Nature, Even in Peril, is Good for the Soul
I needed to get out here. Where are you?
Welcome back to your weekly dose of wisdom and wellness, written by Wise & Well’s editor, Robert Roy Britt. Below you’ll find several informative and actionable stories by our team of journalists, topical experts and practicing professionals. First this week, a brief cajoling…
My wife and I are camping as I write this, embracing some hot days and one tremendous rainstorm, and reveling at the wildlife. I am reminded yet again of the tremendous power of being outdoors. So this is a simple reminder to you: If you can steal away for any part of your day, or maybe a few days, get out. Fresh air, sunshine and the greens and blues of nature do wonders for the mind and body, lowering stress and anxiety, improving sleep and productivity.
Getting out can take your mind off the craziness of our world, if only for a while, and get you thinking about other things. For example, I ran across some dead saguaro cacti and trees the other day, victims of wildfire, and the sadness of their demise—along with a newfound appreciation for nature when its healthy—has occupied much of my thinking since. I’m thinking about this, not, you know, that.
Thinking different is a welcome respite.
It’s a fragile world we live on, folks, full of fragile lives (human and otherwise) and I can’t overstate the value of the mental boost gained by being out in it, no matter the conditions. I wish you some same.
—Robert Roy Britt
PS: Here are some feature articles from the Wise & Well archives on this topic:
Now here are this week’s Wise & Well feature stories:
Scheduling Really Will Improve Your Life
I’ve tried and failed numerous times to create a schedule to help me keep track of the tasks of work and life, and get them done. Scratch pads, notes folders on my laptop, various apps. But I always fail to stick with it. This psychiatrist illuminates the challenge, and explains what a gift scheduling can be to yourself, and how to actually approach it successfully. By John Kruse MD, PhD
The Insidious Emotional Toll of Censorship Now Invading America
The squelching of free speech, facts and critical thinking can make us frustrated or angry. As there’s a lot of it going on right now, thanks to the Trump administration’s efforts to silence critics and spew misinformation, it’s a good time to take a deeper look at how cultural suppression can cause long-term mental health issues, and healthy, productive ways to fight back. By Gail Post, Ph.D.
Lifetraps: Why We Make the Same Mistakes Over and Over
We have a strong tendency to trust our guts and make bad decisions over and over in what psychologists call a series of lifetraps. Traditional therapy can focus overly on emotions, putting labels on every mental condition in a way that can make people feel their problems are out of their control. Lifetrap therapy is different, offering options to surrender, escape and counterattack the challenges our minds conjure. By Niall Stewart
Don’t Fall for Complex ‘Skin Barrier’ Routines
I’ve been doing a lot of rough outdoor work with my hands lately, and my skin is a mess, all dry and cracked. So this article from my favorite dermatologist came at just the right time. I need a reset, and I’ve never known which lotions are best for skin care, whether to use oil-based products, and so on. Now I can tackle a simple outer-layer rebuild with confidence. By Annie Foley
My Mutant DNA
If you had a genetic disease that could be passed on to any possible future children, would you want to know? Genetic tests provide such information for an increasing range of diseases. Thanks to genetic testing, this writer recently learned his debilitating disease is inheritable, so he then had to wonder: Would he have fathered a child if he knew she would live a life in chronic pain? By Randall H. Duckett
How to Avoid the Depressing Happiness Paradox
I’ve written a lot about the science of happiness over the past six years, and I honestly don’t think I’m any closer to defining the word. What I do know is that pursuing it makes people sad. New research helps explain why, and my story goes on to offer 11 science-backed ways to be a little bit happier without really trying, because trying doesn’t work. By Robert Roy Britt
Why Don’t Humans Have Fur Like Other Mammals?
Some folks are hairier than others, but most of us don’t have fur to the extent we see on most mammals. The reasons for our historic divergence from chimps and other creatures is not entirely clear. But scientists love to speculate, split hairs and sweat the details, which has led them to the best explanation going. By Maria Chikina
Why Does Your Mind Sometimes Go Totally Blank?
Ever have one of those episodes where a moment passes and you have no idea what just happened? You can’t remember what you were doing or thinking? Scientists call it mind blanking, and the mechanisms of it are largely mysterious. In a new analysis, scientists offer some conscious thoughts on what’s behind the strange and potentially frightening phenomenon that they figure could be related to mind wandering but which also bears striking similarities to meditation and sleep. By Robert Roy Britt
I hope we’ve helped make your tomorrow a little better than today.
Cheers,
Rob