It's good to think about the future — to a reasonable degree

Some people are intensely focused on the future, while others focus on the here-and-now. In fact, time orientation is an important determinant of health and success — and a crucial factor in relationships:

"Mismatches" between people who view time differently are common in marriages, Zimbardo says. When future-oriented spouses clash with mates who live mostly for fun in the present, "you hear 'He's irresponsible' and 'She's a slave-driver,' " he says. Trouble can erupt over how to spend money, free time or vacations and how to raise kids.

But anything taken to the extreme is often unhealthy, and more and more hyper-driven types — such as superparents — are learning to focus more on enjoying togetherness now:

These parents, most of whom are in their 30s and early 40s, want quality family time now. "They're not as driven as their parents were career-wise, and there's more emphasis on family togetherness. They want their kids to have a good future, but there's less insanity about it," Chung says.

On the other hand, if you're a worrier — or even just a "ruminator" — you can console yourself knowing that overthinking may protect against dementia.



It's hard to imagine being overly stressed at a place like this. (Click to see a larger version.)


—Mellow Monk

Go to the Mellow Monk tea page
Subscribe to the blog feed (RSS)

Taking frequent breaks improves memory. Wait. Where did I leave those keys?

Now this is something we can all relate to.

Some scientists did some research on memory and how it's affected by how busy we are. These no doubt busy scientists found that taking breaks helps you form new memories. In other words, it's easier to remember stuff if you've been taking regular breaks at work.

That means taking regular breaks all the time, not just when we think we can, like after work, but all the time.

Got it?

Or have you forgotten the topic already, you road warrior, you.

When asked how he felt about participating in the groundbreaking study, Mister Rat replied, "I smell cheese somewhere. Do you smell cheese?"

—Mellow Monk

Go to the Mellow Monk tea page
Bookmark this blog
Subscribe to the blog feed (RSS)