research and wisdom from positive psychology, nutrition, mindfulness and nature to boost wellbeing in midlife and beyond
Simple physical activity supports cognitive abilities in later life, says study. We know staying in shape as we age is vital for our physical and emotional health. Keeping active also helps our brain to function better. Marissa Gogniat and colleagues from Georgia University designed a study to measure the effect of physical activity on cognitive... Continue Reading →
“ The chances of each of us coming into existence are infinitesimally small, and even though we shall die someday, we should count ourselves fantastically lucky to get our decades in the sun.” ~ Richard Dawkins
Time spent in the natural world influences what we eat, says study. In our virtual world, nesting in front of computer screens means fewer people are spending time outside disconnecting from nature, and that's bad news for our health. Doctors in some countries are prescribing nature-based therapies to improve the health of their patients and... Continue Reading →
According to a new study, humans have in-built wisdom, selecting foods containing specific nutrients that benefit health. Whilst other animals have innate intelligence when selecting the right foods to meet their nutritional needs, very little is known about what drives human food choices. Scientists widely believe that human dietary choices evolved to prioritise high energy... Continue Reading →
Optimism doesn't influence how older men deal with negative situations, but it can help avoid everyday stresses, says research. A growing number of scientific studies have found a sunny outlook has benefits beyond enhancing our mood. For example, more optimistic people tend to live longer and experience better health than those with a more pessimistic... Continue Reading →
The immune system may be a significant pathway explaining how nature and the body work jointly to fight disease, says research. We all know roaming through woods, countryside or paddling in the sea is good for our wellbeing. Research has discovered that spending time in natural environments protects against chronic illnesses such as depression, diabetes,... Continue Reading →
Smiling is infectious, you catch it like the flu, When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too. I passed around the corner and someone saw me grin. When he smiled, I realised I’d passed it on to him. I thought about that smile, then I realised its worth. A single smile, just like... Continue Reading →
"We may think we are nurturing our garden, but of course it's our garden that is really nurturing us", said the British biographer Jenny Uglow, and she could be right. In England, 64% of people aged 45-64 report spending some of their free time tending a garden. Ask them why and a typical response might... Continue Reading →
Older adults may sleep better after mindfulness meditation training, study suggests. Difficulty falling and staying asleep are common complaints affecting millions of people. Lack of sleep is bad for health and significantly impacts our quality of life, influencing mood, energy and sapping concentration. In recent years interest in the effectiveness of mindfulness training for sleep... Continue Reading →
For example, what trees do not only in lightning storms or the watery dark of a summer’s night or under the white nets of winter but now, and now, and now – whenever we’re not looking. surely you can’t imagine they don’t dance, from the root up, wishing to travel a little, not cramped so... Continue Reading →
afternoon of life 