MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'focus'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:55:21 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159196&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F26%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-august-26-2011%2F I sometimes wonder if our focus on “doing things right” is what causes us more pain, anguish and difficulty than anything else in life. It’s almost as if those red marks on our graded assignments as kids stay with us when we become adults. In fact, our fear of impending negative feedback often grows as we grow older. We hold our vulnerabilities even closer, wrapping them up carefully like we would a glass vase or a precious piece of china. We’re fearful of sharing our feelings. We hold back our laughter, forgetting that as kids we let it all out from our bellies to our mouths. And to shield our pain, instead of crying, confronting or expressing ourselves, we avoid loved ones when they’ve hurt us. Yet, in order to fully live, to feel completely alive, we must f... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159196 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:36:56 +0100 5159196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159923&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2Fq98fymxte88%2F Social proof is a powerful trigger, and it’s often overlooked by many. If a restaurant waiting list is hours long, odds are there’s a good reason. Why else would people waste time and stand in line if the food wasn’t great? The online version of social proof is a bit more nuanced. There are tons of ways to attract and showcase proof that people actually appreciate your stuff. And the larger the number, the better. These could be numbers of…. likes stumbles number of comments votes +1′s fans favorites saves shares forwards subscribers followers retweets clips views thumbs up sales stars watches All of these combine to show the visitor how great other people think your stuff is. But here’s the kicker: You can’t collect social proof without actuall... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159923 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:16:01 +0100 5159923 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139877&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Fquiz-do-you-make-other-people-happy%2F As put forth by the Second Splendid Truth: One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy; One of the best ways to make other people is to be happy yourself. Everyone accepts the Second Splendid Truth, Part A; the Second Splendid Truth, Part B often isn’t as clear to people. But to focus on Part A here — how do you know if you’re making other people happy? What are some signs? Are the following statements true for you: Do people seem to feel comfortable confiding in you? Do people follow your recommendations? Are you a source of material comfort or security for someone else? Do people whom you’ve introduced often go on to have a continuing relationship? Do people seem to drift toward you? Join a conversation that you’re having, sit down next... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139877 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:46:16 +0100 5139877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5131082&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2Fkv70BoP2Rpg%2F “Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)” ~ Walt Whitman, “Song of Myself” My brother’s incredible Walt Whitman tattoo. This month marks the five year anniversary of this blog and this Walt Whitman quote is one of my favorites of all time. It explains this site and myself perfectly. If you dug through the underbelly archives of this site, you’d see that there are some posts that are totally contradictory to what this site is about. When I started LifeDev in August of 2006, it was a productivity blog (like every other blog at the time). Then I switched to writing about creativity, and I still try to stick to that topic, but really now I just write about whatever tickles my fancy. There is no &#8217... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5131082 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:03:47 +0100 5131082 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107967&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2FP4pLkPGRsM4%2F As I sit reading a copy of a friend’s upcoming book (which is going to incredible), I can feel something in the corner of my mind: The nagging pull of needing to constantly create. Right now I’m sitting in a coffee shop on a Saturday morning with almost no agenda. I have plenty to do, but I’ve decided to only do stuff for the next three hours that isn’t related to work. One of those things was to read my friend’s book. Yet, in the corner of my mind, I’m constantly thinking about what I could use for a quote, or thoughts I could tweet, or anything that I could publish somewhere. It’s like a digital version of ADHD. Is anyone else feeling this? With the addition of Google+, there is a growing need each day to need to publish something to people who ... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107967 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:42:06 +0100 5107967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028739&cid=t_114323_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Fadhd-and-lack-of-focus-shocking-pediatrics-report.php A report just published by the Pediatrics journal shows that rate of abuse of ADHD drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall has kept up with the increase of drug abuse! The period they are talking about is from 1998 to 2005. ADHD drug prescriptions rose by about 80% while abuse of the meds for the same period rose by 76%. You can draw your own conclusions. Now if your child has ADHD and lack of focus is one of the symptoms, think twice before putting him on amphetamines because that is basically what these powerful mind altering drugs are. College kids are now misusing Adderall to get the edge on their peers and getting high on these drugs is rather old fashioned as other drugs have taken their place. Just because your child has ADHD and a lack of focus, why risk compromising his future by putti... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028739 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5028739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862970&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FBTxCJAHmuLI%2F You’ve got your vision board on the wall. You spend five minutes every morning daydreaming about that huge house you want, that massive paycheck, that flashy car. Unfortunately, you don’t seem to be getting any closer. So you resolve to visualize more. You keep imagining that perfect future. It’s what you’re supposed to do, right? It’s what all the self-development gurus tell you? The problem is … this kind of visualization doesn’t work. Even worse, it can actually work against you. Stop Visualizing an Outcome… A study carried out in 1999 looked at a group of freshmen who used visualization in an attempt to do better in their exams. (You can find the study’s abstract here.) The freshmen who pictured themselves getting great grades … didn’t. Their exam perf... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862970 Wed, 25 May 2011 07:03:17 +0100 4862970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4794819&cid=t_114323_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F06%2Fnursing-times-2011-vol-107-no-17%2F Fade Fave: Pelvic floor health: information for teenagers Fade Skinny: Young women were involved in developing a leaflet about pelvic floor awareness with the aim of maintaining and improving pelvic floor health. Contact the Library for a copy of this article Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Focus Group, Health Promotion, Leaflet, Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise, Teenagers (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4794819 Fri, 06 May 2011 11:08:18 +0100 4794819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775432&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F02%2Fmental-health-needs-of-older-americans%2F As the baby boomers age here in the U.S., they are going to swell the ranks of seniors. And senior care — especially mental health care — is one of the most ignored in America. We act as though seniors don’t matter much, and few health care and mental health care professionals go into specializations, such as geriatric psychology, that can help senior citizens. Perhaps that will change, with more attention and focus provided on this group of people. Because as we age, we often face many of the same difficulties as we did earlier in life. Except these difficulties are often amplified, because of the loss of social support — our friends — and isolation — most often from our own family. The New York Times profiles Marc E. Agronin, M.D., a geriatric psychiat... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775432 Mon, 02 May 2011 13:50:19 +0100 4775432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4658415&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F30%2Fintroducing-partners-in-wellness%2F I’m pleased to introduce our newest blog, Partners in Wellness by Kate Thieda. This is a blog that is meant to provide information and support to relationship partners and spouses who are in a marriage with someone who has a mental illness, such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder. Coping with someone who has a serious mental illness can often times be trying, difficult, and stressful. This blog will deal with topics to help caregivers and partners learn to better communicate and improve their relationships with someone who has a mental health concern. Partners in Wellness will focus on helping people who are in a relationship with a person who has a mental health issue. While this may include what people often refer to as “caregivers,” it is focused on people who are par... