Viewing all items in Resource Category: Looking at You

The pandemic is affecting our dreams. More people are reporting nightmares which relate to ‘contamination’ and ‘cleanness’. A recent study has found that the more anxious a person is in their waking life, the more vivid will be their dream images. The findings, published in the journal PLUS One, explain that “Pandemic dreams show a...

If you think you feel better after cuddling your dog or cat, there is a good reason: you really do feel better. After only three minutes of cuddling your pet, your levels of oxytocin, the ‘love’ hormone, increase, according to a recent study from Australia’s Monash University. And just five minutes of cuddling will also...

Our birds are short of nesting holes, and no wonder: gardens, parks and woodland are much neater than they used to be, and modern homes offer few crannies for nest building. National Nestbox Week, which is celebrated from 14th February each year, aims to encourage us to put up more nestboxes, and to consider planting...

The popularity of leggings soared last year. They became the must-have fashion garment to see out Covid-19. John Lewis reported sales of leggings and loungewear had increased by 1,303 per cent.  Sweaty Betty was selling a pair of Power Leggings (£75) every 90 seconds. Julia Straus, CEO of the brand, explained: “Good quality leggings transform...

It may help them do better at school. According to a recent study, teenagers should be allowed to sleep in longer in the mornings, as this could help them to be healthier and perform better. A study, published in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, suggested that some secondary pupils just have a...

Beware of people talking near you in a restaurant.  This is the recent advice from some South Korean researchers, who claim that people can be infected with Covid-19 while still more than 20 feet away. They also warn against all loud talking or shouting in public. The researchers have urged restaurants to consider installing dividing...

The natural environment can make a real impact on your mood. Mountains can leave you feeling more optimistic, while the ocean can help boost your inspiration. A recent study at Goldsmiths University of London found that water is most effective at increasing positive emotions, such as happiness and inspiration.  Woodlands can help you forget your...

Keep it in the family! Counting the cost of coronavirus Food, glorious food! Open that window Smokers stubbing out Plants in your front garden Doing housework can help you live longer Why parking your car is getting more difficult Who does the allotment in your family? ** Editor: David Pickup, a solicitor, considers what happens...

Happy New Year! It’s good to begin a new year with hope, but few of us have left 2020 unscathed by the pandemic. For example, nearly half of us, 48 per cent, put on weight during lockdown.  (According to a recent survey by King’s College London and Ipsos MORI). Millions of us turned to alcohol...

Start children off on the way they should go….  Proverbs 22:6 Suppose you bought your child a football for Christmas. You all go outside to the garden, and in front of the family you show them how to score a goal. Then they have a go, but accidentally kick the new ball straight at your...

Did you eat too much over Christmas? Or is that your lifestyle choice, year-round? Almost half of the world’s population will be overweight by 2050, if current eating trends continue, according to recent research. That means that more than four billion people could be overweight in just 30 years’ time, with 1.5 billion of them...

Here is an easy resolution for the New Year: open your windows at home for ‘short sharp bursts’ of 10 to 15 minutes at a time, several times a day. The government’s public information campaign says that regular fresh air can cut the risk of Covid transmission by more than 70 per cent. So, either...