Latest news with #emotionalwellbeing
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Boundaries, Baggage & Bliss: A Modern Guide to Navigating Summer Family Reunions
Heading home for the holidays? Here's how to survive the inevitable family flare-ups… As summer sets in and the world stretches out again, many expats return to their home countries – to the familiar warmth of extended families, home-cooked meals, and stories retold over and over again. But let's be honest: the anticipation of reunions often comes laced with a mix of nostalgia, tension, and emotional minefields. Whether it's a passive-aggressive comment over dinner, a resurfaced sibling rivalry, or the suffocating weight of being seen as your 16-year-old self, going home can bring up as much discomfort as it does joy. Roh Hafez, Life Coach at The Hundred Wellness Centre in Dubai, understands this rocky emotional terrain well. As she puts it, 'Many of us have done the work – emotionally, mentally, spiritually. But the moment we step back into the space we grew up in, old triggers can resurface like clockwork. The key is learning how to show up as our evolved selves, while still honouring where we came from.' So how do we survive (and even thrive) during these emotionally layered homecomings? Here's your elegant survival guide – think of it as emotional SPF for the soul. Pack Your Boundaries Alongside Your Bikini Before you even board the flight home, Roh recommends checking in with your emotional suitcase. 'Setting clear, compassionate boundaries is not about creating distance – it's about protecting your peace,' she explains. That might mean politely exiting triggering conversations, excusing yourself when you need space, or even deciding ahead of time which hot-button topics (politics, parenting, past relationships) are off the table. Boundaries don't have to be dramatic. Sometimes it's as simple as choosing presence over performance. 'Pause, breathe, observe. Acknowledge what's coming up for you before reacting,' says Roh. 'Give your inner child a bit of kindness before diving into your adult role again.' Let Go of the Old Script Just because your aunt still comments on your weight or your cousin treats you like the black sheep doesn't mean you have to keep playing your old role. 'People change – or at least, we hope they do. But even if they don't, you have,' Roh says. 'Approach your family with fresh eyes. Maybe your once-stern father has softened. Maybe your sister is more open than you remember. Release the old narrative and be open to new dynamics.' It's a gentle reminder that family roles aren't fixed. You're not obligated to shrink yourself just to fit back into an outdated storyline. Don't Underestimate the Power of Ritual Amid the emotional nuances of reconnection, shared activities can create new neural pathways for love and joy. 'Family traditions, even the smallest ones, can shift energy from tension to togetherness,' says Roh. Whether it's cooking your grandmother's lentil soup, playing a board game from your childhood, or watching old home videos, anchoring time together in ritual can provide both comfort and levity. This is also a powerful way to include the younger generation – connecting them to heritage, food, and collective memory in an easy, embodied way. Create a Soft Exit Strategy It's okay to leave the party early. In fact, it's okay to leave the whole reunion early if your emotional well-being is being compromised. 'You don't need to explain or justify your need for rest, space, or solitude,' Roh says. 'Self-trust means knowing when to lean in and when to lovingly step away.' If you know a certain lunch or dinner may be triggering, build in a follow-up plan – a walk with a friend, a solo coffee break, or a moment to journal and decompress. Be the Calm, Not the Chaos Clear, grounded communication can prevent misunderstandings and soften conflict. But don't go in trying to fix everything or everyone. 'You're not there to solve generational trauma in one weekend,' Roh laughs. 'You're there to witness, connect, and contribute where you can.' Sometimes, the most revolutionary thing you can do is hold space – for yourself and for others – with grace, empathy, and calm. Because Family Isn't Perfect. And That's Okay. Summer reunions can be beautiful, messy, and deeply transformative. But only if we allow ourselves to approach them with emotional flexibility and self-compassion. As Roh reminds us, 'You don't need the perfect family moment – just the real one. Stay soft. Stay sovereign. And if nothing else, stay hydrated.' .
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Xbox producer suggests laid-off staff should use AI to deal with emotions
An Xbox producer has faced a backlash after suggesting laid-off employees should use artificial intelligence to deal with emotions in a now deleted LinkedIn Turnbull, an executive producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, wrote the post after Microsoft confirmed it would lay off up to 9,000 workers, in a wave of job cuts this post, which was captured in a screenshot by tech news site Aftermath, shows Mr Turnbull suggesting tools like ChatGPT or Copilot to "help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss."One X user called it "plain disgusting" while another said it left them "speechless". The BBC has contacted Microsoft, which owns Xbox, for comment. Microsoft previously said several of its divisions would be affected without specifying which ones but reports suggest that its Xbox video gaming unit will be has set out plans to invest heavily in artificial intelligence (AI), and is spending $80bn (£68.6bn) in huge data centres to train AI Turnbull acknowledged the difficulty of job cuts in his post and said "if you're navigating a layoff or even quietly preparing for one, you're not alone and you don't have to go it alone".He wrote that he was aware AI tools can cause "strong feelings in people" but wanted to try and offer the "best advice" under the Xbox producer said he'd been "experimenting with ways to use LLM Al tools" and suggested some prompts to enter into AI included career planning prompts, resume and LinkedIn help, and questions to ask for advice on emotional clarity and confidence."If this helps, feel free to share with others in your network," he Microsoft cuts would equate to 4% of Microsoft's 228,000-strong global video game projects have reportedly been affected by the cuts.