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4658415 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:55:29 +0100 4658415 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4554606&cid=t_114323_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdoctors-and-thought-control%2F2011.03.06 Here’s my column in the March issue of Emergency Medicine News. Second Opinion: Be Smarter Than Your Brain “Everyone is a drug seeker. Why does everyone want to be on disability? I’m so tired of lies. Great, another lousy shift. I wonder who will die tonight? I’m so sick of suffering. I’m so weary of misery and loss. I hope this never happens to my family. I’ll probably get sued. Being sued nearly drove me crazy. This job never gets easier, only harder. I have to find something else to do; I can’t go on this way. I think I’m going crazy. I don’t have any more compassion. People hate me now.” These are only a few of the wonderful thoughts that float through the minds of emergency physicians these days. Sure, not every physician has them. But I know our specialty... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4554606 Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:00:57 +0100 4554606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4482824&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F15%2Fsurprising-findings-on-what-makes-a-happy-stable-marriage%2F Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing psychologist Terri Orbuch, Ph.D, about her book 5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great. (Stay tuned for the article on Psych Central shortly!) Since 1986, Orbuch has followed the same 373 couples to investigate what leads to marriage happiness and stability long term. Among a slew of interesting findings, her study yielded two surprising results, which I had to share with readers. (The article includes details on the study.) 1. Focus on what is working, not on what isn’t. We often hear about the importance of working through negative issues in relationships. Like Orbuch writes in her book, it’s common for experts to ask couples to consider what’s going wrong in their relationship. While addressing problems in your relation... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4482824 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 04:27:35 +0100 4482824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4478185&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F2mEn39tauIQ%2F I’ve been thinking a lot about the subconscious mind and how it manifests itself in our life. Nearly all goals that are successfully achieved start as an idea, and with positive vibes, eventually turn into reality. As personal development seekers, it’s up to us to train our minds for success. I looked around for a long time before I finally found something that does just that. It’s called autosuggestion, and I learned about it in Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich. Autosuggestion is just a way of influencing your own subconscious. We unconsciously program our selves in this way, day in and day out. You can actually learn to take control of this process and get some pretty powerful results. Emotions Affect Your Subconscious Think of any time you’ve experienced really stro... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4478185 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 07:16:54 +0100 4478185 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460053&cid=t_114323_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F2HoNJkXp0Bo%2F CONCLUSION In terms of the first hour or so of play, users in this age group will be most motivated to engage with mobile brain training game technology when it’s perceived as providing a good challenge, of some practical benefit and is in some way familiar. Users will see usability issues, poor communication from the game and games that are inappropriately timed, i.e. too fast, as barriers to engagement. You can help us further understand what constitutes an enjoyable puzzle game experience for seniors by downloading the free iPhone app and participating in the next study. – Donal O’Brien is a PhD candidate at the Sonic Arts Research Centre in Queen’s University Belfast. His work is concerned with mobile digital game design and evaluation for seniors. His main interests are ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460053 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 20:23:12 +0100 4460053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4455420&cid=t_114323_134_f&fid=35179&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscottsdiabetes.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fphilly-focus-group%2F I’m having breakfast this morning at the Philadelphia International Airport after spending yesterday evening with an incredible group of fellow PWD’s (Persons With Diabetes). My four-dollar bagel and soda didn’t come with enough cream cheese, but I feel kind of stuck. The bagel itself is HUGE (60-80 grams of carbs?), but the cream cheese container is regular size. Enough for maybe half of the bagel. I don’t want to leave my seat & table to get more, and I really don’t want to carry all of my crap back up to the counter with me to get more. So I’ll eat my lightly topped bagel and be glad it didn’t cost more I guess. The group last night was really something special. I don’t know if it is my appreciation for others living with type 1 diabe... Scott's Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4455420 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:56:08 +0100 4455420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4349576&cid=t_114323_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FmMnjFqx8cMU%2F A fascinating New York Time article on solving puzzles: Why you do it, how you do it, and what’s going on in your brain while you do it. The appeal of puzzles goes far deeper than the dopamine-reward rush of finding a solution. The very idea of doing a crossword or a Sudoku puzzle typically shifts the brain into an open, playful state. There are different ways to solve a puzzle: an analytical way of trial and errors and an “insight” or creative way.  Recent neuroimaging studies looked at what happens in the brain of people preparing to solve a puzzle. Results suggest that a particular signature of preparatory activity, one that is strongly correlated with positive moods, can be observed in people’s brains who are more likely to solve puzzles with sudden insight than with trial and... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4349576 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 19:57:31 +0100 4349576 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4241835&cid=t_114323_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FXtT5veL6888%2F My interest in the brain stems from wanting to better understand both how to make school more palatable for students, and professional development more meaningful for faculty. To that end, I began my Neurons Firing blog in April, 2007, have been doing a lot of reading, and been attending workshops and conferences, including Learning & the Brain. If you agree that our brains are designed for learning, then as educators it is incumbent upon us to be looking for ways to maximize the learning process for each of our students, as well as for ourselves. Some of what follows is simply common sense, but I’ve learned that all of it has a scientific basis in our brains. 1. Review and 2. Reflection are two means for thinking about what is being learned. Review can be done in the moments after ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4241835 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 19:25:24 +0100 4241835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4172350&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2FVhLWDiGuIVA%2F With a rebel yell, he cried “more, more, more!” In Jim Collins’ book How the Mighty Fall (affiliate link), Collins gives the five steps that most companies go through on their way from success to failure. The second stage is the “undisciplined pursuit of more”. This is the stage of decline where the company becomes successful and starts to believe that anything they do will turn to gold. No idea is a bad one! Expand, expand, expand! These companies spread themselves too thin across too many (unproven) ideas, while not tending to the thing that brought them their initial success. They effectively kill the Golden Goose. Ideas are hard. They’re easy to generate, but hard to filter and even harder to finish. I try to swing for the “sweet spot” ... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4172350 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:33:50 +0100 4172350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4143045&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FkNk6upkpzlI%2F Are you someone who works best under pressure or thrives in a stressful situation? Do you take pride in your great multi-tasking abilities? Do you find yourself surrounded with drama queens or people just like you who run full throttle until they puke? Most important, are you someone who avoids pain or disappointment by “getting busy?” If you find yourself rushing around with a packed schedule, glued to your phone or email (or both!), filling empty time slots with activities to keep you constantly moving, then not only do your fit the bill of a modern day urgency junkie, you are slowly killing your soul, draining your creative potential and taking years off your life. Humans need variety, but if you crave excitement yet struggle to be present with the people in your life unless there�... