Category Archives: Wild Cards

Science Proves that Men and Women Think Differently

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brain

If you’ve ever ended a conversation with the opposite sex wondering, “What were they thinking?” now science has an answer for you. Supporting the years –long debate that men and women think differently, is a new study that found real differences in ways the male/female brains are wired. Using MRI brain scans, scientists determined that for women, the fiber pathways that route information around the brain tend to repeatedly zig-zag across both hemispheres of the brain. In normal thought, these highways for information hop back and forth between the left, “logical” side of the brain and the right, “creative” side of the brain. When examining the aggregate scans for men, the fiber pathways tended to run up and down the same hemisphere more, rather than jumping back and forth.

While researchers don’t yet understand how this may impact behavior differences, they believe that men may over-engage one part of the brain, assessing situations very logically, while women may be more able to connecting logical and emotional dots. For example, a man might take action to resolve a situation, while a woman could resolve the situation, and come to the realization that the reason the task isn’t complete originally is because Susan was having a bad day. Additionally, this research supports previous research that indicates women are better at multitasking. So next time you find yourself perplexed with your significant other, take a minute to have a breather – they may just be thinking about things differently than you.

At-Home Yoga for Busy People

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yoga

Are you one of those people who would love to practice yoga, but just can’t manage to find the time? Now there is a site catering especially to people like you. It’s called Dirty Yoga, and it’s for people who make shit happen, but can’t seem to make it to the studio on time for class. The idea is that the people who would benefit the most from yoga’s de-stressing benefits are the ones who aren’t able to fit it into their busy schedules. Now all you need is a mat and a laptop to take a class. Two Brooklyn-based yogis, Susi Rajah and Jess Gronholm created a virtual studio where you can take 20-45 minute courses. There’s also “quickie” 5-8 minutes from when your day is really packed. The goal is to give yoga with flexibility, categorized by length and intensity that let you pick the workout best matching what you’re looking for without chanting, meditating, or exposing those see-through Lululemon pants to a whole room of strangers.

It’s yoga that’s not too expensive, and geared toward exercise for people who want the lean body benefits without the spiritual side. You can try it out for a week for only $10, or hit the mat for a month for $20. Then after you’ve decided if you like it, prices range from $15-$25 depending on how advanced you are. And if it’s not for you? It’s less money down the drain than a round of cocktails. Why not check it out?

Christmas Gifts for Everyone on Your List

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giftPost-thanksgiving, everyone is probably feeling the Christmas shopping crunch. With only 23 days until Santa comes, here’s some ideas to get your shopping started, or give you ideas of what to buy this Cyber Monday for everyone on your list.

With ideas for fashionistas, to extravagant ideas for the person who has everything, these links should have everyone covered.

High Emotional Intelligence=Good Decisions

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decisionPeople tend to make the best decisions when they are calm, cool, and collected. It’s why people often advise you to sleep on major choices, to give the emotions surrounding a big life change a chance to dissipate so you can make a selection unbiased. Now new research published in Psychological Science found that people who have high levels of emotional intelligence might not need to wait to make clear headed decisions. So what does it mean to have emotional intelligence? Psychologists use the term to classify people who are able to identify and control their own and others’ emotions. Basically, they can recognize an emotion, the source, and act appropriately.

For example, a person who hits traffic on the way to work might be pretty pissed about the glitch in the day. If this person has high levels of emotional intelligence, she’ll be able to recognize that she’s mad about the traffic, and not take it out on her coworkers, or make rash decisions in meetings that day because of the emotion. This type of person can separate emotions that relate to the situation at hand, and emotions that don’t. They don’t necessarily make decisions in an emotional vacuum, but are able to only pay attention to the feelings that matter, ignoring what happened earlier that day or later that evening. This leads to better, cooler-headed decision making. And if you’re curious what youre level is, check out an Emotional Intelligence Quiz from Berkeley to find out.

