How lonely are your aging parents? Or that widowed neighbor you like to check in on once a week? Are they craving connection but don’t want to feel like a bother? Evidence from PubMed indicates that people with less contact with family are lonelier. And their homes can give clues about their connections and level …
Lifestyle
When was the last time someone was kind to you? Better yet, when were you last kind to someone? Kindness is like a warm cup of cocoa on a chilly day, comforting, uplifting, and just what the soul ordered. But people are busy, we have bills to pay, baby eczema to treat, and social media …
Our shopping carts could become a little less full when thinking about the future, and bank accounts a bit smaller in the next decade. Why? With increasing global inflation, even everyday essentials might start to feel like a splurge for most of us (even the average American). Rising costs will have us all re-thinking what …
Decluttering your home and garden often feels like a fresh start, creating space for new growth and projects. Taking your unwanted items to a thrift store seems like a perfect solution. You clear out your space, your items get a second life, and you support a good cause. It’s a win-win-win, right? Mostly. While donation …
Human behavior is fascinating. At times, it feels as if everyone around us is an open book until you realize the book is written in Cantonese and you only speak Spanish. Reading people isn’t a science experiment, but it does involve a little effort, observation, and practice. We may not be mind readers (yet), but …
Have you ever met someone for the first time and wished you could rewind the clock and “unmeet” them? While most people consider themselves civilized and good-mannered, certain behaviors are universally recognized as instant turn-offs and can quickly sour an interaction. Science shows these social deterrents aren’t just personal preference, but also objectively evolutionary regarding …
Leaving a substantial sum of money to your children requires careful planning and foresight. Many parents worry that their hard-earned wealth might vanish quickly in the hands of unprepared heirs. Passing down wealth should provide long-term security instead of funding a short-lived spending spree. A solid plan protects your legacy while supporting your family for …
Money slips away fastest through ordinary habits. Small purchases, forgotten leftovers, and quick convenience choices add up. Earlier generations learned to slow those leaks by treating money as something physical and finite. They had to figure it out, like all generations do, as they navigated recessions. The habits were simple, repeatable, and grounded in daily …
The traditional image of the man as the “breadwinner” of the household is shifting (60% of American couples are both putting in 40-hour workweeks). For some men, the idea of clocking into those 40+ hour workweeks in a traditional job simply isn’t appealing anymore. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and it’s easy for this topic to …
Children. Sometimes they’re planned, sometimes they are not; some people can’t imagine a life without the little humans, while others don’t understand why anyone would want a “mini me.” The decision to remain child-free is a deeply personal one, with couples increasingly choosing a path defined by “Dual Income, No Kids,” or DINKS. This lifestyle …