David R. Topor, PhD, MS-HPEd

The availability of relatively affordable personal DNA genealogy testing has led to an increase in people exploring their family histories. If you are considering this type of testing, you should spend some time preparing yourself for what you may learn, and what you may want to do with that knowledge.

As much fun as the holiday season can be, it’s also stressful for many people, and some find it difficult to feel joyful. Taking time amidst the rush to focus on your own feelings and needs can help relieve some of the stress and make the season more pleasant.

A trio of studies investigated the connection between the ability to accept the negative emotions generated by stressful situations and a person’s long-term psychological health.

Losing a pet can be as difficult as losing a human family member. It’s important to acknowledge this grief, and there are many ways to do so, for example, creating a memory book, journaling, building a memorial, or donating money or time to a pet welfare cause.

It’s challenging to remember information when reading or studying, but there are techniques that can be applied to help you retain what you read more effectively. Research shows that common practices, like studying the same topic for a long time and the use of highlighters can get in the way of retaining information.

Sticking to a medication regimen is challenging, and one of the biggest hurdles is staying motivated. Linking proper use of a drug to one’s broader life goals can help make it easier to take regularly.