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Scientists reveal foolproof formula for a lifetime of happiness - and it takes just five minutes to perform
It's often said that happiness is about finding joy in the little things in life - and now scientists appear to have found proof in that. Just five minutes a day performing 'micro-acts of joy' that foster positive emotions is enough to banish stress, boost health, and improve sleep quality, experts found. According to stress expert Dr Elissa Epel, listening to laughter, admiring a flower on a local walk or doing something nice for a friend can measurably improve people's emotional well-being and attitudes toward life. Epel, an expert on stress and ageing who oversaw the new research, said: 'We were quite taken aback by the size of the improvements to people's emotional well-being.' Epel's team at the University of California San Francisco studied almost 18,000 people, mainly from the U.S., UK, and Canada, for the web-based 'Big Joy Project' over a two-year period to 2024. It was the first study to look at whether small, easy-to-do acts that take minimal time could have measurable and lasting effects on people. Participants were asked to perform five-ten minute acts of joy for a week. Prof Epel said the thousands of people who took part in her project matched the positive results achieved by programs that required months of classes, for hours at a time. The study, published in the Journal Of Medical Internet Research, asked participants to perform seven acts over seven days, such as sharing a moment of celebration with someone else, doing something kind for another person, making a gratitude list or watching an awe-inspiring video about nature. Prof Epel said her team picked tasks that were focused on promoting feelings of hope and optimism, wonder and awe, or fun and silliness. Each task took under ten minutes, including answering short questions. Participants were quizzed about their emotional and physical health at the start and end of the week-long project, providing a measure of their emotional well-being, positive emotions, and 'happiness agency', along with their stress and sleep quality. The psychologists explained that emotional well-being includes how satisfied people are with their lives and whether they have purpose and meaning. Happiness agency is how much control they feel they have over their emotions. The team found improvements in all areas, and the benefits increased depending on how fully people participated in the program, meaning those who completed all seven days saw greater benefits than those who only managed two or three. While further research was needed, according to Epel, it's clear that a daily dose of joy could help people in trying times: 'All of this well-being stuff, it's not a luxury. 'We often say that we'll let ourselves be happy once we've reached some point or finished some task. Well, we want to flip that – we need the energy of joy to get through the hard parts. These are really necessary skills.'
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Scientists find PROOF of a formula for happiness: Find joy in the small things
It's often said that happiness is finding joy in the little things in life – now scientists appear to have found the proof. Just five minutes a day performing 'micro-acts of joy' that foster positive emotions is enough to banish stress, boost health and improve sleep quality, psychologists discovered. Listening to laughter, admiring a flower on a neighbourhood walk or doing a nice thing for a friend can measurably improve people's emotional wellbeing and attitudes toward life, according to Dr Elissa Epel. 'We were quite taken aback by the size of the improvements to people's emotional well-being,' said Prof Epel, an expert on stress and ageing who oversaw the new research. Her team at the University of California San Francisco studied nearly 18,000 people, mainly from the US, Britain and Canada, for the web-based 'Big Joy Project' over a two-year period to 2024. It was the first study to look at whether small, easy-to-do acts that take minimal time could have measurable and lasting effects on people. Participants were asked to perform five- to 10-minute acts of joy for a week. Prof Epel said the thousands of people who took part in her project for a single week matched the positive results achieved by programmes that required months of classes for hours at a time. The study, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, asked participants to perform seven acts over seven days. The acts included sharing a moment of celebration with someone else, doing something kind for another person, making a gratitude list and watching an awe-inspiring video about nature. Prof Epel said her team picked tasks that were focused on promoting feelings of hope and optimism, wonder and awe, or fun and silliness. Each task took under 10 minutes, including answering short questions before and after. Participants were quizzed about their emotional and physical health at the start and end of the week-long project, providing a measure of their emotional well-being, positive emotions and 'happiness agency', along with their stress and sleep quality. The psychologists explained that emotional well-being includes how satisfied people are with their lives and whether they have purpose and meaning. Happiness agency is how much control they feel they have over their emotions. The team found improvements in all areas, and the benefits increased depending on how fully people participated in the programme, meaning those who completed all seven days saw greater benefits than those who only managed two or three. Ethnic minority participants saw even greater benefits than white participants, while younger people reported more benefits than older people. Prof Epel said it was not clear yet why these micro-acts appear to have such a profound mood-boosting impact. She suggested it may be that these small acts break up 'negative thought cycles' – such as excessive worrying or self-criticism – and redirect mental energy in a more positive way. While further research was needed, said Prof Epel, it's clear that a daily dose of joy could help people in these trying times. 'All of this well-being stuff, it's not a luxury,' she said. 'We often say that we'll let ourselves be happy once we've reached some point or finished some task. Well, we want to flip that – we need the energy of joy to get through the hard parts. These are really necessary skills.'
