Hey! How is your day, good?
Hope so. Thanks for swinging by and for choosing to #ReadThisNOW... here's your Afternoon and Evening update of things I'm scrolling across on the InternetOfThings® for your consideration, and, as always, refresh often, because things... change, ya know?
Let's start with this VIDEO OF AWESOME... this Honeybee Nest is INSANE... do you see how they do this whole move in unison? It's a defense-mechanism thing but OMG IT IS SO INSANE... Check this out...
And now... for some therapy. What do you say when you see the photo of the gentleman below? How does it make you feel? Feel free to express your feelings in the comments below, or, on my Facebook page...
AND NOW... THE COPY-AND-PASTE ROUND UP OF STUFF...
Here's what you'll hear me talking about on an iHeartRadio station near you®
RELATIONSHIPS: Is there such a thing as TOO MUCH FIGHTING?
Even the happiest couples have a fight from time to time and we all know that’s totally normal. But if you feel like you and your S.O. have been having more than your fair share of arguments lately, it can start to shake you and make you feel like your relationship is doomed.
But there’s no need to freak out because psychologist Joseph Cilonaassures us that all couples have disagreements and argue and just because some do it more than others doesn’t mean they’re destined to breakup. “There is no one correct formula when it comes to frequency of conflict,” he explains. “And there is no one correct way to navigate conflict that’s right for all couples.”
The fact that a couple is still arguing is actually a good sign for their relationship, says psychologist Ramani Durvasula. She says fighting means you still care about the relationship and that when you stop fighting altogether, one or both people may have “checked out” of the relationship.
The thing that’s important about conflict between couples is that your fights are healthy. So ask yourself:
- Do you fight fair? - If your disagreements with your S.O. turn into name calling and personal attacks, that is definitely not healthy.
- Do you finish your fights? - How well you make up is important, too. Couples who can resolve conflict and have productive fights may share more intimacy. But having the same old fight over and over with no resolution is a problem.
- Do you ever feel threatened? - Any fight that makes you feel physically, emotionally, or psychologically unsafe is a huge red flag.
Source: Glamour
HEALTH + YOUR WORK: Stop eating lunch at your desk, you guys!
How many days a week do you spend your lunch eating at your desk? You’re not alone, it’s estimated that up to 40% of office workers typically do the same. We feel like multitasking through our lunch “break” helps us power through our workload, but it can actually be bad for productivity. Food psychologist Dr. Christy Fergusson explains why we should stop eating lunch at our desks and how to reboot our routine to get the most out of our lunch hour.
- We’re more likely to overeat at our desks - Research has shown that eating while distracted can lead us to eat more than we realize, which you may have noticed while mindlessly munching on lunch at your desk. So instead of overeating while staring at a spreadsheet on your computer, try stepping away to enjoy your meal, even if it’s just for a few minutes. It’ll allow you to focus on your food and pay attention to what and how much you’re eating, which will leave you more satisfied and not as stuffed when you’re finished.
- We need a brain break - You’ll be more productive if you step away from your work for few minutes to refresh your mind. Actually taking a lunch break can break up your day and relieve stress, which helps you work better for the rest of the day.
- We can get stuck in a rut - If you always run to the same cafe for the same quick salad or sandwich to eat at your desk, that routine will get old quick. But if you can find some time to prep your lunch at home, you can keep your midday meal fresh and healthy, and probably save some money, too.
- All that sitting isn’t good for us - Office workers spend way too much time sitting every day, which has been shown to be harmful to our long term health and wellbeing. So take the chance to get up and get your blood flowing with a walk any time you can squeeze one in, like during your lunch break. If you can actually get outside for some fresh air and vitamin D while you walk, do it - sunshine is a great mood-booster.
Source: Prima
ON FURLOUGH? Here are foods to AVOID during this SENSELESS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN...
As the longest government shutdown in U.S. history continues, you might not think it really impacts your daily life too much. Thing is? The Food and Drug Administration – aka the FDA – isn’t operating at full tilt either. And that means the FDA doesn’t have the same ability to do inspections, publicize recalls, outbreaks, and other vital information that keeps us healthy.
You probably remember that last year, the FDA announced a lot of recalls, from romaine lettuce to yogurt. With that in mind, the Daily Meal asked registered dietitian and attorney Jackie Arnett Elnahar’s advice about what we should steer clear of for the moment.
Her advice?
Raw foods and processed meats because they’re prone to contamination. She also advises passing on romaine lettuce and sprouts, which are susceptible to E. coli, and reminds us that cooking foods thoroughly at 165-degrees can kill E. coli, salmonella, and listeria.
Another expert, acclaimed foodborne illness lawyer Bill Marler, also recommends avoiding any foods that can’t be cooked and ready-to-eat products like cheeses, deli meats, leafy greens and sprouts. So basically – they’re saying avoid everything from salads to veggies, meats and cheese. Guess they want us on canned goods and bread?
But there is something you can do that’s a bit more reasonable: follow your grocery store on social media. That way, if the store issues a recall that hasn’t been announced by the FDA (as Kroger did just last week), you’ll know about it.
Source: The Daily Meal
BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS: Eat ICE CREAM!
Every once in a while a study comes along with results that make us want to thank science. And that’s definitely the case with the research that finds eating ice cream for breakfast may actually make you smarter.
Scientists from Kyorin University in Japan found that study participants who ate ice cream for breakfast had better reaction times and were able to process information more effectively than those who didn’t eat the creamy dessert in the morning. The idea is that indulging in a scoop when you wake up alters your levels of alertness and gives a “mental boost.”
Researchers also found similar results from giving participants a glass of cold water, but the ice cream eaters still had higher levels of mental stimulation. So Ben & Jerry’s for breakfast for the win.
Source: Delish
All Photos: Getty