Latest news with #AnahadOConnor
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Health
- Washington Post
French fries, sleep supplements and happiness: The week in Well+Being
You're reading our weekly Well+Being newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Thursday. 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@ 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.
Washington Post
12-06-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
Dads, healthy fish and the benefits of singing: The week in Well+Being
You are reading our weekly Well+Being newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Thursday. This weekend is Father's Day. It's a time that can be joyous or bittersweet, depending on your relationship with your father. The latter is particularly true if your parent has died, like Jordan Sondler's. This week, she writes about how she found deep comfort looking for 'signs' from her father, a tip she learned from a grief-support group. I could definitely relate, since my dad died a few years ago. I have him to thank for my formidable lawn-mowing skills, ability to ride a bike and much more, so I always appreciate the other dads out there, like the one in our Ask a Therapist column looking for the best way to raise his young son with love and affection. But before that … You might know that eating seafood is good for your brain, eyes and heart health. So why aren't you eating more of it? If you don't have it on your regular rotation at mealtimes, you're not alone — 90 percent of adults aren't hitting recommended intake targets. Part of the problem is that the seafood landscape can be confusing. There are so many options — from shrimp to salmon to canned tuna — how do you know which ones to eat? This week, nutrition reporter Anahad O'Connor took a deep dive into the best types of seafood, detailing those that are relatively low in mercury, high in omega-3 fats, sustainable, as well as accessible and affordable. First up is salmon, of course. While farmed salmon can certainly be a good choice, wild salmon is almost always the better option. 'Wild salmon is a triple win because it's high in good fats, low in mercury and sustainable,' Sonya Lunder, the director of community science at the Natural Resources Defense Council, told Anahad. For more great choices, check out our guide to choosing the healthiest seafood. If you are a car karaoke aficionado, you'll be glad to hear that music has the power to soothe the mind, promote brain health and bring people closer together. Singing, listening to music or making music all promote health. And the wonderful part about it is that the barrier to entry is low. Even if you won't be trying out for the opera any time soon, you can reap the benefits, according to our brain health writer, Richard Sima. For example, singing karaoke was linked to increased feelings of flow and meaning in life, reported one 2022 study of 305 older adults, so there's no need to sleep on this wellness trend. 'Nobody says you shouldn't jog if you are not good at it,' Daniel Levitin, a professor emeritus of neuroscience at McGill University and dean of arts and humanities at Minerva University, told Richard. 'That's not the point.' For some great tips on how to use your love of music to create and connect with others, check out our story on the health benefits of making music. This week, our Ask a Therapist columnist is Joshua Coleman, a clinical psychologist in the San Francisco Bay Area and senior fellow with the Council on Contemporary Families. My wife and I have a 4-year-old son. I'm very affectionate with him — I hug him a lot, tell him I love him and comfort him when he cries. But my wife is starting to express concern that I'll make him 'soft.' We're both good parents, but this is starting to create real tension. How do we resolve a parenting difference that touches on something so personal? It is common for people to parent similarly to how they were raised. It's partly role modeling, and partly a way to feel close to our parents by being aligned with them and sharing their values. At the same time, it's common to reinterpret painful childhood experiences in a more favorable light — to convince ourselves that what was hard was ultimately necessary. If your wife had a strict, emotionally distant father, she may have come to believe that his approach helped shape her strength — and that your son will need the same. You don't have to agree about everything in parenting to find common ground. Make it clear that your disagreements are about approach, not character. Get more useful tips on navigating a conflict if you can't agree on a parenting approach by reading the full response below. If you have a question for a therapist about mental health, relationships, sleep, dating or any other topic, email it to AskATherapist@ and we may feature 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@ 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.