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4143045 Sun, 07 Nov 2010 21:20:14 +0100 4143045 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4001709&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F25%2Flistening-in-on-another-conversation%2F We’ve all done it — listened in on another conversation while talking to someone else. How can we do that? How can we focus our listening abilities on a far away conversation while “turning off” the ability to listen to the conversation that’s right in front of us? This unique listening ability is called selective listening and most people can do it. It’s our ability to tune out one conversation and have our brains hone in on another. And despite this fairly common phenomenon, neuroscientists still have little idea of how we do it. It seems to come down to understanding the neural pathways and circuits that underlie our attention skills. In understanding simple attention skills like how we can selectively listen, neuroscientists believe it could also hel... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4001709 Sat, 25 Sep 2010 16:45:21 +0100 4001709 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987255&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38609&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDavidSeah-BetterLivingThroughNewMedia%2F%7E3%2Fg-U8OKwFD4w%2F Colleen Wainwright’s latest newsletter lay unread in my inbox for days, and when I finally opened it, it was a revelation. Remember less is more when it comes to promoting myself, and don’t list every damn thing. To stand out, one must dare to be secure in one’s simplicity, and that means thinning the herd of your accomplishments. Check it out. (Source: David Seah - Design, Development, Inspiration, Empowerment) David Seah - Design, Development, Inspiration, Empowerment blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987255 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:15:49 +0100 3987255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965730&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2FdzOkNXaxwY8%2F Chipotle’s famous simple menu. It’s often our nature to want to be the best at everything. If we can do many things well, we should be able to see profits. “Diversify, diversify, diversify”. Yet for whatever reason, sprawling out into multiple markets doesn’t necessarily mean success. It’s only being the best at one thing and refining it daily that wins in the long run. Chipotle has centered around the the simple premise that they were going to serve a very limited menu, without extra things like plates, appetizers, or deserts. Just burritos, tacos and salads with all the same (limited) ingredients. Experts believed that the limited selection would turn customers away. Oops. Ever seen Instapaper? This simple application does one thing: saves online pa... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965730 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:22:48 +0100 3965730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3957876&cid=t_114323_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Ffocus-naturally-without-caffeine-10-herbs-and-essential-oils-to-keep-you-on-task%2F You don’t have to have ADD to have serious problems with concentration: There are plenty of distractions just within your computer screen to keep you working hard to stay on task. But before you reach for your next cup of coffee, FitSugar suggests you try the following herbs and essential oils to sharpen your focus. Don’t have a bundle of Cedarwood hanging around the house? We found a few easy-to-use products that will help you reap the benefits of this list: Rosemary Ginger Grapefruit Basil Black Pepper Lemon Peppermint Eleuthero Yerba Mate Cedarwood Post from: BlissTree Focus, Naturally (Without Caffeine): 10 Herbs and Essential Oils to Keep You On-Task (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3957876 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:57:48 +0100 3957876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3907690&cid=t_114323_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F2Ucn0GO8ZUs%2F How often do you listen to the office gossip while filling in forms? Or read a document while talking on the phone with a client? Or think about your problems at work while helping your child with his homework? We are constantly assaulted by lots of information and often required to perform several tasks at once. It is not easy to stay focused. However being able to stay focused is crucial to achieve success. Indeed, if you are listening to the office gossip while filling in forms, you will probably make mistakes. If you try to read a document while talking on the phone with a client, you will probably sound distant and uninterested to your client and may not get the contract you expected to get. If you think about your problems at work while helping your child with his homework, you will ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3907690 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:28:11 +0100 3907690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3854787&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2FOwCv7WoS1Yk%2F Yesterday I had the incredible honor of having a guest post published on The 99 Percent about finishing masterpieces. Tons of fresh faces subscribed here because of the article (hi there!), and lots of traffic was sent this way. In a weird twist of luck, an article on Mashable also ran yesterday that featured yours truly spouting off nonsense about freelancing. When it rains it pours, I guess. If there’s something you should know about me, it’s that I’m a stats guy. Actually, it’s deeper than that. I like to figure out exactly why people are doing things on my site, like leaving or subscribing. I like to really dig deep and analyze data, looking for trends or things that I think I could improve around here. It’s also a way for me to tell if people are engagin... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3854787 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:27:09 +0100 3854787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3854570&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F10%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-august-10-2010%2F I’m an avid reader who’s been alternating between five to ten very different books lately. Why so many? Well it’s still summer and I’m soaking every bit of it while I can. One that’s been taking much of my attention is The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne, Ph.D. While the title isn’t very sexy, the read is very illuminating. Why? It talks about the comprehensive (what I’ll call) diet plan for someone suffering from anxiety and phobia. One of the topics it covers is negative self-talk. The kind that often exacerbates anxiety and is also described as one of five mind traps in this week’s top post. It also talks about the importance of exercise, meditation and even nutrition. All things that can help ease your anxiety so that yo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3854570 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:26:12 +0100 3854570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3794747&cid=t_114323_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fbrain-training-flex-your-focus-muscle%2F Poor attention span isn’t just the trouble of an ADD-diagnosed teen; in the modern age of computers, smartphones, twitter, and television, we’ve all slowly lost our ability to focus, and there are plenty of studies to show it. We want our focus back, and there’s a whole industry of tools, apps, programs, and headphones to help us, acting like digital blinders to shield us from distraction. But Clay Johnson, the founder of Blue State Digital (the technology company behind Barack Obama’s web site) and blogger at infovegan.com, says that we’re looking in the wrong place: “It is as much Twitter’s fault that you have a short attention span as it is your closet’s fault it doesn’t have any running shoes in it. If you want the ability to focus ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3794747 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:47:44 +0100 3794747 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790949&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38607&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fsuccessbeginstoday%2FBHWQ%2F%7E3%2F2ci_JkFSL0k%2F I just finished up a powerful and insightful personal development book, entitled The Way We Are Working…Isn’t Working, by Tony Schwartz. Michael Hyatt had recommended the book, and I found it to be chock full of great ideas to improve your life. The thing that sets Tony’s book apart from so many others is the real world statistics that Tony includes, from his company’s work with hundreds of organizations around the world. Tony’s company is called The Energy Project and his work is focused on improving workplace and personal life performance. I found this book ties in with many of the things I’ve blogged about here at Success Begins Today. From diet and exercise, to time management, and goal setting, this little book has some practical and workable solutions to many of the ... Success Begins Today blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790949 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:08:54 +0100 3790949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3784307&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F23%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-july-23-2010%2F It’s weird writing the date on today’s, “Best of Our Blogs.” Why? Because July 23rd is my birthday. It’s scary to think a whole year passed by. And what’s worse is that in light of another year gone by, it’s all too easy to ask those daunting, won’t-get-you-anywhere type of questions. Things like, “What have I really accomplished in a year?” or, “Why haven’t I reached all of my dreams yet?” Ever since I was a kid, I would view birthdays as a rite of passage, a way to measure this year against the one before. And that would inevitably lead to disappointment. Weighing all the ups and downs in one’s past is difficult, if not impossible to compare with the present. Somehow the past always seems more perfect. Wh... