Most of us have spent more time on screens since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase in screen time may be especially pronounced among teens because of school closures, the cancellation of extracurricular activities, and restrictions on physical social interactions. This has led both parents and researchers to worry that the pandemic is making…
Minimalist Self-Improvement
I think of self-improvement as a subcategory of philosophy. It deals with some of the most practical questions of life, the kinds of questions that any person intent on living well will ask themselves from time to time. Questions such as, “What are some goals that are worth aiming for?” and “How do I change…
Coping With Disaster
I had a plan to take a month long road trip out West. I would spend my time driving country roads, taking memorable photographs, and soaking in the mountain scenery of Colorado. The trip began with long roads and mountain vistas, but it turns out that I ended up in a very different place—while still…
A Crucial Conversation to Have With Your Child
Children are smart, intuitive, and great multi-taskers. My granddaughter, Emery, is now 10. She has this incredible ability to be completely engaged in homework, playing with her younger brother, or watching TV and with the wisdom that only a child can have will interject into a conversation of adults taking place in another room. She…
Using the Pandemic as Mental Training Ground
This neverending pandemic hasn’t been the best mental health environment for many people. It has created uncertainty, anxiety, loneliness, unhappiness, procrastination, and feelings of dreariness for large numbers of people. That’s understandable, and I feel tremendous compassion for everyone who is suffering right now. I strongly believe that this is an opportunity for us all,…
Chasing a Better Past
I’ve been on countless spiritual retreats in my life: days, weekends, weeks, and 10-day stretches during which I sat in meditation, listened to spiritual teachings, and took long walks without distraction (other than my own mind). I almost always come home from retreat with a sense of peace and deep well-being, an overall calmness and…
Recovering From Miscarriage
In recent times, miscarriage rates have significantly increased. Miscarriage is a spontaneous loss of a woman’s pregnancy within the first 20 weeks of gestation. Miscarriage is a significant loss for many couples. While miscarriage is often something that people quietly suffer through, it’s a topic that should be discussed more openly because of how common…
The Key to Liking Yourself Better
Honestly, do you genuinely like the person you have become? If you’re like me, sometimes I like me, sometimes I don’t. None of us are perfect: We all have flaws that are not life-threatening. I’m always trying to improve myself, wanting to present myself well. I think much of this comes from a background in…
Do We Need to Rethink Addiction in the US?
Addiction is a serious problem here in the United States, and it has a severe impact on millions of people every year. When we think about addiction, we often make reference to alcohol, drugs, and prescription medication. Fentanyl, a drug many times more potent than heroin, was a crisis waiting to happen. And while we…
Stress Is a Health Hazard but Friends Can Help
Stress affects up to 90 percent of people, and we know it harms our mental and physical well-being. For example, stress can impact the activity and function of our genes. It does this via “epigenetic” changes, which turn on and off certain genes, though it doesn’t change the DNA code. But why do some people respond…
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