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Sunday, 26 December 2021 06:07

Use the S-A-S rule to quickly diffuse conflict and end arguments

Conflict appears in many forms, but we seldom are prepared to deal with it. Fortunately, this 3-step rule diffuses tense situations and facilitates constructive resolution. Unfortunately, conflict is something we all face. Hopefully, it's an infrequent occurrence, but it's helpful to know how to diffuse tense situations when they occur. Only when we can address things clearly, logically, and with a level head can issues be effectively resolved -- which is why learning how to deal with conflict is key. As I was researching best methods, I came across a stepped process from the Department of Veterans Affairs. It's really…

Sunday, 12 December 2021 06:01

Why flexible thinking is more important than ever

In a world of incessant change and increasing complexity, flexibility is one skill that is rising in importance. With its role in fostering creativity, innovation, and agility, cognitive flexibility is one of the top skills required to excel in today’s workplace. However, flexible thinking doesn’t always come easy. When we’re feeling anxious, under the gun, or depleted, we can be especially susceptible to falling into narrow and rigid thought patterns. The good news is that anyone can learn how to think more elastically. Take my client, Kris, a former management consultant who was struggling to adjust to a work environment…

Saturday, 11 December 2021 04:50

Popular foods ruining your weight loss efforts, say dietitians

When it comes to looking your best, finding the right eating plan that keeps cravings at bay always proves incredibly tough. Even if you end up finding a balanced diet that helps manage calories while delivering proper nutrition, grabbing an extra slice of cake or bag of cookies feels tempting beyond belief. Whether you love snacking in between meals or including some less-than-savory foods into your regular meal plan, your decisions might end up setting back your weight loss goals. Trying to sort through a myriad of food options can feel impossible, especially when so many of the choices can…

Wednesday, 08 December 2021 05:55

Omicron, the Death Metal Band, would like to clarify a few things

Let’s cut to the chase. There’s a death metal band in Belgium that, as of last week, shares its name with a coronavirus variant. But unlike the World Health Organisation, they were “totally not” influenced by the Greek alphabet. “Our guitarist Philippe has an unhealthy obsession with aliens and all the interstellar obscurity that comes with it,” the band told VICE World News via email. “He came up with our name because he was inspired by the Dyson sphere that had been found in the Omicron Cygni constellation.” “And he’s never been probed, as far as he knows.” The WHO…

Sunday, 05 December 2021 06:01

In poor Lagos district, 'slum party' brings hope and life

To the rhythm of drums, two plastic giants whirl and kick up dust in an alleyway in Orowonshoki, one of the poorer districts of Lagos, Nigeria's megalopolis economic capital. From shanty houses of wood and tin, inhabitants poke their heads outside, and watch wide-eyed as the strange procession bounces past. Soon, the whole street sways and joins the dancers, whose costumes are crafted entirely from plastic bottles collected from the neighbourhood streets. The "Slum Party" kicks off with a burst of music, dance and the flames of a fire breathing act. For three years, a collective of 10 young Nigerian…

Saturday, 04 December 2021 06:16

Why your brain doesn’t rest during sleep

Sleep used to be regarded as a time when the brain turned itself off to recharge its batteries, but research over the past 20 years has put that theory to rest. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanners, which use magnetic resonance to generate images of brain activity, have shown that the organ is active during sleep. Although there is still much to be discovered, the brain uses that time to clean out toxins and repair itself, and to reinforce memories and lessons learned during the day. Sleep research is a relatively new discipline, but it’s already understood that a good…

Thursday, 02 December 2021 05:30

The age when most people start to feel old

Young at heart take note: Biological age, which refers to the age that someone feels as opposed to the number of years they have been alive (chronological age), is gaining more credibility as a useful health measure among medical professionals. Although various factors influence whether or not someone feels especially young or old, the majority of people start feeling old around the age of (drum roll, please) 47. This was the most cited age — by 2,000 participants involved in a massive new poll commissioned by Foster Grant and conducted by OnePoll, All of the participants involved in the report…