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3784307 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:53:28 +0100 3784307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3747023&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38610&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.productivity501.com%2Fthe-power-of-focus%2F8085%2F Conclusion Outside of blind luck, your success is going to strongly correlate with your ability to improve your focus.  Understanding how you mind works and the types of things that are distracting to you as an individual can make a great difference in how much you are able to accomplish in a given amount of time. In particular, make sure that you are confusing being busy with being productive and tailor your environment and work habits to favor production rather than motion. Business minded? Subscribe to Mark Shead’s business consulting blog. Others found this article when looking for:improve focus (1) If you liked this, please consider sharing it with others: --- at Productivity501:Tuesday’s Tip: Label Your WartsPortable Scan Snap S300Worry vs. Prob... Productivity501 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3747023 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:56:31 +0100 3747023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3729841&cid=t_114323_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fbad-hair-day-bad-work-day-does-your-mane-affect-your-job-performance%2F photo: Thinkstock It’s a little melodramatic to say that a bad hair day can ruin an entire 24 hours of your life. But, sometimes it does. Uncooperative hair sets us back in the morning and distracts us during the day, and research by Proctor and Gamble showed that women feel less hostile, ashamed, nervous, guilty, or jittery if they think their hair looks good. A full 25% of women say that they don’t want to leave the house on a bad hair day. Is anyone out there unfazed by a bad hair day? How do you, lovely readers, avoid bad hair days? (Especially today, when it’s 101 degrees outside where we are.) We’d love some tips. Let us know in the comments section, below. via The Juggle Post from: BlissTree Bad Hair Day, Bad Work Day: Does Your Mane Affect Job Performance? (... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3729841 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:18:36 +0100 3729841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3659161&cid=t_114323_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Ffocus-onacceptance%2F In 12 Step Fellowships recovery from alcoholism, addiction or co-dependency needs many new concepts to be absorbed and acted upon. One of the most important seems to be Acceptance. “When I focus on what’s good today, I have a good day, and when I focus on what’s bad, I have a bad day. If I focus on a problem, the problem increases; if I focus on the answer, the answer increases.” c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 419 See also; The Dry Drunk 12 Rewards of Recovery Touchstones, Daily meditations Sobriety Without End Recovery Promises to … Does AA Work? The Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book Unplugged Hazelden and HCIBooks Online Spirituality Books Inspirational Books Love & Relationships Books Addiction & Recovery Books (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.c... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3659161 Sun, 13 Jun 2010 15:06:01 +0100 3659161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3656813&cid=t_114323_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2F3-tips-for-being-happy%2F2010.06.12 You know that person you work with, the one that always seems to be in a bad mood, the one that never smiles, the one that never has a nice thing to say and complains about every little thing? The person that just seems miserable? I don’t think any of us would say: “Oh, I want to be just like him or her!” Now think about the person who attracts you and who you want to be around. It’s the person that’s full of life, who is happy and grateful, and who can always find kind words to say and share a smile. It’s the person with that contagious smile that radiates and instantly lifts your spirits, the type of person who is sure of themselves and who isn’t afraid to say “no.” As individuals, we are unique and we have the ability to build a life filled with passion, purpose... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3656813 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:00:49 +0100 3656813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3641142&cid=t_114323_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F3sblmEAdA8M%2F The Boston Globe has a good article/ book review on the latest quasi-luddite attack on the Internet (an attack in the name of brain science no less, and with cool brain scans). The book in question: “The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains.” The Internet ate my brain (Boston Globe) - Nicholas Carr says that our online lifestyle threatens to make us dumber. But resistance may not be futile The reporter, Wes Anderson, adds the proper perspective, in my view, by ending the article with: “Books and the Internet, literary culture and digital culture have coexisted for many years. It may be that an engaged intellectual life will now require a sort of hybrid existence — and a hybrid mind that can adapt and survive by the choices one makes. It may require a new ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3641142 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:23:59 +0100 3641142 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635720&cid=t_114323_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fare-ipads-bad-for-your-brain-research-shows-gadgets-could-have-cognitive-consequences%2F Streamline, organize, multitask: These are keywords in the justification of many a tech gadget purchase. After all, the upshot of spending hundreds on iPads, Blackberries, and laptops is that they make us more productive, right? But researchers are saying that they might do the opposite: The constant flood of information is actually hurting our ability to focus. We’ve heard the theory before: The wonders of multitasking are a myth, the new information age is making us stupid, and all that time in front of a computer screen must be bad for us. But according to a new New York Times article, Hooked on Gadgets, And Paying a Mental Price, this isn’t just a theory: Research shows that electronic stimuli actually cause chemical reactions in our brains, changing the way we think and re... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635720 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:30:54 +0100 3635720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632268&cid=t_114323_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmedical-conventions-more-focus-on-patients-needed%2F2010.06.04 Andrew Schorr, host and founder of Patient Power, discusses the hope of changing the focus from products to patients at medical conventions. Shifting the Focus to Patients at Medical Conventions from Patient Power® on Vimeo. *This blog post was originally published at Andrew's Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632268 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:00:55 +0100 3632268 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3560533&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FVDcWYnrPsEE%2F Do you ever feel that you’re so caught up in the day to day and hour to hour routines of life that you never get a chance to step back and see the bigger picture? Do you get lots done, but without a real sense of accomplishment? Have you ever reached the end of a busy week and wondered what the point was? I expect we all feel like that from time to time – but for some people, it’s the norm. Perhaps you’re juggling studies and work, or work and family, or multiple projects and goals. Maybe you have a nagging sense that there’s something wrong or that your priorities are skewed – and you keep promising yourself that you’ll be less busy next week/month/year. The problem is, you always seem to be busy. You’ve got lots on, and your attention is on the det... