How about some link love for today’s Friday Five? Today’s Five are short and sweet and I’m linking you to five pieces around the Internet that got my attention. Read about how paying attention to your attention can help you focus more, how to get more out of your mornings even if you are not a morning person, the importance of knowing your lovely gut bacteria a.k.a your microbiome, a sweet little children’s book that will bring you back to yourself, and an easy to make Valentine’s Day menu that is as delicious as it is wholesome!
Attentional Plasticity
Want to become more productive and focus better? New research from Princeton University published in journal Nature Neuroscience suggests that our brains are capable of ‘attentional plasticity’. What does attentional plasticity mean? It is the brain’s ability to pay attention and stay focused, when checked on. It is a kind of meta-attentive state, if you will. Sounds like a paradox but periodically checking on the state of your attention, will bring back your attention and focus on the task at hand. Read how real time feedback about the state of one’s own brain helped the participants of the study maintain focus.
How to Cultivate a Morning Routine
Mark of Mark’s Daily Apple makes a case for having a morning routine. He writes, “You’ll be more invested in making healthier choices throughout the day if you’re already on a roll with an a.m. workout, meditation time and/or other positive behaviors.” Mornings have a fresh and pure energy and bring promises of new beginnings. Most of us have night-time rituals, but it seems like most mornings, especially week day mornings, just creep up on us. Whether or not you are a morning person, the write-up has plenty of inspiration for either establishing or further examining a morning routine.
Your Microbiome and Why it is Important
Herman Hesse said, “I have been and still am a seeker, but I have ceased to question stars and books; I have begun to listen to the teaching my blood whispers to me.”
Let’s change the blood in this quote to microbiome, and it turns out that our gut bacteria have plenty to teach us about our health and wellbeing, and it is time that we started listening. Our bodies are made up more of bacteria than human cells and the gut, is home of most of these microorganisms. Imbalances in gut flora result in chronic physical and psychological conditions, many of which can be corrected by bringing balance back to gut flora. Check out this infographic to get to know your microbiome a little better.
The Missing Piece
A beloved children’s book, The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein, contains a gentle yet powerful message for adults as well. I adore the book, it makes an excellent gift for kids all ages, but I also love the lovely reflections about the book in this Brainpickings essay. Click here to read how the missing piece in you, may just be you.
Valentine’s Day Menu
And finally, what is Valentine’s Day without some delicious food? Here is a simple, wholesome menu for Valentine’s Day or any day, really.
Image Credit: Graphics Fairy
