In Uncovering Happiness: Overcoming Depression with Mindfulness and Self-Compassion I describe play as “a flexible state of mind in which you are presently engaged in some freely chosen and potentially purposeless activity that you find interesting, enjoyable, and satisfying.” Here’s a great video that shows adults playing and the results. Take a look and see what you notice. When adults were put in an enriched environment where the cues elicited play, they became more engaged, open, and most seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves....

What was the first thing you did this morning after getting out of bed? What items are sitting on the kitchen counter? Who was the last person you spoke to? Can you recall her words? What was that person wearing? Describe what you did yesterday from the time you woke up until you went to bed in the order in which it happened. A trained improviser could probably answer all of these questions....

We’ve rounded up a tutorial and some important info to help you achieve the perfect scalp massage to de-stress. Relax with this At-Home Scalp Massage to De-Stress Step 1: Apply Scalp Exfoliator or Oil Start by taking a scoop or dollop of exfoliator or hair oil. You can choose to take a larger amount of product to cover your whole head or you can work in sections to be more thorough with product application....

We’ve got some tips and products to help you care for that painful scalp sunburn, through all of its unpleasant phases. Keep reading for the scoop: How to Help Heal a Scalp Sunburn 1. Bring out the aloe vera. When you first set eyes on your lovely sunburn and feel the heat from your skin, reaching for something soothing is the answer. Go for some aloe vera to give your burn a cooling sensation and loads of moisture....

Surprisingly, one group that doesn’t need to heed these warnings is executives. In our assessment of 35,000 leaders and interviews with 250 more, we found that the more senior a person’s role is, the more sleep they get. There are two possible explanations for this. Either senior executives, with the help of assistants and hard-working middle managers, do less and take more time for sleep. Or senior executives have had the wisdom and discipline throughout their career to get enough sleep and thereby maintain a high performance level without burning out....

Today, the number of well-written, thought-provoking children’s picture books with a mindful component is growing by the moment. Adding a mindful book or two to the current cannon of bedtime stories feels like adding an extra nutrient to the meal. We are planting seeds of empowerment in our youngsters to grow into young adults who can appreciate their world from the inside out. I pulled together seven mindfulness-based illustrated children’s books published over the last year that are worthy of a closer look....

Non-striving Sleep is a process that cannot be forced but instead, should be allowed to unfold. Putting more effort into sleeping longer or better is counterproductive. Letting go Attachment to sleep or your ideal sleep needs usually leads to worry about the consequences of sleeplessness. This is counterproductive and inconsistent with the natural process of letting go of the day to allow sleep to come. Non-judging It is easy to automatically judge the state of being awake as negative and aversive, especially if you do not sleep well for several nights....

Sexy Favorite Things Party Ideas The idea for this party came about when I was chatting with some of my girlfriends. They were asking about some different bedroom games that we have here on thedatingdivas.com. I offered to send them a list of favorites, and then we decided it would be more fun if we were discuss all our favorite things together! Long story short, this is how this sexy favorite things party idea got started!...

Choosing, printing, and using your printable sexy sticky notes is simple! Check out this video from our Dating Divas YouTube Channel to show you how you can easily print these fun and sticky love notes! THIS SENSUAL PACK INCLUDES: Sexy Sticky Notes Instructional Guide– Detailed instructions explaining how to print your sexy messages onto sticky notes, as well as tips and creative ideas for presenting the perfect message. Mild Sexy Sticky Notes– Love notes for your spouse that are flirtatiously sexy, but sensible....

A body wave is a looser type of wavy hair that can be achieved by using a larger curling roller on a curling iron. This look can be worn as a natural hair protective style when styled on a human hair weave or wig. It looks especially sleek and polished when worn to the side. Update Your Style with these Side Part Body Wave Looks Here are a few different ways you can style the Side Part Body Wave Look:...

Explore the Soft Belly Breathing Practice Read more about Jillian Pransky’s Deep Listening approach in the June 2019 issue of Mindful magazine. Read More Kelle Walsh May 23, 2019

For more about this survey, read Happiness Tracking and Quantifying Life Quality on Mindful.org. 08/18/11

First, grief. My girlfriend K. was twenty-two when her mother shot herself. Her mother covered the couch with a plastic sheet, aimed the gun at her heart, and called the cops just before she pulled the trigger. K. was called across town to come and identify the still-warm body. The cops then bundled her mother’s corpse in a sheet, which they later returned to K. “I had to move into the house and live there to oversee its sale,” she told me....

You’re probably wondering, “what does sulfate-free actually mean?” Lucky for you we’re here to help. First off, sulfate is the ingredient in your shampoo that makes it foam up. However, this ingredient can also strip your hair of its natural oils, which can cause your locks to become dried out and brittle. That’s why so many brands have been coming out with sulfate-free options. They still cleanse your hair thoroughly, but these shampoos are more gentle and won’t strip your hair....

So here’s the game. I give you some money—let’s say $10—and tell you the following: you’re playing with three other people that you don’t know and may never meet, and each of you have been given the same amount to start with. You are all invited to contribute any amount of your money to a common pool. Once everyone has contributed, the game doubles the amount in the pool, then gives each player an equal portion of that doubled amount....

Read on to learn the best ways to texturize and style your short haircut so that it’s anything but run-of-the-mill. Who knows, you might even discover your next signature look in the process! Fun, Short Layered Haircuts with Waves 1. Rockstar shag Remember that messy rock-band look of the late ’80s? This is it’s more cleaned-up cousin. Like its predecessor, the modern shag features a rounded shape with layers that starts at the cheekbone area downwards, giving a weaker jaw area more definition....

When I say that now it sounds incredibly antiquated, as if I lived in the time when trains were called iron horses. The sounds and shapes and sizes of those days seem so distant to me, and they’re utterly nonexistent for my children. The staccato click of a phone as it dialed each number one by one, the bulky piece of furniture called the television, the record player with one LP after another stacked up like pancakes....

Then, I remembered how cyclical things are. Once something reaches the point that it’s celebrated on the cover of Time, look out. The knives are being sharpened in the back room. The biting criticism, naysaying, and debunking will soon follow. One of the great things about the media is that we can rely on it to part the curtains on the hype and let us examine what’s really going on....

There is some emerging evidence that more benefits may result from spending more time in mindfulness practice, but I would suggest letting your experience be your guide. What feels right to you? Do you notice the impact of your practice on the rest of your life? Would you appreciate more of whatever it is that you notice? That could be the answer to your question. But curiosity should really be your guide in this situation....