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Psychologists document several common markers that make up key development stages in children. If you learn these, you will have some great tools in better raising your children. [More]

When it comes to someone with obsessive-compulsive behaviors, the line between enabling and acceptance can be blurred. Here are some valuable insights into helping someone you love who may exhibit OCD. [More]

Stress is a daily reality for most of us. Mindfulness is an effective therapeutic way to help calm yourself and find peace. [More]

Women often deal with jealousy different than men. And when one woman is jealous of another woman, this can lead to hardship. Here are some things to consider in restoring everyone involved. [More]

Children are natural artists. That splattering of paint and colored scribble says more about them than you might think. [More]

We all receive criticism in our lives, whether they be related to our personal or professional downfalls. That said there are countless ways to respond to criticisms, yet not all of them will have equal effects. [More]

A full one third of your entire adult life...or more...is spent at work. If you hate your job, that spells unending misery. Career change is not only possible, but do-able! Here are some things to consider. [More]

Are you a perfectionist? It's one thing to get it right, but focus too much and things can wind up wrong. Here are some effects of perfectionism you may not realize. [More]

Why Do I feel so tired? It is finally Friday! We are energized and eager to get that inbox emptied just in time for the weekend. Until that three o’clock crash hits us like a heat wave in the desert. Why is it that most people get so sleepy between two and four o’clock each day? We eat right, we love our jobs, and we want to be attentive and aware until that clock strikes five, but it happens anyway. It is hard to think, hard to stay focused, and hard to even keep our eyes open. It has to do with our biological clock, or circadian cycle. The cycle dictates how alert we are during a twenty-four hour cycle. There are two times during that twenty-four hour cycle when our alertness will drop. Aside from some degree of difference due to life getting us off track, most of us will have these drops between two and four in the morning and again twelve hours later, which is our three o’clock slump. [1] What happens during these times is that the amount of natural light decreases, our body temperature decreases, we have a rise in a hormone that causes sleep called melatonin, and oxygen circulation in our body decreases. Our bodies really do want us to nap. Unfortunately, most of us who work need our job to survive, and most companies frown on crawling under the desk for a siesta. While we can’t change nature, or the fact that our culture exists due to those of us working during this time to keep it running, we can do a few things to help make it through this mental dip in our day. Get Your Sleep If you can take a 20 minute nap, it can improve your focus, but the way to combat the afternoon crash is to get plenty of sleep each night. The afternoon slump is not as intense if you have had a good night’s sleep. In the summer, it is difficult to get the amount of sleep we need because the sun is up, and we have so many fun things to do, but our bodies take cues from the sun. Don’t let yourself stay up late because you have things to get done after the sun goes down. Sleep with the curtain open so that the sun wakes you, and then let yourself wind down in the evenings as the sun goes down. Avoid doing stimulating things, such as watching TV or being on the computer at night. Reading is a good way to wind down, and get your mind ready for sleep. Friday Afternoon Dance Party Combine the three things that stimulate your mind and body the most. Music helps to improve mood, and focus, movement helps alleviate your body temperature and increase adrenalin and oxygen circulation to the brain. If dancing around the office is too much for your company, a few stretches, getting up and walking around, or putting on the headphones, and having your own dance party are all adequate substitutes. I have found that having a standing desk has reduced my afternoon slump tremendously. Get Some Rays Take advantage of the natural light that helps regulate our circadian cycle by getting out in the sun for a few minutes. Going for a walk would combine that light with the movement that helps to wake us up. Plan Group Activities If you can, plan any group activities for that time when we are all getting drowsy. One of the things that enhance that sleepy feeling is boredom. [2] If you have activities that involve stimulating conversations or interesting ideas, plan them in the afternoon, when you will need that stimulation the most. On the other hand, if you know a meeting is going to be monotonous, plan it away from the afternoon mental crash. The afternoon slump can be much worse on Friday when we are so close to the weekend, and wrapping up the week’s loose ends, but there is hope for those of us who suffer from the mind numbing body clock blues. It just takes knowing how your body works, getting plenty of sleep, light, and movement to keep us as energized and eager from morning until that clock strikes five. Getting Help The inability to concentrate at work could be more that just the time of day. If you are finding it generally hard to get up in the morning or maybe even hard to actually turn your mind off and get to sleep at night you may benefit from discussing things with a counselor. Many people are going through stressful events, or even work itself is stressful. The ability to talk-it-out and feel supported can help to bring back joy into the day and allow for more cohesiveness work environment. [1] "How Your Body Clock Affects Sleep—And How to Reset It." Helpguide.org. Collaboration with Harvard Medical Publications, n.d. Web. 21 July 2013. [2] “Boredom effects on sleepiness/alertness in the early afternoon vs. early evening and interactions with warm ambient temperature.” Mavjee, V., Home, J.A. British Journal of Psychology, (1994). 85(3), 317-333.