research shows it can be effective. People in the study who did this found they also mentally discarded the thought as well. Professor Richard Petty, study co-author, said: “However you tag your thoughts — as trash or as

Proof That Alcohol Changes This Personality Trait

Only one personality trait is changed when people drink. Alcohol has much less effect on people’s personalities than they imagine, new research finds. Only extraversion — how outgoing you are — changes when you are drunk. People become more assertive, gregarious and move around more when drinking. However, people think that all their personality traits change when they are drunk compared with when they are sober. Dr Rachel Winograd, the study’s first author, said: “We were surprised to find such a discrepancy between drinkers’ perceptions of their own alcohol-induced personalities

The Best Sleep Timing To Reduce Anxiety

Sleeping at the right time is linked to lower levels of anxiety. People who go to sleep later tend to experience more repetitive negative thinking, research finds. Those who go to bed later also get more overwhelmed with negative thoughts than those who keep more regular sleeping hours. People who experience repetitive negative thinking typically feel they have little control over it. They worry too much about both the future and the past, and the thoughts tend to intrude into everyday life. These intrusive thoughts are linked to depression, anxiety

People With Poor Memories Have One Major Advantage, Study Finds

Why you should celebrate your poor memory. People with worse memories can enjoy the same experiences more often, new research finds. In contrast, those with the best memories may quickly get tired of the same music, books, places and even people. Dr Noelle Nelson, the study’s first author, said: “People with larger working memory capacities actually encode information more deeply. They remember more details about the things they’ve experienced, and that leads them to feel like they’ve had it more. That feeling then leads to the ‘large-capacity’ people getting tired

Traumatic Memories Reduced 62% By Classic Game

Traumatic Memories Reduced 62% By Classic Game

Those who had played the game had 62% fewer intrusive memories in the following week. Playing Tetris — a retro tile-matching puzzle game — can help reduce the formation of intrusive memories after a traumatic event, new research finds. Participants in the study had all been involved in a car accident in the last six hours. They were waiting in the E.R. in Oxford, England. While waiting to be seen, some were encouraged to play Tetris. A comparison group just filled in an activity log of what had happened since

The Best Exercise Combination To Boost Brain Power

The Best Exercise Combination To Boost Brain Power

Resistance and aerobic exercise were tested alongside tai chi and yoga. Aerobic and resistance exercise together is the best combination for boosting brain power, new research finds. The results come from a review of 39 studies of people over 50-years-old doing all different types of exercise and activities, including: aerobic and resistance training, tai chi, and yoga. The results showed that all types of exercise improved the brain power of those over 50. Aerobic exercise boosts cognitive abilities, while resistance training was particularly good at boosting memory and executive function.

6 Ways Being In Nature Linked To Life Satisfaction

6 Ways Being In Nature Linked To Life Satisfaction

A well managed natural environment is particularly important to people. Being in the natural environment is linked to higher satisfaction with life, new research finds. People were particularly satisfied if they felt their natural environment was being well managed. Dr Kelly Biedenweg, the study’s first author, said: “Whether people feel like things are fair and they have a voice in process of making decisions and whether governance is transparent — those are the foundations of why people even can interact with nature.” The results come from a survey of 4,000

The Common Sleep Pattern That Kills Attention And Creativity

The Common Sleep Pattern That Kills Attention And Creativity

Sleep pattern linked to better ideas, focus and planning. For a boost to your attention and creativity, keep your sleep regular, new research suggests. Regular sleep patterns are linked to higher focus, better ideas and stronger forward planning. People who skimp on sleep, then ‘catch-up’ with more sleep later suffer cognitive problems. The study was carried out on students studying interior design. Dr Michael Scullin, a study author, explained: “When completing term projects, students restrict sleep, then rebound on sleep, then repeat. Major projects which call for numerous tasks and

The Type of Dairy Products Linked To Lower Depression

The Type of Dairy Products Linked To Lower Depression

Certain dairy products are associated with lower rates of depression. People who consume low-fat dairy products are less likely to be depressed than those who prefer whole-fat. The conclusions come from researchers in Japan and China. They studied 1,159 Japanese adults aged between 19 and 83. All were asked about their dairy consumption and levels of depression. People who ate low-fat dairy between one and four times a week were less depressed, the results showed. The benefits of dairy products could be down to trytophan, the study’s authors write: “Dairy

The Real Reason Sad Music Can Be Pleasurable

The Real Reason Sad Music Can Be Pleasurable

The real reason some people enjoy listening to sad music. Music that makes you cry gives pleasure, new research finds. This might help to explain the enduring popularity of sad music. The results come from a study that tested the cathartic effect of sad music. Participants in the study were divided into two groups based on their responses to four questions: “While listening to music, how frequently do you (1) get goose bumps, (2) feel shivers down your spine, (3) feel like weeping, and (4) get a lump in your

6 Signs You May Have Adult ADHD

6 Signs You May Have Adult ADHD

8.2% of people have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, double the previously reported rate. Many people say their attention is gotten poorer in the digital age. But, is it just a regular inability to focus, or is it a ‘disorder’? Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD or ADD, can cause people to have problems with simple day-to-day tasks, like paying bills. It may even cause someone to lose their job, through persistent lateness or failing to perform routine tasks. The World Health Organisation has released the latest version of