Latest news with #HealthyMinds
Fast Company
07-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Fast Company
My favorite tools for a focused, restful second half of the day
Recently, I shared the tools that power my mornings. Now let's explore what I rely on from lunch to bedtime. Below you'll see sites, apps, and gadgets that carry me from noon to night. From a niche workshop platform to my quirky 'invisible' clock, these are the tech companions that help me wrap up a fruitful day. 2 p.m.: Lunch and thinking break I often abandon screens for my midday pause. Other times I use apps like these: Healthy Minds: Short audio pieces help guide me through mindfulness practices. I like the 5-10 minute 'active' lessons that work well for a walking meditation. The app is free and well designed. If I'm feeling anxious, I sometimes use the Headspace meditation app, which I also use for focus music when working. Libby: is my beloved source of free library audiobooks. I listen when I'm walking to lunch or commuting. Resy and OpenTable: Handy for quick lunch reservations. Too Good To Go: It's fun to try heavily discounted local restaurant food, though the quality varies. I used MealPal for a while for local lunch deals when I wasn't as often bringing lunch from home. 1 to 3 p.m.: Preparing to teach After lunch, I develop teaching plans, prepare to lead workshops, or work on other school-related projects for my job as Director of Teaching and Learning at the CUNY Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. Craft: My go-to for creating visually engaging digital handouts. It's easy to use and works wonderfully on mobile or desktop. [ Why Craft is so useful.] Text Blaze: When I'm typing a lot, keyboard shortcuts help. I use snippets for signatures, AI prompts, addresses, and commonly typed phrases. Raycast also works well for these shortcuts. Tangible notes: I like writing notes away from my laptop periodically to get my eyes off the screen and to change my brain mode. I alternate between: I use a Rocketbook reusable notebook for lists and reminders. A $20 VersaTiles memo board is great for jotting passing thoughts. A giant whiteboard helps me draw connections. My reMarkable Paper Pro tablet hosts notes I will return to repeatedly. Arc Browser: I create custom spaces for specific classes or projects, with bookmarks and account settings tailored to that context. Protecting my afternoon focus Raycast Focus Mode: Blocks email and distractions during short, focused, deep work sprints. Time Out: I set this app to remind me to give my eyes a screen break every 15 minutes. It pulses over the screen to nudge me to look out the window. Paper book: I sometimes take a short midafternoon reading break to relax, breathe, recharge my brain, and detach from my screen. Here's the book stack I'm dipping into this month, reflecting a mix of my interests. 3 to 5 p.m.: Meetings I try to schedule meetings for late afternoon. When they're fruitful, it's great to conclude the day with collaboration. Granola: My favorite new app for transcribing and summarizing meetings. Its three best features: 1. Since it records locally on my laptop, there's no awkward bot joining the Zoom. 2. I can incorporate my own notes during the meeting, which get blended into the AI-powered summary. 3. Granola can draft helpful follow-up emails or Slack messages, or I can query it afterward about a meeting topic. Butter: My favorite tool for leading live online workshops, including live demos for Wonder Tools paid subscribers. It's thoughtfully designed for facilitators and teachers. It lets me easily incorporate interactive elements, from polls to collaborative brainstorming. If a meeting has to be hosted on Zoom or another platform, I can use Butter Scenes for interaction. Camera tools: Camo lets me modify my camera to zoom in, adjust lighting, or add an overlay during video calls. Prezi Video and Mmhmm enable lower-thirds, annotations, and overlay visuals I occasionally use for presentations. Sony UX570 voice recorder is my reliable $80 hardware backup for recording audio. I like that it doesn't require an open laptop or running phone. I often transcribe the audio files with MacWhisper. 6 p.m.: After work Evening and nighttime tools help with relaxation, family time, and better sleep: Snipd: This smart podcast app lets me triple-tap my AirPods to save highlights to Readwise, which syncs to my digital notebook. (Recent favorite: Shell Game by Evan Ratliff. Season 1 is terrific, about AI voice clones.) Nex: I love playing the sports and workout games on this family video game system. They're all active games played with your body, not your thumbs, and there's no violence. I play solo or with my wife and daughters. It's like a next-generation Nintendo Wii, which we also still play—especially tennis, skiing, and the Wii Fit balance games. We also enjoy these family tabletop games. 11 p.m.: Bedtime Glocusent rechargeable reading light: This little $13 light clips onto any book or magazine for nighttime reading. One battery charge lasts for months. Yogasleep Dohm white noise machine: This $50 gadget masks random night sounds in noisy New York City, making it easier to sleep. Peakeep 'invisible' alarm clock: I turn off the display on this $12 bedside clock so it's hidden at night. I can tap the top to see the time if I need to. I mainly use it for its gentle morning alarm, so I can keep my tempting phone out of my bedroom.
Associated Press
04-03-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Embracing Aging: How to Thrive in a Youth-Focused World
New York, March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a world that often glorifies youth, aging can feel like a challenge rather than the natural and valuable process that it is. However, experts emphasize that growing older doesn't mean fading into the background – it's an opportunity for growth, wisdom, and fulfillment. By shifting perspectives, prioritizing health, and staying socially engaged, people can embrace aging with confidence. Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein, President and CEO of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation and host of the PBS show Healthy Minds, underscores the importance of maintaining a positive outlook on aging. 'Aging in a youth-focused world can feel challenging, but it's also an opportunity to redefine what it means to grow older,' says Dr. Borenstein. 'Remaining physically and mentally active, as well as building meaningful social connections, are key to aging gracefully and confidently.' Key Strategies for Coping with Aging Adopt a Positive Mindset: Shift focus from losses to gains, recognizing the wisdom, resilience, and self-assurance that come with age. Prioritize Physical and Mental Health: Regular exercise, a nutritious diet, and engaging in mentally stimulating activities can enhance vitality. Find Purpose and Meaning: Hobbies, mentoring, volunteering, and lifelong learning provide a sense of fulfillment. Maintain Strong Social Connections: Staying connected with family, joining community groups, and fostering intergenerational relationships combat loneliness. Challenge Aging Stereotypes: Embracing one's natural appearance, learning new technologies, and celebrating achievements at every stage of life can help redefine societal perceptions of aging. Practice Self-Compassion: Accepting and appreciating the changes that come with aging fosters confidence and self-acceptance. Aging is not just about growing older – it's about evolving, thriving and making the most of every stage of life. By embracing these strategies, individuals can redefine what it means to age and live with vitality and purpose. About Brain & Behavior Research Foundation The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) awards research grants to develop improved treatments, cures, and methods of prevention for mental illness. These illnesses include addiction, ADHD, anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorders, OCD, PTSD, and schizophrenia, as well as research on suicide prevention. Since 1987, the Foundation has awarded more than $462 million to fund more than 5,600 leading scientists around the world. 100% of every dollar donated for research is invested in research. BBRF operating expenses are covered by separate foundation grants. BBRF is the producer of the Emmy® nominated public television series Healthy Minds with Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein, which aims to remove the stigma of mental illness and demonstrate that with help, there is hope.
