French fries, sleep supplements and happiness: The week in Well+Being
We all know what it feels like to procrastinate doing tasks you dislike. No one is champing at the bit to declutter that closet, deep clean the bathroom or finally tackle that inbox stuffed with thousands of unread emails. But did you know that you might be putting off doing things that can make you happier? It seems counterintuitive, but this week we looked at why people delay experiences that could bring them joy, and asked experts how we can break out of the cognitive trap that's holding us back. But before that …
Do you struggle to fall asleep at night, or find yourself routinely waking up at 3 a.m.?
Many people experience bouts of insomnia at some point in their lives, often because of anxiety, writes nutrition reporter Anahad O'Connor. When these sleep issues persist for several months or longer, it's usually a good idea to visit a doctor to see if you have an underlying condition, such as depression, restless legs syndrome or sleep apnea, that requires medical treatment.
But for occasional periods of insomnia that leave you feeling bleary-eyed, experts say there may be some dietary supplements and even foods that can help.
It's important to recognize that no dietary supplement is going to radically improve your sleep. Supplements shouldn't be viewed as a long-term solution. And almost all supplements carry the risk of side effects.
To find out more about what works and what doesn't, read our story here.
Usually, when we think about procrastination, we think about delaying the hard, boring or unpleasant things in life — paying bills, doing laundry or meeting work deadlines. The bulk of scientific research focuses on why we delay pain, not pleasure.
But we can also put off things we enjoy — catching up with a friend we haven't seen in a while, visiting a nearby attraction or opening that expensive bottle of wine, says brain science reporter Richard Sima.
A recent study published in the journal PNAS Nexus explored this hidden side of procrastination. And it found a surprising pattern — the longer we put off doing something we enjoy, the more likely we are to continue putting it off.
Learn more here about how to break out of the cognitive trap of putting off things that bring you joy..
Our Ask a Doctor columnist is Trisha S. Pasricha, a physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School.
In hot weather like the kind we've seen this summer, fans are everywhere: They're inexpensive tools that help us feel better in the heat.
The key word here is 'feel.' In temperatures of around 90 degrees and higher, which much of the country has been experiencing this summer, fans do very little to help us beyond tricking our brains into believing we're not entering heat exhaustion. In extreme heat, fans may paradoxically make you hotter.
This is especially concerning for older adults who, studies have found, experience greater stress on the heart when using electric fans during high temperatures. Your best bet is to seek out air-conditioned spaces during heat waves. But you can make your fan more effective, try this: Wet your skin first.
Read more tips and advice about how to stay cool here. And use our Ask a Doctor form to submit a question, and we may answer it in a future column.
Here are a few things that brought us joy this week.
Let's keep the conversation going. We want to hear from you! Email us at wellbeing@washpost.com.
Want to know more about 'joy' snacks? Reporter and former neuroscientist Richard Sima explains what they are and how they can make you feel happier. You can also read his advice as a comic.
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