Health Archives - Another point of view

Posted on April 6, 2023January 11, 2024 by Marcus Donovan

Grind #4: How to get over anxiety and worrying and start living

Recently I listened to two podcast about the Anxiety and Happines:

Anxiety Is a Habit — Here’s How to Break It – Dr. Judson Brewer a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, and the author of Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind. An insightful book that explores the science behind anxiety and offers practical strategies for overcoming it. With years of research and clinical experience, Brewer provides a clear understanding of how anxiety works and why it can be so difficult to overcome. He shares a plenty of real-world examples and personal anecdotes. Brewer breaks down the complex neuroscience of anxiety into simple, easy-to-understand terms. He provides actionable steps that can be taken to break the cycles of worry and fear that keep you trapped in anxiety.
The book offers a holistic approach to anxiety. It is addressing not only the mental and emotional aspects of the condition, but also the physical and behavioral factors that contribute to it. You can find a range of mindfulness-based techniques and cognitive behavioral strategies that can help you to identify and change the patterns that fuel your anxiety. You should definitely read it to start living your life free of anxiety and worry.
Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life – Steven C. Hayes is a Nevada Foundation Professor of Psychology in the Behavior Analysis program at the University of Nevada. He is the author of the book A Liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What Matter s. I see this book as a new approach to mental health and personal growth. Hayes has decades of research and clinical experience. This help him to point the value of mindfulness, acceptance and values-based living in creating a life of meaning and purpose. The style is clear and engaging and even complex concepts and theories are easy to understand. There are a lot of personal anecdotes, case studies, and real-world examples, illustrating the practical applications of the ideas.
The book also offers a comprehensive and integrated approach to personal growth. It encompasses not only traditional therapy techniques, but also mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based living. Hayes suggests that by adopting these practices, we can overcome the barriers that keep us stuck in negative thought patterns and actions. By doing this we will move toward a more complete and gratifying life.
I think it will be of interest to anyone seeking to overcome mental health challenges and find greater meaning and purpose in life. Or just simply live more fully in the present moment. Not just feel good but to feel good.

Posted on January 21, 2022January 11, 2024 by Marcus Donovan

Grind #3: Time management, monotasking and staying focused

Many of us strive to master time management by improving the way we organize our schedules. The main concept that I believe is a cornerstone of effective time management is recognizing that we simply cannot do everything. Acknowledging this fact is key to managing our finite time more effectively. We often act as though we have infinite time, but it’s essential to prioritize the tasks that are most important and that we have control over. As Thatcher Wine argues in his book, “The Twelve Monotasks,” effective time management often involves doing less, but doing those tasks more intentionally and with greater focus.

It’s important to say “no” to tasks that don’t match our values or make our lives better, even if it seems hard.. This doesn’t mean eliminating leisure time altogether, as Carey Nieuwhof points out. In fact, taking time to relax and reflect is crucial for keeping our minds healthy and enhancing problem-solving abilities. By intentionally carving out time for ourselves to recharge and reflect, we can improve our ability to tackle important tasks with greater focus and intention. Ultimately, effective time management is about working smarter, not harder, and prioritizing the tasks that align with our values and help us achieve our goals.

Art of Manliness has some very good podcast/articles on the subject.

Become a Focused Monotasker – the podcast is with Thatcher Wine the author of the book The Twelve Monotasks: Do One Thing at a Time to Do Everything Better. The concept of doing one thing at a time is not new. And it is become more important in the age constant distraction, urge and business. We think that being busy means been productive but it is the opposite. Multitasking is a term that is introduced with the invention of computers but even computers are not multitasking (doing thing simultaneously). Instead they are executing multiple tasks one after another.
The Value of Deep Work in the Age of Distraction
Becoming a Digital Minimalist
Time Management for Mortals
How to Get Time, Priorities, and Energy Working in Your Favor – Carey Nieuwhof
Tactics and Mindset Shifts for Making the Most of Life – Matthew Dicks

Posted on January 7, 2022January 11, 2024 by Marcus Donovan

Grind #2: How to unleash the power of your brain

https://unsplash.com/@fakurian?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Fakurian Design on — Photo by Fakurian Design on Unsplash

Every good conversation starts with a common understanding of the main concepts of the subject. I will start with some definitions from Wikipedia:

“Neuroplasticity, also known as neural plasticity, or brain plasticity, is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization. These changes range from individual neuron pathways making new connections, to systematic adjustments like cortical remapping.”

“Adult neurogenesis is the process in which neurons are generated from neural stem cells in the adult. This process differs from prenatal neurogenesis.”

“Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), also referred to as psychoendoneuroimmunology (PENI) or psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology (PNEI), is the study of the interaction between psychological processes and the nervous and immune systems of the human body. It is a subfield of psychosomatic medicine.”

Now when we are on the same page about the subject I will share some videos and articles about the capabilities out mind have and how we can improve them and use them. In fact this is my own bookmark page of resources on the subject.

How exercises effect our brain. I find Dr. Wendy Suzuki TED talk very good in explaining exercise effect on brain. And she present the subject in a very understandable way. She shares the effect that she experienced by her self. She is Professor of Neural Science and Psychology in the Center for Neural Science at New York University, an author, storyteller and fitness instructor. She gave the talk in 2018.
How can adults grow new brain cells? Interesting TED talk by Sandrine Thuret. She gave the talk back in 2015 but from it is still actual and foundational to understanding the process. In this talk she covers speaks about what effect food has on.
Healing illness with the subconscious mind. This TED talk is performed at 2015 by Danna Pycher, a Hypnotherapist specializing in chronic illness, trauma, and weight loss.