HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW: When a Vacation Reduces Stress — And When It Doesn’t

I thought it was simple: Vacations are fun, Americans are stressed, and happiness raises productivity and sales. Therefore, people should take more vacations, right? But research doesn’t hold that line of thinking up. Not every vacation is equal. According to a 2013 report by the Center for Economic and Policy Research, the U.S. is the only developed…

SUCCESS: Holiday Cheer

Holiday Cheer: Small steps can bring a little more joy to the world. Shawn Achor History offers some dramatic examples of how the human brain is designed for emotional contagion. Perhaps the craziest on record is the Dancing Plague of 1518. It reportedly began when a woman, Frau Troffea, started dancing in the streets of Strasbourg,…

SUCCESS: The X-Spot

The X-Spot: Finish strong! Reach any goal faster with this science-based brain trick.  Shawn Achor There are few better ways to witness the sheer power of human potential than to watch a runner cross the finish line of a marathon. It’s incredible to see months and years of training, determination and self-discipline culminating in one moment…