Binge Watching Shows Might Be Good For You
This sums me up. according to new research from the University of Georgia. It suggests there may be some mental health benefits to binge-watching shows and movies you love. The new study finds that watching episode after episode or having movie marathons or binge-reading books can make it harder for a story to get out of your head. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It makes us more likely to remember stories, keep engaging them through daydreams and fantasies, and helps us get a bigger picture of the story. Dr. Joshua Baldwin, lead study author and media psychology researcher, says binge-watching helps us build “mental worlds” where stories continue long after the credits roll, which can help us cope in stressful times.
Aging With Power
Dr. Vonda Wright is hoping to change that. The orthopedic surgeon and longevity specialist wants to level the playing field and bring women into the focus because men and women aren’t aging the same way. She wants women to “age with power” and encourages them to build strength and work on disease prevention during their early midlife years, from 35 to 45 years old, which she calls the “critical decade.” To do that, she recommends:
- Reframe dietary changes that support longevity - Instead of trying to lose weight, focus on maximizing lean muscle and minimizing body fat. The goal isn’t to be skinny, but to be lean. Eat one gram of protein per ideal pound a day to support the muscle you’re trying to build and cutting back on sugar, which leads to inflammation and can contribute to multiple diseases.
- When it comes to exercise, she uses the acronym “FACE” your future:
- F for Flexibility - And joint range of motion. Yoga, pilates, tai chi, and dynamic stretching are great options.
- A for Aerobic - Getting your heart rate up is good for the ticker, but Wright advises doing lower heart rate exercise, like walking, 80% of the time, and higher intensity workouts 20% of the time.
- C for Carry a load - Strength and power are the goal, so lifting heavy is the way to go. That means fewer reps with heavier weights.
- E is for Equilibrium - Being strong and flexible is important as you age, but so is balance so you don’t fall and break something. Wright warns that if you trip and end up with what’s known as a “fatal fall,” 50% of the time, it lands you in a nursing home.
Bad Money Habits To Break
Autopilot Expenses: Automatic renewals sound convenient, but they’re also a sneaky way to lose track of your money. That streaming service you haven’t watched in months? Still billing you.
- Using The Same Passwords: Reusing the same password across sites makes it way too easy for scammers to break in and wreak havoc on your finances. A password manager (and a little thing called multifactor authentication) can be your new best friend to keep your money safe.
- Paying Way Too Much Attention To Your Investments: Not only is it stressful, but it can also lead you to make impulsive, money-losing decisions like selling low when the market dips. A better approach is to zoom out, stay calm, and trust the long-term plan rather than panicking at short-term bumps.
- Not Looking At Your Investments Is Also Not Great: Markets change, and your mix of stocks and bonds can drift in ways that no longer match your comfort level with risk. A quarterly check-in (or using a financial adviser or app) can make sure your money is working in line with your goals without letting it simmer unattended for years.
- Chasing Credit Card Promotions: You might end up overspending just to hit the minimum requirement, or dinging your credit score with too many hard inquiries. Unless you’re a pro at managing multiple cards, chasing these deals can do more harm than good.
- Super Penny Pinching: If you’re skipping necessary home repairs or living off ramen just to see your savings account grow, you’re missing the point. A healthy money mindset means balancing saving with spending on things that truly matter to you.
Second Date Update
Carlos called us about Heather. They met on Hinge and grabbed dinner in Mountain View. Carlos thought it was fun. They had a lot in common. She had a great sense of humor. He can't stand boring. He swore Heather seemed like she was enjoying herself. But after that, she cut him off.
