“Young people, at least half of them, say that they're basically never fully present. They're always partially online. And that's terrifying.” — psychologist Jonathan Haidt
BRAIN WAVES
Just a little bit. We’ve talked about the benefits of self-compassion. If you struggle with it, start small. Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, tested the effects of a 20-second daily self-compassion “micropractice.” “Micropractices are like tiny training sessions that are based on the most potent parts of well-being practices,” Eli Susman, a co-author of the study, told us. “They're designed to be easy to access and don't require a lot of time or effort to use.” In the study, college student volunteers were asked to place their hands over their heart and belly while thinking kind thoughts to themselves. For example, one prompt encouraged them to ask, “how can I be a friend to myself in this moment?” Volunteers who micropracticed regularly (that is, at least daily) had greater self-compassion, emotional well-being, and reduced stress by the end of the study. “The size of the effects from daily practice was surprisingly stronger than we expected,” Susman said. However, he added that, “Just like brushing your teeth is not a replacement for seeing the dentist, micropractices should not be a replacement for therapy or more intensive mental healthcare.”
A little help from my (little) friends. We know that adults enjoy being helpful and kind. Turns out, even kids get a kick out of helping each other out. Researchers wondered: why do kids sometimes help others when it means giving up something themselves? In a study, five-year-olds were asked to either watch a grown-up perform a task (a marble puzzle game) or help the adult with that task, thereby losing progress on their own task. Kids were generally more willing to stop what they were doing to help when there wasn't a personal cost involved. Interestingly, though, the kids who did sacrifice their own progress to help ended up feeling happier about it compared to those who helped without any personal loss. This study suggests that when kids help out at a cost to themselves, they reap a bigger emotional reward than when helping comes easy.
Fear factor. Fear can hold us back from doing the things we want to do. Could there be a way to use it to our advantage? Listen to learn more.
ON THE HIDDEN BRAIN PODCAST
Escaping the Matrix: A little more than a decade ago, researchers began tracking an alarming trend: a dramatic uptick in anxiety and depression among young Americans. Psychologist Jonathan Haidt says the increase is related to our use of social media and devices. But he believes it’s also deeper than that — connected to our deepest moral beliefs and how they shape the way we view the world. He says there are simple steps we can take to improve the mental health of kids growing up in the smartphone era.
ON THE MY UNSUNG HERO PODCAST
Kathryn Fumie’s Story: After Kathryn burned her face in a kitchen accident, the ambulance worker on the ride to the hospital helped her feel like everything was going to be ok.
Don’t forget to send us the story of your unsung hero! Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org.
MIND GAMES
If a shirt costs $20 more than a hat, and the combined cost of both the shirt and the hat is $50, how much does the hat cost?
LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE
What is a liquid at room temperature in its original state but solidifies when heated?
Answer: An egg
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Hidden Brain is now a game! Do you struggle to recognize people after you've met them? Do you like games and puzzles? If so, you should try Hidden Brain Daily Challenge, our new app available on Apple iOS! It features our very first game, designed to help improve your facial recognition skills. Check it out here.
A MOMENT OF JOY
Have an idea for Hidden Brain? A story you want to share with us? Send an email to ideas@hiddenbrain.org. Listen to us on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music or your favorite podcast platform.