Try jotting down your to-do list for tomorrow before going to sleep tonight. You may sleep better. Surprisingly, the ritual helps you off-load thoughts and reduce worry, not stress you more about what lies ahead. The research seems to support another often recommended productivity tip-planning ahead for the next day. This includes jotting down your schedule, deciding what you will wear, planning breakfast, and choosing the personal items you'll take to work. Starting your day with less chaos,…

Try not to muddle through on decisions, especially big ones. Small decisions, like what color socks to wear, are easy. But big decisions with big consequences can provoke anxiety or dread. There is a way to make big decisions easier and be happier with their result. With your next big decision, rather than ask others what you should do, procrastinate, or make a decision in haste to overcome the angst, try the following: 1) Don't delay the process of working on the decision. Dedicate focused…

Ten people per day drown in the U.S., and 20 percent are children under the age of 14. More children accidentally drown in lakes, rivers, and oceans than in pools, with younger teen boys being most at risk. Don't underestimate drowning risk by leaving children in the water unsupervised, even if they can swim. If older children babysit, be sure they are not distracted by playful peers or other activities. No money for swim lessons? Start with free videos easily found online that show how to…

It is typically family members who motivate loved ones to enter treatment for health conditions. Unlike physical health conditions, motivating someone to accept help for a behavioral health condition like an eating disorder, addiction, and gambling among to others, can be a tough sell. Denial interferes with rational arguments to get help. Threatening and badgering are rarely successful and can make problems worse. Avoiding these behaviors is so important that it is worth getting counseling to…

Chances are good that you had an amazing idea in the past but didn't act on it. Where would you be now if you had? Awareness of the common reasons people don't act on great ideas may empower you the next time your inner genius strikes. New ideas often challenge the status quo and, when examined, feel as if they are outside your comfort zone. To act with determination, decide to overcome 1) fear of failure - what you imagine will happen if the idea flops; 2) fear of success - apprehension about…

If you love someone who has a gambling disorder, then you are no stranger to secrecy, lying, reckless borrowing, unpaid bills, and broken promises. It's time to get help. Start with a professional counselor and step one - support for yourself and the isolation you feel. Next steps: work on change, intervention, and taking actions that can motivate the gambler to enter proper treatment. Loved ones of problem gamblers experience anxiety in the same way that other people do who are in…

Chronic loneliness can have negative health effects, so CIGNA surveyed 20,000 Americans to gauge the prevalence of this emotion. One in five respondents reported no close relationships at all, and one in four reported having no one with whom they can have a meaningful conversation. Those aged 18-22 - despite their proficiency with social media - report being most lonely. Relationships are also a critical factor in building resilience and recovering from the impact of trauma. Loneliness is a…

Whether it's summer or any other time of year, the national Center for Pet Safety, which conducts safety testing research for pet restraint devices, wants to remind you that distracted driving can be caused by not only your cell phone but also the family pet. It's important to be safe together on the road, so the center recommends a pet safety harness in the backseat of your vehicle. Pet travel harnesses come in two forms: those that prevent distraction and those that provide actual crash…

Don't slug through a morning routine that barely gets you out of the door. Maximize your routine for improved work-life productivity. The payoff will be happier you. More excitement about goals, a better mood, improved health, and finding more meaning in your job can all flow from an optimized morning routine. Experiment with few tweaks, and keep notes about any positive impacts on yourself. Everyone is different, so don't simply copy an online "do this" formula. Whether it is drinking a glass…