Quick quiz. Which leaves you feeling more content? A. Checking items off your mental to-do list. B. Watching soap suds swirl down the drain as you wash the dishes. Correct answer: B. Despite the fact that we spend nearly half our waking hours thinking about something other than what we're doing, we're actually happier when we focus on what's happening in the moment. The way we direct our brains can help us manage pain, as well. And new findings suggest that spending time in a focused state may even increase gray matter, boosting areas of the brain involved in mental sharpness. Harvard researchers noted the happiness factor last November, when they enlisted 2,250 study participants to record their thoughts and feelings immediately after being buzzed several times a day on their iPhones...Read MoreMonday, 7 February 2011
Brain gain: Mindfulness therapy puts the focus on improving the quality of body and spirit
Quick quiz. Which leaves you feeling more content? A. Checking items off your mental to-do list. B. Watching soap suds swirl down the drain as you wash the dishes. Correct answer: B. Despite the fact that we spend nearly half our waking hours thinking about something other than what we're doing, we're actually happier when we focus on what's happening in the moment. The way we direct our brains can help us manage pain, as well. And new findings suggest that spending time in a focused state may even increase gray matter, boosting areas of the brain involved in mental sharpness. Harvard researchers noted the happiness factor last November, when they enlisted 2,250 study participants to record their thoughts and feelings immediately after being buzzed several times a day on their iPhones...Read More