Take Your Run Outside Even in the Cold

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runOne of my favorite things about crisp fall days is that I can get up and go for a run in the morning before work, logging some outdoor time and getting my workout out of the way before I even really start my day. Since the temps have dropped drastically in the past couple days in NYC, I have been logging more time on the elliptical, and missing jogs along the water. The cold weather has scared me indoors, but with Popsugar Fitness’s tips on running outside (that I read about on Self), I’ll be back out before the end of the week. If you like exercising outdoors, here’s how to do it in the chilly temps.

  • Stock up on warmer gear: I have an adidas fleece lined hoodie, lululemon running tights, earmuffs and gloves that I wear out, with a longsleeved tee layered underneath for really cold days. The muffs keep my ear buds in place, and if it’s really cold, I have fleece lined leggings I put on instead.
  • Motivate with good tunes: If it’s still dark when you get out running, make a get-pumped playlist to blare while you’re getting geared up. I also like to chug a cup of iced coffee to give me a little boost once I get out there.
  • Put out the close you’ll wear before bed: I don’t go as far as sleeping in my running clothes, but I do make a little pile right down to my socks so I can roll out of bed and into the outfit before my snooze alarm goes off again.
  • Heat Up First: Do some light warm-ups inside  before you head out into the chill.
  • Reward yourself with a warm breakfast when you get home: I make mini quiches in my muffin tins that I can pop in the microwave for a fancy meal before work that only takes about a minute to heat up
  • Buddy up: If your friend is waiting for you at the running path, you won’t leave them hanging out there all alone in the cold.

Then just mix this in with your regular gym routine to keep from getting bored all fall/winter long.

The New 5th Type of Boredom

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bordeomWhen I was younger, the most common refrain to come out of my mouth was, “I’m bored.” Needless to say, it drove my parents absolutely nuts, and the most common thing they told me to do was learn how to keep myself amused. Usually  I just wanted annoy someone enough with my complaints that they would cave and come play the chosen activity with me, but I have always liked to be entertained, and often do multiple things at once to keep things interesting enough. If I am watching tv, I like to play a game or crochet a scarf at the same time. If I’m running on the treadmill, I listen to music, watch tv, and flip through a magazine. The constant, ever-changing options for entertainment are a big part of the reason I like living in NYC. Well, as it turns out, I wasn’t just a difficult child. I was just exhibiting the signs of active boredom pursuing people to join me in the new activity I had found that was more interesting that my previous.

Boredom is actually a nuanced emotion, and there are now five different types that have been identified. Boredom can occur while fidgety or while calm. It can have positive or negative associations. The categories and their associated characteristics are:

  • Indifferent Boredom:  People with this type of boredom feel relaxed, withdrawn
  • Calibrating Boredom: People feel uncertain, and are receptive to  change/distraction
  • Searching Boredom: People with this type of boredom feel restless, active, pursuit of change/distraction
  • Reactant Boredom: People are highly motivated to leave a situation for specific alternatives

The fifth type that is recently diagnosed is called Apathetic Boredom, and is a more unpleasant form of the emotion that is most similar to learned helplessness and depression. And, as it turns out – people don’t typically experience all of the types of boredom throughout their lives. The recent research found that each type may be linked to a personality disposition making a person more likely to experience the same type of boredom over and over again. So, the next time your friend insists that you leave the happy hour you’re at for another with trivia, instead of getting annoyed just feel self-satisfied that you know they’re experiencing a particular type of boredom and go along with it. Sometimes when people get bored, they come up with the best ideas for new activities.