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Women Are Sharing The 'Men's Issues' They Also Struggle With In Their Day-To-Day Lives, And I Guess We Just Can't Win Either Way
Recently, I saw Reddit user llreddit-accountll post to the popular Ask Women Reddit page to ask, "What's something that is stereotypically regarded as a 'men's issue' that you significantly struggle with in your day-to-day life?" and I was definitely intrigued. Some people's answers were pretty funny, but some were more serious, and often focused on mental health. Over the past few years, there's been much more of a public focus on men's mental health, which is awesome. But perhaps the mental health crisis shouldn't be talked about through a gendered lens at all; because, as a lot of women are pointing out, a LOT of women deal with these "men's issues," too. So, here's what people had to say. Their comments range from serious to funny, but are consistently pretty interesting: Related: 1."Being unable to talk about feelings or acting like everything's fine when you're really not fine." "I feel like I always see stuff about how men bottle everything up and act fine until it's too late. I've always done this and it's been a, 'Wow, we had no idea!' sorta thing, like it is with men. I rarely see any posts of the sort about women being unable to communicate about mental health issues." —u/fuckimtrash 2."The stress of being a provider. I've never known a man who stayed around, and have been picking up the slack and providing for my family since I was a literal child. Now I'm working 60+ hour weeks and apparently inheriting my aging divorced parents." Pop TV / CBC Television "I'd love to have a partner to help take some of the pressure off. But for now, I'm just keeping my head down and trying to get through it. I have some friends who are working full time, single moms, and keeping the house together. I don't know why men think this issue only applies to them." —u/cambiokeys 3."Loneliness (as in a general lack of connections), no compliments from people (not just the opposite sex), emotional expression is heavily discouraged, can't talk about struggles, and a general lack of support, and pressure to make decent money. There really isn't much that guys complain about that I don't also struggle with." —u/ayuxx 4."Always wanting more sex." ABC —u/briivis "Yesssss. Men want to act like they've got the higher drives, but it has ALWAYS been my experience with male partners that they're the first ones to give up effort when it comes to that." —u/zoloftandcoffee3 5."Loneliness. I can't even watch 'sisterhood best friend' films without just crying the entire time." Paramount Pictures / Via —u/-aquapixie- Related: 6."Feeling pressure to always 'be strong' and not show weakness. Even when I'm struggling, I act fine, like I gotta hold it all together no matter what." —u/CheapSandi 7."I think it's hilarious whenever men talk about how women 'can get laid whenever they want.' Like, yeah, if I eliminated all my standards and stopped caring about my health and safety, then maybe that would be true. But when it comes to decent sex with people I'm actually attracted to, that is pretty rare and difficult to find." —u/celestialism 8."Facial hair growth, and working 60-hour weeks." —u/basic-fatale 9."Porn addiction." —u/Naive-Mouse-5462 Related: 10."Being able to negotiate and stand up for yourself in public or business. Men are bullied if they can't do this, but it's a double standard for women: we're not expected to do it at all, but suffer if we can't." —u/butfuxkinjar 11."Burping." E! / Peacock —u/animated_tourist 12."Farting." —u/777npc 13."I have gout. It's uncommon in women and it's even uncommon for my age (28). I just drew a short straw in a genetic sense. My dad had it, and both his parents had flares." "It's like having fiberglass in between your joints. I've had male doctors think I'm lying or not telling them the right condition until they see my uric acid levels, and then they're shocked." —u/InsidetheC-18locker 14."All of them, it's not exclusive, especially mental health. I don't have people to talk to. I will still be judged just as much if I show my emotions." Columbia Pictures / Sony Pictures Releasing —u/Upstairs_Meringue_18 15."My menopausal mustache." The CW / Via —u/alreadylateforsupper Related: 16."Being single, and not entirely by choice, as well as lacking friends. I also have SzPD, which is apparently more common in men." —u/Sarmilo 17."I'm really trying to max out my shoulder press by doing progressive ladders, but I always get stuck at 50 lbs even with a spotter." —u/JadeBlueAfterBurn 18."Communicating. I feel like women are stereotyped as always wanting to talk about feelings and having to strong-arm their boyfriends into opening up, but in relationships, I would rather never open up and just be mad, sad, and happy on my own." CBS / Via —u/Redhotangelxxx 19."Men going on about how hard it is to get dates and how easy dating is for women when I was in my 30s before I went on my first actual date, and I did all the asking and organizing of the date just so I could finally say I'd been on one." –u/wwaxwork finally: "Excessive body hair and the fact that I sweat like a pig." NBC / Via —u/Useful-Fish8194 So, what'd you think? Tell me in the comments, and feel free to share your own anecdotes, too. This is a safe space. Or, if you want to write in but prefer to stay anonymous, you can check out this anonymous form. Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful:
