Did you know that simply sleeping and waking one hour earlier can cut the risk of depression? An earlier four-year study of 32,000 nurses who called themselves "early risers" had found that they were 27 percent less likely to develop depression symptoms. But newer research has homed in on how exactly shifting someone's sleep schedule can potentially affect them. Researchers collected data on over 800,000 people, including which hours of the day they were predisposed to prefer (also known as their chronotype). They determined that going to bed merely an hour earlier is associated with significantly lower risk of depression. So if someone who usually hits the sack at 11 p.m. instead goes to bed at midnight and sleeps for the same duration, they could lower their risk by 23 percent. The effect could potentially be almost twice that if shifted by two hours. The researchers aren't quite sure why they are getting these results, but it could have something to do with light a...

Can you guess something, according to recent studies, that most of us have been doing quite more than usual in this era of social distancing? Eating? That's probably true, but it isn't what I'm alluding to. The same goes for using Facebook and binge-watching shows on Netflix. While these may certainly apply, I'm talking about something we hardly report doing, at least in normal times. Give up? I speak of dreaming,  whereby a series of ideas, emotions, images, and sensations occur involuntarily in the mind during the REM phase of sleep. Sometimes the dreams are positive, sometimes they're negative, and sometimes they make absolutely no sense -- and that's if we can remember them vividly enough to make such a characterization once we wake up! As it turns out, the stress and anxiety precipitated by the pandemic are behind this high incidence of dreaming, not to mention an increased prevalence of insomnia. We use dreams to cope with intense emotions,...

Do you or someone you know binge watch shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, or other streaming services? Maybe you're a Law and Order fanatic, your spouse is diehard watcher of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, or your sister can't get enough of How To Get Away With Murder. So what's the problem with having an insatiable appetite for these shows, you ask? As with all else, too much of something is never healthy. More time spent watching episode after episode and season after season of myriad series could mean: More time being sedentary and snacking, which translates into more pounds Unless the series offers some intellectual value, you're bound to consume content that doesn't flex your mental muscles as much as, say, a documentary would  Neglecting chores, work you've brought home, and other items on your to-do list Less time for loved ones, whether your kids or friends Depriving yourself of valuable sleep  There's no question t...

We've all been there: We set the alarm for a specific time in the morning, only to not hear it or repeatedly hit the snooze button. Once we realize what time it is, we scurry to put on our clothes, grab something for breakfast, and dash out the door in hopes of getting to work on time. But what if I shared some handy tricks for ensuring you get out of bed and have ample time to get ready for work? It's simple. First, make sure the song/ringtone you use on your alarm clock or phone is overly obnoxious -- so annoying that you can't help but get up to turn it off. On the other hand, if you opt for tranquil sounds of nature, you'll never have any incentive to get out of bed -- and you risk oversleeping. You'll also want to set the alarm for 30 minutes to an hour earlier than you'd have to wake up, which will buy you extra time to get all your early morning affairs in order. There's nothing more stressful than having to rush out of your house to make it...

I was known to sleepwalk frequently as a kid, though I don't believe I've ever seen someone else do it. What I have witnessed are people like my wife talking in their sleep. I find it creepy when people do normal things in their sleep -- talk about their job, throw something in the garbage -- that give others the impression they're wide awake when they're really not. These people later have no recollection of what they did or said. I've always viewed this as one's mind and body operating on their own -- outside of conscious awareness. I've always heard the worst thing you can do to a sleep talker or sleep walker is alarm or upset them. It's scary to think that people might open the front door and sleep walk their way out of the house and into oncoming traffic. Even if they don't leave the house, they could still sustain injuries by bumping into a wall or falling down a flight of stairs. I think it's crucial to have safeguards in place (e...

I grabbed this from a picture someone posted on Facebook. It shows things we should/shouldn't do and consume more/less of if we are to live a truly healthy lifestyle. After reading the text, all I could say is "so true," and I'm sure you'd concur. It certainly makes for a nice list of potential New Year's resolutions for many of us: Less soda, more water Less alcohol, more tea Less sugar, more fruits Less meat, more vegetables  Less sitting/driving, more walking/exercising  Less worry, more sleep Less anger, more laughter Fewer words, more action Everything that follows "more" is known to contribute to a healthier life. For example, sleep is certainly essential to one's well-being. Without sufficient rest, one can't think clearly, adversely affecting their work, social interactions, and even their self-confidence. What's more, people who laugh and exercise more typically live longer lives, as many studies point out.  ...

With all the rewards that sex has to offer, it's no surprise most of us are inclined to get as much of it as we can. It feels really good, it's free (assuming it's between you and your partner, of course), and, most important, it can be the key to a healthier, longer life. According to WebMD, the myriad benefits of sex include: 1. Boosting your libido 2. Lowering blood pressure 3. Helping keep your immune system working properly 4. Improving women's bladder control 5. Lowering heart attack risk 6. Lessening pain 7. Serving as good exercise 8. Improving sleep 9. Reducing men's chances of getting prostate cancer 10. Easing stress The health benefits associated with sex are well documented. Not only do sex and intimacy boost your happiness and self-esteem, they reduce anxiety and induce feelings of relaxation. Being that sexual intercourse can result in the conception of a child, it is arguably the most intimate thing you can do with another person. I...

Full-time professionals in the U.S. work at least 40 hours a day, five days a week. A five-day work week (Monday-Friday) consists of 120 hours, meaning that we spend at least 33% of our time in the office. To put it another way, on average, we work 22 out of 30 days each month. And that doesn't even include the time we spend driving to and from work. Needless to say, when you consider how many of our waking hours are spent at work compared to the time we have off on the weekends, it's easy to see that we give away a hefty chunk of our lives to our employers. Save for the few vacations, if any, we take each year, weekends are usually our only time to: Relax Get more sleep Run errands we don't have time to do in the week Enjoy dining and entertainment with our partners, friends or families Do groceries Pay bills Mow the lawn and handle other home maintenance And more Let's face it: We don't have time to do all of the above every weekend. Just like wit...

I recently read about a study that found that an extra hour of sleep each night increases a woman's libido considerably. In a way, this finding seems pretty logical to me. The more sleep a woman gets, the more energy she has, and the more energy she has, the more likely she is to want to do the deed. What's curious about the study is how only one hour more could make such a difference. I would think that 2 or 3 more hours of sleep would cause someone to be more predisposed to having sex the next day, but 1 hour? I assume that women are just as likely to say that a little more sleep makes them more interested in practically any other activity, like cooking or going to the gym. It also depends on a woman's schedule and how busy she is. An extra hour will surely go a long way for a time-starved executive, but it won't make a difference for someone who works few hours each week, if any at all. Something tells me that men and women the world over who complain of thei...

I'm still on the fence as to whether I want to have kids, but one thing I've observed about friends and relatives with children that deters me is that their whole identity seems to revolve around their little ones. Do I want that to happen to me? Not sure. I've seen how all-consuming having children can be. My sisters and closest friend, all of whom have one child, seem worn out, their social lives having bit the dust a long time ago. Most parents say things eventually get better, and that somehow you adapt. But it's obvious that having children presents a slew of opportunity costs, including not being able to go out as much and whenever you like, having less money, forgoing quietness and solitude, not being able to sleep in, and so on. What's more, it seems that once you have a baby, your identity becomes wrapped around parenthood -- now you're not John Doe, but John Doe Jr.'s dad. Those who loved and watched sports pre-kids can hardly keep up with th...