Puppyhood--An All Consuming Life Stage

There are few things like a puppy to bring life into the cold winter days! We were very lucky to find this four month-old Feist puppy at a rescue shelter--a breed that I am surprized is not a household name for they make wonderful household pets. This little one defines the word frolic. Even with the house turned topsy-turvy, it's hard to imagine life without her. 

PHEW!!--I Survived the Holidays

The holidays are both wonderful . . . 
and overwhelming! I kept thinking that someone could make a tidy sum by selling this T-shirt:

Memory Fading? Observe Its Daily Fluctuations

If you find yourself being more forgetful, consider the time of day and the situation before you worry that your mental prowess is fading. People's memory and attention fluctuate throughout the day. Plus, negative emotions and stress affect these daily fluctuations causing people to have less control over their ability to pay attention and reducing their motivation to focus on tasks. These outcomes seem to help explain the negative downward spiral that low performing students gets trapped in as the stress they experience reduces their ability to focus and zaps their motivation. 

Reference

Brose, A., Schmiedek, F., Lövdén, M., & Lindenberger, U. (2012). Daily variability in working memory is coupled with negative affect: The role of attention and motivation. Emotion, 12(3), 605-617. doi:10.1037/a0024436