Verified by Psychology Today

Presence of Mind

Understanding environmental and other social problems.

Environment
How to Stay "Chill" When the Weather’s Hot

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on June 21, 2024

Heat impacts our thinking, performance, relationships, and physical and mental health. Psychological knowledge can improve our coping and reduce conflict and suffering.

Heat impacts our thinking, performance, relationships, and physical and mental health. Psychological knowledge can improve our coping and reduce conflict and suffering.

Relationships
Why Sharing a House or Being a Guest Can Cause Conflict

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on December 18, 2023

Staying with someone over the holidays or having house guests? When holiday hosts and guests temporarily lose their primary territories, unexpected tensions may arise.

Staying with someone over the holidays or having house guests? When holiday hosts and guests temporarily lose their primary territories, unexpected tensions may arise.

Passive-Aggression
Was It Passive-Aggressive?

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on November 30, 2023

Decoding people’s intentions so we can respond appropriately is challenging, especially when it comes to passive-aggressiveness. Yet it's worth trying.

Decoding people’s intentions so we can respond appropriately is challenging, especially when it comes to passive-aggressiveness. Yet it's worth trying.

Parapsychology
Why It's Normal to Believe in the Paranormal

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on October 24, 2023

Although research fails to support the existence of the paranormal, beliefs in the paranormal are common. Psychology provides some interesting insights into who believes and why.

Although research fails to support the existence of the paranormal, beliefs in the paranormal are common. Psychology provides some interesting insights into who believes and why.

Decision-Making
How to Stop the Present Bias From Ruining Your Future

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on September 8, 2023

Do you make decisions based on the “now,” even when they should be based on the future? Here's how to better balance the two to ensure your health and the planet's health.

Do you make decisions based on the “now,” even when they should be based on the future? Here's how to better balance the two to ensure your health and the planet's health.

Attachment
Your Happy Place

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on September 29, 2022

Thinking about your favorite place and the psychology of place attachment can relieve stress, improve mood, and promote empathy.

Thinking about your favorite place and the psychology of place attachment can relieve stress, improve mood, and promote empathy.

Self-Esteem
What to Do When Someone Pushes Your Boundaries

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on August 22, 2022

Letting someone trample your boundaries can cost you, but persistent boundary pushers can tempt you to give in. Here are some ways to push back and uphold your boundaries.

Letting someone trample your boundaries can cost you, but persistent boundary pushers can tempt you to give in. Here are some ways to push back and uphold your boundaries.

Psychology
How to Use Psychologically-Informed Methods to Save Water

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on July 8, 2022

Drought and rising household costs affect millions in the U.S. Use this 5-step plan to help your household develop "good" water habits that save money and save water resources.

Drought and rising household costs affect millions in the U.S. Use this 5-step plan to help your household develop "good" water habits that save money and save water resources.

Career
Understanding Workhorses and Slackers

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on June 23, 2022

When groups have jobs to do, some members may not do their fair share. Why do some people slack when others don’t? What can we do when we’re done compensating for slackers?

When groups have jobs to do, some members may not do their fair share. Why do some people slack when others don’t? What can we do when we’re done compensating for slackers?

nadia_if/Shutterstock
Attention
A Cheap Way to Restore Your Attention and Focus

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on May 21, 2022

Trouble focusing and resisting the unhealthy temptations? Modern life, including our smartphones, can cause cognitive fatigue. We can restore ourselves with green experiences.

Trouble focusing and resisting the unhealthy temptations? Modern life, including our smartphones, can cause cognitive fatigue. We can restore ourselves with green experiences.

Environment
When You Feel Blue About the Environment, Act Green

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on April 22, 2022

If you're like most people, you display a pro-environmental concern-behavior gap. Thinking about your "gap" and upping your "green game" provides hope and can inspire others.

If you're like most people, you display a pro-environmental concern-behavior gap. Thinking about your "gap" and upping your "green game" provides hope and can inspire others.

Aging
Adult Child Caregivers and the Autonomy-Safety Dialectic

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on March 28, 2022

Helping in ways that respect others' personal choices and freedom is always important, but it's a minefield when you're trying to help parents who have aged into disability.

Helping in ways that respect others' personal choices and freedom is always important, but it's a minefield when you're trying to help parents who have aged into disability.

Relationships
5 Essential Rules for Relationships

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on February 10, 2022

Common dating mistakes can lead you into an unsatisfying, high-cost romantic relationship but it doesn't have to be that way.

Common dating mistakes can lead you into an unsatisfying, high-cost romantic relationship but it doesn't have to be that way.

Persuasion
Pandemic Risk Perceptions and the Biases That Influence Them

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on January 8, 2022

Frustrated that people don't evaluate pandemic risks that way you do? The psychology of risk perception may help you empathize while improving your pandemic risk assessment.

Frustrated that people don't evaluate pandemic risks that way you do? The psychology of risk perception may help you empathize while improving your pandemic risk assessment.

Proxemics
The Pandemic Has Stolen Our Personal Space Boundaries

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on February 25, 2021

Pandemic-related losses of control over personal space and privacy test our mental health and our relationships. Here’s how you can take some of your power back.

Pandemic-related losses of control over personal space and privacy test our mental health and our relationships. Here’s how you can take some of your power back.

Stress
Be Someone’s Giving Rainbow This Holiday Season

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on November 24, 2020

Some people are more vulnerable to distress and less resilient in the face of catastrophic stressors. Your financial donations to relief organizations can boost others’ resilience.

Some people are more vulnerable to distress and less resilient in the face of catastrophic stressors. Your financial donations to relief organizations can boost others’ resilience.

Stress
What Does 'Allostatic Load' Mean for Your Health?

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on October 26, 2020

It's been a tough year and the cumulative effects of the physiological stress response can increase health risks. But you can increase your resilience.

It's been a tough year and the cumulative effects of the physiological stress response can increase health risks. But you can increase your resilience.

Stress
Is Your Pet a Pandemic Stress Buster?

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on September 23, 2020

Psychological research explains how companion animals, like cats and dogs, can prevent and reduce the effects of pandemic stress.

Psychological research explains how companion animals, like cats and dogs, can prevent and reduce the effects of pandemic stress.

Forgiveness
Making Peace With Your Regret

Shawn M. Burn Ph.D. on August 4, 2020

Regret is painful and common, and sometimes debilitating. Fortunately, psychology offers some healthy ways to better manage your regrets.

Regret is painful and common, and sometimes debilitating. Fortunately, psychology offers some healthy ways to better manage your regrets.