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM Our world has been shaped by the brilliance of both male and female minds. Notable men include Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, and Sigmund Freud. And notable women include Charlotte Brontë, Margaret Thatcher, Barbara Walters, and Caroline Herschel. However, it remains a relatively taboo question to ask whether there are differences between the male and female brain. And this fear is not to be belittled. We face concerns about the mistreatment of women in the workplace, as well as abuses stemming from prejudices against another gender. These issues can produce a power imbalance between men and women, and this has historically been problematic for women. But the above question should not be dismissed, as answering the question can help us understand the advantages of both sets of brains. This article will analyze the differences between male and female brain structures and then explore two areas in which men and women show distinct cognitive differences. Differences in Brain Structures The adult brain consists of approximately one hundred billion neurons and typically weighs between 2.25 and 3.5 pounds of dense matter.[1] The brain has three principal layers. The first of these is the brain stem, which is the bottom layer. This part of the brain is connected to the spinal cord. The brain stem is more primitive, as it is responsible for our instincts and our responses to immediate crises. Male brains tend to activate this part of the brain more often than women, which is why they are more likely to respond physically in cases where they feel threatened. Secondly, the limbic system is the middle layer, which is where emotions are processed. The amygdala is part of the limbic system, and this tends to be larger in males, making them typically more aggressive than females. Thirdly, the cerebral cortex is the top layer, which is where we use our cognitive skills. The left side is responsible for language skills. The right side is responsible for spatial skills, including mathematics. The following section examines both of these cognitive functions, which are especially different for men and women. Language: Women Take the Lead There are differences between male and female brains at a mere 26 weeks of pregnancy.[2] Scientists have found that the corpus callosum – a bundle of nerve tissues that connect the left and right parts of the brain – is actually thicker in female fetuses than male fetuses. Dr Denckla from the Kennedy Krieger Institute, concludes that women have language functions in both the left and right hemispheres of the brain. This means that when women take part in a language-based activity, such as reading a poem, they use both sides of the brain. Men, however, only use the left side. Similarly, Dr Geary from the University of Missouri claims that the way our brains are shaped affects the skills that we tend to enhance. Fine motor skills associated with language learning, such as handwriting, tend to mature in girls six years prior to boys. Jane Austen, Emily Dickinson, Margaret Atwood, Toni Morrison, and Harriet Beecher Stowe are just a few examples of women who displayed a talented fluency in the written language. Of course, these scientific findings do not mean that men are incapable of refining their language skills to produce brilliant works. Bookshelves also boast an array of notable male writers, such as William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, Mark Twain, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. The above findings simply suggest that women display an advantage in language functions, especially during early developmental stages. Mathematics: Men Take the Lead Studies have shown that male students display a greater facility than females when it comes to learning mathematics. A study involving 500 male and female children showed that the areas of the brain responsible for mathematic skills tend to mature in boys four years prior to girls.[3] According to Baron-Cohen, the male brain is better equipped to develop the ability to systematize – i.e. to figure out how things work, such as a car, a military unity, or a computer. This also involves the ability to predict how a specific action will produce a certain result. Famous male mathematicians include Pythagoras, Andrew Wiles, Wilhelm Leibniz, René Descartes, and Leonhard Euler. Again, this does not mean that there are not also notable female mathematicians. Women of note in this domain include Hypatia, Sophie Germain, Ada Lovelace, Sofia Kovalevskaya, and Emmy Noether. Parenthood and a Child's Cognitive Development Because of the differences between male and female brains, especially during early stages of development, it is important for parents and teachers to recognize how to help children maximize their learning skills. Typically, girls might require more assistance in mathematics, while boys might require more help with handwriting or the written language. As shown through examples of brilliant minds throughout the course of the human story, both men and women are capable of pursuing their areas of interest – regardless of their brain structures. This is the beauty of the human brain: it is embedded with enormous potential, as it can be enhanced and refined throughout our lives. What does this all mean? As with most things in life, nothing is black and white. Sometimes the confusion that lies in issues such as parenting or even in your own understanding of work tasks can put a lot of stress on us. Working in a field where your brain just might not be best suited can challenge you in ways you may not have anticipated. Sometimes this stress can build up and we may need to see additional help. A counselor can help to dissect the issues in ones life and help to give coping tools for daily life. Sometimes we may need to seek a new career which may be better suited for our own personal gifts and talents. A career counselor can help to work on this which can lead to more satisfaction in your life and even improved relationships. Here is an article which may be able to equip you better with these possible transitions. Male or Female we have the brain we have so let's begin to work with it and adapt as we need to. [1] Gurian, M. 2011. Boys and Girls Learn Differently! A Guide for Teachers and Parents. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Books. [2] How Male and Female Brains Differ. 2013. WebMD. [online] Available at: http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/how-male-female-brains-differ [3] Ibid.