Happy Friday

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friday
I’m an ESFJ. Which I guess means I am destined to make kind of ok $$? Check out your projected income by Meyer’s Briggs personality type.
While people tend to associate beer with football and frat bro’s, it’s was actually a beverage historically brewed by women. Check out how the craft brew industry is making this beverage come full circle and back into the hands of ladies.
There are actually dating books out there called Why Men Love Bitches (?!?!). But apparently, the creator of Bridget Jones thinks it’s true that women who have meaner online dating profiles get more love.
I have always loved comics and action hero movies. So, I am thrilled to see that Marvel is striving to make it’s superheroes more relateable to a more diverse crowd with a Muslim teen character. And here’s a history of black super heroes while we’re at it.
You know you get a little ego boost every time you get the notification that someone liked your photo. Here’s how to tweak your posts so you get even more little hearts.
Looking for happiness? Here’s how to be truly happy – part 1 and part 2.

Like Birchbox for Crafters

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makers

I have always loved arts and crafts. As a child, I spent afternoons at my Grandma’s house making little boxes from old greeting cards, and evenings at girl scouts making handmade Christmas decorations. I devoted myself to creating complex sequin patterned sweatshirts for everyone who would wear one. I still regret the day I decided to get rid of my bedazzler. I just like making stuff, especially when it’s pretty sparkly stuff. So, imagine my delight when craft-based organizations for adults started springing up here and there. There is the new Bars and Crafts workshops put on by Aye Kay Art that have little projects you can make while having a beer with your girlfriends. I made my own custom iPhone case last week, and it was a blast. And now, there is a home delivery crafts service for the busy DIY’ers out there like me, who just don’t have the time to sit and peruse craft books to find the projects they want – let alone go buy the materials.

It’s called For the Makers, and it’s like Birchbox for crafters. You can subscribe for $29 a month, and then receive the materials, tutorials, and techniques to make 4 chic DIY projects selected by the collection that interests you. Or you can join with a free account and buy just the projects that interest you. The collections cover a range of styles from those who love the Shiny & Bright to the ocean inspired Seafarer Collection. And it’s not just chintzy stuff. They’ve worked with some of your favorite brands including Kate Spade, Anthropologie and Marc Jacobs to figure out how to find the best materials to make the prettiest things. I love the concepts, and the projects, and it’s just like girl scouts where they do all the legwork for you, and all you have to do is sit down and enjoy the craft. Now will someone gift me a subscription for Christmas please?

How Americans Really Feel About Female Leadership

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women leaders

With all of the focus on women in the workplace that the Lean In movement generated, a natural area for investigation is the lady boss. With all the encouragement for women to strive for the corner office, there is bound to be exploration into what it’s like to work for, and have a woman in charge. Luckily, there is Gallup poll data evaluating how people in 2013 feel about working for a woman instead of a man when compared to how they felt in 1953. As you’d imagine, there have been some noticeable changes.

The Atlantic analyzed the data, and found a few interesting trends. First, more than half of all people (in all of the demographic groupings) preferred a lady boss, as opposed to earlier times when 2/3 of people preferred working under men. Surprisingly, one of the two groups with the lowest percentage of people wanting female leadership was women. The other group, somewhat unsurprisingly, was Republicans. Finally, there are two groups who want a woman in charge more than the others: Democrats, and people who have previously had a female boss. That, to me, says once you try it, you’ll probably like it– all the more ammunition to give women more access to leadership positions.

Counting a Night Out Dancing as a Workout

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dancing

After a night out on the town dancing til dawn, you might wake up the next morning with sore legs from getting low on the dance floor. But how many of those aches are chalked up to the heels you were wearing, and how many are actually from exercising your muscles? My friends and I have often had the debate, if Zumba is a legitimate workout, is a night out grooving with friends giving the same benefits as logging 45 minutes on the elliptical?

Sadly, the answer is probably not. Women’s Health magazine experts say that if you are only moderately dancing for 30 minutes, it’s not enough activity. If you are dancing hard enough to break a sweat for more than two hours, then maybe you’re on your way. The only thing to keep in mind is the number of alcoholic beverages involved in helping you cut loose on the dance floor. If you’re drinking while dancing, you’re probably just breaking even. But at least that’s a whole lot better for you (and a heck of a lot more fun) than drinking and standing still. Just don’t skip your trip to the gym the next day because of it.