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3560533 Thu, 13 May 2010 15:41:43 +0100 3560533 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3441097&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FpGMPg-bSLTw%2F The objective is to express your hopes, fears, and questions. If you can describe your concerns you can understand them better and determine what’s important and what isn’t. 7. Ask for help from an expert There are times when you need to go to the next level to resolve the problems. If your thoughts are resulting in serious anxiety and you can’t function normally, you may need to talk to a medical professional to help you deal with your problems. Or perhaps you have business problems that require the help of a consultant or specialist. At some point, you have to make the determination whether you can handle the situation yourself or whether or not you need help. That’s perfectly OK: we all encounter problems where it makes more sense to get help than to try to do it by ourselve... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3441097 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:49:51 +0100 3441097 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3306898&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F24%2Fintroducing-adhd-in-focus%2F Attention deficit disorder is a serious mental health issue that affects the lives not only of children and teens, but millions of adults as well. So we’re pleased to announce the launch of our latest blog, ADHD In Focus, that will focus on topics in attention deficit disorder (ADHD). ADHD In Focus is hosted by Kathryn Goetzke. Kathryn is the driving force behind the non-profit organization for depression called iFred (the International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression). iFred is dedicated to encouraging research on depression and reducing the stigma associated with the disease. In addition to her incredible work on iFred, Kathryn is someone who actually battles attention deficit disorder, hence the reason she agreed to write for this blog. I’m proud to welcome h... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3306898 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:57:35 +0100 3306898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3216847&cid=t_114323_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FXYU94D3INWo%2F Focus on Acceptance In 12 Step Fellowships recovery from alcoholism, addiction or co-dependency needs many new concepts to be absorbed and acted upon. One of the most important seems to be Acceptance. “When I focus on what’s good today, I have a good day, and when I focus on what’s bad, I have a bad day. If I focus on a problem, the problem increases; if I focus on the answer, the answer increases.” c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 419 See also; What is AA? The Dry Drunk 12 Rewards of Recovery Touchstones, Daily meditations Related Reading: (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3216847 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:45:12 +0100 3216847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3185418&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F18%2Flife-lessons-from-my-therapy-clients%2F Still floating in the haze of the passing New Year, I find myself reflecting further upon life, gratitude and noticing things around me that I might not be so tuned into during the hustle and bustle of daily life.  My psychotherapy clients, present and past, are on my mind.  Sure, they come to me for help for their individual and relationship strife and I am in a position of “knowing”  to them but I’d like to forget about that and focus on what I’ve learned from them about life and people in general. Here are some of the life lessons I’ve learned from my therapy clients: People can be incredibly brave. It is hard for some to even get through the door of a therapist’s office let alone open up their most wounded parts to another soul.  I am touched by the st... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3185418 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:35:37 +0100 3185418 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3075611&cid=t_114323_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FIXnpLMswdyg%2F I wrote previously about the importance of matching your organization’s culture with the EMR vendor’s size. One important aspect, which I deliberately left out, was evaluating the size of the EMR vendor. When selecting an EMR, it’s valuable to understand the size of your EMR vendor and related to its size is its focus. When talking about size, one aspect to consider is the number of EMR implementations your EMR vendor has in your specialty. Many EMR vendors are trying to be the one universal EMR for all specialties, but the reality is that EMR vendors tend to become very good at certain specialties. You need to ask your EMR vendor questions that will help you understand how many in your specialty are using their EMR. Then, you want to evaluate that against the total numbe... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3075611 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:27:37 +0100 3075611 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3026934&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FGcaBas06Jc0%2F Image Courtesy of Ginther @ Flickr In the process of any form of achievement there will be times where you take a step back – where things don’t go as planned and you fall into a bit of a slump. These moments can hurt, sometimes even enough to make you quite altogether. But don’t quit. Persistence is an aspect of success that many people struggle with because it is difficult to keep working, fly past the tipping point point. I hope these strategies make the road towards your goals simpler, with less interference from steps backwards. Identify the cause. Any solution requires a clear problem. What is it specifically that you’ve deemed to be a step away from your goals? When you break things down like this instead of responding immediately with “Everything&#8217... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3026934 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:08:17 +0100 3026934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3019254&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38604&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fmakeitgreat%2F%7E3%2FYOsqrsOZueM%2F Customer service is really simple. It’s all about you. No, not you, the person giving customer service. YOU the customer. Focus on YOU, and you’ll delight your customers. What is YOU? Y – Yes. Every customer likes to hear yes. Say yes more than you say no. O – Outcome focused. The desired outcome is a successful transaction of the product or service your customer needed. U – Unique. No two customers are exactly the same. What delights one might hack off another. Treat each customer uniquely. Can you focus on YOU for just a little bit longer? Thank YOU! (Source: Phil Gerbyshak) Phil Gerbyshak blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3019254 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:12:00 +0100 3019254 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3008433&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38608&url=%2F%3Fp%3D956 In conclusion, do what you were created to do, even if you must do it while you’re working your “9-5” job, with seven kids, a dog, and a hamster. Make the time; nothing is more important. The world needs what you have, and the world is waiting for you to be manifested. Success will be yours when you do! This guest post was written by Mr. Self Development. Please support Mr. Self Development by subscribing to his blog. Mr. Self Development is a motivational author who offers a practical guide to success and wealth. (Source: LifeDev) LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3008433 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:46:28 +0100 3008433 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2803996&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=38950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shockmd.com%2F2009%2F09%2F17%2Fentrepreneur-feeling-good-make-plans-for-the-future%2F An entrepreneur is someone is a person who has possession of an enterprise, or venture, and assumes significant accountability for the inherent risks and the outcome. It is an ambitious leader who combines land, labor, and capital to often create and market new goods or services. An entrepreneur is also someone who wants to be his own boss and make a good living, which entails living where one wants, working with people one likes, and doing work one wants to do. With Web 2.0 an increase in entrepreneurship was seen. Hardware became cheap, free open source infrastructure is the norm, access to the world with web 2.0 leading to a growth of entrepreneurs on the web. These entrepreneurs are often portrayed as passionate, enthusiastic, and persistent even in the face of challenge and adversity.... Dr Shock MD PhD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2803996 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:24:00 +0100 2803996 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2774942&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38610&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.productivity501.com%2Fskill-focus%2F57%2F Personal productivity is something that is fairly difficult to quantify.  Most people tend to just assume if they are doing better than the average person, then they are doing well.  For people who really want to achieve their full potential, simply comparing themselves with others isn’t particularly rewarding because it doesn’t say anything about their true capabilities. If most of your work is repetitive or easily quantifiable, it is easy to measure your productivity against yourself.   