Maybe you can relate to my struggle right now: Lately, it seems like words wash over me more than I absorb them. My mind feels fractured; even when I think I’m fully present, I find that any lull makes me want to reach for my phone, check that notification, or think up how I’ll respond…

Often, whenever I have to make a huge decision, I put it off. I want to give myself as much time as possible to weigh the pros and cons, visualizing every outcome. And, to be very honest, the more complicated the decision is (Should I accept a new job? How should I handle this difficult…

You’ve heard that it takes 6 compliments to offset a single piece of criticism, and any time you screw up, you can’t help but play that tape—or that awful thing someone said—over and over again. Why is that, exactly? Blame the Negativity Effect. Also known as the Negativity Bias, it’s the research-backed theory that negative…

Hey guys! I’m starting a recurring column called “Outtakes,” where I highlight a snippet from an interview I’ve given that’s really resonated with me. All too often, there are awesome anecdotes an expert or celeb says that just don’t fit the story I’m working on. Rather than be the only one who hears those words,…

C’mon, you’ve been looking for an excuse to unwind. But there’s that to-do list that needs to be tackled—and every time you cross something off, three more things appear. You need to be productive. Well, if recent research is any indication, the most productive thing you can do for yourself is work in a little…

In early 2011, I found myself scanning WebMD and every questionable blog that turned up in my search results as I frantically Googled my symptoms. My left foot had gotten a reddish-purple spot, and it was spreading. It looked like a bad sun burn, bordering on a bruise, depending on the day, and while a…

Drew Barrymore’s squatting on top of a leather chair in three-inch heels, staring directly at me. Or, at least, into the crowd directly in my vicinity, which has to count for something. Her eyes are locked on our amorphous group, emphasizing her point: “I love when you jungle stare at someone, and you’re perched like…

Bad things happen. People can disappoint you. Some days, everything’s awful and you wish you could go back to bed and have a do-over—or run away from it all. For those moments, there’s one mantra to try: “It’s like this now.” Wait, what?! That doesn’t mean accepting your fate and Eeyore-ing your way through the…