Wednesday, 01 December 2021 05:54

What I learned from teaching the children of the 1%

Blythe Grossberg’s new book, I Left My Homework in the Hamptons: What I Learned Teaching the Children of the One Percent, offers a window into the parenting ideas and experiences of today, and how we might all work to make things more equitable and better for our kids. Below, Grossberg shares 5 key insights from her new book. Kids are way too overscheduled I’m really speaking about all kids, not just those in the 1% that I focus on in my book. In my book, the situations are a little more extreme, where there are kids in Manhattan and Brooklyn…

Saturday, 27 November 2021 03:57

Using these 8 common phrases can ruin your credibility

The other day my husband and I were watching the news and a politician discussing the state of affairs in Washington began with “in my humble opinion.” Over the course of his short interview he repeated that phrase four or five times. He was a good speaker except for this. He had much to say, but all we remember of his interview was “in my humble opinion.” Expressions like these are called “caveats”—phrases tucked into our speech to qualify what we’re saying. “Caveat” comes from a Latin word meaning ‘beware.’ When we use caveats we literally warn our audience to…

Friday, 26 November 2021 05:59

Forget small talk: Why emotionally intelligent people embrace the rule of the awkward conversation

Next time you meet someone new, ditch the small talk. Science says they--and you--will be glad you did. Imagine you're attending an industry conference and the speaker splits everyone into pairs. "Uh-oh," you probably think. Then he says you'll spend the next ten minutes asking each other four questions: "For what in your life do you feel most grateful?" "If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, your future, or anything else, what would you want to know?" "If you were going to become a close friend with the other participant, please share what would…

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Wednesday, 24 November 2021 05:53

Scientists mystified, wary, as Africa avoids Covid disaster

At a busy market in a poor township outside Harare this week, Nyasha Ndou kept his mask in his pocket, as hundreds of other people, mostly unmasked, jostled to buy and sell fruit and vegetables displayed on wooden tables and plastic sheets. As in much of Zimbabwe, here the coronavirus is quickly being relegated to the past, as political rallies, concerts and home gatherings have returned. “Covid-19 is gone, when did you last hear of anyone who has died of Covid-19?” Ndou said. “The mask is to protect my pocket,” he said. “The police demand bribes so I lose money…

Tuesday, 23 November 2021 05:58

Boko Haram: Maiduguri struggles to recover without electricity

A whirring machine churns out prints at the Gaza Printing Press in the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri while owner Garba Zango supervises. The copies are perfect, but his costs have lately gone through the roof. The past 10 months have been the toughest of Zango's nearly 50-year career as his city of 800,000 struggles without power from the national grid. "Every aspect of life - everything - has changed in Maiduguri," Zango, 66, said. "If we were getting 10 naira profit (per unit before), profits have now fallen to 2 or 3 naira." Maiduguri is the capital of Borno…

Sunday, 14 November 2021 05:55

Is your brain healthy? Research says this simple test can tell you

A study of a half a million adults shows this simple physical test can show how your brain is doing However you define success, whether it's building a billion-dollar business or being an amazing parent, there's one factor that gives you a massive boost towards reaching your goals. A healthy brain helps you achieve whatever it is you want to achieve in life. And sadly, as we age, we all start to wonder if our memory, focus, and cognitive speed is beginning to decline. How can you tell if your brain is as sharp as it ever was? No doubt…

Thursday, 04 November 2021 05:58

Nigeria’s paradox of being oil rich but energy poor: What way out?

Africa's biggest economy has 206 million people, endemic poverty and vast energy reserves that could be harnessed to fuel development. But it's coming under huge pressure from developed countries to abandon fossil fuels and shift to renewable energy in order to help save the climate. Nigeria is not the only country confronting this dilemma. At the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow, developing economies across Africa, Asia and Latin America are facing increasing pressure to cut carbon emissions at the very moment they are industrializing, a process that powered the advance of the West and lifted billions of people out of…

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