You just consider how many of units of work you accomplished in a given amount of time.  Unfortunately, most work doesn’t lend itself to this type of measurement. If we could measure both our skill level and our focus level on any task, we should be able to have a pretty good idea ... Productivity501 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2774942 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:00:19 +0100 2774942 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2688731&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F10%2Fback-to-college-5-survival-tips%2F It’s the start of a new semester and time to go back to university or college. Sometimes it’s hard to get back into the campus groove, into the routine of studying, going to the library, going to classes, paying attention for an hour or two at a time, etc. Who can blame you? You’re young, your life is full of nearly limitless opportunity and excitement, and going to class can be really trying to your attention span. Yet attend classes you must (well, if you want to graduate some day), as well as the joy of studying for exams and turning in papers. You probably know the survival tips I’m about to cover, but they bear repeating anyways. 1. Take at least some classes seriously. Look, it’s college. I understand that. But you’ll benefit by discovering your i... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2688731 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:23:05 +0100 2688731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2571315&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2FtPSwY5k2U2w%2F Photo by Mr T. in DC Post by Jason D Barr. “It wasn’t that I was able to persevere. I was unable to stop! I just couldn’t give it up. It was just too important. It never entered the realm of possibility. But, I never was sure, really sure, that it was going to work and I would ever really be an astronomer.” – Vera Rubin, Astronomer (emphasis mine) Is that an awesome quote, or what? Talk about putting yourself out there. Vera Rubin wanted to be an astronomer during a time when it just wasn’t acceptable for women to have those kinds of ambitions. She tried to enroll in Princeton’s graduate astronomy program, but wasn’t allowed. She found another school that would take her (Cornell) and studied under some of the greatest minds in physics. She&#8... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2571315 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:31:10 +0100 2571315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512508&cid=t_114323_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FFMYOtGLwJ6E%2F Sometimes it seems like Alex’s most obvious characteristic — or maybe it’s autism’s most obvious characteristic — is lack of focus. When he was just three or so, a neighbor watched him careen around her apartment examining things and wandering around without stopping. “My, he’s BUSY!” she observed. At the time I thought it was positive: he’s doing things, I thought, thinking about things, looking at things. Photo courtesy of JunCTionS (flickr.com) But he’s 11 now, and when the rest of us are sitting around watching a movie or eating dinner, Alex is still busy. Still wandering. Standing up in front of the TV blocking our view. Restlessly picking up toys and putting them down and looking for other toys. I searched photos that were t... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512508 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:27:23 +0100 2512508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389933&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F05%2F05%2Fwhere-did-mommy-go%2F There is a controversial book on the Australian market called, Where Did I Really Come From? which explains how to answer those most awkward questions children tend to ask, only with a slight updated twist. Instead of the traditional double-speak of flying storks, planting seeds and cabbage patches (which led me to believe my father’s gardening shed was a Den of Iniquity), it’s a realistic account of where some children really do come from. The book includes sections about lesbian Mums, gay men, IVF babies and assisted conception. The author, Narelle Wickham, says the book is just trying to let children know that there are many ways to conceive a child, all of which are normal. But, according to Focus On The Family spokeswoman Deb Sorensen, it devalues the traditional family unit. In ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389933 Tue, 05 May 2009 17:00:36 +0100 2389933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2287196&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=35044&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadultaddstrengths.com%2F2009%2F03%2F23%2Fpete-quoted-in-cnn-article%2F Post from: Adult ADD Strengths Pete Quoted in CNN Article on Using Music at Work to Help You Focus I was quoted today on CNN’s website on an interesting article called “Listening to music at work — dos and don’ts”by Anthony Balderrama Listening to music at work can be more than just fun for some people. According to Peter Quily, adult Attention Deficit Disorder coach, music can have a physiological effect on his patients who suffer from adult ADD. According to Quily, listening to music boosts the levels of neurotransmitter dopamine, a brain chemical that can help people focus. Some of Quily’s clients listen to music when they can’t focus or when they’re performing a task they find boring. People who have ADHD often have dopamine levels that a... Adult ADD Strengths blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2287196 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:50:41 +0100 2287196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2463489&cid=t_114323_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2FQIHUJyPcQuM%2F During my morning run today I realized that my days were starting to get a little out of hand. Recently I’ve been dipping back into the old habits of unstructuring my day in order to work on whatever idea moved me each day. Photo by jef safi. However, recently I lost a big portion of my income and have started to do outside freelancing development to cover the bills. (Short plug: If you’re looking for a web developer, I’m taking on a few projects right now. Feel free to contact me.) My previous workflow just wasn’t going to work with the added responsibility of making an income from my ideas. So today I’ve decided to do something about it. I’ve thought long and hard about it, and I’ve changed how days work. Boundaries Get All the Bad Press If you t... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2463489 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:24:20 +0100 2463489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2121630&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F01%2F21%2Ftreatment-for-body-dysmorphic-disorder%2F We recently published an interesting overview of body dysmorphic disorder, an often misunderstood disorder where the primary symptom is an obsession with an imagined or minor defect of one’s body (for instance, spending virtually every waking moment obsessing over one’s skin, hair, or other parts of one’s body). Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) affects as many as one in 20 people, but its true prevalence is not known. Patients suffering from BDD worry obsessively about their physical appearance, with concerns frequently but not exclusively focused on the skin, hair and nose. People with BDD often have very low levels of self-esteem. Many people with body dysmorphic disorder are also diagnosed with depression. The Cochrane Library recently took a look at what are considere... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2121630 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:06:46 +0100 2121630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2077022&cid=t_114323_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F01%2F01%2Fhappy-new-year%2F As I live in New Zealand, we are one of the first countries in the world to celebrate the New Year, so let me be the first to wish you a Happy New Year! In so many ways, New Year is a much more significant day than Christmas to me. It holds all the promise of those brand new textbooks at the beginning of school, or an unopened present, or meeting a new person, seeing a tiny baby or setting out on a long trip. I’ve made resolutions or goals most New Years, and this is no different. This year I want to do some specific things that are good for me, and hopefully good for others too! Eat healthy and exercise regularly - in other words, live well this year. Develop the art of really listening, and only then deciding what to say. Be fully present in what I do. Look for the purpose or func... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2077022 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:00:43 +0100 2077022 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1984815&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F11%2F23%2Fthe-psychology-of-celebrity-worship%2F On Thursday, BrainBlogger posted an interesting entry that delves into the research regarding “celebrity worship,” which includes probably a lot more Americans than most people realize. Much research has been conducted about who engages in celebrity worship and what drives the compulsion. Celebrity worship for purely entertainment purposes likely reflects an extraverted personality and is most likely a healthy past time for most people. This type of celebrity worship involves harmless behaviors such as reading and learning about a celebrity. Intense personal attitudes towards celebrities, however, reflect traits of neuroticism. The most extreme descriptions of celebrity worship exhibit borderline pathological behavior and traits of psychoticism. This type of celebrity worshi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1984815 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 11:28:04 +0100 1984815 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1873041&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F10%2F13%2Fintroducing-minding-the-media%2F Pages: 1 2 Next »     Single Page Celebrities get publicly punished for three things: Putting on weight Looking anorexic Having cellulite Celebrities get publicly praised for only two though: Looking thin Losing weight (while sharing their diet and workout secrets!) While magazines and television play the weight (and cellulite-celebs-without-makeup) game, we too, become players. But instead of watching this with horror and disgust, we start to accept it. The media plays an important role in how we view our physical appearance (and sometimes how we interpret our self worth). We’re so used to seeing skinny celebs, worshiping weight loss stories and being inundated with unrealistic ideal (airbrushed) images, that it’s become second nature to think a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1873041 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:02:20 +0100 1873041 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1723968&cid=t_114323_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F370395137%2F In this study (Gazzaley, A.  et al.  2005) the investigators went beyond behavioral assessment of the responses, because that kind of thing had been done before.  What they wanted to know was what was happening in the brain during this suppression of irrelevant task. They used functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) imaging over a region of brain that was responsive to the visual images.  What was being measured was the amount of brain activity under conditions when the instructions were to remember a type of image or ignore it.  What they found was that brain activity in all of the young subjects increased when they were viewing scenes they were asked to remember and decreased when presented with an image that they were supposed to have ignored. That is, the brain suppressed its respons... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1723968 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:35:42 +0100 1723968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1575896&cid=t_114323_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F326177263%2F What's the ultimate "brain training"? Learning. We at SharpBrains love to learn, and to see others learn. That's why we hope you enjoy this essay by educator Laurie Bartels as much as we do. --- 10 Brain Tips That Help Me Teach…and Learn -- By Laurie Bartels My natural rhythms are in cycle with the school calendar. January 1st takes a back seat to my new year, which gets ushered in with the month of September when there is crispness in the air that gradually shakes off the slower, more relaxed pace of summer. Conveniently, my career in teaching meshes with my natural cyclical year. And as this year draws to a close, I am reenergized by the pace of summer, knowing that anything may pop in to my mind as I engage in activities not directly related to school. But before that happen... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1575896 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:53:43 +0100 1575896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1560776&cid=t_114323_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Flord-darzi-offensively-inoffensive.html This report is, more than anything, about front line NHS services; about what you will get when you walk into your local general practice, or your local accident and emergency department. Lord Darzi knows nothing of general practice. He knows nothing about front line nursing care, or physiotherapy, or of the Community Mental Health Care Team (God help us all). Next the government will be asking Dr Crippen and the Jobbing Doctor to write a report about “Future developments in laporoscopic surgery”.The best way to cover up lack of knowledge is to brazen it out, to lie. And so Darzi starts with a whopper:In previous reviews of the NHS, frontline staff have been on the fringes or bystanders. This Review has been different. We and our colleagues in the NHS have been at its core.Utter bolloc... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1560776 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:22:00 +0100 1560776 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1536770&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F317528209%2Fbrain_benefits_at_your_workpla.html Some people work at home to get more done in less time. Others beat the winds of the upper air to get into the office daily for the same reason. What about you? Do you prefer home or find more benefits in a public workplace? Interestingly both have brain based advantages the other lacks.Next time you get to choose where you’ll work … why not compare your best brain advantages … before you decide.  Brain benefits at home:Brain benefits at worksite:  Fewer distractions help mental focus Increased options to avoid rutsLess tone toxins from peersMultiple intelligences from peersMotivation to refuel mentallyInsights from peer brainpower Opportunity to reduce multi-taskingExpanded solutions from colleaguesFreedom to optimize work schedulesMotivation to escape b... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1536770 Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:49:17 +0100 1536770 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1464159&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F296276080%2Flook_at_whats_not_there_and_pa.html  If you’ve heard people tell endless stories about a parent who left home … and yet rarely mention one who remained to raise them … you’ll get where this post is going.The human brain is a bit of an odd ball when it comes to what we choose to see and emphasize. When people forget they are free to focus on what they have … or when they outright ignore what is … they also tend to pass over or devalue what they most desire.Sadly, profits … well-being … and rich relationships waste away in the wings … as a result. How would you respond to these five  flawed focal points: 1. Do you fret about lagging profits yet fail to see valuable unused resources? 2. Does it distract you if somebody shuns you …  so that you mi... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1464159 Fri, 23 May 2008 04:17:06 +0100 1464159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1317758&cid=t_114323_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fis-it-possible-for-politician-to-make.html Spin. Insincerity. Soundbites. Media manipulation. Focus groups.“We shall fight on the beaches...”. “This is not a time for soundbites...I feel the hand of history upon our shoulders”There is no end to it. But have we become too cynical? There is much to be cynical about modern politicians, probably about politicians of all ages. But there are some decent men and women in politics and they are between a rock and a hard place. How do they show sincerity without being derided?  Has the expression “sincere politician” become an oxymoron?Call me credulous, but I believe that Barack Obama’s “A more perfect union” speech, though born of necessity, was sincere and inspirational. Maybe I am wrong.A challenge for all, but in particular a challenge for two of our most outspoken co... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1317758 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 23:50:00 +0100 1317758 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1182839&cid=t_114323_132_f&fid=35004&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bioinformaticszen.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fworld-of-bioinformatics-quest%2F In World of Bioinformatics QuestTM (WoBQ) having the right character that suits your style is essential. You may think that a hot shot Rubyist is the coolest class to be, but remember that you have to play this character for the next 50 years. In general it’s better to be a character that you’ll enjoy playing, rather than one that will get you more publications but have less fun with. This page will guide you through all the parts of character generation for WoBQ. Attributes The attributes are the core of your character, they define which class you’ll best be able to play, and how you’ll level up with that class. Getting the right attributes is therefore critical, and playing to your strength will result in more PapersTM and GrantsTM. Coding Code defines the ability... Bioinformatics Zen blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1182839 Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:50:19 +0100 1182839 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1081633&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F197346662%2Fflee_from_focus_to_find_anothe.html Yesterday I met a man who’d just been downsized and lost his job. With Christmas just around the corner and a young family – this young man had no idea how to tell his wife the bad news.  He dreaded going home. Have you been there? If you’ve ever been demoted or fired … or even if you’ve run into negative barbs unexpectedly at work …  you're actually better off to flee from any focus your mind imposes at that moment. Why so? Without your help … the human brain tends to cling tight to hurdles and hurts. It can literally lock you into heartaches … when the going gets rough. To center on a hurt or hurdle …  holds you back mentally and adds stress that shuts down your ability to escape a... