Science Made Practical

Relationships

What We Can Learn from Amelia Earhart’s Relationship Realism

Amy Alkon on March 30, 2021

The fantasy approach to love — the overpromising notion that love is “the answer” — tends to lead to disappointment and relationship collapse.

The fantasy approach to love — the overpromising notion that love is “the answer” — tends to lead to disappointment and relationship collapse.

Placebo

Believing Acupuncture Works Doesn’t Mean It Actually Does

Amy Alkon on March 26, 2021

Human cognitive biases tempt us to believe in acupuncture, despite the lack of scientific evidence that it works.

Human cognitive biases tempt us to believe in acupuncture, despite the lack of scientific evidence that it works.

Health

The Mental Health Benefits of Taking a Walk

Amy Alkon on March 16, 2021

Take 10 or 15 minute daily walk past trees and flowers for a mentally and physically soothing nature bath.

Take 10 or 15 minute daily walk past trees and flowers for a mentally and physically soothing nature bath.

Wisdom

The Time Out: A Secret for Adult Conflict Resolution

Amy Alkon on December 30, 2020

Wisdom takes time, and taking a break before answering lets you to take advantage of your brain’s “default mode," which more often leads to “Eureka!”

Wisdom takes time, and taking a break before answering lets you to take advantage of your brain’s “default mode," which more often leads to “Eureka!”

Jealousy

The Power of Positive Envy

Amy Alkon on December 22, 2020

Envy is mistakenly assumed to be ugly and shameful, but it can be a powerful—and positive—motivational tool.

Envy is mistakenly assumed to be ugly and shameful, but it can be a powerful—and positive—motivational tool.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

How to Be a Lone Genius

Amy Alkon on December 17, 2020

The idea of the “lone genius” is a myth. Understanding how collaboration makes us vastly better allows us to achieve to the best of our ability—and maybe even better than that.

The idea of the “lone genius” is a myth. Understanding how collaboration makes us vastly better allows us to achieve to the best of our ability—and maybe even better than that.

Environment

Build Habits You Want Into Your Environment

Amy Alkon on September 29, 2020

You’re more likely to start and maintain good habits if you build them into your world in ways that make them physically difficult to ignore.

You’re more likely to start and maintain good habits if you build them into your world in ways that make them physically difficult to ignore.

Sleep

7 Sleep Myths That Might Be Keeping You Awake

Amy Alkon on September 16, 2020

Understanding sleep myths is the best start to getting a solid night's sleep so you can function at your physical and emotional best.

Understanding sleep myths is the best start to getting a solid night's sleep so you can function at your physical and emotional best.

Assertiveness

Expressing Warm Feelings Is a Highly Assertive Act

Amy Alkon on August 28, 2020

We think of assertiveness as standing up for ourselves. But it also involves saying kind, generous, warm things that need to be said.

We think of assertiveness as standing up for ourselves. But it also involves saying kind, generous, warm things that need to be said.

Friends

Does Your Social Environment Need Cleanup?

Amy Alkon on June 29, 2020

We choose who we are by choosing who our friends are. Our friends’ values and character are hidden influences on our own.

We choose who we are by choosing who our friends are. Our friends’ values and character are hidden influences on our own.

Confidence

How to Reset the Way Others See You to Get More Respect

Amy Alkon on June 20, 2020

If you lack confidence, you don't have to accept that as your fate. Becoming confident is a process that anyone can choose to do.

If you lack confidence, you don't have to accept that as your fate. Becoming confident is a process that anyone can choose to do.

Relationships

Use the Power of Less to Keep Love Alive

Amy Alkon on June 2, 2020

Keeping the spark in your relationship requires regular small gestures, not occasional grand ones.

Keeping the spark in your relationship requires regular small gestures, not occasional grand ones.

Self-Control

Willpower in the Time of Coronavirus

Amy Alkon on March 26, 2020

You CAN get writing done now and even be very productive. You just need to take advantage of our evolved need for community for about 5 minutes before starting your writing.

You CAN get writing done now and even be very productive. You just need to take advantage of our evolved need for community for about 5 minutes before starting your writing.

Jealousy

Minimize Malicious Envy From Co-Workers

Amy Alkon on February 23, 2020

If you're successful, you can protect yourself against workplace sabotage by shining a light on your failures as well as your successes.

If you're successful, you can protect yourself against workplace sabotage by shining a light on your failures as well as your successes.

Anxiety

A Do-It-Yourself Cure for Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety

Amy Alkon on February 5, 2020

An easy exercise to alleviate the separation anxiety dogs experience when we have to leave them.

An easy exercise to alleviate the separation anxiety dogs experience when we have to leave them.

Attention

The Small, Simple Habit That Keeps a Relationship Going Strong

Amy Alkon on January 30, 2020

It isn’t grand gestures that keep a relationship alive. It’s being present for your partner in tiny, mundane ways throughout the day.

It isn’t grand gestures that keep a relationship alive. It’s being present for your partner in tiny, mundane ways throughout the day.

ADHD

The ADHD Productivity Hack That Works for Everybody

Amy Alkon on December 31, 2019

Tweak your habits using an ADHD hack: Habits you want are more likely to become habits you have if they’re easy and even fun.

Tweak your habits using an ADHD hack: Habits you want are more likely to become habits you have if they’re easy and even fun.

Empathy

How to Avoid Empathy Burnout

Amy Alkon on November 28, 2019

Runaway empathy is toxic and harms us and the people we care about. Learn to shift from toxic, overwhelming empathic distress into healthy empathic concern.

Runaway empathy is toxic and harms us and the people we care about. Learn to shift from toxic, overwhelming empathic distress into healthy empathic concern.

Resilience

Failure Is a Power Tool

Amy Alkon on October 20, 2019

5 steps to help you break up with perfectionism and embrace learning and growth.

5 steps to help you break up with perfectionism and embrace learning and growth.

Career

There’s No Such Thing as Writer’s Block

Amy Alkon on September 29, 2019

The secret about writer’s block is that it’s an indulgence—one you can refuse to give in to: “Plumbers don’t have plumber’s block. A page a day is a book a year.”

The secret about writer’s block is that it’s an indulgence—one you can refuse to give in to: “Plumbers don’t have plumber’s block. A page a day is a book a year.”