03 Monday Sep 2018
Posted in Intelligence for Your Life
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Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, cortisol, face, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, scalp, stress hormone, tabla, tension, trick
Close your eyes and tap your fingers all over your face and scalp, using both hands, just like you would if you were typing on a keyboard. Massage therapists call that technique “tabla playing” – after the traditional Indian percussion instrument. And it supposedly relaxes tense muscles and reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
22 Wednesday Mar 2017
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calm, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, happy, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, loved one, photo, photos, picture, reduce stress, stress, trick, wellbeing
Look at a picture of loved ones with their arms wrapped around you. According to the University of Exeter, looking at a picture in which you feel cared for reduces your response to stress – and increases feelings of calm and wellbeing. The researchers say seeing loving actions reminds us we have secure attachments and social support… which makes tough times more manageable.
21 Wednesday Dec 2016
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Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, control, exercise, gym, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, laces, motivate, motivation, motivational, New York Times, shoes, sneakers, trick
Decide what you’re going to do before you lace up your sneakers – or pull into the gym parking lot. That’s according to New York Times columnist Charles Duhigg, author of “The Power Of Habit.” He says self-determination can override a lack of motivation. So tell yourself as you’re lacing up your shoes – “Today I’m running 3 miles.” Or as you drive to the gym, “I’ll start on the elliptical, then move to free weights.” Having a plan makes us feel in control. In psychology circles it’s known as “the internal locus of control.” It’s the feeling of being in charge of your life – versus feeling that outside forces are determining your course. And when we feel in control, we’re more likely to follow through.
08 Tuesday Nov 2016
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Brussels sprouts, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, diet, healthy, high-calorie, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, low-calorie, multi-grain bread, Nestlé Research Center, photo, photo of food, picture, Switzerland, taste better, trick
Here’s a trick to make a low-calorie meal, like a salad – taste better: Eat it while looking at a color photo of a gooey, cheesy pizza – or any other high-calorie meal. According to researchers at the Nestlé Research Center in Switzerland, the image tricks your brain into believing you’re eating what you’re seeing. And you’ll feel more satisfied afterwards. In fact, any picture of a decadent dish can trick the brain into thinking that a super-healthy food is tastier than it really is – even multi-grain bread without butter, or steamed Brussels sprouts.
31 Monday Oct 2016
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Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, Cornell University, eat more veggies, fool, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, left, lefties, right, right side, trick, trick yourself, vegetables, veggies
Here’s a fun trick to fool yourself – and your whole family into eating more vegetables: Serve them on the right side of your plate. According to Cornell University, most people hold their fork in their right hand – even lefties. So whatever is on the right side of the plate gets eaten first – and fastest.
10 Wednesday Aug 2016
Posted in Intelligence for Your Life
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can't, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, deprivation, deprive, deprived, diet, dieter, dieting, don't, empower, empowering, improve, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, temptation, trick, willpower
Use the word “don’t” – instead of “can’t.” As in, “I don’t eat after 8pm.” 64% of dieters who told themselves “I don’t” were able to resist tempting foods – while only 39% of dieters were able to resist after using “I can’t” – as in “I can’t have a cupcake.” That’s because saying “I don’t” makes it a rule – a part of your belief system… But saying “I can’t” makes it feel like deprivation. As in, you want something but you can’t have it. “Don’t” is much more empowering.
14 Monday Mar 2016
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absorb, brain, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, drink green tea, green tea, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, learn, learning, memory, memory center, recall, tea, trick
Drink green tea! It contains a compound that increases activity in the memory center of our brain, and helps us absorb and recall new facts faster. So, before your next class or meeting, drink a big mug of green tea.