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1081633 Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:58:27 +0100 1081633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1064629&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F193751527%2F5_questions_past_boredom.html Can you imagine a great inventor, a master musician, or an Olympian runner … complain about being bored? Are you susceptible to tedium’s emotional drain? Research suggests that the opposite of boredom is focus, living in the moment, and finding a target to chase.Here are 5 questions with the power to beam your brain past boredom on the job: 1. Do you run from negativity and look for more positive solutions?2. Do you find time enough daily to do things you do well or enjoy?3. Do you create clear expectations to get outcomes you’d value?4. Do you transform mere routines by fueling your own curiosity?5. Do you have identified strengths that can come to your rescue?If you fall asleep because of boredom at college or work, you’ll be glad to know monotony’s really ... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1064629 Sun, 02 Dec 2007 05:30:01 +0100 1064629 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1034362&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F186424207%2Fbrains_give_preference_to_pain.html  If asked about potent battles between pain and work productivity –  how would you respond? Would it surprise you to learn that that pain literally slows down performance?  New research shows why it’s so. You’ve likely noticed that a head ache or chronic back pain tends to distract your focus – regardless of work deadlines. Blame your brain. German researcher, Ulrike Bingle,  at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf … points to the brain’s problem here. How so? If one brain area could be targeted for this problem … working memory takes the rap. It turns out that both pain and productivity process in your working memory … and when these two compete … preference goes to pain. While thresholds differ &hell... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1034362 Sat, 17 Nov 2007 21:44:30 +0100 1034362 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=949974&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F169896779%2Fwhy_we_focus_more_on_fear_at_w.html This study supported the observation that people become aware of fearful faces far faster than they recognize content or happy faces. It seems that the brain’s amygdala, in the presence of fearful faces, shortcuts the usual mental pathways that process and make sense of visual images. Do people focus on fear factors … or do they recognize people more who do their jobs well, maintain balance, and encourage others … where you work? (Source: BrainBasedBusiness) BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=949974 Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:04:56 +0100 949974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=941976&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F168099798%2Fone_eyed_golf_brainiac.html Fix on the flag with your dominant eye – and watch the ball fly straight to the pin. That’s how the one-eyed-golf-brainiac does it anyway. Are you one? If not ... try this competitive edge golfer technique.  You'll likeley win your next match, and become the next one-eyed brainiac golfer all in the same round.  How so? 1. First ... point directly to the flag while you stand on the first tee. 2. Then ... with your pointer finger still targeted … cover your right eye. Open your eyes. Is your finger still pointing directly to the flag?3. Now ... cover your left eye, without moving your pointer finger. Is the flag direction still in line perfectly with your finger's pointed direction? 4. Finally ... whichever finger is still di... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=941976 Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:38:02 +0100 941976 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=858546&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F154617976%2Fcell_phones_slow_down_brain_wa.html If you’re slowing down lately at work – but finding your brain spot on for recalling details … it could be you’re using your cell phone a bit much … a new study suggests. Check out details of new research in September’s International Journal of Neuroscience. Is it all bad? Not necessarily … if you agree that a higher focus on details makes up for slower work. Yikes! This tradeoff still sounds a bit scary if you incrementally reduce mental speed over time. Do you agree? Researchers at the Brainclinics Diagnostics and Radbound University in the Netherlands used data from more than 20,000 people … to show long term mobile phone effects that slow human brain waves. The question left to be answered in further studies is this….... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=858546 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:57:36 +0100 858546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=809590&cid=t_114323_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F20%2Fback-to-school-back-to-physical-education%2F Filed under: ExerciseToday, my oldest child begins first grade. I can't tell you how sad and happy this makes me. I'm sad because I realize my first baby boy is truly on his way to growing up. School has him now; I don't. I can't help but predict he will need me less and less as he takes on the world in his own independent way. This makes me happy too. I am eager to see how he fares on his own, how he develops, grows, and soars. And I must admit, I am pretty thrilled about having five mornings per week all to myself -- my youngest little boy begins school today too.On Friday, we went to six-year-old Joey's elementary school for a meet-the-teacher event. Joey was right at home. He sat at his assigned desk, did a little drawing, and snuggled up in a pile of pillows in the reading corner. I f... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=809590 Mon, 20 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 809590 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=783156&cid=t_114323_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F141207087%2Fthe_ultimate_guide_to_help_peo.html What distinguishes people who reach exquisite targets and seem to climb from peak to peak past most of their peers? First,  successful achievers seem far less concerned with what they lack and more focused on talent not yet developed. Because of their emphasis on mobility - less brainpower is lost to critiques. I know that I tend to hit more goals when I focus on the talent that can take me there – rather than on resources that could hold me back.When the human brain sends laser beam concentration to any target or vision - you increase your chances for successfully getting there. You also tend to avoid the distractions that leave many people  short of their targets. How so?Start with a pro-active plan. One way I proactively try to improve conferences on the brain – fo... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=783156 Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:17:27 +0100 783156 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=560283&cid=t_114323_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F04%2F22%2Fcancer-returns-home%2F Filed under: Leukemia, Celebrity cancer diagnosis, All Cancers, Daily news, Cancer SurvivorsAfter several weeks of hiding and down time, a few weeks ago I made an official announcement to the non profit organization that I founded Indie Music For Life and its two entities Laughs For Life and Indiegrrl. I dropped off of this blog page for a month and am ready to write again. I needed a break. A break to sort through things. To sort through life.When you or a loved one are diagnosed with cancer it changes your life. Finding out you have cancer takes your breath away and from that point your breath is the most valuable thing to you in your life. Breath and time. Nothing is normal any more. Not your dreams, your nightmares, and not your waking moments. A personal diagnosis of chronic myloid le... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=560283 Sun, 22 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0100 560283 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=493345&cid=t_114323_135_f&fid=35263&url=http%3A%2F%2Fronhudson.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F01%2Fdont-ask-dickie.html I watched the Wolf Blitzer interview yesterday with the Vice-President of the United States, Dick Cheney. Rarely have I seen a more defensive, arrogance-filled and off-putting subject of an interview on television. VP Cheney basically stated that the US Congress can say and do whatever it wishes about the way that he and his colleagues in the Executive Branch have micromanaged the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Effectively, it doesn't matter one iota to them what the US population and their duly-elected representatives think of the Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld-Rove mission. Nothing will change in their approach. The only way to dissuade the administration from carrying on their failed approaches in this war is to force the Democratic leadership to cut off funding for the war. This would leave our tr... 2sides2ron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=493345 Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:21:00 +0100 493345