And what you can learn from their strategies to improve your sleep — Scientists who study sleep and its challenges are no different from you and me when it comes to successful slumber. Some sleep well, some not so great, and they all have bad nights now and then. One advantage they share, however, is an intimate knowledge of how to fall asleep…

We humans all think we know more than we really do. That’s why we argue about everything. — When I have an argument with someone, I’m almost always right. You probably are, too. I know these things because when researchers asked people to reflect on disagreements they’ve had, 82% of them were confident they were usually right. I’m no math whiz, but something doesn’t add up there. “Most…

We tend to underestimate serious risks and let minor threats loom ridiculously large — If you fear dying in a plane crash, a shark attack, a bombing or a violent home invasion — or some other statistically unlikely event — join the crowd. …

Depression is highly treatable. So why are rates soaring, particularly among young people? We need to acknowledge the scope of the problem, shake the stigma, and embrace solutions known to work, experts say. — This article is part of a Wise & Well Special Report: The United States of Depression. After suffering a stroke last year, US Senator John Fetterman, a man who’d long seemed sad to those around him, plunged into deep depression. In the pit of his despair, he lost the motivation…

Wise & Well Weekly: The newsletter helping you make tomorrow a little better than today — Welcome back to your weekly dose of wisdom and wellness, with science-backed insights you can use to improve your physical, mental and emotional well-being. This week we’ve got an unusually large bounty of helpful and compelling stories to share, so be sure to scroll down. If you appreciate any of…

Seriously, it’s so often not clear. Here’s a guide to making your point. — It shouldn’t surprise any writer to hear that a story has to have a point. But so often we go off the rails during the course of writing and end up with a menagerie of ideas that can leave an editor scratching her head, trying to figure out what the…

Groan-worthy crossword puzzles presented as a prescription for moderate joy and amusement — NOTE: I’ve moved this crossword project over to Substack. Same name, same corny crossword puzzles, just a more efficient way of distributing them, via the Rx: Rob’s Crosswords newsletter. I’ve left the description below in place.— Rob As a journalist and author, I’m always crossing up my words, playing around…

Science-backed strategies for enduring and even enjoying the season — “I have one those families who speak at the start of dinner for what we have to be thankful. ‘I’m thankful Aunt Gladys is no longer with us.’ And it starts going downhill from there.” — Medium member David Weldy commenting on Before Thanksgiving Turns Ugly by Kathleen Murphy This…

Plus: A strategy for dealing with it all amid the stress of the holidays — War, inflation and other national and world affairs top the list of worries for the average American today, followed by fear of respiratory infections like covid-19, the flu and RSV. Amid all that hovers the usual angst of the holiday season. While most of us don’t have much control over…