If you’re not happy with the way you’re feeling, just change the expression on your face. Or move your body into a new position. That’s the recommendation from psychiatry pioneer Dr. Martin Grotjahn, who said the simplest body language changes can affect our mood. It’s a form of embodied cognition – in which your body movement informs your brain. For example:

If you’re sleepy, open your eyes wide – and you’ll feel more awake.

If you’re disorganized and your body movements are erratic, you won’t be able to think clearly. So, slow down and make deliberate movements. You’ll be able to think better.

And, the next time you’re worried and stressed out – swing your arms. When we’re worried or anxious, we tend to close up – and tighten up – physically. We’ll cross our arms, slouch or curl up in a ball. It’s a natural reaction that a lot of animals have – because it’s protective; we’re literally protecting our vital organs. But to break out of that mindset, open up your body and swing your arms. By forcing yourself to adopt carefree body language, your brain gets the message that there’s nothing to fear. As a result, you’ll start pumping out calming alpha brain waves – and it’ll take less than 30 seconds to feel better.

Hey guys, ever wonder why some first dates go horribly wrong before dinner even starts? Experts say it’s because women ask some tricky questions so they can learn more about you. But what they learn may completely turn them off! So, don’t blow it. Here are some critical first-date questions, and how to answer them:

• “What are we doing tonight?” Experts say this question gives women the first hint of your interest level. Because if you answer, “I dunno, what do you want to do?” – you may think you’re accommodating her by letting her decide. But what she hears is that you don’t care enough to make a plan! So, make a plan. In fact, make TWO! Experts say give your date a choice between two options, including something traditional, like dinner – and something more adventurous, like a wall-climbing lesson!
• “What do you do for work?” This may sound like an attempt to assess your income level, but experts say it’s really how women assess your values! That’s because your job says something about your ambition, drive, and intelligence. And women use those traits to guess your potential for commitment. In other words, they’ll be more impressed to hear you say you have a job you love – no matter how much or little you earn – than to hear that you’re always jumping from job-to-job, chasing bigger paychecks.
• “What’s your type?” Experts say that when a woman asks this, she’s trying to gauge your compatibility. Because if you tell her that she’s your perfect type, she’s going to think she’s just like every other woman you’ve dated – and not very special. And if you reel off a list of “likes” and “dislikes,” you’re going to come across as too picky! That’s why experts say it’s better to focus on key interests you want to share with a partner, while leaving some room for flexibility. So you might say, “I’m looking for someone who likes being active, because it’s a big part of my life. And it would be cool if she could introduce me to some new sports I haven’t tried.”
• “Wanna split the bill?” According to a new survey, most women will offer to pay on a first date, but half say they’d be “annoyed” if you accepted their offer. Experts say it’s because paying the bill shows that you’re willing to invest in the relationship! So, even if your date argues, say something like this: “No, I’ll get this one, and you can get the next.” That way, she’s thinking less about the bill, and more about the second date.

These days, more of us are eating lunch at our desks – or skipping lunch altogether. And that’s bad for our health. Here’s why – and how to make your lunch hour count – courtesy of occupational health expert Dr. Chris Cunningham:

• We need to take periodic breaks from the stresses of work. That gives our brain and body time to relax, de-stress and to restore our energy reserves. That helps us feel refreshed and refocused for the rest of the workday. Dr. Cunningham says it takes anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour to feel refreshed. But if you skip your midday-break, it’ll take twice that long to unwind at the end of the day.

• Our brains like new experiences. Sitting in the same spot all day bores our brain, which lowers mood and productivity, and hurts our physical health. So, try a change of scene – even if you just walk to the cafeteria, or sit outside under a tree to eat your sandwich. Studies show that ditching personal electronics and being “in the moment” can be a huge relief. And it will help keep your brain from overreacting to stress in the afternoon.

• Desk dining can make you antisocial. Studies show that people with larger social circles tend to live longer, healthier lives. But you can’t make friends at work if you always eat at your desk. So, take a moment to chat in the break room, or join your coworkers for lunch. And take a real break by talking about anything but work.

• Enjoy your food. Slowing down enough to use all your senses can be relaxing all by itself. In a recent study, ER doctors found everything about their job stressful and draining – except lunch. They said a lunch break was tremendously valuable because it was a total change of pace, and helped them feel renewed and relaxed when it was time to clock back in.

Your dog is always thrilled to see you. But is he excited because he recognizes your face? Probably not. Because, unlike humans, dogs aren’t wired to focus on faces. Instead, they’re wired to get all the information they need from our entire being… including our body shape, body language, and aroma.

To see what sparked a dog’s interest, scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine trained pets to sit inside an MRI machine. Then, the dogs watched a series of images featuring random human faces – including their owner’s face, plus familiar and unfamiliar dogs – all while their brains were being scanned.

The result: When the dogs saw a human face or head, there was virtually no change in the visual area of their brain, regardless of whether it was the dog’s owner or a stranger. The only time a dog’s visual brain activity spiked was when they saw another dog. Because a dog can instantly tell another dog’s mood by the position of their ears. But they can’t do that with humans; they need additional cues.

But your dog definitely DOES recognize you. By your smell, the sound of your voice, your walk, your emotions – and your face. Which means, your dog loves ALL of you – not just your pretty face.