How fast can you type? We were a little surprised to find that — despite working in writing and editing — we’re around the mid-70s to high-80s. (Test yourself before you email us talking trash, dear readers.)
Well, our medium-fast fingers may no longer be a real impediment to quick typing thanks to the Sabi Cap. Equipped with tens of thousands of electroencephalography sensors (normally in the tens or hundreds) this company is promising a new way to interact with computers — hands free. Would you try it? Let us know.
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Cognitive Health
Boring Conversations Might Be Good for You
Helena Lopes/Unsplash
Lighten Up: Some of us aren’t fans of small talk and try to avoid it at all costs. But new research suggests we shouldn’t be so quick to poo-poo chit-chat. Having so-called “boring” conversations can actually be good for our mental and physical health.
The Study: The researchers created experiments with 1,800 participants around conversation topics some might find dull, including math, onions, and Pokémon. Participants were asked to predict how interesting they thought these conversations would be. Then they engaged in these conversations, either in person or online, and with strangers or friends.
The Takeaway: The participants reported the conversations were better than expected. Turns out, what makes conversations enjoyable is the connection, not the topic being discussed. Engaging in respectful, meaningful, positive conversations can fight loneliness far more than simply being around other people — and that can help ward off health problems associated with loneliness, like heart disease and depression.
Keep in Mind: Humans are social creatures. When we skip a work gathering or pop in our earbuds in public, we miss opportunities to feel connected to others and improve our mood at the same time.
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Mindfulness
How to Engineer a Better Day, According to Data
Jerome Maas/Unsplash
Day Made: You know how some days just feel off and other days feel like you'd want to relive them time and time again? That gut feeling may actually have some math behind it. A study published last month in PNAS Nexus used machine learning to analyze American Time Use Survey data from over 15,000 people across 2013 and 2021, identifying which activities (and how much of them) predicted rating a day “better than typical.”
How to Do It: The researchers found that between 30 minutes and two hours of socializing was associated with people reporting having a good day. So was up to four hours of exercise, and five to six hours of hanging out with family and friends. No amount of housework or relaxing was linked to a better day, and more than two hours of socializing stopped adding benefit.
The Benefits: The models were about 62 to 63% accurate (better than chance but not quite 100% certainty). The real takeaway from the study is that variety wins. Dividing your day across connection, movement, work you love, and time with your favorite people beats out a day consumed with any one activity. But putting a time limit on each activity also matters.
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SPOTLIGHT
Achieving “Poophoria”
DR. TRISHA PASRICHA
Gastroenterologist, Author, Medical Journalist
Courtesy: Dr. Trisha Pasricha
Most of us have a private relationship with our gut, which we rarely discuss with others, especially in polite company. Dr. Trisha Pasricha wants to change that. A Harvard professor and director of the Institute for Gut-Brain Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, she also writes the Washington Post's “Ask A Doctor” column and has spent her career turning dense research on digestion into practical advice.
Her new book, You've Been Pooping All Wrong, rejects the idea that there's one universal definition of a healthy gut. Instead, she's promoting “poophoria,” a state where your bathroom routine is so effortless you stop thinking about it entirely. Her evidence-based advice covers everything from what you eat to how long you sit. She actually studied that last point herself, finding that people who scrolled on the toilet were significantly more likely to develop hemorrhoids. Think of her as a brilliant friend with a Harvard medical degree, finally walking you through the things your doctor never had time to explain.
I’ve never really worried about blood pressure that much. Or at least I didn’t until the past year or so. But the more I’ve read about the risks that come along with a higher blood pressure (stroke, heart attacks, kidney disease, cognitive decline, etc.) the more I’ve catered my health routine with an eye on that metric specifically. For me, that’s meant a lot more cardio, a better diet with lower sodium, and — most recently — using Humann’s SuperBeets Heart Chews.
The thing I love the most about these are how convenient they are. I throw a couple into my coat or bag every day before heading to work and have one with my morning coffee, and another after lunch. But these chews offer more than just convenience. Their key ingredient, grape seed extract, has been clinically proven to lower blood pressure by supporting nitric oxide production. But don’t just take my word for it. You can see for yourself what folks are saying about Humann online here.
There are plenty of simple recipes out there, but they often fall — and taste — flat. This one uses pantry staples to build layers of flavor in minutes. Toasting unpeeled garlic cloves right in the pot gives them a subtle roasted sweetness without fussing with the oven. Canned white beans add a comforting creaminess without dairy, a good olive oil brings richness, and lemon juice and fresh herbs add brightness and balance. Eat it straight up, or use these five ingredients as a flavorful base for extras like shredded chicken, chili oil, rosemary, or sage.
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HEALTHY HABIT
Notice One Bird
Spend 30 seconds looking or listening for a bird during your day. It sounds simple, but noticing wildlife is a surprisingly powerful way to reconnect with your surroundings. Small moments of attention like this can calm the nervous system and interrupt mental autopilot.
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Final Thought
I never lose an opportunity of urging a practical beginning, however small, for it is wonderful how often in such matters the mustard-seed germinates and roots itself.”
