The holidays are here. I love this time of year. It always goes so fast. I spent the Thanksgiving weekend not feeling very thankful. Instead, I spent much of my time wallowing in self-pity. As I told you in my last email, I signed up for a half-ironman triathlon. It’s something I have thought…
I’m always looking for advice on behavior change and habits. It’s fascinating stuff. How can you get yourself to do the things you want to do but then for some reason don’t. Lately, I have seen several sources advocating to create an exercise habit as a first step to successfully creating other desirable habits. Here…
You may have noticed that I am especially interested in the psychology of behavior change. Why is it so hard to do, and continue doing, some things- even the things we think, and say we want to do? It turns out there are probably many subtle reasons that conspire against us to prevent behavior…
You know you should exercise. Yet you still struggle to get it done. You can’t seem to find the time, have various injuries, or any number of other excuses. I think it comes down to not liking it enough. If you like something, you will make time for it. Much like meditation, you…
The American Society of Clinical Oncology published a new statement recently on alcohol and cancer. This comes at a time of year when much of our attention centers on the holidays. Office parties, gatherings of friends or visiting family are a few of the holiday occasions that often include alcohol. From surviving the obligatory office…
Are you using a LARC? Maybe you should be. LARCs, otherwise known as long-acting reversible contraception, include IUDs and the contraceptive implant. The American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists just released an updated opinion on LARCs which is that everyone who is at risk for pregnancy should be offered a LARC as a first choice,…
Much ado has been made of the ill health effects of smartphone use primarily depression, sleep disturbance and even brain cancer. It’s depressing to think that this device we are all addicted to is making us more depressed. Another disturbing side effect that has the potential to be even more devastating is the long term…
2017 is off to an atrocious start. For me, this has nothing to do with politics. I was diagnosed with cancer, again. An entirely separate kind of cancer unrelated to my original cancer. For someone who does the things usually recommended for good health, two cancer diagnoses in less than four years, both before age…
As much as I like writing, especially writing about health, science, and medicine, it is a challenge to come up with interesting topics to write about on a regular basis. Since the election, it has been impossible for me. I have not been able to think about anything else. Paying attention to self-care and wellness…
Ahh, sleep, beautiful, wonderful, at times elusive sleep. Who doesn’t want to sleep well? Is there anyone who doesn’t like sleeping? Lying all cozy in bed, dozing on and off. Or that feeling of a solid night of sleep when upon waking you feel completely rejuvenated, ready for anything. It’s awesome. Too bad so many…